Good morning Dave and gals. Hi Tillie, wanted to see if I could get on here early enough to say "thanks" before your morning hello---and I did. I read your post last night and enjoyed it so much. Also, wanted to ask you to describe your new dress. I want to make some simple A line dresses. Not moo-moo age yet, but getting close.
Finally put clean sheets on last night and showered and washed hair, as long as I was still doing yard work, smelled like smoke, so shower made it final, no more yard work. Time to make some progress in here and finally go grocery shopping, have not gone in a month, my poor little freezer and refrigerator/freezer are bare.
Dishes are soaking, one load of laundry hung, and now will set timer and really do dishes. Work tomorrow so want clean living area, to come home to, and good food to eat.'hugs
Tillie we are both going to have days in the 60's this week, lets really enjoy them

Good evening :)

Hi Roxie :)
Keeping meds close at hand is practical and understandable.
I have a large family of quail living in my garden. They travel out and about to scratch up food during the day.
Every evening they return home to sleep in a large cedar right outside my window.
They are used to seeing and hearing us inside and listening to their gentle chatter during the night is soothing.

Hi Dave :)
Thank you.
WAY TO GO! getting the jars to the recycling!
Good luck for how you feel tomorrow. :D
Thanks for the laughs today.
My Hoarder ( who by the way is alright with me calling him My Hoarder/Mr. Hoarder. Actually said "if I'm not your hoarder then who's hoarder would I be?")
Anyway, National geographic is something he has actually given away.
His complete collection dated back to 1956. Before he was even born.
He gave it to a little boy Scout but only after I asked the boy's mother if she was ok with having a whole room taken over with magazines. :)

Hi Diane :)
WAY TO GO!!!
For all you got done and for your wonderful insights.
Thank you for all the support you give to me. :)

Spent today sewing a dress for this Summer.
Now I have to wait for it to warm up so I can wear it.
Visited with my neighbor friend for a while.
Get to baby sit her beasties and house later this month when they take an anniversary vacation trip. :D

So very nice to catch up with you all tonight!
Thank you (((hugs))) :)

Dave you and I were writing at the same time, brilliant minds in tune.
You made me smile ear to ear again!!! Serious socks.
So proud of you for recycling jars, you do have enough jars, area is full, good you let go and tomorrow you will be fine, reminding yourself you have enough, hooray

Well, another burn and trim day in the yard, had to remind myself of OCD and it is time to stop and realize it is good enough, and no more for now.
Roxie, fun reading your post, and visualize the cars. Good reminder to take better care of ourselves so we can be more loving to others, less need to prove I am right when feeling good. Drama is so disturbing, and I used to thrive on it.
Tat, has the snow melted yet? You have had a really difficult winter, so happy your sister is in your life. It is ok to not work on clutter this week, you have done so much good.
Dave happy you are able to keep kitchen clean and are looking at bright side of washing a pan 3 times a day. I threw away a microwave dish last night for practice. It was so odd, like I was emotionally attached to it and knew I would never use it again, but wanted to keep it. Forgot about it today until I read your bottle story, I could relate so much on keeping good containers.
When I was out chopping, thought about what a big business storage has become and the hours it takes to store all of our crap, and find it again. I have gotten perfect storage racks, containers etc., when it dawned on me the more perfect, would be to get rid of more stuff.
Tillie, you are so kind and thoughtful and encouraging. Thought of you when I was practicing productive avoidance, trimming---. Then you said "it is good enough", your words of wisdom are in my head, even though it takes awhile to hear them. Thank you Tillie for all the time you take to include all of us in your posts, means so much.

(Or yachting in some woods. I guess the Great North Woods are east of you.)

Tillie
Thank you for your special efforts at acknowledging and encouraging folks.

re:Coffee. Back at ya.

Maybe he will give you a new car and boat along with dark chocolate.

