Tillie, what a day you had, get ready for a lazy day tomorrow!! Tat so happy you got to work from home today, sorry the weather continues to be a beast in your area.
Today was our last warm sunny day so you can guess what I did, yep, outside all day, cleaning, burning, painting. made a nice fire in the pit, so much fun. I work at clinic tomorrow so now am going to shower and wash hair, and a good meal.
So happy I have you and this site, so affirming!! And I like you dog gonnit.

Wow, Tillie! What a day! Congratulations on getting so much done and great to have the neighbir's help. Enjoy the meatloaf--I bet it is delicious!

Not much to report here other than I'm keeping up with kitchen and did a lot of laundry today!

Hi everybody :D

Great to read all your posts! :D
This is the first time I have had a chance to sit down all day.
Got up at 5:00am.
Fed cats, gave them fresh water, scooped litter boxes.
Sautéed mushrooms, got dressed.
Went outside, got the shovel and dug out a HUGE old dead elm tree stump.
Had it all loose, jumping on one side made it juggle but it was too big and heavy for me to move.
Neighbor saw what I was up to, came over with his truck & chains, pulled the stump right out for me.
Then he helped me shovel the dirt back into the massive hole.
So very very nice of him to volunteer to do this.
I then gathered up three buckets full of stones, carried them around to the back and used them to fill a large rodent hole undermining the house foundation.
Came back inside, showered & washed my hair.
Did laundry, hung that out.
Washed & diced a bunch of potatoes and mixed up a meatloaf.
Have that all in the oven right now.
I am really hungry and tired and sore but feel satisfied with all I accomplished today.
Moving the stump and filling the rodent hole were things Mr. hoarder was supposed to do but I got sick & tired of waiting for him to do it or any other maintenance around here.
I left that tree stump in the drive way, behind three of his derelict vehicles for him to deal with.
Wonder how many years it will sit there. ;)
But anyways, now my little Ash tree has all the room it wants to grow without that stump in it's way. :D

TTYL :)

Thanks for the great suggestions, everyone! I do love the snow it's just getting to me this year--still on the search for some spring flowers to bring home, will write more later. Working from home today and debating whether to keep my dr appointment, will have to see how I feel in the afternoon.

I too am sore from walking and shoveling and need to stretch today, Diane.

Everyone, keep up the good work! I am so happy I cleaned my kitchen the other day. What a pleasure to have it clean and clear,

Ok! We now have it all worked out for Tat!

She skis and carries the snowshoes. When she gets tired from skiing, she sets the snowshoes down on top of the 9' snow bank, precisely over the bus stop bench, to rest. The snow shoes prevent her from falling into a snow well.

(I've never skiied either. My snow experience is mostly limited to inches or being blown around on ice on the insterstate (In my car). I would freeze and/or starve in the great white north.)

Hello all. Tillie sounds like you had a long busy day and rest is needed. Tat, sorry to hear how tired you are, it is so difficult in that weather you are having. Dave, I found snow shoes so much work, easier to cross country ski, probably not great in the city!!! Brutal winter for you.
Today was sunny all day and I goofed around in my yard most of the day. So much happier when I do not have to go anywhere. Returned 3 phone calls today, only one person was home, so got off easy! Tomorrow will be another sunny day, strangest winter. About an hour organizing stuff today washed dishes, ate healthy food, tired of feeling bad, and I know eating right helps me, also plan to do some stretching tonight, have been lifting and moving heavy things, and body needs stretching.
Hope you are all getting some time to keep warm and sleep well.

Tat,
Maybe you need a pair of snowshoes. Although I think I've read that when you are learning those they are just as hard or harder than walking.

You are way beyond my experience and what I can imagine. If you are having that much trouble, I am very sure the older folks you are bringing medicine to are most appreciative.

I hope you are able to get rested and gather your strength for tomorrow.

Hello everyone. Very tired here--too much snow to slog through. Tillie we have plenty to cure your drought! I can understand needing to relax after being in a city. I've lived the city life for more years than I can remember and it is wearing on me. Diane please don't be so hard on yourself. I know what it feels like to lay in bed at night and regret something that I said or to feel badly about something someone said about me. Please know that you are wonderful. The way you take care of the dogs and yourself and others and us here.

Dave, if I had the strength I'd pour a little cocoa now. But walking to and from work in the snow has really knocked it out of me.

