Hello Arianne :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
Nice that you have a diet/exercise buddy. :D

Hello CriticalMass :)
Thank you (((HUGS back)))
Didn't phase me at all when Steven cooked his gross meat.
He does not cook on my stove in the house.
He has a BBQ and lots of other camping type stoves and microwave out in the garage. LOL ;D
I used to make bunny face cakes as a child.
I would bake two round cakes, one large and one smaller.
The smaller cake was cut in half to make the ears.

How wonderful to have a porch sunroom!
The cats will love having a sunroom.

I don't think eating more salads and running more works for anybody.
That kind of life just gets too boring and depressing.
A well thought out lifestyle change works best and lasts.

Way to go getting maintenance done on your vehicle!

Good luck digging out your goat paths and getting prepared for the sunroom addition! (((hug)))

Remember that leather good (might have been a man's bag?) that I bought for an exorbitant sum and never used? It just sold and my commission is $186. I'm pretty excited. I am so glad that it sold. The check will be mailed mid-December. I didn't want to give the company my bank account info and I most certainly do not want a store credit.

So excited! So even though my jewelry and hourhold stuff didn't sell at the consignment shop, I'm glad that this designer website was able to unload the leather man-albatross. And $186 is nothing to sneeze at! Someone paid nearly 400 for the bag!

Hello Motown :)

Question about extensive lists vs no lists...
I find having a vague general list of a few tasks to work best for me.
Usually only four things to get to in one day.
A long involved list tends to become too overwhelming to even read.
Also, many people spend hours writing up lists and then don't do the necessary work because they subconsciously feel they have already done the work by writing up their detailed lists.

YEA! for the recliner and freezer going away!

WAY TO GO! for what you have accomplished clearing up the porch.

I know the problems you face.
I am not a clutterer or hoarder but I live with someone who has become a major league hoarder.
I had to make some house rules.
"No Clutter Zones"
Since he would not remove his clutter from the counter, tables and any floor space
I had to box/bag it up and put it out of the main areas of the house.
I gave him his bedroom, garage, carport and majority of the property to hoard to his heart's content.
Then whenever he tried to reclutter the clear space I had to immediately remove whatever it was.
"Defending the NO CLUTTER ZONE space."
It was not easy, he would get mean & nasty about it but I stuck to my guns because it was worth it.
I have been choosing my "battles" carefully and moving at a slow enough pace to allow him to adjust to the changes.
I'm still slowly chipping away at smaller areas but the livingroom, dining room, kitchen, bathroom and my room are now spaces where I can cook, eat, sleep, do hobbies and entertain company.

Y'all are gonna get so tired of me asking questions but I'm fixing to ask another one. Do you find that making lists down to the minute things to do and then checking them off helps or does just going into a room and doing stuff help more?

Also, thank you for the love, you are right, I haven't heard it today, or in a very long time for that matter. I do think I have come to the right place for inspiration, encouragement and motivation. I feel like I will be getting a lot of it soon and then hopefully I can be in a position to speak from experience and give back to others struggling.

Hubby HAS his own house but mostly lives with me and the daughter and grandkids. He takes preschoolers to school and picks them up each day. He visits his house to pick up mail and mow grass etc. but doesn't stay there. He will not sell the house as it sits on "the old home place" that is in his family. Understandable that he keep the land but the 24 year old small double wide is more of a liability than an asset. Wish he would sell the mobile home to be moved off the land, then I could also keep my land but rent out my house to my kids (they need a house that big) and then he and I could get a house together that is just for the two of us and our pets. A place that isn't his with the history of him buying it with his mother who passed away or isn't mine with the history of buying it with my late husband. A place where the only memories made are the ones we make together. If only we could buy the neighbor's house so we could still be near but not right under the grandkids so we could look after them "from a bit of a distance".

Hello Motown! And Arianne! So grateful you both are here. welcome!

Ok Motown it appears that your husband lives in his own house (sounds like a great set-up to me) although I'm not sure.

First, I think that the notice from the town has given you a great place to start and I'm so pleased that already you are cleaning off the porch and the yard! Keep it up! These things are doing nobody any good. And yay on getting rid of the chair! I know you'll have to do things in a way that keeps peace in the household and I think you can do it! There may be some groans here and there but no need for battles. I'd recommend that you keep the momentum going with the yard. The town has spoken so you can deflect any criticism away from you and onto the town!!!

You are doing great and you came to the right place. We love you already (in the event you haven't heard an I Love You today.

So good news! I just got hubby to agree to donate an oversize recliner (that hasn't reclined in years since the mechanism broke) to Goodwill. This has just been taking up valuable real estate in the master bedroom of his house for years (primarily used for pillow and comforter storage when they aren't on the bed). He is also going to take one of the freezers off my porch to his house to use there after his went out back in the summer. The stuff in the freezer is primarily the stuff that came out of his freezer anyway (mostly pecans and the like so not much actually ruined when it went out and was discovered a few days later) so it might as well live in his utility room as on my porch, right?

Hello everyone!

Tillie I am so excited about saying goodbye to the deep freeze! Way to go!!!

I did get clothing to goodwill yesterday, including a bag of things from mom's. I could not donate the two bigger things because mom was there. I will get that done.

I did two small loads of laundry today.

