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.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical :)

Hi CriticalMass
I think what Tatoulia said was very wise.
A time limit/deadline does help motivate people to make changes.

The easier you can make your life, the better.
Your time always seems to always have so many outside pressures and constraints.
What you need to do and what you want to do are constantly being sidelined by something else.

Then things like your own physical health throw another wrench into your plans.
And the weather interferes by being so rainy or just too darn hot.

Now to top it all off people you care deeply about are worrying you terribly.

You can't do everything and lots you can't do anything about.
But stepping down from the Bunny club board would give you a little breathing room.
Take care of YOU. (((((HUG)))))


Hi Tatoulia
WTG! for getting thrash out!
YEA! for attending the early meeting!
Hope you were able to brush your hair for that. ;D

I bought some whipped cream yesterday because I plan to make an angel food cake and eat it with raspberries and the whipped cream.
I love raspberries and I really like the color too, raspberry pink.

Good luck with your plans for today. :)


Last evening I was watering the little patch of grass when the power went out.
No power means no water when you are on a well.
So I just sat on the front stoop and enjoyed the twilight and 87F degrees.
Unfortunately Steven crawled out of the garage and stood there loudly talking at me about conspiracies.
I personally hold the opposite views on every subject but am wise enough not to let on.

The power came back on eventually and I was able to finish watering and even got to take my shower a little before midnight.

Had plans to do some cooking today but I think tomorrow will be better because I am tired already this morning.

Coffee clinks!

CM you are doing a lot and you are facing a lot of obstacles. Be kind to yourself. Would you permit me to make a suggestion? Give the bunny club your notice. Tell them, I'd like to be off the board in 3 months (or 4 months, or whatever time increment). My experience has been that no one looks for a replacement as long as it's open-ended. People don't take the request seriously and there isn't much effort put into finding a replacement. A deadline ensures that you will reach your goal of getting off the board. This is just a suggestion from someone who used to also say things liked that, only to find myself still on the project. Learning to let go is important and as you noted, some fresh perspectives will benefit the bunny endeavor.

Okay I got the garbage out this AM. Worried about it all night. I had an early morning meeting and that's done. I just had breakfast and I have fresh raspberries for a snack.

Take care everyone. I need to do something today. Anything, really.

Right now my goal is survival till I again reach a state of mind and body wherein I can be coherent and purposeful. I'm not there at the moment.

I'd been pondering over what all to try and do for the bunny club - since even our fundraiser that was supposed to replace our regular August one also got pre-empted by the 'Rona, the other day at the board meeting it was decided to have an online auction on the 16th.

But that meeting was hard to track for me, too many people talking, and then there have been some emails since and I'm trying to fit all the pieces together. I was beginning to feel stressed. That has a lot to do with the state of my clutter and the fact that I'm fatigued and my brain is like a bug that flies around but never lights anywhere.

I did vaguely pick up on some need to do crafts for them. It's been tricky getting any "flow" with crafting lately. I'll pull out some stuff and then not really get started, or fizzle a little ways into it. Then it gets to the point where I'm reluctant to start what might just become another abandoned pile.

I did call our leader and was just honest about all of it including what my roommate said would be okay to reveal regarding her medical issues that they didn't know too much about. The bunny club lady was understanding and told me don't worry about the crafts. I am planning to set aside a donation for them this payday.

And I went ahead and explained my desire to withdraw from the board eventually, when someone is willing to fill my spot. We have had an influx of some really great younger, more energetic and outgoing people who I think will be able to do a lot more to help the club grow - and I'm still happy to do the things that more play to my strengths, on an open-ended basis, sans tight deadlines. But until a new person is found, I'll stay and muddle along.

Yesterday I drove my roommate out to her work building and on the way home the glare of the sun triggered an optical migraine. So I wrote off yesterday. But couldn't really get started on much today either. Could be still a "hangover" from the migraine, plus the shocks of recent events.

Last night on Facebook I'd learned my cousin's daughter is pregnant. She has a lot of learning disability problems and hangs out with sketchy people, some of whom do drugs. I wish I could do more to help young people like her in my family to make good choices. But I can pray for her. That will have to do. And for the baby.

