Anony, wonderful that you are getting your earth bag plans together!

I hope this new relationship turns out to be all you hope.

I am very tired. We planted 34 trees. (Well, a few were bushes, but they are all 1-3' tall anyway.) I haul water around to the planting locations in a water wagon dh made me from an old wheeled trash can. The can also holds the trees, the stakes, the shovel, the mallet, the tape, and a bucket for watering. Dh digs the holes, which is really hard because there are roots and rocks everywhere, and the ground is heavy clay.

I also worked a little on some projects for my class - I made the "same" cup in three styles - all with handles based on leaves.

And I got hay.

I have a clean coffee cup for tomorrow and we both have clean clothes to wear and enough dishes for breakfast and lunch.

Hello :)

Hi Subclinical :)
WAY TO GO!!! running the dish washer! ;D
Happy tree planting.

Hi Anonymoniker :)
I have never had any spa torture either and I have never worn high heels, died or bleached my hair or had a massage.
I don't wear make up either. When I do my manicure/pedicure I just cut my nails and shape them with an emery board, no cuticle cutting because they don't need it.
No polish.
Great plan going with the smaller dirt bags and going at a slower pace.
Since you will be doing so much of this work all by yourself, it is the most logical way to proceed.

Sitting here in the shade enjoying the beautiful breeze.
A few of the lilac buds have opened! :D
The Gladiola leaves keep popping up through the soil, 15 so far.
So happy to see all the fresh new green in my little garden sanctuary. ;)

~♡~Happy Earth Day!~♡~
I had a long post that disappeared...ugh?!
SubC, when my Mom came to visit she wanted us to get manicures & facials together & i really did not want that stuff, partly cuz it hurts, but also cuz it seems like self induced crippling of the hands with all the cuticle chopping & having long nails. I feel that way about high heeled shoes, too. I got a massage, instead of having a tight mask applied & then ripped off my face & my hands maimed.
Hi Sharon! :D
Tillie, the freshly painted rooms sound wonderful! And good for you to let go of those 'gifts of obligation'! Im looking at doing some of that too, cuz they just remind me of being rejected by my birth family... :(
The earthbag project is definitely helping me learn! I have gotten clearer on which method i want to do. Since i want to do it mostly myself, im going to do the smaller, single bags, instead of the long tubing type bags, which is what this project is using. That method requires a crew & a fast pace! I dont want to be going at that frantic rate. Im not in a big hurry...plus, im older, so i want to do it at a more leisurely pace. :D
My new guy has a gorgeous place! As soon as i saw it all i decided against showing him pics of my dump. He calls himself a 'maximumist', because there are antiques everywhere! All along every wall & table are oriental Buddha statues & gemstones & Tibetan lanterns & furniture from Bali, etc. He has made an income from buying & selling these type things, getting to travel buying them! A nicer style of 'hoarding', i could not imagine! I asked him how he manages dusting it all & he said he has not ever dusted in the 5 years hes lived there! That amount of dust would take less than one week here at my place! Every other place ive lived was like that, but not here! Id feel so differently about my place if it stayed clean from dust & spider webs & all that! Im hoping i will be motivated, or at least have a shift in a better direction from how he lives. I really admire his whole path in life! ~♡~

On break from tree planting.

Tillie, I loaded the top of the dishwasher with mugs and the bottom with other things and ran it.

Good Morning Everybody :)
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical :)
I can assure you that there will be no carbon footprint made by me or the cats today. ;D
Great that you found a good home for those furnace filters!
Please at least wash the coffee mugs today so you can start tomorrow with the joy of drinking from a nice clean cup. (((hugs)))

Hi Porter :)
Nice to read about your cleaning & tidying schedule.
Great that you are still finding things to let go of and doing a lot of thinking about only adding a few quality items as décor. ;D

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO! for having a good time tidying up and puttering around! :D
Wishing you & your Mom a lovely day out today. ;)

My plan for today is to do more of what I did yesterday, play outside!
So nice this morning to wake up to 63 degrees so no need for turning on any space heaters.
After I painted the livingroom/dining room/kitchen areas and removing that kitchen cupboard
came the task of putting everything back in the rooms.
Have been doing a LOT of intense thinking about all these items.
Most all of it is things that I inherited from deceased people or were gifts.
99.9% of the items are not anything I would have chosen for myself but felt obligated to keep.
Fear of being called "an ungrateful brat" made me the curator of unwanted stuff.
Well, I have kept them long enough!
It's not much stuff, two small 14 by 14 boxes total, mostly tchotchkes.
See, even people without a hoarding issue always have to keep rethinking what they have in their homes. ;D

Coffe clinks!

