Hello, hello, hello...

Hi Dave :)
When it comes to footwear I only worry about having the proper shoes/sandals/boots for the coming season.
They need to be in a style acceptable to me but most of all they can not hurt my feet in any way or they are out of here.
Here is my method...
at the end of summer I evaluate my sandals and decide if they are good enough to store away for next summer or if they are too worn out to last another season.
Good enough ones get saddle soaped and stored in a hanging shoe bag/organizer.
Too worn out shoes get tossed.
Same method is used for other seasonal shoes too.
Since I only have two feet and will not live for another hundred years, I feel that at all times I have enough footwear to around to keep me on my feet. ;)

Hi Tatoulia :)
Thank you for your wonderful, inspiring and moving post.
That was a very hard journey you took to let go of so much but you gained so much more. (((HUGS)))

Hi Diane :)
WAY TO GO!!! for all you did and for stopping painting when it was "good enough"! :D
Call the tax person. Get that over with. I hate tax stuff. ;)
How is your tree perch coming along?

Woke up today at 4:00am & couldn't get back to sleep.
It was actually 5:00am but my body is still working on the pre DST schedule.
When the sun comes up I will get dressed and make my bed.
Need to wash some dishes and run the vacuum.
Cats are staring at me, wanting canned food breakfast.
Yesterday the yellow jacket wasps woke up and were flying about. :(
Thinking today I will just wander around doing finishing touches to projects here & there.
Stuff like better places to hang bird feeders, where to place bird baths and other yard decorations.

Take time to appreciate the little treasures in life today. :)

Dave, boots, I will spend the next few days matching up boots and get back to you with a number of pairs. I actually have abouit 5 pair of boots, and rarely wear boots. Unless snow is deep I wear regular shoes, maybe that is why I have had frost bit toes 2 years in a row. With all the sox and boots, why would I go outside with regular shoes. How many pairs of boots do you actually wear? How about wearing each pair one day this week, then get rid of any that don't feel terrific on your feet.

So Diane,
I really am having trouble thinking about some boots. How many pairs of boots do you keep about?

Tat,
Thank you for your encouragement. You are reminding me that when I drop my anger and find the right ways to see, I will be able to do the things I need to do.

Your encouragement also encourages me in the process of offering some encouragement to others.

Hello everyone, thanks for sharing your personal struggles, helps me understand you better, and like you more!!
Tillie good thing I do not have your phone number, would have called today, got into my compulsive painting in kitchen. Once one thing was done, noticed others looked dingy, on and on I went, had to finally stop myself, it is good enough, no more painting in here this week. Put all knobs back on cabinets. Tomorrow is last nice day, and do not want to spend it in here sniffing fumes.
Washed dishes, cooked some food, took tarp off wood, organized a few things. Telephoned and chatted with two friends today. Forgot to call and make tax person, on my list daily, and forgot again.
So happy to have this group to work with, helps so much.
Dave you are finally really facing things as they are, hooray. It is difficult to part with our beloved junk.. Tat reading of your valuables you donated, was a wake up call for me to get rid of more junk, if you can get rid of grandpa made desk. So amazed at all you let go of. Tillie, always love to hear what you are up to.

Diane! How I wish you'd come here for a birthday lobster! Mom and I haven't done that yet but will in the next week or two.

Hello everyone else! Now on to Dave:

