I will take half the laundry in exchange for sweet potatoes! Motown and I will be right over!

So my house is nice and clean and I'm so happy with it. Mom let them do her fridge, her dishes and half the bathroom. I'm proud of her.

Yes commode is a toilet. Mom has a metal structure with a seat that fits over the actual toilet to raise it up. She needed it after her hip surgery. Now it sits, away from her toilet, covered in dirty clothes. I'm will get her a second clothes basket, esp since she has someone washing her clothes in addition to the woman who does her sheets and towels.

SubC I chuckled when I read of your new technique and its impact on you! Good plan to stay the course and not bring up the new stuff people can expect next year. I'd find it hard to stick with the plan but I know you can do it!

I am struggling still with tackling my stuff to make more space. I should really get in my dining room closet and curate.

Subclinical, I will come do ALL your laundry. That is something that I really like to do. It is my happy thing! Weird I know but...

Mmm.....Potato soup and beer biscuits! I'll be right over...

Motown, you got a lot done!

I don't know what tillie's cleaners is, but i've had good luck with simple solution.

Tillie, how lovely to have everything put away! You have been working so hard!

Tatoulia, i'm glad you had a good shopping trip with your mom. I'm sure it's hard for her to let go of her things because they are something she can still control.

I don't know what a commode is - where I grew up it was a polite word for "toilet" i'm Guessing your mom is not hanging clothes on an unused toilet.

I did the second horse hair/feather firing and nothing broke! I also tried something new, which I love, and of course a) I now want to drop everything and experiment with this new technique, and b) I hate all the earlier stuff I did.

But. I am marching on with the original plan (perhaps I will sell all the old stuff - other people have a history of liking it, and I will not say "wait until next year! I will bring pieces that are much cooler!")

The first glaze load is in the kiln firing and the last batch of ornaments is 1/3 done.

The great room is lovely and clean because I have not undone the things I did and dh cleaned up after himself. He also built a fire and I have put sweet potatoes in the oven to go with leftover chicken (him) and salad. I also ran the dishwasher, so that is ok, but laundry is very bad.

Thank you for the encouragement Tatoulia! I truly appreciate it. Thank you to all of you. I love this place and the folks I have "met" so far.

Quick drive by.

You can do this Motown! You are doing great!

Tillie I'm so pleased with your new area!

Cleaners came today. I walked one over to mom's and she did the fridge and a little bit more. That made me happy. I have to go up to my car now because I couldn't find my makeup (BF and I met a friend and her children for lunch). I had someone check the desk where I sat at work on Friday and she checked my locker. Now I'll check car before heading to Lord and Taylor to buy more. But I really want to find my makeup bag.

I'm tired but I start teaching tomorrow and I'm just not yet ready. I don't have my head in the game. My slides are finished. But I'm still not ready.

Tillie thank you for the kitty advice. I have had issues with the cats like this for awhile. I don't think he's ill, just ornery. Would you mind sharing the enzyme about which you spoke? Please and thank you. And I am almost enjoying the thought of cooking in my kitchen again. I made a roast and potatoes and cupcakes Saturday and baked potato soup and beer biscuits and ice cream sundaes yesterday. Thanks to y'all I think maybe I CAN do this.

Hi Motown

WAY TO GO! for claiming that bit of counter space!
You also got a lot of other stuff done!

It is possible to post pictures and links here.
I do not know how to do pictures, do not even have a camera.
Links are easy enough to do.
Yes, before and after pictures are VERY motivating and satisfying to see.

My little kitty began peeing on the back door because she was ill, end stage kidney failure.

Has your cat always peed out of the box?
I would get it checked out to rule out any urinary tract issues.

Either way as long as that cat can smell the urine scent in those areas it will continue to pee there.
I used an enzyme cleaner to eliminate the scent.
Then I sprayed the area with a spray/marking/scratching deterrent.
This kept all the other cats here from smelling the scent and adding their own cent to the door.



Been taking it easy today.
Doing a little of this and that.
Went through my shoes, sandals, slippers swapping out Summer for Winter wear.
Have 3 pair of sandals to saddle soap, will do that sometime today.

Mostly just really been enjoying looking around at all the areas that are now empty.
Things finally have a real place to be put away.
So nice the vacuum, cat food and space heaters are no longer cluttering up edges of the walls. :D

Hoping to get a little of the living floor exposed in order to run the steam cleaner over it. The nine-month-old is beginning to crawl and need to be in the floor and the carpet is just too nasty to let her on it. Of course, the part of the floor that is vinyl (kitchen and dining) is a dirty floor too and bless her heart even in her little walker there isn't really room for her to maneuver it around. IDK what to do with all the stacks of things.
Is there a place on here where pictures are posted. Like before pictures to ask for advise or before and after pictures to post for encouragement to others? Just wondering. It seems to inspire me just looking at before and after pictures on pinterest or something of a decluttered room.