Then first thing today also on Facebook I found out the brother of my college gal pal had died. I'd become FB friends with him in the last couple of years - not frequent communication but he had a fun sense of humor. There's just so much going on with people I know. I talked to two more friends today - one of whom is keeping tabs on the one in the hospital.

So... it's been a week. My original goal about 3 days ago was to do a big backup of data from my roommate's external hard drive to one she gave me to keep. On hers is a backup of the entire hard drive from my old laptop. I should be able to recover some useful stuff from that, like my fonts. But things kept changing, like suddenly we'd have to go somewhere, or I got the migraine, etc. I'll get to it. It'll feel good when I do.

And maybe I can even get a few crafty things done for the bunny group, if I can stay calm and relaxed about it. I'm hoping also to start going to the church on Wednesday mornings, and cut out quilts for them that I have the fabric for already.

I was looking for a folder of quilt patterns earlier this week in my bedroom and whoa, was I finding all kinds of stuff in the stacks - stuff that was semi-important and shouldn't have gotten shuffled in with stuff that just needs to be gone through and mostly discarded. Trying to figure how to extricate the important stuff and keep it safe from getting mixed up again.

There's just so MUCH needing attention. :P And so big a risk that if I attempt to sort, I'll just expand the mess. Bleah!

SubC! Tillie! Cm!

SubC glad your grandson is doing so much better. I bet the worry is terrible. How is your daughter? And your mother? (As Tillie noted). You did so much today and I'm so happy to hear from you. I'd love to have your homemade jam! I'll never understand how you get so much done in a day!

Tillie just enough carrots to enjoy with sandwiches and sometimes it's nice to have a few washed in colander for a quick snack.

I'm glad you got so much fruit! And scooter can stop pouting!

I'm just trying to act professional and responsive at work. I have an early AM meeting tmr and I didn't get my garbage out because I fell asleep after work. I'll go finish up collecting the garbage to I have a shot of getting it out in the AM

Our new washer is a top loader. It's so nice. We don't have room for a front loader. It's a tight space, under the stairs.

Hi Subclinical :D

WAY TO GO!
You did a LOT today!

Jam, pickles or ice cream is too much work for today.

Not cleaning up today after making the covers is perfectly acceptable.

What I remember most vividly about placing a Baby Boy into the warm bath water is how they will pee in your face if you are not careful and even if you are.
;D LOL

How is Great Granny doing, well we hope?

Hi again! Ice water clinks!

Here is what I picked from the menu so far today:

Chores
Changing table covers (didn't clean up after myself)
My class (went well)
Ran the dishwasher
Pulled a couple of weeds in the garden and picked the green beans and three cucumbers Then it started raining.

Also made Dh breakfast and called my mom.

I have the bath basin somewhere, but I can't find it so I am taking her a different, larger basin that she can use for now - he is still getting sponge baths and he can lie on a towel in this just fine.

I want to make ja or pickles or ice cream, but I am just too tired.

Good morning Everyone
Still morning here :D

Thank you Subclinical for the update
We have all been anxiously waiting to hear from you.
(((HUGS)))

I know you have lots of "have-tos" to do around home.
Could you please make sure to take it easier on yourself with the lesser urgent tasks?

You must be so mentally and emotionally exhausted.

Do you have the bath basin stored somewhere at home or do you need to shop online for one?
WTG! for buying your socks!!!

Wishing you a happy and successful class today :D

We know you are too busy right now to make any plans or goals to join in an August challenge.
Just make sure to do all the things you need to do to not get too run ragged. ((((HUG))))


Got groceries and have everything put away.
I am exhausted. ;p
Bought the hugest watermelon for Scooter to share with me.
Wished someone could have carried it for me it is so heavy.
Scooter has been pouting about not having watermelon, just stupid cantaloupe.