Dave you may know that I cleaned out an entire storage space, filled top to bottom, front to back. Treasures. Every single minute of it. Mom's oriental rugs, the desk my grandpa made, old sheet music from the 40s, etc. box upon box upon box. And all I can tell you is I got through it. And the more urgently I worked on it, the easier it was to let go. Scads of bed linens in beautiful shape. Duvets, comforters, bedspreads. My great grandmother's rocker. Stuff everywhere. Ultimately I got rid of most. Donations. Gave some important stuff to sister. Everything else is gone. Books, everything you can imagine. And I let it go. It was doing me no good, I touched each thing a final time, offered it to my sister, and then donated the rest. At one point we came across a baby portrait of yours truly and it is in a sterling frame. And for the first time ever, my boyfriend said something. He said, this is what you should have in your house, not the other stuff. Dave, I did it. I became like a machine. My sister(estranged for my entire life) came and helped, my brother (very, very Iill) helped. We all came together and got it done. An at-risk youth who we mentor took an entire day to do something really hard for me. He asked no questions and made no comments and said we didn't need to pay him(we paid him). Another neighbor took one of my childhood ceramic cats, I couldn't let it go (although I was able to get rid of lots of them). She took it off my hands. I just did it with a sense of urgency, which lead to a sense of accomplishment and at the end of the day, relief. I was single-minded.

I am making it sound easier than it was. But somewhere near the midpoint, when my brother offered up closet space, I said nah, let's just get rid of it (whatever it was). I honestly feel relieved and anxiety free. I find my overall life anxiety is better. I drive by the storage facility and instinctively hang my head with anxiety, shame and a sense of failure. As soon as I remember I'm free and done, I feel terrific. It's like I didn't realize how much it hurt til the pain stopped. I will support you in any way you need support.

Much love to everyone here.

I had a purpose for the list thing that didn't go where I wanted it to go. I am going to have to think on what to say next for a bit.

I have a different situation here. (You know Davidocentric and all that stuff. I'm special. :) ) I was expecting to hear about some different rooms where things could go and then was going to talk about the room with the most "hits". In the shed I have more stuff and there are basically only two choices-my side of the garage or gone. If I can't put it in my side of the garage, I'm not sure I can even get Mrs dave to allow me to save some items for a garage sale that is supposed to happen within 4 weeks.

If somebody posted in and said they found 8 pairs of boots in their garage and didn't know how to get rid of them, I'm sure I'd have some "helpful" suggestions. Since it's 4-5 pairs of my boots in the shed plus some more in the basement-different story. I need them all. :) that's one issue. There are others. I still have to get rid of more things in order to effectively use the room I have, and even more things than that if I am to become more free of the pulls of things.

I have to work out my path through the emotions like Fear of getting rid of something I will really need and having to buy it again with a very limited income; breaking emotional attachments; identifying things I have bought because I have created purchasing patterns based on things others think are important; Fear of loosing potential identities that some of the things represent to me and so on.

I can either continue to work on my attitudes and outlooks and separation from things or I can kiss everything but the things goodbye. You know the drill, you've seen the posts I have and more.

I also hope that I or you or someone has the right things to say to Ann and Reader66. I am convinced each of them has a way through the crap surrounding them-it's just the challenge of them finding it.

Upon reflection, it's nice to hear you have a reptile free house!

Good morning :)

Hi Roxie :)

Hi LR2014 :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
Hope you had a great night's sleep and a wonderful morning! :D

Hi Diane :)
WAY TO GO!!! brightening up your kitchen!
And for taking a break to enjoy the day too. :D

Hi Dave :)
WAY TO GO!!! and good luck with jackknife cookery.
Sounds like it would have some good stew and biscuit recipes.
Just read your update...
(((HUGS)))
Maybe writing a list of what is in there and noting where else it might possibly be stored?
I thought that was some very good advice.
Sort of like sorting it out mentally before even starting to physically sort it.

Been doing laundry this bright sunny and warm morning.
Got three loads all hung out on the clothes line. :D
Spend most all day yesterday outside working on the yard.
Came in when I was totally exhausted, showered/shampooed and rested the remainder of the evening.
Monday, house cleaning day...
But I don't want to, really really don't want to.
So think I will just do some "absolutely needs to get done" stuff and call it good.

TTYL :D

flexible spending, income tax, a garden shed.

In December 2013 Mrs Dave bought a small plastic garden shed. She told me i could use it, in relation to garage cleanup, until spring. March 2015. Mrs Dave wants the garden shed cleaned out.