We will see you yachting in the Great North Woods this summer! ( :) )

Good morning

Hi Tatoulia :)
Wonderful post!
You have come so far in your journey here.
Such wonderful progress you have made with your thought processes. (((hugs)))

Hi Diane :)
Your yard sounds wonderful. You have done so much there.
Thinking of you out there this Spring/Summer/Autumn just enjoying it all. :D
Whenever I get pine pitch all over me I use paint thinner to remove it but that is dangerous because then you are flammable.

Hi Dave :)
WAY TO GO!!! with keeping up with the kitchen!!!
I know it is a tedious job but it makes such a huge difference in the quality of life for you and your family. (((hugs)))
Good luck with the pasta jar project. ;)

Wow, great to see a post from Cory, things to ponder------. I enjoy reading all posts on here, and watching my reactions, helps me see areas where I need to look at. I have felt a big gut wrenching ouch reading some posts. Taking the high road, I have attempted to not get involved, just focus on improving my behavior. I do learn from hoarders and those affected by hoarding, nice to see both sides. Helps me see how my hoard has affected others. I appreciate all the support I have gotten on here and in chat for progress made.
Thanks to Cory for making this site for all of us.
Today I chopped and burned yard stuff, almost done, reclaimed a large area that juniper shrub had taken over, now can walk all the way around my beautiful blue spruce, I love my tree, cut lower branches off so can sit under it this summer, cleaned debris from under too. Now need to wash dishes. Got pitch in my hair, cut big chunks out, now plan to oil my hair to try to disolve pitch, then shower wash hair, and put clean sheets on bed. Reading your clean sheet posts, inspired me. I appreciate your posts on this thread, each one is dear to me

How nice to read everyone's posts. Fun to see a post from you Dave. And nice to have Roxie back! Just get some help on the bedding. No need to push your physical limits!

Diane has your freezer room kept up with the winter weather?

For me, I have done nothing to improve my clutter. On Thursday (fingers crossed weather cooperates) I will see my sister for lunch and I will send her off with some things. She is worried re time crunch, but if I can give her one bin I'll be happy. We can clear the remainder of stuff from BF's basement once Spring has sprung. The stuff in BF's basement falls in two categories: stuff that needs to be gone through and taken to its final resting place (donation or keepers) and a few things I'd like stored for me. Stuff in my house for my sister is antique dishes and glassware from my mother and grandmothers, and I am giving to sister outright for her to enjoy. A year ago I couldn't have shared or let go of any of this stuff and I certainly couldn't send a box of unknown stuff out into the world. Thank goodness for all of you. Letting go of the control--the control I want over stuff but in fact the stuff has over me--is critical.

Would love an update from Mel and LR and Dianne and others. Til then, I will continue to celebrate my resolve.

Thank you Tillie and Dave and Diane and Roxie and everyone else. Glass is raised! Time for a toast!

Good morning :)

Hi Tatoulia and tiny cat :)
Spring is right around the corner with all it's greenery and colorful blooms. :D

Hi Diane :)
Sorry to hear your sleep schedule is messed up.
Go easy on yourself. Get some R&R and hopefully some sun beams.

Hi Dave :)
That is my favorite childhood movie and I can still remember the words to all the songs. :D

Hi Roxie :)
WAY TO GO!! getting the bed cleared off!
The quilt sounds lovely and yes those denim ones are very heavy.
Please ask for some help with it. :)

The cats have had their breakfast.
Soon I will get dressed and do the usual Monday morning cleaning.
Have to keep my tiny oasis in the middle of all this chaos clean and tidy to prevent it being re-hoarded.
The cotton tail rabbits are back nesting in the hoard in the carport.
The desert pack rats still live under the house, chewing everything.
All the deer mice partying in the floor to ceiling hoard in the garage will soon be disposed of when all the snakes that live everywhere in the massive clutter come out of hibernation.
At least all these creatures including the snakes are docile, with live & let live attitudes.
The wasps and black widow spiders and brown recluse spiders and scorpions are not friendly.
They will soon wake up from their winter sleep.
I am ready to take on the battle, have spray cans at the ready. ;)

Diane I too struggle with sleep and have my entire life. Thank you for a fresh perspective--greatly appreciated.