Ok CM can I offer some advice on your weight loss? Merely suggestions and if you don't want them, then please don't read. First, I did intermittent fasting, 5:2 and sometimes even 4:3. I enjoyed it immensely and lost twenty pounds. After your first two non-consecutive fast days, you will start to look forward to them. I gained back ten when I decided to just binge eat and to hell with my life. thought I'd tell you a few things I've learned , largely through the nutritionist I saw in June and July. First off, I was able to stop binge eating, which is amazing. She re-tooled my thinking. I eat slowly now to enjoy the taste of my food. When I was bingeing I barely ever tasted my food. Two things I've noticed: one, a lot of my food is really tasty and two, a lot of it is not. So I've stopped eating some of the stuff I was eating because it turns out, it's just not all that tasty. I also constantly tell myself that my body isn't a garbage can. So if I start to eat something "just to finish it off," I realize I'm treating my body like a garbage can. So I either toss it (I'm sorry SubC) or I put in fridge. As I've come to learn how much I eat, I no longer purchase too much. That's my advice. Not particularly brilliant or insightful but I'm down 22 with nutritionist and 10 from fasting so I'm 32 down so far.

One of my co-workers and I send each other our weekly weights. It's awful. We are not competing, we are supporting each other. We do it with humor so if I lose too much she tells me she's ordered a pizza to my house or if I'm not losing she says she's stealing my BF. Silly stuff like that. Yesterday she challenged me to a 3 mile walk and I did it. She was picking her son up at the gym and she stayed to work on the treadmill. We do not work in the same state but we are very close. I see her about four times a year. Her husband died unexpectedly two years ago.

I am so impressed with all the work going on at your house! This is all good news! You are getting there.

I too am tempted to buy more cake decorating supplies but am staying firmly rooted in, I will buy what I need. I do need new measuring cups as my one cup measure is missing from both sets. I will then donate the others. I saw the Russisn tips but really want to work on making roses petal by petal.

Ok I see there's more for me to read but I wanted to talk weight with CM. Again nothing new to add but thought I could offer some support. I think I'll be challenging go/worker to three miles so I'll have to get dressed very soon.

It sounds like you are on the right track, just keep the momentum going!

Also we got notice last week from the city to clean up outside. There are lots of things from them that are cluttering up our outdoors and the porch is full of bags of clothes that she is "going to go through". The letter prompted some action and I took 13 trash bags to a church clothes pantry and about 6 more (big lawn and leaf) bags to goodwill yesterday. But there's still a long ways to go.
I just want to be able to put up a Christmas tree for the little ones and as it stands right now, a tiny Charlie Brown tree wouldn't even have enough room. :(

I just don't want to tick her off. Her loser "husband" doesn't hold a good job and she doesn't work. If they didn't live with me, she and the kids would be destitute. And not trying to be funny but it would take a awfully big cardboard box for them to live in on the streets.

Arianne here, not Tillie, but if it's your house shouldn't it be your rules?

What about not allowing their stuff to accumulate in common areas, if they don't pick it up, pick it up yourself and put it in their rooms?

I understand not wanting to deal with anger but again it IS your house, and no you shouldn't have to get rid of your stuff to accommodate theirs.

Tillie, it is mostly things that they set down and never do anything with. The adults are as bad as the kids (13 down to 9 months). I feel resentful because I don't feel like I should have to get rid of MY stuff to make room for theirs.

Tillie I'm in Arkansas, small town of 6,000 all my life (52 years). Yes a houseful in more ways than one. Just don't know where to begin. My 90 year old mother came over for a couple of hours last weekend to help "direct my paths" and I could see about 1/3 of the surface of the kitchen island but that's all to show for two hours of work. Then by a couple of days later it was right back like it had been. I have seen my daughter's houses where she has lived and that's how they live. I am a clutter bug but not THAT bad. I just don't know what to do. she seems to get all ticked off if I say something and has an excuse as to why she couldn't do it or whatever. I just shut up because I don't want the stress of her anger.

Motown, would it help to ask yourself, why do I have this particular thing in the first place? Do I use it? Do I need it? Do I love it? If not get rid of it.

A lot of the clutter is probably caused by the other people in your house, have them be accountable and responsible for getting rid of it.

One thing some people find helpful is to get rid of so many things a day, even if it's just one, but more is better.

Another fun thing is to get rid of things according to the day of the month, one thing on the first, two things on the second, three on the third and so forth. Works great for paper!

Just a quick "drive by" to say HI because I have to get doing stuff right now...

HI CriticalMass :)

You CAN do this!
One step at a time everything you want is possible
(((HUGS)))

Hi Motown
Welcome :D

WOW! you sure have a houseful!
We all start with baby steps here, one small accomplishment at a time.
These small accomplishments really start to add up and soon you will see great improvements.

So, do you live in Detroit?
I live in Nevada but was born in Detroit.

Not sure how this whole thing works but Tillie suggested I post here on the What are you doing today place. I don't know where to begin so I guess I will just try to answer questions as they come so I know what information is needed in order for someone to guide me. My house is a 25 year old double wide mobile home that is now home to 12 people. My husband, myself, my daughter and her "husband", their 8 kids (his, hers and theirs), 4 dogs and 4 cats. And lots and lots of clutter. No filth as in no pizza boxes or coke cans stacking up and no overflowing ashtrays as we don't smoke but there is no square inch of surface that is not covered. Example, I could not set down my coffee cup this morning on any surface and I have a big kitchen with lots of counter space including countertops, a bar and an island plus the table. Not 6 square inches of surface visible.

Good morning!

I've been thinking "I need to post, I need to post" for a couple days now. Then I get on here and Tillie is giving me a shoutout! Back at ya, Tillie!

And woohoo happy dance on getting your freezer compartment back and being able to initiate proceedings to send the big beast freezer to a new home.

That must've been pretty scary when Steven cooked that gross meat. I'm at the opposite end of that problem - I have a few things that were good but may have stayed frozen too long, and I'm going to need to evaluate whether to just cut my losses. I'm glad too that you were able to cook and eat some good food yourself.