Hello to everyone.

Hi :D
Three cheers for chai masala!!!

Good morning :)
Wonderful to read about all you've been up to.
Left home early yesterday and went to the city.
Came home late.
Need to clean the house today but mostly need to decompress from the hectic atmosphere of the city.
Too many people, too much traffic, too much loud noise.
Frazzles my nerves and scrambles my brain.

TTYL :)

Hello all. Loved gluing the sox together!!! Still smiling. Good way to prevent loners, tough to walk though.
I washed dishes this morning ate junk food, went to class. I interpreted something said to me, as a judgement, and came home feeling like crap. After 2 bags of microwave popcorn, realized that reading posts might be a better idea. Reminded of why I started over shopping and hoarding. I find it extremely difficult to be with people. I have had lots of good experiences with people, but have
anxiety when around people and read things into what people are saying, looking for proof I am disliked. Knowing this, it is just easier to minimally interact with others. I keep thinking I am aware enough to not be paranoid then I goof up again. Shopping and stuff every where worked for years to keep people away, now I prefer to have space to live. More good days than bad, although today sucked and I forgot I can change how I feel, and start enjoying myself right now!!!

I just found an open 2lb bag of Stouffer's low fat animal crackers and 3 packets of Arby's sauce to go with the marshmellows. I will have to send them by messenger though because I am going through waves of feeling good and feeling bad for 3 days now. I have to keep the cleaning going regardless-i haven't decided whether to try the gym tonight.

I can't find any dates and I already discarded the newspaper artifacts, but I think the ones in the box with the crackers and sauce were 2001. :D :D

I put 3 belts, 2 dinosaurs and a pair of St Patrick green little kids knit gloves in outbound. I still have the cash register drawer and money and the batman breakapart crash car.

The rolling McDonald's double hamburger from 2002 is really great. The meat patties spin while the burger rolls.

(I have a seasonal verification code too! It ends in W2S.)

Well, for all the joking, I now have my just desserts. (The author of a book about koans quoted a person appearing in one of the chapters as saying something like "We get what we deserve, whether we deserve it or not".)

I have to open up two telephone jack areas for a repairman by Wednesday AM. I have spent a couple of hours working on some boxes from the basement, to try to make a shelf space for some of the things around the main jack.

Not entirely successful with that, but made some progress in at least consolidating two rubbermaid containers into one and two copier paper boxes into one. I sent a quantity of 1996 and 1997 hometown newspapers to the recycle cart.

Update: 40 minutes. Included scrubbing stove, shredding all papers which had gathered there, sweeping floor and gathering recyclables. Very pleased!

Heading to pharmacy now to get people what they need. Don't feel like it but it's sunny and that is a blessing.

Good morning, everyone! It's actually just last noon here in the East Coast. I went out this AM and worked on the ice out front. Our gutters are making huge icicles --everyone is having giant problems and I've decided not to get upset, it will work itself out soon enough and money can fix the problem, so I'll just not focus too much on that.

Channelling our Tilllie, I am issuing a challenge to myself today and if anyone would like to join in, please say the word!

I will go put all dishes away, wipe off kitchen counters and clear away any papers, etc out of the kitchen. Now, I have a small galley kitchen with no table in it. And I bet I can do all of this in 20 minutes, it's not a race, mind you, I'm trying to prove to myself that it takes no time at all.

Mind you, I ran the dis heather yesterday or the day before, and I didn't empty it, and all of my other dishes are now hanging around. Where they do not belong.

Roxie, do not try anything stressful like vacuuming. This isn't a challenge to tax ourselves, it's a voluntary challenge to learn that it's really not time consuming to pick up our socks or put away he cleaning supplies in the bathroom or change the roll of toilet paper and throw out the old tube.

Anyone care to join me?

Diane
I had to pause and reread, I thought I read:
"I glued some socks together ...."

Tillie
Now that's a caution. More trees than socks. What's a body to think about that?

I'll join you by the campfire, Diane! Tillie, are you in? You too Dave. I'll bring marshmallows.

