Tatoulia, i'm Glad your brother was pleasant. How nice that you got to watch a Movie!

Anony, I can almost see your new view. I love it when one job fixes two things! Dh moved some dirt yesterday to fill in a low area. I am really looking forward to the day when the grading is finished and the whole dirt pile is gone.

Tillie, how lovely that you could spend the day outside!

I did not get to any of my extra things yesterday. The weather was too dreary and my batteries never got charged enough. I did catch up somewhat on the dishes.

Maybe today will be better. It's supposed to rain all day again though. And snow tomorrow.

Tillie, I try to avoid the styrofoam and straws, but I forget to ask for no straw and then it comes already in the drink, so it is trash before I remember it. And then dh wanted to take his pizza home... most of the styrofoam I have right now is packaging from the new cabinets, lights, and fans we put in the addition. In the normal course of life I rarely buy anything new in packaging.

I have a new point of effect on plastic in my world. I learned a technique for making forms out of clay that uses patterns. You can make single use paper patterns over and over, or you can make a tar paper pattern that can be reused for a long time. But my school laminates giant posters to put up for events, and I realized you could use a laminated poster instead of tar paper, and it will last a long time and not go in the landfill. So now all the posters come to my room when they are taken down. So far I have reclaimed three posters.

Hello Everybody! :D

WOW! I spend the day outside and now I see so many posts!

Hi Porter :)
Happy to hear that you two and getting to know each other and working it out together.
:D

Hi Subclinical :)
Wish you could find the time to swim!
It helps in so many ways physically and emotionally.
Sorry you have so much Styrofoam to deal with.
Only solution I have found is to refuse to accept it in the first place.
We can also refuse to accept those plastic straws.
I do this because I don't want to add to the problem but it's sad to see how many other people don't do it too. (((HUGS)))
Hope you had a good day today.
WAY TO GO! for the shower!
Congratulations on the new babies. :)

Hi Anonymoniker :)
YEA! WAY TO GO!
So happy the sand project was successful and also the driveway looks good too!
My ceiling area has to be knocked out/cut down and re-done with plaster and all that.
Maybe you could use some of that fancy pretty colored duct tape and turn your ceiling into a work of art? :D

Hi Tatoulia :)
SO HAPPY you are donating those boots!
No matter how expensive or stylish any shoes are we should never wear ones that hurt our feet.
Glad everything went well enough with your brother today.
New clothes and a movie night out.
Now you can feel good about finding old clothes to donate without worrying about still having enough to wear that fits you and looks stylish too. :D

Had a lovely time today outdoors.
Did some of this and that, nothing too strenuous.
Watered some stuff, sprinkled some plant food, spread some ant killer.
Did a little sort & straighten of some stuff stored in the pump house.
Walked around barefoot a little.
All showered and resting in my bed right now.

Anony is right--you are absolutely amazing, SubC. Truly amazing. You are wonderful in a million ways. I admire you greatly.

Anony thank you for the kind words. They mean so much to me. Imagine my happiness in learning that the sand has improved your life and your view! I am so proud of you and your hard work. You are hardworking with the kindest heart.

Went well with brother today. He is completely untethered. Yet pleasant enough.

Afterward i left my brother I stopped to do some clothes shopping and I treated myself to a number of sweaters, blouses and tops. They will freshen up my work wardrobe considerably. And I definitely can find some things to let go of.

After I shopped I went to the movie theatre to see what was playing, called BF and he met me there. We haven't been to the movies in a long time. So a nice time all around. Now I'm home in pjs and ready to climb into bed.

goodnight, all. I'll see you tomorrow!!

Tatoulia, good for you for passing on the boots! I hope things go ok with your brother.

Anony, duct tape comes in a lot of colors and patterns. People make art with it. Search "duct tape wall designs" or "duct tape wall art" I use it to finish the edges of my ware boards. The fancy colors and patterns are more expensive, but I view them as a treat.

I don't feel particularly amazing. But I did go to the activity. And I was able to make a little girl happy by checking her goat and confirming that it is pregnant and even being able to tell her which buck was the father based on due dates (the kids are too small to belong to the first breeding - the goat will kid in June)

I learned some new and useful things, and networked a little about some future livestock.

And I committed myself to do another thing. But it is a favor for a woman who invested a lot of energy in my daughters over the years, and it is simple, so how could I say no?

I did not stop and pick up the dog crate that was out for the trash.

Then I came home just in time to see my goat deliver twins - girl and boy. The girl is really beautiful. Minimal assist (I just talked to her and helped dry them off because it is chilly.) I also put up a heat lamp for them. Once both kids were up and eating I came in for a break, but I am going back out to admire soon.

~Chocolate Coffee clinks!!!~
Tillie, ive thougt of duct taping over the holes, but that might look even more hideous than that pink insulation hanging down?! I havent thought of anything to look better to put over it? Can yours be duct taped? Maybe some kind of mobile or indoor wind chimes...ha ha :D
Porter, i love to be vicariously in love, by reading about yall! ~♡~
SubC, when i read your posts, i see an AMAZING teacher AND homesteader that makes INCREDIBLE things happen out of the busy stuff everywhere! All your chaos is EXTREMELY justified! :D
Tatoulia, comfy shoes are soooo important! I hope things go well with your brother today! You are a miracle worker! You are! :D
I am very pleased aboyut the chance to learn on this earthbag house next week! Its gonna be a long drive & long hours working, but ill have the skills & knowledge afterwards to build my own home!
Also, yesterday i tried putting the sand under the trailer where i had cleaned up most of the yucky old insulation, etc., and it was soooo perfect!!! The sand was heavy enough to toss with a big scoup & it was like putting salve on a wound!!! It looks sooo beautiful....ha ha...well, compared to before it really does!!! ha ha Its heavy enough to stay put!!! And my awesome 2 wheeled wheelbarrow makes it a dream to fetch the sand! Plus, i raked the weeds around that sand pile & now the pile, my view down my driveway for the past 20 years, also looks way nicer!!! YEA!!! ~☆♡☆~