I have issues these days with cooking - the most obvious one being I just don't get it done. Living with this particular roommate in this house has shifted a lot of my patterns and I don't have the rhythm of cooking that I would were I living on my own. It's complicated - some of the factors are space, time, food allergies, and more. And simply by now, being out of the habit.

Sorry your kitties and you are still feeling the gap left behind by Eowyn. She definitely was the queen. Hugs to you all. We're still trying to get kitty reintroductions accomplished amidst other busyness (more on that in a moment). The kitties have had a couple unplanned meetings when the boy slips past the door. He gets tired of being in the back room. Girl kitty I suspect is under the illusion that his banishment will be permanent, and her hiss directed toward him is probably also meant for us, for not deporting him to Timbuktu.

Love your advice to Tatoulia on cabinet storage. I wish I had my Dream Minimalist Residence in which to practice some of those principles myself! Tatoulia, so glad you're enjoying your cake class. I admire your determination to not collect too many cake things and pans (remember my Clutter Club lady's saying "They always make more" LOL) - whatever you let go of, if you need one later, you'll be able to obtain it.

I miss cake baking, which, like cooking, is harder to do in this living situation. I did go a little overboard when I got started. I'm a "gear geek" for any pastime I take up. I did mostly keep to basic shape pans (plus some bunny ones!). But decorating tips - oh my! I have more than a few. And other odds and ends. When I moved, I went through and compacted things down and got rid of some extraneous stuff. The bulk of my cake equipment is in storage, though, but having gone through it I feel I want to keep the stuff I really do like and plan to use.

I confess I am fascinated with those Russian tips that can make a whole flower at once on a cupcake. I will probably get a set because it would actually be efficient in this setup, allow me to have the fun of decorating without having to use several separate tips and bags and have more to clean up.

What excitement and fun for you when the Red Sox parade went through! I remember when Kansas City won the World Series in 2015, seeing some of their parade on TV. It would be fun to be able to enjoy it from your own house too, instead of having to drive and park and all that hassle.

SubC - so glad you found those eye hooks for your ornaments and didn't have to go buy more! You and I are probably at a similar level right now in our clutter struggles. Let's pledge to keep up the good fight!

Here we are seeing progress with the home improvement, but a new (though exciting) phase is imminent. My van got oil and transmission fluid changed, and it will need that one belt; I'll see if I can do it this month or if not next. But otherwise she is running so well and I feel so blessed after all that struggle with the old Money Pit one.

The new and exciting home improvement thing due to happen this week is that we're getting the front porch made into a sunroom! It will be chaotic for a week at least (so if I don't get a chance to pop in, that'll be why, though I will try).

My roommate can put her plant shelves out there when it's done, and the living room will have ROOM! At least more room than it has had. Right now the big dog pretty much fills up the passageway between furniture on one side and the other so it's challenging to walk through. And since I'm not a huge dog person I tend to get annoyed at him, but it's not really his fault.

So this should reduce some stresses - it may also give the cats more places to not get in each other's fur when they are allowed to inhabit the same space once again.

There are many things to do in preparation for this big event, and I need to get cracking on them today. Moving things off the existing porch, etc. And I hope I can catch up on some of my things like laundry. My bedroom has come to look like the aftermath of a Category 5 hurricane. :( Goat paths are bad enough but when the goat path itself fills up, it's bad!

I have another challenge, one which I'd hoped not to have to deal with. You may remember I had a surgery two years ago and took advantage of the lessened appetite, and desire to eat healthy during the recovery, to kick off a weight loss that was reasonably successful. But last year and this year I ended up going out to eat more with other people, which was dangerous enough. Then last winter when I had the wreck with the old van, and those mopey months with NO vehicle, I turned to sweets for solace.

When we were having the bathroom plumbing done, the scale was tucked away. This morning I decided to face the music. It was bad. I've regained a third of the weight. *sobs* I know also I've exercised less, and just in so many ways gotten lax. The smaller size jeans still fit but there's a scary muffin top, and it's Orange Alert time - do something about it immediately or regret it.

Fasting might be a way to go for me, and I have been cutting back on sweets; I shall cut back more, and work on shifting to healthier foods and of course watch those portions and find a way to get that exercise in. Maybe park further from buildings, use stairs instead of elevators - I am still so out of the gym habit but I'm NOT going to give up hope on getting it back too.

Well, first thing to do right now is get the day going; hustling round and carrying things and doing laundry burn calories. I could use y'all's cheerleading rah-rah if you wouldn't mind - help me to remember this is a temporary setback and not a permanent defeat, tell me I can do this, etc. I love having you people who know how hard the big struggle against clutter is as my posse. Because we are unique in how our brains work, or so I've been told - the usual "Just eat more salads" or "Run 5 miles at Zero Dark Thirty" advice doesn't tend to work when our first battle is to avoid despair.

Into the breach! Damn the torpedoes! etc.

Good Morning

Last night before I went to bed
I turned off the deep freeze
placed a few plastic dish pans on the shelves and two big towels around the bottom to catch melting frost.
This morning the freezer is all defrosted and ready to move out.
Now, just have to get Steven on board with my plan.

Today I have to go over my sample ballot again and make decisions.
It has been a horrible last few months with all the mail flyers, tv/Roku campaign ads and phone calls.
Frankly, I am disgusted with all of them and their mud slinging.
Unfortunately, "NONE OF THE ABOVE" should be elected. :P

Good Evening Everybody

HELLO CRITICALMASS :)

Hi Subclinical
YEA!!! for craft supplies and studio not being so bad that you were able to locate those eye screws! :D

Well, we all knew your house would get messier during this time before the sale.
As long as you are eating, sleeping and all the animal needs are being seen to
you are doing GREAT!

