Tatoulia enjoy your massage!

Yesterday when I was working in the studio, I realized I was having a yurt moment. The studio is crowded, and it is noisy, but I am comfortable with the people around me and they are all focused on their own stuff.

The yurt is more of a headspace than a place. So, what was good was that I was focused on what I was doing, I felt like I could just keep doing it at my own pace until I was done, I had everything I needed easily at hand, and I had no pressure or reminders to be doing anything else.

I love all the different things in my life, but there is always something else clamoring for attention. Right now I am sitting in the new space, and as my eyes move around, my brain shouts "flower bed!" "Ditch!" "You haven't been doing yoga!" "Dishes!" "Class prep!".... there are certainly things I can do outside - to my environment - to help with that, but a lot of it also has to happen inside.

You do so much in a day, SubC! WTG! Oh and your daughter sounds every bit as dear as you and your husband. What a nice child you raised.

Garbage out, recycling out, Giant AC box is out. Pretty good.

Going to wash my face and climb into bed

MASSAGE ON Saturday at 11!!! Pretty nice.

Tillie, that hunting experience sounds very frightening.

My Dd hiked up on a mountain lion once. She came over the ridge and it was just lying in the sun. She said her first thought was "that's a mountain lion." Her second thought was "it's not as big as I imagined it would be." Her third thought was "that's a mountain lion!" Then she backed very slowly back the trail the way she had come and chose a new route that looked down on the mountain lion from a distance.

She and her dh came out tonight for dinner and she baked cookies and left us some. (they also needed to borrow the chain saw and let her dog pee around my yard a lot.)

CM, I identified so closely with your post. Those morning hours are really important to me too. Letting them slip away is how I often end up binge watching videos instead of doing other, more important or interesting things. Tillie is right, there is tomorrow. But it sounds like you pulled off a save.

I made it to my workshop a few minutes early today. It was great! We did three different projects, and they gave us a goodie bag with a brush, a stencil, and a lot of fun consumable materials. Plus some literature that I plan to read and file or recycle.

I stayed and worked on projects for my class afterwards (I brought home three things to work on tomorrow) then I dropped off the recycling, swam, and came home to make dinner for my crew.

I have a thing I want to share - dh parents own his family home. It is a beautiful place on a river where you can fish, swim, canoe, ski... dh has many fond memories of visiting his grandparents there, and our kids have spent time there at least every summer. The family has started talking about what will happen when his parents can no longer care for it. There is no clear choice to take it on, and the upkeep is extensive. Dh as asked me to think about how I would feel about us moving there, and tonight he asked Dd how she would feel about us moving or the place being sold. She said "honestly, I would rather come here. It's more fun." I know that was hard for dh to hear in some ways, even though he appreciated the compliment, but for me it was pure good. In spite of everything, she thinks of this as a good place. She grew up in a mess, but I didn't mess up too badly.

Tatoulia how are things there?

Tillie, Stay safe!

Tomorrow is another day, CM!

I read something recently and I've tried to practice it. That if you hit the snooze alarm while waking up, that's fine. But if you hope to sleep some more during it, you're better off just getting up.

I need to water my flower boxes and get my garbage out. I'm tired. BF met me after work and we had chowder and a salad and now I'm home.

Hi Tillie

LOL - I am too stubborn to do that with the alarm and I'd probably trip on my junk! Just being honest. I have an extreme startle response, so I have to do alarms very gently or my heart will pound, yet of course not so gently that I fall back to sleep which is also my body's frequent response. And all of this without disturbing light-sleeper roommate.

It's a delicate balance, one I have achieved before, it's just that I get off track as seasons change or routines get tweaked.

I came to the library when I got to feeling too blah at home, and got some business and writing done on the computer. Good enough for now. Tomorrow is another day.

Good Afternoon Everyone


Hi CriticalMass
Here is a suggestion...
Move your alarm clock far enough away from the bed that you must get up to reach it to turn it off.
Then resist the urge to lay back down again or to even sit on the edge of the bed.

Oh well, so you slept the day away today
all is not lost
there is still tomorrow.


Just finished eating my lunch of enchiladas.
Really want to go load up my plate again but seriously, I'm stuffed. ;)

Made a lot so now I'm looking forward to dinner.

Smell smoke in the air, there is a fire burning somewhere nearby.
Hope it's just an under control, control burn.

I was so looking forward to today, not having to be anywhere, and I had some great plans as to what I was going to do - then I stayed in bed too long and now I'm all spacy, unmotivated, and
indecisive. 😢 There are too many things to decide between, with the bunny club event only a few weeks away, and my decluttering, writing, projects I want to get to such as sewing...

I think I need to change the time I have my alarm set to, so I can have my two times of hitting snooze but then I must get up. That'll put it a few minutes before roommate leaves for work, so the bathroom wait won't be long.