~Chocolate Coffee clinks!!!~
Tillie, ive thougt of duct taping over the holes, but that might look even more hideous than that pink insulation hanging down?! I havent thought of anything to look better to put over it? Can yours be duct taped? Maybe some kind of mobile or indoor wind chimes...ha ha :D
Porter, i love to be vicariously in love, by reading about yall! ~♡~
SubC, when i read your posts, i see an AMAZING teacher AND homesteader that makes INCREDIBLE things happen out of the busy stuff everywhere! All your chaos is EXTREMELY justified! :D
Tatoulia, comfy shoes are soooo important! I hope things go well with your brother today! You are a miracle worker! You are! :D
I am very pleased aboyut the chance to learn on this earthbag house next week! Its gonna be a long drive & long hours working, but ill have the skills & knowledge afterwards to build my own home!
Also, yesterday i tried putting the sand under the trailer where i had cleaned up most of the yucky old insulation, etc., and it was soooo perfect!!! The sand was heavy enough to toss with a big scoup & it was like putting salve on a wound!!! It looks sooo beautiful....ha ha...well, compared to before it really does!!! ha ha Its heavy enough to stay put!!! And my awesome 2 wheeled wheelbarrow makes it a dream to fetch the sand! Plus, i raked the weeds around that sand pile & now the pile, my view down my driveway for the past 20 years, also looks way nicer!!! YEA!!! ~☆♡☆~

Good morning--quick drive by!

Tillie I'm glad you had fun at the sale! I want you to know I am donating my good snow/rain boots today. They've only been worn a handful of times and are actually fairly stylish. They hurt my feet. The bottoms of my feet. So Ive decided to get rid of them. Generally I have to dispose of my winter boots because all the walking I do wears them down til they leak. Concrete really wears things down. Not this time. They hurt.

SubC please hang in there. I know you are struggling and I hope you can get back to swimming soon. Anony I am excited that your neighbors are doing the earth house! This will be very informative for you. Hello to everyone including Joanie!

My blood work wasn't great but we are working on tweaking my meds. Meanwhile other health areas had improved remarkably. So all in all I am positive.

I am off to see brother who unfortunately is wanting to talk about a subject that is best described as not grounded in reality. He will become explosive if I say the wrong thing AND if I don't say the right thing. I'm thinking we need to have the conversation close to his home and not in my car. So I can leave if necessary.

Yay for the coffee and tea table!

Weaning Marcie off Starbucks makes up for a lot of paper plates. :)

I showered.

The highlight of my week.

Marcie discovered my coffee and tea table.

Its ust a sofa table with coffee and tea makers on it,
And she said she would rather spend time with me than spend money at Starbucks .
1 I made a coffee she says is a perfect way to wake up too.

2 I made a her an energy drink that made her so energetic she had no choice but to direct her energy on to me passionately. I thought it was very funny . It's the same drink I make to make me feel like I Has no choice but to clean house.

Porter, I am enjoying reading about how your relationship progresses. (Except the plates and forks - those are an issue for me and I am hoping Marcie takes over dishes and you can use them again ;) )

Roller skating is good exercise. It sounds like you are being good for each other.

I would love to be able to see the new art closet. What a gift!

My studio has become very bad again. Mostly messy, but also it is the end of the year and I have started bringing things home from my classroom. And the styrofoam. I am still storing styrofoam. I don't want it, but I can't figure out how to reuse it or where to recycle it or find anybody who does want it for anything. It is becoming a big problem and I am starting to feel it interfering with my life. Also, as I have gotten a lot of the cardboard out it has become more visible.

Thursday dh and I went out to dinner at a pizza place. I spent many moments during the meal coming to grips with my plastic straw - which I left in my glass. Then at the end, we had one piece of pizza left and the waitress brought him a big styrofoam clamshell to take it home. It is still in my fridge.

Anony, it sounds like your are making good progress on your living space! I hope you enjoy the earth building and learn a lot!

I am worrying about everyone's ceilings.

Dh had a change at work recently and is now working much longer hours. I have overbooked myself in a lot of areas, so we are both either away or busy or tired, and the house is not getting cleaned up. My bread ties and plastic tabs are starting to turn up everywhere because I broke the habit of throwing them out and now it is too difficult again. I think partly it is a stress response.

I have not been able to swim all week because of time conflicts or maintenance problems at the pool. Swimming helps with the stress. I did go to the thrift store on Thursday but not buy anything. I want a new black skirt, and I tried on 5, but I didn't love any of them. Most of them were too tight, which was discouraging. I am still fighting my weight. And then I went on the pizza date, which was supposed to be fun, but feeling fat, and the straw, and the styrofoam... and then I get angry at myself because I can't just enjoy stuff like normal people.

I have a 4h related activity today, so I couldn't sleep "late" as I usually do on saturdays. I need a shower badly - my hair is awful. Not swimming also breaks my shower schedule.

Another teacher at work asked me about my not having trash service yesterday. She is on a very tight budget and wants to save the $85 fee. But i'm not sure she has the time and energy to make the lifestyle changes she would need to make it work. It's not about the trash fee for me. It's a little like if she asked about becoming vegan because she thought it would lower her cholesterol. (I am not vegan, just mostly vegetarian with very occasional fish/crustaceans/mollusks.)

So much. Today, I am just going to focus on showering, and going to my activity, and making progress on ONE of my things to do areas. (I am not going to list them because I will get discouraged, but I will come back and tell you what I did.)

