Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO!!! :D
Since your October challenge goal is the kitchen
I think that is very doable.
Working on one specific room, you can make a lot of progress over this next month. :D
Once your kitchen is all decluttered, cleaned, organized and fixed up it will make a wonderful difference for you. (((HUGS)))

Hi Anonymoniker :)
Spiders LOVE dark secluded places.
Lights at night do not attract them.
The Brown Recluse spider is named recluse because he prefers seclusion, like hiding in clutter and wood piles.
When I want to know how many Black Widows are around my house I go out looking at night with a flash light because that's when they crawl out of hiding.
Since birds eat spiders in the daytime, spiders would rather be active in the dark at night.
Inside my house spiders like to hide behind the bigger stuff like the TV, dressers or my secretary desk because those things rarely get moved.
I use a long thin "duster" to regularly evict them from behind things.
Letting in fresh air & sunshine, regularly moving or dusting behind furnishings and reducing clutter will greatly help keep them from nesting and reproducing in your home.
Also, keeping the exterior walls of the house free from clutter and foliage helps too.
There would still be new rogue spiders coming inside but you would notice and evict them sooner.
:D

Did a lot yesterday.
Moving slow today.
Warm cat blankets & warmer blankets for me are out of their storage bins.
Space heaters are in/unboxed and ready to go.
50 degrees at 10:30am.
Did lots of small tasks yesterday too.
Had several all planned or started, got frustrated because nothing was seeming to ever get done,
so, I stopped and concentrated on one task at a time until completion.
One right after the other all fell into place and were easily finished. :D
I am much closer to being prepared for Winter weather now, feels good.

TTYS :)

Tatoulia, WOW!!! THAT IS AN AMAZING LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR ONE DAY?!!...id be pleased as punch to get that done in a week...or even a month...ha ha Good job!!! ;D
Tillie, i laughed so hard at your explanation of my wanting to play instead of work being normal...ha ha...yes, i guess that is true!!! And youre right, i should use the fun stuff as a reward for working!!!
There were no spiders tonight...tho, the night isnt over yet...tomorrow, i have got to finish that kitchen corner project. Im thinking the new curtains not blocking the light from outside at night, maybe attracting the spiders in, rather than just me clearing that cupboard? Also, the door curtain needs to be fixed to block the light & i need to check for & block any openings...the spider thing has gone on long enough! Ive got to finish that project TOMORROW!!!

Hello everyone--just woke up from a nap.

What have I done lately? Well, including yesterday, these are my accomplishments:
All winter cat blankets freshened up and are ready for the cat
Changed sheets
Got new electric mattress pad and put on bed
All laundry done
Ran and emptied dishwasher
Garbage and recycling up and out
Vacuumed living room
Took a bag to goodwill
Got another bag for goodwill together and took to car
Put finished jigsaw puzzle in plastic bag and put in goodwill bag (I worked on a puzzle for a few days to ease my mind)


Felt good to make a list. Am washing some delicates now and as soon as they are hung up to dry I will go back to bed.

Anony--Having fun always makes more sense than cleaning up--but I've found that little projects don't take much time AND I am happier when house is cleaner. I can't escape that fact.

Tillie, I hope I actually achieve my challenge. I need to feel better about myself. The best way for me to do that is to take care of my house.

Anonymoniker,
You want to play and you don't want to declutter/clean.
Sounds like you are absolutely normal. :D

Suggestion...
Make a rule for yourself that you will do some tasks before you allow yourself to go play.
Doesn't have to be a HUGE MAJOR WHOLE HOUSE or ROOM task
just something to get you closer to your goal.
Using your play time as a reward for doing these tasks might give you the motivation to do them.