Porter thank you for your comments. My brother is severely mentally disabled so there's no sorting it out. It's been a lifetime of this. His issues change and morph over the years with each passing decade, but the core issues of his handicap remain. Oddly, his physical issues have resolved somewhat with time, including his partial paralysis. Or maybe I don't see it anymore.

Tillie and SubC! Glad to hear about your goings-on and wearing pretty things!

Good point on the men's shirts, Tillie! They do all seem to wear out at the same time. Plus his are professionally laundered and ironed, which although they look beautiful, must also take a toll on the shirts. He also goes through shoes a lot. He has no issues with keeping old clothes or letting go.

I got my bed changed, I swept, I puttered yesterday. It all felt so good. I will try to replicate that today.

Another beautiful day. Cannot wait to get mom out for a little ride.

Porter, i'm Glad th8ngs are going well for you and Marcie.

Tillie, yay for your lizard! And for getting to wear your new dress. Our lilacs just have tiny leaf buds.

Tatoulia, I am glad you like your bowl. I wish you could have more good days with your brother. You are a good sister!

Dh took me out to a concert last night and I wore my thick, cozy red cape that he got me for Christmas. He also bought me a treat, but then there was a plastic cup and a straw and a little baggie with a twist tie. I didn't even have a pocket for the twist tie.

Also yesterday a friend came over so I could disbud her goats for her. I was able to give her the package of unused furnace filters left over from when we changed our system after the construction. So that is out of my basement.

We discussed the difficulty of feed bags. I threw out the idea of having her club use them to make bags for the food bank as a service project. Since I am never going to get to it! Don't know if it will come to anything, but she liked the idea.

Today is earth day. Dh and I are going to plant some trees. If you can, please think of me and try to avoid some plastic.

I have been letting the house go. It is getting pretty bad. I am currently drinking coffee out of my last clean mug - and I have a lot of mugs! Ds is coming to visit on Friday, so something must be done.

Tat
I think I understand what you're saying about your brother.
Not saying anything about him or you OK.

My wife would get moody and confront me on very small things , then once she was upset shed bring out big issues , but so upset it couldn't be discussed rationally , I would lash out and she would retaliate. We would go round and round bring up every annoyance and get nothing settled, then later we were walking on eggshells just to discuss little things , because it could reignite another arguing session.


My point is once that was all over it wasn't over.
I felt exhausted and depressed. I didn't feel like doing anything . Not only did I have trouble organizing and cleaning when I was in good mood , but my wife would pick the worst times to depress me. Fridays right after dinner. Then the whole weekend felt overwhelming.
Another week would go by with very little progress on the hoard. Just slink into my sleeping area and lay there in the fetal position until it actually hurt to lay there any longer. Sad for me to share that.
Once I would start cleaning I was usually confronted about where I put the items left in the rooms and I felt like I was constantly interrupted from my clean house goals.

So with Marcie , I've treid to avoid the hoarding depression from my cycle. With my ADHD , delegating tasks I neglect is an issue. I've made sure to utilize my coping skill.
Marcie does the bedrooms. If not I do them.
Maid does kitchen , bath , and laundry.
I pay a neighbor to cut grass 1 time a month. But I cut it if needed before the 1st.
Then I delegate the remainder to myself.
Trash day, clean car and porches
After that I clear rooms 1 room at a time until Its completed.

At my house I now spend less than three days there so most rooms are untouched. Now typically I just do everything in one room the living room . That way it's easier to clear and clean before I leave.

So now there's very little resistance to cleaning and organizing , and almost everyday , I fill a tote with loose items to reorganize and then empy the tote. I find myself taking pictures of sentimental things and attaching voice overs . Then I throw it out or donate it. But I'm going minimalistic though. More like redecorating throwing out the clutter and replacing with art or conversation pieces. But in just the right measure.

I wish you the best!

Hello :)

Hi Porter :)
So nice to catch up with all your goings ons. :)
Hope the car problems are not too serious & easily fixed.

Hi Tatoulia :)
(((HUGS))) so sorry brother is so trying (((HUGS)))
So nice to finally have those windows open!
I have all of mine open today and both doors with just the screen doors shut.
I have noticed that when men buy multiples of shirts, trousers or socks all at the same time,
they all seen to wear out all at the same time.

