I haven't read anyone's posts but SubC's post on doing loving acts. I need that to sink in. Thank you for a lovely and loving post, SubC.

Thank you SubC for the encouragement!

I find this activity so draining that I have to do like ten minutes at a time and then take a break. Too much stuff, too many decisions! But it feels good as I cull things and find places for things.

I have some tubes of things, like face wash or hair gel, that stand on end but the end has a cap that dispenses. I don't want them in there on the wooden shelves in case they leak. I thought about tossing them in a drawer but I want things neat and not leaky.

So I went around the house looking for a bin that is longer, for those tubes, but short enough to fit in a drawer... I could not find anything until I saw an ice cube bin on the counter and wondered... hmmm. And it fits perfectly! I hesitated a bit, thinking, "this is for ice!" but then realized it has been sitting on the kitchen bar for MONTHS. May as well make use of it! Win win.

Yes!

Start by getting it back! It's better to have more things where they go than a few things perfectly organized!

I find that the first step here is just getting them in the right building! Then the right room, then the right storage area, then neatly organized. Every step is a chance to purge and at every step purging gets easier.

updating for motivation:

I took the kitchen trash out and it leaked. I cleaned that up.

I am slowly working on putting all my stuff back into the vanity drawers, some in the little bins I have, and also putting things in the vanity cabinets. I struggle with thoughts of 'where is the RIGHT way to put things away' and 'what is the BEST way to organize this stuff?' But, I am forcing myself to just get it done, and be happy it will be clean and neat. I tell myself, I can always reorganize things later if I wish.

Thanks SubC, and yes!! That is a good thing to hope - that he fills his car and leaves the food so I can throw it out. Honestly there is so much trash and junk in his den that someone is going to need to take a full load to the dump once he has all his things out of there, unless, of course, he takes his trash with him. There are empty bottles, plastic food containers (empty but not washed), probably enough plastic bags (dirty, with holes, etc) to fill a yard waste bag and enough dirty napkins, used paper towels, used paper plates and such to full my trash bin. Plus the old, literally broken in pieces recliner, an old wooden chair too rickety to use, and tons of old clothes from the 70s with holes in them. I will be so happy when it is all OUT of my house. Seeing the master bathroom being trasnformed as I move his junk out of there and clean it is wonderful!! Like a dream come true.

I saw a recipe for marinated green bean sandwiches online that has high ratings, and thought of you SubC. It looks tasty. If you google it, it comes up.

I got all the towels folded and put away.
I loaded the dishwasher and ran it and it is drying.

I am running out of stream.

Nice job Lila!

Very good that you made progress using what you already have!

I hope the ex fills his car and does not take the food, because then you can throw the food out and be rid of a larger amount of stuff.

I picked up my car this morning. The bill astronomical, but not as bad as buying a new car. Let's just put it this way - I now have a AAA membership because it saved me $200. And I will now be joining the "buy nothing" club.

I also went to the feed store (because unfortunately I still need feed.)

I cut Dh hair and did chores and put the dried basil away and cut up a bazillion yellow beans.

I have more to pick and cut up and hopefully get in the dehydrator tonight.

post 2 today, update:

so far I:
- wiped out the bathroom vanity drawers
- found small bins that fit them, and put makeup in one and put it in the drawer
- sliced the last of the tomatoes and had a sandwich for lunch
- folded the two baskets of towels and put most of them away

Now I am enjoying my iced coffee. Next I will fold the towels that are on the couch (been there a week) and put those and the rest of the other folded towels away.

Ex will be here in a couple of hours so I am wandering around making sure his stuff is in there and my stuff is put away where he won't take mine by mistake. I know he said he is only taking a couple things, but I secretly hope he loads up his car, at least.

What are you guys up to?

Good morning all, happy Saturday! I enjoyed reading your posts this morning.

Last night I took everything out of the six drawers in the master bathroom vanity. Three were ex's so I put those things in a box and put them in his den. I sorted the stuff from mine and threw away about 1/3 of it... expired stuff, things I never use. I found several things to donate and put them in the box. I got tired, so left all the stuff on the floor. This morning I will go in there, wipe out the inside of the drawers with pledge, and put things back. I would like to have some little bins that fit in the drawers to organize better, but instead of going to the dollar store, first I will look around the house and use any empty little bins lying around. I know I have some.

