Good Evening Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Great idea/plan to weed and till the already established areas like you did with the garden!.
Trying to do the whole thing all at once is just too overwhelming.

What your Mom said is so true.
When things are good we just keep plowing along getting on with life.

WAY TO GO!
You sure did a LOT!
Get a good night's sleep and you did so much to set up tomorrow that it should all go smoothly. :D


Hi Tatoulia
Thank you. I accept Shirley (((HUG))) :D

That's really wonderful that you were able to work with your brother and had none of the past ugliness to deal with.
Best thing you could have done was to make this distance between you.

So, you can now be classified as a genuine "Bag Lady".
WAY TO GO! dealing with all those bags!

That art forgery lecture sounds very interesting.
What I learned was in oils it is the brush strokes that are very telling.

So glad you are feeling better.
That's what you needed, time out and some really good food.

Wonderful you got to be with Mom and Kitty Sister again ((((HUG))))

I watched a very few videos by people not even that close to the epicenter in Beirut and they are all just devastating.
I am not emotionally strong enough to see any more. :(

Looked at the thermometer this afternoon.
107F in the shade.
Still 90s at 7pm
Soon as I post this I will get outside and water my poor pathetic garden.

SubC I am mulling over your mother's statement and it reminds me of something that I read on Instagram today: you shouldn't be working this hard just to be broke, It's attributed to Dave Ramsey. Somehow I needed to hear both of these today.

It is miserably hot here. Really bad. The humidity is thick and I swear I can see it.

I stayed in all day, I had yoga at 12 and then I had an interesting lecture to attend on art fakes and forgeries. I enjoyed it quite a bit, it was put on by Skinner Auction House. I used to go to their gallery talks and previews down the street.

I am working on my bags. I have consignment bag, donation bag and bag for the lady I met at goodwill. I will see her on Saturday.

I got two big bags of trash out tonight. That was a good feeling. I'm rearranging some things as I edit out things. I am finding myself feeling much happier and less overwhelmed.

And I'm in charge off this happiness. Everything that goes out feels so good, it feels incredible.

Well I had to pick up a few things for my mom today and the woman waved me in so I snuck upstairs and saw her and the kitty. It did a lot to restore my mother's spirits and mine, too,

Saturday I was a wreck. Just lost and a wreck. Come nighttime my BF called me and asked if I was still up and dressed (I was). He needed to get something to eat and he wanted to get Chinese food. I assumed he was getting takeout as I don't actually eat Chinese. I didn't care one way or the other but as I went to meet hum at the corner, I saw that the restaurant in my block was open, serving dinner on the patio. it was a beautiful night, with a bit of a breeze. And the patio is a fixed patio meaning that they always have it and it's not some awkward thing they've put up to stay in business, I had a wedge salad and a skillet of corn bread and he ate a lot: burger and an appetizer. It restore me. It felt safe, it was dark out and not a lot of pedestrians, the tables were spaced out nicely. It was so comfortable. Then on Sunday I went to visit my same friend from a few weeks back and she'd gotten chicken salad with walnuts and cranberries for me. I used to eat that over a salad every single day at work, so that was pretty nice. So I ended up better at the end of the weekend than I went in.

The devastation of Beirut really hit home when one of BFs friends sent us her video of the initial fire. We could see how far away her apartment is and all of a sudden, she's thrown across the room and her windows were all blown out. Really hard to watch. I've met her as her son was going to school first in NYC and then in Canada.

SubC you are doing great! And I'm glad for the new truck. It is a workhouse and I'm sure it will serve you and your family well, hows the little bean???

Cm that is such a frustrating feeling to know what you need, only to have someone give you wrong information, Best Buy is a hard place to shop. I know they've decreased some of the loud booming noise in there but it's still loud and it's really hard to see in there. The colors are weird. We used to have a pact about staying together in Best Buy because it's just so overwhelming. Such a hard place to shop.

So I'm showered now and feeling good that I got to see mom and her cat. I didn't see BF today. Too hot and humid.

I'm continuing to fill my bags. I am grateful to be making these decisions, they feel good,

Since I do not anticipate going back to work anytime soon, I'm going to have to rethink where to put the printer. I don't like the aesthetics of it, I will consult with my artist friend.

Tillie I am sorry about your sister. I wouldn't begin to know how to feel. I feel sorry that she was mean and. Nash and. That she hurt you and that you didn't deserve that and I'm sorry you had to finally muster up the courage to protect yourself. And I'm glad that you did and also I'd love to be your sister, Shirley.

I talked to my brother last night for the first time in I don't know how long. Was it 2017? He was having trouble with his internet and trying to email back and forth was taking time so I asked for his number and called him, we stuck to basics about getting the internet back up. A few times I had to hang up to work on it. And I got it to work! So then before we hung up the final time he said, thank you for all you do for mom, that's really nice of you, sweetie. And that was it. We did not joke, we didn't chat, we were just a couple of adults trying to figure out his internet. I felt very lucky for that.

So, since I got home, I
Ate dinner
Started a load of wash
Picked squash and tomatoes
Unloaded and loaded the dishwasher and started it - made sure all the berry smooshing things were in it in case I want to pick and do more smooshing before jam tomorrow.
Decided to make ice cream even though the kitchen was not all the way cleaned up (more to go in dishwasher tomorrow)
- the ice cream is cooling so I can add vanilla -
Put laundry in the dryer, set aside hang things.

So, before I go to sleep, I need to:
add vanilla and put ice cream in jars to freeze tomorrow
Hang hanging things
Do chores
Set up coffee maker

I will get to bed a little later than I would like, but I think it is worth it.

