LR!!!! great to hear from you! Keep up the good work!!

Hi, everybody. Just checking in.

For a variety of reasons, I decided to do kind of a work-a-thon session this weekend on my vehicle. Might not be the best approach, but at least I did make some progress. I plan to work on it some more tomorrow.

Gonna keep this short, because I've been having some wrist issues lately that are made worse by writing. : ( Hugs to all.

Good Morning Everyone :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
YEA!!!
Music and motivation! :D
Hoping that coffee table has been conquered! :D
(((hugs!)))

Due to an accident my brother too had surgeries, crutches and eventually a cane.
He refused to accept having to use a cane all his life. He was 20 and I was 16 at the time.
We didn't have any physical therapists around so he and I together worked extremely hard until he could walk without the cane.
Then he did not want the limp, so we kept working until he could walk again with no noticeable limp.
It was very hard work that took a very long time to achieve what the doctors had said was impossible.

Many times in life we CAN do what seems impossible, if we are determined enough. :D

The weather here is insane.
Last week it was over 100 degrees.
Last few days it has dipped down into the 60s over night.
This morning I am shivering at 65 degrees and it's cloudy and dark.
Since it's the middle of June I am obstinate and refusing to turn on a heater.
Already took care of the friend's cats I am baby sitting.
Fed my own cats too.
Was planning to hose down the outside walls and wash the windows today, have all the supplies ready to do this.
But it's too freaking cold to play with the hose.
Maybe tomorrow?
Think today I will read the newest Stephen King book. :)


TTYS

Good morning--nearly afternoon here. Just finished my cup of coffee -- coffee clinks to all. Thinking of Roxie.

Cleaned off my coffee table last night and it looks beautiful. Still a large pile of papers that I didn't reach, they were pushed to my desk (which is always neat because I work on my desk during the days I am home). So I will have to deal with that pile of papers tonight or go to office tomorrow. Cannot work from home otherwise. I thought that was a clever way to deal with it.

I psychologically needed to see the coffee table clear, and that's why I chose to relocate the last remnants of the clutter off of it. Before I shower and go to pick up mom, I will sweep the area around the coffee table. And tonight while I watch the Tony Awards, I will power through the remaining pile.

Wishing you all a beautiful day. Check in when you can,

Brace yourselves: I've had an epiphany😀

I'm making real progress tonight (with a special thanks to Ray Charles for providing excellent accompaniment to my work) and I was thinking about my brother. Many years ago he had a series of surgeries and afterward he used a walker and eventually progressed to a cane. He refused physical therapy and other things that would have helped him get back on his feet. And one day he was complaining about the cane, and I said, well when you get sick enough of it you'll get rid of it.

I'm sick of my coffee table being buried under junk. I'm sick enough. Tonight's the night.

Hello! Saturday night and am home and just woke up from a nap. I haven't been sleeping well and the nap was fantastic. Doing laundry and going to change the sheets but I do not get a Way To Go for that because those are routine chores. Let's see what happens when I put on the music

Thought my 20s and 30s and part of 40/s I could have people drop by and I felt good about apt. Need to get back to that. I miss having a neat and clean house. I may have had too much stuff but I could have people in. No longer the case.

It sounds like both of you -- Tillie and Diane -- had great days.

Spent day with brother who was a little squirrelly (did not like that I'd been out of town) and now I just want to put on music and clean. I think I left my phone in the car so at least I won't be fooling around on that tonight. I have iPad but will switch on some tunes and see if I can't putter a bit.

Good Morning Everyone :)

Hi Diane :)
WAY TO GO!!! for all you did! :D
Makes me sad to read that you felt the need to use clutter to keep people out of your home.
A home is our sanctuary away from the rest of the world's people and troubles.
What I do whenever some person who is not a close friend (I have three close friends) drops by is to step out on the porch, close the door behind me and talk to them outside.
Often they ask "may I come in?" and I simply say "NO".
Not because I am ashamed of the way my home looks, which I'm not, but because I do not like random people inside my private personal sanctuary.
When I am working on a project the items needed to do it are out where I can use them.
It's not a mess or clutter. It is a work in progress.
Only after the project is finished do I put the stuff away where it belongs.
If the project takes a few days to complete, the counter and table and floor where I am working needs to be gathered up over night or the cats will get into it all and make a mess of it but I just gather it up and set the stuff aside, not put away.
We live in our homes, random drop by visitors do not. No need to live our lives always trying to please them. (((HUGS)))