EVERYONE in the store wore masks and did good with distancing.
Got most everything on my list but did have to make a few substitutions.
Peaches, plums, cucumbers, lemons and tons of grapes.
Ginger root was all picked over and just old little pieces but I still have some nice ones at home.
So with what I already had at home plus what I bought today I should have plenty of food to last me another 3 weeks, longer if I wouldn't miss going without fresh produce so badly.

Tatoulia
I looked at the carrots but didn't know if you needed just a pound or two or the ten pound bag for horse snax.
;D

Hello.

Our little fellow is doing well finally. His Bilirubin was elevated (but not high enough for the lights) And he was sleeping all the time and wouldn't wake up to eat and he got dehydrated. But he is eating well now and doing all the resultant activities reassuringly often and it is much easier to wake him to eat and hopefully soon he will be waking all by himself.

No update from the parents this morning.

I slept at home last night, but am still exhausted because friends came over to pick blackberries and picnic at a distance in the yard. And then just as I was going to bed I got an email from a work friend I miss and I took time to return it.

I am staying home today (Unless they call for help) and trying to get some things done as soon as the coffee kicks in and I am awake. Dgs has a follow up appointment this morning, and I run my summer online group this afternoon. I will go back tomorrow.

I ordered 4 pairs of winter socks because a place I like to buy socks had a Christmas in July sale. They arrived yesterday.

I can't even think about August.

Here we some things on the menu (you select from a menu) today:
Chores
Make changing table covers for Dd
Find baby bath basin for Dd
My class
Dishes
Laundry
Ice cream mix
Make Pickles
Weed garden
Clean up barn
Clean up scullery
Make jam

Hi Subclinical

Hi CriticalMass

Hi Tatoulia
There is a coin shortage because just like toilet paper coins have been hoarded.
Supposedly there are a lot of things people can do with pennies and they also believe when paper money becomes useless coins will still have value.
Or so I was told.
I use the Discover card for groceries and get cash back.

What do we need carrots for?
Cake, soup, stew, bunnies, horses, salad?

It would be strange if you did not like the new washer that you picked out. :D
Is it a top or side loader?

I want you to be shown appreciation for your hard work.
Stay sharp and on task and you should be a shoe in (((HUG)))
:D


Discovered today that Twinkles likes instant mashed potatoes.

Lately I have been ignoring the thermometer and just saying it's a 100 degrees.
Made the mistake today of looking up at the big outdoor thermometer and it read 107 degrees. :(

Not looking forward to going out tomorrow but I'll go early and will be happy to have FRESH FRUIT AND VEGGIES. :D

I went to Whole Foods tonight and bought two different salads, one quinoa and one couscous, and a sandwich. My food is set til the weekend. I forgot to get kitty food so had to go back out.

Tillie I am excited to further refine my possessions. I'm feeling good about this.

There's a rumor swirling that I may be promoted soon. I don't know if I'll have to interview for it so I'm working on that, too. Someone hinted a week or so ago and then tonight I got a call on my cell phone from someone who was in a higher ups meeting today. She said, I can't tell you much, but stay steady and continue to act very professional and show leadership. This person had no idea that I'd been tipped off by someone else. So this was pretty interesting. I didn't ask any questions, I just said, will do. . I hope so. The first person who hinted to me said that I couldn't breathe a word but that the. VPs were looking to have me replace someone.

Our new washer is lovely, Tillie. And guess what, I forgot to buy the carrots so this is still on your list!!

Before you go shopping be sure to have plenty of change or your debit card. A lot of the stores have stopped giving change due to a nationwide shortage of coins. I haven't figured out why we have fewer coins in circulation right now.

Good Afternoon Everybody

What a little Trooper our Tigger is. :D

OK those are good goals to strive for.
If you need any help you know where we are. ;D

Remember that empty space is a real thing.
Thinking about what we need and what things we want.
We are allowed to have useless things that serve no function.
But in moderation.
I find my oil painting on the porcelain tile of a barnyard full of chickens makes me happy when I look at it.
But it just hangs on the wall.
So for me it is a want that I feel I need.
And that wall would be completely bare without it.