Forgot to mention that yesterday I saw my first lizard of the season! :D
Spend ALL day outside today.
Watered everything, did some plant food, did some bug treatments, did some plant killer on some tiny rogue trees growing where I do not want trees.
The lilacs are almost ready to bloom. The flower buds are big & fat and deep purple.
The cats were out with me for a while then they went back inside to take naps, except Twinkles, he took his naps outside.
Today I wore my pretty new summertime dress and my new sandals.
It was a good day. ;D

Sorry for not keeping up on the daily reading.
I keep everything that is private to me on an old iPad2
.
Marcie looks through my stuff . I don't mind , but I do need a place to just be porter and nothing but porter. Marcie would be suffocating if I werent enjoying her time and attention so much. I still refuse to get upset at her for anything , but patiently wait until were both ready to discuss big issues and if I do feel upidy about something I find a way to time out.

This week she surprised me. She took the whole week off, and spent it in her storage. She's thrown out 90% I'd guess
Leaving only 20 totes. Very manageable .
I permanatlely hired the cleaning service to clean her house.
Kitchen, bathroom , and laundry. Marcie bought a saFe box.

Then she said it was time for me to go through my hoard .
I firmly said I'll be keeping mine in my basement or if ever move in a storage. She got a little tense like since she purged I should too. But I tried to explain I already have. I just have alot I still keep.

The next day she brought out some charts and graphs.
I chuckled because it reminds me of my myself, but she took my lol as a scoff. It took me almost all say to get her to be comfortable explaining her charts to me again. Definately OCD . If she were perfect , Id guess I wouldn't be a fit for her. But our common imperfections is like something in common than than would keep us apart.

After 3 hours of going over the charts . I felt like I deserved an A+ . As the sun went down I went out to start a fire . Again she tried to put us back into the chart ,
But I just took her hand and lead outside . And said to her .

I pulled her close enough just to whisper.
I'm in love with you. I miss you when were apart .
Here just now I feel such love you. Just this spontaneous moment unplanned holding you close while sun goes down.

If I give myself to be scheduled into every moment I may become unhappy and say things without thinking. I don't ever want to hurt you or ignore you either. How about a compromise that you schedule the day time and I get 1 hour before dusk and into the night. I'll give you the rest of this night to think about it. Then I let her go. I set the fire . Got the steaks potatoes and marsh mallows .put on our favorite music and danced and sang with her. It was cold. But the fire kept us warm and we snuggled as I talked about the stars and Jesus. After we went inside I thought to myself I hope this works, because just the way she relaxed and we leaned on eachother and she was in my arms . I feel like sundown is the time for me to just take over the end of the day with nothing but loving and relaxing time together.
The next day Thursday , I had major car trouble.
So did not do anything on the charts at all.
When I got back and decided to go to her , she was rewriting the charts. Iwas ohh noo. I took a photo of her charts and just started in on what she's got and put it in order that makes sense to me . I told her I would these ten things if she could do those ten things. It was like her panic switch was turned off. I just got the last of it done and she was about half way through so I helped her Finnish her list from the 10th thing backwards until we finished with photos.
I was so tired . I fell asleep on couch In the most amazing quilt . It smelled like her. . But woke up to breakfast fit for a king. I did the dishes and left.
I almost couldn't leave her because it felt like I was in some kind of hallmark movie . Like no matter what we do , good or bad , still feels like love. Just being together . I feel like I don't deserve her, but I try to honor her . I left a chart on the refrigerator , basically like 730 love me , 800 love you, 830 love eachother, .

So that's how it went this week. Near sun down after the house work is put away. The charts re organized. It's downtime. Just time to be very good to eachother .

I'm working on a chart version of how I click. A Tic Toc of how I can clean house in just three hours. And with the held of the maid service cook too. What's hard to get across to Marcie is my fasting and exercise routines. Because their not fad weightloss with giant losses in just a few weeks but 20lbs over a years time.
I'm down to 215lbs and can jump rope for 8minutes consecutive. I try to explain that the body almost alays burns carbs after 30seconds of exercise so I do alot of anaerobic exercise spontaneously for about 3minutes as often as I can throughout the day.

My suggestion to her this week.
After dinner at 6.
Let's take a 75minute walk. That ends near sundown.
..........
This way we have time to talk without charts.
I'm glad to see the cleaning side of her start to come forth.
Asked her to be in charge of the bedrooms at both houses .

Today is grass day. I'll be cooking lunch and dinner on the fire pit. While I tend to the yard only.

How I love hearing about your garden, Tillie!

I am home. Time with brother was a disaster but certainly not our worst time together. He was mean and yelling and angry, etc. afterward I stopped by mom's and changed her sheets and dropped off some bread. I just put a quick load into washer. Have a window open in the front and one in the back. I'll put on some music to putter by until BF calls. I think he wants to go shopping. He needs shirts, which is laughable because he buys cotton button down shirts five and six at a time. But he said he's down to one white one.

I'll see what I can get done. I feel very tired and drained. My brother is just so ill and very ugly to be with.

Good Morning Everyone :)
"Clink!" my chai masala with Subclinical's cereal bowl.