It has cooled off here. Last night I got chilly and had to close the window.
Finally back down to normal temperatures for this time of year, 70s to low 80s.
Yesterday I thought there was not enough time to do all the things I wanted to do, but I was wrong.
My space heaters for wintertime are getting old and I wanted to pick up new ones.
The Naval Air Station here has wonderful, generous people who donate all household stuff when they transfer out.
This time of year there are new, even unused space heaters donated.
I bought an electric radiator for 5 dollars and found an Edenpur space heater for 10 dollars.
So I am all ready for next winter! :D
Watered the trees and flowers when I got back home.
Saw neighbor friends off on their trip.
Did one load of laundry.
Watched a movie.
Visited neighbor's house and played with and gave snacks to their cats.
It was a good day. :)

Thanks so much T&T, Tat and Tillie. It became very clear that I have been trying to please my helper. She said she has always been uncomfortable if anything is out of place in her house and that is why she makes sure it is perfect before she goes to bed at night. I felt so bad for 2 days, then I told her I was trying to please her and not even aware what pleases me. I said you have always been organized, I have spent over 60 years unable to organize and it is unrealistic to think I am going to do perfection now and probably never. She reminded me I need house ready daily in case someone drops by. I said my family never had company and I have used clutter as a reason to keep people away, until clutter buried me. I now need to know what I need to be comfortable. Tillie reading your post, I do want "good enough", and allow myself lots of time to go where I want with who I want, or just by myself, which I prefer usually. I was aware today that I am usually doing some fixit project and need to put stuff away when done, but not while doing project.
I got up this morning and sorted two boxes more of stationary, cutesie stuff and was able to donate, toss most of it, still see I want to get rid of more. I washed some containers that were left in the yard. Finished cleaning out all drawers in the desk, was able to let go of stuff I did not see a need for. Felt quite successful. Sat down to relax and saw some things that need to be put away, then said it is good enough for now. Thanks for all the support

Diane, I agree--it is time-consuming and energy-zapping to be a hoarder. There are definitely times where I feel like it's futile and I come here and I post and I read until I find myself moving a little. Tonight I am actually disgusted with myself for fooling around on the Internet (what a time thief!) instead of doing stuff. So I took the last five minutes to shred some papers and to start the dishwasher. I'm not sure if I feel better, I am just so frustrated, but I did those things and those things are better than nothing. And now I am enjoying some kitty lovings, and that's nice too. I think you still have a dog with you right now, and that dog thinks you are perfect.

I think you are a perfect friend and a terrific person. So let's hold onto that for today and see what tomorrow brings. I know we can do it. I am so proud of all you have done and I support you in your rock-hunting excursion! I have thought about petrified wood since a child and although I've seen a piece here or there, I am positively green with envy that you have it at your fingertips. Keep up the good work--we are all in this together.

And Tillie--I was so happy to read your post and the descriptions of your life. So wonderful. It is very cool here on the East and if it never warmed up, I'd be so happy. I think I mentioned before that the clutter in my house gets me particularly upset during the hot and humid summer.

Thanks Tat, very helpful to ask how can I make this room better. Still having a tough time today, feel immobilized. To pick up a sock or do recycling is a big deal when we are down on ourselves. tomorrow may be more productive, being a hoarder is really overwhelming

Diane please don't call yourself a failure--please don't do that in front of me. YES I am guilty of calling myself stupid and a loser but I cannot have you say that about yourself. You are wonderful and industrious and hard working and inspiring. And I think the world of you, as do many, many other people.

That said, I know all too well that feeling. I sit here in my filthy house and question my worth Isn't that terrible? I can spend this time wondering why I even bother and then I think, what can I do to improve this room? And sometimes the answer is big, and sometimes it's small. Today when I picked up a sock off my bathroom floor that was small (although for the length of time that it stayed there, it may actually belong in the big column hah!). And now I am taking my recyclables out. That too is small. But I see what little thing I can do everytime I stand up and leave one room for another. Just because I'm leaving the room anyway, why not pick up the pencil or this or that and dispose.

Mail and paper; absolute bane of my existence.

Much love to all.