Good afternoon.

Cats just don't think things through.

Had a goid couple of days with bean. I'm coming home earlier, so I'm getting done stuff done in the evening.

Yesterday I cooked and seeded the blackberries so I can make jam tomorrow, and then I hung out in the studio/shop and puttered while Dh fixed his brakes.

Tonight I plan to cook ice cream if I get the kitchen tidied up again first.

I have been thinking about centering, and about how even though my garden has had it's successes and failures and gotten away from me a bit this year, it is so much better than last year. And part of that I think came from making sure I had done a really good job on weeding, watering, and mulching all the things I had already planted before clearing and planting a new bed, rather than trying to clear the whole space and then not getting it planted, and weeds taking back over.....

So, I am going to maybe try that approach with my house and my commitments and see how that goes.

Hopefully, like the garden, I will be able to gradually claim more space (literal and Mental/Emotional/chronological) but at least it should help me learn what I can reasonably keep up with.

Sometimes my mom used to say "I have too much to say grace over." Meaning that while everything was good, it was taking so much time and energy she couldn't stop and be thankful for it.

Good Morning
Iced chai masala "Clink!"

Washed and hung out linens on the clothesline overnight.
Brought them all in this morning.
All folded and put away first thing when I woke up.

Going to be another hot hot hot day.
Still getting over the heat exhaustion from the cooler malfunctioning in July.

Plan to play with some beads and watch movies until sundown when I will go outside and water the garden.
My Honeysuckle looks terrible. No matter how much water I give it.
Just hoping now I can keep it alive enough and maybe it will recover some day.

Good Morning Everyone
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical
YEA!!!!
Fantastic new truck you've got there!
May you have many great years together.

WAY TO GO! cleaning the kitchen.
Just think what an awful mess it would be if you hadn't cleaned it up before you messed it up again. :D

That's the problem with kitchens.
They are always getting used and always needing attention.

Have a most wonderful day today (((HUG)))


Supposed to get over 100F today.
Found a teeny tiny bright orange grasshopper yesterday and gave it to Scooter.
He was thrilled to see it hopping around.
Then he ate it and was sad he didn't have it any more.
Can't wait until the cats and I can get more active outdoors.
Sitting inside, hiding from the heat is making us all flabby and fat and bored.

Coffee clinks!

Tillie, I'm sorry that the story of your sister is sad. I remember when my dad's father died, and he said "the funeral is () if you want to come, but don't come home for me, I'm fine." I think his wife was sad that none of his grandchildren were at his funeral. She was a nice lady. I think my dad only went for her.

CM, I hope the bunny turns around on his own quickly!

I cleaned the kitchen yesterday, but then I made food for us and to take to the kids, so it is messy again. Not as bad I think.

I also helped Dh pick up the new truck! It is a beast. Very pretty with no rust or dents. I told Dh I'm afraid to use it. He says that's silly, I should have been afraid to use the old one.

Bean day!

Hi Ya'll
Hot hot hot today and will be even hotter tomorrow. :(

Hi Subclinical
WOW! a new farm truck!
How nice to have something newer and more reliable. :D

I think icecream counts.
None of us others here do that. ;)

Good luck conquering the kitchen today.

Today I am just frittering around, wanting to find some direction and order to my days.
Too hot till sunset do get outside, nothing needing done inside, nobody just going to drop in to visit, no place I will be going.
Day after day after day.............


Hi CriticalMass
so very sorry Bunny has another tummy ache. :(
Wish you all could find something preventative to do for him to keep him happy hoppy.

My sister's horse always got colicky because he was eating things he wasn't supposed to eat.
He was stabled at a place where others were littering around the stalls. >:(

Speaking of my sisters...
my sister died. She was 2 1/2 years younger than me.
She was always very cruel to me and very hateful so I will not cry.

Sluggish...

Want more sleep than I'm getting, and wish the weather had remained cool.

Roommate's little bunny boy having another tummy episode. :( Why they pick nights and weekends I'll never know. Most likely he will manage without the vet; most of the time he does. But it's always an anxious and sad time until he shows signs of recovering.

Will update later. Roommate will get a bundle of cilantro which might tempt the little fellow to eat. I think I hear her car now.

Hi all,

Everybody has been very busy!

CM, gutters are another thing i don't have to do. You guys remind me how lucky I am!

I am finding that in my stay home days I am getting more and more tired and directionless. I asked Dh to give me a goal for today and he asked my to clean up the kitchen.

He has gone to look into buying a new truck. Our farm truck is getting unreliable and he found a really good deal on one. He called to confirm that everyone will be wearing mask and he can drive the truck alone.

The first week of August I finished two food preservations - cheese and beans (ice cream doesn't really count) but no lesson plans.

Today I am just going to try to keep my life small and domestic - step one, kitchen.

Hello Everyone

Hi Subclinical

Hi Tatoulia

Hi CriticalMass
YEA! sounds like that all worked out very well! :D

WAY TO GO! sorting out even more receipts!

That BBQ beef sandwich sounds so good.
Wish I could get the courage to go get some kind of take out.
Has nothing to do with rona virus, I'm just weird.

Yes, Autumn will get here some day in the near future.
Cooler days when we can get things done outdoors.

I think things will just continue along as they are right now.
Masks, distancing, people getting sick.
Maybe temporary closures but no more total shut downs of businesses because of the financial ramifications.
A lot of things will happen with in class schools though.

Got the item returned and a refund no problem.

My tablet was acting glitchy then I plugged it into a power bank which helped straighten it out. Then my old flash drive adapter I'd thought was dead even worked!

