I'd previously RSVP'd "probably yes" to a Saturday lunch meet, 11:30 to whenever, but last night at 4am I posted a follow-up saying that I'd probably be running late. Indeed, it was 12:35 when I woke up, and I had to get ready, and it was 20 bicycling minutes away. I didn't back out, though, and the group was still there.

Normally I'd be going to a board games group this evening. Although I have an offer of a return ride, I'd have to use a combination of public transportation and a kick scooter to get there. Since it's likely to run late, and the inspection is tomorrow morning, I think I'd better un-RSVP to that one and dedicate the time to making sure the living room and kitchen are both at peak cleanliness.

Thanks AnneW! :)

Hi everyone! :)

Lately I've just been working and trying to stay cool. It is sooooo HOT where I live! One of the things that I've been doing to try and stay cool in this heat, is swimming. I've gone swimming everyday this week. I've also just been walking around in my swimsuit a lot. Today I actually went into work wearing my swimsuit. Lol. :)

Karl- I was just rereading old posts & saw your rescheduled inspection is Sunday - look fwd to update! (I'm sure it will go well as a result of all your hard work :)

I am frustrated with bedroom hoard. Thought I had most of-the junk out of bedroom---surprise so much more. Wish I could organize a hoard, but tillie says no way. So this means I have to make many more decisions which are so difficult for me when it comes to clothes and crafts. I just have to let it be ok to wait until the morning to continue. I am tired and frustrated. Just when I was seeing progress and so happy, there is a huge pile of stuff to deal with, that can't just be stuffed in a bunch of bags to deal with later, it doesn't work, I tried today, doesn't feel complete until I get rid of it, darn.

Karl, lack of sleep is my downfall also, sorry your week wasn't great, what I have noticed about you is that you bounce back, and will get back at it, you can, you have before.
Dianne, sounds like a nice balance in your life, even tired body is saying, yeah, you did alot.
This morning I went directly too big bedroom, bed is now made with all clean linens. Started going through stuff and made a big mess. Guess will have to sort in living room. I need to clear junk out so I can start sleeping in there with 96 degree weather all week. That window now has air conditioner. It was too hot to sleep in my little bedroom last night, so feel motivated to make room livable. After an hour or two, had enough and went to garage to see what else I could toss in garbage before it was picked up, did find another bag full of stuff to make cart all the way full, and then it was picked up, and now get to start all over again.
I told a friend I would go camping Monday, but with 96 degrees all week I don't want to. When I leave this place for a few days, it gets so hot, takes hours to cool enough to sleep. She always has to schedule things in advance, which is not great for me, since weather affects what I can do comfortably. I want to camp when it is in 80's and I can, so that is what I will do. I do feel guilty even writing this, she will be ticked off. She has a beautiful home, well insulated with heat pump air conditioning, so she really doesn't understand why I can't just leave window air on. With this old wiring, I only want it on when I am here, plus don't have homeowners ins. Have to do more research on who will insure old trailer with wood stove, most I called will not. I had one for years, then when I rented this place out, they cancelled me. so if it burns, I have nothing, one way to get rid of the hoard, I guess.

It's been a lousy week for the most part.

I still haven't gotten caught up in sleep, and cleaning has been on a slow backslide. Tuesday I noticed a skin injury, and wondered if I'd encountered poison-oak someplace, but I later decided it was a burn that I'd ignored at the time it happened.

Wednesday I had to go in to work, had a bad day there, missed my return train and had trouble correcting for it, finally arriving at my dinner location on time but sweaty -- with cleanup options limited to what I could complete with a paper towel in the restroom, and a change of shirt. (I did plan for that part.) I arranged to bum a ride from a friend when our group finally broke up for the night.

I got the trash out in time for Thursday's pickup, but I didn't have much this time. I ran a couple of errands on Thursday, then got home and got a phone call from a friend who wanted to go out and do some sport activity -- after that, I made dinner and got caught up on email and online forums. I think I was supposed to try to get some cleaning done at some point.