I am David. I am 5. My stuff is in the shed. It is my shed. I don't want to clean it out. Emotionally I am not sure if I can. The only possible way I see right now is to follow some advice which I am preparing to dispense to some other posters on the site.

It's a real pain when you have to think about other people and do what you tell them to do.

dealing with issues.

Among others, I guess given the advice I have been free with in another thread and the clue of Boys Encyclopdea of Knowledge posted here, I need to remove a moldering book called Jacknife Cookery from its hiding place in the basement and relate to it for a couple of days. :)

Happy Birthday Sweet Tat!!!!!!! You are loved.

Progress to report. All dishes washed and put away. Painted most of kitchen ceiling white, started on green wall, will need 2nd coat. Cleaned and painted outside of upper cabinets, now exhausted. I got low VOC paint but still the fumes got to me and yes Tillie,, took a break in lawn chair and a smoothie, so happy you told me to go get supplies. My dark tiny kitchen is a little brighter now.

Thank you dear friends! Ii appreciate the lovely birthday greetings and Roxie, Wow, so pretty!

Much love to you all. Will take Tilllie's advice to be mindful of time change. I am exhausted right now but will stay awake for another hour. I might empty the dishwasher and clear the kitchen counters. Won't that be nice to wake up to in the AM?

Ditto . . . happy birthday, Tatoulia! (Mine isn't as pretty and colorful as Roxie's, but it is still heartfelt!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TAT!

Good morning Everybody! :D

Hi Diane :)
Hope your plans also include sitting out by the trees sipping a smoothie. :D

Hi Dave :)
I am positive that his set of the "Boy's Encyclopedia Of Knowledge" would have that information but it has been buried deep in the garage for too many years to guarantee it's condition. ;)

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO!!! getting yourself some lovely flowers to enjoy on your clear table top!!! :D
FANTASTIC! work on the not acquiring!!! Really! "D
Have a GREAT day and remember to take time to enjoy the Daffodils. :)

What am I doing today?
Soon as I make my bed and get dressed I am heading outside to work/play in my garden. :D

Everybody please be careful and take it slower while adjusting to the time change.
Don't want you becoming a statistic, added to the toll of daylight savings time injuries.

Good morning everyone!

I bought myself cut daffodils this week and they look very cheerful on my non-cluttered, completely cleared dining room table. Have been busily celebrating my birthday far and wide. I'm exhausted and full. Need to do some cleaning and clearing here. Have not acquired anything so that continues to be a blessing.

Seeing my mother and a friend today. Will likely need to take brother grocery shopping. I am grateful for the sunshine and will likely need a few days to adjust to the time change.

Wishing you all a beautiful day. So happy to read your posts.

I made one attempt to find a girl guide manual with instructions about different kinds of lashings but with no success. Wanted to be sure you got the treee house floor tied in well. I am disillusioned about the snowshoes. I was listening to a louis lamour book on cd in which they made snowshoes for travelling and hunti g.

Hi Tillie and Dave, as well as non posters.
Warm weather is sooooo nice. Hopefully tomorrow I can report some progress...

I have never noticed how many "site views" we get here.
Mainly because I have my screen enlarged so big that the meter is not shown.
I remember way back when we were celebrating our two millionth view. :D

Dave :)
Thank you for your insights.
I have always felt that my Hoarder's refusal to seek counseling was the same issue as never asking for directions when we have been lost in an unfamiliar city.
He prefers to drive faster and farther hoping that by chance he is going in the right direction.
You have been wonderful for information and insights into thought processes.
:D

Good Morning Everybody! :D

Hi Tatoulia :)

Hi Dave :)
I remember that Twilight Zone episode too.
Starred Roddy McDowell.

Hi Diane :)
Happy you at least got smoothie ingredients! :D
Hoping you have scheduled in some R&R and playtime for this weekend. ;)

Have my grocery list all made up and plan to get to the store today.
Would rather just play outside all day but really need to get some groceries.
Cats have eaten their canned food breakfast.
Time for me to make my bed and get dressed.