Hi everyone.
Yesterday my helper came here. She was very gentle pointing out how my not doing maintenance has made it look messy in here. I joked it off but felt so full of shame. We got some stuff done. we finally fixed my old toilet with new parts I bought, now has new seat and a handle that works. Was going to replace toilet but now is ok. Took the dog I am taking care of for a walk and started feeling better. I have to confess. A mobile home a few blocks from here had to be removed because of black mold. A developer bought property and will not develop land for over a year. Old renters had do not trespass sign all over the acre of land. So since he is gone and I had to see if the cool rocks were still there, in I went. Another neighbor came over and we dug up all the petrified wood. He assured me the new owner is fine with us taking rocks, will just flatten land to develop. This morning I washed all my beauties, some really great rocks. Point is I can work for 3 hours digging up rocks, another 3 hours washing them yet I act like it is too much work to clean the floors. Doing maintenance is still so foreign to me, have started doing dishes daily, and keeping laundry done, leaving mail and other paperwork all over is another story. Also covering up windows with a bunch of stuff to keep heat out, really messed it up in here
same with tools and fix it stuff, start stuff, leave it undone, start something else. Yesterday felt so bad about myself, today feeling more hopeful, yet have not done much in side today. Without this group, I really think I would give up. Last year I told Tilly, I have never seen anyone on this site ever stay organized, so then gave up. Well with help this year, I have made huge progress, but still not able to finish letting go of some stuff, and leaving stuff out in here as well as in the yard. I am definitely afraid I will fail again this year.

Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Steve :)
Good luck with your important meeting with the attorney.
Hope you get some sort of help from it.

Hi Tatoulia :)
Bet your cat is very happy you are back home.
We're happy to see you too! :D
WAY TO GO!!! getting the laundry done, folded and put away!
Good luck getting the gifts wrapped and taken care of.

Hi Diane :)
Hope by now that desk is all cleaned and sorted out.
We need to keep that rock room a wonderful place for you to spend time in. :D
Even if fruit smoothies is all you care to have during this oppressive heat that's ok.
You make them fresh yourself, so they are healthy.
Did you find help in getting the old desk out of your yard?
If all else fails, you can always tear it apart into easier to manage pieces. (((hugs)))

Yesterday was really busy. Up & running early to beat the heat.
Drove to town, bought groceries and was back home before 9:00am.
Put stuff away, prepped some food, cleaned the kitchen.
Had long visit with neighbor friend. I will be baby sitting their 3 cats and watching over their house starting Friday while they are away.
Yesterday evening I had to get out and water a bunch of my plants & grass once it started to cool down.
Darn mosquitos are vicious out there. :(
Hoping today is a calmer, less busy day for me. :)

TTYL :)

I ended up doing tons of laundry tonight--and sticking with my newly formed habit of folding and putting away. I also emptied and refilled dishwasher--I am consistently amazed that it only takes five minutes. More astonishing--that I still occasionally let the dishes pile up. No real cleaning or purging today but am glad to get the laundry done.

I will vacuum and dust tomorrow. Also have two gifts to wrap. One then needs to be mailed. I must get this done. I will feel a sense of accomplishment.

Hello everyone!

I am back from my trip--and thankfully today is cool, sunny, dry, etcetera. No humidity, so I'm able to do laundry and other things without turning into a limp rag. Getting laundry done and going to do some other things--will report back later.

Hoping everyone is well and want you to know I'm thinking of you. Sending special thoughts your way, Steve, as you face the struggles in front of you.

Each hoarding situation is of course unique, but the case of my brother has a few "extras". Namely, that I had to do preemptive action today and buy a gun box worth nearly $200 and go to our hoarded family home and secure the gun. This is because there is a meeting with the lawyer for my mother's trust (and my brother is the trustee) and this is an important meeting in which some serious problems are going to be addressed and I didn't want him either blowing himself away or going to work and doing violence there.

This is a brother who nearly killed himself with the gun eight years ago and also nearly strangled a guy to death because he was swindled out of some drugs about 9 or 10 years ago. He has also told me on a few occasions that one day, if he were pushed too far, I might see him "on the 6 o'clock evening news." He later denied ever saying anything like this, but I remember the last time he said it. It was outside the hospital in the weeks leading up to our mother's death.

He most certainly can buy his own gun, but that takes time. Now he cannot go get it in a heat of passion. Unfortunately I am in circumstances where I could not just take it. But I did take the bullets as an extra precaution.

Too many shootings happen because family members don't look for the signs and don't think ahead.

I am glad that at least that is out of the way. But I will hopefully feel better once the meeting is over tomorrow. It is going to be rough.

Is this board like Twitter or something? Longer posts can't get through.