Also I put something away in the garage this morning, and when I opened the door, there was glass shattered from one end to the other. You may remember I just cleaned up broken glass and pottery in there a couple weeks ago from a teen rage. This time, I had no idea it had happened. So many feelings came up when I saw it. Anger, hopelessness, frustration, sadness, and I had a lot of negative thoughts, but I just shut the door and left it there. When teen is up, I will calmly tell them that they can either sweep it or use the shop vac, but it has to be cleaned up. I have no way to reinforce this, but I hope they will clean it up, but if not, I will have to do it. They know this. We'll see.

Ex is coming today to get "a few things." I put a few things I came across of his, into his den. I put his expired food in a bag and box and texted him to take it. If he doesn't, I am putting it in the trash.Apparently he is only taking a few, very few things. I hope to talk with him next week about what his intentions and plans are, but for now, I am just picking up anything I come across of his and putting it in the den, so it is consolidated.

Also my son vacuumed yesterday and washed 2 loads of towels. I brought the baskets of towels up and want to get them folded and put away today. Might sort some out and put them in the den for ex to take, because I have too many and he is probably going to ask for some.

Also I REALLY REALLY wanted iced coffee this morning, and almost went and bought some, but thought of you all and instead I brewed a pot of strong decaf, and added a little cold water, put some in a cup in the freezer to chill and the rest in a mason jar for another time. I also have no ice but filled a tray so when that is frozen I will have my darned iced coffee.

Goid mirning!

Good to see you Tatoulia and CM! Still missing Road and wondering about our new people.

Tatoulia - here is what I think about patience. Patience is about suffering. It is the ability to tolerate things that are causing negative feelings. I have no patience. But people accuse me of being patient with my kids all the time. It isn't patience, it's understanding. When you understand what is causing the thing people think you have to be patient with, you can ignore it and focus on addressing the cause - when Bean helps me do the chores, it takes much longer than doing them alone, and sometimes feed gets spilled or things get wet that shouldn't, or he distracts me or surprises the goat and buckets get kicked over or stepped in. Because Bean is learning everything, and he is small. But it doesn't matter. Because on those days, I am not doing chores. I am nurturing a love of the animals in a child and with any luck, I am crafting a skilled teenager who will WANT to help me when I am 70.

Try to think of it not as doing a sewing project, but as helping your mom have a sense of accomplishment. It's not about what you are actually doing, it's about helping your mom feel good about what you are doing. Don't take it personally if she tells you everything you are doing wrong - thank her for pointing something out you didn't see or teaching you something you didn't know, or "helping" you do something you've never done before. Your Mom doesn't really want the project - you could hire someone for that - she wants to believe that she still has sewing skills. It doesn't matter how the project turns out as long as you take all the blame and give her all the credit.

It's not "Bean, don't touch the goat when I'm milking!" It's "wow! The goat was really surprised! Was that scary when she jumped? She probably got scared because she couldn't see you and she thought you might be something that eats goats. Goat, this is Bean. Don't worry, he does not eat goats! Now, let's get a new clean bucket, and if you want to touch the goat, you can tell me and I'll help you so she doesn't get scared again."

"You're doing that all wrong!" "I know. I never learned how to do this. I'm glad I still have a chance for you to teach me." - because you are glad, not because you want to sew, but because she's your mom and she's still here, and she wants to do this with you. So just remember that part.

Lila, good job on the medical stuff!

I forgot to confess yesterday that I took Bean to the grocery store after I picked him up. I let him help shop, so we ended up with a watermelon and a toy car. He requested the watermelon from across the produce section, but I just saw him eyeing the toy cars, and I asked "do you want a car?" and pushed the cart next to the display. He picked out a green one and hugged it tight so I bought it. Now it has to live here because his Mom doesn't want a bunch of toys. She would say "he has cars." So that is a new thing in the house. We will finish eating the watermelon.

Drive by!

I'm doing a no-spend August, which means I can only buy groceries and necessities. I have spent a lot in the last two months.

Cleaners came today instead of Wednesday. They also cleaned mom's place today. I don't know if I mentioned this but in a recent team meeting with all of mom's health providers, one of the nurses said how pleasant it is to be in mom's house now. Honestly it used to be so filthy. So the amount I'm spending is worth it. I can also be in her house without thinking I'll crawl out of my skin.

I have too much stuff. How do I know this? I'm having trouble putting everything away. So that means I have to take a look at things. I don't just want to stuff things in my closet.

Tmr I have to get up early to take someone to airport then I have to do a dreaded sewing project with mom. I know she can no longer sew (no eyesight) and she is driving me nuts. I don't know how to sew at all. This is a nightmare but I'll try. I have to not be mean.