While I am doing my chores I really look forward to whatever I have planned for after I get done.
Motivates me to get it done. :)

Thanks, Tillie, maybe it is just my phone & not the website? I got on here easy just now! Happy kitty caring!
Tatoulia, your October challenge sounds like a good one! Having a nice, clean kitchen is wonderful!!!....from what i can remember?!?...ha ha
Im really loving the drumming circles & keep going to more. I just heard about a drumming class, too...the thing is; do i decide to go with something fun that im really enjoying, and live for now, or do i instead, just keep my focus on fixing up my place? I need to strike a balance of both...that is always challenging....hmmm...if i could just actually get something accomplished in the time i allot for my place, everything would work out great...what is my problem? (sigh)

Thanks, Tillie, maybe it is just my phone & not the website? I got on here easy just now! Happy kitty caring!
Tatoulia, your October challenge sounds like a good one! Having a nice, clean kitchen is wonderful!!!....from what i can remember?!?...ha ha
Im really loving the drumming circles & keep going to more. I just heard about a drumming class, too...the thing is; do i decide to go with something fun that im really enjoying, and live for now, or do i instead, just keep my focus on fixing up my place? I need to strike a balance of both...that is always challenging....hmmm...if i could just actually get something accomplished in the time i allot for my place, everything would work out great...what is my problem? (sigh)

Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
Thanks for the drive by (((hugs)))

Hi Anonymoniker :)

Wish I knew anything about phones and how to fix posting issues.

Have to get dressed and over to the neighbor's house to feed their cats breakfast.
But first I should probably feed my cats their breakfast.
It is cold here.
Today I plan to get out some warm Winter stuff.
Blankets and space heaters and maybe even clothes.

Hello everyone. My October Challenge: kitchen. All of it. Clutter, clean, drawers, cabinet.

Sorry I can't write much more. I am reading your posts when I can and cheering us on!

Its taking longer & longer to get on this site and then to get my post to take, so if y'all dont hear from me any more, thats what happened. ~♡~

Its taking longer & longer to get on this site and then to get my post to take, so if y'all dont hear from me any more, thats what happened. ~♡~

....well, not only were there 2 big spiders AGAIN in the kitchen, but tiny skunk turds on the screen porch by the cat food bowls, which means a litter of skunks are now learning to find food from my porch, which means ive got to completely change when i feed my cats & hope the skunks dont try to come in the house....i cant take this any more....the spiders are bad enough.... :(

....well, not only were there 2 big spiders AGAIN in the kitchen, but tiny skunk turds on the screen porch by the cat food bowls, which means a litter of skunks are now learning to find food from my porch, which means ive got to completely change when i feed my cats & hope the skunks dont try to come in the house....i cant take this any more....the spiders are bad enough.... :(

Oh, Tillie, your day did sound just perfect!!! Chyrsamthenims(sp?!?!? ha ha) bloom this time of year? Wow? Thats interesting, cuz something in them helps deter fleas & annoying bugs etc., which seem to get worse in the late summer/early fall. Im always fascinated by the way nature works with natural remedies!
I had a nice day yesterday too! I love working at the farmers market & im glad i didnt give it up permanently to go be my ex's groupie.
Today im going to check out the huge drum circle! Im so excited! Its so amazing to play with lots of drums....plus, if i mess up, no one can tell...ha ha ~☆♡☆~ =^-^= :D ;D :D
~☆~Happy Home improvement to all!~☆~

Tillie, im so sorry your hoarder is not cooperating? That must be so difficult.
I hadnt considered having a goal for this month, but i like that idea & think i will come up a reasonable goal for October.
.....i just killed a big spider on the ceiling right over my bed...that was 2 tonight...my steady average...ha ha

Tillie, im so sorry your hoarder is not cooperating? That must be so difficult.
I hadnt considered having a goal for this month, but i like that idea & think i will come up a reasonable goal for October.
.....i just killed a big spider on the ceiling right over my bed...that was 2 tonight...my steady average...ha ha