He everybody! I've missed getting on here and have just now read and "caught up" with everyone's progress. Sounds like y'all had a busy and productive weekend. I did too! I did some decluttering this weekend. I got a freezer gone from my house too! And DD took a load of clothes to storage and I also worked very hard Saturday and found a little bit of valuable real estate on one side of my kitchen counters. Still a LONG way to go for a functioning kitchen but I could at least set down a plate of food there last night! Baby steps.
I need kitty advice! I have four (one momma and her three kids all fully grown and spayed and neutered years ago). One in particular pees in the floor in my kitchen (he has three or four favorite spots). I have three litter boxes that I clean regularly. What's a girl to do except use a roll of paper towels a day for that?

Anyway, other than that and getting a LOT of laundry (mostly the kids and the living room blankets, etc) done this weekend just flew by.
Hope y'all are having a good Monday and celebrating the veterans' sacrifice.

Hey Guys ;)

Hi Subclinical
THANK YOU! :D

WAY TO GO!
For being so organized that you could logically find what you needed!

I think those ones that sell the best is because they are fragile and delicate to make.
Watching my Aunt Sue since I was 6 years old with her ceramics I learned that the more she practiced the art the better she became at it until she started winning awards and being in exhibits and featured in a studio.
With ceramics practice does make perfection.

YEA! DH and friends for getting 2 covers up!

Unfortunately I live out in the sticks off a little traveled dirt road or I would put lots of stuff out there for people to just take for free.

I am beat!
Got the ceiling and walls in the pantry and hallway all wiped down and the floors all cleaned too there.
Wiped/washed down everything and have it back in there.
Even washed off the vacuum and got that in there.
All the pantry food is back how it goes.
The "new" stuff is in there too but will need more time to get it organized better.
But the hallway is CLEAR! No more cat cereal/kibble stored there, no more vacuum.
Got lots of space heaters in there too!
This is also where I store my large folding clothes drying rack and ironing board and tool tote and step ladder and a small folding table, one of those where the tray is separate and the legs fold up.

I will sleep good tonight. ;)

Hi Tatoulia
Thank you :)

You can only choose one battle at a time and I think the fridge is a good one.
As long as she is safe (((HUG)))

WAY TO GO! for all the walking & standing around shopping today.
Good exercise.

Wow!!! Great work! SubC good that you were able to hush the destructive internal dialog! And Tillie!!!!! Wow!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!

I took mom shopping and it was very successful. She bought some cute costume jewelry and a really cute winter hat. Just about wore me out and I know it wore her out. Then I did her shopping then BF wanted to run errands, so we did.

I did not get enough exercise in today but I'm now in my pjs and I'm good with it. Doing a quick load of laundry.

Congratulations on your fantastic accomplishments. Oh Tillie, mom is only agreeing to the fridge right now. She won't agree to the drawer of iniquity as she has all these elaborate plans for it which essentially means she won't be doing it and no one else will, either.

Baby steps. I also mentioned her bathroom needs a really good cleaning. She insists on keeping a no longer used commode in her bathroom to hang her dirty clothes on. She will not get rid of it and she says, well, so and so said she wanted it and now she doesn't. That has zero to do with her living situation but she won't budge on it. It's like either do and so will take it or mom will keep hanging her clothes on it. She told me today that she wants to hang onto everything she has, whether it's useful or broken or otherwise. Well the fridge will get cleaned tomorrow. I don't want her feeling bad and I'm sure the cleaning ladies will be itching to do the whole house. I will not be there so they will have to fight her on their own. The new cleaner at mom's does the basics and not all the stuff her former person did. And I think mom's happier that way.

I am so happy that the freezer is out!
I could not be happier if it were my own freezer!

Maybe he should move it to the end of the driveway with a for sale sign. That's what people do here "works good xx.xx obo." Sometimes the stuff gets stolen though.... win either way on this one.

I too must clean newly emptied spaces before putting things in them.

Tatoulia, it sounds like things are good with you and your mom. I hope she allows the cleaners to keep helping her.

Good job on the clearing out. A chair is a big thing.

Dh is making himself some dinner. His friends went home. They got two beam covers up, which is great - the three (unfinished ones) that are left fit side by side, so we don't have to keep stacking and unstacking.