I am neither creative nor precise, so this is exactly the type of thing I don't need in my life. I do not have the patience. But I will look for it with my mom.

My law is hanging open SubC, like, OF COURSE that is where beans come from, but I never, ever considered that you could grow one plant and eat both green beans and then, later, black beans from them. Wow. I need to grow some. Once they turn black, can you just eat them like that, or do you have to dry them?

I went in my room and got out a bin of meds and medical things and I threw out about half the stuff because it is expired, or I don't need it anymore. I had several inhalers in there from when I had covid a year ago. I kept them in case there is an apocalypse and no pharmacies exist and I need them, but meh, I am over it.

See you guys tomorrow.

So, all beans start out green. Some turn yellow, some turn purple, and some just turn brown and dry out. (Btw, cucumbers also turn brown and dry out like a thin shelled gourd)

The bump inside a bean is a seed, and again, they start out tiny and green, and turn different colors as they ripen usually white or black. Sometimes brown, yellow, or spotted. Black beans are black seeds from a bean pod. So, the variety of green beans that I grow is dual purpose - it makes a good snap Bean - green, or if you don't pick them, they grow big and lumpy, turn brown, dry out, and can be shelled for black beans.

Very tired. Will check in tomorrow.

SubC, wait... what?? about the green beans... letting them go... black beans? I feel some kind of epiphany coming on...

I answered emails.

I threw out old food from one cabinet and the cheese drawer. Stuff that is expired and that I know no one is going to eat. This is good, because it is making space. Some of my cabinets are totally crammed and I can't find anything. This will help me have space and not have everything shoved in there all hoarded up.

I brushed the dog. I video chatted Tot.

I really want to clean more, so maybe I will. But I have off tomorrow too so I can get more done!

Hi everybody!

Hi CM - who keeps starting all these fires?😉
I know it becomes exhausting. And it's the thing about "when you're up to your @$$ in alligators, it's hard to remember that your original objective was to drain the swamp."

Hi Lila, I'm sorry to hear about tot and acorn. 🙁

My beans are currently yellow beans. I'm letting the green ones go for black beans for winter. I dehydrate them with salt, cayenne, and just enough olive oil to make the spices stick, so probably not what you want for dinner. They make great snack food if you like spicy.

Nice job on your fridge!

I had a good day with Bean today. He made me vacuum.

post 2- hope someone stops by today!

I made the gazpacho and cleaned out the fridge. I didn't WASH it out, I just got everything out of there that was going bad, and rearranged.

I put WD40 on a squeaking thing. I cooked some pasta. Now I feel like I am losing steam and it is only 2:30. I think I will make some coffee. I wish I had some iced, but I could brew it strong and add cold water and ice it. I think I'll do that.

hi CM! So glad you dropped by! Nice to hear how you are doing.

Good morning SubC. Glad you are working on things still and got lots of beans! I assume these are green beans. I have some in my fridge a friend gave me. What are your favorite ways to prepare them? Maybe that will be dinner tonight.

I was so busy yesterday but it was a good day. Tot and Acorn are pretty sick. I dropped off soup and did a video chat, but can't go see them for another week.I hope you have fun with Bean.

I am OFF today thank goodness. So far I:
-washed off a dirty counter and dirty stove
-scrubbed burned-on stuff off the glass cooktop; Teen did it and I have it about 90% cleaned
-sorted berries and ate those and a mango for breakfast
-read on the deck outside, it is nice out
-pulled a few weeds and put them in the compost bin


I also sorted the tomatoes a friend gave me, and am going to make gazpacho today with those and cucumbers and a red pepper I have in the fridge. I also sliced 2 tomatoes and made a delicious tomato sandwich - one of my favorite things! It was on white bread with mayo, but still! I abandoned the bacon at least.

I need to sort the fridge but kind of dreading it. I will do that when I am getting out the ingredients for gazpacho (have to find that red pepper, and some onion and garlic).

Hi you two, and anyone else. 🙋‍♀️

Summer marches on. I keep having new fires to put out, and lack of resolution on pending matters. Plus things that pain my soul in deeper ways than I would feel comfortable delineating here. But I am holding as steady as I can under the circumstances.

Some annoying obligations are behind me. A few other things, and not all of them annoying but involving work. We got some rain days and days ago but are back to hot for awhile.