Snowing here again. But it's March 1st, and I have you all here, and there's a tiny cat sitting next to me. Life is good.

Happy March to you, wonderful women. Nice to read your posts. Did not sleep well last night, darn it. When I felt crappy, just reminded myself it was not permanent, just one bad night, and do the best I could today, to enjoy the day. Tomorrow will be better. visualizing hugs

Happy March, dear Tillie!

Good Morning Everybody! :D

So nice to catch up with you all while I drink my tea. :D

Yesterday was all dark clouds and rain and snow.
This morning is clear blue sunny skies but that could change as the day progresses.
Cats have had their breakfast. Soon I will get dressed and make my bed.
That's as far as I have planned for today. :)
Will mostly do/go where ever the wind blows me.

Happy March! :D

Ah, Roxie, how I love clean sheets! I like to take a shower, put on clean PJs and then just sink in to a nice clean bed. Even at its worst, when it was hard to even walk into my bedroom, I kept up with the sheets. For my trash-hoarder friend, he frequently just slept on a dirty mattress or brought his dirty blanket into the couch with him. But no matter where any of us fall on the spectrum, there is very little that beats the feeling of clean sheets.


Raising my coffee cup for a toast!

So it is the February blahs-----tomorrow will need a new excuse, March. Good to see your posts. I have been out in the sun but it is so cold with the wind. Did my 15 + minutes cleaning in kitchen this morning. No motivation, set the timer and just did it. I can see it could be a habit, if I can just keep doing it daily. Yesterday jumped from project to project, then this morning had to stop myself for being critical. I have to take Friday to jump around after stressful job on Thursday. This morning moved wood on deck closer to door, because so cold, make it easier to get inside. Forgot to call for tax appt, so have to do that Monday.
When I went to bank she checked ID, and said license was expired since November. Went to DMV and they said sine I did not renew my CDL (commercial drivers license with new medical card) they canceled my license. So have been driving without a license since November, oh boy. They did not charge late fee because it was a weird thing that I had been cancelled for such a strange reason, so just $40 to renew. Relief it is done.

Hi Roxie :)

Wonderful to hear what you are doing. :D
Happy you had a nice visit with your cousin.
Socializing is very tiring both mentally and physically, but it is a good kind of tired. ;)

Tea toast "clink"

Good morning :)

WOW! just WOW!
Such beautiful inspiring posts to read this morning!

WAY TO GO! :D

Tat, dear Tat, what a wonderful, informative post, reading it made me happy to see your progress in many areas!!!! Thanks for opening your heart to us and others. Happy, happy, (14) days of birthday celebration.
You have helped me get rid of so many boxes, thank you. See you soon

Holding a glass of cranberry juice and toasting us all! Good to hear from you, Roxie, Diane and Tillie. All of you here have helped me so much, and with a birthday approaching (I like to celebrate at least a week before and a week or so after), I find myself reflecting on the past year. And how the positives in my life, in large part, come from everyone here--the frequent and infrequent posters, the current and past posters. And a giant thank you for that. And your help has had some surprising results.

I talk ad naseum re the obvious accomplishments and the continuing struggles, but there are more subtle things. I am making plans with my sister for next week--she and I were never friends, not even while growing up, and at times I didn't care how many years would pass til we'd see each other again. And yet, after swearing I'd never write or email or call again, I mentioned that I had a giant storage space and I needed help to get rid of it. She borrowed a car and drove here two or three times and took back loads of stuff. She helped me figure out keepers and what to get rid of. She described a large shed on her property as "our shed." And just like that, we formed an easy, let's have a casual bite to eat, friendship. It's easy and not forced at all. I don't think we will ever delve any deeper than sharing pictures of cats, but thanks to the internet and its never-ending supply of cats in baskets, I don't think we will need to. And this is all due to finally facing my hoard. Thank you.