Hi Tatoulia
YEA! for still being at a normal weight!
I'm not surprised with all that walking you do.
WTG! for taking donations, especially the ones that would cause your Mom all that pain to see. ;)

I know that feeling, I really like something but for some reason I just want to send it on it's way now.
Happy your friend will have it now.

Spent today going through, sorting out deep freeze stuff, pantry stuff and fridge stuff.
Cooked some sweet potatoes and made up a dish of noodles/polish sausage/sweet onion/asparagus/peas with a white sauce.
Was thinking if I cook it I will eat it, if I don't cook it I won't.
So today I ate a lot and still have enough for the next few days too.

I got most all my stuff out of the deep freeze, sorted and some is in the fridge freezer and some is in the fridge.
Have had to decide how I want to do this and what & how to put the stuff away.
I could have easily completely emptied the deep freeze but I was too busy cooking, eating and cleaning the kitchen.
All that's left to move is bread, tortillas and 5 ice cream sandwiches.
The flour, nuts, dates and craisins are now in the fridge.
Kept so many things in that deep freeze just to keep it filled up so it would function properly.
So happy to have the fridge freezer to use again.
That deep freeze is and has been just a waste of space and electricity.
The fridge freezer was just a waste of everything.
Happy news! Today he took all that nasty foul smelling garbage to the dump!

SubC isn't it funny how we have these internal dialogues that tell us we are worthless and everything is ruined? I am so grateful you found the mechanisms you need to make your ornaments.

I am going to take some things to goodwill today including some things I tried to sell but did not sell at the shop. I am almost fine with donating. I am talking big pieces such as a piece of artwork in an elaborate frame and a chair. I need to do when not with mom as she will feel unnecessary pain over items she's never even seen before.

Beautiful sunny and cold fall day. Imagine my happiness. I just stripped the bed for a quick load of laundry.

I have to mail my friend the clothes she left behind as well as a dear little Halloween decoration I pulled from my closet. I love it madly but part of me has been saying "just get rid of it." When I brought it out, she said, I wish that were going home with me, and I said, that's why I brought it out. I was hoping you'd want it. So I'll need to find a box.

I weighed myself today and I'm down! Just a smidge, maybe half a pound. I was concerned because of all the eating we did but then again not concerned because I feel like myself.

I think I won't go to Michael's today. They are having a Christmas craft kick off of some sort and it may be too much to navigate with mom. My cake decorating can wait. I'll take her for a ride, then groceries.

Hello Tillie!

I am very glad about your freezer!

And Tatoulia, it is great to see you getting your kitchen nice!

My house is getting messier and messier, but I am focusing on getting the pottery done this week. I will have more house cleaning time next week, and a couple of days before we go to see ds for thanksgiving. The girls are coming here the Saturday after thanksgiving, and I want all the living areas cleaned up.

I have been moving things from the studio barn to the basement again. The studio barn is the worst area right now and I need to work in there. One step forward, two steps back.

Yesterday I couldn't find some eye screws I needed for ornaments. I remembered moving them during a studio organizing binge in the spring, but not where I moved them to. I got very upset and fell into old patterns, being sure I was never going to find them, and my day would be wasted and I would not get my ornaments made this year (I usually make a couple hundred dollars on ornaments, so that is a big deal) but then I found them. Because it is bad - but it is not that bad anymore.

Good Evening

HELLO SUBCLINICAL :D

Hi Tatoulia :)
So wonderful that you are consciously considering and evaluating any new purchases as you get back into baking and your new cake decorating hobby.
I am happy with all your decluttering decisions
now you can make logical decisions for items that you want and need and will get lots of use out of.

Nicest thing about living in a big city is there are so many different stores where you can eventually find exactly what you want.

Wishing you all the best luck getting that A/C out soon as possible.
Be so nice when that space is opened up all clear and empty.

Been so sad and quiet here.
She was the meowy one. The boys always quietly sat back and let her do all the begging and nagging and negotiating.
I would always have conversations with her, ask her opinion and advice about everything.
Gimli, my big orange boy cat was only six weeks old when four week old Eowyn came to live with us.
They grew up together. He is very needy and lost now.
Always sitting right up against me, always asking for lots of petting now.
Twinkles is always where ever I am and hates sleeping in Steven's room at night now.
He and Marty used to always sleep in Steven's room because I don't want every cat sleeping on me.
Scooter is tightly wedged up my butt.
Honestly! He snuggles at night so tight that I wake up stiff from not being able to turn in bed.
Even now while I sit here in bed writing this Scooter is right up against me.
He used to sleep right by but not quite touching her in bed at night.
Eowyn was the only girl and she ruled the house.
All the boy cats did as she said.
They all treated her like the queen she was.

Oh I'm so happy for you, Tillie! I truly am! Thinking about the clean smell and your years of hard work to reclaim that area!!! Keep working to get the derp freeze out!

I have to get my broken AC out. I have to call the city for a pickup and combine that with getting BF and one of his employees to take out for me. That will feel good to get done before stairs are icy.

Big winds tonight! Just back from a quick sandwich with BF. I was hungry but didn't want a full- on restaurant meal.

I did do a load of towels today. I want to make pumpkin bread. I have one full loaf pan that I've been using. I've gotten rid of all the others and I'm grateful for that. I will at some point think about getting an 8-1/2" pan again. When I cleaned out scary cabinet I didn't want to keep much of anything and I'm still good with my choices in that regard. No regret creeping in. I'll do a bit more baking to decide if I need a smaller pan. I don't want to jump the gun. I don't like using the disposable foil pans (so riddle-me-this: why did I own and subsequently donate maybe ten sets of 3 or 4 disposable loaf pans?). The bake isn't as nice.

