Won't say I'm happy about it, but microwave and the main power unit of gar door opener are in the trash dumpster.

Weather man said it will be 60 and sunny tomorrow!!!! Such a treat after all the cold weather, hooray. tomorrow I will finish the entryway , so nice to have sun and warmer weather, I started on it this morning, but was too frozen so moved to warmer part of yard.

SUNNY TODAY!!!!!! I did dishes this morning then worked in yard aalllllllllll day. I enjoyed being outside so much. I cleared an area outside and moved the rocks to make it useable. Felt like I found a new place to hang out. It is so much more enjoyable now without the junk. I usually jump from project to project so today I told myself to stick with it until I felt like it was done, so nice to complete it. It is supposed to be nice all week. So happy it is comfortable inside so I can enjoy outside now that it is warmer this week.
Nice to hear how you are doing.

Diane, The craft projects sound fun. Having a creative outlet is renewing for the spirit. I think we are forced to use that logical side of the brain when we declutter. Creative outlets give the other side of the brain a chance to let loose and run free.
Tillie, You are so right. If I am disciplined enough to remove i bag a day it really makes a difference. Every time I leave the house I try to take a bag with me out to the toter. I cannot leave a partially filled bag on the floor. Curious Frank will play with the bag. He uses it as an ambush to attack the dogs as they unwittingly pass by. He pretends it is the enemy and tries to kick it to death, making holes. And he also finds treasures to take back out to play with. Cats are a joy, but do add to the clutter! If I start a bag of trash I have to stay with filling it and then remove it immediately.
Today's emphasis has been getting my financial mess in order. Since I retired rather abruptly in December I need to know exactly what I have on hand, what is coming in, and how much I am spending. I am on a fixed income now and need to keep on budget.
Two tasks I have done are 1) meet with a financial consultant to see if I can get a better return on my monthly annuity from work 2) getting another bank to take over my car loan so I have a lower monthly payment.
Daily chores are keeping the kitchen clean, doing another load of laundry, and getting that "bag for the day" filled and out of the house.
I enjoy hearing from all of you as you have time to post. Keep up the good work!

Good morning :)

Hi Barb :)
WAY TO GO!!!
Getting the cable guy in there to fix stuff!!! :D
Seems like you could make a lot of progress if you just planned to daily gather up and get out at least one bag of trash. :)

Hi Diane :)
You sound so happy :D
Your craft project sounds lovely too.
I baby sit dogs, but at their own houses. It is very rewarding to care for and play with them. :D

Hi Karl :)
I love that you are now the stuff of romantic rumors. ;D
Good luck with sorting at the storage unit, hope you finally locate those cables.

Hi Roxie :)
Good luck with your plans for today! :D
I hate that shipping out too. :( (((HUGS)))(((HUGS)))

Hi Dianne :)
Happy to hear about all you did with the kids. :D
Take care to time and pace yourself.

Hi Trust :)
WAY TO GO!!! for all you got accomplished! :D
Keep doing some every day and you will start to see great improvements.

My plans for today are to get back to doing my sewing projects and also need to tie up some loose ends of other projects I have going on.
Staying off the computer gives me so much more time a day to get a lot done. :D

Good morning/afternoon everyone. In contrast, I slept so great last night, got up did 2 loads of laundry. Took all the stuff off couches, shook and cleaned stuff. Vacuumed, cleaned all dog stuff, washed dog dishes, put all away, no evidence of dog clutter now. Max was crazy happy to see his parents last night. His mom emailed me a picture of him playing with one of his toys I made him, he looked so happy. I planned to do it for a gift since she has given me so many bonuses and gift cards in appreciation of my work during shot season, plus pay. She being the generous person she is, gave me green stuff in a thankyou card. I realized I can continue to do dog care for the money I need to make ends meet. One dog at a time, she thinks that is a great idea, and will let her friends know.
After I got cleaning done this morning I set up a table and cutting board and cut a white felted wool shrunken thick blanket and cut two scarfs out of it, so cool, edges are ruffled from shrinking. I set aside now to decide if I want to felt design on it or just put some big beautiful buttons on end, it is to be worn as a neck wrap, sort of like a big thick floppy collar, so cool, I am impressed. I am surprised how happy I feel today. I think knowing I did the very best I could with maintenance, eating better, and taking loving care of Max, makes me feel proud of following through, I have been known as a quitter, not this time around!!! With the support on here, a new life is opening up.

