Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Jess :)
Way To Go! :)
For sticking with routines and also getting things (big or little) accomplished.
Yea! for bees! :D
What a nice hobby.

Hi Roxie "clink" :)
Fantastic! getting the books ready for donation! :D
So sorry to hear about that infection. :(
Rest and recuperation are your priorities. (((HUGS)))

Hi Critical Mass :)
I open another window/tab and switch back and forth between them in order to reread and address everyone individually.
No way could I remember it all otherwise. ;)
When we have too many decisions to make at one time, we get burned out on the process and start "churning",removing items from one box and just putting them into another box to decide on later.
This is when it helps to have a trusted friend there to help talk us through the decision making process.
But since most all of this sorting out is being done all by ones self, we tend to get bogged down and just "churn" after a while.
A good way to combat churning is to stop, step back, take a breather, drink some water and breathe.
Tell yourself that now you only need to pick up one item to make the decision about.
After making that one decision walk away from the project.
Return to sorting after a while and make only one more decision about an object.
Repeat this procedure as needed...
This will help you get unstuck and help you keep a more positive attitude about this task at hand rather than really dreading it. (((hugs))) :)


Today is going to be over 100 degrees here but this morning is cool and would be very quiet except for all the birds. :)
The air is full of wildfire smoke so the sunlight has a deep yellow tint to it.
I am taking the day off from doing any chores, all caught up on the important stuff.
Thinking about getting out the sewing machine and having some fun. :)

TTYL :D

Hi all,

I'm moving slowly in this heat. Haven't gotten into the van part of that project since I have to deal with the things I brought in such as papers. I'm very good at overestimating how much stuff I can go through in a reasonable time. At least now I recognize that.

The nitpicky indecisive side of me comes out a lot and I catch myself doing the "shuffle" - I'm sure you know what I mean. Pick up an item out of a box of "miscellaneous" and stare at it then shuffle it in with a different bunch of "miscellaneous." I know it's not the way to get much of anything done.

During the move, I had these times of mental clarity now and then (amid the other times of stress and brain freeze but we'll not go there). In the clarity times I could blow through a bunch of stuff and decide to get rid of things with a great sense of conviction, even relief. Take no prisoners and all that. Such a rush, felt so righteous.

But I know. Things wax and wane, and one must keep plugging away no matter what. I have done a few little things. I will do more.

The great news is that tomorrow the heat where I live dials back from upper 90s to upper 80s for a few days. I plan to take advantage of this. It still won't be as cool as I'd prefer but I'm in hopes it'll allow me to do the placing of shelves in the storage unit (which necessitates getting lots of stuff out where the shelves are going to go, ideally purging in the process).

I realize some of what I've written above vacillates between the genuine desire to get rid of junk and have order in my life, and my tendency to wimp out when conditions are less than ideal. My awareness of my hangups is better, though, and I'm not going to abandon the struggle and by stubborn tenacity, I'm going to get it to where someday there won't BE a struggle. At least not in the area of clutter! I may still have ADD and OCD, but I'll be able to cope with them better. And surely I'll have less depression in a clean, pleasant environment and with new habits to go with it.

BIG HUGS to all of you fighting this battle! I'm going to have to start jotting down notes before I post, because I want to respond to things posted, like the bees and the gardening, etc. but by the time I get on this screen I forget who had what! LOL! Bear with me, and know I'm happy for all your successes. :) And so glad to have others to connect with. Y'all are a blessing.

Hey everybody! As always, thanks for the encouragement :)

I'm feeling pretty good today and trying to jump start some positivity into my life. Stuck to my morning routine and took care of a few little things I've been meaning to get to.

Today I will be doing some yard work! A dirty garden glove high five to Tillie! Yesterday I painted some new beehive boxes that we will be adding. Our little colony is growing like crazy. I'm loving the beekeeping hobby and am proud to say I've kept our supplies neatly organized and under control.