I did order a rose nail so I can practice my roses and a work friend told me where I can go to buy just the icing tips I need. I have three of the five the instructor said we'd use 90% of the time, and I refuse to go to a 36 tip set to get the other two. She told me that Michael's (a store I am not familiar with) is a craft store and sells the tips individually. I'm not ready to buy the loaf pan while I'm working on my icing. I want to ward off failed projects, wasted money, wasted space.

Look at me, practicing what I've learned here and during decluttering projects.

Tillie how are the kitties? They've had a lot of changes and I hope that they are doing okay. My little one is asleep next to me and I could just cry she's so sweet. Did I tell you that when my friend was here that kitty slept with me? A couple of the nights. It was great fun. She rarely sleeps with me. She used to love sleeping by BF's feet when she was little. She would sleep in that one spot. I suspect she still does that when she's at his house; he says she doesn't but then why are his feet in all the pictures?

Well it's not even 8 PM and I'm tired. Will go watch a movie. I'll bake tomorrow.

Everyone thank you for supporting me on maintaining my boundary with the sibling. My friend (whose known my sibling since he was 7) also supported me. I still need frequent reassurance. Tillie I know you understand the pain. Both before and after setting the boundary.

The kitchen refrigerator/freezer has been completely & totally scrubbed inside and out!!!

HAPPY DANCE :D

Normally, usually I just use warm water and a touch of dish soap, but today I used "Clorox" disinfecting cleaner with long lasting scent.
I wanted to make sure to remove ALL that nasty funky freezer smell.

Hey Tatoulia :)
YES! bring up the step ladder and have the cabinets/cupboards wiped out.
Buy some pretty shelf liner too.
Simple and silly thing but I find having attractive shelf liners makes me smile. ;)

I always wonder how people end up with old forgotten teas???
I am always having to buy more tea because I drink so much I'm always running out, almost.
If I am ever down to my last little bit of tea it would be an emergency run to the store. HaHaHa

Isn't it satisfying to go through and organize your cabinet?
Putting all the keepers back in all neat & tidy.
Now knowing exactly what is in there and that it is something you want.

I have been thinking...
if I can just get Steven to agree
I can have him remove the deep freeze from the pantry and place it in the driveway.
The guys at the food bank thrift shop would gladly come by and take it to the thrift shop for me.
They have a truck and they do pick up.
The hardest part will be getting Steven to agree to letting something leave the property, even things that are solely mine to give away.

Wishing you well as you clean your fridge and freezer! I bet you've wanted to do that a long, long time! You are no longer thwarted on the freezer! I'm organizing a kitchen cabinet right now. Throwing out old teas and other things that escaped me the first time around. I'm putting things back in a logical order. I may take everything back out when cleaners are here and ask them to wash the cabinet. They have done all of the outsides and the insides of the doors but I'll need them to wash the insides shelves well. I'll buy some new shelf liners. They can easily incorporate one cabinet at a time. I'll also bring the step ladder up.

The walk did me good! It's stopped raining and it's getting colder as it gets sunnier. And I love it.

So I'm making easy decisions today.

Good Morning Everyone :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
WTG! Having good shoes and boots resoled/repaired!
Plus getting in your exercise to boot. ;)

I know what wonderful things happen when we eliminate toxic people from our lives.
It happened for me when I finally removed my parents and siblings from mine (((hug)))

LOL ;D
So many others also keep the rarely used fancier stuff in the prime kitchen cabinet spaces.
You wouldn't believe how many times I have moved their gravy boats to an out of the way shelf so they could more easily access their every day dishes.
So wonderful that the formerly scary cabinet is now a useful storage space!


Only one thing on my "To-Do" list for today
other than the usual every day things like cat stuff, etc.
I plan to remove all the shelving & drawers and other removable components of the fridge and wash
the entire inside & outside of the refrigerator and it's freezer compartment too.
It will be so easy with the freezer completely empty and hardly anything in the fridge.

Good God, Tillie. That's it, I'm speechless.

It did take quite a while to get home last night but I didn't care. I just thought about things. I stopped at mom's to drop off a loaf of bread.

Another rainy Saturday although not like last Saturday when we had the nor'easter. I have errands to run. I found a very good cobbler and after he repaired two pair of shoes, I dropped off mom's boots. Today I'll pick up mom's boots and drop of a friend's boots. It's about a mile from here, so good walking back and forth.

Tillie I'm embarrassed to tell you that it never occurred to me to put the rarely used kitchen stuff on the higher shelves. I keep it lower because it's the fancier stuff. I feel like I just failed an IQ test. THANK YOU for this. I didnt even realize how I was making my life harder. By the way, I use the scary cabinet all the time now and I have my baking things in there. So easy.

I think the cleaners come on Wednesday this week. My house is clean but I need them to get here!

Oh, may I just say that having Saturdays to myself and removing the stress of the sibling have done wonders for me? People tell me I look younger, and I'm sure that's a combination of no sibling stress and having lost weight. Someone asked me if I would still make turkey dinner for him and drop off and I said "no." It hadn't even occurred to me.

This subject needs to be in it's own separate post...
Warning, it's gross and disturbing.

Steven has filled both our garbage cans to overflowing with all the cleaning he's been doing in the garage/carport area.
The afternoons have been very pleasantly warm.
The garbage cans heavily stink of carrion, putrification and have flies swarming them.

Over the last weeks I have been handing him some of his ancient hoarded meat from the fridge freezer to cook and eat.
Well, he has tried cooking and eating it but he says it tastes horrid.

Of course it does!

He bought this meat on sale because it was at the expiration date and the store needed to unload it.
It was questionable and spooky when bought.
It has been in the freezer for years getting freezer burned and funky.