Been thinking soon I will buy a 10" tablet - the local computer store where I got my laptop has some that look good for a good price. Because this 7" Samsung one I got in 2014 and it may be getting long in the tooth.

So much computer/writing catching up to do. Days are never long enough and I frequently get sleepy in the afternoons. Wondering if I need a little iron in my diet. Think tomorrow I may go get a BBQ beef brisket sandwich from my favorite place.

Found a stash of a few more receipts and tossed those. Next week the big push to ready for the company then after they've come and gone really dig in on my terms and see about some serious purging.

Someday not so far off it'll be fall. Cool weather and a chance to get serious and deal at the storage unit, I hope. Will be checking what places accept donations. If the 'Rona doesn't worsen and shut things down again.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi CriticalMass
What a bummer the computer thingie wasn't right.
Hope getting the right thingie goes smoothly.

All the changing technology sucks.
At first if someone didn't have a computer they were screwed.
Now it's becoming almost impossible to function without a stupid phone.
Especially with the stupid covid19 restrictions.
You have to call from your car to get anything done.
I do not have a phone. I do not want a phone. I will never get a stupid phone.
I hate phones, always have, always will.

I have no plans for today. The cats all have lots of plans that involve me.

The details coming out about the Beirut explosion are sickening.
It was so irresponsible to store all that highly explosive "fertilizer" that way and in that location.

Welp. Have to make another trip to Best Buy to return the flash drive that a young chicky sold me not understanding what I really wanted.

The store was closing early at 6:00, having only recently begun letting customers in again, so I trusted her that it was an adapter for interchangeable different flash drives like I came for, not just a single additional flash drive. I have several of those. Good thing I checked it in the parking lot, though either way I couldn't go back inside. :P

Technology keeps changing faster than I can keep up with, and many of the ways it changes are not user friendly to my way of working. Sometimes I wonder whether if I live much longer I'll have to go back to pen and paper! I wouldn't even mind that if my handwriting could keep up with my thoughts. Plus revisions are easier with cut and paste on a computer, and not always needing to print out physical copies cuts down on clutter.

Well, if I get going now and come back, I might have time to rest a bit. Woke up tired and grouchy, could use a nap but if I take one I don't want to start too late.

Love to Tigger =^..^=

Good Evening Everyone

Hi Subclinical

Hi CriticalMass
Cleaning gutters and pulling vines is hard dirty work.
WAY TO GO! taking care of all that!

YEA! for tossing the old receipts!
Most receipts can be tossed soon as the account has been balanced.

Happy you are feeling more sociable and want to make some phone calls.
It's good to connect with your people (((HUG)))


Hi Tatoulia
YIPPEEEE!
You are doing great with your August challenge. :D

As long as Tigger is happy and not in pain I wish him many more days of taking naps and getting lovins.

I always wait until there are no more good days in their future.


Did diddly squat today.
Watered the garden.
Cleaned the kitchen sink faucet aerator. It gets clogged with hard water deposit gunk and the water doesn't flow very well.
Now it's working fine, soaked it in vinegar.

Great work getting rid of the old debit receipts, CM! It is so hard to get rid of papers. I'm proud of you!

I'm busily working on my bags. One of things to consign and one of things to donate. I cannot believe how my thoughts are changing on my possessions. They are changing. For the better. I have a lovely enamel tray I bought at the consignment shop years ago and it's on display in my kitchen. I'm ready to bid it farewell. Time to sell it back.

So tired. I've showered and I'm ready to feed the kitty. She's so sweet and so dear. Poor tigger tonight looked like he's on his last legs. I'm going to have to try to bathe him this weekend. The poor thing. I'm not sure how much longer he has. He's still happy. I would probably make the choice to put him to sleep but BF can't make the call while the cat is still happy.

Sort of a condensed post as it's been hard getting computer time again, and I am going to have to run out and get a doohickey for connecting my USB flash drives to the tablet; the old one seems to have given up the ghost. They're under $10, thankfully.

I haven't caught up on posts in a few days but you know me, I will. Always enjoy reading them.

Trying to prep for roommate's company - it's sort of slow going but hopefully doable.

We cleaned the gutters of the house because they were clogged with leaves. I started pulling up the remainder of some vines I'd started last year that she didn't want because they were too invasive and gave her hives.

Brainstorming more ways to deal with my quilting project bags' contents, which are crowded around the sewing area in the back room. I may have come up with an idea that'll work, and soon I hope to also be resuming quilt piecing, getting tops made and to the church and in the process destashing my fabric. Maybe masks, too.

Today I threw away a bunch of old debit card receipts! They had been such a terrible mess in my bedroom. Maybe some of you can relate to how it has been to grow up "old school" in dealing with papers and bank records, balancing a check register, etc. But now with online banking, it can be done so much more cleanly, simply, and paper free.

I had been doing more and more online banking for years, but there was some sort of lingering reluctance to let go of the paper trail stuff. I have convinced myself it's okay. :) If I make a big purchase, maybe I'd save the receipt for that one thing until the warranty expires, etc. But not the receipts for everytime I get a sandwich!

The weather is on a warming trend for the next few days. It'll feel like August instead of September as it has been.

I'm feeling a little more sociable after feeling very withdrawing over most of the summer. Not going to parties or anything unsafe, just feeling like actually calling people. Yesterday I called my uncle on his 92nd birthday. My mom's younger and only surviving brother. We had a great chat. I will be calling other family and friends soon.

Everybody take care, I'll be back when I can.

YEA! Tatoulia!!!
GO GO GO!!!

:D

So happy you are feeling good and strong!