SubC, I like your bit about doing some of those little things we notice in passing. It's a good strategy for the hot, lower energy days.

So often, I wish I didn't have obligations and deadlines, because I hate the coordinating involved. Especially when I've been putting out fires.

Gotta go now to put out another one. 🔥 🚒

Good morning!

Today is a Bean day.

I enjoyed the library program. I brought home a library labelled tote bag, a folder full of information handouts, a flower shaped multicolored highlighter, and a name sign for my classroom door.

Now I need to get four of my coworkers to sign up for library educator cards and the library will deliver book collections to my school every month! (It is possible that four or more of my coworkers already HAVE educator cards, I just need their names on our school form.)

I do not have any tasks on my list for today, just Bean.

How is everybody else doing?

I finished the garage. Most of the stuff in the garage belongs in the garage (the stuff that doesn't is up on surfaces.)

I washed the water hog mat - that goes below the steps into the house - for 30 minutes. Starting with the hose, then scrub brush, then hose.. It can now be classified as "a little dirty."
I left it on the driveway to dry because I forgot that it is supposed to rain all afternoon. From the look of things I need to go move it back into the garage once I finish this post.

Then I came in hungry - and I made a good choice! Instead of eating easy but unhealthy, I had a peach to hold me while I made a salad. Then I went downstairs to get the lettuce and ended up washing out a nasty vegetable crisper..

So now, it is almost 1:00, and I'm going to make my salad!

I have: picked the beans, planted more beans, and signed my contract (electronically) I am now drinking water because it is very hot outside.

Next I will move some things that are not supposed to be in the garage and are taking up floor space. Then I will sweep it.

Good Morning!

Lila, I am so happy that you are moving toward the life you want!

I also hope more friends will stop by today! I know Lila and I posted a lot. Just drop in and let us know how you are doing, don't worry about processing it all.

I have 5 things on my list today that are not every day things:
Pick beans
Plant more beans
Sweep the garage (both cars are out because mine is still at the shop)
Sign my contract for fall
Teacher night at the library

Other than those I have a "things I have noticed" list to pick from or ignore. I am trying to choose a reasonable number of those for each day. They are low urgency, variable importance - like sweeping the garage.

I am keeping up with dishes and laundry! I almost got to bed at 9:30 last night, but dd2 called with more moving stress.

last post of the night-

We did good today SubC! I am proud of us. I hope some of our friends stop by tomorrow.

Getting late but I had an online meeting and then got a few last little things done:

-sorted mail, opened it and threw out quite a bit
-picked up the few pieces of trash in my bedroom and noticed the dust bunnies, so I will vacuum soon
-put away the hand washed dishes and washed the pans

I feel happy. I improved my situation today by getting this stuff done.

Tomorrow I am free til noon and then I have 2 appointments, then maybe an hour at home before going in to work for 3 or so hours. I am OFF on Friday (staying home) and Saturday.Work a half day Sunday, half day Monday, 2 hours Tuesday and a few hours Thursday but OFF Weds, Fri, Sat. I am carving out time for myself.

See you tomorrow.

Lila - nothing stays clean.

I used to have a friend who had four kids very close together. Her mom would come to visit, and watch the kids for a day, and the mom would dress the kids all in the same color from the skin out, and do all the laundry in the house. Then, right before my friend came home, she would stick all four kids in the bath and do the last load of laundry - so that when my friend got home, there would be NO dirty clothes in the house.

Dinner was zucchini, yellow squash, and two colors of carrots chopped up and sautéed in butter and garlic with black pepper and salt - served over pasta. Sometimes I add oregano, but the yellow carrots were sort of spicy. Onion is also an option.

Dh was pleased with me when he got home. 😊 he noticed that the house was a little better and appreciated having dinner ready.

Ok, it's 8:00! Off to do my evening routine - see you all tomorrow!

oops, I meant teen left the dishes in the sink. But, then did put them in the dishwasher when told.

Nice work on your goals, SubC! I want to hear about your garden-born dinner! I have a lot of produce I need to use up, so maybe I will get some ideas.

The one thing that bothered me today is as soon as I got the sink cleared out, teen came up to "cook" and I told them, you HAVE to put the dishes in the dishwasher when you're done, and don't leave a mess. But no. About 8 dishes in the dishwasher and a few utensils dirty on the counter... I did get teen to come back and put most of it in the dishwasher. I wish things could stay clean for one day.