He thought he was being a prudent shopper, saving lots of money.
He thought putting it in a freezer it would keep forever.

Hope you made it home Tatoulia.

So nice you have rain. The air is so dry here that static electricity is a big problem right now.
Everything clings and is unruly.

Remember when you get reorganizing & decluttering your spaces to take it one area at a time.
Trying to do it ALL at once is ridiculous.

I only organize/straighten/wipe down one drawer, cupboard shelf, etc. at a time.
Once the one is finished I see if I want to do another.
Pushing ourselves to do too much in a session causes us to not do our best and we become dissatisfied with our results.

He got his own freezer!!!!! Yipppppeeee!!!!

Not home from work yet. Sage advice, Tillie, on the organization. Thank you!!

Instead of walking home tonight I'm taking the subway. I'm carrying a lot of stuff. The subway appears to be down but I'll sit here another five before going to another plan.

I need to stop at mom's on way home. I'm hoping I can convince her to come downstairs. I have so much to carry and it's too warm today. It's warm and raining.

I got that front outside faucet all covered/insulated.
The faucet out back is not my problem, it's Steven's.
Then I taped plastic sheeting over the outside of my little room window.
On the North side of the house it can and has before become a dense sheet of ice in the past.
But the plastic fixes that problem.
Did a bunch of assorted little tasks, tidying and straightening up too.
Put my jack-o-lantern out on the compost pile.
Then I made and ate some lunch.
Working up the gumption to now cover the back door with plastic sheeting.
That door is ancient, wooden with lots of little set in panels.
It is weathered and warped with some areas allowing outside light and wind to enter the house.

Good Morning :)

Hi Subclinical :)
Good luck with your sale projects.
Happy you are prioritizing your time and energy.
Most times we do have to let some things wait/slide until we get done what we feel is more important.
It is more important to have a fun filled rewarding life full of different events and experiences, and in down times take care of the rest.
I really miss the others too and wish they would pop in to let us know how they are.

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO! donating that lovely comforter (((HUG)))
I have the pots, pans, cooking/baking dishes that I use most often right in the front of the cabinets.
Easy to get out and easy to put away.
The lesser used pie plates, cookie cutters, deep cast iron with lid, large soup pot, roasting pan, etc. are stored behind them at the rear of the cabinet.
It gets frustrating having to move a lesser used item out of the way to get to or put away something used often.
I try not to nest things horizontally because you always need the thing on the bottom of the pile.
My cookie sheets, pizza pan, cooling racks, griddle, cutting board are stored vertically in a very narrow cabinet next to the stove.
That cabinet was put in just to fill a narrow gap and make something to hold up the counter top.
In the cupboard I use a plate rack/stand so I don't have to store the smaller dessert/bread/salad plates on top of the dinner plates to make it easy to get out the size dish I want.
I do nest bowls, large and small because it's the only way I know of to get them all in their assigned spaces.
My kitchen space is very tiny but with having only the things I love and use organized and arranged "just so" it is easy to use.

Today I am going to wrap/insulate the outside faucet and cover the window to my little room on the North side of the house with plastic.
It has been unnaturally warm in the afternoons here but that will change suddenly at any time now.
Writing up a grocery list but nothing sounds appealing.
Maybe when I am at the store I'll see something I want to eat.
Meantime I will make an effort to eat lunch and dinner of what I have on hand.

The other Saturday Steven drug home what he thought was a small refrigerator to add to his vast and growing collection of other small refrigerators.
But what this actually is, is a small freezer.
He was very happy last evening to take the rest of his ancient meat from the fridge freezer and put it in there.
HAPPY DANCE! the fridge freezer in the house is now empty!
Tomorrow I plan to wash the entire fridge & freezer and put it to use.
I have things stored in the deep freeze that do not need to be in there just to fill up all the empty space to make it run efficiently.
Maybe soon I will get my wish and that deep freeze can be removed from the pantry and sold?
Then I can use that space to store out of season space heaters and avoid having to fight the garage.
Would still need garage storage for things like the cat trap, kennels, cages, etc. but I already keep two cat carriers in the house so the cats are familiar with them and freak out less when stuffed into them.

I love hearing about your sale, SubC, and wish I could buy one of your pots. I will fast with you this weekend.

Tillie Your advice is perfect. Thought-provoking and just what I need. think that I would like to further go through all storage areas. I am baking now and have pared down my pans and bowls to the proper amount. However, I have more baking supplies and I just feel like I could better arrange things. As to the dining room closet, I do have mim's China on some of the shelves and I think I can further reduce the other things in there.

I took the new pillows and comforter to the donation site for the fire victims last night. I still had the original packaging and I put in notes saying I had purchased in October for my guest room and that everything is clean and nice. I also added words of encouragement.

Tillie please try to eat.

I'm late for work. In my bathrobe with wet hair and work started 16 minutes ago.

Hi Tillie!
Hi Tatoulia! - welcome back?m
Hi CM!

I miss the rest of the group. Wish they'd stop by...

Still busy and letting the house get messier, but not too bad. Might catch up a little on the weekend, but I really need to get work done for the sale on the 17th. Still prioritizing me over the house.

Please eat more Tillie!