Good morning, Tillie and everyone,
My day started very early, too, as I was not close to being ready for the cable guy. I meant to start yesterday but just could not get going. So I was up at 5:30 today. I was determined not to cancel him again.
I did get a trail blazed from the front door to the TV and dusted around the TV. I also made sure there was a clear path through the garage to the cable lines.
Four contractor bags of trash are now out for pickup. And that astounds me. It is only 24 feet from the front door to the back of the TV. That is a heck of a lot of trash!
Now that I have started on the living room (my hardest room), I know I can keep going. Not at the frantic pace I spent this morning, but steadily until it is manageable again.
The cable man was very nice and did not seem shocked by the mess. He left a few minutes ago and I have TV again. I have to catch up on Downtown Abbey.
Time for a lunch break. I'll finish filling this last bag and put it out. Clean up the kitchen. Do a load of laundry. Then take a shower. (This cleaning and decluttering is dirty business.) I have literacy training at 5:30.
Have a pleasant day.

Good morning everybody! :D

Was awake at 5:00am so decided to get up.
House was dirty so decided to clean it.
Had some laundry so I washed it.
Now the rest of the day is mine, all mine! :D
Have so many fun things to choose from.
Wishing everybody a productive and enjoyable Monday. :D

Update- found missing coats & daughter's clothes in bedroom. Took care of stuff & put things away. 5 minutes was good.
Lots of other things going on in house with family but I did get 2 sink bathroom vanity cleaned organized & purged some too. Probably an hour & 1/2. Cleaned outside windows on porch since I had to clean wall mirror behind vanity. Did dishes & leftovers I'm between. Laundry is talking to me now.
I wanted to quit & give up on the bathroom since it was taking longer & do many other distractions but knowing I needed to be able to say I did it to people who understand & get it. So many of my friends are what Flylady calls born organized, just naturally cleaning & organized since birth or raised that way. I'm a third generation pack rat that is determined to change my ways & with God's Help My Children's Future too. Thank you for being here!

Thanks Tillie, happy you are enjoying your creative side, and so happy you will be in chat tonight. For some reason it seems longer than a week since last chat. Helped hearing you have to sweep porch regularly. I keep thinking I am doing something wrong to have to clean entry daily with max running in and out, just the way it is.

Good morning :)

Hi Diane :)
WAY TO GO!!! for all you accomplished! :D
Hoping your weather is better today.
Mine is sunny and only a slight breeze today.
Great plans you've made for this week.

Hi Barb :)
Happy you have better weather! :D
We still have lots of wet sand and mud and I have to sweep the back door area all the time.
GOOD LUCK! with the cable guy. Hoping you let him in to fix all your problems. :D

Hi Dianne :)
YEA!!!! for sunshine :D
Writing up a schedule of things that you need to/have to do and forcing your self to stick to it is a great way to get things rolling. :D

Stayed up late last night watching a monster movie on tv thinking that I would sleep in a little today....
But, heavy sigh...
the phone rang early so I didn't get to sleep in. :(
Doing a bunch of little stuff today, nothing much really but all sort of fun stuff I wanted to do.
Yesterday at the thrift shop I found the rest of the items I needed to finish some sewing projects I'm working on.
Thin quilt batting and two nice new twin sheets for the backing.

Hope to see you all in chat tonight! :D

another cloudy day here, snow on ground, Max still able to find plenty of mud to bring in. Max goes home at 10:30-11:00pm tonight. I am thinking tomorrow will be good day to start major clean up, pet free. Yesterday I washed all cabinet doors. washed dishes and one load of laundry. It seems pointless to do any cleaning of floor and areas he has slept, will wash blankets etc tomorrow. I am over due for a shower and hair wash, must do that today. Plan to pull meat off chicken I boiled yesterday to make soup today. Not much on list today, clouds make me feel like you Dianne, why am I so weak that can't keep spirits up in grey weather. I feel good about the excellent care of Max I have given, really love the boy. I will miss him. Not having a pet allows more time for decluttering and cleaning. I would love to make some real progress this coming week.
Barb, I can relate to the mess that prevents repairmen in. This is the first time in years I could let any one in here. It is worth it to do the work and maintenance. We can do this with the support of this group. Old habits take plenty of effort to change I am finding.

