Hi Tatoulia

I am not offended by the fact that inanimate objects do not love me.
As "The Minimalists" always say...
Use things and love people.
I always add love animals too.
And all plants, I always thank plants for everything they do for me.
I'm especially fond of the oxygen they generate.

WTG! for finding things for the Cleaning Fairies!

OK, so you need to get into drawers and cupboards.
Lets just break it down like we did last time.
Tackle one drawer or cupboard/cabinet at a time.
That is what I plan to do this month. Empty out one area, wipe it down and put the stuff back in after I give it a little rinse off.
Always keeping an eye out for anything that has outlived it's welcome.

It's so nice when everything fits easily into their assigned space.

Did you find a suitable place for Miss Kitty's Winter blanket?

Wow I turn away and there are terrific posts! Yay!!!!

Cm I think that's terrific that you could be with your friend and comfort her while the others took care of the house. I think the responsibilities were separated in a way to help everyone. What a shame. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. What a terrible shame.

Let me know when it's June, SubC! You are doing a great job on the evils! Let's get them in on time! And excellent work on the dormer!

Tillie you are well again! So glad. I recently took my last sports bra, washed it, and gave it to the cleaners. Since they frequently undress to try on my clothes, I know they like to wear sports bras. I also washed a very nice strapless bra for any of my dresses that won't work with traditional bra straps.

I think for June I need to Covet Old Ground. Last year about this time, I cleaned out underneath my kitchen sink. Well it needs to be gone over since it's cluttered. Other areas too, like my bathroom vanity drawers, need to be examined.

My hairbrush and hairdryer go in the bottom drawer. They just fit. I used to have it jammed with products and my hairdryer and my brush lived on the floor. What a terrible way to live.

Ladies I posted a clutter comment on Instagram today. I hope you don't mind. It really made me think: Your stuff does not love you back. (Believe it or not, my feelings are a bit bruised to read that). If the clutter sayings upset you or make you not want to look at my Instagram, just say so and I'll keave it to pictures.

Hi Subclinical

WAY TO GO!!!
Great job on the evaluations, the rearranging shelves & stuff and for cleaning areas as you go!

Doing good on finding books that can be donated too.


I'd been wanting to put another coat of paint on my ceiling tiles so that's what I did this morning.
They should be dry enough by bedtime to gather up and stack.
So frustrating waiting to install them...

Also had a sports bra in the drawer that I was never wearing.
Put it on and tried wearing it but I just don't like it so it's out of here.

Looking forward to the day Subclinical says it's finally June.

It's not June until the evaluations are done! ;-)

20 to go. Met my goal for the day but might hit a few more later.

Still rearranging books and bookshelves. I found two more children's books and one big fat adult book to get rid of. Also cleaned the very dusty, grimy, dormer alcove in my bedroom (because there was a little bookshelf in it I wanted to switch.)

IT'S JUNE!
Already June.
My, how time flies...

Hi Subclinical
Good luck knocking out your evaluations.


It was nice waking up this morning without any dishes waiting by the sink to be washed.

Don't want to let Scooter & Twinkles out because my garden area is full of little baby fledglings.
They are so cute following their parents around, learning the ropes of being birds.

Still cold in the mornings here but warming up nicely as the day progresses.

Hi Tillie,

Dh is my friend who will be honest with me. When I look at myself in pictures or on video, I don't see myself. I know that it is me, but my brain rejects the idea and I can't evaluate myself in the picture, I just hate everything I see. When I look at photos from a long time ago, if they don't have my family or another helpful clue in them I can't even pick myself out. I'll say things like "is that me? I think I recognize that shirt." Sometimes I will pick a woman who is a very different height or weight. I have long brown hair (now with grey in it). Sometimes my hair will be pulled back in the photo, and I will explain my misidentification with "oh. I couldn't see my hair." People look at me oddly.

I can never find my cousin in pictures either. We were really close when we were kids and I "know" what she looks like and can never find her.

31 evaluations to write and ten to proof read tomorrow and turn in.

I think my lilacs don't like the wet. One of them is growing just downhill from the compost pile.

Wanted to vacuum this morning but he wouldn't get out of bed until afternoon.
Anyways, got the vacuuming all done and also vacuumed the fridge coils.
Next I want to wash the dishes but I've first been eating up some leftovers so that those dishes get washed too.
Have the sink scoured all clean & shiny and soon the dishes will be washed.

Next storm is blowing in now 2:30pm.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
YEA! for being on schedule with evaluations!
WTG! for getting things moved around and cleaning out dust bunnies as you go!

The best way to go through clothes is by having a fashion show with a friend who will be honest with you.
Someone who won't lie to avoid hurting your feelings.
Another way is to videotape yourself and see what others see. :O

Good job finding those two orphan sheets hiding out.


One thing I figured out about Lilacs is that they LOVE manure. Any kind of manure & lots of it.
Mine get steer or chicken.


At 9:00am I will decide what I will do today.
Last evening we had a very drenching downpour.
Lots of long rolling thunder.

Good Morning!

Tillie, i've been doing little bits of dusting and sweeping as I move things around. It's awful how dirty the edges and corners of everything get.

Feeling much more human today after another good night's sleep. Helps to be over the hump on the evaluations too.

I forgot to say that I found two sheets to donate when I was cleaning up in the guest room. Not two sets of sheets - just two orphan sheets.