Things were good this week.
Spent most the week at marcies. I was just following my routine but at her house instead of mine. To tell the truth I sorta planned to stay over at her place the most often I can.
I get to make much more differences at her place and mine isn't being used if I'm not even there.

The difference I made this week was making her creative out let room better organized. She plays piano and harp. And has both in a parlor . But also painting . She's not great at it but she's very passionate about it .
So my project this week , and tried to make completed before the weekend. I re made her coat closet into an art supplies closet. Using my foam core skills I made custom shelving for her supplies , and especially her brushes. I then went to micheals arts and crafts and bought 5 organizers that then fit fitted and fastened into tHe closet. So she get her tools out like a kit. And just throw it all in takle box . And it's ok not to exactly perfectly organized. But easy to take out to where she wants to use it scoop up after using and then just replace in the closet .I finnished on wednesday and she was delighted to actually paint for the first time in 8 years she said.

When I came back on Friday she had it all put in a mess . But I could tell she had been focussed on her new project.
She wrote me a poem and then set it to music and painted the notes on a canvas and she then did some sort of splash technique. She was so proud of it. And was beaming with joy when she played the music and recited it to me.

I didnt really love it . But I sense her passion for it .
We went and hung the painting at my house in my dinning room.she got to see my closets and the way I organize my hoarding. I went to a buffet to keep from making dishes an issue. As dirty dishes usually start the beginning of a neglecting trend. So I try my best to keep dished clean and put away.. And eat elsewhere to avoid dishes completely .
Using paper plates and plastic forks as much as possible.

But eating out isn't very healthy and is more expensive.
It was tricky to get her understand my fasting schedule.
I try not to bore her with all my nutritional knowledge .
But also took her to Heath food store and bought stuff that doesn't require cooking . And let her see my creative out let of how I do some research on synergy foods I eat on both fasting and feed days . And turn them into recipes twice a week . She says I'm a nutrition artist. But I feel like I'm just practicing fasting as the longevity lifestyle . and not much about art. But I get her point and took it as a compliment.

Marcie doesn't need to lose any weight at all..
But i still have at least 50 lbs to got before I'll be 1lb overweight. It's not just being self conscious about it . I hate being fat . I've slowly integrated fasting and not eating on dishes into a routine that's causes me to lose about 3/4 pound a week long term. And I get a little defensive when she tries to knock me out of my routine.

This why I tried to implement her a creative outlet back into her life. So that we have space to learn change and grow on my fasting , non eating days. I know sometimes new couples spend too much time together and then start to resent their loss of freedom and alone time. I'd love nothing more than to have Marcie fill my senses as often as possible, but I respect her right to be who and what she is without being an "us".

I know I'm over thinking it. It's ok . I'm just trying to be considerate and thoughtful. It will be at a year until we merge and a lot can happen in a year at my age.

Which takes me back to my original motivation 3years ago.
Spending time with the hoard. I see a pending merge in the future. If Marcie and get married which right now is how I feel I'll have at least a year to purge well over 75% of my hoard andcthe her house will be stuffed full .
So I think it best to keep our hoards seperate in seperste storages that way we don't clutter up the living space .
But both have appropriate creative outlets that don't take over our living spaces.
Marcie spends a lot of time at the roller skating rink.
So I've bought some roller skates too and am trying to get better at skating . It's a fun thing to do I enjoy it , but I need alot more practice to meet her at rink at her level.


Well that's it for this week.

Hi Everyone :)

Hi Anonymoniker :)
OK, I'm sure that softer natural tone will look nice. :)
Can you put up some duct tape over your ceiling holes to keep the insulation from falling?
It's so hard wondering and guessing about people's homes when we can't see them ourselves to make good suggestions.
Good luck with the sand project and getting to see the earth bag being built.

So, this morning I went to that Spring event at the thrift shop.
Had a good time wandering around and socializing.
Spent 5.00 bought two blouses and a sterling silver chain necklace that has 7 amethyst beads on it.
Came home and washed the blouses and ate lunch.
My plan for this weekend is to spend time in my yard/garden.
The weather is supposed to be very nice.
I'll water stuff and pull some baby weeds and do a little general clean up.
Really looking forward to it. ;D

~Coffee Clinks & a Good Morning to all!!!~
Tillie, i hope your ceiling can be fixed, or at least stopped from falling more? Ive got 3 spots like that & its that same pink fiberglass insulation falling through, that is also under my trailer. Each hole in my ceiling is on a mini skunk path, so they knock little pieces out each time they move around in those areas. When i see pieces about to fall, i pull them down first, which may be even worse for me, since im right under it? Ive been drinking aloe juice while cleaning the insulation cuz aloe helps eliminate fiberglass from the body.
I liked the copper swatch till i looked at it with the sun shining on it & it was far too glittery for a huge area! I decided if it were actual copoer, that itd be nice, but it was too sparkly. I decided on a soft natural tone & im going to switch my ideas for my trailer home & do art neuvo trim & some colored marble blobs in corners, and then try smaller areas for the mural ideas on the smaller outter buildings. The front of this trailer is too central to take on something as tricky as a mural, when i have no art skills or experience...ha ha This way i am excited about doing it, instead of super nervous & intimidated! :D
Today i want to try putting some sand in an area under my trailer & see how hard it is & how nice it makes it! My sand pile is, in city measurements, at least a block or 2 away, but i have a new wheelbarrow with 2 wheels in the front, which is sooo much easier! :D
There is a group of 3 people starting an earthbag house in 2 weeks that i want to offer my help so i can also learn, so to hopefully offset my not knowing what they learned at the workshop, im offering to bring good food for all when i come to 'help' ? ~♡~Happy Homing, Homies!~♡~

Hi Anonymoniker :)

If the price is right I say go for the glittery copper one.
This way you can tone it down with using the natural nature type things around your home.
A little bit of glitz would off set the natural/neutral tones and shapes and I think the whole thing could work very nicely together.
Sort of like "back lighting".