Hi Subclinical :)
I think it's a good thing that you instilled an awareness in your Dd that we should all try our best to make the smallest footprint we can.
But in this day and age it is not easy and at times impossible to always be zero waste. (((HUGS)))

Hi Tatoulia :)
YEA! for sunshine! :D
How lovely, a pewter bowl!
Some years ago I found a nice one at a thrift shop and have been enjoying and using it all the time.
Mostly for fruit but also for lots of other things.
Wishing you a pleasant day with brother. (((hugs)))

Laid in bed a long time this morning dozing off & on, not wanting to get up, too tired.
If I did get up at 6am I knew I would be needing a nap all afternoon.
Steven has taken off to do his every single stinking week shopping at thrift shops and dumpster dives.
Now the weather is nice he will also be shopping at yard sales too.
Depressing.
Anyways... after I finish my tea, the cats & I are going outside and water the trees, rhubarb, roses, etc... and have a lovely quiet day. ;)

Good morning! Welcome, Sharon! Glad you are here.

Tillie we have warmer weather today and the sun is out. I'm getting ready/bracing myself for time with brother. I too have cat-related chores. SubC, I think if you when I eat because I use cloth napkins at home.

I had a wonderful dinner the other night! And the gift was an engraved pewter bowl--exactly the type of thing I will use and cherish. I was worried it would be a plaque, and since I don't have an office, it's something that would just go to waste. Or as my boyfriend put it, it would end up being something I hung in his office. (We do not work together).

I'm off for the day. What are you doing today?!?!

Hi Sharon

Hi all. Can I clink cereal?

Dinner with Dd last night. Cloth napkin place, no straws, but she ordered too much food and took hers home in a clamshell. I watched her struggle with the decision but made no comment.

I'm pretty sure I caused that, but can't decide if it's a good thing or a bad thing.

Hello Sharon
Welcome :D
Here you will find all kinds of nice people at all different stages in their journeys.


Well, it was a beautiful warm sunny day here.
Cats & I went outside for a while.
I got lots of odds & ends done, nothing major but it helps keep me on schedule with gardening stuff.
Feels good to not be behind and scurrying around trying to catch up, like usual.
Lit the burn barrel, did cat related chores too.
Tomorrow is supposed to be even nicer than today so I'm planning on getting outside again with the cats. ;D

Hi Tillie, I'm new here and just looking around here. Seeing how like minded people are dealing or overcoming there hoarding issues. Hope I'm in the right place. Sharon

Good Morning Everyone :)
"Clink!"

Clear blue warm sunny sky today.
Only 9:15am right now.
I have no plans yet for today.
No real plans for the weekend either.
Have a few "post-it" notes with things to do when the weather is right, so maybe I will get to lighting the burn barrel and rake the tiny patch of grass under my clothes line. "?"
Then there is also some cat laundry needing done.
I can ignore the "post-it" note that says water things in the garden because the rain yesterday took care of that for me. ;D

So, do you have any plans?

Hello Everybody :)
Plain old room temperature water "Clink!"

Hi Tatoulia :)
Hoping that right now you are having a marvelous time at the appreciation dinner. ;D

Hi Subclinical :)
I too have crappy finger nails, not worth doing anything with except keeping them cut short and clean.
YEA! for some of the boxes & Styrofoam being taken! "D
Used to be I could buy a large glass jar of yellow mustard and I would use that to refill the plastic squeezy bottle.
But now days all the stores seem to carry are the smaller plastic squeezy bottles, so no more refilling. :(
Good luck with the homemade recipe! :D

Woke up this morning with a sick headache and generally feeling funky.
So I sat around in my nightgown drinking tea until almost noon then took a shower.
That helped. ;)
Did the daily cat chores and a few other minor things.
Gently rained this afternoon with some scattered sunshine peeking through.
Did one load of my clothes and have it drying inside on hangers & the drying rack.

That is so loving that you did your grandmother's pedicure, Tillie. I can't do my mails myself. I can't file them. I don't know how to make them look the way the salon can make them look. I'm hoping at some point my money woes will ease up and I'll be able too get a manicure each week. I did that for years. Now my nails look crummy 90% of the time.

SubC! I thought of you yesterday when I heard the UK is considering a ban on plastic straws and stirrers. I'm sorry if you felt like a disappointment to your mother. Trust me, she loves and admires you. We are all proud of your accomplishments.

Poor scooter. Poor Tillie. Glad you have each other.

Anony, how did the earth building go?

My students had their art show at school yesterday. While we were getting the room cleaned up and set up, one of them claimed a couple of large cardboard boxes, and the styrofoam in the boxes! For use in the move her family is making. Hopefully she won't bring the styrofoam back....