I am fasting during daylight until the cross quarter (nov 7), so you can eat a nice big lunch for both of us. :)

Hi Tatoulia

Since you mentioned the dining room closet
it must be on your mind that it needs more attention.
What's in there?
I think I remember you put some fancy dinnerware in there.
Is there any space, closet, drawer, etc. that you find more difficult than it needs to be to get things in or out of?
Do you need a better space to store something in more permanently that is just in a temporary place right now?
The whole idea of organizing is to make our lives easier.
Since you have done the bulk of your decluttering
now it is time to organize.
As we organize we also always find more things that can go away.
Think out side of the box as to what to store where. Just because certain types of items have always been stored there doesn't mean we can't rethink/reimagine the space for something better suited to live there.
Hope this helps :)

Had to fill two five gallon water bottles with three gallons each today.
Since I was in town anyways I stopped by the thrift shop to chat a while.
Weighed myself and I have lost more than FIVE pounds since I lost my girl kitty.
Thought I was doing good enough eating but evidently I haven't been.
I will be more thoughtful and try to eat more.
Just made and ate a grilled cheese sandwich and had two tiny gherkins with it.

Tillie I want to reduce further in November. What would make the most sense in this situation as a goal? Should I look to do another pass at dining room closet? I bet I can make different choices. What do you think? Could you help me define a goal?

November 1st

A whole new month already.
Anybody have a specific challenge they want to do?

I would like to do some of those things I have been wanting to do but was too busy doing other more important necessary things.

I want to get my garden area all sorted out and cleaned up.
When Springtime comes I want it to be easy to keep.
As long as the three remaining cats aren't needing hospice care I can work out there off and on without physically over doing it.

I am glad to be back with you all here. It was a great visit. She's an easy houseguest, once I get over the constant talking.

Kitty sends her love, Tillie. She was a very brave girl when we had our visitor.

I am glad to be back with you all here. It was a great visit. She's an easy houseguest, once I get over the constant talking.

Kitty sends her love, Tillie. She was a very brave girl when we had our visitor.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN
to Tatoulia's little black kitty!

So happy you had this nice visit in your new clean home.

Yes, I saw that fire on the news.
Great way to donate the comforter to a good cause.

Sounds like fun you all handing out the candy together on the steps.
I understand how weird the crowds can get, I have spent some Halloweens in Detroit.


I'm sure your weight will get back on schedule soon.
It's a busy time of year with so many things to do and see in a big city.

Hello hello and happy Halloween from my black cat!

What a great visit with mom's friend. She's my friend too. Important stuff: kitty held up very well and so that was great. Each evening friend would say, let me clean up the kitchen. We tried to get a lot of walks in. We saw mom at least once each day. Saturday was a rainy windy nor'easter. I had day two of cake decorating class and friend went to mom's. I've done all the laundry now and I have the new comforter and pillow I bought for the fold-out ready to donate. I was going to see if I should keep the comforter but there was a big fire on Saturday I believe that displaced 100 students and there's a bedding and clothing drive tomorrow night.

I have kept up with things on my end. Friend was so much fun. My weight may have taken a hit as friend eats normal meals and I'm more of a one meal a day. However, I couldn't have friend eating alone as she would refuse to eat if I werent hungry. I don't blame her. That can be very uncomfortable.

So it was great and wonderful and mom had a great time.

I am going to do a bit of relaxation now. The city is crazy between the Red Sox victory parade today and now Halloween. My neighbors and I sat outside and handed out candy. We ran out of candy before the crowd turned weird.

I am so thrilled that CM got the plumbing fixed!!!! SubC i would like some applesauce right now! Tillie I'm glad you are back.

Tomorrow is first day back in the office. I was tired today, working from home. I decided not to go in due to parade and Halloween.

I need to shampoo the bedroom rug. It is a disgrace. This weekend. No excuses.

Oh! The scaffolding is still up, SubC. But they took the wrapping off. I don't know why it's still there other than one neighbor is having a dispute with the company. Who knows. I can't tell if they've painted the house or not but I believe they have. So I'd like it all to just go.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN CriticalMass

Waiting for someone to come do things is more tiring than doing any tedious task.
So happy this wait is over.
Poor kitty (((HUGS Kitty)))
it is hard having strangers tromp and bang around in your space.


I never get any trick or treaters way out here so I only buy the candy that I want to eat.
Must have some candy, it's Halloween!

I always iron dry fabric too. It comes out better than sprinkling/misting it later.

Enjoy your movie :D

YEA!

I have managed to stay awake today!
Got the kitchen all clean.
Did all cat related stuff.
Went through my jeans and blouses.
Everything still fits and is still in good condition.
5 pair of black Wrangler jeans
25 assorted style/color blouses/tops
Have enough really nice socks too.
Tidied up and even dusted the livingroom/dining room area.
It's 3:35pm and I think I will be awake until at least 9:00pm.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Hope everyone's doing well. My roommate and I are still finding it hard to believe the plumbing is done!

He was supposed to do my van today but got behind, texted me once that he was coming in an hour but that was hours ago. It's okay, we'll get it done.

I've not done a whole lot - took a nap. I think there's like this residual tension from all the waiting and wondering and I just felt like a nap would do me good for unwinding. If he'd come at the expected time I was thinking of doing laundry including quilt fabric that I press dry. I didn't want to set that all up until I knew how the day was going to go.

Don't know if we'll get any Trick-Or-Treaters or be forced to eat all that candy ourselves - LOL!

I'm going to go watch my video of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and see if I can coax girl kitty out to play. She's been a bit withdrawn, probably from all the guys tromping and banging yesterday.

TTYL

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Hi Subclinical
WAY TO GO! for all you have been doing to take good care of yourself.
Enjoy your cozy fire.

Spent yesterday afternoon napping on the couch with a cat.
Just keep getting so sleepy, can't keep my eyes open.
Then long before 8pm I go to bed and sleep.
Whatever I don't get done in the morning doesn't get done.
Gets so dark so early in the evening now and there isn't much sunshine early morning.

Yay for plumbing!!!!!!

Yay for working vans!!!

Yay for Steven making progress!!!

My life is crazy busy right now.