I went downstairs and helped teen sort laundry and put in a load. I ordered some stuff to be delivered that we need (toiletries, a few groceries, cat food) because of my covid exposure and not going out yet, and If I am being honest, laziness. It will arrive soon.

I used up the almost empty bottle of windex on the windows and one glass tabletop.

I went back in the den and sorted the last bit and got one more paper. All done!

I sorted some produce that had some bad areas and washed the good, savable parts.

There is still so much to do, but I am glad I got this much done.

Lol Lila!

Tag - you're it!

I also feel like we are working together.

The good food is back in the freezer (I need to make a plan to use some of it soon)

The chickens will be getting four pints of rhubarb and two pounds of tofu - not too bad. The tofu was actually free and at it's expiration date when I froze it.

My kitchen sink is good, but my scullery sink is awful. That is not a job for today though - my three goals for today were to do that freezer, worm the buck - both done, and cook dinner from my garden (coming up soon)

I'm trying to shell a few drying beans before I start.

Wow SubC! You are doing great and it is very motivating for me to hear it, like we are working together! Ohhh I hate going through the freezer and getting rid of old things, but then it feels so good once it is done.

I hate to admit this, but I have had a sinkful (well, both sides of the double sink) of dirty dishes for... a couple weeks. It is all stuff that can't go in the dishwasher. I have kept up the dishwasher but not the hand wash stuff. And it got gross, even though at least every few days I loaded the dishwasher and rinsed out the sinks.

Well just now I washed like 5 cookie sheets, blender parts, and a bunch of plasticware that can't go in the dishwasher! I am so proud of myself, I even washed out the sinks and the drains! I have a big pile on towels air drying now. Then I notced 4 frying pans on the toaster oven to wash, so I put them in the sink, sprayed them with dawn powerwash, and will wash them as soon as the other ones are dry so I can put them away and have space.

Also had my son take out the trash.

Will continue...

Yay Lila!

I am very proud of you for working on the den!
Won't it feel good if you get it all done today?

I have been working very hard.

I attacked a pile in the scullery to see if there was anything else to go out to my studio.

I found a partly completed project tgat I am never going to finish and put it in the trash can!

I also found a bucket full of teacher gifts. Things were so stressful at the end of the year that I forgot all about them completely. I reread and bravely recycled the cards, put some things away, ate two pieces of candy, put one thing that is just not me in the donate pile, and set two tea towels on my dryer to wash before using (I have a bleach load running)

Note: the tea towels are the only things on my dryer!

I emptied the chest freezer into coolers, got the gaur dryer from my studio (place where it is most often used) and melted all the ice out (not a frost free freezer - used to do this once a year, haven't done it since pre covid.)

I wiped out the inside of the freezer and plugged it back in.

Now it is time to be brave and refill it with only things that we will actually eat that have been in there less than 3 years. (Dated 2020 or later depending on substance - caramel syrup for example keeps a really long time, bread not so much.)

back again,

My August is almost planned out. I have to find out about a couple of appointments, but am marking days OFF where I can just be home... even if I do have to do some work from home. But I am trying to make every Friday a day with zero work, and Saturday too.

Good job making appointments, SubC. And getting things done, too. I like that balls in the air picture. I am thinking about which bounce now. I have some shattery ones I am throwing in the air too much... I also look at the square with the Important and Urgent quadrants to help me decide what to do next.

In fact, the 'checking through the den' became the most Urgent AND Important thing, so I spent over an hour in there this morning and went through like 8 tubs of paper and found the ones with my name or my kids names that I need to have, and a few other papers. Just a very small stack under an inch, but things I need. There is one or two more tubs I need to look through later today and then it will be done. I also put empty boxes in there, moved his books in there, and took the smaller bookshelf out of there because I want to keep it. He can keep the bigger one. If he makes a big deal about it he can have both, I don't care that much.

Now I need to eat something.Then will figure out the next Urgent AND Important thing. However, cleaning the kitchen is pretty important but never seems urgent to me... so, I really should do that as well.

Welcome to the next act of the subc and Lila show!

I hope acorn has a light case and is better quickly! Usually babies don't have it too badly, so I will cross my fingers that that holds.

Good job making use of your cool weather!

My car is at the shop and is unfortunately racking up a hefty bill. I have to have a safe car to drive Bean though. (I have personally found myself on the side of the road more than once, or twice, but never with a child.)

I weeded a little in the garden and cut some basil (lemon and licorice) and filled the dehydrator. I've also cleaned off the bathroom counter and washed it. There is still too much on the counter, but it is clean and neat.