Maybe the lamps are newer but with a retro look.
Anyways they look very nice.


He went to get himself some groceries and returned very happy and excited that he met someone else who is being obnoxious about wearing a mask.
He did have to return once because he forgot his credit card and noticed while standing in line to check out.
He is back in his garage now.

The lamp is used but there are no markings on it. It's actually glazed pottery. I like it too. I like the texture. I don't know if it actually goes back to the 60s. It def has some age but could be, say, 1980s crate and barrel. I can see where the label was in one of them. But alas the paper label is gone. They are on great shape.

I'm doing this. I've started to look at which clothes were great once but now scratchy. I'm feeling stronger than usual and I'm going to get things up and out of here.

Tillie, lay low. Try to relax.

Good Morning

Hi CriticalMass :D

Hi Subclinical
Good luck on reaching that deadline today.

I love the sound of a tiny baby singing! :D
How precious.

Good idea to just snack a bit on the menu and hopefully rest up a bit.


WTG! Tatoulia!
Wonderful start you have made.

I was distracted by the kitty pictures. :D
The lamp is very pretty.
Looks like frosted teal "pillow" glass.
The plain simple shade is just right too.
Reminds me of the old styles I saw in the 50s and 60s.

Right now your deadline is August 31st.
By then you should have a very clear vision as to where you are going with this.
Keep up this GREAT momentum! :D

My plan for today is to maintain a low and quiet profile.
He has been keeping to himself out in the squalorous and hoarded garage but I can hear him screaming and swearing and ranting and violently throwing/banging things out there.
I have no idea what's up with him.

Sometimes I think a deadline would help me, SubC. Tonight is garbage night so I really should get to work in seeing what can be tossed.

I am happy with some personal decisions I am making regarding what to keep and what to get rid of, I'll see if consignment shop can take anything. They are full!

I'm going through pjs and pillow cases today. That will be a good start for me,

Baby boy! I bet each moment is a miracle.

I will report on my progress. Thank you! And a quick shout out to Joan and to CM.

Great start Tatoulia!

I am tired this morning.

I did a little of the paperwork yesterday, but not enough. Hard deadline by lunch today.

There is a lot on my menu, but I may just "snack" today.

Bean found his voice yesterday and started vocalizing, not just squeaking or crying. He gets weighed at the pediatrician today.

I posted a picture of the lamp. I am so glad I bought it. I need to move the artwork around a bit.

The cleaners made my house so nice. They are so good to me.

Hey it's me, Shirley. Thank you SubC and Tillie for getting me going. A bag a room makes sense. I just need ,poorer space so that means fewer things. My cleaners are so nice. They brought me two more pillow cases. That they made out of my fabric. My bed looks really nice.

My new lamp looks fantastic. I have to figure out a place for lamp #2. I have an idea.

So I have already started. I out a paint of PJs in the bag. I am going to wash all tote bags and then choose two to keep. The canvas one. The rest I will fill with things for goodwill. They are open and I did get some dropped off this weekend. I have the sheets and the shower curtain for the woman I met there the week before. And BF donated five cheap, new, unused lamps for her. I can think of a few dresses she might like. I was going to keep the two white pillow cases from the set I'm giving her but the truth is, I put those sheets to be donated because they are sateen and I'm strictly percale. So the pillow cases will give her a complete set. I may have other pilllow cases that I can rethink. It's a matter of getting three bags together for the weekend. I WILL FEEL SO FREE!!!

now, I am in love with your little grand bean. I can just picture him so precious and sweet and sleeping on you.

Tillie I couldn't do this with out you. It's pj clearance time and maybe some shoes, too. SubC I am so grateful for your support and for believing in me. We can do this! Three bags for the weekend.

Good Morning Everyone
"Clink!"

Bean will only be so tiny for such a little while.
Soon he will be running around and too big and active to fit in the sling.
Enjoy that sweet smelling tiny little head.
(((((HUG)))))

WAY TO GO!
You did a LOT yesterday and finished 2 August goals too.


Hi Shirley
What categories of items are bugging you the most?
Excess of needed and useful things?
Put ALL like things together with like and sort out the best and most liked.
Remove all else.
Organize the keepers in the places they are stored.

Décor and knickknacks?
Keep only that which adds value to your space.
When decorating, less is truly more.

Set a goal of filling one bag every category or room that you are working on.
You can do this reducing in rounds.
Go through, remove the easiest things first.
Then go through again later and make some harder decisions.
Trying to find the exactly right balance takes time and is too hard to do in one session.

After making a few rounds it gets easier because there will be less to look at and you can eventually do the "fine" tuning.

This is how I did my "the gentle art of Swedish * cleaning".
Round and round until now it's just right for me and I have been really enjoying just looking around in amazement at how nice and free it feels.
Every round became easier because my mind set kept changing for the better.
It uncluttered a lot of emotional baggage and those
"shoulda, coulda, woulda" thoughts I had as to keeping lots of kitchen and crafting items that I admitted to myself I would never do again.
Times change and so do we.
Now I just have the best of the best and most useful for ME at this stage of MY life.

So Shirley, Where do you want to start round one? :D

Tatoulia, you can do it!

Just grab a bag and start looking around. Where is there too much stuff? Is everything there important? If so, can you make room for some of it somewhere else by getting rid of less important things?

I did my chicks and chores and showered last night.

I got the dishwasher unloaded and loaded and started again this morning because Dd said I couldn't come until 9 I got all the dried beans put away too. That's TWO preserving food in the first week (but no lesson plans yet).