My June won't start until the 5th when I am done with evaluations (that's the due date) - we normally get paid the last day of the month, but they carrot and stick us in May - you don't get paid until your evaluations are in, but you get a small bonus if you make the due date.

Anyway, I think my big project for June is going to be tackling my closet. Hopefully dh will help me, because i'm Terrible at figuring out what looks good on me. There are a few things I know I will keep that he doesn't like because I like them and they are comfortable (like the outfit I wore to our school ice cream social) but there are other things I don't wear because i'm not confident or do wear and maybe shouldn't.

CM, you definitely have to schedule in time for you. Time to do your fun things and time to just rest. Vespecially when you have been putting out so much energy caregiving.

Tillie, glad to see you up and around! Sorry about the hoard, but the lilacs sound lovely!

I love lilacs. I have a few I grew from little runners in my grandmother's yard, but they are still too small to bloom. They don't grow as well here as they did there.

I pushed through my minimum, my goal, and my stretch goal, so I now have only half of the evaluations left to do.

I also moved more stuff around in my house. I emptied the plastic shelf (mostly onto other shelves except three soft dolls that are on a bed "for now" - I try to avoid throw pillows and toys on beds) that was in the guest room, rebuilt it in the guest room closet, and put the games on it. The games were piled on the closet floor because I stole the shelf they were on way back when I needed it to help out ❤️Dd.

I replaced the plastic shelf with a smaller, shorter, more attractive but still fake wood shelf that had been partly blocking the hallway from the kitchen. (I just left the same books on it)

I put away the clean laundry that was piled on the guest bed and remade it with clean, new sheets, a light blanket for a bedspread, and one of my greatgrandmother's quilts. Then I put the throw rug back that I had rolled up and stashed in the basement when the dogs were here at Christmas time, and the room looks pretty nice. (The quilt and rug will have to go when the dogs come back)

Off to do chores and maybe get to bed early...

Good Afternoon Everybody

Hi CriticalMass
"Clink!"
What a wonderful long post!
So nice catching up with you.
Very relieved you have the new tires, hope you have a good spare now too.
YEA! for getting in some walking exercise.

You MUST schedule in some play/crafts or other recreational activities whenever possible.
Those little heart's desires are so very necessary for mental/spiritual/physical wellness.

I'm glad you weren't needed to clean out your friend's home.
This gave you the opportunity to spend more time with her.

Yes, PUPA is part of our metamorphosis. ;D

Wishing you all the best in being able to prioritize and focus on one task and keep at it until it's been conquered.


Hi Subclinical
Things always look a lot worse when we start to do a major reorganizing.
But eventually it all starts to come together and the puzzle pieces all neatly slip into place.

Good luck getting at least your 10 evaluations done today.

WAY TO GO! for all the maintenance you have been doing.



Hi Tatoulia

WTG! Working on the closet!!!
Please let us know when you break through to the back and find Narnia waiting.

SO, so very sorry that you fell (((HUG)))
Don't do that any more.

You having the cleaners in is keeping you honest.
Honest to yourself that you will never let it slip back to how it was before.
You deserve better that that.


Well, I am back with the living.
It has rained every day for the last 15 days.
Steven's hoard in the carport/driveway/yard is all wet and stinking of mold/mildew.
I don't know about inside the garage because I am afraid to go in there.
Every now & then I get a little whiff of carrion while out near the hoard.
All back porch kitties are accounted for.

The house is dirty.
Desperately needs vacuuming and dusting.
Bathroom is ok, I cleaned it on Monday, had to, Steven really made it a filthy mess.

Not many dishes to wash and laundry is all caught up.

My lilac hedge is gorgeous!
All tall (10ft in some places), thick and green.
Yesterday the Honeysuckle started blooming, the smell of Summer.

May is almost over.
Anybody have anything specific you want to concentrate on in June?
I need to take everything out of the kitchen cupboards & cabinets and wipe them out.
I'll do this one cupboard/cabinet at a time.
That way it will be quick and easy and not overwhelming.
I can start and stop whenever I feel like it.

Part 2 from yesterday:

So, I'm at the library dealing with a few loose ends. I'd meant to get more done around the house today, but there are also business things to do such as depositing a check and writing another to pay back my roommate for floating me the money on Monday to get tires since banks were closed then and I knew I'd overdraft if I tried to pay for them directly.

Today and yesterday it's actually been springlike weather here without rain. Last night I decided to accompany my roommate as she walked her dog. When my friend was in the hospital, I did get some walking through the corridors, and that helped get me more in condition. I think my body actually WANTS to move now! So as the 10th Doctor would say, allons-y!

Balancing between messy tiring jobs, such as yesterday's deep clean of bunny's cage, and paperwork long overdue, laundry piled up, fundraiser planning for bunny club - as always, difficult to know where to start. And I really want to hole up and sew doll clothes and quilt blocks more than any of the above. I've just got to block off a time, space, and efficient work method where I can do a little of the things my heart desires so I don't start resenting the obligatory things.

My friend's apartment I guess was in a pretty bad state. The other friend, her husband, and helpers cleaned it out so I wasn't a part of that. It just worked best they said for me to be with her at the hospital keeping her company and updating them on her status. We all knew she had been struggling for a long time. The doctors said pretty much everything (like paper or cloth, upholstered furniture - whatever couldn't be disinfected) had to go because of mold and other pathogens. It's sad, but I'm glad she is in a healthy place now, and if she is able to rehabilitate to the point of independent living again, she can make a fresh start. She seems to be accepting. All this inspires me to do what I need to do while I have my health.