In a minute I will go top up water for the critters and carry some things out to the "go to school" pile in my studio.

I haven't found a trash or a donate item yet today, but I still have time.

post 2 today -

SubC, I did not even get to look through the den but since he is coming SOON I will do it this morning, and make sure I got anything I need. I also have some boxes I will put in there for him to use as he moves things out. My dream is that he will come with a moving van or a trailer, but it is more likely he is going to just take a couple things. I don't think he has a permanent place yet.

I hope to sit down and talk with him about getting legal paperwork filed. I am willing to give him, say, 2 or 3 months to get things out. I don't know if he would agree to that... we'll see. There is a terrible, ratty couch he brought here from across the country when we got married and I hate it. One of our pets actually died on that couch and I always think of that when I see it. I want it GONE but he has never let me do that. He needs to take it. Also remember the old, beat up recliner I put on the curb months ago because it was the old dog's recliner, smelled like dog, and has actual holes in it a foot wide?? Guess what, it is in his den in pieces. He has got to take that with him too. I will talk to him about it.

Teen is about as angry as usual, intermittantly, and says they never want to speak to Dad again. As far as I know, ex has not reached out or spoken to them at all since he left. He has not spoken to me, either. Just email or text. But not even that with teen. He is a jerk to do that to teen.

I am so happy you have Bean. I will smile about that as I miss my Tot.

I will come back and respond to the other posts and let you know what I am doing after I go do some things!

Gee, it's been the SubC and Lila show around here lately... come back everyone else! SubC, thank you for coming and posting... I need the company.

My rest days have not been so restful, but I am working on my attitude. Teen is angry and this morning was running around slamming windows so hard I thought they might break. I did say something about it but then they just went and slammed doors too. It is exhausting, but now they went back to bed so I have peace. Also, Acorn has covid and I am beside myself with worry. And missing my little grands. I guess I won't see them for a week or so. I had them over last week so I stayed home yesterday and today working from home. I have a zoom meeting tonight, and tomorrow I have a class I lead but I will take a covid test before I go. I think the Tots were exposed Saturday and I saw them Friday but I am being careful.

Today so far:
did some reading on the porch
took pizza boxes out to the trash
pulled a few weeds
watered the flowers
went through my car and took out all the trash, brought in things that needed to come in, and made a stack to take in to work when I go back.

All of this was stuff it has been too hot to do but it was cool this morning.

The table and counter are piled up and the kitchen is bad but I am going to clean it today.

What are you up to?

I have a load in the washing machine and a load in the dryer and all the clean, dry laundry is put away.

I picked up the winter blanket from the floor in the corner of my room and folded it and put it away on a shelf - I managed to make space on the shelf!

I was listening to a podcast while I was putting away laundry and the podcaster said "you can't keep all the balls in the air all the time. The trick is knowing which balls bounce and which balls shatter."

Today I feel like I am doing ok with not shattering any balls. I'm trying to do things that will make my environment more functional, my body healthier, and tomorrow easier. I definitely bounced eating today though. (Sometimes - ever since my kids were little - I go through the day chanting "food, clothing, shelter" in my head - trying to be sure I hit at least the minimum in all three areas.)

It's a little bit lonely here.

Here are things I did today that were hard:
Made a dr apt for me.
Made a service apt for my car
Left a message with the fence guy.

Did not eat all of the remaining chocolate cake.

All the new stuff that has come into the house today is produce. I am working on the produce.

I put away two pints of dehydrated spicy beans.
I labelled them.
I cleaned the dehydrator and left it ready to use.

I took out the compost. I made two quarts of lemon basil tea and decided I don't like it very much, so I won't make it again, (unless Dh surprises me by liking it) but I will drink what I made. I ran the dishwasher. I did some laundry and I am going to try to see if I can get all the clean put away before bed time.

I put a thing in the landfill bag and a thing in the donate pile.

Good morning again.

Lila, do you have august all planned out?

I got a bunch of beans into the dehydrator last night, but I didn't meet my getting to bed goal.

I didn't find anything in the house to get rid of yesterday, and my Dd1 brought me a bag of razor blades that she tried and doesn't like (the part of the bag she didn't use) plus the handle.

I did drop off the plastic bag recycling while I was out getting Bean.

I'm going to try to work outside as much as possible today. The garden still needs a lot of work and so does the barn. If I get too hot I may try to do something in the basement.

Good morning!