It takes a lot of thinking and soul searching to find the right balance.
But when you see it you will know. :D

I think you will enjoy doing laundry again once the weather cools off.

I like hanging laundry out on the clothesline at night in the Summer.
It's cooler out and things don't fade in the sun and at sunup it's all dry before it gets hot out.

Plus I think Miss Kitty appreciates having her favorites back in just two hours rather than in several days.

Tomorrow at the grocery store I want to see if they have any good juice bars.
The store is still having problems getting all stocked up properly.
Some weeks they have something back and the next trip they don't have it again.
So if I see it I buy it even though I don't need it right now because it may not be there next time when I really need it.
Usually I planned and purchased as I needed it for whatever menus I had planned for a few weeks.

I need to continue to refine my possessions. I'm need to reduce. I also need to start doing my own laundry.

I have cat's laundry in the new washer. I'm in the middle of changing my sheets. I'm enjoying a juice pop. I went out with BF today to pick up Tigger's medicine.

Good Morning
Just sitting here drinking tea watching the sun come up.
Will get going soon to pay taxes and get some water before it gets too hot.
Looks like it will still be <100F for the next two weeks.
The car is filthy. So much dirt and dust and stuff stuck all over it.
Just been too hot and tired to wash it. Oh well
;p

Good Evening Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
OK got it, pick up carrots ;D

Yes, it's so nice to have a whole year knowing the taxes are already paid.
Plus it would be so silly to make installment payments when the total is so do-able.

Have my grocery list all made up and will definitely get LOTS of produce Thursday.

Looked at what I have in the pantry and am still well stocked up there.
It's the fresh stuff that I keep running out of.
A smoke alarm started beeping today so I put 9V batteries on my shopping list.
I also need to clean the spider web out of the unit because that's probably why it's beeping but the battery said it was good till Dec 2020 so I want a new one.


Almost August
Does anybody have anything they want to work on or challenge?
Doesn't have to be decluttering, organizing or cleaning.
Could be less news watching.
Could be getting more sleep.
Could be eating better or drinking enough water.
Anything at all that we want to try working on.
:D

Tillie I could've sworn I responded to your post. Yes get some fruit!! I need carrots while you're there. I'm glad you'll pay the property tax in full. Will give you peace of mind.

Off to bed.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
Big HUGS for all of you.
You have all my hopes and prayers and crossed fingers.
Love, Tillie


Hi Tatoulia
I would want one of those lobster rolls :D
I used to sing and dance around in the house while doing stuff but since Steven is here all the time I don't do that any more.
It was fun and kept me limber.



I am down to two plums and one green bell pepper.
Looks like I should grocery shop this Thursday during decrepit old people hour.
Tomorrow I plan to go fill some water bottles and pay property taxes.
The county has set up drop boxes outside the county building so we can just drop payments in there and not have to go inside.
My computer is not set up to do online banking so I go the paper route.
Taxes for the year are only 450.27 so I pay it in full for the whole year.

Hello Grammie! Thanks for stopping by!

That is very unsettling re the insects, Tillie.

I know I'll be back in shape. I've started dancing again and I am taking yoga. I'll take a dance class this weekend. This is the first I've felt confident so thank you for the boost!

I'll buy you dinner if you'd like to come here and paint!

Hi.

Little time.

Baby is ok, but long week!

Slept 6 hours in a row in my own bed last night.

He has trouble eating. ER Sunday. Doctor yesterday, turned corner we think - we hope! Yesterday afternoon.

Daughter is a trooper, sil amazing. Grammie (me) tired and worried but so glad they are close and I can be there. "Papa" Dh has really stepped up to help too.

Longer story later. Gotta do chores and go back so sil can sleep.

Good Evening Everybody

Hi Subclinical "waving"

Hi Tatoulia
When I get too hot it makes it hard to catch my breath and my heart works overtime.
So I am sure that when the weather cools down there you will be feeling more fit, I will.

Figure out how many steps to take up & down at home to get some good exercise. ;D
When I was working in the hospital I never took the elevators, just ran up & down the stairwells.
Sometimes I would get to race with a doctor and beat them.