Hi mjz and welcome to our fun bunch! I get you on the nap temptation. I agree a sorting method is the way to go when you find stuff that doesn't go in the place you're cleaning - the trick is to not be distracted by the sorting for other places. Some use bins or bags for the other places if they can do it quickly, but it's perfectly okay to just put it all in one container, carry that to the next sorting place, and things will get returned to where they go once you've made the complete rounds.

Hair elastics were/are something I minimized on the last move. Going more toward neutral colors - I love colors so I had collected so many. Gave the extras to my mechanic's granddaughter if they were clean and in good shape.

Tillie, first of all:
Feel better!
Enjoyed your story about naughty Marty trying to evict Scooter, and glad it didn't work.

Good going on bypassing the lingerie chest. At one time in my life I had my heart set on getting a jewelry armoire, just for costume jewelry mainly. I'm glad I didn't get around to it - and even if I had, I'm sure it would've been downsized by now as taking up more room and encouraging keeping more jewelry than I use.

I love "PUPA" - Pick Up and Put Away! It fits with our journey from cluttered caterpillars to beautiful butterflies, doesn't it!

SubC - we all need to decompress after a long season whether that's teaching, or in my case going up to the hospital pretty much daily to check in on my friend. Hope your tummy is feeling better. The nicer shelves sound like a good option to replace particle board, and I'm sure they'll serve you well.

I've had allergies off and on, nothing bad, the most annoying part is a tickle cough. Honey is my go-to for that, or hard candy. Don't care for the menthol taste of conventional cough drops. Too strong.

Tatoulia, glad you enjoyed/are enjoying the cat sitting - can't remember how long it was to last. Linen closet functional and pleasing to look at - Yay!

Hope you like your new glasses. I've had a bit of difficulty with glasses these last few years. I got a pair in 2011 with my disability lump sum. They were more pricey (not extravagant but more than I'd usually spend). They were exactly what I wanted, Silhouette rimless frames. Unfortunately, I am a klutzy eyeglass abuser these last few years.

Needed new Rx a couple years ago but since my vehicle and other woes depleted my reserve, I had to go to the county medical society, and get a voucher. Well, last year if you recall I had trouble getting around while my old vehicle was in its death throes. So by the time I got glasses picked out, my cataracts had rendered the Rx obsolete! So I seldom wear the new ones, and won't be eligible for another voucher for five years - or maybe I can save the money if things ever let me. I figure I'll get it sorted when the cataracts are bad enough for surgery. I put the current glasses on to drive looking out the bifocal part...

Take care of that knee - ice it a bit if it swells.

Guess that's most everything for now as far as catching up and being back in my "normal" routines. This time has been a spiritual journey that broke me out of my rut somewhat, and I hope that effect carries on. I can see how I spin my wheels, so I'm trying to focus in on one task and "prioritize" - something ADD makes difficult but if I can cut one thing from the herd and tend to it, I might succeed.

Iced tea clinks!

Checking in on Tillie!

SubC I hope you can focus on the evaluations today. I'm sure the state of the basement is nagging at you. Please remember that you are sore and need to just do paperwork today.

I am working from home today. Solid progress on the bedroom closet. Two dresses for the cleaners including one I never wore, tags still on, I tried it on today and I don't like how it looks, and a dress I just washed to see if I will wear it again. If not, goes to the cleaners.

I'll report more later.

Cm loved your newsy post and hope you'll have a chance to post more soon.

Hello Joan.

Tillie, I hope you are feeling better.

Tatoulia, I love that you have the cleaners to take care of you. :)

I slept late this morning - my body is sore all over from yesterday, but hopefully it will ease up as the day goes on. Dh will be home very late tonight, so the day can kind of move at my own rhythm. I'm going to try to see how many evaluations I can push through.

My basement is a huge disaster. It's not the kind of overwhelming I want to cry disaster though, it's more of a creative potential disaster. I really want to get down there and rummage around and sort and churn and reorganize, but I know I have to do my evaluations first and that I will make it even worse before it gets better.

I also know that there is not enough room in the basement for the things that are currently in the basement, which seems counterintuitive to me - because they are there, but the space is not functional.

Tillie I hope you are resting and flushing the fluids. I'm worried but know that you know how to take care of yourself. Still, I'd love to be able to bring you a cool cloth for your head and straighten out the bedsheets.

Cm! So happy to hear from you. You are doing a very good job of weathering the storms-both literally and figuratively. I am so pleased to hear that you bought some plants. That makes me very happy. And you were able to go by the quilt club! Yay! I bet everyone was thrilled to see you!

SubC I bet the goats appreciate your hard work! You do so much in a day. You are making good choices and tough choices and I'm so proud of you.

I am home from dinner. Nice time. Afterward I went to the grocery store and walked around some. I fell and skinned my knee. I haven't done that in a while, but given how much I walk it's to be expected. I also ran into a woman who served jury duty with me and that was fun to catch up with her.

I just showered and am ready to climb into my professionally made bed. I am so glad to have the cleaners. It is such a treat but it's more than that. It's psychologically and physically and emotionally and mentally good for me. Also knowing that kitty is living in a clean place is important. I never have to think about what I should be cleaning and I'm never worn out.