So, trying to pull today out of the pit. Rats.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
Maybe that's a good thing that the clutter there is bothering you.
Don't let it upset you.
Use your annoyance of it to motivate you to get your home more easily maintained.
A place for everything and everything in it's place.
Easy access to items stored in cupboards, drawers and closets helps with finding a place for "keeper" items and makes putting things away easier.
When things are put away where they belong, cleaning is so much easier.
But what I saw on the hall table were item that needed to be dealt with in some way soon.
It was just a temporary dumping ground.
You have been busy with health and emotional issues.
At the time you were busy taking care of those priorities but would get back to the table items later.
That happens to ALL of us humans (((hug)))


Nope, the howling and yapping of coyotes and wolves doesn't bother me.
It's when you don't hear them that is spooky, nerve rattling.
They are very sneaky and quiet when stalking prey and you don't know where they are or even if they are around until they start yapping.
Deer hunting when I was 12/13 years old there were Mexican Gray Wolves stalking us.
I was the smallest hunter and I smelled of Mule Deer and had Deer blood on me so I was most in danger and could never leave my Dad's side.
The wolves had come within 10 feet of me one night and ate the Deer entrails of the Deer my brother and I had just cleaned.
That was terrifying!


Hi Subclinical
Maybe Mr. Kitty is showing you he's trying to eat healthier?
More leafy green veggies in his diet.

So sorry about that Raccoon problem, (((HUG)))
They are cute to look at but not very cute to live with.
Maybe you need a Raccoon skin cap?
Or a new skin for a banjo?


Been up since 4:30am
Watching the sunrise now.
Wished to sleep longer but, "Oh Well"...
Nothing really planned to do today.
Will put the hose on slow drip for the apricot tree this morning and will water some other things this evening.
Will mess up the kitchen making enchiladas then clean it up again.

Tatoulia, you should feel really proud of yourself. Just the change in your shopping habits is huge!

Also, your "before" pictures look like my "after".

Tillie, dogs have masters, cats have servants. I'm quite sure the cats have claimed you, not Steven. If a cat decides to be your cat, there is nothing you can do about it. You don't even have to like your cat, it will still choose you.

I started my morning off by hopefully resolving a raccoon problem, which is all I want to say about that, but my day has to get better.

I think mr. kitty felt bad for me, because he apparently decided we should eat breakfast together. Along with the usual mouse, he brought a large plantain leaf. (Mr kitty: "ok, fine, I don't understand it, but if you insist on eating leaves and turning up your nose at perfectly nice mice, here. This is for you.")

I think CM will read us stories.

Maybe we could all wrap up in CMs quilts while eating SubC's ice cream! So cozy!

You are wonderful to the cats. We are all so grateful to have you.

That must've been eerie, all the tapping and howling.

I'm sitting quietly and going to take my blood pressure. Thank you all for supporting me. The clutter here is getting to me. But I don't hate my house because this is easily cured.

Good Evening Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Like I said, you are a goat pro and know all about growing good ones.

YEA! swimming tomorrow!!!

WTG! for a donation drop off!
When the thrift shop doesn't have anything on my "want list" I don't buy anything either.

Great that you are catching up on the dailies!
Plus shearing DH. ;)

Hi Tatoulia
Nope, Jack's not my cat.
Neither are Twinkles and Scooter, who are Steven's cats but he doesn't take care of them and I do because I can not stand to see a neglected animal.
Marty was his cat too.

That is so wonderful that you no longer fall for the lure of the sale bin!
"They" use very strong psychology to get us to buy things we do not need.
The wording of the ads, the display set ups, colors, sounds, smells and subliminal messages.
Since the 1950s "they" have been conditioning children to be brain washed consumers.
Scary actually...

Nice that the friend commented on your style.
Business or casual you have a style.


Would be nice if we all here could get together for enchiladas.
Or at Tatoulia's for lobster rolls.
Then Subclinical's for some homemade ice cream.
What would CriticalMass serve us? ;)

Had a terrible night's sleep last night.
The coyotes kept yapping and howling and that made the dogs all bark.
Sounded like a batch of coyote puppies because adult coyotes use stealth.

Well, I did not judge the goats - I judged the goat interviews and project books - the work the kids put into the goats, what they learned, and the records they kept.

Good job everybody!

I had to go out today. I had to pick up my fair tags and I dropped stuff off at goodwill (went in but bought nothing.) and I got some feed and I tried to pay my farm sitter, but no one was home even though she said they would be.

Did some laundry and dishes and cut dh hair.

Tomorrow - teacher workshop and swimming.

So we are all clear that Jack's your cat, Tillie.

Cm thank you for the words of support. I will get there. I am dying of the heat. But I walked today!

Tillie that's a great point. I can get this together really quickly.

Quick observation: When I am shopping or in a store, I no longer look in the bargain bin. I go toward what I went into the store for and that's it. Looking at 75% off or 90% off holiday merchandise no longer serves my needs. I'm really pleased. Now if I were looking for slippers OF COURSE I go to the same area first. But I am no longer dazzled or pulled in by a sign and I no longer buy multiples of stuff I don't need.