Tillie, it sounds like you are enjoying things?! YEA! Everytime i think the flow of spiders has stopped, out of the kitchen corner id started clearing, more come out...its averaging about 2 spiders a day...big ones, not daddy long legs!
I took my bicycle to be fixed & looked at sofas for my screen porch. As silly as it may have seemed at one time, to buy new couches for the porch, no way am i risking bedbugs in used couches!!! All the new ones i saw were pretty boring, so far..i want color!!! :D

Tillie, it sounds like you are enjoying things?! YEA! Everytime i think the flow of spiders has stopped, out of the kitchen corner id started clearing, more come out...its averaging about 2 spiders a day...big ones, not daddy long legs!
I took my bicycle to be fixed & looked at sofas for my screen porch. As silly as it may have seemed at one time, to buy new couches for the porch, no way am i risking bedbugs in used couches!!! All the new ones i saw were pretty boring, so far..i want color!!! :D

Hi Everybody :)

Hi Anonymoniker :)
Bad dreams like that is your brain's way of saying that you don't want that to happen. ;)
I have an electric throw blanket that the cats won't allow me to use because they all hog it whenever I turn it on.

Went shopping today.
Felt good to get away from the house for a while.
Got food.
Went to thrift shops before the grocery store.
Found some beautiful fabric, enough to make a dress.
Bought 3 new hand towels to replace some of mine that are getting thread bare.
Bought a blouse to replace my favorite one that finally wore out completely.
Saw lots of other really pretty and interesting stuff that I don't need so I didn't buy it. :D
Talked to people I know.
Came home and put away groceries, washed the new stuff, put that away now too.
The afternoon was so nice outside that the cats & I spent several hours out there.
I'm tired.
Going to get settled in for the night and call it a day.

Sweet dreams ;D

I had bad dreams about not getting anything accomplished on my place....i guess they could turn into 'good dreams' if they push me to fix it...?
~I hope everyone has a beautiful day & you all make changes that make you happy!~ ~☆♡☆~

YEA, Tillie!!! Congrats on the cumulative improvements!!! Isnt that fun?! Its a great feeling!!! I need to do that again soon, too... I cracked up at your cats reaction to their blankets being washed...ha ha...last night i soaked my cats food bowls to clean them good & they all stared at me so pitifully, like it meant no more food for them...its always tempting to give them treats when i do that, to reassure them, but i know that would mean every night for the rest of our lives theyd expect treats at that same time again...ha ha
Im so glad i got those electric kitty blankets last year! It is an enormous relief to know they have cozy warm beds all winter!!! (sigh)
I think today im going to buy 2 new sofas for my screen porch, and maybe a mosaic table for it, too...ive wanted to for ages...then my efforts will pay off...actually, a lot of my place is very close to being nice!!! I need to push on through to the other side!!! ha ha...through the doors, past the nation of Procrastination! :D

YEA, Tillie!!! Congrats on the cumulative improvements!!! Isnt that fun?! Its a great feeling!!! I need to do that again soon, too... I cracked up at your cats reaction to their blankets being washed...ha ha...last night i soaked my cats food bowls to clean them good & they all stared at me so pitifully, like it meant no more food for them...its always tempting to give them treats when i do that, to reassure them, but i know that would mean every night for the rest of our lives theyd expect treats at that same time again...ha ha
Im so glad i got those electric kitty blankets last year! It is an enormous relief to know they have cozy warm beds all winter!!! (sigh)
I think today im going to buy 2 new sofas for my screen porch, and maybe a mosaic table for it, too...ive wanted to for ages...then my efforts will pay off...actually, a lot of my place is very close to being nice!!! I need to push on through to the other side!!! ha ha...through the doors, past the nation of Procrastination! :D