I need to buckle down on the bedroom closet. Tmr might offer that opportunity for me.

Joan I'm thinking of you.

It's getting late now so I'll do Part 2 tomorrow.

I got called away in the middle of that and posted without realizing that I only thought at you that I am sorry about your tire troubles, but very glad you got back to quilting!

Hi CM!

I have been waiting for part II, but I guess I will be intermission.

I got the stall cleaned out. I'm trying to let the floor of the barn dry as much as possible and will rebed it tonight before I put the goats in.

I also got my minimum (10) evaluations done.

And I started moving books and I did a load of laundry.

I found five little thin children's books and two textbooks I can part with. That's sort of like dieting by skipping the after dinner mint, but it's still the right direction.

I've got one little bookshelf ready to go to goodwill, one for dh to cut down so I can use it under the chalk ledge in my classroom (I pulled two 3x3x2' plastic cupboards out of my classroom this year and added one tall shelf) and two small wood ones I haven't decided about - they may switch places with something else that would then go.

Part 1.

Thought I'd get this update done Monday. That was the day my friend left the hospital here for her next stage of her journey, namely more rehabilitation and dialysis on an outpatient basis.

But there was a lot going on Monday and yesterday, and some residual fatigue, and regrouping and reintegrating.

On Sunday afternoon, I'd been headed up to see her and take care of details like packing - including several bags of new clothes our other friend bought her, that I'd taken home to iron name labels in.

I'd seen that my van's tires on the driver's side needed a little air. When I got to the hospital parking garage and got out, I immediately noticed the back one was way too low.

So I went to the Quik Trip a couple blocks away and started airing the tire. Seemed to work at first, then I realized it wasn't holding. Called Kenny. He inspected it and found what we thought was a piece of metal. I had been meaning to purchase a spare and forgot. *sheepish facial expression* So since he has a Dodge Caravan like mine, he lent me his spare.

Off I went to Walmart with about an hour and a half before closing. But it was a moot point. The damage was too extensive. What I decided to do was buy a matched pair of new tires on Monday, have the good one of the previous set saved, and I'll purchase a rim and get that mounted then I'll have a spare.

So that's what I did after seeing my friend off. My roommate had had to have a new alternator after her own adventure with flash flooded streets on Friday. So she came with me and we wandered Walmart. My friend called during that time, after she had gotten settled in at the new facility, so I chatted with her while walking around.

Yesterday I went to quilting at church for the first time in weeks. Today I deep cleaned my boy bunny's cage - the girl's I did recently already. Tomorrow and Friday will be a combination of laundry, tackling my trashed bedroom, returning library books, preparing for bunny club quarterly event on Sunday, gardening - I bought a small assortment at Walmart before all thd spring plants are gone. A pretty reddish pink caladium, some mixed vincas, and marigolds. Just enough to enjoy and not feel overwhelmed caring for.

Mmmm Tatoulia, raspberries - I need to go get berries. Roommate's June bearing strawberry plants, which didn't produce much last year, are doing better now. We also have a cantaloupe to butcher. And Tillie, I have thought about baking one batch (2) pumpkin pies before the weather gets hot.

Lunchtime now. Stay tuned for Part 2! 😀

Cleaning fairies just left. They are lovely. One was wearing some earrings I had put in the bag. They are gold hoops with tiny diamond chips. She looked really pretty. They are nice people.

Sorry you are sick and feverish Tillie. Please take good care of yourself! A cat I used to babysit always had hair ties all over the place. I'm pretty sure that's where I got my one. I used to have tons and then after sorting the bathroom drawers a few years back, I donated all of them. Now I need them again as my hair is longer. M
SubC great work getting the bookshelves downstairs! You will enjoy having sold wood bookshelves and have a place to put your things. I'm happy for you! Very good choice

Don't read this, SubC. The shoes were a very old pair and on their last legs and have now been disposed of. I am very hard on my walking shoes given that I do a minimum of four miles a day on concrete.

I am looking forward to seeing how the soles hold up on the Allbirds. They are made from sustainably sourced sugar cane. I am hoping to get four months out of hard walking on them. Time will tell!! Concrete is murderous on shoe soles. But I enjoy my walks so much.

Good Evening Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
Hope your shoes survived.

Once upon a time my home was filled with hair ties.
They ALL belonged to my boy kitty.

YEA! for being such great company for the kitties you're baby sitting.

Hi Subclinical.
WTG! getting the shelves out of the truck!
YEA! for them being in the basement!


Last few days I've been feeling tired & "off.
Today I have had to admit to myself that I'm ill.
Something with a fever, I dunno...
But I finally did get linens washed and hung out today.

Tatoulia, I am sorry about your shoes. I know that feeling well!

I meant to tell you, hair ties have always been like currency in my house. We loose them, we break them, the cat steals them, they turn up in the washer, they get used in place of zip ties or rubber bands. When the girls were home we argued over who the hair ties belonged to constantly. For a while the youngest wore only light brown ones because she was blonde and her sister preferred black. At one point all three of my kids and I had hair past our shoulders. Now it's just the cat and losing them and giving them away to students. I still put a pack in the girls' Christmas stockings every year. When Dd moved last we found a stash of seven that sil's cats had hidden under a shelf.

The shelves are in the basement. Now there is just a lot of rearranging to do. I don't have to go anywhere tomorrow, so hopefully: stalls, evaluations, and breaks to work in the basement. Maybe I will find things to discard as I move stuff around.