That lecture sounds very interesting.
A lot of "free" men and even women were able to get their education and earn a very good living back East.
Probably some notable names in Massachusetts.

I would happily paint the bathroom for you.
My father taught me how to do all the prep work and paint when I was still in grade school.
I love painting.

Those tiara postcards must be beautiful!
I have enjoyed viewing them online and in some very interesting BBC programs with all the history.


OK another Autumn sign...
The wasps are acting like it's Fall.
In Fall they abandon the no longer needed nest.
Groups of two or more just try to shelter in crevasses etc. to simply try to survive without working a nest with young any longer.
Most die off but some queens manage to hibernate until next Spring.

And the spiders usually stay outside when it's hot until it begins to get cold overnight.
But they were starting to move in until I sprayed the other day.

It's been a strange insect Summer here anyway.
The usual moths and June bugs were few and far between.
Should be jumping right now with grasshoppers but haven't seen any.
Scooter misses them.
There were very few butterflies and no earthworms coming out when I water, few rolly pollys, saw no caterpillars.
I sprayed for aphids and other rose & chrysanthemum pests a few times but quit because there aren't any even when I don't spray.
All species of ants are well and doing fine.
I am suspicious that we have been crop dusted.

Tillie, I've always called that the Funny Fall Feeling.

I did get my garbage and recycling out. So hot. And I mailed about 10 postcards. Really sweet: one of my friends sent me a sheet of postcard stamps.

When I was looking for a specific birthday card this weekend I found a bunch of postcards, including the packet from the MFA's tiara exhibit, which must've been nearly 20 years ago. I was glad to find them.

I did my yoga, I got a lot of work done, and now I have to shower for bed. Tmr bight I have a meeting-I've rejoined one of my volunteer board positions now that the meeting is remote. Then at 7 I'll be in a lecture regarding African American History in Massachusetts. So a full day and night.

I'm not leaving the house other than garbage/post box. That's it.

Cm that must be terribly hard to focus. With the exception of growing up with my family, I have never lived with a roommate. I just know myself. I do best alone.

Even though I have the supplies, I haven't tried to figure out the paint colors for my bathroom. Maybe tomorrow I'll paint an area of primer do I can make the decision and order the paint. We have someone who'll will paint the bathroom for me. Then I'll need to get the parts to repair the bathroom chandelier and get that hung. I do hope it will throw enough light to make up for the ceiling fixture we will be removing.

Tillie I can't justify having my laundry done for me past the heat of the summer. Our new machine is very nice. I just need this little break. I've noticed that I'm out of breath taking the stairs. Hopefully just a combination of being terribly out of shape, not walking, and wearing a mask. I do not feel comfortable going to the mall to walk. I'll just have to find a way to walk on the days that aren't too miserable.

I hope our management company sends the reimbursement check for the washer soon. I haven't received the credit card bill yet but I like to get these things paid. Mom gave me a check for her GrandPad and I'll pay the monthly service fee. She received the stimulus check so she has a little spending money. If they send a second round of checks, then both she and my brother will have a little breathing room.

Good Afternoon

Hi CriticalMass
Yeah, my life is not at all what I'd imagined or planned for myself.
Thought I would have a large loving family, lots of grandchildren then great grandchildren.
But here I am near the end all alone.

It's really hard with the isolating to find resources for job training or any other thing.
But you can still investigate, read up and think about your future plans.

I understand how it is trying to maneuver around someone else's schedule.
I like to clean and vacuum early in the morning but Steven is always sleeping and would get so angry.

Good luck getting sleep on a good schedule for you.
When I don't get enough restful sleep I can never accomplish much of what I'd like to do.

Hope you can figure out a way to get in most of the activities you want to do in a day.
Maybe jot down a little schedule with approximate time for each thing then try to follow your program?


Last two days here there has been a feeling of Fall in the air.
Not the smell in the air yet but the look of the sunlight.
The clouds are definitely Autumn clouds.
Periodically in the wee hours the cool breeze has the feel of Fall to it.
This is all about two months early.
There some other feelings but I can't yet quite put my finger on what it is.

