Hi Porter :)
I've been thinking about your question concerning quick reclaim cleaning methods.
My method is to have the fewest number of items to move in order to clean an area.
Keeping nothing on the bathroom vanity counter makes it easy to wipe.
Fewer things on the floor makes it easier to wash floors and vacuum.
Washing laundry when I have enough to make it worth running the machine rather than letting it pile up too high.
Washing dishes before every dish in the house is dirty makes the task go much faster.
Having very few tchotchkes decorating tables & shelves makes dusting easier.

Basically, having only what I need, use or treasure makes keeping the house clean easier.
When I decide I do not need, use or treasure something, I get rid of it rather than have to move and clean it. :D

I know I know , were on phase nine now :)

This may not be very good advice, but it is an experience.

I keep reflecting on most of my adult life that has been spent living in a hoard. It feels like I tried everything , but I know that's not right. One thing I did was while trying to sort stuff. Was to use blankets, sheets, and pillow cases.

My daughters room used to get so out of sorts I would intervene . The sheets just had to be washed, or replaced.
I admit I would let her use the same bedding for months at time. But that's not my point. When I finally did make the move to take over her bedding. I would use the sheets like crates . I would put things in the pillow cases to keep near the bed. Stuff on sheet in the hall to take out her room completely . And other stuff just near the bed onto the comforter that I just needed to fine a nook for. This gave me a sense of divide and conquer. Plus a trash bag for trash:)

So this way gave me immediate access to the bedding . Second set of Clean sheets and washed and cleaned everything else ready to go before I stepped foot in there.

After the clean bedding was replaced, after I put back all her near bed things. After I organized her room a little. All things to ve removed from room were thrown on the sheets in the hall and dragged to the laundry area. Stuffing the laundry in the washer. Now the time while the washer is washing is like a ticking clock. I think I often heard jeopardy ear worm music in my head. Do do Do doo DA DOO DOO DOO.
I put away the rest of her stuff that belong in the common areas. .

I tried many thing to get her to do it but she just wouldn't do it without being prompted to do so. But at 14. She did start putting her sheet in the hallway throw a pile of dirty clothes on it bundling it up and throwing down the stairs.


Now that it's just me myself and I. I keep those large bags you can buy at Uhaul for moving mattresses covering her things in room protecting from dust.I also keep 6 large tubs in her for keeping her possession in. But now theyre gone too after separating her mothers things , and her and I things , throwing what was obvious clutter. She finally came and took it. I m glad it gone, but I miss it only because I feel like there's nothing left of my life with her. . She's doing well.
My energy and drama about her messy room is not missed.

But I thought I share the sheet drag thing because it helped clear things fast. Reclaim and reorganize but in just a very specific spot.

Ok I'll repost here till the end of 2017 .
Let me know if you have and rapid reclaim methods you'd like to share.

Good Morning Everybody :)
Chai masala "CLINK!"

I put up phase nine yesterday.

Hi CriticalMass :D
Thank you for that lovely cyber B-Day greeting card!
So glad that you strive for the peaceful more spiritual meaning of the season.
It makes me sad to see the people who hurry and rush and fret like they are trying to grab something just out of their reach and then are made sad when their holiday didn't live up to their expectations.
Wishing you all the best of luck getting your bed all cozy and inviting.
Don't try to do too much while your roommate is gone. Keep your focus on just clearing the bed and sorting out all the things that end up there.
Try to find homes for the stuff so they won't return to the bed time after time.
But most of all, enjoy your time there with the kitties and bunnies. (((HUGS)))

Well, the cats insisted on having canned cat food the moment I woke up.
Meow, meow, meow...
So I fed them and now they have all settled down.
The sun is shining again today :D
Have no plans to do anything today except think.
I want to make a solid clear plan for moving forward this next year.
There are many things to accomplish that do not need Steven's involvement.
Some things I will have to figure out a way to get him to comply with, like getting proper binding wills and last wishes/DNR made.
For the past five years I have been culling my belongings, like getting rid of the antique fussy serving dishes and other what-nots. Things that I no longer need/use and have nobody to pass them along to who wants them.
Then this year I read that there is a Swedish thing that older people there do called "Swedish Death Cleaning" and realized that's exactly what I have been doing all along too.
It's not a sad depressing thing, just a way to have your life in order to save those left behind the pain of having to do that decluttering.
You do keep all you truly cherish and treasure and use but not all the other stuff you had for a life you no longer live. :D

Oh noes! My first greeting got messed up! Let me try that again:

Happy Birthday Tillie!