I've never had enough nails to get them "done". But my mother convinced me to get fake ones for my wedding. I kind of disliked them. I think I was disappointing to my mom in a lot of ways. She loves me, and she's proud of me, but I didn't really fit in to her vision of raising a girl. She missed out on a lot of things she looked forward to.

I am down to the backlog on feedbags again. I need to get gasoline this morning, so I will roll a couple from the tack box up, stick them it a bread bag, and throw them into the can while the gas pumps.

I found a recipe for making your own mustard on-line. I'm gong to try it and see if I can eliminate a source of plastic bottles from my life. On little step at a time....

Hi Tatoulia :)
It's not crazy.
One of the nicest little pleasures in life is having freshly washed laundry to enjoy.
WTG! keeping up with the dishes!
I did too. :D
Manicure, new posh frock
sounds so fun getting ready for the dinner. :D
I have never had a manicure or pedicure that I didn't do my own self.
Granma was the same way until one day she was sad because she couldn't easily do a pedicure herself so I offered to do her pedicure for her.
She enjoyed it so much that after that she would regularly go have her pedicures done for her.

With the winds blowing day after day
there is so much dust and allergens in the air.
Scooter's eyes look like crap, all weepy, red & irritated and crusty with dry tears.
I wash them with a warm wet wash cloth and they look better for a little while.
He hates the wash cloth and it's very hard to wash his face because he grabs the wash cloth with his nails and keeps pulling it away from his face.
But he really likes the treats I always give him afterward. ;P

Hello! I haven't done anything around here today but I did ho get my nails done for tmr's dinner. I did two loads of laundry (I know. I'm crazy, but I felt like doing my towels and my bathrobes). I also kept up with the dishes.

I want to lay down a big even though I know I should clean.

How are Scioter's eyes, Tillie? By the way, a mixed fruit cobbler sounds so delicious, SubC! Let me know what time I should stop by!

Good Morning :)
"Clink!"

Hi Anonymoniker :)
Have a WONDERFUL time with that earth bag project today! :D

Hi Tatoulia :)
YEA!!! SUNSHINE :D
I'm happy that you are happy with the progress you've made. (((HUGS)))
Ms. Kitty will miss you but she'll be alright.

I have a few dishes to wash and the counter to wipe off.
Other than that there is nothing else I plan to do today.
Will probably just rattle around in here and see what I can get up to. ;P

Good morning friends! Coffee clinks!

We have sunshine! I can't believe it!!

Thank you all for the encouragement and kind words!

Anony have great fun today! I'm glad the guy's place is nice and you liked it. No need to show him pictures of your place. Would you consider telling him that you've struggled with being a pack rat and that you're a work in progress? I bet he'd respect that.

I need to work more tonight on my house. I'm happy with my progress so far. I have a rare business trip next week. I'm leaving kitty here as I will only be gone one night. I will ask either BF or my neighbor (bravery) to stop in during the second day.

Good morning friends! Coffee clinks!

We have sunshine! I can't believe it!!

Thank you all for the encouragement and kind words!

Anony have great fun today! I'm glad the guy's place is nice and you liked it. No need to show him pictures of your place. Would you consider telling him that you've struggled with being a pack rat and that you're a work in progress? I bet he'd respect that.

I need to work more tonight on my house. I'm happy with my progress so far. I have a rare business trip next week. I'm leaving kitty here as I will only be gone one night. I will ask either BF or my neighbor (bravery) to stop in during the second day.

~Good Morning!~(actually, its the middle of the night)
Im starting the earthbag building project today. Yesterday the other skunk was making noise in my closet,so in just one day,i cleared everything on the floor outside under the awning & in tubs! I am so proud of how much i did that fast!
My new guy has a gorgous place! It is filled with antigues & beautiful stuff everywhere....i cant imagine letting him see my place...he has done such a beautiful job on it all....im hoping it will help motivate me. I tooks pics of my place, but after seeing his place, i dont know...? I do know, now that all that stuff is out of my bedroom, theres no way im just gonna put it all back in there like that again! That tiny, disgusting varmit has helped me move mountains of crap, so i am grateful...ha ha..i am! ~♡~

Hi Subclinical :)

A fruit medley cobbler sounds delicious! ;D
WAY TO GO! getting the garage clear of so much recycling.

I am patiently waiting for my rhubarb to grow it's nice long stalks so I can make cobbler and pie.
The leaves are almost a foot off the ground. ;D

Been doing some of this and that, sorting out and making decisions on stuff that can go away.
Some of Steven's assorted chemical stuff in the pump house is getting taken care of.
Old model paint is being dumped out into some old kitty litter and once it's all dry (including the bottles) I can safely & legally dispose of it in the trash.
YEA!!! :D

Tatoulia, I forgot to say how cool it was that you are getting honored!