Good morning, all! I know most of you on the west coast are not up yet, but here in the east it has warmed up above freezing and it has put us all in a better attitude.
Yesterday I did not get much done. I attended a workshop in the morning and found it very hard to start in when I came home in the afternoon. I do better if I get things accomplished at home in the morning and then reward myself with an outing in the afternoon.
It is very muddy with the thaw and the dogs have tracked in everywhere. I need to keep a bin of towels by the back door with a snap lid on. I had a basket, but Frank the cat thinks baskets,boxes and bins are fair game for emptying to see what may be at the bottom. He has undone my organizing tasks too many times to count.
The cable guy is coming in the morning to see why my TV no longer receives the signal and my internet keeps going on and off. I have cancelled him 3 times since early December.
There must be a clear uncluttered path from the front door through the living room to the TV and also one through the garage to the outside cable connection. I also need to make sure the area around the TV is dust free and has room for him to work.
The living room is the hardest for me. I start and then I get sidetracked and quit.
Today is a new day. I WILL get ready for the cable guy.
Best to you all.

Goodmorning, it is another cloudy WINDY day, gusts up to 60mph. Not so sure about walking Max today, we played fetch in here this morning then he went out and ran in the rain by himself. He is sleeping next to me on the couch, I will miss him when he goes home. I got more flat rocks for my entry way yesterday, maybe called flagstone, look really great. Hope to work on it today when not raining.
I also would like to put more insulation up today before I shower. I have done pretty good on maintenance this week, dishes, laundry and garbage out. I have eaten healthier this week. Last of soup today so plan to make some more, makes eating healthy so much easier to have it premade. One goal for the week is to fill donation bag, still need to do that. Today I want to hang more hooks in garage to put tools on, and label a few cabinets and put stuff away. I really have no motivation with this string of cloudy windy days. From experience on here, I need to just do things and not wait until motivated, which might not come unless I get active.

Good morning :)

Hi Dianne :)
Hope your weather is a bit more sunny today.
Gloomy days make me feel sluggish too.

Hi Dave :)
How's it going?
Have you been able to resist salvaging stuff from the outbound pile?

Hi Karl :)
Hope things get sorted out as to the rules
of who can eat what.
Here, I am not allowed to eat any of his food even though he often sneaks and takes my food.

Today's forecast is for "DUST" because the winds will be blowing.
Have my grocery shopping list all ready and will be going to the store soon.
Slept badly last night and have a stiff neck & headache today. Took some aspirin.
Noticed that Mr. Hoarder has brought a paper shredder in to his bedroom and he has been shredding some papers.
This is great!
He has been keeping every scrap of paper "just in case" he might need it some day, "might be important".
He still has not been able to locate the title to that Dodge truck.

How is everybody today?
When you don't post I worry and hope you are just off having a lot of fun somewhere. :D (((hugs)))

Yesterday went to recycle center for magazines, brought home 50-60.

Took out vhs tape player (Diane that was my choice for the other day) 36 books, 1 pr shoes, 2 water bottles, 1 corelle cup and 1 medical sales tool calculator clipboard. ( I salvaged a box of the clipboards from a storage unit dumpster many years ago. :) ). Mrs Dave and I are going to get the rest of the outbound pile cleaned up in a bit.

Good morning! :D

Been busy busy busy making a big pot of yummy soup.
And juicing oranges & brewing some herbal tea and making some nice orangeade.
Soon, I will clean up the kitchen.
Almost all the snow has melted but the ground is still frozen solid.
Made the appointment for the eye exam. :D
January 18th.
My plans are coming along very nicely. ;D
When I am finished here I will be going over to the big house and plan to hang out there for a while, maybe even watch a movie.

What are you all up to today? :D

Hi Diane :)
YEA! so happy there was no flooding.
You did a GREAT job fixing that problem. WTG! :D
It is hard not to always put pets first since they are always right there in front of you demanding all your attention. :D

Hi Roxie :)
Hoping you get your water fixed real fast. Fingers crossed!