Lila, 12 hours is a long day! I'm glad you're blocking out time for yourself.

I hope you got a good look through the den and found what you need.

Does the ex have a new place so that he can actually take all of his stuff? I'm wondering if you will have to put a deadline in your legal agreement so you have a date when you can just toss whatever is left.

How is teen doing with all of this?

Today is a Bean day. I pick him up early because his mama is working on a site today.

I am working on an evening routine - but last night I started at 8 and with chores, dishes, and start a load of laundry, I did not get done before 9:30. I will keep working on it.

Hello to Tatoulia, CM, Becky, May May, and Road!

Road, I miss you - hope everything is ok!

Yesterday I worked 12 hours. Then had to get up early and work 4 more. Now I am home and exhausted and going NO WHERE else today. Tomorrow I work a few hours in the afternoon, but can rest in the morning, so I have this whole evening and tomorrow morning to relax, clean or organize, whatever. Right now I am eating cookies and watching mindless tv because I am too tired to do anything else.

I love the work I do, but I need a break. A big break. So today, last day of July, I am going to map out my August. I want to take at least 3 days off each week, and pick one week where I do nothing at all work related unless there is a crisis call. This means I have to work hard this week so I can be caught up. But, I am taking Weds and Friday off this week to just be home.

My ex is coming here in a few days to get some of his things. I would like to make sure there is nothing in his den I need (paperwork) because he could take it all. So, I will go in and look through one last time and pull any paperwork I may need later. It is all hoarded up so almost impossible to find, but, if he takes things I know I will never see them again.

How are you all today?

Can't find the stuff. Way past diminishing returns. Done for the day!

My second 50lb feed bag is half full.

Some of it I could wash and recycle, but the time investment is too high.

I'm just going to keep trying to ask myself "what will happen to this when I am done with it?" And "will this use make this trash?" And "don't buy plastic (where practical)."

Good afternoon!

I was hoping someone would have been by, but here is my update - I did not get out to the studio until ten. From ten to noon I sorted pretty efficiently. From noon to one I moved things to the locations where they belonged - including washing off a few things, at one, I remembered that the original point of this exercise was to find some stuff I am missing and that I had not addressed any of the areas where it might be hiding. I then shuffled things around I effectively for 20 minutes until I realized I should stop and eat lunch.

So now I have had lunch and a bit of a rest. Besides putting things in better locations, I have a 50lb feed bag full for the landfill, a box partly filled with mixed recycling, a box of stuff to go to school, and a new item to donate.

I am going to go back out and focus on finding my missing stuff.

Today I brought home a candle and a key - neither of which I can explain without a long tangent related to my sad thread, but I need them, and found a small gadget in my kitchen that can go.

I am pretty wiped out at the moment, but tomorrow I am going to put my key on a chain around my neck for strength and go attack my home studio.

That is a cool website SubC, thanks!!

Grandbabies are the best! We had a great time for 4 or 5 hours and then I took her home for a bit. They are all coming back for dinner soon. My table is covered with stuff being sorted so we will eat in the living room.

This morning I got things done:
took trash cans to the road
put branches in the compost can
made a couple of medical appointments
Talked to a couple friends on the phone
prepped some cilantro for a dish teen wants to make
cleaned off the stove and 1 counter
emptied the ex's kitchen shelf - I will use it for food items I only use once in a while
called about prescriptions and stuff like that

Then had Tot over and played and hung out and stuff.

I am tired now, and after dinner will chill. I need to sort prescriptions... again.

Lila, you might be able to plant a few fall vegetables in a pot now. If you go to
https://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates
And type in your zip code it will tell you your first frost date and I will tell you what you can plant.

It makes me smile tgat we are both having grandbaby dats.

Bean is 2 now, so I got out some new toys and he has been having a blast. We also made "hot bread" and a "cake for papa". The potatoes were not as exciting as I had hoped, but he had fun in the garden with his rake. Now he is napping. I should be prepping some beans for the dehydrator, but "Grammie lazy" as he says when I don't want to do something.

hello all,

SubC, you are getting stuff done. I envy your gardening. When I lived in the country, we planted and always had plenty of fresh food. I don't like living in the suburbs, where I am now... not much room to garden, BUT, in all honesty, it is more of a time/energy issue. Maybe in the spring when it is time to get ready to plant, you can remind me, and I could try to plant a few things next year. It would make me happy.