I'm glad the school conference went well and that they appreciate and recognize your talents, SubC. Great work with the bookshelves!

It is cold and rainy here. I got over an inch of water in each shoe because I misapprehended the amount of rain and didn't wear my rain shoes. As soon as I got home (I had a meeting after work), I jumped into the shower so my feet would be warm, clean then dry. I'm just back up here after an hour at the neighbor's, playing with their cats.

Had a good day at work. Glad I'll be home tomorrow.

Take care, everyone.

I did not touch the stalls - by the time I got dh off to work and my chores done, it was too hot.

I gathered things that needed to go back to school, loaded the truck with moving blankets and wrote a letter I had promised a parent (I almost torgot that and it was more important than evaluations are right now)

Went to school, had conference (they still like me), loaded shelves, worked in my classroom a little - I admired and rearranged my new furniture and filled the trash can (it's just a smal one) and gathered up a bunch of recycling.

Then dropped my recycling and the stuff from school, stopped at a local store for some bananas and my favorite snack nuts, and came home.

The furniture lady was worried about how I would unload the shelves. I was too, after watching the two twentyish young men who were helping her struggle to get them in the truck. However - today I was reminded that 1) I am strong. And 2) some men are not. (My 25 y.o. son tosses two 50lb feed bags over his shoulder and quick walks them from my car to the rack without breaking a sweat, and he has a desk job. So I forget.)

I had no trouble lifting the top shelf, sliding it back, lowering it to the ground and using the furniture dolly to move it into the garage. The second one I didn't even have to lift, just slide and pivot. I can pick either shelf up, but not walk with it, so I will need dh to help me take them downstairs. There is massive rearranging to do.

I have not done any evaluations. I am tired and going to rest for a while.

I will need to go back to school after one if my selves in the classroom is bolted to the wall so I can do more rearranging.

That's an excellent point, Tillie, about living with things for a bit. And I'm paying attn to the things I need to move to get to the things I need. Most of the ?moveables' are out of my life now. What a gift that lesson has been!!!

One thing that made me giggle last night was I kept finding hair ties. One where I keep my keys, one on my dresser and one on the table next to my bed. You need to understand that for years and years, I had one hair tie. One. And I lost it a while ago. I had my hair up while walking and when I came home, it was gone. I didn't notice it fall, as my hair ends up falling out of it while I walk, etc. so who knows. So I bought a pack. And now I have five in rotation and they are everywhere.

As someone who formerly bought multiples of everything, it tickles me that somehow I only had one hair tie, and I was able to keep it for so long.


Must get ready for work now. Coffee clinks!!!

Good Evening

Hi Subclinical
Thank you for taking a drive through the state park.

Your plans for tomorrow are perfect.
Don't try to add in any more.

WAY TO GO! for all you did today!

Wishing you a good night's sleep and pleasant dreams.


Hi Tatoulia
Impressive display of flags there!

It's good to look through and straighten and put things away properly.
You don't always have to be looking for more to thin out.
Live with things as they are now, get used to the way things are.
It will come naturally to you when it is time to let something go or that something needs to be moved to a new location.
And moving things around, touching them, putting them away nicely helps you to remember what you have and hopefully use/wear it more often.

WTG! for everything you did today!
You especially took good care of Miss Kitty.

I am all showered & shampooed and sitting here in my bed wondering why does Scooter always have to cuddle with my foot?
He looks so peaceful and content doing this and I hate to move & disturb him.

Great planning! And I love the fact you took Tillie's advice and enjoyed a nice drive with your husband. And no shopping! You are doing great on the evaluations and you sound physically better! Glad you could eat dinner.

I'm off to bed. I put the dishes away, cleaned up kitty's placemat and put out her clean water bowls and other things. I'm showered and ready for bed.

Keep up the good work. And take good care of yourself.

SubC and Tillie, thank you for looking at my photos on Instagram. I post them just for you. And CM and Joanie and anyone else.

Nice job Tatoulia!

I bookmarked your photos so now I can find them. That is a lot if flags!

I did better today. I cleaned out one stall and I did ten evaluations. I also ran a load of dishes and a load of laundry. Dh cooked dinner - which I ate. And we went for a non-shopping drive through a local state park.

70 evaluations to go (plus proofread and submit)

Tomorrow I want to clean another stall and do ten more.

I also need to drive in for my end of year conference with my administration and pick up those shelves.

Maybe drop the recycling off.

That's enough to plan, right?

Oh Tillie stay warm!!! It's been an absolutely beautiful weekend here in Boston. I took some pictures of the Common today and posted them. I got overheated during the walk back from downtown so BF picked me up at the halfway point. Tonight we walked all over the city, and now we are back home. I'm getting ready to hop in the shower and I'm thinking now about what to wear tmr, to make my life easier in the AM.

I worked on closet today. I haven't gotten rid of anything else but I did move stuff around and think about where to store my clutches and other purses I carry during dinners, weddings and parties. I know I have to cut it down further but I'm not ready. But I did get them into one spot and in a container with a lid, since they need to be kept out of the dust. I do need to figure out where to put cat blanket since soon I'll be washing it and putting it away for summer. I'll put out cotton pillow cases for her to sleep on. Her fur goes everywhere.

I've scanned the apartment and made adjustments along the way. A very good feeling.