Tillie, I often eat weird things. I am still finishing up th8ngs that were in the chest freezer when I cleaned it out. (Not old things, just forgotten things. Thinking about making Personal cobblers to use up the last of the frozen fruit. Not enough of any one flavor.(cherry, peach, rhubarb)

I dropped off the recycling on my way to work. There was a lot, so my garage looks a little better.

Good Morning Everybody :)
"Clink!"

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO!!!
It's like you were running your own marathon! ;D
How wonderful that volunteer appreciation dinner will be. (((hugs)))

Hi Subclinical :)
Yea! for returning the plastic runner to it's rightful owner to recycle. ;D


Very cold today but no rain in the prediction.
Supposed to rain most of the rest of the week.
So, this morning I am doing some laundry.
Mainly just my sheets and pillow cases.
The pantry is getting bare since I have been trying to eat up everything in there.
Makes for some strange meals at times. LOL ;D

Wow tatoulia, you were busy yesterday!

Anony, I hope that your new relationship turns out to be wonderful and gives you the support you need to rescue yourself.

There's a line at the end of "pretty woman" when Richard Gere asks what happens after he rescues the princess, and Julia Roberts says "she rescues him right back."

This is a very small thing, but I remembered to take an empty clay bag back to the clay studio yesterday and put it in the "empty clay bags" bin. (they reuse them)

Also, the last time the 4 h boy was here, he used a plastic furniture slider to give the goat a treat. When they left, I found it slightly cracked in my driveway. I handed it back to his mom last night. - other people's stuff is not my problem.

Today I plan to drop off the mixed recycling on the way to work and swim after.

I vacuumed the big sofa and the rug under my desk. I swept the hallway, gathered up the garbage including the catbox, got dressed, took out garbage and recycling, went to see BF (I'd thought he was home but he was at the office), I picked up some papertowels from the trunk of my car and took to mom and now it's 10:22 and I'm back home. It is wet outside but actually feels a bit like spring. Warmer than I would've guessed.

I am happy with myself today. Thursday night, one of the organizations I do volunteer work for is having a dinner in my honor and in honor of another volunteer. I am looking forward to it and have a bright spring dress to wear. BF is joining me even though he won't know anyone. He is much more reserved than I am. Well I'm not reserved at all. I'm glad he's going. It's at a very nice restaurant and the food will be delicious.

Goodnight everyone. Special shout out to Joan.

Yes it's me again. In order to warm up, I put on some music and dusted the bedroom and vacuumed it. I've been shredding some mail too. I'd like to vacuum the sofa but I don't want to disturb the kitty. Of course, come 4:30 AM, she will do a similar analysis and will end up waking me to tell me something.

Okay I'll vacuum the sofa.

WAY TO GO!!! Tatoulia for finishing your taxes!
And how wonderful to get something back instead of having to pay out! :D
Good plan putting the refund toward that bill.
Here in Nevada we don't have state income tax.
Yes, it's been a good day to just relax. ;)

Sounds like you had a great day, Tillie!

I finished and filed my taxes! And I'm actually getting something back from the Feds! (I generally owe). I'm pretty excited--over 600 coming back! I can put toward my large condo assessment.

Only owed the staties a little.

I finished and filed my taxes! And I'm actually getting something back from the Feds! (I generally owe). I'm pretty excited--over 600 coming back! I can put toward my large condo assessment.

Only owed the staties a little.

Good Afternoon Everyone :)

Woke up this morning and just laid in bed with Scooter for almost an hour.
No reason to get up & moving.
Today's weather is cold & windy with huge dark gray clouds.
A mixture of rain and snow.
Typical weather for the Sierra Nevada's.
Took a shower & washed my hair, ate some toast & instant breakfast.
Watched "The Walking Dead" and "Fear The Walking Dead."
Basically taking the day off from everything, except cat chores.

Hi Anonymoniker :)
Listen to your big Sis Tatoulia. ;D

Hi Tatoulia :)
I don't mind Scooter borrowing my laptop, just wish he didn't use it to watch so many "Cat Videos."
WTG! for keeping up with the daily usuals! :D

Anony how nice that he is able to have you over for lunch! Having a nice clean place to go to will help you immeasurably. Now I'm about to talk to you as though you are family. I'll play the role of your pesky but lovable sister. Anony you do not want nor need rescuing! You are doing by a good job on your own! A helper, well, helpers are good! But you had someone try to control you and take over in the last relationship and it was disastrous to you emotionally. This relationship is a new one, and it will unfold in its own way. Look, I've baked you cookies. (Now ive been both pesky AND lovable). Ps if this was offensive or out of line. Please just tell me and I will not do it again.