CM, great job on the vehicle project! It's going to feel so good to clear that out and get the weight off your mind too! Woo hoo!

Good Morning :)

Hi Critical Mass :)
Thank you.
Way To Go! for what you accomplished! :D
Good luck with the rest of that project.
I sure do understand just how bad decluttering can really mess up other areas & make a bigger mess while we are doing it. ;)

Been up since 3:30am today.
Have been trying to get things done around here that I had to put off since March due to his health issues.
Almost have my To-Do list completed. YEA! me. :D
The usual daily stuff needs more attention but the most important stuff has been getting done.
This morning I got plant food on the garden & grass and am doing the watering before it gets too hot outside.

Oh Well, back to the yard work...

:)

Hi Tillie,

Another thing you might try for spiders in the areas where you can access is Diatomaceous Earth (food grade). It's a fine powder and when bugs and spiders walk through it it damages their exoskeletons. It can be a bit messy but you only need to put down a fine layer for it to work. I used a cloth to do so when some of the pets got fleas, to kill any loose fleas.

Well, I went out to the van and did some good, but boy, it's hot out there and windy, and I had to stop sooner than I had hoped. I'm sure you all can relate to the problem of when you pull out stuff and then it creates a logjam downstream so to speak. If I'd tried to do more in the van, I would've had a huge bunch of stuff to bring inside to deal with. As it is, I still hope I didn't bring in too many items at once. I got a grocery sack's worth to the trash, and cleaned some items with Windex that were dusty. Still need to decide what goes in what as far as my bags. I have a backpack that's my "essentials" and auxiliary bags for things like my quilting group, Bible study, artwork etc. Probably just enough time to fiddle with those before I have to move the van back out onto the street so my roomie can park in the drive.

HELLO PEEPS! :D

Hi LR2014 :)
WTG! for tackling that paperwork! :D
Hope you find some fun R&R soon. (((hugs)))

Hi Critical Mass :)
Wishing you GOOD LUCK! :D


Got up early this morning, went outside and washed the window screens, hosed off house walls, washed the windows and hosed off the porch and walkway.
Then I sprayed "Bug Barrier" all around the foundation, windows & doors.
Then I sprayed areas inside the house too.
This product is specially made to spray inside and outside the home and is safe for pets once it has dried.
So tired of getting bitten! Have a bad spider bite on my leg right now and it is also causing me abdominal issues & discomfort, probably a black widow. :(
Something has also bitten me several times on my back.
I can't reach all the windows because of all his hoard blocking the access.
This house has only seven windows and I washed Three inside & out and two others only on the inside.
The two windows in his bedroom are totally blocked off inside & out.
Spiders really love living & multiplying in hoarded places. :(

Lots of wildfires started yesterday around here.
Please, please, please stay safe. :)

Well, decided yesterday that I really need to deal with the front seats of my van since the move. The goal is to 1) be able to have a passenger in that seat if I want or need to, and 2) just plain DEAL with all that clutter. The front seat, as some of you may know, tends to attract the stuff that you don't want to lose track of but are reluctant to bring inside just yet - because you are still dealing with inside stuff . . . eek!

Wish it weren't so hot outside but my roommate said A-OK to park in the shaded driveway while she's at work. Right now I'm feeling hungry so I'll have lunch then brave the heat. It's windy today also, which is both a help (cools things a bit) and a potential hindrance (blows papers around). But I've assessed the situation so I know what I'm dealing with.

Wish me luck!

Hi to Tillie, Tatoulia, Roxie, Sis (a.k.a. Diane), CM, Jess, Karl, bitsy, Dave, Oodles, Susan L, lex, and the rest of our "gang."

Most of the things I've done the past few days have been related to paperwork; am working on the very slow process of getting caught up on some of that. Tillie, I'm (at least in theory) hearing your message about the importance of fun and recreation. I feel a strong need for that right now.

More rain here today. I'm not complaining. It's much cooler here than it usually is this time of year!