CriticalMass, ha ha...you are so funny! Actually, all of you have such a delightful way of telling your stories! It does make coming here more fun!
I ended up with a tummy ache all night, and other unpleasant details i wont gross yall out with...(yuck)...i stopped to eat on my way home & im eating so clean at home, that i seem to get sick from ordinary restaurant food now...that doesnt seem fair...it should be the other way around...
Im also realizing, and im not sure how, but im not keeping the areas clean that id gotten clean...im more of a slob than a hoarder, at this point...this really bothers me a lot....it makes me so depressed that, ironically, i dont feel up to cleaning it..?!? Im not joking?!! One thing i do notice is, when i look at it as a job that im helping someone else with, and this place is someone elses place, and im being objective, it instantly seems easier....that is completely bizarre?!!!
~I hope you all have a happy day!~

Whoa, the fun never ends around here. Chaotic weekend in which housemate's elderly dog with chronic illness had sudden turn for the worse and died. And now there is a new doggie and he's a large breed puppy! Energetic enough that you could hook him to a treadmill with a generator and he could power the neighborhood! And a work in progress on housebreaking. He's a good natured guy but a handful. Just as I was typing this he piddled on the last unsullied throw rugs.

As for me, all the happenings made me kind of relapse with the sinus stuff, and I'm a day behind schedule. But I hope to regain at least some lost ground today.

Wow, Joan, ive read about that and wondered how it worked. Is it the magnesium? That sound like a good way to supplement that very important mineral!
Tillie, isnt it nice being close to nature? I appreciate that every time i have an encounter with wildlife! :D
I had the most perfect anniversary today! After my delicious lunch, i saw a flyer in town for a drum circle tonight, so i went! It was great! Really neat ladies, and it was fun playing with experienced drummers! I also found out about another HUGE drum circle!
Both of my significant anniversaries this month were absolutely fantastic! What an unexpected Blessing!
~☆~♡~☆♡☆~♡~☆~

Hello all❗️

A friend of mine just turned me on to banana "tea". It is fantastic for relaxing and sleeping. All you need to make it is an ORGANIC banana and water. I like the cinnamon in it, too. The short UTube video link is below. Be careful, though. If you drink a lot of it, the magnesium in it may give you the runs.

https://youtu.be/8qZ7xvcaR5A

Hope you enjoy it.

Good Morning Everybody :)

CONGRATULATIONS!
Anonymoniker :)
I am so very proud of you (((HUGS)))

Hi CriticalMass :)
Wishing you all the best in getting those allergies under control.
Good luck with your sewing project! :D

Hi Tatoulia :)
Glad you got to spend some time with your friends.
Sounds like a very healing visit for all involved. (((HUGS)))
I would love to have you hang your wash out on my line.
I feel so sorry for people who don't have access to fresh air dried laundry. :)

Taking it slow and easy today.
Yesterday I felt like stirring up a batch of chocolate chip pecan cookies.
Put the dough in the fridge and will bake them today. :D
When it warms up today I plan to wash my hair.
Doing one load of laundry today and plan to run the vacuum over the carpet.

Yesterday afternoon I was standing out front in my yard and a huge Hawk flew right over my head, landed on a tree branch near by and just sat there looking at me.
I talked to it for the longest time and when I went back inside it was still sitting right up there. ;D

~Good Morning, Everyone!~
CriticalMass, i hope you get strong & healthy before your surgery! There was a meme online about a lady bragging about her new dress having pockets & there were hundreds of comments from women wanting pockets! It got me re-thinking making & selling my dress design!
Today is my 8 year anniversary of quiting drugs, and im treating myself to a trip to lunch at a health retreat that has a raw vegan buffet! Im really excited! This day is a more special day to me than my birthday, cuz i actually accomplished something, rather than just being born...ha ha
~☆♡☆~I hope you all have a fun & fantastic day!~☆♡☆~ :D

Winding down for the night. It's been a crazy weekend but also some good stuff to report. I've been dealing for over a week with what I first thought was simply minor allergies. Somewhere in there it became a pattern of coughing fits. I am not a person who takes antibiotics lightly, though I was wondering, what with the surgery coming up, if it might come to that.