Another lasting benefit is boxes. I got rid of every cute and shiny and precious and perfect gift box. Dozens and dozens of them. This store, that store. Filene's, Bonwit Teller, McCurdy's. Long gone stores but not forgotten. And to this day, I reject boxes as soon as they enter my house. Even yesterday, a client gave me a clever little gift and the box was remarkable. Yet useless. I kept the gift and got rid of the box.

I don't buy multiples. I have only slipped twice recently where I couldn't resist a sale and bought things as gifts for other people. And I learned something there, too. It's not a bargain if I'm buying it as a gift with no one in mind and then I need to wrack my brain just to give a gift to someone I normally wouldn't buy for.

So, for the piles on my coffee table and the wrapping paper in the trunk of my car, their time will come. For now, I thank you for opening my eyes and giving me friendship and support. I have made great strides but let us speak the truth, it was a group effort.

So Tillie, dear Diane and Roxie, I raise my cranberry juice to you and to us! Much love from Tatoulia, with the hope that my friends Bitsy and LR and Dianne and all of the others who comprise the "we" in "we can do it" read this.

Hi Roxie, so happy to hear of your progress. So grateful you moved in with brother.
Tillie, yes, I am surrounded by neighbors that smoke so am paranoid a fire could be started, since they all smoke outside, so taking all dead things off trees and bushes gives me comfort, also took branches off that hang over wood fence where a neighbor smokes. Most of fencing is wire, so make a clear area inside and out of fence.
Work today was so much better today than last week. I was determined to respond with a cheerful voice no matter what was said to me or how it was said. Looking at it like a challenge, to be loving to each patient and staff, no matter what. I still felt drained when I got home so took an hour outside looking for more things to fill trash cart, got it full from stuff in here and yard, hooray.I have to be to work before 7am and would you believe I washed dishes before work so could come home to clean sink.
Sooooooo happy I get to stay home tomorrow. Supposed to rain so will have lots of fun doing paperwork tomorrow.

Hi Roxie :D

GREAT to hear good news on the health issues.
Keep up the WONDERFUL progress.
YEA!!! for having some more clothes to choose from! :D
Toasting you with my tea to your coffee. (((hugs)))

Good morning :)

Hi Diane :)
Sounds like you had LOTS of fun!
WTG! for all you got done too.
Looking forward to burning stuff here soon.

Keeping defendable space is the only way to survive wild fires and you are doing fantastic!

Thinking about getting out today to do more garden area sprucing up.
Need to decide where I will put out the bird baths and other yard knickknacks.
Also want to start another spooky book.
Good day to sit outside and read. :D

Hi Tillie, sounds like you had lots of fun and can see great results, nice you feel content. Did, dishes, prepared food for work tomorrow, 1 load laundry washed and hung. I stained the sides of my large rounds of wood, and a few fence boards. I burned, and burned, all the stuff I trimmed yesterday and today, now I smell like a fire, so have to shower tonight. Was nice to clean up all the debris I cut off trees and shrubs. Neighbors didn't think it was as much fun as I did!!

Good Morning :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
Soon your snow will melt away to reveal daffodils and tulips in your neck of the woods. :D

Hi Diane :)
WTG! on all you accomplished! :D
A tree fort to sit in and watch the world go by! :D
NICE!

Yesterday turned out to be beautiful here.
Stayed out raking a lot longer than I had planned but the results are GREAT.
Now when I look out to my garden oasis I feel peace and contentment rather than dread.
Looking forward to accomplishing lots more out there, but not today.
Need to let this old body rest and recuperate a few days. lol :D
My neighbor friend gave me six paper back books and I started reading one. Plan to finish it today. Good and spooky Dean Koontz. :)
But first out to hang some laundry on the clothes line.

TTYL :D

I worked in the kitchen this morning, washed dishes, put away, then made soup, washed everything after soup started cooking. Just now had a bowl, so happy I made it. Spent over 2 hours in kitchen. Then outside, heavy winds, saw several wobbly fence areas, so wired fence to posts, and watered all trees and shrubs. Then climbed my tree. Then I clipped branches in center of tree so easier to climb, got a little carried away, now can easily climb. I got all the way to the top, then saw a bird nest. No birds around, not sure if birds use same nest as last year. I want to put a few boards up there so I can sit up there, not on the nest side. Climbing trees was my favorite thing as a kid, second childhood.