Yesterday I worked alllll day and by 5 I was feeling rather unwell, like I was at the end of my energy, but I had a program I am in charge of from 6 to 9. I thought about bailing on it but I knew I needed to be there, so I stayed, and I am so glad I did. It was wonderful and I felt so good when I got home, although ready to fall into bed. But then teen was having a crisis and I stayed up until 1:00 am with them, but I'm glad I did.

This morning I feel a LOT better. Slept in, had a bagel and am drinking iced coffee.

Going to pick up Tot. Back to report in later!

My storage rack has bins, not bibs.

I dropped off a bag of garbage and four bags of recycling.

I threw five worn out molds from my classroom into the dumpster.

I have more molds I want to get rid of because the kids don't use them, but they are still good and I don't know what to do with them.

One of my shelves apparently was glued to the floor with floor wax four years ago when they redid my floor. I tried to move it today. Now the shelf is broken and there is a piece of particle board shelving stuck to the floor. This is a problem. I sent a note to the building manager.

I am very tired. Just put Bean to bed. Tomorrow we will dig potatoes.

Hello again!

A storage rack with bibs is in my car to go to my classroom.

Recycling is in the car.

Bean's car seat is in the car (it had to be washed, dsil is going to reassemble and reinstall it when I pick Bean up.)

Chores are done.

I pulled some weeds in the garden, and I am going to go tie up a couple of tomatoes and plant a few fall veggies.

Good morning!

Lila, I'm sorry about your car! Sounds like you took the whole qtoz trip too.

Dh said the potato salad was good.

Today I am going in to my classroom. I will have sil call me when Bean gets up from his nap, and I will go pick him up and bring him home to spend the night.

I have a little time at home first - I will let you know what I get done.

Road - how are you? I hope you are just wrapped up in doing fun stuff with your son!

Hi May May, Becky if you are still here, CM, and Tatoulia!

SubC it always takes sooo much more work than we think, or than other people expect! It is never JUST do xyz. It is always do qrstuvwxyz and then some. I am glad you got so much done! And I hope it was yummy.

And my day was rough,some good, some bad. I got pretty much nothing done on my prior list because after I was happily visiting friends and about to come home in the early afternoon, my car stopped working. I spent some miserable hours getting it to a shop, having them tell me it's the battery but blah blah we dont have it and blah blah they don't even make that one anymore and blah blah you will have to pay this amount ("but it's under warranty!") yada yada, some back in a few days when we can order a good one, or let us install this weaker, crappier battery for $80. NO.

After an hour of that I got them to jump my car and I drove to a different place, which was packed with people but had the battery. I stayed there and waited a loong time but they did replace it FOR FREE because of the warranty, so worth it.

But I got home after 7 and am hot and exhausted.

I finished all the potato salad related things.

Yes, that is the speed at which I am moving.

I made potato salad.

This required many steps:

Realizing something smelled bad in the kitchen
Finding the bag of potatoes Dh bought some time before vacation and never used.
Sorting the potatoes into compost, wash and use now and wash and store.

Searching for the potato salad recipe, which involved:
Moving/cleaning up the pile of stuff in front of the cookbook shelf
Sweeping around the cookbook shelf
Rummaging through cookbooks and finding a 16 y.o. School telephone directory and some printed out recipes to recycle and one cookbook to get rid of
Not finding the potato salad recipe

Peeling and cooking potatoes

Waiting for the rain to ease up enough to go pick carrots
Washing, peeling, and grating carrots.

Peeling and chopping hardboiled eggs (cooked yesterday)

Chopping up tiny garden onions that are too small to cure and store.

Mixing all the ingredients together with spices

Trying to find space in the fridge - moving things around and removing an adjustable shelf that needs to be washed.

Next steps are:
washing the adjustable shelf
Taking egg shells to the chickens
Taking carrot tops to the rabbit
Taking compost to the compost bin.

I also cleaned out one drawer of my desk today and found a few bits of paper to recycle and a pencil case to get rid of.

hi guys, hows it going today? Please post what you are doing, or what you want to be doing, or your goals.

Today is my day "off," sort of, meaning, no meetings. I am getting together with a couple of friends for lunch, and afterwards might go visit a couple of elderly friends as well. Aside from that, I am home, doing as I please, which may include a small amount of enjoyable 'work' stuff.

I will be working on the kitchen and bar area, getting 2 more clothing returns ready, and just puttering around doing small tasks. I have to call for appointments and such, too. I find this kind of day most enjoyable!

Will be back with an update on what I get done, and I hope some of you 'drive by' and share your day!