So I prayed about it - this was Thursday - and it came to me to hit it hard with my supplements and see. Felt some progress for two days. Today, the symptoms were more pronounced than yesterday, yet I still felt better in general and did some sewing on those pants pockets.

I think sleep will put me back in shape and get me through if I keep up with the vitamins and probiotics. The weather was rainy and I hope that will have cleansed the air of the allergens! I can breathe okay, it's just the stubborn postnasal drip and cough. My voice sounds worse than I actually feel.

Hope to have good news on this tomorrow, and maybe be finished sewing the pants as well.

Hello friends!

We had a cool autumn night--pretty nice. Glad I washed that blanket last week. And soon I'll have to pull out kitty blankets and freshen them up for my little friend.

Spent the day at my friend's house with his family. They are suffering and struggling with their child's death but we laughed and told stories and went for a walk and sipped tea. Pretty nice afternoon. I rarely visit with friends--generally running around with family and then I get too tired. I tend to socialize more during lunch than any other time. Even going somewhere after work tires me out, unless we are going to symphony or a lecture.

Anony, I am so proud of you for taking steps to have company over! Wonderful! Tillie I noticed at my friend's house they have a big yard and a clothesline. Next time I'm going to ask if I can bring some laundry to hang. That would make me so happy.

Running dishwasher and getting ready for bed.

Tatoulia, im so glad to hear about things improving with your brother, and that the kitty is also doing so well! It sounds like you are doing pretty good yourself, too! :D
Yesterday i got myself into semi-initiating having different people over here...one was as a possible pet care person, someone ive known for a while, then i told the lady who hosts our drum circle that id like to someday have some of the meetings at my place. I told her its not ready now. She kept insisting nobody would care(i would!) Her place is SIMPLY GORGEOUS!!! It is maybe the nicest place ive seen in my area in my 20 years here! Then, my friend who comes to a nearby town regularly for doctor appointments, who suggested we just stay outside & visit. I think that could work? Anyway, im kind of nervous about even the thought of it, but i really want & need to push things through to an acceptable level. Im gonna see if this new pressure i created helps...

Glad you are feeling better today, Tillie.

I have clean sheets and a good book loaded in the kindle, just showered and ready for bed. Feels like autumn and that makes me feel more alive.

I saw brother today without incident. He had cleaned his house after tearing it apart last week so I changed his sheets and started his laundry for him. Used four washers! He lets it pile up. I then took mom for a ride to get some fresh air. Spent some time at her apt too, with her little kitty, too, who is in fabulous shape and has completely recovered since her weightliss this summer.

Thinking of you all. I've decided I need to move about more and fill up my time more during the day. But for now, I'm going to bed.

Keep up the good work everyone. I took out two large bags of recyclables and did three loads of laundry today. Need to be in office on Monday (I really dislike going to the office on Mondays) so must do as much laundry as I can tomorrow as my next day home (fingers crossed) won't roll around til Wednesday. I know I do a lot of laundry every week but I have a small washer and dryer, and I don't like to overfill it. So the sheets for my bed take two separate loads. Cat laundry is done separately and I wear fresh pjs every night. So it adds up fairly quickly. My work clothes are a mix of dry clean and gentle washing.

So, my dears, that's what I was doing today and it felt good.

Correction: strong

Correction: strong

Hi all?!
Critical Mass, all the best with your invasion! You seem very stronge & grounded & your sense of humor will help you through it all, as well!
Tillie, i hope you get back to feeling good soon?! Catch up on much needed rest without feeling the need to accomplish anything.
Tatoulia, i hope you are feeling some comfort since your recent loss.
Ive been really wanting my place to be 'acceptable'to have people over this past few days. It is seeming more important to me, recently. Maybe just seeing it through their eyes....or thinking about seeing it through their eyes? Speaking of which, im gonna need reading glasses soon...this screen has gradually getten smaller...ha ha :D