Roxie, sorry you've had to be back in the hospital. Hugs as you recuperate.

Happy summer, everyone!

Thanks Tillie, yes, dogs are wonderful, and to be paid to play with them is great.
Today I got up and washed my body, hair and ALL of the dirty dishes. Went to work, said my intentions are to make the patients as comfortable as possible but when stress is so great in the OR, it is not worth it. Will discuss more, tomorrow at work. I feel I can let go graciously with no blame.
Went to the store after work and got smoothie supplies and just drank a delicious drink. So nice I washed the 3 smoothie blender containers this morning, and had room on counter to make a smoothie. Feel so much better with cleaner kitchen
thnks

Thanks Tillie, yes, dogs are wonderful, and to be paid to play with them is great.
Today I got up and washed my body, hair and ALL of the dirty dishes. Went to work, said my intentions are to make the patients as comfortable as possible but when stress is so great in the OR, it is not worth it. Will discuss more, tomorrow at work. I feel I can let go graciously with no blame.
Went to the store after work and got smoothie supplies and just drank a delicious drink. So nice I washed the 3 smoothie blender containers this morning, and had room on counter to make a smoothie. Feel so much better with cleaner kitchen
thnks

Hi, could post lots more but time's zooming by so for now I'll just report that this afternoon I go to my 2nd monthly meeting of local support group for clutter/hoarding. Looking forward to it! :)

Good Evening :)

Thanks Jess :)

Hi Oodles :)
Hoping everything turns out alright for you and your daughter.
Such a busy work schedule too. :(
Remember to eat, rest and sleep so you don't wear yourself out and get sick. (((hugs)))

Hello Diane :)
Wonderful to hear from you!
Sounds like you have been having lots of fun with the rocks.
Happy to hear you have been dog sitting too.
Yes, negative people really can wear a person down.
Missed you...(((hugs)))

LR2014 :)
Hope you are safe from the predicted storms down your way.


Got up with the sun again today and went outside and did more work in my yard.
Got the front porch and walkways all cleaned & swept.
Looks pretty out there now. :)
Then I went to the house I am baby sitting and did some stuff over there.
Came home and swept the floors & vacuumed the carpet. Really needed it because I sort of trashed it walking through with my garden mud covered sandals on yesterday.
Did two loads of laundry then washed my hair.
Feels so good to be clean again after working outside.
Planning to take the rest of this week off. :)

My rattlesnake bit dog friend is eating her food.
She is sleeping almost constantly from the drugs, which is good.
Antivenin, laser treatments for the necrotic tissue, antibiotics and other meds to maintain her.
Prognosis is good. :D

TTYL :)

Miss you, finally got on to read and saw board only had one page, saved me lots of time!!! Tillie, Roxie and LR, so great reading your posts since I feel like you are my sisters. As you may remember, I basically gave up on myself a few months ago. While finally cleaning the filthy bathroom today, I knew I needed to start chatting with you again. I ha ve been obsessed with sorting rocks, learning how to cut rocks, chip obsidian etc. Basically ignoring all self care. I am about ready to quit the job I have on Thursdays, it is just too dang stressful for this old lady, and this week have to work tomorrow too. Difficult to be around negative people that hate their life. I have been so happy playing with rocks, enjoying my yard, dog sitting, really stands out when around negativity. Happy you are all here hanging in

Stuck on suitcase decision 2 days now. The TSA broke the zippers. I put it in throw pile. Got emotional took it out. $250.00 suitcase (assigned a value) thought "I can fix it". The part that you attach a new pull to is busted off leaning towards throw but, got interrupted by my Adult Cog Impaired daughter need to take her to ER again for a long stay at hospital after 9.5 hours of work. Will still try a 15 min stint when I get home maybe cloths or dishes. Need to be up at 4 am to work a 10 hr day tomorrow.

I hope Monkey will be okay! Poor pup.

Good Morning Everybody! :D
Still morning here in northern Nevada.