I've run the dishwasher and now I need to empty it. I made it through the weekend without buying any unnecessary items. I am trying to rein in the spending now that I've bought my eye glasses.

This week I have dinner with my neighbors (they are moving) on Wednesday night. I'm looking forward to it. I'm hungry now in fact.

My garbage is out and kitty box is thoroughly scrubbed. Just need the motivation to empty the dishwasher!

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Those wooden shelves would serve you so much better than the particle board ones you currently have.
Hope you can find a way to get them swapped out.

Overwhelmed and burnt out...
want you to shut the door and walk away from sorting out decision making for the time being.

Schedule in rest and recreation.
Read a book.
Take a bubble bath.
Go for a non shopping drive in the country.
Spend quality time with an animal.

WAY TO GO! For your Dh!!!


Hi Tatoulia
YEA! for doing a tidying up!

That is called P.U.P.A.
Pick- Up- Put- Away.



Another dark cold rainy day here.
So cold I am back to wearing a long flannel nightgown and wool socks.
Hard to warm up the house because I removed all the plastic over the windows.
Thin single pane rattily windows.
And the one window is all set up with the evaporative cooler in it and the cooler vents just kinda/sorta close out the wind.

I ate breakfast and now my tummy feels a bit unsettled, but think it's ok.

I got an email this morning from the woman at school who is in charge of furnishings. There are two large, sturdy wooden bookshelves she wants removed from the office. She said if I bring my truck tomorrow she will have some young men avaiable to move them and they are mine.

I know where I want to put them - in the basement - but there is gridlock down there and I am not sure dh and I can carry them down. However, I am going to jump on the opportunity, because they are really well built and solid wood, no particle board. My hope is to remove several small particle board shelves from the house and have the books on the big shelves.

I was motivated to try to attack the basement, and I started for no reason at all with the bins of baby toys. I found about half a dozen I decided (after 20 years) weren't really worth saving and put them in the donate pile, but it made almost no space, And I got burned out quickly.

Another getting rid of thing I did this week was to take a few bits and pieces I had kept to school as bingo prizes, but again, the resulting space was tiny.

I must be doing ok though, because the weather is nice and dh asked if It would make me feel better to get out for a drive and we could stop at yard sales this morning. I am actually feeling overwhelmed enough that I declined.

Mjz!!! You are amazing!! Great work! So proud of you! What's on the schedule for today?? Check in if you can!

SubC I am glad you are enjoying the clear space your husband made! Clear space is so nice!

Tillie I'm going to do a quick visual sweep around the apartment to deal with anything out of place. I'm feeling great today. Must keep it going!!

Mjz, I hope that you got your bed cleared off last night and got a good night's sleep!

I am guilty if using beds for sorting, but my bed is only used for folding laundry - i either put it away or toss the rest back in the basket and rake it with me when I leave the room. The extra beds (we raised three children) sometimes remain covered for a very long time.

Last night I went to bed early and slept until I woke up naturally. My belly still hurts, but I think it is muscular from being sick. I am not hungry yet (I ate two slices of toast and a cup of rice yesterday) but I am enjoying my coffee.

I am also enjoying the beautiful clean space my dh made - he even cleaned the windowsills and baseboards. And he cleaned an old area rug I had saved and put it out in the transitional area between the old and new space. It looks nice and creates a visual "no dumping" zone for me.

He also used some of the baskets from my basket collection to better organize the kitchen.

I am ready to tackle the evaluations and maybe the stalls a little today.

I didn't do a final report on the teacher gifts, but except for the one pack of pens, they were all food or gift cards. I did save some tissue, gift bags, and a bow. My dil loves bows and reuses them on things she gives away, so I am slowly decreasing my bow collection by putting them on gifts to her. It currently fits in a giant washed out popcorn tin.

WAY TO GO!!!

How wonderful you have thoroughly cleaned the bathroom!!!

Best way to clear off the bed is to put things where they go.
If they don't yet have a permanent home because you need to straighten out the area where they go, then put them as close to where they will go for now.

It is extremely important that the bed is never used as a holding/sorting/staging station.
Only exception is if you are sorting there and will have it cleared long before bedtime.

For tonight just get the stuff off the bed so you can sleep comfortably.
Tomorrow you can work getting all those items sorted out and where they belong.

Now that the bathroom is clean and tidy it will be easy to keep it that way if you spend just a few minutes every day tidying it up.
Removing things that don't belong there and a quick wipe up shouldn't take more than five minutes.

I DID IT!!! Thank you! I cleaned my bathroom! I started a little at a time like you said. except, does it count that I took everything out, scrubbed, mopped and rinsed and placed only the restroom stuff back inside? because now my bed has the left over mess.

I know I have to clean it up so I can sleep tonight, but I do not know where to start. I have paperwork, toys, craft supplies, hardware stuff, clothes...

It's helpful that no one is home but me.

You used to be so miserable in the Summer & humidity because you hated your home so much.

So wonderful those days are gone!

You will still get hot & muggy but at least your home will still be an inviting sanctuary.

So happy the kitties have you to love on them. ;D

YEA! for taking Mom past the Common, must have been packed with people.

Haven't done much of anything today.
Scooter stole my sweater again and is all curled up in it on the couch, sleeping.
Been so cold and dark today.