TTYL :D

Hello all. So great reading alllllll of your posts, lots to read, thanks. Work was difficult yesterday, I got to practice responding with kindness over and over. Then went to near by grocery store and bought smoothie supplies, knowing I would love having one today. Freezer still begging me to go to Costco. I stayed home all day today and puttered, out in warm sun. Over 60 today and tomorrow, so different than last winter. 2 fun phone conversations with friends. I am still recovering from long work day yesterday, still exhausted. I felt happy and content most of the day today, accepting exhaustion, knowing tomorrow I will have more energy.

Wow! 4700 site views in approximately a day!

Strange Species...
... Not feeling good about this one .....
I vaguely remember seeing some twilight zone episode about astronauts crashing, being treated well and then discovering they were in an intergalactic zoo!


Indoor pot. Ok if one has the proper "thumb" for indoor flora. (Someone we know doesn't. :) )

LR I read your name and post and haven't read anything g else--you are staying with a strange species. How wonderful. Been missing you.

I'll read everyone else's posts soon--was just so glad to see LR's name!

Hi Roxie :)
So very sorry I made you homesick. :(
But I am so grateful that you are where you are right now, getting the care and attention you need during your recovery. (((HUGS)))
Thank you for your kind and supportive words. :D

Hi LR2014 :)
THANK YOU!!!! so much for giving us this delightful update!!! :D
Love the way you wrote it! :D
Take care & don't be a stranger. (((HUGS)))

Dave :)
I was thinking that Roxie needs one of those potted bulbs that is just about to bloom to keep on her night stand where she can see it upon waking every morning. :D

I thought I'd better officially check in here before you all think I've fallen off the face of the earth or something. Hi, everyone! Looking forward to reading your posts later and seeing what's going on with all of you.

Well, it's been quite a number of weeks now since I moved out of my apartment and started staying with some friends of mine (temporarily). It's been hard to get used to the concept of a plumbing system that actually works like it's supposed to work (which is the type of plumbing system my friends have here), but I'm trying. There are also other odd concepts to get used to. For example, these friends have the odd idea that "things" should have a home. Nothing of theirs stays out of place for very long. But wait . . . there's more! Related to that notion seems to be the idea that tabletops and countertops and floor space should be clear! A faint voice echoes in my memory: "The natural state of a tabletop is clear. The natural state of a countertop is clear." Where did I hear that concept once upon a time????) Floors get mopped, even when they don't look dirty! And in the midst of all this orderliness and cleanliness, my friends seem to be calm and serene. They even have fun and relaxing activities on a very regular basis.

I'll try to keep you posted as I observe more about this unusual way of life.

Hugs to everyone!

Roxie,
Why don't you ask your brother if you could plant a spring bulb of your choice in an auspicious spot in his yard? I bet the two of you could work something out.

Hi Dave :)
Thank you.
I love your plan for the dresser space.
WAY TO GO!!!
Good Luck and Best Wishes with round 2. (((HUGS)))

I know how hard this journey has been/still is for you.
I am so very proud of you for all the progress you have made. :D

Tillie,

I don't do well trying to read and absorb long posts-sorry in advance for the length of this.

I have not thought of good way to acknowledge your posts. two things came to my mind reading the earlier ones. this is not the place for any extended discussion-but I continue to marvel at the complexities of human relationships. And I see how serious an issue the "incoming control" is for you. I suspect I owe you some apology for the frivolity of some things I've said over the months-but I'm still way too self centered to give you good words.

Maybe this will work instead. There is, at the foot of the basement stairs, a dresser of the old kind you put a wash bowl and pitcher on. (Yes it is clutter where it is.) Last year, or the year before-sometime, I was using for a staging area for my laundry basket when I did laundry. Then the broken hanging travel bag showed up. So Mr Dave says, "I can get the luggage shop to fix this." OOPs, there goes the staging area. Then 3 books I wanted to save but wasn't quite willing to put on a shelf. Then the Singer Sewing machine accessory box. "That is a valuable antique which someone will pay big bucks for." :). Then the big cardboard box which I wanted to save to put something in. and then the cardboard shoeboxes and trays to "organize" in the junk room. These are all very special and valuable items, not anything like the "junk" a normal hoarder would save. :).