I am with you Tillie, want the cool morning to last all day, this heat is a bit much day after day. Had big plans to get stuff done in here today, and all I have done today is water outside plants. Black hole describes my life today, have windows all covered and recovered, very little light in here. Did keep up on dishes, ate healthy breakfast, few and far between lately. Tillie reminded me of my fruit smoothies, just seeing her post, so will have that today too. Plan is to clean desk from craft closet that is now in rock room. Hauled rock room desk outside, need help getting it out of yard. Today I was thinking of nailing it back together to use as a painting table, then said, yard has enough junk still in it. Good news is garbage can is almost full. ok, will make a smoothie and clean that desk. It was in craft room closet for 20 years and is really filthy and have to clean out stuff in drawers, did get rid of some of it, but drawers are still on floor. Once I clean it and have drawers back in, rock room will be good again. So happy there are other posters on here, especially old faithful.

Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Diane :)
So happy your friend had air conditioning! :D
WTG! for tossing old firewood tarps. It will be nice having new ones for next winter. :)

Got everything watered yesterday.
Did two loads of laundry.
Then fell into a black hole and just wandered around aimlessly the rest of the day.
Hoping that today I can keep my mind focused and actually do some of the things I want to do.
Beautiful cool morning with a lovely little breeze.
Wish mornings like this could last all day. :)

Hello all.
I woke up too early today again. Watered trees this morning. Took all the plastic and tarps off the firewood in the yard and restacked some wood that fell off. Actually put tarps and plastic in garbage can, normally would keep those for next winter. A friend asked me to meet her at a lake she was camped at to kayak. Poor directions given, so took way too long to find her. It was 101 degrees when I got there, so we sat in her trailer with air conditioner on and had a fun chat. Life does not always go as planned.

Good Morning Everyone :)

Hi Diane :)
WAY TO GO!!! weed whacking! :D
Wildfire season is starting early this year, so glad you're making yourself safer.
Once the new windows are installed it will be fun to put up new window treatments.
You are a "normal" person who just struggles with certain thought processes.
You think in terms more like Rube Goldberg in problem solving. ;D (((hugs)))

Hi Anonymoniker :)

Hello Louise :)

Hi Karl :)
Happy you got to get your free donut!
I would have had to drive 75 miles to get to a donut shop so I figured it wouldn't be worth it.
WAY TO GO! getting the floor clear as possible for the maid!
Hope the sunburn heals fast. :)

Been up since 4am.
For some reason I keep waking up too early and can't get back to sleep.
Will get outside and water while it's still cool.

Hi - found this board on my phone and thought posted but guess it didnt. I really need some help. Have a lot of issues but just need to know where and how to start. I sell on eBay so my inventory aka "stuff" is doubly hard for me to identify. Thanks so much

Hello to all! I am amazed how much each of you actually get done?!! You should all give yourselves lots of credit for accomplishing so much!!! ~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~

I spent hours last night sorting clips for putting shades up, I have a hoard of them. Most do not fit the shades I want to put up, parting with them has not been easy, well after sorting for hours and not finding the right size made me rethink shades and clips. I keep things in the garage until they are dirty, missing pieces. Thank goodness my shopping addiction has ceased for now. I bought new shades, but never put them up, still have the blinds from 20 years ago on windows, I finally realized, once new windows are in, will be the time to put up new shades. Shades from garage are in living room, big step will be to donate them. I want to keep them and order clips, but they are probably not worth it. The main reason I am describing this, is to say I am a hoarder, and it takes me hours to figure these things out, and I am beginning to realize a normal person would have all of the shades,clips and blinds donated already, or even more, would never have bought them until ready to install.

Hi everyone
Tillie, thanks for update on your life. Especially the $5 sale. Good reminder of all the things I have thought had value, that I donated, time and energy not wasted on trying to sell stuff no one wants to pay for. This morning I started weed whacking at 6:45 and was done at 9:30am, beat the heat. Fire marshal came by, not sure why, maybe someone reported my tall weeds, well they are chopped off at the knees now. Sad part is, I wasted 2 long days pulling weeds, cause I didn't want to whack. Once I saw how much quicker it was to whack, hope I keep whacking, just get caught up in old behaviors and avoid doing important things, weeding, do not have to make decisions, sorting piles, have to make decisions. Dishes are done, laundry caught up, air conditioner keeping it cool in here. Today my day will be pretty low key, going to cut some pieces of insulation to put in windows. Nurse Jackie, House of Cards, Mad Men will be entertaining me today. Dog arrived at 8:30 this morning, so will have company to watch shows with.
It will be in high 90's for next 3 days, so will be inside most of the time.