Bean stayed Awake for almost two hours after I got here, and now he is sleeping on my chest. I have him secured in the sling I used for my son and younger daughter. Dd approved it. I may try to do my paperwork while he naps. Or I may just kick back here on the couch and rub his back and give his head kisses.

Tillie I didn't sleep last night with the news of the explosion in Beirut. We have friends and family living there. People in Cyprus said they felt it, too. Everyone on our end is accounted for.

I'm disgusted by how much stuff I own. Absolutely disgusted. Tillie I am sorry to lean so heavily on you but I would love it if you'd tell me what to do. Just say something like, make hard decisions. Or just do it. Basically I need a slogan. I need a drill sergeant. I can't be happy if I own too much stuff. I just can't. I need to pare down. Say three bags by the end of the night. Just tough love.

It's creeped back in, the clutter. I'm not taking good care of myself or my house.

Ugh I don't want to feel this way. I know that I dont regret my decisions from before when I got rid of stuff. Surely I can do that again (and feel free to call me Shirley). Weak attempt at humor.

Good Evening Everyone
After 10pm here already.

WOW! Subclinical
You really went wild with the buffet.
WAY TO GO!

Happy the glass was dirty.
Last 2 dishes I broke I had just washed and was putting away when I dropped them. >:(

Guess tomorrow you might choose two entrees and skip the appetizer.
Just grooming Twinkles is a huge helping of entre.

Bean is a priority. ;D


Hi Tatoulia
YEA! the lamp is impressive! :D

Glad the storm weakened before it reached you.
Wish you all could send me some of the extra rain.

A good quality paint on top of adequate primer should be good coverage with two coats of paint.
But since you are hiring a painter I am sure they will do a good job covering up the dark under paint.

Scooter likes to sit on the back of the couch right by my head.
Glad Mom's Kitty does that too. They want to be close to us.

Hope you got a lot of things straightened and put away tonight.
YEA! for cleaning Ladies tomorrow. :D


Already took my shower and flossed my teeth so I will now brush my teeth and get to sleep.

Baby bean!!!!!

SubC you are doing great! I'm channeling you tonight because I have a lot to do. I pushed myself a little bit tonight.

I was grateful for my food today and I have plenty for tomorrow! The meetings went pretty well but I was very late for one. I still had my headset plugged into the computer so I didn't hear the beep to signal the meeting. I wasn't wearing the headset. I was wandering into the kitchen for an ice pop when I saw the time. Oops.

Our share of the hurricane was minimal. I just got back from my car. I took the old lamp up and brought one of the new ones back. It looks fantastic. Really good. Good texture. Tall. Solid presence. I may have to move my art a bit.

Okay I need to put in some music and get to work. I need to straighten up. The cleaners are coming tomorrow and as they know all too well, I don't actually straighten up for them. So I'm doing it for me. I am losing the peacefulness I need so desperately.

I am getting close to the paint color. I think I'll be choosing Borrowed Light by Farrow and Ball. It will require at least two coats or primer since my bathroom is a deep, deep color.

I just got the reimbursement check for the washer and I immediately deposited it (via app). I was feeling a bit insecure with having that much on my credit card. So that's a relief.

Tillie I can't imagine your little kitty riding the vacuum. Cats are so great and each one is so different. Mom's was sitting on the top of the recliner tonight, up by mom's head.

Dh commented on my menu idea this morning.

He pointed out that you get an entree, two sides, a drink and maybe an appetizer and/or dessert. That it's ok to eat the bread or chips or whatever is in front if you, but that sometimes that means you take leftovers home for tomorrow and that some days, you just want a salad.

Then he left and I went for the all you can eat buffet.

I made him breakfast, took my vitamin, and did my chores.
I gave the baby goats their August wormer.
I put away the clean wine glasses from the counter
I called my boss. That went well and I feel much better.
I picked, trimmed, blanched, and loaded the dehydrator with the green beans.
I paid the mortgage and walked up to the mailbox to mail that and a note I promised to mail for dd.
I washed the ice cream maker and froze the ice cream (so now the ice cream maker is dirty again)
I took the compost out.
I put away five loads of clean laundry that were on the guest bed - which included clean underwear.
I weeded half the garden and picked a few squash, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes and shallots. The shallots were by accident and are still small.
I unloaded the dishwasher, loaded it, started it, and filled the drying rack with handwashables. Somehow without making a dent in the pile in the scullery sink.

I also broke a (dirty) glass.

I believe that I can clean the chick pen, do evening chores, and take a shower before I collapse into bed.

Which leaves some paperwork that I had marked as a high priority today, jam, pickles, two sewing projects, and the rabbit cages and grooming untouched on today's menu. Unfortunately, most of those are "entrees"

The paperwork has to happen tomorrow (which already has it's own menu featuring Bean.)

My house is a mess. There are papers, dishes, and produce scattered everywhere.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
(((((Bean))))) so cute!

Hope the stressful phone call is over & done with and that things worked out well for you.

Good luck on the menu today.
Clean underwear seems to be important even in quarantine.
Gaming stuff spread out helps when the game is still in progress.
Good luck getting outside after the rain and that it's not too wet to do the gardening.

Enjoy that delicious icecream. :D


Still 100F+ here.
Need to wash cat bedding because Twinkles threw up on his bed.
Plan to just rattle around inside until evening when I will water some stuff.

Good morning!

Great to hear from everyone! You must all stay healthy!

Tatoulia, good job on the food shopping. I like thinking of you snug in your nest with your new washer and lamps, picking out your paint. I hope that hiring the painter is easy.things like that stress me out. I'm happy to hear that your mom is enjoying her new technology.