I finished more than a third of my glazing, and did one (of hopefully three) batches of horsehair and feather pots. I broke two pots from thermal shock because I didn't wait long enough, but that is just over 20%, which is not unusual for this method. I made some changes today that make the process faster, and I think I should get less breakage tomorrow because I learned more about the timing. (This is me being positive because the flip side of that is "why is it always the forms that are hardest to make and easiest to sell that break?!")

I had two moments of "I can't find the thing I need and it is lost forever and I will never find it and now I have to tear the place apart and I will spend all day looking and not find it and run out of time and the place will be a wreck and now I can't do the thing!"

But in both cases I stopped, and took a breath, and thought about where I probably put the thing, and was able to find it fairly quickly, without making a huge mess.

I am starting to get used to the idea that I can find things.

Hello Everyone :D

Hi Tatoulia
WTG! letting go.
Donating the items help out the thrift shop and helps you out with your continuing journey.
So happy you allow Mom to keep her memories her way.
In the bigger picture, it does not matter what she remembers or how she remembers it. (((hug)))


BIG NEWS!
The freezer is OUT!

Last night I could hear him swearing as he maneuvered around the narrow paths I made in the house pulling things out of the way the freezer needed to travel.

The freezer is in the driveway now.
I again asked him about me calling the thrift shop to come collect it.
He had agreed to this earlier but now he wants to advertise it for sale.
Oh Well...
at least it's out of the house, I have gained some storage space for things I need and use all the time.

Now I need to get busy putting things away all properly organized and clean. :D

Good morning everyone!

I'm excited about the beam covers, SubC and I'm very excited that you kept your boundaries in place! You have important things to do! I'm thinking ahead to Christmas only because I don't have to live through Thanksgiving. We have reservations at one of my favorite restaurants and I am not cooking and delivering a meal to sibling this year. Again it's about keeping boundaries in place. So Thanksgiving no longer needs to inspire any anxiety.

Tillie , I too see that bright light. I am excited for you! I think he'll do it.

I am being very gentle and positive with mom. I've had a bit of a shift in my dealings with her and it's helping both of us. I am going to remind her today that the cleaners are doing her fridge tmr and I'll try to get her to agree to have them clean the drawer of iniquity. But first I'll take her shopping for a belt today. That's what she wants to do. And I'm no longer saying no to her I'm also no longer correcting her if it doesn't need it. If she thinks she saw a movie in the 30s but in truth it's from the 70s, what do I care? She can have her memories her way.

I got rid of the two big things yesterday. One is a beautiful carved chair and the other was a chalk drawing from the 1800s in an elaborate carved wood frame. I never took the chair to the consignment shop and the chalk drawing didn't sell. Since I was in the car and mom wasn't there, I dropped them off at Goodwill together with my measuring cups. I think I must've taken the full cup sizes somewhere (brother's?) and that's how I lost them. Who knows?! It was important for me to dump those items. I don't want them. And I should've never bought them in the first place. But I don't need to hang onto my mistakes.

Okay I'm going to hop in the shower. Would love to hear from Motown, Arianne, CM, Anon and YOU

Good Morning Everybody


Hi Subclinical
Of course we know your home is a work in progress.
Will be so nice once those beam covers are installed.
Will also be nice when the beam covers are no longer being stored in the studio space.
Hope the men survive since the woman is too busy to cook for them. ;)
Good luck with everything today (((hug)))

If/when Steven moves out the freezer
I have to put everything back away, out of the way.
My OCD won't allow me to just move it all back into place, I must wash/wipe down everything first.
That will take a whole day.
Meanwhile I just sit and wait...

Been a long time that I have been working on this project.
Moving so slow working with him and his old freezer meat for many years now.
But finally I can clearly see that bright light at the end of this tunnel.
One more tiny space here will be decluttered and useful.

That's how it is living with a very resistant hoarder.
You can not clear out everything all at once.
You must move very slowly, one small area at a time with lots of time between projects for them to adjust.

Still thinking about tillie's freezer!

Tatoulia, I am not ready for Christmas! I will be christmassy next weekend when I am trying to convince other people to buy things. For now 1) sale prep, 2) thanksgiving!

Motown, how are you doing? CM, you too!

You guys remember that my house is still under construction? Dh has friends coming today to help lift beam covers into place. He asked if I would cook for them, and I said no. I told him weeks ago that this weekend was going to be all about the studio. But I do have to clean up this room, because they need to be in here, moving ladders and furniture, screwing bolts into the floor, putting tools down, and generally clomping around.