Still a high of 100 every day and for all this next week too.

Hi everyone,

Skimmed through your posts, and I'll be back asap to catch up better. Lately I've just been working on adjusting my sleep schedule now that I am more convinced going to bed earlier benefits my ability to be productive.

But it has been an up and down thing, with occasional unintended backsliding. Also, and I have no idea why, the daytimes here lately seem to FLY by and I can't seem to balance some computer time, prayer time, rest time if needed, other productivity time, etc. before the day is suddenly winding down.

And there's always the additional complication of living with another person and having to fit my agenda around that reality. You'd think in five plus years it would get easier; it hasn't.

Her working from home may play a small role, yet before, I remember there was still this interruption in my continuity around the time she would return home from work. So it's probably about the same. There are benefits to her being home, too - she is less stressed. And we can do some fun things.

It's just all so different from how I'd hoped my life would go, in so many ways and going way back to when I was first out on my own... adulting is way harder than I thought it would be.

Thinking still about whether I could train into something and be able to get off disability and make a living and be independent. And avoid the pitfalls of anxiety and excess stress.

Good Morning Everyone
"Clink!"

Hi Tatoulia
YEA! for having a good visit with your Friend. :D

That's so wonderful you found that GrandPad.
Too many devices are just impossible to see and work the teeny buttons.

Good luck getting all the recycling & trash out.
That's a very rewarding job with immediate visual results.

Hope you are staying in out of the heat.
Do you still have some juice bars?


Last night I did 2 loads of laundry and have already brought it in, folded and put it away.
Still 100+ daily but it's also been humid from the clouds that build up every evening.
Yesterday I made more ice cubes, enough to fill a gallon size baggie.
Been going through a lot of ice daily here. ;D

Good morning! Bracing for the scorching weather!

laundry is in its bag and ready to be picked up. I just brewed my coffee and I'm about to pour a cup. I have yoga at noon.

I have a few chores on my list today. I have to get as much garbage and recycling out as possible. I've been saving packing materials and now that the box is safely in the hands of the post office, I can recycle the rest.

Mom is enjoying her GrandPad. She calls me all the time but not too much.

Okay, what are you doing today?

A quick hello before going to bed. Was good to visit with my friend today. She was cat sitting so it was great.
Dangerous heat for tomorrow. I,l just stay in and stay safe. Have all I need, although I should take a quick peek at kitty's food level.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi CriticalMass
So many pretty pink flowers. :D

Hi Subclinical
Hope you all have gotten some rest (((HUG)))

Hi Tatoulia :)

Very quiet & cool morning.
Mostly Finches out there enjoying the Catmint (Catnip) seeds.
I let it grow tall and go to seed just for them.

No real plans for today.
The cats all have plans, mostly just sleep and eat.
Was able to finally find all my genealogy websites online that the computer update deleted from my favorites.

Hi Tatoulia
When it comes to being generous it is what we do, our actions alone, that count.
If the recipient of our generosity is being disingenuous
well, that's on their soul/karma.

You are doing amazing with your budgeting and working on paying off that debt!
Even if it takes longer than 8 months you are still way ahead of the payment schedule.

So sorry that happened to your vein.
Could you please have them do the other arm to give that vein more time to heal.

You really did have a busy day today.
WAY TO GO!

So happy you are able to actually be with your Mom again.
Too bad little Sister probably wouldn't enjoy a car ride too. ;D


Enjoyed being outside this evening watering stuff.
Cowgirl Kitty helped me.
When she's here Scooter can't come outside because he is mean to her but Twinkles isn't mean to her.
She is terrified by the sight of Jack and will run away hissing.
Jack just ignores her.

What a lovely sight that must've been, Tillie! All those quails.

I do need to be mindful of my pocketbook, which may bring the laundry to a close. I am paying over 3X the monthly amount in my small loan. I'm trying to see if I can get rid of it in eight months. Ambitious and aggressive. If I don't meet this goal, I'm fine. Right now I make in excess of the monthly payment via automatic withdrawal every time I get paid. So that's over twice the speed. Then I sneak in extra bits and bobs whenever I can.