Good Morning Everyone :)

Hi CriticalMass :)
The work table sounds very handy and having items stored elsewhere in totes should really help in keeping the table clear for other projects. :)
May I suggest that before you invest in buying specialty totes you first use grocery store boxes until you see how this works out, then buy exactly the totes you need. :)

Hi Diane :)
WAY TO GO!!! for all your decluttering! :D
Happy you stayed in out of the heat. I stayed in watching movies all day yesterday with the cooler running.


At the swap meet he sold one item for five dollars.
His friend sold one item for ten dollars.
This is a small community so there were only three other vendors.
A woman selling the usual swap meet household stuff, a beekeeper selling his honey and a crazy old hippy chick selling her craft/art creations.
Another woman was supposed to be there but she was a "no-show".
At 11:00am they all started packing up to leave.
He said there were a lot of people who came by looking at his stuff but they didn't even ask questions about anything he had.
He is confused as to why nobody wanted it.

Another hot day here so I will stay in again.
Supposed to get back down to normal temperatures for this time of year soon.

:)

Morning!

Lots to tackle here - had temporarily moved a bunch of my good sewing stuff and priority projects (altering capri pants for the summer for example), into other parts of the house so we could get an upright freezer put in. Now I get to figure out how to deal with it in a way that it will not clutter up this family room where both my friend who owns the house and I do our various activities.

The good part is that now we also have put in a nice worktable. The rule is that my works in progress can't live there. Hence the need for portability. I need to see what kinds of totes I may need to purchase - hopefully not too many. And how to put them elsewhere without elsewhere becoming horribly cluttered. Therein lies the big challenge. But again, the work surface will enable me to get through a lot of the "pending" much more quickly and efficiently. Then there will be fewer containers in general. At least that's the plan!

Hello all
Tillie how did the truck come home from flea market? Empty I hope, but guess it is fuller than when he left this morning.
Hot weather is not my friend, so I went to the library this morning and checked out several dvd's and am escaping into fantasy land. So happy I have window air conditioner. I have all the windows covered, trying to keep heat out, will be nice when I get new windows.
I thought of you Tillie, every time I threw away something this week, things I would normally try to find a use for. I had plans to do more this weekend, and hope tomorrow I will get more done.

LOL, Tillie, I wish I knew how to prioritize. Having ADHD and a zillion interests makes prioritizing kind of like asking a squirrel not to zip around in trees and collect nuts (and bury them and forget where she put them)! And I'm behind on my various projects, to boot. However, I will persevere... ;)

Anonymoniker, sorry about the breakup but so glad you're here among us, as a long-ago breakup was one of the things that sent me spiraling into hoarding. I was already heading there, though; the breakup merely accelerated the process. But stick with us and we'll help you keep on an even keel. Doing good things for yourself is the best way to heal.

Good Morning Everybody :)

LR2014
Hoping you and your friends and family are safe.
(((HUGS)))

"CLINK!" Roxie (((hugs)))

Hi Anonymoniker :)
Good luck getting your car straightened out.
I am totally useless when it comes to helping heal broken hearts, please forgive me. :)
But when it comes to grieving, I always throw myself into projects wholeheartedly to help me get through the tough times. (((HUGS)))

Today it is predicted that we will break the records for hottest day this time of the year.
Should get into the low 100s.
His friend rented a space at the local flea market for today.
Last night he spent many hours digging through his stuff and loading up the truck with stuff he wants to try and sell along side his friend.
Every time he has tried to sell anything before nothing sold because he demands too high a price and won't negotiate with the buyers.
Curious to see if his friend can influence him to be more realistic about the value of his stuff.
He is mad at me because he could not locate some items he wants to try selling because "evil me" makes him keep his stuff in the garage, carport and yard and not in the house.
I can live with that ;D

Take care and stay safe

Hi all! Im barely hanging in there from this break up. Yesterday i got my car back from the shop & it is totally torn up inside cuz they had to take the dash board out. All of my 26 years of sentimental rocks & feathers, etc., are on the floor. It will be a huge project getting it all clean & put (mostly) back. In a way it will be nice to have it in better shape.....hopefully, itll feel so nice that itll push me to do more in tbe house. Im just barely able to function over the devistation from my broken heart...i have to focus on something to feel better...best wishes to all of you in your endeavors! ~☆~☆~☆~

Hi all! Im barely hanging in there from this break up. Yesterday i got my car back from the shop & it is totally torn up inside cuz they had to take the dash board out. All of my 26 years of sentimental rocks & feathers, etc., are on the floor. It will be a huge project getting it all clean & put (mostly) back. In a way it will be nice to have it in better shape.....hopefully, itll feel so nice that itll push me to do more in tbe house. Im just barely able to function over the devistation from my broken heart...i have to focus on something to feel better...best wishes to all of you in your endeavors! ~☆~☆~☆~

Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Diane :)
Sounds so lovely! You need to get out there as often as you can.
WAY TO GO! getting the air conditioner set up. :D
Be ruthless with those remaining piles this weekend.
Attack them viciously, make them leave you alone. (((hugs)))

Hi CriticalMass :)
WAY TO GO! FANTASTIC! that you are keeping that old van running! :D
Your hot weather sewing project sounds great.
Good luck with it! :D
When things get hectic remember to prioritize tasks, do the most important ones first.
Hang in there (((hugs)))

Need to do some food prep today. Yesterday all I ate was about a pound of strawberries. LOL
Bees are still buzzing loudly in the tree, still don't see a hive, just a thousand bees.
Scooter threw up his breakfast, "heavy sigh" he just eats too fast. :(
Will water flowers & herbs outside later this evening.
This weekend I am planning to layout and cut my next sewing project. Another dress.

:D

Hey everyone, I have missed you! Can't believe it's been almost a month. Been thinking for several days I've just GOT to post something on here so y'all won't think I died. And so I remember I can come here and get inspiration to keep going on my decluttering.

May was another of those disjointed months with a lot of this and that, some of which I can't even recall but that got me fragmented and distracted. I'm still waiting for "closure" on the repairs to my van. Over a year ago I started dealing with many things an almost 30-year-old vehicle needs worked on. But it's been running better and better. I have a great mechanic who will fix a small part or component first to see if that works before saying I have to replace the whole (whatever). And he knows my situation and cuts me some price breaks.

But now it has become apparent that the hesitation in the fuel system isn't just about the filters, lines, etc. I do need a new fuel pump. Going to get that today. Fortunately with this old a vehicle, it's a cheaper pump, a manual one.

But I will need tires soon and the driver's side window is stuck shut, needs a new motor. And taxes and tag in July. And then THAT BETTER BE IT FOR AWHILE!!!

Today is payday; it's sad to have so much of it spoken for before it even arrives but what can a person do? At home we've rearranged and got a new freezer. I'll be able to have more nutritious food even on my tight budget. Hot days will be upon us soon, but I'll do what I can with the storage unit and getting rid of more stuff. When it's really hot I hope to be inside sewing and finishing doll clothes that I will then get an Etsy shop or something to sell. Right now the in-progress ones are in tubs in the van, and I'd like to get those out of there.

So it's kind of piecemeal, all of it, which I don't like, as I'm a big-picture person and a frustrated perfectionist, but I'll live!

Hello everyone.
Tillie sounds like you got your mojo back! Cute.
the 90's hit here Saturday, today was under 80 so I went for a drive in the National Forest, made me feel rich, knowing we own the forest. I explored a mountain I had never been on before, most was so wonderful except the 1 lane dirt road at the top several miles, actually was afraid, went slow. Stopped several places and enjoyed the stream, clean air, greenery, wild flowers in bloom. Really a pretty area. I have stayed home for days, so felt I had to get out before heat hits. I did get the window air conditioner in yesterday when it was hot, so am ready for the weekend. I am planning to work on the remaining piles this weekend.

Hi Everybody :)

Woke up at 4am today and got a lot of things done before it got too hot.
Even went into town and bought food for me and the cats.
Stopped by a thrift shop, nothing there I needed or even wanted. :D
97 degrees in the shade on the back porch!
I have freezer pops in the freezer now.;)
Last week we still needed the heater on early morning, not any more.

TTYL :)

Good Moring Everyone :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
I bet you are right, it is a tie. :D
Have a safe trip.
Diane is doing GREAT! isn't she. :D
Hope all your worries are fewer and easier ones to eliminate soon. (((HUGS)))

8:00am here.
Soon as I post this I'm going out to water while it's still cool.
Got a lot caught up on yesterday until I got a migraine and lost my mojo. :(
Much better this morning. :D

Wishing you all a wonderful and happy June! :D

Hello everyone!

Anony, everything dies feel like a chore when we are mourning--whether the loss of a person, a pet, or a relationship. Treat yourself well and be sure to eat well and stay hydrated. You will feel better. I promise.

Tillie, you are so smart and so intuitive! And Diane, your creativity with the closet and room is wonderful! You found a way to use the space in a way that makes sense! Nice teamwork, ladies.

My "teamwork" is not so productive--was under an extreme amount of pressure on Saturday, which was coupled with a very hot (miserable for me--no tolerance for any type of heat) day. I had so many worries that in the AM I had forgotten how many I had.