Hi Barb :)
Rule number one when dealing with a hoarder is to not give away or toss any of their stuff.
So I can't pass on those mushrooms. :(
Some of the vehicles have both our names on them and some have only his name on them.
So far he has always refused to allow me to sell any of them except a Datsun years ago.
But he has complained bitterly ever since I sold it, regretting that it's gone.
It didn't run & he wasn't going to fix it so I sold it to some kid for 200.00.
He won't even let me sell my '72 VW Beetle that he trashed and doesn't work any more.
But this year my only plan is to get rid of all these vehicles and camper shell & trailer.
I will use psychology and peer pressure to help him let go of these useless things.
That would really help clean up the property and reduce the rodent and insect populations and give me some cash to put down on a working vehicle for me. :D

Good morning everyone. Slow day yesterday, just played with dog and took him for a long walk. I worked on a stone path in entryway, looks so good. It rained all night, no flooding. Did see some areas to fix so doesn't get water. Did a load of laundry this morning. Partially dried in dryer then hung up. Dishes didn't get done yesterday so will have plenty to do today. Max goes home Sunday and then I can do lots of laundry and cleaning, he brings plenty of dirt in. So good having him here and just like a grandkid, love him while here and glad when goes home. I get much less done when focused on dog. Before I get another dog, need to figure out to keep priorities straight, always put pets first and house and self care suffer.

Hi Tillie,
Just danced in the living room with the pups to "The Puppy Song". They love it when I dance with them. Thanks for sharing.
When the husband is at work tomorrow, perhaps you could call your local soup kitchen to come pick up the mushrooms. I'm sure they would like to make some lovely mushroom soup. That is a LOT of mushrooms and they don't keep very long unless you have a dark place to store them.
I'm glad you are going to have new glasses to drive.
After my husband died, I spent a year taking the bus while two non-working vehicles sat in my drive. I finally bit the bullet and had a car salesman friend come out, give me an estimate on what they were worth, arrange to transport them back to his place of business, and get them sold. He got one running and sold it and sent the other to auction. He also helped me purchase a reliable vehicle with the downpayment from what I got for the two.
All this to say, I know and understand your predicament. And i will be thinking of you as you figure out how best to deal with your vehicles.

HI :D

I have really been enjoying my alone time this week.
He was home underfoot since sometime in November.
He likes to create drama and also creates lots of dirt.
Been so nice quiet and peaceful here this week.
I have been able to set out my projects without having him run through and destroy everything.
Sure, he still comes home every evening but that's ok. I can deal with that. ;)

The rehab center received too much food for them to store or use. The guy who manages the facility brought a truck load of excess food over to the community center to give away for free.
My hoarder loves to hoard food and free food is even better. :(
Last evening he came home with a flat of 8 one pound packages of fresh mushrooms, 2 five pound bags of tangerines and a large frozen leg of lamb. :(
Heavy sigh, head held down, slowly shaking side to side.

Anyways, I give up on him right now and am back to doing whatever I can to improve my self and my situation.
Today I am making the appointment for an eye test and I will get new glasses. :D
Since I have to wear glasses to drive, my license says so, this is all part of my big plan to parlay some derelict vehicles into one running vehicle for me so I can escape. lol ;)

So, what are your big plans?
We all need dreams. Dreams are nothing more than wishes and a wish is just a dream we wish to come true.




the puppy song

Oh, Roxie,
We are all thinking of you today I am sure and hoping you get your water situation fixed permanently. How discouraging to spend so much money on repairs and still not have hot water. Hang in there. We are sending good thoughts your way.
Today it is 20 degrees out and snow is gently falling. This is a winter day that I can cope with.
Yesterday I got working in the house and did not get out. Today I do need to go to the post office, bank and grocery store. And I will drop off that box of mismatched glassware for them to sell at the thrift store. I dare not stay to shop. I am really doing well in disciplining myself not to bring more stuff home.
The rules of making sure there is a place for something before I bring it home and purging at least one thing from the house in exchange for the new item is helping.
I know most of us hold our breaths at Christmas. Well meaning relatives try to give us more tchatchkes that we don't need.
This year I told my brother's and sister's families that all I wanted was new updated pictures of them for my family picture wall. Not professional pictures---just candid ones. Did they listen? No. I got more "stuff". No pictures.
I can download some of their pictures for my wall from their Facebook pages. But I do wish they would hear me.
The best to you all--Tillie,Diane, Dianne, Dave, Mrs. Dave,Roxie, Karl, and anyone else I may have forgotten. Checking in here has kept me sane during the bad weather.

