LOL Dave :D
That's exactly what Scooter has been telling me.

Had a GREAT time outside today and feeling better now too.
Pruned the heck out of everything.
Lilac hedge, roses, honey suckle, mountain laurels.
Didn't gather up the clippings and get them to the side yard. Just left it all where it fell.
I was on a roll and didn't want to slow down.
Will clean it all up at some later date.

Whenever I wear a hole in one glove or one sock, I throw the whole pair away. Both of them....
But maybe I have been being too hasty. ;)

Gloves:
I have some left handed yard gloves. The right hand ones wore out. Except for the left handed one that had the thumb cut off, the right handed ones seem to go first.

Dishwashing gloves. I have 2 left handed ones of those I have been loathe to discard. The right handed ones got the fork or knife pokes.

Toys:
Tillie, maybe the cats slept all night. It might have been the toys. It seems to me like I remember Raggedy Ann and Andy books discussing the behaviour of dolls when people are not around. Scooter and company may be getting a bum rap here.

Happy February! :)

WTG! LR2014 for having some fun this weekend! :D
Your plan sounds solid for clearing up the space in your vehicle. I know you need to have that stuff with you when out there so the vehicle has been the only place for it.

My plan for today is to get outside and do a bit of yard work.
Will light the burn barrel and while that is going I want to remove some dead plant growth from my garden and prune some rose bushes & lilac bushes & honey suckle.
Today's weather forecast is cloudy & temps in the upper 50s.
Hoping the fresh air and some sunshine will help me get over this head cold.

Also need to have a stern talk with the cats.
They have too many toys and after their partying last night the house is in shambles.
Toys spread everywhere, throw rugs scrunched up into heaps.
It is a real big trip hazard in here. ;)

TTYL :)

Happy February, everyone.

You asked about weekend plans, Tillie. I spent a lot of my evening yesterday in my hometown watching one of my younger loved ones performing in his high school musical. Sooooo much fun!

I made progress on my vehicle this weekend, but I'm probably the only one who would notice. Fortunately, much of what is in it at the moment is a set of supplies that I use out at that "rural area" I used to mention often and (once I find or create a suitable "home" for them there) are items that can be kept out there. Doing that transfer will clear up a lot of space in the vehicle.

It's great to hear from everyone, of course, but it's especially refreshing to be seeing "Roxie reports" again. Roxie, I'm glad you're regaining strength!

I am enjoying my temporary stay at my friends' home. As I might or might not have mentioned, they are definitely the non-clutter type and keep things very clean. Nice to see daily examples of what they do to keep things so nice and neat.

Have a great day, everyone.

OOPS! sorry
Meant to say brother's home ;)

Tatoulia
You have been doing FANTASTIC!
It is hard to change those little habits that we have and never even think about what we are doing.

One way that I got my hoarder to stop just dropping stuff in areas like near the doorways was that once I cleared the area I placed a dragon fountain/statue on the floor there.
Now when he sees the dragon placed in the empty area, he knows the big dragon (me) will be guarding that spot. :D

Thanks Tilliie. I've been able to not add to my hoard and I'm continually reducing my stuff, but mail and bags etc still pile up. Very difficult habit to break. So while getting rid of stuff, even stuff with emotional attachments, has been a struggle, I don't know why the papers pile up. I don't know why the toilet paper I bought last Sundayis in my loving room.

Hi Tatoulia :)

Good luck and best wishes for tackling that clutter area! :D

Washing the counters will give you great results you can admire.

Have fun while you are out and about. :)

Hi Tillie!

I a waking up late today--had a very late night. Saturdays are usually spent taking care of family. My brother has been housebound since the storm earlier this week. I will take him out today. I'm going to have to dig out his car at some point. Normally my BF does it but he's working all weekend.

My house is messy. I have papers on the floor, on almost every table surface and my kitchen counters while not cluttered, need to be washed. I have been working on the trunk of my car. The interior of my car is not hoarded because I'm pretty good at cleaning out water bottles and coffee cups after taking my brother out.

I need to decide on a patch of clutter creep to work on. There's a patch on the floor between living room and dining room. It is a magnet for stuff. I think if I chose that it will have the most impact and motivate me the most to keep moving forward.