Well I'm packing for a trip now. Kitty will go to stay at BF's house. I wish I were going to come home to a clean house, but I won't be. My own fault and no one but mine. I don't know which is worse, Tillie, a mess due to self or due to someone else. I bet it's a tie.

Take good care of yourselves.

Good Morning :)

Hi Anonymoniker :)

Hi Diane :)

Just a quick drive-by...
He's back to work so I have millions of catching ups to do.
Doing laundry and juggling cats right now.
Bees are still buzzing busily in that tree.
Cooler has a new blower motor installed! :D
So much to do I think I can't get it all done but will just keep at it and see how far I can get. :D

TTYL :)

~Hello to all!~My fridge is being fixed & all these photos are all over the sides that i hadnt seen for decades...it bothers me even more because im run down from this boyfriend break up....

Hello everyone.
Tillie sorry to hear nothing got done this weekend by hoarder, and hot weather----difficult without cooling system. Is heating up here too, will get up to 90's but not til the weekend.
I have been clearing junk off deck so they can get to the other windows. I was remembering how nice that deck was 2 years ago, and how it turned into a hoard in just a year. A bunch of stuff to create shade cause deck gets so hot in summer. Well it may have been shaded, but only a very skinny mouse could fit out there to enjoy shade. Goat path is getting wider and windows can be reached now. There is a big chiropractic table out there that I bought at a garage sale many years ago, plan was to prop up back half and have it as a large recliner, well it is a big piece of junk now, too heavy to toss off deck, trying to move it today, was very award how weird it was that I brought that home and got it up on deck. Got drill out to unscrew things so can get it gone, just too tired right now, at least there is progress. Dog goes home at 4 and think I will do more then.

Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Diane :)
That closet will look even bigger and brighter all painted white.
Your rock room sounds so lovely, a place where I would like to spend a lot of time.
I think your plan for that windowless room is right on target.
I guess I was right, it's that room that was causing the hold up.
No proper layout or natural light to help inspire you to spend time in there. :)
(((hugs)))


Well, he has accomplished nothing this weekend.
Hoping today he will do some very needed stuff around here.
Yesterday the blower motor on the cooler burned out.
It will be hot again here today. We need that replaced ASAP.
There's lots of other things needing attention too.
I will not hold out any hope that he will turn off his computer and actually do something.

If the cooler is not fixed today, tomorrow I will fix it with the help of my neighbor.
It's not right that my neighbor always has to come help me fix things.

This morning I have a large swarm of honey bees buzzing in my tree. Hope they are not deciding to stay there.
If they are nesting there I will call the bee keeper and see if he can capture the hive. :D
The bees here are gentle and sometimes they will swarm and start new colonies away from the bee keeper's hives.

TTYS :)

Thanks for your post Tillie, nope I stayed home today. Had the brilliant idea if I took everything out of closet with window and finished painting it white, taking several coats on that dark brown paneling. Turns out the closet is bigger than I thought, continued painting this morning until a little while ago. I moved big wooden desk into rock room and took out the desk that was in rock room. Desk fell apart while I was taking it out of rock room, gives you a clue how well it was made. The old desk I moved in there is solid with fold up flap, so much neater looking. Rock room has wood things in it, all rocks and natural looking things. Craft room is going to be mostly white, so desk fits in rock room better. Put fabrics wool etc in bins stacked in corner with white bookcase from closet, in front of them. Now that closet is empty, I realized that is the only area in that room that I like being in, because it has a window. My current plan is to leave closet empty and only have a table and sewing machine in there. Easy when they come to replace window. I want to try leaving closet empty except for table and project I am creating. Stuff will be stored in the windowless room. I think I will feel more creative in an empty closet than that big room with all the stuff. My plan is to discover what I enjoy creating at this stage of my life and see that an empty room is better. My dream is that I will be able to get rid of the stuff in the bins this winter if I have no interest in using it. All beads are stored neatly in room, will take what I want into closet and put them back in room when done. Just do not want to spend another minute sorting right now. I feel really good about my current plan to have that closet my work area for crafts.

Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Diane :)
Wonderful idea sorting the keepers into nicer containers! :D
You have been doing a GREAT job of maintaining the clear areas of your home so I have no doubts whatsoever that you can and will remember to put craft stuff away there too. (((hugs)))
One trick that I use to clean up and put craft stuff away when I'm done is that I have it organized in a way that putting it away is easy.
Everything has it's designated spot to go to.
Same method we used to help get your clothes put away. Remember we fist had to clear the closets and drawers of unwanted/unneeded items?
Then it was easy to put away your clothes that you like and wear. ;)
I'm really hoping you are off somewhere nice today taking it easy and relaxing.
Are you getting to play with the dogs enough?
Dogs know how to play, relax, laugh and just enjoy being in the moment. :D

The stuff is still right where it has been for far too long.
He is off somewhere, probably with his head stuck in dumpsters.

My neighbor Friends have their house up for sale.
They are retired and plan to spend some years traveling the country in their super nice RV.
Anyways....
She informed me that she will be having a yard sale soon and I have to get my sellable items together and join the sale.
So far I have looked and looked and can't find much because her last yard sale I got rid of a lot.
She is making me a severe minimalist! ;D
Nice thing is that she also gives me things that I enjoy and use all the time.
A glider rocking chair, a water cooler that dispenses both hot and cold water, a super nice clothes drying rack and lots of other useful and beautiful items. :)

TTYS :)

Tillie, you are such an inspiration on a balanced life, you get your work done, do crafts, play in yard, relax. Yes, my big rock room is so wonderful, big, good light, pine wood on ceiling and in bathroom. Instead of forcing myself to use craft room, makes more sense to take projects in there or on deck, or in living room. Trick is to put things away when not in use so I don't go back to the mess I was living in. Thanks for all of your thoughtful suggestions. I was really feeling alone and like there is no end in sight, then read your post and feel you really understand. Also you said previously that it is never done. I just need to finish that room, clear the stuff from walkway, and deck then focus on maintenance and outings. Next week I planned my first overnight in pickup, dog here through Monday, Dog again Friday.
Well my outing Tu-Th is in question, going to be over 90 degrees. Today is ideal weather for outing. Ok, Will go on a day outing tomorrow, so I get at least an outing while weather is nice.

Tillie you are so right, perhaps it is the windowless room and not the stuff. They blocked off the windows when they added on the extra room, and put a junky window in the closet. I had to pry open the window to get air in there, did it without breaking it, it is a real piece of junk, lots of spiders and bugs along the window where it does not fit, no wonder I have not been in there in 20 years. I have 3 walls painted, started painting in the windowed closet, it is that trailer fake brown paneling that has never been painted, it is difficult even with 2 coats. The bedroom itself I had painted 20 years ago and it still takes 2 coats. I feel like I am wasting time if I don't use it. Got up at 5:30am past 2 days to get early start on room, and the anxiety that goes with it. There is still too much stuff. I went out in garage first thing and got clear storage containers out that match and washed them all out in the yard. Now felted wool is in all different things, that do not match, storage plastic bags that look ugly, a white bowed corregated box, and lots of other stuff. I now need to decide what things I will actually use and get rid of the rest. I am exhausted already today, well it has been about 9 hours of work, and paint fumes, so I instantly think I should go somewhere. Then read your post, and realized, I will be much happier reading a book on my deck, cleared off one section where lounger is. I never allow myself to relax, so today I will give it a try, even though there is so much still to do.
Sounds like your kind request worked to have him haul stuff to dump. Will he agree to use paint or get rid of it? I still have too much paint and am finally realizing I will never use some of the colors, have donated some, and still need to let go.

Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Anonymoniker :)
(((hugs)))
So sorry you are going through this, wish there were magic words to make it all better. :(

Hi Diane :)
I LOVE the look of empty freshly painted walls! :D
Wishing you all the luck in the world that soon you will break through this road block. (((HUGS)))
Maybe, just maybe, it is just simply that room.?
Maybe you never will ever like spending time in that room. ?
Maybe it sucks all the creativity and motivation out of you. ?
Maybe there is another spot in your home where you would rather spend your time actually doing the crafts. ?
I prefer to do crafts in other places even though all my craft supplies are kept/stored in my little room.
Sewing machine on the dining room table, other things like doll house on the kitchen counter, hand sewing & beading while sitting on the couch.
If After the carpenters finish and you have painted you still don't like spending time in that room, it could very well be the room. :)

This morning as he was emptying the truck of his latest dumpster dive treasures I spoke to him about all the stuff cluttering half the driveway.
He agrees that it is all just trash and he said he will make room in the truck to haul it off to the dump.
His "new" treasures is 5 gallon buckets of paint, more than 8 of them.
Ugly shades of browns and green. :(
Anyways...
today I am doing 2 loads of laundry, watering the lilac hedge and otherwise just hanging out and relaxing.

Everybody have a safe and fun holiday weekend. :)