Happy you can see that the good enough is really good enough in a job like clearing out under there. :)


Been spending the day slowly picking through my stuff finding things to get rid of.
Some craft stuff I have finished with like fabric & such.
Some stuff that when I'm being honest with myself, I have finished with and see no future use for it here even though it's nice and pretty.
I use the "Two Year" question and it works well for me.
"Do I see/believe/feel that I will need/want/use this thing in the next two years???
This way I don't end up storing a lifetime of maybes and it opens up room for bright new possibilities to come in.
Never have I regretted letting go of things this way. ;D

The worst part of the ceiling collapse is right when you walk into my room, where I keep all my clothes and personal possessions.
I cleaned up the floor.
Looks like the rest of the damage will stay up there until there is another good downpour.
The hallway did not collapse but the ceiling has puckered up and blistered.
The bathroom ceiling leak has a large spooky part that when it finally falls will hit the vanity counter right in front of the mirror.
Hopefully, when Steven is shaving. LOL ;P

~Good Morning to all!~
Tillie, i didnt realized ypur ceiling was caving in. I hope its not in a place that will matter too much if it does cave in? I have a few spots like that too. And yes, you are right about the 'good enough' theory for under this trailer! Its a perfect example of that working very well!
Yesterday i got a color swatch sheet for the panels for the front of this trailer & theres a copper one that is super interesting & would be much simpler than a mural, but its pretty glittery? Im trying to strike that delicate balance of authentic early white trash, hippy kitch, and county bumpkin artsy neuvo...ha ha ~☆♡☆~

Good Morning Everyone :)
"Clink!"

Winds are still blowing and the predicted high for today is only 50 degrees.
Guess I will just stay inside as much as possible.
Tomorrow is supposed to be a lovely day. :D
Think tomorrow I might go into town to the charity thrift's annual Spring 50% off entire store inventory sale.
Not for the sale because their stuff is priced so low anyways & they have regular sales all year.
But because they always have cookies and the event is more like a party with people all hanging out and chatting and having a good time together.
And I think getting out would be good for me. :)

So, what are you all doing today?
Any things planned for the weekend?

Hi Tatoulia :)

WAY TO GO!
And you did some taxes too! :)
Hope you are having a restful sleep. (((hugs)))
About the ceiling...
nothing I can do about it now.
Can't fix it until the roof is fixed so no reason to think about it.
Since I cleaned up the floor I just don't look up when I go in there. :P

I'm still awake at 10:45 because the wind is raging and gusting
making lots of noises all the cats think is so spooky.
Hard to sleep around a bunch of jumpy cats. :D

Have a little candle burning and the darn thing smells just like fresh baked cinnamon buns making me want one.

Quick check in. I shredded a lot of papers tonight, swept the hallway, almost finished my taxes and am running the dishwasher. I am tired.

Tillie I hope you are ok with the ceiling collapse. I am terribly worried.

Hello Everyone :)

Hi Anonymoniker :)
With something like this job of clearing out rubbish under your home
"good enough" really is "good enough".

You are just doing things to make your home a happier healthier place to live. ;D

Just sorta kinda been doing stuff around here.
Nothing much really.
The yellow jacket wasps have started to make nests so I went out and sprayed the ones that were easy to find.
Yesterday I went through my clothes/shoes and got rid of all the older more worn out things.
Now I have until next Winter to find new socks & stuff.
Swapped out Winter weight stuff for cooler warm weather stuff.
But have to keep the Winter stuff close at hand because the weather here changes back & forth all year.
I have actually seen it snow on the 4th of July.
Was a beautiful morning today but the winds and clouds are starting up again.
The lilac bushes are full of flower buds. Hoping this year another freeze doesn't come and kill them before they have a chance to bloom.

~☆~Coffee with raw chocolate clinks!!!~☆~
Tillie, thank you! So, im guessing that idea isnt totally lazy or gross, then? Good! Im thinking, its not like its a nice new house. This trailer is disgusting, regardless of what i, or anyone, could ever do to it! Itd be nice to have a fresh layer of sand under it, especially with the new panels up, which im going to get tomorrow, with my friend who is supposed to help me. And maybe paint them somehow? Like a pretty mural or ? The whole front yard is kinda coming together now. The new garden(cage) is there, and my new site for a possible earthbag house. Im liking it!
~☆~♡~☆~♡~☆~♡~☆~

~☆~Coffee with raw chocolate clinks!!!~☆~
Tillie, thank you! So, im guessing that idea isnt totally lazy or gross, then? Good! Im thinking, its not like its a nice new house. This trailer is disgusting, regardless of what i, or anyone, could ever do to it! Itd be nice to have a fresh layer of sand under it, especially with the new panels up, which im going to get tomorrow, with my friend who is supposed to help me. And maybe paint them somehow? Like a pretty mural or ? The whole front yard is kinda coming together now. The new garden(cage) is there, and my new site for a possible earthbag house. Im liking it!
~☆~♡~☆~♡~☆~♡~☆~

Hi Anonymoniker

Just get up the big stuff on top of the sand.
Then when you put down new sand it will cover the smaller stuff.

When more stuff falls or blows into this area you will then just need to rake that out.

Without any kind of "bedding" materials under there
the critters and bugs won't be setting up house.