CM, I'm glad your roommate is ok. I hope that the visit goes well. The thought of people coming into my house right now is overwhelming.

It is hard living in someone else's space. Even if it is also your space. Right now my gaming stuff is spread out all over the den. I know it drives Dh nuts even though he only walks through there, but I am going to put it away after our last meeting on Thursday. I don't see the point now.

I'm sorry you didn't get a chance to capture the ideas. Maybe you could keep a small notepad in your purse or car? Then you could stop and write before going back into the house.

I spent the last two days with the kids and grandbaby, but they sent me home at dinner time. Sunday I froze the ice cream and last night I cooked up another batch. I wanted to work in the garden, but it was raining. It should be nice today.

The kids have a huge rolling recycling bin as part of their city trash pick up. I put almost two months worth of my recycling in it yesterday. It is not full!

I'm getting a slow start this morning, and I have a very long menu. I like the idea that it is a menu, not a list.

Must dos are a few extra barn chores, prep for the last summer camp session and call my boss. The call will be stressful for me, so I want to do it fairly early and be done. I have some thoughts/concerns about my schedule I need to address with her. I hope she is willing and able to answer some questions I have. Also there is last night's ice cream to freeze, and Dh just informed me that clean underwear must make the cut.

Obviously today I am staying home. Dd says I can come back on Wednesday and Friday and we will talk about next week after that. They appreciate the extra sleep, but "bean" is doing well now and they feel like they need to start managing life as a family on their own.

Good Evening Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
YEA! for getting some good food in!
Especially since you will be busy and also in case you can't get out with the rain & wind.

Glad you are happily doing your own laundry again.
It's better things don't sit too long in the hamper anyway waiting for the service to pick up.
I like having all my things clean and ready to use every week.
This way we don't need to have too many extras too.

That's wonderful your Mom is enjoying her GrandPad.
Now we don't have to worry she is feeling too cut off and isolated from everyone. :D

You can have anything I ever write here.
We all need to find our motivating where ever we can find it.

Honestly I don't know how old Scooter & twinkles are.
Maybe 5 for Scooter and 10 for Twinkles?
I don't keep very good track of years and have a hard time remembering my own age or any one else's.
My big Orange Kitty who died used to like to ride on the vacuum as I vacuumed when he was small enough to fit.

Get the lamps out of the car and see how they look inside.
Do they have shades? Do you like the shades or will you replace them?
Hope the lamps are exactly what you need. :D

Relieved to know you didn't have a fever and are feeling better.
Did getting out help with the allergies?

WTG! getting the daily usual tasks accomplished!

I got mine done and watered the grass too.
Now with the grass wet I have a fan in the window bringing in the coolness off the wet grass. :D

It's not bad but I need better. Wow, Tillie! I'm going to have to borrow that phrase. I think it will help me! So happy you could vacuum. That is very odd about the cats. What are their ages? My brother used to have two cats that always put up with the vacuum. But I've never seen any other cats just chilling while the vacuum is on!

CM, that is nerve wracking about the visitors. I am so nervous around people right now.

It was good to have the day off. I drove out west to get my friend's thing and then I did a little antiquing and my two favorite workers were there. I've been itching to replace the lamp in my living room and they had a pair of lamps that I think can work. I bought them but they are still in my car. I really only need one but a pair is best and plus, they weren't for sale singly. I hope they work out okay.

Mom is loving her GrandPad from Consumer Cellular! It is working out nicely for us!

I feel fine today, a bit itchy eyes but otherwise okay. It is definitely allergies and CM your mention of ragweed explains it all! My temperature and oxygen are right where they should be. I did go to Whole Foods and bought some good prepared foods. Vegan spanikopota, sandwich, three different salads. I bought that much because I have back-to-back meetings all day tomorrow, starting at 9:30 and not ending til 4 or 4:30. So a lot of information will be thrown at me. Tomorrow night we will be welcoming Tropical Storm Isaias. Just want to have enough for the next few days.

Garbage and recycling are out and kitty has a clean box. I've run the dishwasher and I did two loads of laundry. One was sheets and the other was dish towels and napkins. So I'm back to doing my own laundry! That's a good feeling. I just don't have enough to allow for outsourcing this task.

Goodnight dear friends!

Good Afternoon Everyone

He got up a little after 1:00pm and the house is cool with the cooler running so I was able to vacuum the carpet.
YEA!
Neither cat got upset. They both continued napping where they were.
So unusual. ;D

Will get onto the kitchen soon, after I eat something.
It's not bad but I want it better.

Good Morning Everybody
"Clink!"

Hi CriticalMass
I like what you said here...
"Friday I had gone out to do a bit of shopping and it went well; finding what I was looking for and it just felt better to be out, came back home full of ideas that I wanted to write down for tackling specific areas and categories of stuff. Felt really happy and excited about those ideas, like I might really begin to shift out of the gridlock."

Seems to me that being out and away from home gave you the breathing room you needed to think and make plans.
Maybe you should just get outside somewhere often to help clear your head and think through what you want to do from a better perspective. :)

Like a mini vacation.
Many people feel refreshed and ready to tackle projects when they get back home.

The last relative visit had you fretting and when her people came it all went well and you all had a pleasant visit.
This visit will probably be a good one too. (((HUG)))

It is hard having to gather up and cart out things to do a project.
Only thing I can think is maybe storing the items in easily totable bins/boxes/baskets. Then just carting out the ones you need to where you need them.
When finished, cart them back to where they are kept.
But all this sounds like a real pain too. :(


Slept in this morning.
YEA!
Yesterday did a lot of watering then showered & washed my hair.
Then did laundry and let it dry over night on the clothesline.
This morning went out, brought it in, folded and put it away.
All before even having my tea.
Kitchen needs some attention and carpet needs vacuuming.
Maybe I'll get to that today. "?"