Congratulations, Diane! Excellent work.
Your post is inspiring. Thank you. Tillie, thank you for your thoughtful post--although admittedly the only thing I focused on was daffodils!

Much love to all from the cold, snowy northeast.

Hi Everyone
I did get all dishes done yesterday, put away this am. Now have to wash yesterdays dishes, at least only a few.
Had my last class yesterday. 16 week class on "good grief", really did see how much grief hoard has caused me. Saw how old childhood beliefs have stayed with me and now it is clearly a choice to stay there or change. Tired of being a "victim".
Even dirty dishes victimize me!!! I have made the commitment to set the timer everyday for a 15 minute session of work inside the house to make it comfortable for me. At least 15 mins, many days will be much more. The new realization was I have used military torture to get myself to do things in the house, now plan to use loving guidance to make things better and more livable. Who thought it could be fun to clean house? I love a good challenge so my challenge is to enjoy my 15 mins of cleaning, because it is to make life more peaceful.

Good morning :)

Hi Diane :)
Yes! take a picture of the clean kitchen.
This really does help to remind you that it can be done and how nice it is when it is clean.
Pictures also help you to see things better, like what is out of place or needs more attention.
I really like to see before and after photos because I find them to be inspiring. :D

Hi Roxie :)
You are a great inspiration to your brother to stay focused.
We here all still have a need and a use for you right here with us.
Hoping your doctor, test and OT visits go quick and easy for you today. (((hugs)))

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO!!! on starting some shredding! :D
Doing some maintenance daily keeps things from becoming major chores.
Even just five, ten or fifteen minutes here & there every day makes such a big difference.
Finding a system and schedule that works for you and developing the habits may take time but it is well worth the effort. :D

Hoping today is not as bitterly cold as it was yesterday.
Really want to get in a few hours of yard work today.
My daffodils have flower buds already from that warm spell we had.
Off now to do a few daily tasks, mostly cat related. :D

TTYL :)

Roxie! I'm glad to hear from you and it is amazing how sometimes having a "witness" helps us to not indulge in hoarding activities. Please, dont think of yourself of not having much use. I can assure you I find your friendship very important as I try to clean out my house, support others as they clean out their homes, and try so hard to not purchase new things. You and the others here have helped me get rid of 20 bags of donations from my home, a large (I forget the dimensions--10' by 10' or 10' by 12') storage space (over $350 a month, mind you) and you have given me a place to just be myself and be okay. You are needed, loved and appreciated!

Tillie and Diane, thank you for the tips. I started to shred some papers from the massive pile on my coffee table. I also cooked dinner for my mother and I will drop it off soon. Once I'm back I have lots and lots of dishes to do. I have to work harder on making maintenance a general thing, before it becomes a big thing.

Well look I just stated the obvious. But I mean it. I want maintenance to be an "of course" so that I will see the other stuff that needs to be done. I did stare at my bookshelves today in search of a book I could get rid of. I came up empty, but I'm fine, since I really got rid of so many last year.

I will continue to plow through the coffee table. And then I can do my taxes.

Even staying with my brother, I can see my hoarder tendencies in action, which means I have to police myself more. The biggest deal has been staying on top of the boxes of medicines every time they get changed in some way.

I have seen my actual presence in the house give a boost to bro to clean up some of his own act re things like loading the dishwasher, doing taxes, paying more attention to his own meds. I don't call his attention to it, but I'm glad to see it. He keeps the house clean. He tends to get sidetracked and I think I've helped keep him on task a few times. So I have some use still.

Off to doctor tomorrow for echocardiogram, followed by home visit of OT and nurse.

Hugs to you all.