Good morning :)

How's it going today?
Yesterday I finished altering a blouse. :)
Then I got side tracked and did some sorting and purging.
For the last month I have been slowly gathering up stuff and setting it aside to donate.
Was so pleased with myself for making a big pile.
Well, he got into the stuff and by the time he finished there was only a handful of stuff left to go to donation. :(
Sent off for a copy of my birth certificate and it arrived. Never had a real copy before and it is distressing to find the name I grew up with is not really my name. :(
Next major To-Do on my list for this year is to get new eye glasses.
Finally got him to locate where he put the house deed and pink slips for all the vehicles.
He found all vehicle titles except the one for a dodge truck, he is still looking for that.
I now have all these important papers safely stored in the wall safe. :D TA-DA!
I would like to sell all the derelict vehicles and put the money toward getting me a dependable working vehicle to gain back my independence.
But I don't think he will let me sell them. :(
Today I plan to do some more sewing after I finish doing the usual daily tidy ups.

WAY TO GO!!!! everybody for everything big or little you have accomplished! :D
Stay warm, be content and smile today. :D

The outside temperature is now up to 13 degrees and the wind has died down to almost nothing. That means that finally my furnace can keep the house at a toasty 68 degrees. I have done very little in the way of cleaning the past two days. It has just been too cold. I have spent most of my time huddled under a blanket with my critters trying to stay warm.
I have never functioned well in the cold. My brain begins to turn to mush and I have difficulty making good decisions. My body slows down and becomes clumsy. I just have to hunker down and wait until it becomes warm enough for me to function again.
Today I will:
1. Tidy up my kitchen.
2. Do a load of laundry
3. Remove 3 bags of clutter from the living room
And since I am now able to get out of the house (thanks to a kind neighbor with a heavy duty snowblower who blasted out the dam at the end of my drive) I will go to the post office to mail a certified letter, go to the bank, restock milk and other necessities at the grocery store, and drop off one box of donated items at the thrift store.
Have a good day all!

Dianne,
I am with you on the need for mind changing.

I had been saying I'm a hoarder, but not as bad as those ones on TV. I got to thinking about that a few weeks ago and decided that may not be a useful way of thinking, so I started just saying I'm a hoarder. Now I am so focused on decisions I am unable to make that I am using the hoarder thing as an excuse rather than as an identification of something that needs to change in my life.

Ooops! That was from Dave to Diane.

Shopping list Good!

Just remember to get everything on it.
I just returned from the store, where I didn't have a list, not sure if I got everything or not.
But Sunday nite I went to the store for milk and some other things, with a list. I came home with the pie and cookies that were not on the list, but I forgot the milk, which was. I did remember that at the last minute today.

Hi everybody :)

Not ignoring you all, just having a hard time concentrating today.
WONDERFUL to read all your posts and how you cheer each other on and give words of wisdom and confort each other. :D

Got the house all cleaned yesterday and today only had to do a little usual maintenance.
Been pulling out all my fun projects and trying to formulate plans for tackling them.
Some great sewing projects are coming together very nicely. :D

I read this link and found it motivating.
Lots of swear words but if you read it make sure to read page 2, that's the part I liked.



LINK

Noon here, I better get dressed now.
Today I will do one thing to completion.
Join me.
Do just one thing, big or small, hard or easy, fun or frustrating. ;D

Hi Dianne,
How I wish I could be there with you to help you with your daughter's room. Together, we could begin to tackle the clutter and I think I would enjoy talking with you and getting to know you better while we worked.
Carl Jung said that shame is soul-eating. I know what he means. I struggle with the shame of my clutter everyday. And I know that many others out there, whether they are living with a clutterer or are the clutterer themselves, do also.
I have a new book and I am reading sections of it on my breaks to encourage me and keep me moving along. It is called The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown. Here is what she has said about shame:
"Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change...If we share our shame story with the wrong person, they can easily become one more piece of flying debris in an already dangerous storm." BUT "If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can't survive."
Please know, Dianne, that you have friends here with whom you can share your story.