SubC, you must take care of yourself and try not to feel guilty. You do so much and if you need a break, you bed a break. Last week I felt pretty overwhelmed and I skipped one of my volunteer things. I too felt guilty but such is life. I needed the break.

Tillie! scooter appreciates your loving care (he texted me). As do I. WTG on clean kitchen! I hope you can find your go to town dress soon!

Laundry done (cat blanket and a small personal load). Dishwasher almost ready. Would like to vacuum today.

~♡~Quick drive-by with my plan...i took several pics with my phone of select areas outside to show him, that im are both justifiable(one is of a legitimate work area of 2 current projects) and that i am comfortable with him seeing~☆~He keeps saying hes cleaning up cuz he has too much stuff....ha ha :D

~♡~Quick drive-by with my plan...i took several pics with my phone of select areas outside to show him, that im are both justifiable(one is of a legitimate work area of 2 current projects) and that i am comfortable with him seeing~☆~He keeps saying hes cleaning up cuz he has too much stuff....ha ha :D

~☆~Good Morning!~☆~
I got the skunk situation much improved yesterday! I know this sounds sick, but i put the skunk i shot on the floor under the emptied chest of drawers they were making a nest in, to freak out & scare off the other skunk(s). As you can imagine, it smells pretty bad, but only when you first walk into the room...ha ha I feel confident they(it) wont wake me up again! Im excited about the earthbag building project! :D
Today my new guy is having me over to his (beautiful & probaby clean & organized) house & hes making us lunch! Its funny, cuz i already warned him about my place & i can see his mind trying to envision it, meanwhile hes trying to impress me in describing his home. I told him that any time someone i know has a gorgeous home, i know they will never see mine! Only people with filthy, disorganized, or extremely primitive homes are allowed to come here....ha ha....its true!
~☆~I hope you all have a special day filled with Love & Light!~☆~

~☆~Good Morning!~☆~
I got the skunk situation much improved yesterday! I know this sounds sick, but i put the skunk i shot on the floor under the emptied chest of drawers they were making a nest in, to freak out & scare off the other skunk(s). As you can imagine, it smells pretty bad, but only when you first walk into the room...ha ha I feel confident they(it) wont wake me up again! Im excited about the earthbag building project! :D
Today my new guy is having me over to his (beautiful & probaby clean & organized) house & hes making us lunch! Its funny, cuz i already warned him about my place & i can see his mind trying to envision it, meanwhile hes trying to impress me in describing his home. I told him that any time someone i know has a gorgeous home, i know they will never see mine! Only people with filthy, disorganized, or extremely primitive homes are allowed to come here....ha ha....its true!
~☆~I hope you all have a special day filled with Love & Light!~☆~

~Porter, im not wanting to admit to myself that i fantasize about my new guy rescuing me, at least some, with my place~
~SubC, raw chocolate is full of incredible nutrition, especially for the brain & mood, etc. I think its why we tend to crave it when we are depressed,cuz its great for depression, but in its raw form is how it needs to be taken for those benefits, so i mix it into my coffee, once its cooled off~
~Tatoulia, most people sleep better in a cooler room. I usually cool the room befote getting under the covers, which is like wearing a super thick coat & one side & the thickness of like 10 coates on the matress side. I think women sometimes think its hot flashes or night sweats. I hope you feeel better soon & can sleep cozy!~
~♡~☆♡☆~♡~

Hello :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
Glad you got some rest :)
I have a hard time too keeping my temperature regulated.
All day & night I go from freezing cold to burning up from one minute to the next.
Hope you got your bed all made up. ;)

Hi Subclinical :)
Sometimes being selfish and taking "me time" is not really being selfish at all, no reason to feel guilty.
We all need time for ourselves periodically to recharge and without it we are not up to our best. (((hugs)))
WTG! for spending the time today working on those 3 projects! :D

Hi Anonymoniker :)
Is there any way you can block the way they are getting in?
Or maybe using something like Mountain Lion pee will send them packing?
Skunks can carry a lot of diseases besides just rabies.

Winds been raging all afternoon and will continue into the night.
It makes me all itchy. Scooter's eyes are bothering him. :(
So happy I got to play outside all day yesterday :)
Washed the dishes, kitchen is all clean, again.

What is this raw chocolate?

A man who understands about th3 skunks in your ceiling is not to be passed up lightly!

Tatoulia, i'm glad you are happy with your new things.

Tillie, you will have to enjoy spring for the rest of us.