I was at a thrift store yesterday. I bought 5-6 towel type bathmats. I have no place to put them, but they need to be in the area where that dresser is. I don't care to have a discussion about why I bought the mats. (Although to you I will say I need a poop of the day showcase to avoid usage of the shovel later.) I guess this sort of smacks of the roof story you just posted-now that I think of it. I just went down and vacuumed the containers, piling random "junque" in each of the trays and putting things back on the shelf. The box is in a pile of boxes to use for cleanout stuff. The luggage is in a togo area. It will be about a month before it actually goes, but there is a specific plan. The white tablecloth is in the laundry and the other stuff is on the floor at the moment. In about 3 hours, the dresser space will be covered with a clean white tablecloth. There will be a pile of the bathmats and other rag towels on it. I will probably do some "sliding to the side" on occaision (sp) to set an inbound/outbound laundry basket there. We'll see how I do in round 2 at restricting it to those 2 items.

Scooter is the destroyer of all cardboard boxes.
He tears at them with his fancy sharp claws and rips them to shreds with his sharp pointy teeth.
These two boxes will be history in a few short days.
I swear that cat is half weasel/badger/wolverine. :D

Scooter sleep in a box, no way ever.

in the wild wet wood and all places were alike to him.

Hey Scooter,
As my role model, I hope you are not one of the cats sleeping in boxes. I have a problem with tight spaces.

D (and :D )

H Dave :)
Scooter says "HI" too.

Here is more of the back story....
After I decluttered and cleaned the main room (kitchen area, living room area and dining
room area) I wanted to make some improvements, like paint the ceiling and walls.
But I couldn't paint because the roof was leaking, had been leaking for years causing the sheet rock to become saturated and the plaster to fall down in places.
I couldn't repair that damage because it was still an ongoing problem.
Every time I asked about the new roof we desperately needed he would always say "I'll get to it".
He refused to let me call a contractor to do the work because he said "I refuse to pay someone to do a job that I can do myself".
I knew exactly the locations to place the buckets to collect the rain water in the established leak locations but soon other new leaks started happening.
This went on for too many years but finally one leak got his attention.
This new leak started over his computer desk, threatening to destroy his elaborate computer set up.
That week he bought the roof shingles, asked me to pick out the color, I chose a pretty medium brown shade.
The next week he shingled the roof.
Then I was able to fix the ceiling in the main room.
After that was done I bought a gallon of ceiling paint and painted.
For the walls I went through his massive paint can collection, choosing the cans with still viable shades of white paint.
Most cans were 1/3 or 1/4 full so I emptied them all together into a bucket.
Then I took a can of very dark green paint and slowly added some green little by little to get a lovely pastel green color.
For the tiny kitchen area I bought a can of satin gloss enamel in pastel lavender.
Then I reinstalled the kitchen ceiling light fixture that had become so saturated from the roof leaks that one day it fell off the ceiling, hanging only by the electrical wires as water cascaded through it.
:D

Yeah,

Tatoutlia has no possibility of Death Valley Scotty coming to the rescue in case of breakdown!
:)

Good Morning :)

Hi Dave :)
FANTASTIC!!! WAY TO GO!!! for letting the jars go!!!
I know how hard this has been for you but you did it any way! (((hugs)))

Hi Tatoulia :)
Your "new" birthday dinner plans sound great! :D
I'm so happy you got your car all taken care of and I don't have to worry about it breaking down, stranding you along some dark and lonely road. (((hugs)))

Ps to Tillie: Oh cats in boxes! So sweet! My cat isn't a box cat but my boyfriend's cat (a giant tabby) can fit himself in ANY sized box. Smaller the better!!!