I don't know if we're still doing regular early meets on Friday -- do we still have a regular in the UK? -- but I'll plan to be there.

sorry, didn't mean to post last one two times

Hi Janie, work does take a lot out of most people, and I think getting the certificate is important to you and your future, does this mean you can hire help? Just a thought. Even if you had a person come in for a few hours and clean the kitchen and bathroom every week, and what ever else you want. When I worked, I had a cleaning person, and it made all the difference, couldn't leave messes all over because cleaning person was coming. Good you will keep posting your small progress successes. It is hard when working, just the way it is, and we need to support ourselves. I wish you the best.

Hi Janie, work does take a lot out of most people, and I think getting the certificate is important to you and your future, does this mean you can hire help? Just a thought. Even if you had a person come in for a few hours and clean the kitchen and bathroom every week, and what ever else you want. When I worked, I had a cleaning person, and it made all the difference, couldn't leave messes all over because cleaning person was coming. Good you will keep posting your small progress successes. It is hard when working, just the way it is, and we need to support ourselves. I wish you the best.

Tilie, I can imagine living in a bus was so free, especially since you had everything clean and tidy. I am so tickled about your creativity with the tiny little house, would love to see it.
Made another run at getting rid of stuff, went through a huge bag of halloween stuff, kept only a package of bags. One more giant bag of junk gone. Anne, you motivated to make one more attempt, thanks. Dianne, thanks for the update.

I also haven't figured out on my system how to open a second window so I can read and respond to each person as I go. I can just hope I don't hurt anyone's feelings making them feel left out?

Diane, I have to laugh at your poor dog's haircut adventures. They do look embarrassed at times, don't they? When I rescued a ShihTzu he was a pitiful dirty mop of hair. I got a professional cut job done, lion cut, and he was so happy and so cute! And he was the BEST behaved dog I ever met. I cannot imagine what his owner was thinking to abandon him at a high kill shelter like that. He got adopted to a perfect home from my house.

And with your progress and air conditioning installation you can now expand your living space. WTG!

Dianne, I totally get it about your sadness or distress over the divorce. I've now been divorced twice as long as I was married and there are still times of pain, anger, grief, etc. I just try hard not to dwell too long in those places because it just doesn't help. Not denying the feelings, just not emphasizing them. I don't know how to entirely let it go still.

Meanwhile, you have great plans for your home and I encourage you to keep trucking. It is for YOU.
And a life well lived is the best revenge. hehe

Tillie, you seem to have lived a most interesting life, with your various abode choices. I admire your tenacity and spirit so much.

AnneW, you are doing very good work. Let us hear from you, okay?

Janie, thinking about you. You do a tremendous amount of work so in my mind you are, oh, say, 30 forever? :D

Yesterday I slept most of the day. I brushed my teeth and hair, opened and dealt with mail on the spot (I love shredding mail), and cleaned up the two remaining of the 3 framed pictures I had set aside months ago. These two are actually framed (and glassed) samplers hand done by my mother years ago. Those two I will keep. I think I'll donate the old print landscape, though. I have dozens more paintings and framed/glassed prints to clean and decide about.

Here's to today, friends.

Been out in garage all morning looking for things to fill garbage can for tomorrow, still have a little room, so will look inside, too hot out for me now. I got quite a bit done this morning. Air conditioner is running in dining room and big bedroom, yep, 2 window air conditioners going, big spender I am, the old one still works and new one works great. It is so different having two going so don't have to just live in one room.
I got 2 more cords of wood delivered on Monday and it is all now stacked, did it in evenings. This load wasn't as good as last load, more rot and spiders, but still very good compared to some I have had delivered by other wood people, and full honest cords.
Cut my dogs hair, usually do it with scissors but takes 1 to 2 hours, so finally used the electric shaver, well she looks like an alien with the mange. I gouged several spots, and cut hair on head a flat top and it is supposed to be rounded, she is so embarrassed, said she will not go out in public, if she has to go camping, not leaving tent she said. She really dislikes haircuts, as do I.
Dianne sad to hear that you are feeling pain about your lost marriage, and happy to hear you are going to get lots done this week.