CM I am jealous of your organizational skills and love of organizing things. I don't have that. I did do my linen closet and part of my bedroom closet has things in baskets (so useful, has really helped me immeasurably) but otherwise I'm not good at putting things together that way or thinking that way. I'm glad you are able to do that!!

I am so behind tonight. It's 9:45 and I have to put my sheets on my bed and shower and water my window boxes and I'm just so far behind.

I saw a friend from work while I was walking and she was super cute. I'm wearing a white and blue striped terrycloth skirt with a white eyelet top and she said, oh you look just like you at work, only casual. I thought that was pretty cute.

I took dinner to BF and a sandwich to Mom. And I'm tired.

We will get there on my apt. I'm just going through a rough patch.

Tillie I'd enjoy an enchilada now, if you wouldn't mind setting a place for me.

Love you all.

OH! I like those panties!
They look pretty, comfortable and like they will last. :)

Good Afternoon Everybody

Hi Subclinical
You are an expert judge of goats.
Hope you got to stay home all day today.


Hi Tatoulia
Settle down girl (((hug)))
You have had the place all neat and tidy in the recent past and it will be so much easier straightening up this time.

That's what I like best about my place.
Even if I am sick for a week and the place goes all to heck it doesn't take all that long to straighten things out again.

But right now your main priority is to focus on your health.
Healthy eating, walking and getting MORE rest.
So, go take a nap.

3 dollars! WOOHOO go you!!!
And they are the kind you know you really like.


Hi CriticalMass
We all enjoy hearing about your donating successes. :D

YEA! for getting to quilting!
Better late than never.

Keep up the writing
It seems to be doing you a lot of good emotionally, writing out your story.


Went to town this morning.
Dropped off donations and then went inside the thrift shop.
Bought a new, never used, still rolled up in the label, cat litter mat.
It's 47' X 33' cost 5.00
Worried the cats would not like the feel under their feet but I have it laid out in the livingroom and they have been walking, sitting and laying on it.
Hope it really catches 82% of the litter off their feet to keep it from being tracked around.

Got food...
Bought the fixins to make cheese/ green chile/ onion/ black olive enchiladas.
To be served on a bed of fresh greens.
And bought a bunch of fresh fruit, passed on the apricots there.

Bought a variety case of cat canned food.
With Twinkle's having mouth issues right now we are going through a lot of it.
Can't give Twinkles canned food throughout the day and not Scooter and Jack too.
They would be furious with me.

You got this, Tatoulia!

Don't forget you've been making many changes, which takes more energy than remaining in inertia. I know that from years of experience! 😉 And you've had health challenges along the way. So these slowdowns are to be expected but they will pass.

I slept well and woke up without pain, as opposed to yesterday morning when neither was the case. Both days I've gone to quilting even if late. Today I was almost on time.

Printed out my revised novel pages last night. Lots of scenes flitting around in my head like butterflies. Writer's block not an issue. Plotting will be the challenge, it always is for me. Writing, and quite a few creative things I enjoy, each draw on several skill sets some of which come more smoothly and naturally to me than others.

So, when I think about it, does decluttering. For instance, I looove 💖 picking out containers, planning storage systems...back in the day when files were only cardboard entities, I loved color coding with labels. I am intellectually intrigued with studying theories about hoarding, or more recently and more of a cheerful topic, building a vision of a sustainable minimalist aesthetic and lifestyle tailored to my personality.

What I don't enjoy quite as much, haha, is grubbing in the storage unit, making decisions, and so on. But even those things I'm doing better at than I did when I first started. And there is the immediate satisfaction of finishing, hauling stuff to donate, going home and cleaning up and looking back on a work session with a feeling of accomplishment.

And sharing it here! 😁

Hello hello! Yes I know the homicidal feeling. I am generally known for my tolerance and understanding right up until I'm not.

Yay for car hosed off! Yay for getting on the vitamin regimen! Yay for 4H!!!

My house is so cluttered and messy that I can't even have the cleaners in today. I knew yesterday that I just wanted some peace and quiet in my home after being on the go so much. I'm grateful to be here. I'm defending my hallway table. It's about all I can do right now.

Exhausted, tired, need more exercise, need more home cooked good, need more exercise. (Yes that gets two mentions).

I stripped my bed, and sheets are in the dryer. I'm doing a load of towels then will do one load of something that can be hung. I have a pile of dark delicates or I could wash a jean dress and a Jean skirt (I cannot mix those with my dark delicates as I am picky about keeping fabric types together. I worked on my underpants some more today and added more to the pile. Great find, Tillie, of the Victoria's Secret underpants!

I have a new type of underpant that I like. Down a size and I like the fabric. So I ordered three more pair and guess what? I had some sort of coupon and they were only $3 total. Not per pair; total. There is no reason to keep extras around if I'm not going to wear them.

I posted something in Instagram that asks, if I were to lose it, would I buy it again. I am grateful for that. It will help me as I make a box To Go.

Terrible about how cluttered it is. Together we will change this and yes I am taking painful before pictures.