Hello
Anybody here?

Does anyone have anything fun planned for the weekend?
I don't. Just going to the grocery store today and that's not very fun.

There are cotton tail bunnies all over my yard this morning. That's fun to watch :)
I can tell there have been many bunnies in my yard this winter due to all the bunny poop out there.

All the vehicles here are totally hoarded.
Stuff on the dashboard that always falls when he takes a corner.
The passenger side floor completely filled with trash.
Takes him over five minutes to clear the seat so I have a place to sit.
Back seat and trunk so filled that it is hard to get the groceries in.
It took him one and a half weeks to do this to the "new" used car he recently bought.
He gets ants, spiders, wasps and other creepy crawlies living in the vehicles, making it very unpleasant to ride in them.
At one time there was a desert pack rat living in his old abandoned VW beetle.
It felt right at home in there.

LR : My car is stuffed too. My excuse is that I don't want to bring anything else into my stuffed house! Something has to give or go. Keep up the good work ...

Hi, everyone. Just checkin' in.

Months and months and months ago, I mentioned on a Sunday night chat that I needed to work on clearing out and organizing my vehicle. For whatever reasons, I never really got that project fully underway. When I was trying to get the last bit of stuff moved out of my apartment a couple of weeks ago, my vehicle got even more stuffed and disorganized. Now I'm actually working on the "unstuffing" and organizing project. Been working on it off and on this week, but I've put extra time in on it today.

Dave, I haven't found any socks yet, but I have started finding a lot of right-hand work gloves. (For quite some time, every single time I tried to grab a pair of work gloves from my vehicle to get some outside work done, I would wind up with only two left-hand gloves.) Glad to finally end up with at least a couple of complete sets!

Happy afternoon. I'm going back to work on my vehicle now.

I have done battle with the microwave. Not sure of the winner. I have my Warm Oatmeal Cookie hot chocolate. I also have a lightly burned throat.

I am busily not admitting to my depression, failures, lack of cleaning progress and the conflicts that is creating.

I experienced the eerie "someone's walking on your grave" feeling a little bit ago while washing dishes. I hope I was being prayed for and not cussed out!

I am thinking about some threads I have read in.

Wednesday afternoon I went to end of the ladder height in 2 mulberry trees and did some trimming. Wednesday night and this afternoon I managed to reduce a large mess to a compact pile of short sticks in the trash can. One round of spring yard waste out of the way in January! (I may or may not have been safer than last summer, the chain saw is broken so I only had a hand saw and pruners.)

I am wondering how long it takes for the dog to show symptoms.

I am wishing each of you a nice day in a few hours and shutting down.

No.
You might make the dog sick.

drive by question:
Inquiring minds want to know if it safe to lick dog's noses?

drive by question:
Inquiring minds want to know if it safe to lick dog's noses?

Hi to everybody. I've been having a "down" afternoon (mood-wise). A short while ago, I thought about just lying down for a while and "being bummed out." But then I thought about catching up some on some of the posts here. I'm glad I chose the latter.

I noticed there has been a lot of discussion of sharing the downs as well as the ups. I'm so glad that people in the past have done that here (shared both). If I read about how everybody was always happy and cheerful and "successful" all the time, I wouldn't really want to be here (on the message board). I would feel like I had to always put on an act, and I would feel like I was watching some scripted movie of some sort instead of interacting with real people dealing with real life. I would feel like something was wrong with me when I started slipping backwards and would probably feel hopeless again. Instead, I can more clearly see ups and downs as just a natural part of the process of changing.

Speaking of changes, it's been over a week now since I left my apartment and have been staying at my friends' house. On the amusing side of things, one challenge has been to get used to different appliances, including the microwave. Diane, I have turned more than a couple of servings of frozen veggies into "veggie jerky." I have yet to figure out how to work the settings on their microwave to make my veggies come out right. I thought that surely by today, I'd have it figured out. Instead, at lunch today I managed to create a small "veggie explosion" inside the microwave that had to be cleaned up. :(

Hugs to all. Jessica, I'm really glad you have joined us.

Was just clicking around on the website for a couple of minutes before leaving on some errands, and I saw . . .