Hi Roxie :) "clink"
Wish there were people I could have over often but he is such a mean, nasty, argumentative and negative person that people don't want to be around him very much. :(

Hi Jess :)
Great to hear from you! :D
WAY TO GO!!! for getting started on the kitchen, laundry and that business phone call! :D
Keeping your daily "To-Do" list simple, with tasks that you know you can achieve is a great way to go.
When there is a big task to tackle, try breaking the steps down into more easily accomplished pieces and doing it in nibbles.
Remember that baby steps will get it done. (((hugs)))

Got up at sunrise today and got outside.
Got my main flower/herb garden all weeded, thinned and sorted out.
Now I can easily see the plants! :D
Hollyhocks started to bloom yesterday, a pale pink one and a red one. :)
Honeysuckle is completely loaded with blooms and it smells like heaven out there.
Have a bumper crop of cat mint(catnip) this year so had to pull a LOT of that out in spite of all the cats screaming "NO!!!!"

Special request....
There is a dog that I am very fond of.
Yesterday she was bitten on the face by a rattle snake.
She is being treated in the emergency veterinary clinic.
Please think good thoughts for Monkey. :(
Thank you.

Hello, here to check in. I've been absent a little while.

I broke down last night and emailed my therapist that I want to reopen the discussion about taking medication for my OCD. I'm still scared but I feel it might be time.

My best friend's mother passed away very suddenly so I've been out of town a lot seeing my friend. I'm back now though, and trying to get myself together. I cleaned up the kitchen a bit and threw in a load of laundry. Called the vet about a billing issue.

I want to try to isolate a couple other realistic things I can get done today. My overall list is pretty intimidating.

Good to see you all again :)

Hi People! :D

Been enjoying the day today. :)
Did some gardening, did some cooking, cleaned the kitchen and gave myself a pedicure.
Soon, I will be going outside again to do some more gardening after it cools off a bit. :)

WAY TO GO!!!! SusanL! :D
Thanks so much for this positive & uplifting update! :)

HI Oodles :)
FANTASTIC progress!, well done!, WAY TO GO! :D
Hope you are feeling better real soon. (((hugs)))

4:45pm here now. It will be cool enough out there to pull some more weeds in the shady areas.
TTYL :)

Today,doing yard work. Had so much rain I have a jungle out there. Also cleaned crud from my stove grates & took garbage out from treasure hunt last night. Throwing it out was hard. Goal is to get a sorting table established. Feeling I have to re-do the room paint,carpet, hang new door. (I don't) Just the sorting table is enough. Hope all are doing well today :> My bonus will be to get one small surface cleaned off.

Hmmm must have double-clicked did not do it in the test. Have a good evening everyone!

Test - It appears my message posted twice?

Hello Everyone (You can do it!)
Me? Rough start today. Instead of working in my living space, I ventured to my daughters old bedroom. I threw a garbage bag full away. Then I got distracted. I went into the bathroom (she broke the toilet handle) I was able to get the toilet to flush. Do I go back and focus? No I start watching youtube videos on how to replace the toilet handle & the door. Also assess the costs to replace vinyl. Anxiety & distraction is huge. I only have the weekends. I worked 90 hours this week. I am ill and slept earlier. Up & trying to accomplish something.

Hello Everyone (You can do it!)
Me? Rough start today. Instead of working in my living space, I ventured to my daughters old bedroom. I threw a garbage bag full away. Then I got distracted. I went into the bathroom (she broke the toilet handle) I was able to get the toilet to flush. Do I go back and focus? No I start watching youtube videos on how to replace the toilet handle & the door. Also assess the costs to replace vinyl. Anxiety & distraction is huge. I only have the weekends. I worked 90 hours this week. I am ill and slept earlier. Up & trying to accomplish something.