Good morning all!

Tillie, I judged the goat projects.

CM, I am glad things are going well on your novel.

Today I think I will stay home, but I might have to run an errand.

Good Evening Everybody

Hi CriticalMass
So very happy you weren't arrested for assault! :D
Many times I just stare blankly at people thinking
I could kill you...
But then I don't because they just aren't worth it.
LOL ;P

YEA!!! for writing!!!

That's nice that you are doing what you can do instead of having a pity party because of the road blocks in your way (((HUG)))

Remember to take your vitamins and keep doing what makes you happy.


Hosed off the car this evening.
It was such a big mess, dust and little blobs of apricot all over it and bird poop.
Spiders and wasps had also taken up residence.
Now it's decent enough to drive.

Hi

At library. Did a little work on the novel! It's grabbing me pretty well.

SubC, I think that idea of doing creative and productive work in a few hours is probably the best thing. Life has been forcing me to be intentional about that, simply by not allotting me those big stretches of solitude I fantasize about.

It's been use the smaller times or nothing. And though I don't do the ambitious NaNoWriMo tradition of writing 50,000 words in 30 days (or 31 this month), I AM WRITING. Which is more than I do when I sit on my fanny and feel sorry for myself because I don't have my own place, a newer computer, etc.

Same with decluttering. I pluck a catalog and take it to the recycling bin. I stop by the storage unit and grab a few items to donate.

I'm getting the ball rolling.

And I forgot my vitamins for about 3 days - I think Fri/Sat/Sun - but yesterday I made a point to get them going again. My brain thanks me. Society would be thanking me too if it knew how much those little babies keep me from being a public grouch menace.

Case in point - earlier, at the computer across from me, was a Chatty Cathy - I've seen her at this branch location before. She seems to be a narcissist with no sense of public courtesy - she was aware people were annoyed with her and she thought it was a great laugh. I thought of a T-shirt I once saw in a catalog: "Do they ever SHUT UP on your planet?" But she would've just chirped "Nope!" and jawed on.

I did not shut her trap for her. So I don't need bail money tonight. Yay, vitamins! LOL LOL LOL

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
Curious as to which 4H projects you will judge.
I love looking at the projects at the county fair.

Hope you do get to swim today.

Good luck catching up on the laundry.
Always so much to do after a trip.

Maybe your bat colony had to relocate.
I have no idea where mine lives and just hope humans don't encroach on their habitat.


So far this Summer has been different, better than previous years.
It has been more "back to normal" of 20 years ago.
Still no rain but we have cooler mornings and nights and day highs have not been in the 112+.

Glad I washed out litter boxes yesterday cause now I don't have to do it today.
Need to wash some dishes, mostly cat dishes.
Will hose off the car this evening when I'm out with the hose watering my garden.
Have my shopping list all made out and the check to pay the DDS insurance for tomorrow when I go into town.
Now just need to psyche myself up for going into town. ;p

Oh dear.

The meditation bowl is still just sitting on a shelf in the scullery. None of the things on that shelf are in their forever home. I don't intend to keep the shelf.

When Dd was a teenager she asked for a yurt. She wanted to set it up in the yard and live in it.

Your tiny bats make me smile. We used to have bats, but I haven't seen them for a long time.

Today I have to drive to another county to judge 4h projects. On the way home I will swim. That plus chores is enough. Maybe dishes and laundry because I am still behind.

Good Evening Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Happy the first day of class went well!

You have been very good about what you have been bringing in.
But, lets talk about that small meditation bowl. ;)

Hope you can capture the yurt feeling in at least one area of your house.
Or maybe start drawing up plans to build yurt, JK.

When I was a kid we put up a big camping tent in the backyard.
Us kids spent hours out there all Summer, even slept out there some nights.
I suppose it was a kid version of a yurt.


Hi CriticalMass
Hi Tatoulia
Hi Everybody


Was planning to scrub out litter boxes tomorrow but said "what the heck" and did it today.
Got the trees all watered.
Tomorrow I will hose off the car for going to town on Wednesday.
So much dust and apricot colored bird poop on it.
Soon it will be twilight and the teeny tiny little bats will come visit. :D

And the yurt was very quiet. And it had a skylight and the sun came in, and there was a huge comfy bed and big soft armchairs. And no food to cook and no dishes to wash.

I looked back, and mom gave me a third book I didn't tell you about. It's really important to me to tell you guys all the things I bring in

Started my class today and it went well.

Good Morning

Hi Subclinical
Welcome home.
The main appeal of a yurt is it's simplicity.
Basic but comfy and cozy.
Hope you are able to put some of the ideas from that book into practice.
It's good to change things up, switch activities to keep from burning out on something.

Really wish I could hire someone to come do the yardwork.
Steven becomes quite abusive if I spend any money.

Hi Tatoulia
Have a wonderful time with your friend today!
Someone will be very happy to find your underpants at the thrift shop.
I see people buying the nice ones all the time.
I once bought 6 pair of Victoria Secret panties at the thrift shop, in my size.
They were so new they still had tags on them and I was so excited to find them.