The books I ordered arrived yesterday, so I am up three books. But they will save me time, so good trade off.

Good Afternoon
only 12:30pm here.

Hi Tatoulia
YEA!!!! for cashing in all your change!
Funny how the most used/needed measuring cup is missing from both sets.
Happy you will now replace them with a complete set.

So nice your Mom is having in the cleaning ladies.
I worry about her, want her to be in a safe clean home.
Maybe she will like the ladies so much she will ask them back. ;)

Xmas and sentimental stuff is both the same for most people.
They are all sentimental.
Only declutter the items you know for sure you are done with.
Decorate for the season.
Then when you are putting away your decorations you can think about what no longer will fit into your vision of how you want your home to look.
Also think of where they will be stored and just how much space you want to dedicate to storing them.
You are no longer allowed to store anything at someone else's house.
About the items you have lost due to storing them elsewhere...
I know that hurts deeply (((HUG)))
but open your heart, say goodbye to them and let them go.
Fill the future with wonderful holiday cheer and love.



Well, I have gotten everything out of the pantry and made room through the house for the freezer's exit.
He's still out shopping.
I pulled the freezer forward close to the pantry doorway and have washed down all the fuzzies from the wall, floor and back side of the freezer.
Was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be back there.
Scooter says it's spooky like that.
Anyways, I am hoping to speed up the freezer's exit by now having things all inconveniently stuff around the house. ;P

Good morning! Last little bit of it here.

I hope Monday plays out as planned, Tillie. I think not pushing him for an earlier day will work in your favor. But as we both know too well, it's an unpredictable situation. I am glad to have that type of chaos out of my life.

SubC, congratulations on recognizing normal household living! We live in our homes! And living can be messy! I'm excited about your pots and glazing.

I ran a few errands with a friend from work last night then we grabbed a quick cup of soup and a salad before her train. Then I walked the rest of the way home. I took my chance to the bank yesterday and it totalled $97.06. It was very heavy carrying it in, esp since I walked all the way in. But it's gone and I'm rich.

I bought my measuring cups so I will go through my drawers and donate the two sets missing the full cup size. I've done two loads of laundry and changed my sheets. I'm going to head out to the cemetery as it would've been my friend's birthday. Then I may go to that craft store and look for the two remaining items I need. Tomorrow mom wants to get out but it isn't easy for me to do my own stuff at the same time.

I bought ZERO Christmas items while window shopping with friend. I need to inventory what I have left (after brother threw out a bunch and there's stuff at his house too). While taking inventory I'll start culling the herd. I will hear I. Mind which things might be nice for my bookshelves once they are built in, do that I'm not unnecessarily getting rid of stuff. I'm going to be thoughtful about it. It's amazing how I am able to let most things go.

I still need to shampoo the bedroom rug. Preferably before cleaners come on Monday (you'll recall it got too late Wednesday so they couldn't clean). They will do mom's fridge and one of her drawers on Monday too.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical

WAY TO GO!!!
Fantastic!
Just "normal people" type mess!
You have been doing a wonderful job of sorting out, donating/recycling, straightening up and organizing all the keepers! :D
So happy you know that even "normal people" have times like this. (((HUG)))

Soon you will be finished with the sale event and after you catch your breath I know you will catch up on things.

Today I will remove the three milk crates I use as shelves in the pantry.
That's where I store cat cans & cat snacks and assorted other non food stuff.
Then except for the library shelf the pantry will have access to remove the freezer.
I have no idea why he will not move it before Monday.
He has the weekend off. Saturdays he ALWAYS goes out to thrift shops, any yard sales, dumpster diving, etc.
When he comes back home he just sits at the computer and TVs in the garage and does nothing and again nothing on Sunday.

Been figuring out the space I will gain and for the first time ever in this house I will have a good spot for the vacuum cleaner.
The freezer takes up about a square yard > of space but you have to leave a lot of space open so that you could open the freezer door.

Tillie, I so hope you get the freezer gone!

I am on crunch today to get glaze work and firing done. I intended to glaze last night, but it had been such a long week I didn't have the energy. It was a good week at school, just very full and draining.

The mess is getting worse, but I am realizing it is a "normal people" mess. As in, there are too many dirty dishes - rinsed in the sink, there is too much dirty laundry - piled in the laundry hamper, there is a pile of clean clothes - waiting to be folded on a bed, there is a huge stack of papers - piled on my work surface, waiting to be graded/filed/etc.