Glad you enjoyed the flower pictures, Tillie.

Tatoulia, I will pray no Covid - it is likely allergies as this is August and you've been being careful. For me the mask seems to have prevented some spring and summer allergies; I've had very little trouble. Ragweed is about to hit, so we'll see.

In other news...

This past week was a far cry from the calmer week of accomplishment I had envisioned. I just quite simply didn't get much done. Hope next week will be better.

I thought today was the Zoom funeral of my college friend's brother but it's not till the 16th.

Last night my roommate had a serious allergic reaction to her antibiotic. We were able to get it under control with Benadryl but for a time were wondering if an ER trip would happen.

Looks like are going to have company again in a couple weeks. Her youngest brother and his wife want to come down from Kansas City. Things have been so chaotic here that it feels intimidating the amount of work that it may take to make the place semi-presentable.

I was just feeling like I was coming out of my lethargic, confused, accomplishing very little funk Friday when this news came. And I don't want to begrudge anyone the opportunity to see family. It'll probably be fine, but first I have to panic...

Tomorrow is payday, so I'll deal with bill paying and such first.

My August goal is to make some goals, both for the visit, and the goals I had on Friday (see below).

It strikes me, not for the first time since I've lived here, that I lead a migratory existence within this house. I have a few niches that have been allotted to me but most of my stuff I'm working on or with has to be in my bedroom some of the time and out on the couch other times.

For example, my laptop, papers, books, sewing, etc. I'm forever bundling stuff up to cart to another location to see if I can get any better progress made in that location, or just due to time of day, or my roommate doing Zoom for her work, when where I happen to be becomes less workable. It's not conducive to productivity to be constantly flitting about. And it makes it easier to lose things.

Tillie, you nailed it on how one's own daily routine can get to be a drag because it is endless. And that it's easier to do a one-time task elsewhere.

I hope you get your angel food and raspberries. Sounds yum. Glad the power and water are running again. And hope the beads hold out till you can get more.

Friday I had gone out to do a bit of shopping and it went well; finding what I was looking for and it just felt better to be out, came back home full of ideas that I wanted to write down for tackling specific areas and categories of stuff. Felt really happy and excited about those ideas, like I might really begin to shift out of the gridlock.

Unfortunately I did not get the chance to write the ideas down while they were fresh in my mind. Hope I can still remember what they were. And I'll have to add prepping for company things into the mix. Feel anxious that it'll get confusing.

Weather has been decent - some rain, some lower than normal temps for late July/early August.

SubC, I too am thrilled your mom got to see the baby. :) And you too.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
For the past week I have had terrible coughing spells, sneezing, tiredness, dry scratchy throat and headache.
BUT...
The two times I went into town last week I was completely symptom free.
So, something here in my house and yard is triggering allergies.

My symptoms all started to clear up when I was driving into town with the windows open.
Got back home and they have all returned.
Definitely allergies so no worries. :)

Don't rush your paint color decision.
Live with it a few days to be absolutely positively sure that you love it completely.
Then we have to get working on that chandelier too.
If it can't be fixed or the light can't be bright enough then start thinking about an alternative.
What a beautiful bathroom that will be!

WTG! for getting carrots! :D
Look, since you have symptoms of some sort
could you ask for delivery or pick up on some salads and other foods to help you feel better?

Happy you have juice and a book and are resting today
(((HUG)))


Weather forecast for the next 10 days is 100+F degrees with no chance of rain.
So tired of all these too hot days.
No matter how much I keep watering everything is looking scorched.
Have the hose slowly watering a tree since morning.
After sunset tonight I will be out watering more stuff.
Meanwhile I am watching Netflix and eating grapes.
Cats all had breakfast and went back to bed.

Good morning!

Your husband is such a sweetheart, SubC. I'm so glad you have him and that he has you. Great work! I really need to borrow some of your energy!

I woke up with a sore throat today. I don't know if it's allergies or just what. My oxygen is good as is my temperature. I don't know what to make of it. And do you know what? I've woken up with these types of sore throats over the years and I've similarly been unable to tell if I'm sick or if it's allergies and I've never been able to resolve it. So while I'll continue to exhibit very careful behavior, I am not sure this means COVID-19.

I had to paint three coats of primer over my very dark bathroom paint. Today I'll be able to paint the three samples for the bathroom and then I'll order the paint and call the painter for an estimate. It's a small space but with very tall ceilings. So I want him to come here and look at the space and give me the cost. He's a nice, quiet, shy person who keeps to himself. He's a neighbor of the BF's. He was on track, many many years ago, to become a championship swimmer but then he discovered drugs. I'm sure he has a lot of regrets. He is a meticulous painter and a very kind soul. The best thing about him is he is quiet. He did very good and grueling work for our building a number of years back. His price was insanely low so I had to talk to him about valuing his work properly. So I want his price ahead of time so I can see if it's fair, I'll likely have to increase the price to make it fair. But what I don't want is a situation where someone says just pay me what you think it's worth. We had a handyman who did that and it was awful. I just want to know the price. I'll take it from there and if it's undervalued, I'll fix it.

So that's where I stand today. We did mom's groceries last night and I got my baby carrots! But not much else for me. I'll need to go get some salads and stuff at Whole Foods. But not until I have a better handle on my sore throat.

Tillie what's on tap for today? I'll be drinking lots of juices and reading a book that I started.