Good Morning
Tat, hear you loud and clear about motivation!! Tillie thanks so much for the reminder, action comes first, then may feel motivation, or not, but will accomplish things. I forget this over and over and just get anxious and go outside. This morning will clean kitchen and take a picture and post in kitchen as reminder it can be clean.
Tillie I was thinking about you alot this week.
Sometimes it feels like the blind leading the blind with no hoarder being able to keep a clean house, even after professional clean outs. You are not a hoarder but your insight about how your hoarders behavior affects you, helps me be more objective about how my hoarding affects others (neighbors).
So happy this site was designed for hoarders and all affected by hoarders to give us the full picture. Tat, lets get rid of a couple of things this week, we do have too much stuff.
Love to you both this morning. 15 mins of cleaning starts now

Good morning :)

Hi Diane :)
WAY TO GO!!! washing dishes and fixing things outside.

Hi Tatoulia :)
Motivation usually follows action.
Do one small thing. Even if it is just finding and tossing out one piece of trash.
Congratulate yourself.
Then find one more small thing you can do, and so on and so on...
When you see that you have accomplished something positive this should motivate you to continue on.
For the meowing I usually resort to Whiskas Temptations cat treats.
They will clean the tartar off your teeth and help prevent hairballs. ;)

Monday, so today I will clean the house. :)

TTYL

Good morning everyone! I took yesterday off, did nothing and didn't end up feeling all that great. I'm keeping kitchen okay but the coffee table is worse than ever. I still own too much stuff. And I think that mentally I can get rid of it, I just physically need to stand up and start doing it. Everytime I drove by the old storage facility, I still can't "look it in the eye" and them I remember I cleaned it out. I don't feel tired or exhausted or mentally unprepared, I'm just lacking motivation. Any and all suggestions welcome.

Diane, Tillie, oh how I'd love to work outside today. I never once thought I'd be someone who'd be sick of the snow and cold.

Roxie, I'm thinking of you and sending you my best wishes.

Any suggestions welcome to get me moving again! (Side note: autocorrect just changed "me moving" to "meowing" -- so if you can help with either!!)

Hi Tillie, did you have some fun today? I fixed some things outside, today, all day. I need to go get food, maybe tomorrow. I am still wanting to stay home to avoid shopping and avoid people. Two steps forward then one step back.
I washed a bunch of dishes., cleaned sinks.

Good morning :)

Hi Diane :)
I'm jealous! :D
Been wanting to paint stuff so bad for the last several weeks. LOL
After I get the yard Spring ready I'll get into his big hoard of paint cans and find some good enough to use.
Will also be a good chance to find & toss the dried up paints.
I was thinking of using some big wood rounds as a boarder to separate sections of the property.

Wondering if he has any plans for today, like fixing the fence maybe?
I seriously doubt it.
My plans for this weekend are to lay low and reserve my strength for tackling the garden area this next week.
Want to set that huge old tree stump on fire but it is so big that it would burn for days. HaHaHa

Everybody take care and try to enjoy the day. :)

Roxie, so good hearing about your progress, sounds like your spirits are up, even though life is difficult.
Tillie, good to hear from you daily, helps me seeing you back on here.
Yesterday work was a long day, I mean llllooooonnnnngggggg day. Today gave myself permission to work in yard, paint boards. Also painted some big wood rounds that I will use as stools, around fire pit, they are pine and a little pitchy. I talked myself into going for a walk. Felt naked walking without a dog, painful, did it anyway, because would like to feel better.
Sorry to hear weather is still so bad for you in the Eastern US. Take care of your self. Hugs
Diane

Good morning :)

Hi Roxie :D
Hope the Dr. appointment went well.
Sounds like you are doing FANTASTIC getting your strength back.
Keep up the great progress and thank you for the update. (((hugs)))

I ended up napping most all yesterday afternoon then fell asleep early last night. Slept in this morning to.
Must have been tired. lol
Need to clean the kitchen his morning.
Other than that nothing else needs immediate attention.
Hoping today I can stay awake. :)