Hello everyone !


Tillie thank you for the insight into your situation, past and present. Very helpful to me. Diane, WOW. Very good work! Dave , we did not get our promised snow here today, and I guess it went to your house instead.

My sister decided yesterday not to come due to threats of snowstorm, and I agreed with her (although I was disappointed). I didn't want her driving so much (5hours round trip) with the way the weatherman was talking. We will celebrate my birthday next week, although I won't be able to take day off. We decided she could spend the day with mom, and then the three of us will go for dinner. Mom will be pleased all around-- I think it's been a decade since she's seen my sister and I eat a meal together. The weather should be much improved and I like the whole idea!

I still took day off and took care of car maintenance. Car was at dealership nearly the whole day and I spent part of day at dealership and then got ride to boyfriend's office, where I read my kindle while he worked. It was a nice, peaceful day and I did exactly what I felt like doing. I'm reading a memoir of someone who grew up in squalor and it's a good read. She is nice and respectful toward her parents and put a lot of effort into protecting them while she was growing up. I'm not done with book yet. It's well-written--meaning she's not preachy or dramatic. It's also not written in a cutesy way; she's done a good job of relaying her story and her experiences-- working a lot since she had no place to sleep, showering at a friend's house because their pipes were leaking and they'd turned off their water supply, etc. sometimes angry or resentful but largely protective of her parents. She doesn't belabor anything. I'm enjoying the book--she easily could've turned her story into something dramatic and she didn't.

Car is driving great and I'm very pleased that I took the time to just get everything done. I want it to run for another few years so then I can give it to someone. And then either go car-free or get something less practical. I had to switch to a practical car about six years ago in order to comfortably cart my family around.

So I had a great day. When car was finished my boyfriend took me to dealership and we had a sandwich and I came home and napped. Tiny cat is next to me now and life is good.

Tillie,
Thank you for weather analysis advice. I am so discombobulated from the concept of dosing the vehicle with Benadryl that I am unable to properly think about weather issues.

I still have some concern about how my neighbor directly across the fence behind me and I will be able to clearly talk about the same snow storm, but since we only talk 2-3 times a year (mostly when I am dropping tree branches on the wrong side of the fence) I can let that issue rest right now.

Diane,
This is NOT Carte Blanche to save every TV tray for the next 2 months. However.....

If you have some kitchen cabinets that have some narrow drawers in them, you might be able to lay the end flanges of the tray across the width of the drawer and make a little sliding tray on the top of the drawer.

Mrs Dave found a 4 drawer base cabinet at a thrift store that was in decent shape and brought it home. It is a bit of a problem because it has a 3" filler built onto one side so it takes more room than is good for our space, but we have set it on the floor next to our cabinets. I have laid some oversize tv dinner trays (Maybe Stouffer-not sure) across the top of some of them and it works very nicely.

I did have to discard some assorted plastic trays along with the bottles on Tuesday. The recycle truck didn't come until around noon on Wed-I about went out 2 or 3 times Wed morning to reclaim some "valuable" jars, but did not. I did settle on keeping a 2 channel cookie tray of fairly sturdy plastic for the computer area. Not sure that can be permanent either but I will be hunting for a place to put it down at least for awhile in a little bit (2 days of new dishes and plastic to wash).

Good morning :)

Hi Diane :)
Hoping you got in some groceries and have restocked that freezer. :D
WAY TO GO!!! for taking care of all that household maintenance and fixing yourself a great breakfast too! :D
Wishing you a fun day today at work. (((hugs)))

Hi Dave :)
I think when it comes to snow it all depends on the perspective of the person observing it fall.
It showed it's self to you falling to the left, where it then landed, presenting a sinister, AKA left-handed, tendency. LOL ;D

The cats have had their breakfast.
Today I want to get outside and either play or do some yard work.