Lets see...
It's Monday. So today I'll water the trees.
Do a little tidying up.
Resist the urge to vandalize parts of his hoard.
Resist the desire to go off on him, that could end in bloodshed, his, not mine.
Go out at twilight and visit with my bats.

I love your newsy post, SubC!!!! You sound great and positive and your husband is so dear.

No that's my hallway!!! I don't leave anything in the shared hallway. For some reason I started putting things on my narrow console table and the underpants were things to put in the donation bin. They are all nice quality, good shape, and clean. I don't know if someone will take them or not. I wanted to take them off the table before I took the picture. I'm thrilled that they were there, because it is a bit of funny.

I'm off today to spend with friend before she leaves. I will be sad because there's no Next Time coming up.

Tatoulia, did you really leave your underwear out in the shared hall? Or is that inside your apartment?

Mr kitty is very happy that we are home. He need lots of extra pets. The farm sitter said he actually let her pet him once while we were gone! She has known mr. kitty the whole 9 years of his life and that was the first time.

Tillie, I am so sorry that you are discouraged. I hope the trip to town helps. Could you get someone to come use the new weed wacker for you? Remember - if it all gets to be too much, you must go to nate's. He has dibs.

I was not happy to get up when my alarm went off this morning. I'm feeling rather overwhelmed by the idea of the next seven weeks. There is a 4h potluck that I have been wavering about attending tonight. Right now I am thinking no - because my class starts this afternoon, and I have had so much people time this week.

I must also restock our food supplies today. And do laundry.

I don't think i'm Ready to go back into the basement.

I read a book on my trip about rest, and how many accomplished, creative people limited their work to 4-6 hours a day. It also talked about timing and sleep cycles and breaking tasks up into 90 or even 30 minute stretches. I know that I do finish the lion's share of whatever I am going to do that day in the mornings.

It also cited studies on the "rest and recovery" benefits of switching to an activity that was different, but still active and engaged - like splitting my day into syllabus writing and pottery, or gardening and basement cleaning. And Tatoulia, you will be glad to know, there was much praise of naps!

Mostly I would very much like to get back into my yurt headspace. Even though I was going straight to my mother, I did not want to leave the yurt. Dh says I have to figure out what it was about the yurt that was so good so that we can recreate it.

CM, i'm Sorry your "break" was frustrating. I'm glad you got some writing done at least.

Good Evening Everybody

Hi Tatoulia
Taking a few cabs with your visiting friend is a small thing for the company.
You'll make up the miles soon.
Just try to stick to mall walking when it's hot & muggy.

I'll be paying close attention to the bedroom before pic. ;D


Got the grass watered then watered my flowers.
Sun was going down and I decided to water lilac hedges tonight rather than tomorrow.

Had the most wonderful time in the twilight with all my tiny little bats fluttering all around!

There's lots of mosquitoes and other small flying biting bugs for them to eat tonight.

Today I hunted for and found 4 wasp nests.
Sprayed them when I found them then went back in the evening and sprayed them again.
First time all the wasps weren't on the nest, they were out gathering provisions.
In the evening all the remaining members were at home.
Then I knocked the nests down and smushed them to kill the maggoty babies too. :D

Tap tap tap

I can picture your blue-eyes kitty, Tillie.

Yes going into town sounds like a good idea! And that is very helpful to have the dental insurance!

We had a beautiful day today. My friend flies out tomorrow night. I've had a good time with her. She is very easy to be with. She cannot walk as much as I can-there is not a lot of walking in her country, everyone has cars and plus it gets way too hot. For example, it's expected to be 115F tomorrow in Kuwait. So she's not used to walking. We did take a few cans today, which I was fine with. We got one big walk in and I managed to get some of my own walking in so I've done just around 5 miles today. May or may not make it out a bit later. For now i am tired and so I will nap. I'm tired.

I enjoy having my friend here and she is so easy to be with but it's still more together time than I am used to. It's great and I wouldn't trade it for the world. But it's more tiring than my usual life m
I have so much more I wanted to accomplish this long weekend. But I did the hallway table and it is helping me to keep it looking sharp.

Bedroom would be an easy fix. I'll take some befores, secretly hoping there's something scandalous to make you laugh, Tillie.

Tap, tap, tap... ;p

My blue eyed albino girl kitty was so shy that she would not let anybody see her, ever.
Just me.
When my neighbor friends took care of the cats for me when I stayed at Nate's home when Steven was in the hospital last time they knew she was here but never saw her.

One day neighbor friend stopped by and saw her sleeping in the front window.
I saw him and he was so happy to finally see all that beautiful snow white fur.
But he just could not resist and tapped on the window.
Then for an instant he saw her big blue eyes as she ran away in terror.


WTG! not buying anything!