Good morning :)

Hi Roxie :)
Thank you and WAY TO GO! on all you got done! :D

Hi AnneW :)
WOW! you did great!
Working and doing all your maintenance and eating well and 15 minute sessions! WTG! :D
Planning to spend more time decorating the doll house. Have lots of plans and ideas.
My tiny dollhouse has an itty bitty doll house and I used some wood scraps and made an even tinier itsy bitsy teeny weeny dollhouse to put in the dollhouse dollhouse. :)

Hi Karl :)
Sorry I missed you in the chatroom. Thank you for the offer to help. :)
I really appreciate it.

Hi Diane :)
So happy you had a chance to go to the lake. :D
WAY TO GO! you are amazing! Making decisions keep/toss/donate, doing maintenance and cleaning! :D
I have only ever gone tent camping. It can be enjoyable as long as you don't wake up buried under 4 feet of snow with your shoes frozen to the floor, a dog huddled in your coat for body warmth and after digging out your car finding it has a flat tire. ;P
But I lived for years in a converted bus on an island reachable by ferry boat and that was heaven.
Then I lived one year in a camper on a truck. No bathroom. But had all the freedom in the world.
Hope you are ready for our next heatwave this week. How is that new A/C treating you? :)

Hi Dianne :)
(((hugs)))
Great plans for the days!
Keep us posted on all you are doing. Are you going to tackle the bathroom deep cleaning?
Remember to schedule in regular breaks for eating, sleeping and just putting your feet up. :D

Now that the neighbors are back I don't have to watch their house, take in their mail or water their plants.
This will give me some quality play time. :D
Have my paints ready for painting in the dollhouse. Have fabric scraps ready for fashioning some linens.
Other than grocery shopping this weekend I only have a bit of daily maintenance to keep me from playtime. :D

HI EVERYBODY! :D

The people who's house I have been watching for months arrived home today.
I have been busy socializing and getting them caught up on what has been happening aroung here.
Busy busy day for me and it's not over yet. :)

To open two windows.....
When I first turn on my computer I have to click on "launch internet explorer browser".
This brings up my home page and from there I can access any site on the internet.

To have two windows open I only need to click on "launch internet explorer browser" once again.

The two sites are visible at the bottom of my screen.
Switching between the two I only need to left click on which one I want to read.

Please let me know if your computer system is the same as mine and if you understand what I am trying to describe. :D


Gotta run TTYL :D

Thanks for the support Roxie!! You did get some work done yesterday, amazing how you rallied, good work.
This morning I emptied 3 more boxes in garage and put away and threw away. I will have to donate some of the books I kept, just first run through. It is getting better and better
Watered stuff outside that hadn't been watered in awhile, vines and one tree I forget about. It is going to be hot here all week and I am going to splurge and run air conditioner all that I want.
I organized camping stuff in garage this morning. Think I may go back to East Lake and camp in tent. Really think I should sell RV, just too expensive. So want to do trial run at tent camping to see if I enjoy it. So easy with RV, bed bathroom, stove for coffee.
RV now has a leak dripping oil? on gravel where it is parked, so am procrastinating taking it in. Not knowing is worse than just taking it in and knowing what is wrong. Main fear is not knowing where to take it, want good honest mechanic, have mechanic for car, don't work on RV's. Any insight into this?
I am going to list some stuff on July challenge havent been keeping track of some of stuff giving away. Got rid of stash of favorite summer clothes that will never fit again, emotional on many levels. Youth is gone, thin athletic body gone, all then dates with wonderful men in those clothes were brought up, just a lot of missed opportunities due to addictive personality.
What I know today that I am in recovery from hoarding and a bunch of new experiences other than shopping and shameful hiding are in my future for next year. I so much appreciate this chat and the support, only people experiencing the problem in some way, can understand. I look forward to your comments and your progress every day, so happy this board has become so active. Thanks to each of you. Tillie, not sure how to have two screens at same time so I can respond to each person. Please describe the process of looking at previous posts while this window is open, when you have a few minutes. Also Tillie, so good you post all that you do, never really learned what is necessary to maintain etc. so thanks.