.......♡....and another friend's Mom just died of cancer & the medical industry is wonderful with its Morphine & Hospice...♡....as im cleaning up this hideous insulation from under this trailer & watching the little pieces go everywhere, i know it sounds weird or somehow wrong, but getting the bulk of it & then covering it with sand seems like a logical option? There is not an obvious answer or solution....which seems to so often be the case with these projects....i dont know what to do. It will be so much extra work & toxins everywhere to get it all up & then refill it with sand....more insulation & stuff is gonna fall out, too.....this is how i lose motivation & enthusiasm.....~¿~?~¿~?~¿~?~

.......♡....and another friend's Mom just died of cancer & the medical industry is wonderful with its Morphine & Hospice...♡....as im cleaning up this hideous insulation from under this trailer & watching the little pieces go everywhere, i know it sounds weird or somehow wrong, but getting the bulk of it & then covering it with sand seems like a logical option? There is not an obvious answer or solution....which seems to so often be the case with these projects....i dont know what to do. It will be so much extra work & toxins everywhere to get it all up & then refill it with sand....more insulation & stuff is gonna fall out, too.....this is how i lose motivation & enthusiasm.....~¿~?~¿~?~¿~?~

Good Morning Everybody
"Clink!"

Woke up around 5:30am. Rolled over and went back to sleep until 10:00am.
Gave the kitties treats for being so kind to allow me to sleep in. ;D
Beautiful warm & sunny and very quiet morning
but there is another "high wind" warning for today and tomorrow.
Last week the winds ripped down my tv antenna and did a lot of damage to the corrugated metal roof over the carport.
They made the house all dusty and the yard/garden looks like I have never raked it.
But the worst part is that the raging wind scares all the cats, so I spend the time comforting and reassuring them.
Oh well...
time to go outside and gather up all my pretty & cute garden decorations and put them inside so they don't all blow away.
;D

...♡...but i want to add that i realize not all illnesses can be healed naturally, but my friend who did get ovarian cancer last year, is going to be a guest on a radio talk today about healing cancer naturally. She did do it! ~♡~

...♡...but i want to add that i realize not all illnesses can be healed naturally, but my friend who did get ovarian cancer last year, is going to be a guest on a radio talk today about healing cancer naturally. She did do it! ~♡~

~♡~Coffee clinks!~♡~
Tillie, im so sorry. I went through something similar a few years ago when i thought i had uterine or ovarian cancer. Ive never had insurance & it was a huge challenge just to find a Dr. i could pay! And their whole office freaked out on me, too! I took tests, but needed more & could not afford more, so i decided to just do what id do if i was diagnosed with cancer & went raw vegan & did healing imagery, etc. I felt a new boldness that my days were numbered. My story turned out better, because my problem was menopause related. The doctor should have known, but i found out online. I still worry if anything else comes up. More doctors are fed up with insurance companies around here & are going back to regular payments from customers. I hope in your situation that you can get yourself the help you need. Most times the doctor will charge a paying customer a fraction of what theyll charge an insurance company. The GoFundMe system is a great way to invite people that want to & can help with things?! ~♡~
Im not sure if my efforts under this trailer are doing any good. There is so much insulation buried in the sand, that pulling it all up is making more of a mess?!? I have a sand pile i can add back to keep the level high under there, but what a mess to dig up? Also, there is more that is ready to fall off....i keep telling myself to just make it better, but...?!?

Porter, we crossed and I didn't see the part about your daughter. I'm sorry that part is hard.

Tillie, I want to pick at the problem until it goes away, but I will just send you a big hug. I think it's horrible that we are one of the richest countries in the world and people don't have food and health care!

I don't know how old you are. (I feel like you are a little older than me because you are Mothery/big sistery) maybe you will be able to get help from Medicare? So awful to have to wait though.

Update on me later.

Hi Tatoulia :)
(((HUGS)))

Fingers crossed your tests come back A.O.K. ;D
So sorry about all the snow when you are ready for Spring weather.
But it looks like Winter just doesn't want to stop.

Was worried about my gladiolas maybe being dead from being walked on in the garden when we buried Marty.
But I can now see the first sign of their leaves starting to poke up around the bare/disturbed area.

Been a good relaxing day today.
Washed my hair, laundry dried wonderfully.
The wind didn't rage with gusts up to 80/90 MPH like it did the other day.
Got the ceiling all vacuumed up off the floor.
Straightened my underwear drawer, did inventory.
Watched "The Walking Dead" on my tablet.
Ate potato salad, took a nap. :D
Got some things out and put some things away.

Oh Tillie it is so awful to be without health insurance. Just so terrible. I'm so sorry. I'll talk to you tomorrow. We are expecting snow. Nothing that will stick. It might even be pretty.

My dr appiintment went well. Waiting for blood results--hopefully ok.

Hi Tatoulia :)
So sorry Spring is taking it's own sweet time coming to many places this year.
Crocus will even break through the snow and ice but they are a sure sign that Spring is here.
WAY TO GO! keeping up with laundry! :D

Hi Anonymoniker :)
OK, didn't know you had so many huge speakers at your disposal. ;D
WTG! keeping up with that task of clearing out under your place!
To get disability I would need a doctor's approval.
Without any insurance there are NO doctors who will see me, except in the emergency room or urgent care clinic, and they don't do that kind of paperwork.
Plus there would need to be test results and those places would not help me without having any insurance.
Last time I went to a doctor was in 1989 and the receptionist screamed at me across a crowded waiting room that they do not take uninsured deadbeats.
I had money that day to pay, my entire last paycheck since I was told not to return to work until I was well again.
I was so mortified and decided that I would just rather crawl into a corner and die rather than seek medical help.
The doctor saw me anyways, examined me for free because he was upset with how I was treated.
Ordered some tests that I paid for because the lab was not as generous, and when the results came back he told me some of what was wrong and that more tests were needed to figure out other more serious issues but I had no more money.
He told me he would do my surgery for free but the hospital would not even schedule me without any insurance and I did not have 30,000.00+ to pay for it.
I did keep looking everywhere for some kind of help and nobody would help me.

Quick check in. Tillie I am sure you've looked at your situation from all angles--what a shame. You've got us to vent to! You are not alone.