Hi Dianne, such a difficult place to be in. When I started on craft room, I could not enter room at all. Tillie told me to pull 1 pile of bin out at a time and deal with it. Now after months there is floor to walk on. The time never seemed to come that I wanted to do it, just did it a little at a time.
Today I have done nothing except read on computer and print off a $10 off coupon, for Home Depot to buy more insulation. Now going to grocery store and pet store to buy more pet food, will run out before Sunday. Cloudy days are not as much fun for sure. I made a shopping list, trying all kinds of new behaviors.
Hope it warms up for you in cold weather, that you have heat and hot water. Life keeps throwing us curves, builds character they say, at least we have a place here to share and get support

HURRAY for EVERYONE's victories of the day. I pray for warmth and courage and rest for each one of you.

I made another trip to garage with more empty containers. Felt like I should leave in here to put stuff in, took out anyway, was the right thing to do. Dog kept barking at doggie door so finally took him for a walk. After going for a walk, felt much better. Worked on path in yard the rest of the day. Max enjoyed chasing birds again, ran like a crazed dog, and is sleeping now. Still enjoying him. His parents are in Hawaii and both are ill with bad colds, coughing. Makes me happy to be home. Supposed to start getting snow so will go to grocery store tomnorrow. Not much in frig. Had soup again today, so happy I made it, will have it tomorrow too.

I apologize for not replying a few days ago to people's questions and supportive comments about my daughter's sleepover. In answer to Diane's question, I think $15 an hour is a very good price for a cleaning service. I paid $30 an hour for the cleaner I used. I imagine it depends on where in the country you live, and I think that cleaners charge less when you have them come over regularly. A major cleaning job like mine will cost more. The kitchen floor needed a deep scrub. Now we are waiting out the polar vortex, meaning the terrible cold that has descended on much of the nation from the North Pole. Schools were closed today and will be closed tomorrow. Roxie, have you gotten the hot water heater working yet? I would hire a plumber to come over. They can re-light the pilot for you if that is what you need. I am thinking of you in this situation and hoping you are able to get this fixed. Tillie, it is so sweet that you are thinking of the bunny in your garden. I think I will go curl up with the cats now. They are happy to be inside where it is warm. Temps have fallen to -8 degrees outside, and with the wind chill it's even colder.

Diane,
That is part of Mrs Dave's stress from yesterday too. I see 3 cans of gold spray paint that she intended to use for some craft project. There is a sweatshirt she was going to make something from. Some bags of batting for both pillows and a quilt. She let go of some "maybe" projects and is experiencing that disappointment.

You are both doing better than me at the moment in regard to letting go of some future ideas.

Yes Roxie, try to see if light is out, it tells you the steps to turn off, turn on, hold button and light, some have reset button. When I dug into my water heater finally it was pretty simple. Also supposed to drain crap out of it in summer. If it is over 10 years old may need to be replaced, that is what I read but mine is about 15 and is still good.
Dave have to say you motivated me to do difficult work today. Went into the cold garage and stacked all the empty bins, tubs, totes, racks in one place then went into craft room and took 4 loads of empty bins, totes, boxes and racks out and put with other stuff.
Tillie I feel so unsettled after doing this, like my stomach sank and burns. I would think it would feel good to have them all in one place and see how much I have tossed. Truth is it made me really sad, that so much of my life had been in those containers, and there is still so much more to deal with. I was keeping them in craft room to fill with craft stuff that is stacked so was a real sense of loss to take them out there, no longer to stuff them with the stuff on the floor, but instead let go of much of the stuff from the floor and closet. I have done enough for now, need to regain my composure.
Did dishes, cleaned counter and stove and microwave this morning. Change is unsettling for me. I really appreciate the support on here. And Dave I threw away a bunch of stuff in bottom of bins in garage, including some halloween craft kits still in bags, bought them years ago, cute stuff, but wanted to see how I would feel throwing away something perfectly good. Part of my anxiety. Donations of holiday stuff isn't appreciated at this time of year, so tossed, amnesty.