So I did some stuff yesterday after all. I brushed my teeth, ran an errand in the car, wheeled the big garbage bin to the street for pickup, did a load of dishes, wiped down the stove top and counters, and cleaned one of the framed pictures I've had set aside for two months now.

I haven't yet been to sleep, so you know my sleep cycle is upside down again. I'll probably crash in a few hours so might not be real useful to myself today.

Janie, you're doing very good work, especially adjusting to work schedules, etc.

Tillie, pink underwear. Did you dare? :D Great work on the floor cleanup!

Diane, sorry for your misunderstanding but you can be forgiven as can she. S*_*t happens, right? I'm so glad to see you are building in social times to offset your immense amounts of work! I myself am a "fun challenged" person (can't figure out what's fun).

Karl, you seem good about attending the meetings, so it must be good for you. Do you plan to keep doing 15 minute cleanup/clear out sessions still?

AnneW, I am impressed with the work you are accomplishing! Way to go! And I'm so glad to see you posting.

Dianne, thanks for the idea on the litter boxes. I need to prioritize litter box habits soon here. I'm so glad to see you moving ahead and also posting. Hang in here!

I spent a couple hours tonight reading old message board threads and began to wonder: whatever happens to those who come, post, then disappear? Why? I wish they'd all come back and update us.

If I left anyone out, just blame it on my brain fog. Hugs all around.

I had a great day at East Lake yesterday. Took my blow-up boat and paddled out in lake with my friend. It was a perfect day to be at the lake, and wasn't crowded at all. I wanted to go back up and camp.
Today had a miscommunication with a friend, and it was difficult, still bothering me. I was sure of what time we were going to meet, so I went to Lowes, and she was calling my house, she thought she was supposed to call at 12, I was sure we were to meet at 12. How do these things happen?
This morning I watered yard and worked in garage for 3 hours. The disagreement zapped my energy, so have just walked in circles this afternoon. Finally remembered it is time to quit when energy gone, so here I am. I loved reading all that you are accomplishing and the goodness in each post. Tomorrow I will stay home all day and work here, I am happy I can work without interruption tomorrow. Really want to make progress on big bedroom. thanks to all of you.

Yeah, if you're going to paste something here, it's probably best if it's plain old 7-bit ASCII encoding. Unfortunately, as somebody who doesn't use Microsoft software, I'm not the person who can tell you how to force Microsoft tools to do that.

Speaking of techie stuff, Tillie, if you're around and would like to try some practice postings to see what the deal is with clickable links, I'm in the chat room right now and could try to walk you through it.

Oh, and I might be around for the first few minutes of tonight's chat, after all; I'm not sure how soon my ride will be picking me up.

Thanks all!

Tillie, I've actually been looking into possible socks or slippers that are designed to scrub as you walk. So far I've found some that are designed to dust the floors and pick up pet hair. Those might be useful but I still am concerned with the effort of scrubbing.

Using my wheeled desk chair is certainly worth a try! After all, when I tire it is sitting down I have to do if not laying down!

WAY TO GO!!! Roxie :D

Some people have managed to do a pretty good job washing floors by sitting in their desk chair, dropping a soppy wet rag on the floor then using their feet scooching the rag around.
Then sopping up the water by scooching around a towel.


This is just a suggestion and you are free to simply ignore it. :)

Oh, I am so grateful for my rally days. Yesterday I brushed my teeth and hair, I thoroughly cleaned three light bulbs that were filthy and fly specked (they've been sitting on my chest of drawers staring at me and complaining),

I cleaned off the vacuum cleaner (ugh, so dusty and dirty). I vacuumed around my desk and a chest of drawers. I changed out all my trash bins and put in fresh bags, took the trash to my outside bin.