I am finishing up laundry. Have dr appt this afternoon. I got two big loads of laundry done yesterday and two today. Will work on kitty cat laundry on Wednesday.

Tillie it is so cold here! Not spring at all! I have seen some crocuses in bloom and of course being light out later give me hope.

SubC great job getting donating some clothing!

CM we are thinking about you!!!

Tillie, all 6 of my Bose speakers are hung from the ceiling where the skunks live! A few years ago i chased a full sized skunk out of a clothes drawer with rap music from a boom box facing towards it...ha ha...i gotta laugh...i could really freak out, but id rather see the humor in it
Porter, it is wonderful to hear about what a wonderful world you have created! You have worked really hard & done really well & deserve the bliss you are in! ...i just read about your daughter's visit. Im sorry. You are the right path with it all, tho! :D
Tillie, i know that stuff us complicated. Id think disability would cover basic shelter expenses? It certainly should? Have you considered doing a GoFundMe? ~♡~
Yesterday i got a little derailed, but im really feeling like getting the underneath of the trailer cleaned up, will on some level, heal almost any other problem i have. And amazingly, so far, it is not as gross as id expected....or had prepared myself for...♡

Tillie, all 6 of my Bose speakers are hung from the ceiling where the skunks live! A few years ago i chased a full sized skunk out of a clothes drawer with rap music from a boom box facing towards it...ha ha...i gotta laugh...i could really freak out, but id rather see the humor in it
Porter, it is wonderful to hear about what a wonderful world you have created! You have worked really hard & done really well & deserve the bliss you are in! ...i just read about your daughter's visit. Im sorry. You are the right path with it all, tho! :D
Tillie, i know that stuff us complicated. Id think disability would cover basic shelter expenses? It certainly should? Have you considered doing a GoFundMe? ~♡~
Yesterday i got a little derailed, but im really feeling like getting the underneath of the trailer cleaned up, will on some level, heal almost any other problem i have. And amazingly, so far, it is not as gross as id expected....or had prepared myself for...♡

Good Morning Everybody :)
"Clink!"

Hi Porter :)
Sorry your daughter has issues.
Nothing you can do about that except to keep the door open and maybe some day she will understand.

Hi Subclinical :)
YEA! for finding clothes that can go away! :D
The whole application process is extremely invasive.
When you list your income as zero, they then demand to know who is paying the electric bill & etc...
Taxes? I don't pay income tax or file.

Supposed to be sunny with a high of 70 degrees today so I am doing some laundry.
Tomorrow it might rain again.
Other than 2 loads of laundry, I plan to take today off and just putter around and rest up from the weekend.
So pleasant to look outside and see all the pretty new green leaves sprouting. :)

Porter, I am very glad things are go8ng so well for you both!

Tillie, it just doesn't seem right that they can count steven's income against you! Why do you even have to tell them Steven's income? What do your taxes say?

I want you to have a new roof too.

Tatoulia, it is great that you are keeping up with things, and that your mom is joining the clean out!

Yesterday I identified three blouses and a skirt that can leave.

It felt like the end of the world when my life changed.
not only lost my wife, but daughter too. Like the only family i would ever have hated me because I was so harsh about the constant messes. Not just a little but at least an hour of mess left behind with no regard to organization or allowing tools and supplies to be ruined. Frustrating that I felt like nomatter how much I try they just keep bring Iin more, .

with very little money after they were gone.
slowly packed away their things they left behind.

Weeks of throwing out stuff they couldnt part with but now they cant keep. I will not keep it for them.

I was about to walk out this morning. When I was struck by how unhappy I was. I loved my family . But we were all unhappy with eachother. The hoarding and nagging.
the filth.

Slowly I clear each area till I feel a love for it.
I found a friend to love and took her into my fantasy room.
It surley feels like a dream.

my daughter visited Marcie and I last night.
it didnt go well . Almost all my daughters stuff is boxed up in her room . About 90% purged. There was a fit .
and marcie saw how much I was trying to stay positive.
.

after the intial response time. My daughter just eanted to leave. Its likw my daughter just doesnt remember how depressing it all was for me . To be the only one trying to live in a normal house.
After she left marcie just kept thanking me .
saying she wants me to keep doing whatever I want to do.
just kept saying it to me over and over.

It felt like I was in bliss then my daughter sounded just like wife. So hostile and unreasonable relentless verbal abuse .


tillie.
thank you!
And the rest of you too!

I get inspired reading and posting.
Ive got to go to work . Ill be thinking about all this all day.
I wish wish I could help yall as much as youve helped me.
marcie told me this morning she understands why I cleared her place now after seeing me with my daughter.

I just cant live with the hoarding in my living space.

THANK YOU Tatoulia (((((HUGS)))))

Hi Porter :)
Happy things are going so well for you two! :D

We all need this safe place to "get it all out".
Air our dirty secrets.
Get things off our chests.
A place to share our joys and sorrows.
Speak out loud about our phobias and fears.
Celebrate our victories and happy times.
We are ALL so much more than people digging out from hoarding, squalor and derelict homes & vehicles.
Love you all. (((HUGS)))

Oh Tillie. I am so very sorry. About all of it. I am so sorry. The only positive is that you were able to rant--you certainly have the love, admiration and good wishes of everyone here. Yes, I feel confident that in this regard, I speak for everyone.

What can I say? Nothing, but I can listen. I hear you dear Tillie. And I know the cats love you.

Anony
I knew I would fall in love. Just as soon as an attractive woman gave me attention. I was right , I'm just one of those people that fall in love very fast.
When I first came into her house I was so in love with her non a single thing mattered. But as soon as saw her sleeping area. , my love for her was nit strong enough.