I'm going to have to go into town sometime this week, need some fresh produce.
Also need to drop off my annual dental insurance payment.
For 64.00 annually I get a reduced rate on any dental procedures.
Pays for it's self with just cleanings & checkups.
Could mail it but then I would have to go buy stamps first and the DDS office is right there anyways.
And I need to unload the car of things at the thrift shop and the animal shelter.
Plus I didn't go anywhere last week and maybe getting away from here for a while would be good.

Maybe Wednesday or Thursday???

You are never alone! We got you! Shoring you up from afar and glad my underpants could give you a chuckle!!!

Great day today. Walked around with friend. Bought NOTHING. But I did post a cute cat picture. Should anyone need one.

Just finished running errands with BF. He's so great.

Good Afternoon Everybody

LOL Tatoulia ;D

Have no desire or inspiration to do anything.
Later when it's cooler I'll start watering the grass.
Set the sprinkler in an area, turn on the water, set the timer.
When the timer dings go out and move the sprinkler to a new location.
Rinse & repeat...


warning, honest speak ahead...
He is really making me depressed.
He has done NOTHING.
The new weed eater is still laying out in the driveway.
His bedroom is disgusting and stinks to high heaven.
The roof is still un-repaired.
There are some super sized wasps nests growing out in all his yard crap.
All he ever does is sleep until after noon, shop and sit at his computer out in that putrid disgusting mess in the garage.

I give up. I have no hope.
Since MY cats died, I have no happiness in this life.
I try, I really do try but it's getting so hard to care about anything any more.
end of emotional rant

Thank you, thank you all.
I really needed to get all that out.
Now I do not feel so all alone (((hug)))

I thought the pile of too big underpants would tickle you!

Good Morning Everyone

Hi CriticalMass
Good to hear you are feeling less frantic and frustrated.
WTG! getting some writing things done!

Hi Subclinical
Good luck getting all those syllabi ready.
We know you can and will have them done in time, it's just all the other things you will be doing at the same time.

Hi Tatoulia
Sorry, but that before pic made me chuckle...
WAY TO GO! restoring it to it's former self. ;)


Beautiful cool quiet morning here.

The birds are starting to eat some of the apricots half way instead of just a tiny taste out of each one.

Did laundry till midnight last night and hung it out over night.
Already brought it in, folded and put away.

Good morning, all.

Much cooler here today. I'm feeling better rested, not exactly well-rested but better. A lot to do with friend here and I'm neglecting my mother and BF. But I try.

SubC good to hear from you! I love cloth napkins. What a difference they make. And I use them with abandon, don't care if they get stained. My good ones are kept safe and used for company but otherwise I just use all the time.

Cm that is a lot of work with a lot of animals. I can have exactly one at a time. That's my limit. But it's flexible in case I need to inherit mom's cat or if Tigger needs a retirement home.

Tillie it is glorious out today. I'm glad I walked last night. I was so tired and it felt really good. I didn't get the deep restorative walk since I was with my friend but a walk's a walk.

I posted before and after pix of my hallway table. Precious little I've done but that is one accomplishment!

Hello all, been reading along. Glad to see you all keeping up.

I am at in-laws right now - heading home today. Dh mom gave me an antique pin, and his aunt sent over 4 more cloth napkins and some family pictures.

I was doing some planning yesterday and realized I have seven weeks until school open house, where I will need to have syllabi for 14 classes. That's three and a half days per class to get them ready! And many days are already full in the next 7 weeks. Time to get started!

Peaceful here. Watching sweet little girl bunny hoppity hop around. The day never got too ambitious, and I've been forgetful on some of the little routines. I have come to realize that I am best with just a couple of pets as far as the juggling of feeding, litterbox, exercising, etc. not to mention my own routines goes. I'll play catch up tomorrow.

I first realized my limit a few years back, when I took care of the bunny house bunnies for a short while. I don't know how many there were, far fewer than now (28). But it wore me out!

My roommate didn't intend to end up with as many animals herself but she likes to always have one dog and a cat. She got the current girl kitty about 5 years ago when previous cats had passed. Then Mr semi-feral kitten got too trusting and ended up living here as well.

And of course our friendship grew out of her joining the bunny club because someone had given her a bunny. Then she adopted him a wife. And so it goes.

But I'm relaxed now, having done a little better on time management and planning. I made a point to get a meal after church, and I ate half and saved half for tomorrow's lunch. So I wasn't all spacey and jittery trying to do these evening routines. Yeah, it's midnight, but that beats 2 a.m. and soon I'll wrap up.

Overall less frantic and frustrated. Even got printout done of the two pages of writing I did plus some research that pertains to it, and tucked all neatly into the binder for that novel.

Good Night Tatoulia

Glad you walked in the mall where it's cooler and less humid.

I'm exhausted but stopped by to say that I did finish the hallway. Including polishing the silver lamps. Will post before and after pics tomorrow.

Cm and Tillie thank you for the long posts. Cm you are welcome to join on the walks anytime!

I walked with friend tonight in the malls. I'm tired Will go to bed now.

Hi again CriticalMass

That is kinda spooky weird you had that quake on that specific day.
Yeah, that fracking and aquafer depleting is causing a lot of seismic activity in those states.