I am celebrating, my post showed up, can't stop me now!! This morning I did my homework for class tomorrow. Took 1 hour 15 mins, then spent 1 hour 15 mins organizing stuff in here and washing dishes. Washed work clothes and hung out on line. The rest of the day was outside. I chopped some BIG pieces of firewood with ax. I felt so proud of myself for whacking those monsters. Took a ripped up tarp off a pile of 2x4's that I chop up for kindling, and organized pile neater and more solid. Then found stuff to get rid of in yard. A guy stopped over yesterday and I was so embarrassed about some yard tools in odd places, messy. So today was motivated to finish some cleaning up and putting away things.
the word squalor came into my mind several times today, it is an ongoing process to get my life in order. Baby steps is better than no steps in the right direction.
The last hour of daylight, I glued some rocks together in stacks, art sort of, did it by fire, was such a luxury. Ok enough about fun. Warm thoughts going to each of you.

Hello everyone, so great catching up on your lifes.
I tried to post a few days ago, 3 times, kept disappearing, so tonight really want to say hello.
Tat I want to apologize, my weatherman said our warm weather is causing your cold weather!!! We already had such miserable weather so I can relate to all of you easterners. I am so grateful we are having over a week of sunshine, it is record setting as was the cold, strange weather. Past two days I made fires in fire pit and pretended I was at a campfire!! My yard is looking good.
I did not go to the squalor web site, although I am happy it is helping so many, know I can get support here.
Thanks to all of you for sharing your ups and downs. I am so fond of you, reading your posts warmed my heart tonight. I have avoided drama recently. So was a little upsetting reading some of the other threads, so will stick to this thread.

Dave, it's crazy here with the snow. I love the snow and I love big storms. This year I worry less than previous years because my trash hoarder no longer lives in squalor and he has a nice clean place to live. So although he complains re boredom, I no longer worry and cry.

Oh for a sled to take me to work! The walk in has taken me over an hour each morning. Completely insane but at least I can work from home several days a week.

It is fun and scary and boring and other things all at once. It is not, however, motivating, I need to work on that!

Before this last storm, the snow was taller than me. Now it's just out of control.

Roxie,
Let your brother know your forum friends are grateful he is providing you shelter from the storm and respite from racoons and exploding pipes.

Roxie, I hear your concerns about the "grimness" of your financial situation. I don't have any spiffy words to allay your fears. Maybe for the moment it is enough that you have a bed, a blanket, can breathe and have a chance at some hot soup or chocolate.

I have a little Buffalo china restaurant mug. I wake up in the middle of the night having to go to the bathroom with my sinuses welded shut and my hands hurting like hell. I heat up some water and put a little bit of instant hot choc. powder in it and sometimes it helps me to feel better. (In fact I set it out on the stove tonight with a little Chocolate Rasberry powder (from 2008 :) ) for the wee hours in the morning.)

Walking and strength are good too. You'll get there.
Dave

so we just picture you dashing off to work in a white cloud, riding your snowblower through 9" of snow. :) :) :)

(It sounds like some folks really appreciate you. you are very generous.)

Hello everyone! I cannot believe that you are doing outdoor work! We are buried in snow and have had FIVE work snow days in huge last three weeks. Luckily I could work from home so now real backlog at work.

I love the snow but find as I get older that I'm not as willing to walk in a blizzard as I used to be, although I will tell you I walked downtown in the midst of a big snowstorm to have dinner with a colleague who was stuck here (works in a different office, out of state).

I am puttering these days, which is ultimately helping. General puttering and the coffee table is still buried. But the puttering around is doing me good-- polishing dining room table! Keeping up with dishes, keeping counters clean and clear. Have taken some things to goodwill but the sidewalks to my parking garage are just little goat paths at this point so I can't really take anything to the car. I've been picking up meds for elderly neighbors, and that makes me happy. Worried about some of my "people" but have kept them in food. Cannot really take anyone out since it is difficult to drive. But I try.

Hope you are all well--oh, and let me just say Roxie!!!

Keep up the good work everyone and I'll send you a few feet of snow if you'll send the sunshine my way. I need some bright flowers to perk me up. Did not get usual Valentine's Day flowers from BF due to the fact that deliveries are iffy at best right now. But he did have some beautiful soaps for me and my skin feels nice.

Thanks Dave :)
WAY TO GO!!! :D
for getting your clippings processed!

No tree shortage here where I am located.
Looking out my front window I can see over 50 trees on my property.
Never counted them before. LOL
And there are a lot more trees out back and in the side yards.
All the squirrels in my area are the ground type, gophers & such.
Yes, there is a big problem with the logging of all the old growth trees and the taking of dead trees that have established nests for owls and other forest creatures.
Good luck with that mulberry, sounds like a real booger.