There's a certain type of weather that makes me wistful but I cannot describe it. It's the calm sunny weather you have just before the tornado warning (I'm showing my midwestern roots here).

I just got in from my walk. Showered and in jammies. The kitties downstairs are very sweet and the black one (long fur, heavy silver undertones/never seen anything like it) is a total lap cat. She kept hugging me. And rubbing her face against mine. Very, very dear.

I drove mom past the Common today but I'm not sure if she could see the flags. There were a lot of people out.

I am working on my closet and will hopefully have more time tomorrow. Today I just wanted to spend time with BF then get mom out.

My allergies are in an uproar from the cat hugs.

Tomorrow night is trash night. The building filled up with people today. I did most of my laundry on Saturday but would've liked to have done a delicate load of darker clothes. Wednesday works for that. I just prefer smaller loads.

I'm really happy that I've been maintaining the house. It is such a relief. Plus I have the cleaning fairies. I don't have to dread the summer and think about how much I hate my house!!!

I also want to put the bedspread on to see what I think and see what you all think.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi mjz
Have you found some motivation to start?
The restroom is a good place to start since it's smaller than other rooms.

What most always helps is to do just one thing.
Motivation follows action.
Work at it for just five minutes then stop.
Or, fill one small bag full of simple obvious trash.
Then when you see that you make a good start that will help motivate you to do a little more.
Good Luck! ;D

Hi Subclinical
I absolutely agree with your Dh.
You are detoxing.
Take it easy, rest, sleep, eat & drink.
Let your system adjust. (((HUG)))

Hi Tatoulia
I hate it when this cyber room echoes.
Honestly thought I had posted this morning but must have dreamed it.

I suppose weight maintaining is like housekeeping maintaining.
As long as it stays the same, No Harm/No Foul.

Those two kitties are so sweet sitting in their little beds.

Hope you have been having a lovely restful day. ;)


Been busy today puttering about.
Went through my slips & camisoles and decided to let two slips go since I never wear them anyways.
Tried them on and think I just don't like the way they feel on. "shrug"

It's been kinda/sorta raining off & on all day.
As much as I love the rain it's making me melancholy.

Hello and welcome, mzj! We are glad you are here! Have you started on the bathroom yet? Yes a nap can be tempting!

SubC I am so sorry you are sick! It sounds like stress sick to me too-sometimes it just can catch up with a person. And you go-go-go all the time. And it's been an emotional and stressful time. Hope your headache is better. When things catch up with me it's usually headache accompanied by brutal stomach issues. I do hope you are feeling a bit better now.

I have gotten some walking in today and some errands with mom. I am also fighting the urge to nap right now. I still need to get more walking in today. I've set a minimum expectation for myself and also, my legs expect at least four miles a day. They feel so good afterward!

I may read and nap now followed by another walk. Since there's a touch of humidity, I may go to the mall and walk the stairs.

Greetings mjz!

Hello Tatoulia.

I went to bed after ten last night and woke and started being sick around 1 a.m.

So far i've done minimum morning chores, slept some more, and am trying really hard to finish my second cup of coffee to avoid a worse headache. My goal is to stay out of bed until 9:30.

Dh did lots of housecleaning - the vacuum/sweep/dishes kind.

He thinks I am detoxing from the stress and exhaustion of the year. I do not have a fever.

Hi. So today so far besides making my smoothing, i've done nothing. My goal today is to clean at least my restroom, then my whole bedroom. Both quite a mess and cluttered. I'm just having hard time starting. Want to take a nap instead. I know I need help, which is why i googled Motivation To Clean.

Hello!!! (Hello hello hello). Nothing but echoes today!

I've had a short walk today. I visited with BF and now I'm heading to mom's.

I'm up, having coffee. Going to take mom out once she calls me In the meantime I'm going to read and relax. I'll walk later.

Tillie you read my mind! As I was thinking, you can freeze pumpkin pie? You explained how! WTG! You are amazing!

I have been hankering to make some pumpkin bread. I'll treat myself to that after my doctor's appt. bear in mind, he is very happy with my weight (although he'd like to see me drop some more), it's just I've been st this weight for a while and I know it's because I've been indulging. Not overindulging, otherwise I'd be putting on the pounds, just indulging


I went for my walk and I picked up raspberries! I bought a large container and just ate half. So lovely. I did pick up a few more things too so I got the walk and the fruit I wanted!

It felt good to drive again. I was happy to be in the car and to get the things off to the donation center.

I spent some nice time with the very lovely and loving cats downstairs. Tmr I'll have some coffee with them and read a book. They are very lovely cats. I'll post a picture.

My bed is clean. I washed the thin white quilt for good measure, even though I have a recollection of washing it recently. I did it again because I wanted to add borax to give it a boost, so I washed it today. I'll do pictures of bedroom over the weekend when we can debate the date of the white summer bedspread.

Tillie clear skies here. Beautiful day.

Well you could just go out for a walk and pick up some raspberries along the way and grocery shop some other day.

WAY TO GO! for getting donations donated!

True, those organization tips show how to organize way too much stuff.
Just because you can make boxes/baskets/bins look color coordinated doesn't mean you really need to keep everything.
So many people are into collecting and attractively storing different types of craft items.
Trouble is they seldom if ever do any of the crafts.
Keep only what inspires you to create these crafts.

Scrap booking is a big very expensive one.
The items are colorful and fun to look at but if you are not into scrap booking, do not buy the stuff, just look and pass it by.