Good Evening Everybody

Your Dh is a real treasure!
((((HUGS)))) for him Subclinical :D

WOW! GREAT start on August goals!
Cheese and ice cream mix.
Yeah, the goat milk is a time sensitive thing.
You have to milk when the Goats are producing.

WAY TO GO! for all the clean dishes! :D

Best wishes working out visiting times.
We know you would never get tired of being with that precious Baby.
But now that he's doing better she may want more time on her own now.


Watered the grass this evening and a few other things, like the bird baths.
Did some beads today. Trying to make the beads last.

I forgot to tell you,

A box arrived today addressed to Dh and marked "fragile" he said "oh, that's for you. Open it." So I did.

Last week when I was loading the dishwasher, my hands were wet and I dropped a pan. It landed on one of my favorite little bowls and broke it. I made a sad comment and moved on.

Dh found the same bowl on eBay and bought it for me. :)

I made cheese, AND ice cream mix.

The milk was starting to take over the kitchen.

So now, I have one putting up food day done for this week. Excellent start!

Dd says I can come back and hang out with the baby again tomorrow. But maybe not stay as late. She thinks I'm going to get tired of coming. Silly girl. We'll have to discuss that because I want to be sure she doesn't let me wear out my welcome.

I have a load of clean dishes to unload (mostly the cheese making stuff) and a load of wash to switch over in a few minutes.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi Subclinical
Yep, the other night Steven was headed into the bathroom and I shouted out "DONT FLUSH!".
:D

Glad you slept in, I tried to.

Those are very good goals and sound very Do-Able.

Well, by now you have decided on cheese or pickles or the couch and videos. ;)
I vote for the couch.


I've had the hose on the tree slowly watering since 8:30am.
I ate some real food.
Strung some beads.
Fed 3 cats and brushed Twinkles because he wouldn't quit staring at me till I did.
Another 100+ day so I am taking it easy.

Good afternoon

I grew up on well water and Dh still laughs about the first time our power went out and I yelled at him for flushing the toilet with just liquid.

I succeeded at the sleeping late, but am still trying to find the energy for cheese or pickles.

I think my two goals for August are to put up food 4 times, and plan 6 weeks of lessons for fall.

Good Evening Everyone

Good bye July!
It's been real ;p

Wishing us ALL the best August imaginable :)

Hi Tatoulia
Yep, mental resistance.
When it comes to washing our own dishes, doing our own laundry, cleaning our own bathroom...
Those are never ending jobs. There will always be more dishes, laundry and housework to do.
But helping out somebody by doing their dishes, laundry or some cleaning task is so much easier and we happily do it because this is only temporary.

The power outage was not scary. Yes it was dark but I lit one of my Great Granma's kerosene lamps and had it on the counter.
Sitting outside I was watching the almost full moon.
What annoyed me was I really wanted to take a shower but needed to finish watering the grass but had to wait for the power to come back on first.
That's one of the problems of being on a well without a backup generator.
No electricity = no water.
But I do have a way to get enough water out should we ever be dyeing of thirst, you can siphon water out with a hose but that takes some work.
Or I could lower a cup down on a line.
When I take the well cap off I can look down and see the water in there.
You have to keep the well covered so animals don't fall in because that spoils the water.
Nobody wants to drink mouse water except Scooter.

Mental resistance.

I need to meditate on that. Very interesting.

Great to hear from you SubC. Tillie the power out must be scary. I bet it's dark where you live.

Good Afternoon

OK, since the cooler is working properly and the power is staying on I went ahead and did some oven type cooking.

Have the stuff cooled down and wrapped up and in the freezer.
Now I will have some ready to eat meals that won't take long to put together with a side dish and veggies.

The kitchen has been cleaned too.

Maybe tomorrow I will bake that cake?

Hi Subclinical
We cross posted ;)

Wonderful news!!!!
And so happy your Mom is over the moon with her new Great Grandson.
((((HUGS)))) all around.

Yes, have a good long rest in bed and then an easy time doing things at home tomorrow.

I think it's easier to do things like dishes and laundry for others because there is no mental resistance.
At home I always have to wash dishes again and again because it's the only way they will ever get washed.
That builds up resistance in me, always repeating the same task over and over with no end in sight.
Washing someone else's dishes is a task with an end in sight.
Just a temporary task to help out.

It's easier to declutter someone else's stuff too because there are no emotional attachments to the stuff.
We have no plans for how the items were going to be used.
That's why "helpful" people are always doing the wrong thing when decluttering other people's things.
I would be furious if someone came in and decided what could be tossed of my things too.
When I have assisted with a clean out I basically just sit with them and ask questions they don't have to answer out loud, just answer to themselves and that helps with decision making.
When I leave they know the questions to ask themselves as they continue their sorting.

Good afternoon!

Dd is sleeping and dgs is having a socially distanced visit on the porch with his daddy and his paternal auntie.

I have finished the laundry and dishes (why is it so much easier to do someone else's laundry and dishes?)

They don't want me tomorrow, other grandmother is visiting again, so I am planning to sleep late and do some putting food up.

CM, I agree with giving the bunny club a deadline.

Do you have a portable file or a crate that you can designate for important papers and fill as you go? Is there a particular spot where they belong?

I hope the baby helps your young cousin decide to turn her life around.

Tatoulia, good job on the trash - that counts as doing something.

Our baby is doing great! 15 wet diapers yesterday! And sometimes he is asking to eat. We FaceTimed my mom this morning and she was very pleased. She took a whole row of screen shots. When she sent it to me, it reminded me of those strips you get from a photo booth. I think she's doing better these days. She's been writing letters to everyone she knows telling them about her great grandson.