Luckily she just let me take over , , I did bring people In and when she found out I could tell it hurt her trust in me.
I won't ever bring in cameras she's very shy almost timid.
Very attractive , but very low self esteem I'm sure her hoarding ran off almost everyone , because it was trashy hoarding similar to wife.
I think of you guys as blessing , because you're guidance help my wife , and the experience helped me just right down to business complete purge and clean. With zero drama as the goal .

This week , I went one closet at time. Through the house in clockwise order. Never working on it at night.

She gave me a key to her house . I gave her a key to mine.
When I told her about my health concerns and that I fast.
She finally realized I wasn't trying to lose weight , but live longer , But she likes my menu , I stay home on the fasting days. All week I chopped wood and created a fire pit on her property. It's been cold , but I explained it's my way of staying out of a clean kitchen keeps the kitchen clean..
Were getting along in so any ways . .
I don't think I've ever enjoyed anyone's company this much.

Shopping, fire, dinner, bath , relax , and then off to bed.
I told her I felt like I don't deserve her , and she said she felt the same. I'm just not used to that being said to me is like a dream. .
But there's something else ,
It's like I didn't really notice it , but I'm in love with the minimalist lifestyle too. Each of my rooms is like looking in a magazine. Most of my damaged furniture was thrown away.
Replaced by furniture that fits the rooms perfectly , as everything matched . I dontblove my body , but I do love my house , so I spend time with it.
When Marcie is in my house.I feel like I just want to near her , like the house doesn't even matter. I know I'm over thinking it.
Like I know my house doesnt matter because were going to merge into one. I know were supposed to go slow , But every time I try to slow down she's pulling me into her life further. And I want to be.

So I asked if we can ave another dinner party . Invite 8 friends .and keys do it once every three months.

In the past with my first wife , I would have dinner parties just to keep us on our toes about a clean house .
I'll not be inviting my poker friends , but mostly the singles and church couples . I think I would love to have a bible study At my house , as it's geared for bigger groups .

Back again :)

Went outside with all the cats.
Got those evergreen tree food stakes all pounded into the ground around the 4 Juniper trees.
Don't need to feed the 5 cedar trees because they are indigenous and doing very well all on their own.
Spent time appreciating how well the plants in my garden are going.
Honeysuckle and Lilac bushes are getting all green and leafy.
Iris are growing nice long leaves.
Over night the grass has gone from brown to green.
Came back inside and started making my potato salad.
Have all celery, scallions & dill pickle cut up.
Potatoes are done cooking and cooling so I am taking a break, eating a donut, have to share the donut with my cat.
It's only 2:15pm so at 2:30pm I will finish making potato salad then clean the kitchen again.

Steven came home this morning with an itty bitty teeny weeny tiny little cheap can of roofing tar.
He did not go up on the roof.
Guess just having bought that useless stuff is good enough.
Job done...

Good Morning Everybody :)
"Clink!"

Hi Anonymoniker :)
I'm sure the skunks are sleeping just fine.
The cats and other animals around here can sleep through Led Zeppelin, The Who and whatever else I play. ;)
WAY TO GO! with the clean out!
Yes, even though it's a dirty nasty job to do
it is made easier by not being something you have to think about and make decisions on what to toss or keep.

Hi Subclinical :)
Your fund raiser sounds like it was fun.
YEA! for your DH winning the prize he wanted and
WTG! for all your recycling/repurposing of everything that comes into your possession. (((hugs)))

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO! Tatoulia's Mom!!! :D
It's wonderful to hear that you are getting back to automatic general tidying up and maintenance!
(((HUGS)))
You have worked so hard to get to where you are today and I am so very, very proud of you. :)

Warning... Rant ahead!

Well yesterday all my plans never happened.
A great deep depression set in and paralyzed me.
Periodically the last few years I have been telling Steven that the roof is leaking.
He responds with a lot of hostility, yelling and swearing at me.
All this beautiful rain made it so I had to bring up the subject once again.
A large portion of the ceiling in my little room broke away and fell in.
This little room is the only space I have that is just mine, my own personal place where I keep all my things.
Grandma's dresser and Great Grandma's dresser, all my clothes, my dollhouse, everything.
The ceiling in the hallway is water damaged and part of the bathroom ceiling is falling away too.
Steven re-shingled the roof maybe ten years ago all by himself to save money.
He resents spending any money on anything that is not directly for his own personal acquisitions to add to his hoard.
Why haven't I just left?
Because for many years my lower abdomen is full of cysts and tumors that cause me to be constantly unwell and cause me great pain at times, making holding any job impossible.
The heart defect I got when I had measles at age five has gotten worse over time, making me tired and dizzy.
There are other health issues which might be considered TMI, so I will spare you.
I applied for Obama care and was told insurance would cost me 1200.00 a month.
They base that on "household" income.
Steven makes money, I have NO money or income.
Steven is in no way obligated to pay for my medical.
We are not married or even romantically involved, just two people sharing the same residence.
I have spent days and hours over the years on the phone trying to get medical help.
I was told that I would need to sell my share in the property which would amount to about 15K, spend that and when I am a homeless bag lady living out on the street then maybe, just maybe they would help me.

Rant over...

Thank you all for allowing me this opportunity to get this all off my chest.
(((HUGS)))

Good morning! Happy to read everyone's posts!

I am getting back to my old self--it's taking a while but I'm starting to just clean things automatically. Yesterday I changed my sheets, started to dust in the bedroom, scrubbed bathroom sink and toilet, kept dishes where they belong, and scrubbed down one of my kitchen counters. This is merely maintenance, but it's something I used to do regularly and without thinking. And that's how those things were for me yesterday. I had 15 minutes before BF was picking me up and I thought, quick, do bathroom sink, vanity. It's good to feel like I'll be back to where I can just have people in. STILL A WAYS TO GO but I feel much more hopeful and positive.

Getting mom out today. She has three bags for goodwill which is something of a miracle because she is resistant to getting rid of things. She's still in the "but I love that" stage, even with things that have long outgrown their use. She did this on her own.