Even the desperate search yesterday for the horseshoe crabs and paper plates - both of which I found in the storage locations I expected! Only resulted in things that belong in that area being left open and/or stacked on the floor as I pulled them out to see under/behind. No boxes of random items were dumped on floors, counters, or chairs. No depressing discoveries were made!

I took the pencils to school. (I found the pencils, and took them to school!)

Well, I just spoke to him about the freezer.
Pled my case as for why we do not need it.
His argument for keeping it is for storing venison and other game.
My argument against that was "YOU DO NOT HUNT".
He went deer hunting only once in his life and hated everything about it.
I used to deer hunt with my father and brothers but gave up hunting ages ago.
My friends gift me with a few little bundles of game if they have successful hunts.

He saw my point and agreed that since Monday is a holiday he will move it out of the pantry then, even though he also has Saturday and Sunday off work.
He also agreed to it being donated.
Fingers crossed he doesn't change his mind before it's gone.

The deep freeze is at the back of the tiny pantry.
I need to remove everything in there to get the clearance to move the freezer out.
Slowly started taking things out and putting them all around in any empty corners I can find.
I have a five foot tall library book shelf that I use for keeping all my nonperishable foods that I am emptying first.
Then right before he moves the freezer I will need to pull that shelf out and into the hallway.
Have to wait until the last minute to do that because it will block the hallway.
This is the most labor intensive and time consuming part of clearing out the pantry.
Hoping if I am all ready he will move the freezer out for me without having too bad of a hissy fit.
Decided that getting the freezer will be an other battle for another day.
Right now I will just be so happy to have that square yard of empty space to use.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi CriticalMass ;)

Hi Subclinical
It's a strange phenomena how pens & pencils migrate.
They disappear from places where they are needed and used and then are found in a massive hoard hiding out in peoples drawers.

I always buy warm socks at the thrift shop in Spring & Summer.
People get them as gifts in Winter, never wear them then donate them in warm weather.
Once it gets cold here you can not find warm socks in the thrift shop.
But they have many racks full of coats and jackets and they will just give you one if you don't have a warm coat.
Hats & mittens too.


Hi Tatoulia
At the hardware store they have a whole row of bins filled with all different sorts of caulking tubes.
You could stand there reading all the different labels or you could ask someone who works there which one is best for the job you need it for.
Make sure to also get one that you can paint over, some types the paint won't stick to.

Your city has had a lot of things happening there, not all good.
The country has had a lot of very terrible things happening too.
I don't think any place right now is able to settle down.

Hope you don't have so much change that it's too heavy to carry easily.
Steven has a 5 gallon water bottle over half filled with change and it must weigh at least 150 pounds.

Went down to 14 degrees over night.
I managed to keep the house at 60 degrees with the space heaters on low.
Have not yet asked him to move the freezer out.
He has a few other things he's trying to do, scheduling a clinic appt., etc.
I have to wait until he doesn't have any appointments because he gets too easily overwhelmed and has a meltdown when he has more than 2 things to do in any given week/month. ;P

Today I will putter around inside.
Wash some dishes, tend to the cats.
See what strikes my fancy.

Good morning!

Tillie so cold for you already. We haven't yet caught up but we will! I need to seal a crack under a window. I'm thinking caulk? Let me know. The walls will be refinished when I have the place painted but that's a ways off, financially.

Good work SubC. Get those pencils out of the house.

I'm bringing in my change today to take to bank.

I've been walking to work and it's great. ESP since walking home In the dark is not relaxing. The city seems agitated and busy.

Ok I'll ttyl!!! Kitty says hello!

Hi! Drive by.

Cold, but not as cold as Tillie brr!

Ordered three books I need for work. Also need more warm socks but haven't bought any. Planning to take more pencils to my classroom today. Many have wandered off again.

Picked up 4 little pins at various times over the last week. Planning to give one to my mother.

Good Evening anybody?

Well the temperature is going down to 17 degrees tonight and won't get out of the 40s tomorrow.
Wore jeans, socks and long sleeve T type top today.
Window is properly all plasticized.
Decided to vacuum today too even though the cats all hate when I do that.
Tomorrow I might clean and put away my sandals, maybe. :(
Guess I'm all ready for Winter, kinda.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
That would be so nice to get your Mom's fridge all clean and sanitary. :)

A balmy 19 degrees this morning...
No more procrastinating, today I will cover that window in plastic.
Also will get out some more warm Winter things and start wearing them.
Third thing on my To-Do list is to brew up some more tea.
That's it, just three things on my To-Do list today.
But first I need to warm up the house a little more.
At 60 degrees I don't move very much and the cats are complaining.