Don't anybody worry about me vs earthquakes.
Been through at least 100 and just rock & roll with them.

Yes, scientists who are looking into the phenomena think that animals are sensing some kind of "waves", magnetic or other before a quake.

How WONDERFUL that you are enjoying the feelings of releasing little things.
Getting them out of your space and mind!

About your worries about those reported sex crimes...
Have there been any more reports? Have the police issued any statements concerning more cases?
They may have been resolved.
I insist that you ask at the gym SOON so you can feel safe and secure to go back there.
Even if the gym personnel don't have satisfactory answers, educate yourself by following all and any news articles and police reports.
Most newspapers have police crime blotters posted.
These things can also be found online.
Educate yourself as to what is happening in your area and you will be better able to keep yourself safe.
Tatoulia keeps herself safe in that big busy city by knowing when and where it's safe or not to walk.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi CriticalMass
It's good that you are doing the bare minimums right now.
So much better than not tending to important things like bunny exercise.

It is always best to pass along items that trigger negative memories.
It will be good for you to not keep running across those Tuscan towels.

Good luck getting into a routine to where you can use your time as you have plans to.


Hi Tatoulia
YEA! for getting your RX!

It will feel so good to get that hallway all pretty and clean again.

Yeah, it is miserably hot now.
At least you are not miserable because of the state of your home. ;D

Please work on getting your sleep schedule straightened out.
You have AC so heat should not be an issue at bedtime.
Make sure to use the malls to get in your walking exercise so you don't overly heat & get sickly.

This post is more of a chat/respond one.

Tillie, those earthquake predictions sound ominous. Even at the distance you are, STAY SAFE. I wasn't expecting the 2nd one after the July 4th one to occur so soon. Here's something kind of spooky: I posted earlier about my sadness leaving my parents' home - well, the Saturday night of the final weekend I spent there, we had an earthquake. In Wichita, Kansas. Never in my life had I been in one. There were more and now we're semi-used to them. Natural gas fracking in Oklahoma seems to have been part of the cause. There are fault systems in Kansas and nearby.

Like your windchime, one of the things that alerted me to that first quake at my parents' house was that the bunnies' hanging bell toys were swaying and ringing. Oh and the animals - they can sense so much. Earthquakes, the Earth's magnetic field, maybe even things scientists have yet to identify.

SubC, how well I understand the concept of things "fluffing" when you unpack them and try to put them back and it seems like you should've gained more empty space! Happens to me a lot. But if we keep going, eventually the space we wish to reclaim will be there. You did great resisting large bulky items at your parents', too!

And Tatoulia and all of us - small items don't greatly reduce the volume of stuff, that's true, but I've gotten to the point of not wanting anything that I don't really like to stick around, so there's still a satisfaction in jettisoning it.

I figure that satisfaction will pay off in terms of motivation and perhaps lead down the line to getting rid of big items. Like Tillie's green trunk! :) It's all good. One goal I have for my minimalist life is not to have "junk drawers" and such. I hope that's attainable. If an item is useful, hopefully it can be stored with others of its type, and if it's JUNK, why keep it?

Tatoulia, you are killin' it with the walking! Such a great healthy thing to do. I wish I could teleport to Boston and walk with you the times when your boyfriend is unavailable. I used to love to take long walks, then my STUPID agoraphobia started flaring up and giving me panic attacks when I'd get a couple blocks or so from home alone. $#*$&#!!!

It's similar to my highway driving issue; I can go with others but I miss being able to go by myself. Maybe you enjoy the solitude too. If/when I get my gym routine back, I will walk on the indoor track; it doesn't trigger me because it's not on an elevated place like some indoor tracks - I can't do those - and there are other people including employees nearby. I haven't had much trouble but just knowing if I did I could go to one of them and say I needed some medical help is enough to make me chill out and be able to enjoy my walk just fine. And being a part of a bunch of people getting fit gives a self-esteem boost which doesn't hurt either! I just need to go in and talk to management about those sex crimes that happened this year and what security measures have been taken, and then I'll feel okay about going again. I hope.

On a final note, the wasp has not been seen for days. It is possible that I wounded him and he went someplace to die. If that's the case, I just hope I don't accidentally put my hand on the carcass at some point! EEK!

Well, I guess I better go have a late lunch; I'm going to 5:30 Mass so I don't have to get up at a set time in the morning, and can use the time to prep for bunny club board meeting tomorrow afternoon. I would love a nap but it may be days before I can have one. I rarely do short "power naps" - three hours is the perfect length for me.

You are doing important psychological work, CM! Congratulations!

Tillie I love how you called the cats idiots. I could just picture them!

I went to get my RX then passed by mom's with a few treats for her. Miserably hot. I left my hat at BF's last night. I'm meeting my friend at 6. I need to polish the hallway lamps then I'm done. I've let this project drag but so be it. My sleep and hours are all jumbled and I'm exhausted. So slowly I do this. No rush.