Roxie!!!!!


Whoo-hoooooooo!!!!!!!! So great to "see" you!!!


(Hi to everybody else, too!)

Thanks to ALL of you for your "ears" and your postings! It is a privilege, indeed, to be one in this group. I find MYSELF in each of your posts .. buying multiples (in case), a warehouse vs. a home, saving the world (instead of my life), a lack of boundaries, no! lack of vintage dishes, the need to analyze every item I pick up ( re-any possible use? ; and then, who? what? where?). I frequently give up before I make the determination and the item stays where it is. Getting started is ALWAYS an issue. BITSY - I'm going to think of you as I NEVER GIVE UP! My best wishes to you all!

God bless you, Tillie

Good morning :)

Monday, again....
This weekend I sent a lot of stuff off to various donation spots.
Two large bags of blankets, linens and other household cloth items to the local animal shelter.
Two pair of my very old prescription eye glasses to The Lions for them to give to people who need glasses and can't afford them.
A large bag of assorted items to the charity thrift shop.
Then I sold 30 DVD movies to the local pawn shop.
I had gathered up a lot of other items to donate but the hoarder I live with freaked out and grabbed them all up to add to his hoard.
So even though I have released them from my possession, they are still here on the property, somewhere.
Oh Well...
This just makes me want to get rid of even more of my things, to compensate.
I am running out of things LOL :D

Yes, Dianne, yay you! Fantastic work!
Much love to everyone from your very tired friend Tatoulia.

Dianne,
I was talking to Cory and asked if I could make this and he said yes and transferred my introduction here. :)

loved the blue dish story. I donated lots of pottery last year, then went to a friends and she had bought many of them at thrift store and made yard art by gluing several together, very nice, one little old pink plate, hand painted, gold edge, was the one thing I saw that I regretted donating. I went through her house and searched for all my donations, saw many nice things and thought I should have made this art. Truth is she enjoyed my stuff way more than I did, and used it in a great way to be appreciated by many. As you say Tat, we have too much stuff and have to give away some good stuff, so there is room to live in our space.
I only got 1/2 of dishes washed and put away.
It was sunny today, and WARM, I was outside all day. Cleaned up some slimy leaves off rocks, and cleaned up some of the yard. So much easier this year since I started 2 years ago, cleaning up all the dead junk, and getting rid of yard junk.
Benny had a really good day, went on a long walk. Thanks for the kind words Dianne, I appreciate being acknowledged for my many hours lovingly encouraging Benny to enjoy life here. He usually is just left at kennel, and since he just cowers, could not be out with other dogs, so having my big yard and me home all the time has been so great for him. His parents are aware of how difficult he is and are thrilled he is with me. Roxie, you made me so happy reading that you are safe with brother. Tillie, so great you are back on here sharing your life.

I created "The Daily Chat" because I saw we all needed a safe place to talk to each other.
There are no requirements to be eligible to post here.
Just having some human contact is so very important.
Some weeks the only outside contact I have is right here in "The Daily Chat."
Also, we need to be understood and accepted and we can get that here.
So happy or sad, cleaning or not please keep "talking" here.

:)

Roxie, my heart leapt! Hello hello!

Finally, I'm back online. The story is too long to tell, but I've been away from home since July, either in a hospital or a nursing home. Now I am at my brother's home in Minnesota, still trying to recover. I've made good progress.

I have so many posts to read through to catch up. Just thought I'd let you know I'm still alive.

Love
Roxie

I'd like to second what Dianne said. Lack of progress shouldn't pose a hurdle--we are all here for the same reason! We have too much stuff. Also, Diane, I am continually amazed by your hard work and industry. And I just love hearing from you.

As to newcomers, I think I started here last May. And within a short time I was welcomed warmly. I think it was LR, but it could have been anyone--please remember, we all belong here. We have good days and bad days and great moments and unfortunate moments, just like our real-life friendships. From my perspective, nothing is a deal-breaker here. Each day gives us a new page. So please, the more the merrier! I look forward to reading and posting and sometimes I read more than I post.

And remember, We may see progress where you don't.

Okay off to cook.