WTG with the clippings! We're not allowed burning so I have to ship mine out.

Re gravel: you are doing a gentle service for the world about you in providing some trees to help the air. (I think there might have been an article in the Nevada Nugget about the winter crisis in squirrel condominiums in your area due to logging operations :) )

Colder weather is beginning to be really hard on me-maybe more about that another time. There was a warmer day the end of the week-didn't get out until chillier evening, but got another batch of stuff cut for my trash cart this coming week.

I think Mulberry trees might be a symbolic tree for hoarders. I have a 5' high "stump" buried within a fence that I have tried to top off again (with a hand saw). I have to string 100' of extension cord to get a drill motor out there to get fence pickets off and to run the electric chainsaw (which is also still broken) so I am not getting the problem fixed at its root. At any rate, there is a large proliferation of little branches and they go off any which way, whereever the tree chose to put one down.

HEY DAVE!
I got the rest of my pruning clippings all gathered up and moved to the side yard.
Still a whole lot of work to be done out there.
Would be so much easier if I just had gravel and no plants or trees. :D

Hi Tatoulia :)
Take care with all that snow!
Thanks for letting us know and happy Valentine's day to you too. :D

Hi Roxie :)
Great to hear from you!
Sorry to hear you went to hospital again. :(
Wonderful that you are feeling better. :D
All message boards, forums and comment sections I regularly read have been very slow with new postings the last few weeks.
Seems to go in cycles.
People get busy in real life and the interwebs slow down.
Sounds interesting reading about Truman. :)
Take care and please keep in touch.

Happy Valentine's Day!

been dealing with a lot of snow--missing you all and will catch up soon!

Hi Dave! :D

Busy day for me today.
Went shopping. Bought 3 new summer weight night gowns at the thrift shop. They still had the tags on them. It was a bag sale day so cost 4.00 total.
Then went grocery shopping.
Mr. Hoarder did extremely good at the thrift shop not buying much at all but still wanted to fill the grocery cart full at the grocery store.
He still has way too much food from previous shopping trips.
I always buy almond milk but today there was cashew milk so I decided to try that, tastes good.
Came home, washed the new night gowns, made egg salad for sandwiches.
Played with the cats out in the garden.
The bees are all awake, looking for food.
I was busy removing over two dozen bees who had gotten inside because I had the door propped open.
These bees are docile and are used to pollinate the alfalfa fields and other crops.
Looking forward to spending the day outside again tomorrow playing with the cats and maybe even do some yard work.
:D

My yard must not have been bee habitat. I never had any trouble with the bees while hunting 4 leaf clovers.

It seems like I found a 5 leaf clover once.

Good morning :)

Having company today. :D

WTG! Diane :)
For filling the carts! :D

The change to declutter comes from within.
The change to only selectively acquire comes from within.
Being accountable to yourself and your goals is an important part of this change.
Having a vision/dream of your life is how to keep focused and motivated to make the changes.
Fear of the unknown future is a great immobilizer.
Worrying about all the "what-ifs".
Honestly, life is so much easier and less complicated when we don't have too much stuff.
Keeping the house clean is no longer a major chore.
You have a lot more free time to use any way you choose.
Your mind and body are less stressed without the constant struggle and juggling and cleaning and moving things about.
Motivation is key to taking on the task of decluttering.
Find your dream vision and let that keep you moving in the right direction.
Figure out the work methods that work for you.
Timed sessions, challenges, doing one room or area to completion, being accountable to someone in real life or online, etc.
Even though it is so very very hard and emotionally draining and at times traumatic keep working toward your goal.
Push yourself to do what you really want to do deep down inside even though you are resistant to the change.
Read "Buried In Treasures" do the work sheets. Go back and do the work sheets again to see how you have changed.
If you need something more to help you through just ask.
If you need to just let out your frustrations, go for it.
If you just need an encouraging word or virtual hug here it is (((((HUG))))).