I finally unloaded the large and very heavy box that was delivered weeks ago and contains the parts to build (put together) the cat tree I'd ordered. It's been sitting there blocking my kitchen steps. I hauled all the parts inside (cats immediately investigated the cube part) and stacked them in one place. Then I broke down the box so I can put it in the car for recycling.

I broke down the remaining boxes indoors and took them to the car for recycling.

I brought in a case of canned cat food and actually put the cans into the cupboard and broke down the cardboard carrier for recycling.

I sat on the back steps and broke down more cardboard boxes. One has those big metal fasteners that are a bear to undo. Still working on that one. All will go into the car to recycle. I think I'll have to go to the recycle center later this week or early next.

It felt very good to get all this done. I found I could do a lot of it while I'm sitting here at the computer waiting for it to do various things for me. I even vacuumed by sliding around in my desk chair on wheels...whee! One way for a disabled person to get something done. It's a start.

Dirty kitchen floor still whining at me. And the litter boxes calling me from outside: "wash me, wash me, NOW."

Each of you inspire me each day. I'm grateful you are here.

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY!!! :D

Wonderful to have so many posts to read with my morning tea. :)

Just have a few cat chores to take care of and some general tidying up to do here today.
Have no idea what I will do today but as always, I will find things to do.
Maybe reward myself with a pedicure. Watch a movie. Plan a fun project.
I love being all caught up and having my free time. :)

Hope you all get a chance today to just enjoy summer time. (((hugs)))

Mrs Landlord sent me an email, apologizing for having forgotten about the inspection; it's now rescheduled for next Sunday.

Monday is one of my regular board game nights, so I didn't get any cleaning done. I got home at about 2am, and then spent four hours doing some volunteer proofreading that couldn't really wait. Now 6:30 and it's getting light out; I hope I can sleep into the afternoon.

I've got dinner plans for Tuesday (though it may well be breakfast for me), so I won't be doing the online chat this time.

Thank you Dianne :)
Yes, he does deserve the pink undies. lol

I too have found that mixing the litter brands does make for a nicer box.
The litter boxes are large plastic storage bins and I fill them deep.
Since the sides are high there is never any "over the side" accidents.
When the cats jump out they carry less litter on their feet and that makes for less sweeping in the box area.

OK you all motivated me.
Been asking him to clean up the pumphouse since even before he made that huge flood in there.

It is a small room with a primitave rough cement floor.
Over the years he has tracked in sand, a one inch thick layer.
He has stuff stored in this room.
9 big plastic 5 gallon buckets of paint and over 30 one gallon cans of paint.
A case of green glow in the dark halloween spray paint and some christmas spray snow.
A big heavy bag of stucco patch.
There was a lot of obvious trash strewn around and a jumble of various assorted other items.

This was just the floor. Not even bothering with the shelves.

Moved everything out and the flood waters had made mud that was still wet.
Shoveled and then swept the floor clear.
Restacked the paint cans to the side that didn't get wet.

The floor looks very nice again in there. :D

I really resent having to clean up areas he has messed up.
Thinking about washing his underwear with a bright red sweater. ;D lol jk

I came in, took a shower, washed my hair, put on all clean clothes, ate lunch and am over it now. :)

Five is more than I'd expected to find, but I agree it's not too many. Yes, I'll have to pick out a "good" place to store them and other dental spares; at the moment they're with the medical stuff, but a separate small container would be better organization.

If I have extra space after the re-organization, maybe I'll put some towels in the bathroom cabinet. Currently I'm keeping the clean towels in the closet just outside the bathroom, but they're kind of crammed in there.

It is good to see so many posting. I really miss it when folks don't so much.

Diane, I have a journal from my great grandmother written over a five years span starting in about 1930. Mostly it is incredibly boring, if not confusing. She refers to her "work" about which I know nothing and sounds more like she does home visits of some sort and does some kind of healing ritual. Very strange. I do know she had at least six children to raise on her own after her husband died young (of which I know nothing and so far have found nothing). I intend to leave the journal for future generations. It does have a nice list in the back of names and birthdates and such. It is helping me in my work on ancestry dot com.