The kitties will appreciate you stopping by and spending a little time with them.
Kitties I have baby sat have always waited by the window or door for me to come by and looked forward to the lovins.



One time at the thrift shop they had a very nice tall & narrow "lingerie" chest/dresser.
I looked it over and it was excellently made and they priced it so cheap.
As much as I enjoyed looking at it I knew that I had nothingto store in it.
I could have gone and bought lots of things to put in it but I didn't need lots of new useless things.

So nice that your newly organized linen closet is helping you keep it from becoming the catch-all that it used to be.


There is a peace that comes when things are "just
So".


Today is sunshine then big clouds build up and rain down then back to sunshine, rinse & repeat.
Wanted to get some canned pumpkin out of the pantry that I bought back in the Fall.
So I made two pumpkin pies, used up some other ingredients too. They are cooling now.
Will chill, cut, wrap and freeze a lot of it to enjoy later.
The secret to freezing pumpkin pie is to thoroughly chill it before you freeze it, then no separation occurs.

Absolutely gorgeous day here! I ran up to see BF and brought my donations for goodwill. Bag of clothes and the trash basket (very pretty) that i had been using as my hamper. Then I left my stuff there and ran to post office to send something to a woman who is a shut-in. I sent a reusable tote bag I'd purchased at the Museum of Fine Arts. I like to send her something, a note, a card, about once a week. I always send her the Boston Globe the day after the marathon. Just something so she can look forward to the mail.

Then I went back to BFs and headed off to goodwill. I had, already in the car, a bag of work shoes, a bag of suits, and miscellany from when I cleared out my linen closet. Speaking of which, the linen closet is completely functional and I have zero temptation to fill up the spaces. In fact, every so often I'll have something in my hand and as I think about putting it in the linen closet, I remember that the linen closet has a new look and it isn't a garbage can.

I worked more on the bedroom closet this AM. BF is having work done on his house and I told him last night he can move in here for the summer. So I need to make room for him. I said that we will just have the cleaners come once a week instead of every other week. He knows how fond I am of the cleaners and how much I enjoy having them.

I'm relaxing for a few. Debating whether to go to the grocery store. I thought that tmr I'd take mom so I'm not sure if I really need to go now. It's more that I want the walk. But I'd also like some raspberries.

I'm trying to lose 4 lbs before my dr's visit.

I did three loads of laundry today and could still do more. I think I'll read and relax. I haven't visited the kitties yet. He had someone doing the AM and I'm doing PM feeding. I don't know him very well but once I found he had cats, I was all over the situation. I'll go down at feeding time and then hang out with them. He's close to the laundry so I'll probably do some then.

Tillie, the organization tips on Instagram are really selling a life where everyone has too much stuff, but it's labeled and done in pretty colors. I look at it and think, who needs that much stuff? See how we've managed to change my perspective?

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Hoping you are getting in some rest breaks between everything and evaluations.
Has you weather dried up any?

Hi CriticalMass
Hope you are safe and dry.
Yesterday afternoon here the emergence "flash flood" warnings started.

Hi Tatoulia
That's pretty funny about the bird!
Happy to know it was eventually rescued by the FD.

Yes, it's very sad to see how much you neglected yourself.
But so wonderful to know that now you are taking such good care of you.

Have fun baby sitting kitties!
I really miss my old neighbor friend's kitties & puppies that I used to sit for.


More rain predicted for today but right now the sun is shining.

Hi Tillie. That is hysterical about Marty trying to dump Scooter. I was once Marty.. Many, many years ago, I worked with a woman who lived in the city, not too far from where I am now. Like most converted brownstones, there were no screens on the windows. I hated her bird, esp since she let it fly around the apt and I was so upset so I used to make a Vanna-like sweeping motion toward the window and oh how we laughed. I wasn't there when it happened, but one day my friend came in to work and said the bird flew out the window. I lived on Beacon Hill at the time, and I was walking to what was then a grocery store and I saw a sign at the firehouse. They'd found her bird.


Im still a little stressed about yesterday's closet thing but trying to put it out of my mind.

I'm excited about my new glasses. They are different than my old ones. My everyday ones are very pretty, my other ones are a huge departure for me and the sunglasses are my typical big frames. The dr mentioned that she could tell that I must wear sunglasses a lot because there is not the type of cornea damage she generally sees on someone. I am feeling a little selfish that I bought three pair. But I'll show them to you once they are in. I'm looking at it as a medical device and also, I was never able to go get my eyes checked because I couldn't afford new glasses. Pretty pathetic to see how last I put myself and my life.

Beautiful and sunny. I'm washing some bedding. I'll post pictures later.

I'm the only one in the building today, probably the whole weekend. I'm taking care of neighbor's cats. They are beautiful cats.

Hi Tatoulia
I am VERY proud of you for taking care of that whatever that was in the closet.

(((((HUGS)))))

It's in the past now.
Lets just leave it there as we move on into the future.


Thanks for the sorry...
The cats all know/knew the rule about staying in the yard and to never jump the fence.

When Scooter was very tiny, Marty lured him over the fence and ditched him there.
Marty was trying to get rid of him.
It was pretty funny.

Good thing you had the credit card with you.
Are your new frames very different from the old ones?
Sometimes I think about getting a different style just to shake things up, but I never do.

Enjoy your walk tomorrow and getting to see all those flags!