The basement is currently a mess from dd2 looking for a Halloween costume and me dragging things out to find canning stuff (I didn't can last year)

Pottery show/sale looming and I don't know when i'll do the prep work.

Swam 2000m yesterday. Ate a good dinner. Got 7 hours of sleep. Did yoga this morning. Taking care of myself. We have clean underwear and clean dishes.

I don't have a costume for school today, but I do have fun lesson plans.

I am not perfect, but I am getting better.

Happy Halloween! (It is going to rain all evening here, so I will have my fire in the wood stove.)

Hi CriticalMass
Wonderful to read your post!

YEA!!! HAPPY DANICIN!!!
What a relief the plumbing is finished!

One thing I have found working with hissy fussing cats...
I force them to share the same space by placing the "newcomer" in the "resident" cat's space inside a kennel.
This way they can see each other and smell each other but both are safe from any physical contact.
After a while they both calm down and relax.
I stay nearby softly talking to both of them.
Very important to not show one favor over the other so there is no jealousy generated.
I will sit on the floor by the kennel and slowly give both cats snacks, little bit by little bit to make snack time last longer.
Then I release the cat back in the other room and shut the door.
This gives the cats a chance to learn together.
After a while I can bring the cat out without the kennel, do the snack time routine and supervise any interaction before returning the cat to the bedroom.
I would not trust the boy cat any alone time with the bunnies.
Feral cats here eat even the adult cottontail bunnies.

So happy the van is so wonderful!
Yes, get it all maintained before Winter sets in.
Steven got my car serviced this past weekend.


Some of those plastic drawer units can't take much weight in the drawers.
I have seem many of them where the drawers constantly fall off the tracks and don't open or close very easily and constantly need the drawer realigned.
Maybe one of those low plastic storage boxes, like the kind that can fit under a bed.
Some of them are not any longer/wider than a typical storage bin.
I got one from Walmart for Twinkles to use as a litter box.

YES! pack that printer away!
Make room to sew!
Winter is the best time to sew!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! :)

Ah, been away again more days than I intended to be - but I come bearing good news! :)

THE PLUMBING WORK IS DONE!!!

HAPPY DANCE!!!

Now he is supposed to do the transmission fluid flush and oil change on my van tomorrow morning. Due to the delays with the other things, this works out well for me because Friday is payday. The van, by the way, has been SUCH a blessing since I've had it. Starts without fuss, runs like a dream, heater and AC actually heat and cool - going to be so much more comfortable in winter, just as I've already been in summer.

I hope I haven't lost too much lovely Indian Summer weather time - rain is coming in and it will be in the 50s rather than 60s-70s. The fall color of the trees here has been off the charts because we got rain at just the right times. Many trees multicolored - so cool - and others all one gorgeous red or orange or gold. But the leaves are starting to fall more, and some branches are bare.

Tillie - hope you and the lost boy cats are coping better. It's so hard losing our beloved animals. The cat situation here is moving along slowly - still segregated with brief reintroduction periods and Feliway pheromones and so on. We hope soon we won't have to go through all this - it's inconvenient for us trying to get to one part of the house or the other, and give enough individual attention to each cat.

I learned that boy cat will also try to go after my bunnies, which are larger than my roommate's bunnies. He took boy bunny's face in his paws but boy bunny was like "Seriously, dude?" and turned away. But between that and the fear of the bunnies chewing the vinyl flooring, I'm just going to be 100% supervising when any bunny is out playing. Part of the scenario may be the fact that the cat books we are following say cats need to go through the hunting and killing sequence in play with toys, so we are awakening more natural instincts. So time to put extra safety measures in place.

Decluttering tasks can take place during such times, though - I'm continuing to make progress on getting rid of some old receipts and such. I can work on that while supervising bunnies. Tillie, I totally get what you mean about when there's less stuff it will get more difficult to decide what to let go of. I experienced some of that when I moved the storage unit to this side of town. I'll continue to evaluate what things I truly want to keep.

Glad Steven got something done, hope he will do more. And good for you learning to be more chill about when to work and when to relax than the unbalanced ways you learned as a child.

Well, the World Series is over - Tatoulia, congrats to the Red Sox, a fine team. My Dodgers hopefully will get another chance sometime. I understand what you mean about the compulsive talker friend! I have a phone friend who can go a minimum of two hours. I get a stiff neck holding the phone. She can use speakerphone on her end but I can't because of my ADD auditory processing issue. In fact, sometimes I have to ask other people not to use speakerphone because it sounds like they're down a well. My friend is semi-homebound though so I understand she gets lonely.

SubC, glad you worked things out with hubby about the space for now. I love those big guillotine school paper cutters! If I had the space I'd find myself the biggest one available. I have one that's like 18" or 15" but it's put away - one of these days... Have you looked into any of the books on organizing for right-brained or creative or ADD people? I've found a few helpful things in that sort of book. One thing that sometimes helps me is project trays - you may already have that going on with your ceramics. Something you can lift up and set aside without having to dismantle an ongoing project.

I'm going to have to reconfigure for these Barbies I've adopted this year! Plastic shoe boxes hold them, but when I want one out of a box under several other boxes, it's a pain. I think I'll get some of those plastic 3-drawer things like people use for scrapbooking paper/office supplies, etc.

Can't remember if I mentioned this but I should soon have stuff off the craft table in the family/bunny/art room. Both I and my roommate want to be able set up our sewing machine(s) and work on quilting and whatever (doll clothes for me, too, of course). All I really need to do is find a place for an inkjet printer that's sitting there - I may even pack that printer away since I use my roommate's laser printer in her office anyway, and that printer's out of ink which is not a high priority.

Well, hopefully I will get time to pop in tomorrow, but if I don't, have a Happy Halloween! Beware the spooks!