Okay! I think I have time to make a more thorough post before I head off to quilting!

[[color=CC00FF]size=5]Happy Birthday, Tillie!
:) You rock![[/color]/size]

So we have come through Christmas with the ups and the downs - hopefully in the end more ups. I sure do feel I enjoy the holiday more once the actual day is over. I've adopted the old tradition of thinking of the 25th as just the beginning, with Advent as the spiritual run-up and then the 12 Days of Christmas as the real time to celebrate. It works - because the frenzy is gone and I can bask in the spiritual aspect. Some people take their pretty decorations down right after the 25th, but enough leave them up at least through New Years and I can drive by and enjoy them.

It's taken a plunge into colder weather here, though no precipitation as yet. Dreary skies, with occasional sun peeking through. My roommate leaves to visit her family tomorrow morning and returns Sunday. She'll take the dog along, and the cats and bunnies and I will par-tay, LOL.

And I'll be able to do more ambitious decluttering, using card tables in the living room as staging platforms. One huge goal is to declutter the bed and wash the sheets. I'm embarrassed and disgusted to think how long it's been since I've been able to do that. But once I do, hopefully I can prevent the bed from getting piled with stuff and be able to do sheets again regularly. There really is nothing like fresh sheets and nightgown after a nice shower - ahhhhh... and a kitty on the blankets for good measure. :)

Tillie - when our furnace was still awaiting repair, one of the cats spent much time beside the portable heater. Hopefully your guy will be safe with you keeping an eye on him. I can see if he's older that would be more advisable! Thank you, by the way, for the kind reminder after my last long post, to be forgiving to myself for my flub-ups. Enjoyed hearing about your gramma; she sounds like the kind every kid should have, full of wisdom, practical knowledge, and compassion.

SubC - it sounds like you will be able to restore at least some of the good puppets and I bet it will be enjoyable doing it. You can probably trace patterns from the existing ones. I really get it about your feelings re mother-in-law getting the different pan. People think they know best when we have already found exactly the thing that's right for us and then they go and change it. I so wish they wouldn't do that.

Joan, glad your medicine worked so well!

Hi Porter - Merry Christmas, glad you joined the party here. Congrats on adopting the cat, but sorry things have been lonely for you. Keeping busy as always helps though, I'll bet. Changing our self-image from hoarder to former hoarder is a long process, I'm finding out. I like the sustainable homes idea; could save people so much heartache and money to rebuild. Have you tried chewing crystallized ginger for the carpal tunnel?

Hi Anony, good to see you - hope you are able to post, and we may need that Phase 9 thread soon!

I've decided that in 2018, I'm going to make some place to set aside gifts throughout the year - just small things; I don't do big. Mostly things for Toys for Tots and the Angel Tree at Church. My enjoyment of dolls can come into play - I can either buy some $5.00 Barbies or even get some from the thrift store and fix them up. I can do likewise with baby clothes for the crisis pregnancy center (the angel tree's main focus). And whatever else. And for my quilting ladies - but that'll probably be just containers for consumables.

The whole idea will be to get these items during routine shopping and thus avoid the end of year pileup. I realize that just as with my decision to shop on the first Monday of December, the day I had the wreck, nothing in life is predictable, but I still believe being proactive has its merits.

Well, I see I've been here for about half an hour! Time to shift gears and be off to quilting. Love you all, be safe and well, TTYL!