I now have two cardboard boxes.
One in the living room area and one in the dining room area.
I hate card board boxes but for now I will keep these two boxes and their contents.
In each box is a cat. Cats love to sit, play and sleep in boxes.
:D

TTYL :)

I looked out the window this morning. It was snowing. The snow was falling from right to left. I thought OHO! SINISTER snow, because it was landing on the left.

But then I realized I did not really know. Maybe it was DEXTROUS snow because it was starting on the right.

So, Inquiring minds want to know, Does where it starts or where it lands, in relation to viewing point, determine whether the snow is SINISTER or DEXTROUS?

:)

Thanks Tillie, what a challenge at your house, and thanks for going back to the basics
Well it finally happened, did not go outside even for morning coffee!!! Spent 45 minutes washing dishes, etc in kitchen, then lo and behold, cleaned other areas and vacuumed, not perfect, but so much better. It has heled so much to get connected to this site again. When I stay away, start to get off track. After 3&1/2 hours of work in here this morning, I thought this is how I attack bushes, trees, painting, things that are not urgent, time to go back to basics. Washed and hung dirty sheets, load 3 is now in washer. I cooked chicken breasts that I thawed a few days ago, cooked red potatoes too, good or should I say great breakfast for a change. Washed those dishes too. I was thinking I have enough food for tomorrow so could wait to shop, truth is I will be tired after work and will come straight home, so really would be pleased if I got my butt in car today. If I wait until Friday, it will be too busy, so here I am talking myself into going. I loved to go shopping, now it is scary, not trusting I will only buy what I need. Out to yard for my tea break, and self talk to go get groceries.

Years ago people asked me...
after the de cluttering and clean up, how do you maintain the home so it doesn't get back to the way it was before.
It was requested of me that I post daily the tasks that I do to maintain my home.
It is also important to maintain the cleared and cleaned areas as a person digs out to keep from having them be re cluttered.
When my entire tiny house was filled with a massive hoard, I could not clean or cook. It was impossible.
Once I removed all his clutter from the main living areas cleaning became easy again.
I did not throw out anything, just boxed/bagged and labeled where in the house it came from and moved it to the garage, his bedroom or the carport, depending on what the stuff was and where it should be kept.
The main room here is the kitchen area, living room area and dining room area combined.
14 feet by 20 feet.
Very small.
There is a small bathroom, small pantry, small hallway and a small room the size of a walk in closet that I have also decluttered, cleaned and now maintain.
I have made a garden sanctuary right outside the front door that I love tending to.
His bedroom, the 4 car garage, 3 car carport and the surrounding acre of land is completely cluttered.
We were at level 5 due to the septic system not being maintained do to being inaccessible, causing a pool of sewage to develop. This went on for several years.
Right now the areas I have made into my "no clutter zones" are at level 0 but the rest of our home hovers between level 3 in areas to level 5 in some areas but mostly a strong level 4 throughout.
These areas are his to do with as he pleases.
We have rats, deer mice/hantavirus, millions of spiders/scorpions, snakes, hornets/wasps, mosquito larva growing in standing water/West Nile virus, ants and all sorts of other creatures living here.
There is a lot of structural damage caused and being caused by the hoard and things that should be fixed are not being fixed so things are deteriorating rapidly.

So yes, I do what I can here to maintain the best that I can so we can have some quality to our lives.

What am I doing today :)
Today I am cleaning the bathroom, sweeping the floors, vacuuming and scrubbing/scouring and sanitizing the litter boxes.
Then I plan to work on my sewing projects.

Have a GREAT day everybody. :)

Good morning :)

Hi Diane :)
The dress is very simple.
A bodice with short loose/flowing sleeves and a full skirt.
A style as comfortable as a muu muu but not as informal, suitable enough to wear away from the house.
WTG! for all you are doing! :D
YES! get some food. Fill the freezer with smoothie berries. :D
Planning on getting outside and working/playing tomorrow.
The frigidly cold breeze should be gone by then.
My Apricot tree started blooming yesterday.

:)