I read the good bye post this morning and it really affected me, thought about it on and off all day. Wondered if I am missing out on the "cure". Then realized I have invested so much time on this site, and changing to another site may motivate me to try harder, but too much input
is too overwhelming for me. Truth is, it is up to me to keep working on change. When I mess this place up it is up to me to notice it and get back on . I have gone to every motivational speaker and class that came along, feel real motivated then go back to being same old same old. It comes down to letting go of extra stuff and only buying things I need and will use. Would love to blame it on someone or some thing, truth is I am the one that created the clutter and I am the one that has to continue changing.

Hi Tillie and others. .Love this warm weather we are having, Legal to burn today, so burned almost all day. Tomorrow is garbage pick up so this afternoon I looked with objective eyes, and filled garbage cart to the top. Also filled recycle cart. Some of the things I tossed were painful to throw out, now 2 hours later, I won der why was it difficult to let go of junk.

NO BAKE chocolate oatmeal cookies...

Combine in a pan & bring to a boil
2 Cups of white sugar
1/4 Cup of cocoa
1/4 Cup of butter or margarine
1/2 Cup of milk

Boil for one minute.

Have already measured and at hand...
2 Cups of raw oatmeal
1/4 Cup of peanut butter (crunchy is best)
1 Teaspoon of vanilla

Mix thoroughly
Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper

Work fast as sometimes it hardens/sets quickly

Good morning :)

Remember back in grade school when you would be given a box of those little Valentine cards with envelopes?
Remember how much fun it was to sort them all out, choosing the perfect one for everybody you wanted to give one to?
Then signing each one, putting it into the envelope and writing the person's name on it?
In second grade after we had just taken a field trip to the main post office and learned all about how our mail was shipped and sorted out to be delivered I even went so far as to draw tiny postage stamps in the corners of the valentine envelopes.
Remember how much fun it was to also receive tiny valentine cards from all your friends?

Life was so simple way back then.

Diane:
???? :) :) :) :) Congrats. (Still rooting for you to find another lost item from long ago too.)

Tille:
Great with the clippings. I got some flowering quince branch cuttings from last fall into the trash over the weekend for tomorrow's pickup. I had some other stuff I wanted to put out too, but I've been hooked to the kitchen. Maybe I can get some more out next week.

hello everyone, good for you Tillie, and thanks. I found the title to vehicle. Good thing I pulled all files out to go through, it was in a file of massage gift certificates, I had made to sell when I worked at a gym years ago. How did title get in there? Must have fallen in when I was doing something else. No way I would have ever figured out it was in there, thank goodness I was willing to get rid of those old papers, or would have had to order new title. Amazing to me that I see the good in this.
Tonight I found more donations and put all books etc in a bag and will take to thrift store soon. I worked outside most of the day. No wind today but fires are not permitted today, and I was ready to burn baby burn, all those papers, so found more tonight to burn, maybe tomorrow. I took everything out of car and planned to clean it today, but worked in yard too long, tomorrow hopefully.

Good morning :)

Cats are all fed and Scooter is medicated. :)
Have to get up early before 'S' leaves for work so he can help me get the drops into Scooter's eyes.
He needs to hold him still and keep his paws down while I hold his head and open his eyes as I put the drops in them.
A two person/four handed job.

Hi Diane, Thank you :)
GOOD LUCK! finding the title. ;)
WAY TO GO!!!! with sorting and tossing and organizing and filing as you look for it! :D

Got house cleaned yesterday so after I do a few daily tidying ups the rest of the day is mine to do with as I choose.
Bit of frost covering things outside this morning.
But looks like it will turn into a nice sunny day.
Still have those clippings laying all over the garden area.
Might get them gathered & moved today, maybe. :D

Smile, giggle, dance a little today. :)

Happy finger is going to heal.
Got up this morning and started on bins of papers. I had files of stuff in many places. Spent 4 hours this morning then to class. Another couple of hours tonight. Have filled one garbage can with things to burn, papers with private info, one large bag of paper recycles. Living room floor looks like an office moving party. I still have not found vehicle title. Pulled all files out of file cabinet, will take a few times to get rid of most of it. Each time, get rid of more. I am grateful I lost title to motivate me to get rid of all this junk. I have started donation pile of binders, books etc. Even though it looks like bomb went off in here, I know it will be good tomorrow, just keep at it until, files are all organized in one cabinet and the rest gone.
Started cleaning car today that is when I realized
title is missing in action. And thus began the file purge. 53 mph wind gusts also helped me stay inside and work on this. Praying paper purge continues.