We went to an empty bowls fundraiser for my food bank. We brought home two handmade bowls (I love mine and was very happy to spot it in the options - dh, as usual, picked one that made me roll my eyes) also I brought home my plastic spoon and I brought home my paper cup - which is already rinsed and in the recycling. Dh threw away his spoon and the fork he also used and the plastic cup he got his drink in.

Dh bid on a bag of goodies from the music studio where he takes lessons (he wanted the gift certificate) and he won. Besides the gift certificate it included: a clip he is using to keep his music secure on his stand, a piano Christmas ornament which I will put aside for dil's stocking, the cloth bag which I will take to the food bank so they can give it out with food in it, and a religious birthday card with music references which he says I should recycle.

Anony, they are just the little plastic seed starter greenhouse, so 180 plants if they all sprout.

I don't think it's disrespectful to reflect on Jesus to find strength for anything you need to do.

Tillie, We get to choose our trees from a list. I have native redbuds and dogwoods, Cyprus for boggy areas, and evergreens for wind break, plus some kind of wild life friendly nut, but I forget what it is.

Our ash trees are all dying from beetles, so they don't have those anymore. I could choose oaks, but we have enough mature ones that the squirrels take care of planting those.

I love wind chimes!

~♡~Greetings to all!~♡~
Tillie, im so glad your food shopping trip was fun, & getting wet from the rain is a wonderful thing to enjoy! :D
SubC, Wow! 5 greenhouses?! Im always amazed at all of the projects you do! :D
Im on a roll with the down under clean up. It is kinda weird the yuckiness under my trailer bothers me more than the yuck inside of it?! Maybe its just easier with no decisions to make. Ive still been playing full volume the song, 'Gethsemane' while i clean & it has helped inspire me cuz i figure if Jesus went through all of that, the least i can do is clean up the trash under my own home! I hope that doesnt sound bad or disrespectful...♡...i do get an extra chuckle imagining the mini skunks in the ceiling trying to sleep through the loud music..HA HA HA ~♡~

Good Morning Everyone :)
"Clink!"
STILL raining here! :D

Hi Subclinical :)
WTG! YEA!!! for a big clean freezer to fill with all your lovely homemade cheese & ice cream! :D
Any progress you make with the feed bags is great!
You probably go through a LOT of feed every week, so those bags will all add up.
What kinds of trees did they give you?
They gave me ash trees and mountain laurels for my land.
That was a bad choice on their part because they do not do well here due to bugs (boring beetles) trying to always kill them and it takes chemical pesticides to keep them healthy and I hate using that stuff.

Here is something you all may not know...
When it comes to hoarded houses and fires,
the fire departments will not be able to extinguish the fire
so they will focus their efforts on keeping the flames from spreading to nearby structures.
There is no way to fight a fire when it happens in a building as tightly packed full of combustibles as the garage and carport here are.
They will risk their lives entering the hoarded building to rescue any people who may be trapped in the hoard. Many times becoming trapped themselves and die in there.
Since the garage and house meet at the corners of the roof and the carport runs all along the south wall of my house, I stand no chance of them saving anything.
Also, many items give off toxic fumes when burned.
Like those plastic shopping bags, furniture made of composite board and other plastics.
The fumes from them are so deadly that just one breath of them renders you unconscious and then dead.
Most all people are killed by the smoke long before the flames ever reach them.
And that happens in homes that are not hoarded too.
Keep smoke alarms around and check them often.

Everything here is very saturated today and it's still raining.
So welcome in this drought stricken area. ;D
Have some tree food spikes to drive into the ground around the evergreens so it should be easy to do now that the ground is all soggy.
There are a few sunny days coming up before the next storm system arrives here.
Today my plan is to make potato salad then clean the kitchen, again.
Have all that I need to make another wind chime.
I pick up pieces of thinly sliced and highly polished agate at the thrift shop.
Glue on attachments so they can be hung, find something attractive to hang them from.
They make the most beautiful sound tinkling in the breeze. :D

Hello everyone!

I've been reading along but not posting. I had a very demanding week at school.

There is snow here again! I wonder if spring will ever come? I picked up our trees from the soil and water conservation department on Thursday, but planting them this weekend appears out of the question.

Plenty of other things to play catch up on.

I emptied my chest freezer and defrosted it so I can start stocking it with yummy cheese and ice cream.

I have made some very small progress on the feed bag accumulation. I am down to one big tack box full of bags.

I bought 5 disposable plastic greenhouses for seed starting this year. They generally last several years, but I want to figure out a solution so that I don't do that again.

I am cheering for trailer clean up and hoping for the van!
I am also worried about flammables and gunpowder. It is too bad you can't just clear a firebreak around the hoard and let it burn.... I love a good bonfire for clean up. There are probably lots of scared toxic bad to burn things in there though. :( plus, not enough space to create safety.

There was a man near here some years ago who had a house fire. He had accumulated a large collection of ammunition. Emergency personnel evacuated the neighborhood and let his property burn clean. Fortunately we are spread out and wet enough around here that that was an option. (We have had roads closed for flooding off and on all week, and the water level inside my barn is hovering around "wet, with occasional puddles")

Hi Again :)

Anonymoniker,
WAY TO GO! for cleaning out the grossness under your home. :D
I live in the desert and also grew up in Tucson Arizona.
Loose flowy type sleeves work well to cover the upper arms and also allow airflow.

Well, I don't know why I get so anxious about grocery shopping.
All the people were in good moods and being extra polite today.
I think it's because of this beautiful rain we are having today.
Still raining, constantly raining since last night.
No wind and it's not cold out there.
Had to change my socks when I got home cause my feet got wet.
My hair got wet and my coat is wet too.
LOVE IT! ;D