I got teeth brushed yesterday and also today. No idea what else I may or many not accomplish. I do of course feed and water animals indoor and out each day, so I just assume you folks know that and take it as a given that it is accomplished. I do know I need to start setting up some kind of litter box routine as I am very bad about that and it is not fair to the indoor kitties. I did order a Breeze system to see if that might help. Here's hoping.

I'm trying still to figure out how or if I can break down cleaning floors to a manageable system for myself. Mostly I ignore but that's part of how I got in a fix in the first place, right? :(

Hi AnneW :)
Sometimes it is hard to find a proper balance between all the things we try to get done daily.
Unfortunately we tend to take time away from self care to make up for the other activities.
This is where I find that I must schedule in time for proper rest and meals. Make it a priority over doing other tasks because we only have just so much energy and need to recharge to be at our best.
GREAT plan you have for this week! :D

Hi Karl :)
WAY TO GO! finding the medical supplies! :D
Having 5 new toothbrushes in stock is not too many. Some people could open a shop with all their extras. ;)
A good place to store them is in a bathroom drawer or in a shoe box with extra toothpaste & dental floss on a cupboard shelf.
My mother always kept the shoe box on a shelf in the linen closet next to the towels.


The cats are all fed. :)
My To-Dos for today are.....
Scoop litter boxes.
Put down fresh water.
Go out and water some things.
Sweep floors & porches.
Do a load of laundry.
Wash my hair.
This evening I will wash some dishes.

Monday! A new week for a fresh new start, no matter what happened or didn't happen in the past. ;)

I sorted the bathroom cabinets tonight. It turns out that I have five unused toothbrushes! I'll open one of them tonight, and retire the old one. I also found all the medical stuff -- it was already sorted, I just hadn't found the bag last time -- and put some liquid bandage over my recent injury.

THANK YOU!!! I just finished reading everyone's "What I'm Doing Today" posts from July 10th through today & they are all SOOO Chock Full O' Goodness!!!
It just reminds me what a GREAT GROUP we have here =D

And, reading the posts helps me feel re-grounded in my own intentions re: de-hoarding.

Over the past couple of weeks, I tried experimenting with energy output re: work time/social time/rest time/de-hoard time & I tipped too far on the work & social side, which took away from my quality of rest & de-hoarding ability.
It's okay... I've still managed to make progress, but it doesn't feel like it's as much(or maybe just not as consistent-?-) as I was able to do in May & June. I've been maintaining the areas I have cleared & been regularly cleaning them, too (& that's like a FIRST for me EVER!). Just haven't cleared another large chunk of space again yet -- just little bits/spaces here & there. Regardless, I guess I feel more comfortable when I have a bit more of a weekly plan in place.
Think for this week it is time for me to simplify -- Here's my simple plan for the week: 2 (15-min) timed de-hoard work sessions/day, & by next Sunday night, I'll have delivered at least 1 donation to AmVets & 1 to the Humane Society. Anything beyond those goals & maintenance, I'll consider "icing!"

Makes me happy reading about all of the accomplishments here!!!
Keep up the great work =)

Diane (((hugs))) :)
When I finished reading my Granma's journals I felt the need to burn them.
There was nothing bad in them but some of my Grandparent's friends are well known figures and I did not want Granma's personal remembrances to ever be made into a book or movie.
Her journals were her own personal experiences.
The hardest entries to read were when her 21 year old daughter died the same week I was born.

Back here on the farm.............
I have been telling him to ALWAYS close the gate behind him and too often he doesn't.
Fortunately, it's only one horse in my yard today.
In the past I have had over two dozen cattle grazing in my garden.
Sure, they leave good fertilizer behind but by the time they get finished there are no plants to fertilize.

Been playing music all morning. :)
Dancing and singing at times.
I refuse to allow anything to ruin my good mood. ;)