Dh made me clean the new room today, which made me grumpy and took all morning. He is tired of me "leaving my stuff lying all over the place" in here, which basically means I will be spending less time in this room because most of my projects take multiple days and it is so much more work to keep cleaning them up. I will be farther from the snacks....

But then I did get out and work in my studio and I made three projects for class. They need to firm up a bit before I put finishing details on them, so I wrapped them lightly until tomorrow.

I think I am going to skip the food bank tomorrow. I really need more time for myself at home. I feel a little guilty, but hopefully it will help me make good use of the time here so that I don't feel like I should have just gone.

Anony! An invitation to the opera! And being gracious when you declined?! Well I like him already! Just be yourself. Hope you two are a good fit!

I fell asleep and just woke up. im running my ceiling fan, Anony, because I'm having a terrible time controlling my body temperature. I have a few health conditions including thyroid and I cannot get my temperature correct. My house is cold but I feel i need it cooler when I sleep.

I will write more tomorrow, and I hope to have progress to report. And maintenance.

~Raw chocolate ice coffee clinks!~
SubC, i have a lot of those fun, pretty duct tapes. My place is so funky already, i could probably create a nice duct tape decor collage of some kind. :D Also, i have stainless steel straws & glass straws & i used to carry Pyrex containers in my car for take out food.
Tatoulia, im seeing a new guy & my goal is what you have with your boyfriend! :D
Tillie, barefootness is really good! Im glad youre getting outside more! Spring is here! All my trees have tiny new leaves!
Last night the skunks waged an all out war! They made so much noise all night. The only way i could sleep through it was to run the A/C fan AND the heater, for the noise. Ive gotten one of them so far, but another is there. The reason its so important to get them now is that i will have to get sleep during this house building project! Theres no way im letting those things screw up my second chance at learning this home building technique!
My new guy invited me to the opera today, but i told him i had skunks in my bedroom that needed to dealt with...he lives in the wild too, so he didnt freak out...i really like him! ~♡~ :D

Hi Tillie! It's raw here and sputtering. Some rain, some snow. I brought mom breakfast (she woke up around noon--good for her!) and I also had dinner packaged up for her. I brought her "fellow inmate" a nice blanket. I was carrying a lot of stuff (including a cup of coffee for mom) so I will bring the woman her clothes tomorrow. I changed mom's sheets then went to the grocery store, dropped off mom's groceries and now I'm home. I'm making lunch for myself. I'm dead tired but had stripped my sheets this AM so I had to force myself to put clean ones on.

I suspect that after I eat I'll lay down for a bit.

Kitty is in her little pod and looks very comfortable.

Good Morning Everybody :)
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical :)
WTG! for finding a great way to recycle the school posters! :D
Hope after this storm passes by you will have lots of sunny days to recharge your batteries. (((hugs)))

Hi Tatoulia :)
I am still looking for a new "go into town" style dress for me.
So nice that you have already found what you need to spruce up your wardrobe. :D
WTG! having a bag of donations and the right person to donate to too. (((hugs)))

I see on the weather report that there is still an awful lot of Winter weather hitting the country.
Sunny, warm & calm here this morning but high wind warning issued starting at 11:00am till 11:00pm, possible rain.
High winds in the Spring are the usual weather pattern here.
Today I must wash dishes. Haven't done that for several days but it's just me and the cats and I haven't been cooking, so there aren't too many.

Coffe clinks! I am up early today and happy about that. There are a lot of helicopters in the city--it is 1 Boston Day and the 5th anniversary of the marathon bombings.

I am extremely happy with my purchases. Four sweaters and the rest are blouses and tops. I tend to wear classic clothes and buy pieces that can fit with my neutral suits and skirts. So I bought fresh spring colors. I also wear a lot of dresses but I have two new dresses so I am all set.

I am doing a quick load of dark laundry then will try to do a load of towels before I go see mom.

I have a bag to donate to the woman in my mother's assisted living. I carefully curate which clothes I think she'd like. I'm not taking her the boots because we are not the same shoe size plus she's in a wheelchair and I'm not sure of her footwear needs. One thing I know is she doesn't need these winter torture chambers for her feet.

It's funny that you all mention having your feet comfy. I think to myself, anything is possible with the proper footwear. I wear comfy shoes to and from work and have a few pairs of heels in one of the closets at work. I also have heels here at home so if we are going out, I have some nice shoes to wear. So once I realized my boots were torturing me, I decided that there's no reason to hang onto them. I appreciate the support.

Tillie! Barefoot outside! We are having record cold today and I think the marathon is going to be plagued with terrible weather tomorrow.

I'm going to make breakfast and then see if mom wants to get together early. I think our weather will deteriorate as the day goes on.