Hi Roxie and everybody. I remember how concerned I felt when Roxie wasn't posting. And now I wonder what Dave is up to. I still read here often. So few people have any understanding of hoarding, ADD, OCD, or depression; especially when it is combined with aging and health issues. Reading how you all are doing helps me feel so not alone in my struggles. My progress? Infinitesimal. (yes, that's the right word but I had to stop and look up the spelling because it just didn't look right) a compulsion I guess. I am already side-tracked from paying bills today. only about 92 degrees and very humid. And get hotter thru at least Monday. .back to my bills O. today is my daughter's birthday. She is 49. impossible! life seems to go at the speed of light these days! (too many exclamation points!... Self-criticism.)

Hi all, sounds like we've been getting lots of things done - yay! :)

Yesterday I finally started tackling the bedroom I am staying in (having moved in with a friend during May - what a month that was!). If you've ever moved in a hurry, you know how it can get all piled and cluttered in the new place very quickly. I've felt guilty for not tackling it sooner. But I think it took me awhile to be mentally able to. Today I feel I can tackle the other side of the room and if I do that, I should be able to get things put away neatly and have FLOOR instead of a precarious PATH to walk on in there!

Tillie, I can relate to the "microsorting" - I do that, LOL! :D I guess we anxious hoarder types just have a need. With me, that part is the OCD, I suppose - and I can get so absorbed in the detail. It's satisfying in a way, too, once it's done. Too bad it takes a lot of time - if it didn't slow a person down so much when there's a huge amount of other stuff to go through. Folks like me need a time machine we can step into to do those projects and then come back out when done and not be behind on the rest of it! Ha ha!

CM, nice to hear you were able to deal with a lot of "loose ends." Tillie and Roxie, thanks as always for the encouragement.

I got things off yesterday to a fairly good start in terms of my original plans: got laundry done. It wasn't until I read the message board this morning that I even remembered about the 2nd and 3rd goals I'd listed for yesterday. (Definitely didn't do the paperwork goal yesterday.) I know that one thing I did do yesterday was look for certain needed and temporarily-missing items of clothing. Ack! Today, while I have some extra time and space to myself to do some sorting, I'm going through my clothes and trying to get them in some (better) type of order.

Tillie, I am so happy to hear that "he" is actually getting rid of things! It seems like a miracle! It's great to hear about a truck carrying items "out" instead of truckloads coming "in." Yea!

Hugs to everyone.

Good Morning Everybody! :)

Hi LR2014 :)
Hope all your plans went smoothly and you got to have that wonderful feeling of "WTG! a job well done." :D

Hi CM :)
WAY TO GO!!! for all your accomplishments! :D
Hoping you do start swimming. That is one of the best exercises and feels good too. ;)

Hi Roxie :) "clink!"
Your cabin sounds like heaven on earth! :D

Was not home much yesterday.
Now that my services are no longer needed I am free to leave here for hours at a time. :)
Spent lots of time at neighbor friend's house that I am watching for them while they are away.
Filled their bird feeders, washed and refilled humming bird feeders and watered house plants (there are a lot).
Sorted out their mail, stuck it in a big envelope and took it to the post office.
While in town I made my rounds and reconnected with a few acquaintances.
The rains we had did a lot of flood damage to homes and businesses and roads & streets still have large lakes covering them.
After so many years of drought the ground has forgotten how to absorb moisture.
Today I am planning to attend a bizarre that the charity thrift shop that provides free food (no questions ever asked) to anyone in line is holding.
There will be booths set up featuring sellers of wonderful, unique and exotic products.
Sounds like fun. :D
I am enjoying my newfound freedom.
He is still off work. The surgeon won't release him until the last bit of incision has healed properly.
Meanwhile, he has been sorting though his hoard, tossing ruined things and loading up the truck with items he has decided he can live without to donate.
The process has been slow with a lot of "micro sorting" of tiny objects like screws and nails.
But he gets a WAY TO GO! for what he has accomplished. :D

Wishing you all a safe and fun weekend. (((hugs)))

Good afternoon or evening everyone . . .