Hi all?!
Critical Mass, all the best with your invasion! You seem very stronge & grounded & your sense of humor will help you through it all, as well!
Tillie, i hope you get back to feeling good soon?! Catch up on much needed rest without feeling the need to accomplish anything.
Tatoulia, i hope you are feeling some comfort since your recent loss.
Ive been really wanting my place to be 'acceptable'to have people over this past few days. It is seeming more important to me, recently. Maybe just seeing it through their eyes....or thinking about seeing it through their eyes? Speaking of which, im gonna need reading glasses soon...this screen has gradually getten smaller...ha ha :D

Thanks everyone for the support, it means so much. Tillie, glad you are feeling some relief. And everyone who is facing challenges which is all of us!

Planning all this stuff feels sort of like planning the Normandie Invasion only more complicated, LOL.

Sending you my love and prayers CM. I would clean a path for you in a heartbeat if you were close by. I'd be respectful and loving towards your things and I'd make sure you were ready with clean sheets and nighties.

I only skimmed the posts because while reading I noted that Tillie was cheering you on. Let me tell you, please by those FLUSHABLE (make sure flushable) wipes for using immediately once the cleanse begins. Worth every penny.

Praying for you and thinking of you. CM I would move mountains to help you get ready. For now please know we are all looking out for you.

Forgive me everyone for not reading your posts. Soon I will feel like myself again.

Tillie, im so glad it sounds like youre feeling better! YEA!!! :D
CriticalMass, you certainly do have some big things happening. When i am preparing for something im nervous about, i visualize it going smoothly, until that visualization becomes easy. That has always really helped me?!
Tonight is our womens drumming circle! Im excited to try some of the new beats ive learned this week!
~♡~Be Happy Homies!~♡~And Have Happy Homes!~♡~

Wow, everyone's dealing with a lot of stuff. I'll just pray for the entire lot of us, including myself, because I'm going through some stress anyhow. It may be less than some, more than others.

It's been a week since my CT scan and this week started off crazy - Monday trying to sew those pockets in those pants, frustrating because of not having a real sewing area where I live, and the pants themselves I wasn't sure which method to use to add pockets.

Then I got a little done with that, was feeling okay, did an art piece and felt really happy, then slumped again trying to decide what to have for supper. After supper I discovered a part broken off the TV and I just lost it. The stress of wondering about the surgery, a relative's cancer fight, and just "everything" underneath it all. I had a big fit and then felt horrible.

Fast forward to yesterday morning and my doctor appointment to find out the results. I am going to have to have "the BIG surgery" the first Friday in Oct. Will have to stay overnight 3-5 nights, though if I bounce which I usually do, he'll let me go as soon as possible. I was mentally blown away yesterday and still kind of brain foggy today.

So, all the cleaning and anticipation and supply getting, and the anxiety because I'll have to do (TMI warning, with apology in advance) the prep for bowels as a safety precaution since the surgery is in the abdomen. Ugh, ugh, ugh! My digestive system is touchy as it is, and I have been feeling decent lately, so it's really hard to think that I'm going to have to torture my own body with the nasty tasting stuff and its effects before the doctor even gets ahold of it, at which time I'll truly be a hurtin' cowpoke.

I am blessed with a really kind doctor though, and I'm trying to tell myself well, just think, this bigger surgery is a more permanent fix and I may never have to go through all the sickish feelings and pain once I'm healed up. If I'm truly lucky, it may even cure the tummy troubles I've had. It's just that right now I sort of feel like a scared baby and almost want to cry and scream, but I know nobody's gonna want to hear too much of that, so most of the time I'll have to put on my brave joking face and act like "Meh, no big deal."

I hope y'all don't mind me posting about this - it relates to clutter just in the sense of trying to deal with life when it whizzes by so fast and there's always something to deal with and while I'm dealing with the something the clutter is also needing to be dealt with. I have to make sure I can walk across the floor to my bed, etc. without tripping on stuff. So there's more need to deal with clutter, but so many brain cells are occupied with freaking out right now.