So I'll continue with the laundry service for the summer and make decisions in the Fall.

Tillie I'm going to be doing platelets in the future instead of blood donation. The woman at Red Cross cheerfully told me I'd be eligible for platelets by Monday. This after the bloody mess and fainting. My arm was still bleeding when I got home and was oozing a surprising amount when I woke up today. Instead I've scheduled the last Friday in August, which I believe coincides with the end of being able to take one charity day a week. So after that when I want to do platelets I'll have to do on weekends. Normally we get one charity day a year, which I save for soup kitchen work.

Mom enjoyed the ride. We just drove around and around. Honestly Tillie I did more today then I've done in the last three weeks added up. After dropping off mom, BF and I were putting finishing touches on the birthday box when I said, you know what, I'll drive to PO now. And when I got back I walked home from the garage and decided to go to Whole Foods and the hardware store.

I really should've done a second or third load of laundry but I didn't feel like it. I've hung up my laundry, I've cleaned the dishes out of the sink and I've told my poor old cat that I love her.

OH! I stopped by goodwill but the donation trailer was closed. There was some woman who sort of flagged me down and wanted up see what I had. She said she'd been in a fire. I don't know if she was scamming or not but she didn't offer a ton of details the way that most scammers do. So we went through my stuff and I was so grateful for the things she took. I had only the top sheet to my nice white sheets and so I got her number and I'll meet up with her next weekend to give her the bottom sheet. They are beautiful cotton sheets but they are sateen and I'm strictly a percale girl. She said she also likes white sheets and I showed her that they are clean and nothing to fear and she said, I can see how clean they are. So I was driving off when I realized I have a Macy's gift card for a kind of high amount and I stopped the car and gave it to her. I don't know if it's a scam but I did what I wanted to do.

Love you Tillie.

I am ecstatic! that you got to take Mom out for a drive!!!
How wonderful for the both of you ((((HUG))))

So, the laundry service must not be too high priced that you will still use it for linens for now and still do clothes at home.
We know you are being mindful of your budget and financial goals.

A clean and careful Friend who lives alone would have a safe house to social distance in.
Safer than the grocery store.
Hope you go and enjoy being company. :)

Have fun with the test paints.
Make sure to look at them in different light (natural and artificial) all through the day and night.
That's how I found the perfect paint.
Some times of the day some shades looked good but looked "muddy" and unappealing at different times of day or night.
The one I chose stayed lovely in all the different light.


Just a little after 6pm here...
Soon I will venture out and water some stuff.
It's only 97F in the shade out there now but the sun is still too intense.

The Quail live here year round.
They like to spend the night in that evergreen right outside my window.
Their Babies this year are all female and Daddy is very proud and protective of all his girls.
One year I had a flock of about 100 Quail traipsing through my yard every day.
It was awesome. :D

Hello everyone!

Oh I bet the baby is precious. You were very thoughtful to let the other grandmother have her time alone. I dinhope you rested up! What a wonderful, magical grandmother you will be!!!

Tillie I love quail. Such beautiful birds.

I took mom out today! I took her for a ride! She got in the car and I let her take her mask off. I kept mine on, with the windows and sunroof cracked, and AC blasting. She really hadn't been out if the house since her fall, which was in February, I think.

Afterward I finished boxing up my friend's daughter's birthday gifts, and took them to the main PO. and I also went to Whoke Goods yo get some vegan spanikopita. And I went to the hardware store to buy a small can of primer and some small brushes so I can try out the three paint samples I have.

I'm showered and home. I just put in a load of delicates. I'm not really doing laundry these days. The new washer is fantastic, I have to admit. But I've loaded up my towels and sheets for pickup on Monday. For now, I'll just go clothes. They do a nice job and it saves me time and focus. I lose too much focus when I'm working and watching the laundry. Well see how long I'll do this. I'm hoping in the fall to get back to doing it myself. But for now, I need a break.