Several people here who like to sew - so do I! I was a bit disappointed that today I didn't get to sew with my girlfriends as we do most Thursdays. Maybe next week.

I did accomplish some tasks, though - appointment making, calling to cancel my old cell phone, etc. Those "loose ends" that I tend to procrastinate. So I'm glad about that.

Weather where I am has been beastly hot but is supposed to change to rainy by tomorrow or the next day. Summer is not my favorite season and with moving and all the stress I feel like I missed out on spring. But maybe now I can keep another resolution and start going to the gym again - I do love to swim especially. So that's a goal, I guess, to actually make it to the gym, remember the items I need to bring with me (I'm a forgetful sort, so this is a stress trigger), and then the next goal will be to make it a regular thing.

Good morning. Roxie, I'm glad you had some pretty weather to enjoy yesterday. Iced tea clinks!

Tillie, thanks for the encouragement. I hope your hanging-out-the-clothes plan works and that you get more rain! Glad also that you yourself didn't have to make the drive to Reno this time!

Among my plans for the day today are (1) to work on laundry, (2) to spend at least 20 minutes on my bedroom area, and (3) to spend at least 20 minutes on organizing some paperwork.

Have a good day!

Good Morning Everybody! :)

Hi LR2014 :)
WAY TO GO!!!! :D
Looking forward to reading your update on that family home.
And WTG! for even the tiny bit accomplished in your room. Remember those tiny bits add up!:D

Hi Roxie :)
Happy you enjoyed the lovely day, YEA!!! :D
Nice change, accompanying Brother to his appointment this time. :)
Tea "clink!"

Yesterday was hot and stifling muggy here.
Then last night a thunderstorm rolled in.
Was wonderful laying in bed listening to the falling rain and thunder and watching the lightning flashes.
During the night we got almost a whole inch of rainfall!!! :D
More thunderstorms are predicted for today so to encourage them I have the clothes line all hung with freshly washed linens. ;)
Happy now that I did not wash the windows last week.
Today he is off to his doctor appointment in Reno. I stayed home.

:)

Tillie, I'm glad you got some sewing done! Can't say that I've played a lot, but I'll keep in mind that you've said to do so. I did just finish preparing a yummy pitcher of tea. It's not exactly "playing," but it is something I enjoy.

lex, it's nice to hear about a cleared off kitchen table!

I made a tiny bit of progress yesterday on my bedroom, but only a tiny bit. Much progress has been made on that "family home." I should have some extra-good news to report about that situation in a few weeks.

Hugs to all.

HI! Everyone :)

WAY TO GO!!!! Lex for cleaning off the table! :D

Spent today doing his laundry and sewing.
So far I have finished four different sewing projects I had to put off since March.
Have one more project to finish then I can start on starting new sewing projects.
I have the fabric and patterns already for making a few dresses and night gowns. :D
But tomorrow I have to wash dishes and should do some other things around here.
I hate always having to be the "grown up" cause I just want to play all day. :D

Hope you all had time to play today. :)

Hello everyone, hugs and hope everyone is well.
Tillie that is awesome! I love to sew :)
LR glad you got your car back and way to go on vaccuming!
I just finished cleaning off the kitchen table, I can actually see it now!! Also got some sweeping done. Now time to go to work sadly.
Have a great day everyone!!

You mean we can actually prevent problems before they get started, Tillie? What a concept!!

Yes, my vehicle is doing just fine now. I was able to use it to go out of town yesterday for a (happy) family event. And yes, I did finally get some good rest. Thanks for the well wishes.

Just got finished doing some vacuuming in one room and am getting ready to do some vacuuming and straightening up in my bedroom. I will probably also manage to squeeze in a little bit of fun this evening.

Hugs to everyone.

Remember how the board would get bogged down and very slow to load and scroll after we had posted so many posts in the thread?
Well, I decided to start this new thread after we had reached another 2000 posts to prevent the inconvenience.

So, please continue posting what you are doing today here.

(((HUGS))) :D