Hello Arianne, CM, SubC, Motown and Tillie!!

I stopped by mom's on way home tonight and her fridge is just so dirty. I asked her if I could send my cleaners over and she said yes. That's making me happy.

Good Evening Everybody

Hi Tatoulia
WTG! polishing items and wiping kitchen counters! :D

Hi CriticalMass
MOO_ MOO_ MOO_
The cows are getting close! ;D

Hi Arianne
So, what brings you to this neck of the woods?
Enquiring minds want to know... ;D

Finally saw the election results.
Statewide and local "NONE OF THE ABOVE" won big time.
I got about 50% of my choices on offices and questions, so feel pretty optimistic.

Hello everyone and thank you for the warm welcomes!

Welcome Motown and Arianne! There are some terrific people here and hope we will be a great resource for each other.

I'll post more when I can - did 3 loads of laundry so maybe soon I'll reclaim my goat path in the bedroom and start widening it into, say, a cattle crossing! Peace, Love, and Decluttering!

Ps I could tell that the cleaners worried I'd stop using them. They should have no fear.

Tillie my cleaners called about half an hour ago and they were in traffic. I checked out front and called them back to say, it will be hard to find parking at this time and the traffic is backed up. She asked, is your house dirty? And I said, of course it is and we had a giant laugh. She will come on Monday. I would've been fine still having them tonight and leaving them with a key; I didn't want them stuck in traffic and then getting here with no parking in sight.

I just polished two of my lamps and I polished some silver. I'll get ready to leave for dinner soon.

I'd forgotten the shelf paper til your reminder! Going on the list.

I'll go wipe off the kitchen counters and do a few more things just to prove to myself that I know how to do these things.

Hi Tatoulia

I just ate some lunch, 1:30pm is a little late to eat lunch but I am having a difficult time adjusting to the time change.
Resting up a bit before I look for something else to do.

Did you ask the cleaning ladies to wipe out a cabinet this week?
Have you gone looking for some cheerful shelf liner yet?


My Dear little Poohkie used to ask to get under the covers, look in, maybe get in & turn around and get right back out.
They can be so silly at times. :)

Blankets are drying in the sunshine and fresh air, not a cloud in the sky today.
Haven't covered that window, still dragging my feet.
The plastic is clear and you can see through it but it just bothers me to not be able to open the window until sometime next Spring.

Got a bunch of little assorted things done today.
Each one nothing much but all together they add up.
Left undone they create roadblocks and unnecessary clutter.

Still wearing my Summertime dresses and sandals.
Not wanting to dress warmer in jeans & socks.
So, I am cold ;P

Oh I remember when my cat used to play those little mouse games. So sweet and dear. I can say this easily because she hasn't done that in a long time. She still pretends to come under the covers with me, yet refuses. Meanwhile she yanks on my hand. I would love it if she'd just settle down sometimes. I'm trying to sleep!

Cleaners are coming st the end of the day. I'll go hop in shower now. I may have to leave them to lock my door and then after dinner I'll stop in to set alarm. I'd be just as happy to not be here while they clean.

Beautiful day here.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
That's why I study my sample ballot because it's so hard to know if yes really means yes or no really means no or if the wording is meant to trick us into voting in/out something different all together.
WTG! for voting!

YEA!!! HAPPY DANCE!
the scaffolding is down!

Have a wonderful evening out. :D


Today I want to switch out the 2 woven cotton Summer weight blankets I am using for my medium weight wool blanket.
So soon as I am off the computer I will wash the 2 cotton blankets.
It's cold out today but sunny so they should dry just fine.
Need to cover the dining area window with plastic.
Last window needing to be covered.
Hate having plastic on there but that old rattily window lets in a LOT of cold air.

While I'm sleeping Scooter has started to play a new game with his toy mouse.
He drops it on my head or puts it beside my neck or tucks it up against me under the covers.
When I'm awake I will play "mouse" with him but not so much when I'm asleep. ;P

I voted on my way home last night. I walked halfway home then BF picked me up and dropped me at the polling place. He offered to wait but I wanted to take my time in the referendum questions. I'm never quite sure what a Yes or No vote might mean so I have to read carefully.

Not sure what time the cleaners are coming. We have street cleaning so they need to come after that.

Meanwhile the scaffolding is down so I have bright sunshine streaming in my windows.

I found something, Tillie, that I had to touch every time I needed something. It is now in the recycling bin. I don't want to keep touching it. This is a good, new perspective you've given me!