So that's what's going on here. I am supposed to go for a walk with a friend up where she lives (leafy suburb) abs tomorrow is the start of a heat wave. She told me to come up anyway, she's just cleaned her house and we can socially distance while enjoying an iced tea. She lives alone and is extremely careful and cautious so I'm up for it. BF agreed that it's safe to visit this friend.

Hi Subclinical
None of us here are worrying one wit that you won't have that beautiful boy eating enough in a day or two.

What fun getting to know all his little mannerisms as he becomes aware.

(((((HUGS)))))

Please do take a nap and rest up.
You have been through a lot too. ;)

So relieved she has her Mom with her at this time.

The kitties like a fresh dish!

Baby is darling. He's a lazy eater and wants to sleep too much, so we are struggling with that, but he is doing ok.

I am back at my house for a short time because the other grandmother is coming to visit this afternoon and has to stay socially distant and wear a mask because her husband is a minister and their church has resumed it's normal activities. So it seemed polite not to have me around. I slept over last night and will again tonight. Trying to let the new parents get some rest.

I'll probably take a nap while I'm home.

Good Morning
"Clink!" ice tea toast.

The Quail family woke me up just at sunup having a major discussion right outside the open window in the evergreen tree.
Was able to get back to sleep once they quieted down again.
Scooter was extra rambunctious last night at bedtime, annoying Twinkles and me.
He kept attacking my feet under the sheet.
I hate that cause he uses his claws.

Haven't made any plans yet for today.
I do have to respray bug barrier around the doors because there have been spiders wandering in this week.

Good Evening Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
So very sorry that happened (((HUGS)))
Glad you spent time near BF working the puzzle.

So HAPPY Mom is using her GrandPad!
"Happy Dance" :D

WTG! getting litter.
Something Miss Kitty appreciates you doing for her. ;)

Today I washed dishes & wiped up kitchen.
Vacuumed the carpet.
Did cat related stuff & swept too.
Watered stuff.

How come, why is it that just as soon as I have all the cat dishes washed some cat immediately starts demanding can food?
Do they have an issue with me having ALL dishes finally clean and put away?

Well I walked the mile to Red Cross and it felt good. They had trouble with the needle and someone had to keep holding my arm and moving the needle and I started to faint. Not good but I walked most of the way home. Took the subway one stop to go visit BF. I haven't seen him since Tuesday, I think, although truthfully it could've been Sunday. Do I sat with him and worked on a crossword and eventually had to come home.

Mom seems to be enjoying her GrandPad. We video chatted again tonight. No glimpse of the kitty.

Speaking of kitty's, I couldn't clean the box today due to no litter. I have the litter now so should go change it.

What an exciting time for you Subclinical! :D

YEA! for washing the Dog!
Such an important milestone for you today (((((HUG)))))


Hi Tatoulia
Make sure to drink the juice and perhaps eat a cookie.


I have the hose out slowly watering stuff.
I just sit in the house and time it then go out every few hours and move the hose.
Makes me feel like I am busy doing something. :D

So exciting!!! Yes we knew you had the doggo!!! So exciting and feel free to nervously do my dishes!!! Deep breaths. Your life is wonderful.

Good morning!
The dog is washed and ready to return (did I tell you we were keeping their dog? - she loves being a farm dog but she always has to go home clean)

And we are waiting to hear that they are discharged and we can come. Should be soon.

I have been channeling my nervous energy into dishes and general clean up.

Everybody take care of yourself and keep rested!

Rest up, dear Tillie. I'm about to leave for my blood donation appt, which always leaves me knackered. Just rest.

Good Morning Everyone
"Clink!"

Very quiet morning.
Not even any birds talking out there.

Still feeling weak and tired from that heat exhaustion ordeal when the cooler was malfunctioning.
Not much getting done here, just the basic necessities.
Did do a little beading yesterday and watered the Lilacs and garden in the evening.
Also brushed Twinkles to stop him from nagging me to brush him.
He loves to be brushed, but not his tummy where he really needs it.