Part one - just me and my whatever...

Second load of laundry going. This weekend has been so much more "Meh" than I had expected. Getting only the bare minimum done. I had to stay up really late last night because I was so unmotivated but I still needed to let roommate's bunnies out to play and be there the whole time since they are smaller than my bunnies and the cat is not to be trusted. Not that being with bunnies is unpleasant, but I just couldn't go back and forth in the house. And I kept procrastinating going in there and settling with a book and bunnies.

So much I had wanted to do and if things had been as I'd expected... two nights is just barely enough time to get my bearings, much less establish a productive routine as I had envisioned. Then Monday it'll all change again - but maybe I'll have some free time with her back at work. Yet each day either truncates when she comes home, or I have to go to the library or somewhere to extend my working on my projects time. And I can't take a lot of my projects with me, mainly my writing.

I just came up with a thought about us hoarding-prone people. I think in some cases we start when young, because we notice things easily because we're bright and observant, and even something that looks like trash - maybe even IS trash - is a novelty to us. Our response then is to want to possess it. Then we get told by parents or teachers to clean up our room or desk, sometimes in an impatient tone, and we feel defensive. If they throw away our stuff, we feel emotional hurt and maybe hold a grudge. More easygoing children don't get as attached or reactive.

Full blown hoarding tendencies may not hit till adolescence or adulthood. If that's the case, we have jobs, spouses, societal expectations and the like telling us to get rid of our junk, don't be such a slob, etc. We also have money to buy things, so we may be inclined to be shopaholics and thrift store denizens.

It's kind of a chicken or the egg question, whether it's us seeing the stuff, or others reacting to our having stuff. But the push-pull dynamic is like a skater's death spiral. We have to break out of it, it only intensifies the struggle.

Being single and with my parents deceased, no siblings or kids, it's mostly now up to me to fight an internal battle between warring halves of my own self: The Wanter vs. The Minimalist Wannabe. The roommate situation is the only external pressure, but she has a lot of stuff too so she isn't too pressuring. As long as I don't have to move suddenly like I did a few times, I can mostly deal with my stuff on my own terms.

I think I mentioned that I've found items like books to take back to storage, and there may be some books in storage that can go away, plus Tuscan themed kitchen towels. I was doing a Tuscany theme in my mom's kitchen and the other day I saw those items at the storage unit and a lightbulb went on in my head. I'm not going to want them because a) I'm going to go with a solid color for the kitchen assuming I get my minimalist residence someday - white or possibly a pop-of-color red; and b) The Tuscany theme brings back memories of my parents' house and the horrible foreclosure, so much better to pass those items on to someone for whom they will be associated with happiness. I'd gotten rid of other Tuscan table items like a basket and what-all already.

So when I next go to storage I'll bring the Tuscan towels here and run them through the washer because they could be a bit dusty and musty. And say goodbye to what they represented, the once upon a time hope I would get to stay in my family home.

Hi Tatoulia :)

YEA! for working on the hallway!

Good that you stayed in bed and got some more rest.

Have a wonderful time today with your friend and make sure to get to the drug store early enough.

Jack can't come in the house because Scooter and Twinkles both are very territorial and want to fight with him to drive him away.
Half the time I won't allow those two idiots outside because Jack is hanging around the porches.

Jack does not want to fight and is not disturbed when idiot Scooter screams at him from the windows.

That bird call was strange at the time but after the quake hit I then understood why the bird did that.
Animals can feel/sense earthquakes before we can and often display odd behavior.

Tillie was Jack inside? That is weird about the bird call just before the quake.

How are you today? I woke up at 7-ish but my sleep is off. So I forced myself to stay in bed. I finally fell asleep and got up after 12. I'm working on my hallway. I have fixed the flooring and I've polished the sterling piece and the pewter piece. I need to wipe down the vase and polish the lamps.

I must get my RX today. I got to the pharmacy too late last night.

Having a great time with friend. I'll meet up with her later today. She's shopping right now.

Good Morning Everybody

Hope you all are doing just fine & dandy today.
Everything here is back to "normal".
Sun shining, a bird is singing and Scooter is being Scooter.

Right before the earthquake last night a bird was making a strange unusual call.
I guess it was aware and trying to alert every one.

I once had a cat who would howl and insist on being let outside a few minutes before a quake.

There is this one windchime I made out of thin slices of polished agate that I have hanging in my kitchen area where the wind never blows, so it never chimes.
Last night it started chiming and that was my first indication of the quake.


My plan for today is laundry.
Tonight I will sleep on fresh clean line dried sheets. :)

Been watching news...
Unfortunately it's not good in some areas.

Twinkles is sound asleep in the rocking chair, his favorite spot.
Right after the quake Jack was fine, not worried.

Scooter is sleeping in my bed snuggled up by my feet.
Every now & then he quickly lifts his head and looks toward the window.
After a minute he lays his head back down and goes back to sleep.

He is very suspicious. LOL ;D

I just submitted
"I FELT IT"
to the USGS