I feel a tad sluggish so I'll def need to get a walk in. I'm meeting friends for dinner and I don't want to do it. But BF told me to walk a long, long way (encompassing a mile) to go to the restaurant. He's right. We then have theatre tix tonight NF will go to theatre with me.

Hello Everybody

Hi Tatoulia
A nap when it's cold and rainy out sounds delicious.

You have done fantastic getting your home a safe clean sanctuary.
You have learned so much about yourself and now know better what you truly want.
Now you have more time to enjoy life without all those negative emotions.
Getting in the cleaning ladies has been a wonderful gift you have given yourself. (((HUG)))


Hi Motown
I need the morning light to help me wake up and get moving.

Maybe you could get the kids to cooperate a little by using a reward system rather than their mother screaming and lecturing at them.
Not necessarily a monetary reward, more like freedom, food and air to breathe. LOL

Went to town this morning
VOTED
Thanked all the ladies for their volunteer service.
Went to the thrift shop
Asked Ted if I can arrange it, would they come pick up the freezer.
He said "no problem"
bought a very pretty smelling candle
Went to WallyWorld
got cat food & cat snacks and some food for me.

Hey everyone! I'm tired. Kitty and I are going to take a nap. It is rainy and raw, which is perfect. I voted on way home from work.

Motown I would suggest that you keep moving forward and cleaning up the outside area. We definitely believe in fun and taking breaks so if it's getting into the craft room, by all means do so!

I'll see if I'm able to sleep. Kitty seems to have no problem. I'm home tmr. And the cleaners come.

Motown I live alone in an apartment. I was hoarding books and stuff and duplicates of things and things I might need some day and things I felt guilty about, etc, etc. I couldn't have people over anymore and so I started to clean out. Now I'm redecorating my place with the help of an artist decorator friend. I now have cleaners come every two weeks. They do a really good job. I'd love them every week but that would be excessive. I can now invite people in and I no longer have to panic if someone needs the restroom. It was years worth of work. And now I love my home again. It's still a struggle.

I like Daylight Savings time and wish we could just stay on it year round. I don't mind it being dark a little longer in the mornings if it just wouldn't get dark so soon after I get off work in the evenings. I have never done any pottery or ceramics. I have dabbled in several other crafts though and particularly enjoy scrapbooking except I don't get to do it anymore. I have a whole room devoted to crafting but don't even get to go in there. Maybe I should just do it like it is not an option like a doctor's appointment or something. I think it might be good therapy! But not going to try to do crafting for profit anymore. I don't mind making stuff but I hate trying to sell it at crafts fairs. I am NOT a people person and I would rather just hide in the corner and be invisible. Another thing my late husband was good at, he loved to talk to people and he was great at "manning" the booths at craft fairs.

The older kids are just as much part of the problem as anyone else and they do not clean up. DD just creams and yells at them and lectures them but it does no good. They cannot be counted on to do one simple daily chore. They are never assigned anything difficult or gross, etc. For instance one chore that is assigned to one kid to do one time a week is to just wipe down the outside of the fridge. And the chores rotate. I mean how hard or how much time could it take to do? And they just refuse. They won't pick up or clean up. Wherever they have something is where it gets left. DD is no better. Yes, she had house rules growing up but my late husband was the enforcer and he (former military) expected cleanliness and order and responsibility. Among thousands of other things, that is another thing I miss about him being there. *Sad sigh*. But my current husband was not raised that way. He never married and lived with his mother until she passed away when he was 52 years old. And she did all the housework and picking up after him. He is very patient with the kids, especially the preschooler, toddler and infant (and with me!) so I can't complain too much. Our relationship has been rocky and turbulent at best but perhaps I have learned to just let things go a little more and to give grace to him so prayerfully things will be better and we can work together soon for a common goal. Although the verbal and emotional abuse continues to a degree it is improved and the physical abuse has almost completely stopped. I still have hope and I'm still going to hang in there!

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
YEA! for smart choices from the food bank. :)
WTG! DH for making dinner and cleaning up!
Great to hear your pottery making is going well.
I'm sure you are really enjoying the creative outlet. :D

Daylight savings time, "heavy sigh".
6:00am and it's so dark.
Since I will be going into town anyways to vote
planning on doing some other things while there.
Laundry and dishes are all caught up, house could use some dusting but otherwise it's "good enough".

Everybody have a great day and don't forget to laugh and play a little too :)

Hi Tillie!

Hi New people!!! Welcome Arianne and Motown!

Hi Tatoulia and CM and old people who are still reading.