Good morning, everyone! Great to read your posts. There is snow here and it's very pretty. Goingvto relax and wake up before starting my day.

OK I just had an important moment in my kitchen. And I probably won't describe it well. Background: I love vintage dishes and got rid of scads of them this summer (yay!). I use odd saucers and little plates as soap dishes (kitchen, bathroom, tub). I have a little stack of about twelve. As I was switching out the soap dish in kitchen this AM, I thought about a little blue dish that I hemmed and hawed over this summer before relegating it to the goodwill pile. Today, just now, I thought, oh I never thought to use the blue dish as a soap dish, I wish I still had it. Revelation: just because I finally found a use for it doesn't mean I need it. Therefore, I'm not going to spend my time ruing the day I let something go.

I knew this wouldn't sound as dramatic as it felt. But I can't explain it any better right now. So, I can further refine my thinking as I dig in to Level 2: finding a use or potential use is not going to be my guide. My question is, do I need it, now.

Thanks Dianne and Tat, so great reading your posts and reassuring me I am still welcome here in spite of doing very little cleaning. Thanks for asking about Max, he went home Sunday night. Benny came to visit on Monday, Benny would not leave his bed first day, each day a little better. Today he actually played fetch with toys I made him.
I got a cord of wood delivered and stacked it. Cleaned chimney really good today. Went to kitchen to dishes several times, and still have not even started them. I WILL wash dishes before bed time. (tonight) Grey all day, with a little rain.
LR congrats on move, I think of you every time I microwave vegetables, so good.
Tillie thanks for reminders on how to go about cleaning and organizing. See you all tomorrow

Diane! Bitsy! Glad to hear from you. I understand those "dry periods" on not getting anything done. Just glad you are here because I miss you. Diane do you still have Max? Have a great day, everyone! Hope to hear from you all and that includes you, Jessica! We are in this together!

hello everyone, good to read all of your posts
I have not posting because I have not been keeping up with maintenance and have been dealing with good old winter blahs
I can start over tomorrow and start making progress

Jessica K.,
thank you for posting. It helps me to feel so not all alone. everyone here is so supportive.
it is such a struggle usually for me to get started and get anything done. reading these posts helps.
never give up
never give up

Okay okay I wasn't going to admit but since I live in a city and walk everywhere, giving directions that include cut through this building/park here and walk, it's by where the old pharmacy once was etc etc so generally I would walk the person. Recently while going through piles of paper I found letters from a woman from Little Rock AK, whom I met one night and then walked her around the city, ran errands with her, then dropped her off at the hotel. Her exact question that led to this was, is there a grocery store nearby? But that was pleasant , and borne of a desire to make sure that visitors have a good time in my city. And not a chore. So I have walked a lot of people a lot of places. But I'm more discerning now. An English speaking family of four does not need or want my help as they each look at their smartphones for guidance. No need to step up and insist. But an exchange student from Uganda? Let's walk!


I love saving and rescuing things. Not animals because I have a cat and she is plenty. But I do want to save all the cats all the time. One thing I haven't talked about here is I mentor at-risk inner city youth-- or did you know that? When I took the remaining orientsl rugs to my sister's I brought one of the kids with me, but maybe I told everyone that. I too like rescuing people, old people, everyone, but I'm in "not taking in any new patients" mode right now. Taking care of the people who are precious to me (the youths in the city, mom, a few assorted elderly people, brother, one disabled person and that's it). Sometimes I resent it when I go to mom's and the people just expect me to do for them. If they have children or spouses or even paid help I won't. But if they need me, truly need someone, I am there. And I can tell the difference.

I also cook for shut ins, as I think you might know because I think I used the expression shit-ins once by mistake. So if Diane with one n is out there, this shit-in is for you. The trash hoarder whose house I cleaned and cleared before hisive lives in a beautiful place now and in fact, I am cooking for him at his house this weekend. I cooked for him at his house a couple of weeks back and it went okay.

Now none of this has anything to do with my career, I just do this as I walk through life.

Before I sign off,Dianne I think you are terrific. Absolutely terrific. Isn't that nice to know? You are loving and warm and welcoming. And your rescue of animals makes me happy. I think of your daughter reading to them. And i feel something palpable yet indescribable.