Pottery is going well and dh made dinner and cleaned up the kitchen last night. :)

Today I have to find some papers and go by the store my work is in and pull it out temporarily. I need to change what I am selling there and I don't have time to work on it right now.

CM if don't have any magic words about weight loss. My brother says you don't lose weight in the gym (exercising) - "you get fit in the gym. You lose weight in the kitchen."

I have lost a little more weight this week fasting, but my body may bounce right back tomorrow when my fast days are over.

Motown, I don't have magic words about lists either. For some people they are great and for other people they are just another piece of paper in the mess.

I know the feeling of not knowing where to start! Start anywhere. Just keep doing something. I wonder if you could re ruin some of the older children to help you. Most kids don't like cleaning up, but do appreciate order. It sounds like everyone is just really overwhelmed there. I do agree that addressing the yard first - where you can blame "the man"- is a good approach.

I went to the food bank yesterday. Brought home healthy snacks for me and one box of bread for chickens.

HI SUBCLINICAL :)

HI CRITICALMASS :)


Hi Tatoulia
Hope you have had a wonderful time puttering! :D

Went through my sample ballot.
All ready for the voting booth tomorrow morning.
This evening was not a good time to bring up the subject of getting that deep freeze out and gone.
Maybe to tomorrow?
I was grateful that there was a freezer for me to use all these years that he had the fridge freezer completely stuffed with meat.
I am really enjoying using the fridge freezer. It is exactly the "right size" for my needs. ;)

Hi Motown :)

When your daughter was growing up did she have house rules she had to follow?
Stuff like picking up after herself, making her bed and other tasks like that?

House rules also cover things that impact other people living in the home.
Like cleaning up after yourself after using the bathroom, cooking/baking or doing arts & crafts so that others could also use the spaces.

I feel so bad and sorry for you not being able to do a load of laundry.
I too enjoy doing it all up nice and neat and put away.
Makes me and Tatoulia feel a great deal of satisfaction.

(((HUG)))

Well the evening was pretty much a bust. I got one load of clothes washed but can't dry them because my daughter has a dry load in the clothes dryer and I have nowhere to put them so mine can go in. They have even torn up all my clothes baskets (which I never even used to use because I love doing laundry and always put it straight on the hangers from the just-finished dryer). So then I fed the kids pizza rolls and fed the baby so daughter could eat. Now it's so late I don't want to do anything but get the coffee ready for morning and go to bed. Good night wonderful people!

Quick drive by. Garbage and recycling are out. I have pumpkin bread and pumpkin muffins in the oven. I'm
Running dishwasher and about to put on some puttering music. Cleaners come on Wednesday. I don't clean for them. They know I need them. I'm doing puttering to see what else I can do to improve my life here in earth.

Motown I'm glad you are moving forward! It is a great feeling. We all get stuck and sometimes we feel like we are going backward but here's the thing: don't stop posting. We need you as much as you need us.

Motown,
Challenges are always a great way to get things done.
I suggest people try to find a game to help move things along at a "happier" pace.
Challenges like setting a timer for 5 or 10 minutes and racing the clock to see who can fill a trash can/bag the fastest.

WAY TO GO! for your Hubby staying in your corner!

Tackling one project in one room is the best way to go.
Trying to cover too many areas just gets confusing and you don't get to see much progress that way.

It is important to take a few minutes to appreciate what you have accomplished, look at the empty spaces when things get moved out, cleaned up.
That feels so good and gives you the encouragement to do another area next time. :)

Thanks Tillie for the advice about lists. Yes, I'm guilty of making extensive lists but never doing the work. Never thought of it like that as having mentally done the work when I made the list. Well, the recliner are still on site, just the decisions have been made. Now to get them implemented! Onward and upwards! Thanks again for the encouragement. I have spent the entire day just thinking about getting rid of stuff and reclaiming space. Trying to get psyched I guess. Hubby actually agreed to stay in my corner and help with the project. He said we will work on one project in one room at a time and may we can see progress that will spur more progress. I sure hope so. I challenged him that if he would get rid of the too big clothes in his closet that I would get rid of an equal number of clothing items from mine. Does that sound like it could work?

YEA!!! Tatoulia ! :D

Fantastic!
That takes a bit out of the sting of the other items not selling.

So very happy you did not take the store credit!

The pawn shop where I sell things often offers me more money but only if I take store credit for a lot of the total sum.
The difference was so high when I sold them some platinum that I opted for the store credit and sold my credit to Steven, dollar for dollar since he buys stuff there anyways.