Hi Tatoulia :)
I'm glad you were feeling well enough to enjoy yourself.
Please feel better real soon. (((HUGS)))
Losing weight this time of year is almost impossible.
But I have enjoyed every fattening morsel and hope you have too. ;D
Only 10:00pm here so not yet my B-Day.
Thank you for the Birthday greeting! :D
Nate called today and gave me an early happy birthday too.
WTG! for clean sheets & mailing parcels!
Please get the rest you need to recuperate quickly.
Go snuggle the kitty. ;)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR TILLIE!!

Still here, Tillie, although I feel like a giant sugar plum after all the food this month! I'm not so sure I'll meet my goal of being down three pounds by dec 31st. At this point I'll be happy to be the same weight as I was on Dec 31st.

We had a lovely, relaxed Christmas Eve with the family and then I slept most of Christmas Day. BF and I went to s hotel for our dinner and it was lovely. I had today off and did a few things around the house including changed my sheets. I went to PO and got a package mailed to friends overseas.

I still have some cleaning up here--still some boxes to be taken apart and recycled. I have been battling a cold and not feeling well at all. I am grateful that on Christmas Eve I was feeling well enough to enjoy the holiday. But yesterday and most of today I've been feeling poorly.

I have not read everyone's posts but am glad to see that most of us have checked in--including Porter and Joan!
Tillie we will need a Phase Nine soon as the buttons are getting smaller, which means in turn that we won't be abject to hear from Anony.

Stay healthy, everyone! Take good care of you!

Good Morning Everybody :)
Tea "clink!"

Hi Subclinical :)
Sorry the in-laws make it difficult. (((HUGS)))
Hope all the other family there more than compensate.

Hi CriticalMass :)
So great to read you are feeling more optimistic!
(((hugs)))

Looks like those Sugar Plum Fairies have absconded with our Tatoulia. ;)

Woke up just as it was beginning to get light out.
Checked the weather forecast, sunny, no clouds and into the 40s today.
Washed sheets, pillow cases and table cloths and have them all hung out on the line! :D
Now laundry is all caught up. YEA!!!
There are no plans for today. Steven is still at home, he never told me what days he is taking off work so I don't know when he will go back to work.
In case you haven't guessed, he never speaks to me unless it is absolutely necessary.
I rarely speak to him because he will just be snarky, negative and nasty & I don't want to hear it.
Anyways...
I have made myself a cherry pie for my B-Day tomorrow, might just eat the whole thing.
I have that Beatles song stuck in my head. The one about being 64.
When I first heard that song I was just a kid and never believed that I would ever be that old.
Figured I would have died long before then.
LOL ;D

Meant to do this yesterday but that's ok:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I'll be back later and catch up on posts - I'm feeling relieved that the run-up to Christmas is over, beginning to put the van wreck thing behind me, and feeling optimistic about the many things I want to do, from decluttering to big creative projects . . . it feels a lot better than how I had been feeling for a good part of December and even November.

Later!

Merry Christmas everyone!

I'm glad most of us seem to be on the mend.

Porter, I am sorry about your family.

My in laws are here and I am just waiting for them to leave. I want to be supportive of my husband, but it seems like we can never communicate when we are around his parents, and so w3 are fighting.

Mil believes that gifts show love based on their financial value. The degree to which you are related to her determines how much she is supposed to love you. I asked her for a specific pan I really wanted, but I guess it wasn't expensive enough because she "upgraded" it. The pan she got is much heavier and also larger. The two things that were important to me about the pan were material and size.

Trying to just be gracious and let go. Ignore the "stuff." This was never abou5 me anyway. This is about dh feeling like he has done what he needs to do re his parents. I need to remember that.

Good Morning Everyone :)

HI Porter! :D
So wonderful to hear from you!
We never throw out old friends even when they do get their homes all tidy & clean. (((hugs)))
So happy Jackie adopted you. You both needed each other.
Nice that you are still working on your projects.
Fire resistant housing is so very needed in wildfire prone areas.
Sorry the new better paying job aggravates the carpel tunnel.
Do you have a brace to wear? They do help minimize the stress on the joints.
It is hard when things change in ways we don't want them to. Just keep working at making your life into something you enjoy even if it's not the life you truly desire.
(((HUGS)))

Hi Joan :)
Nice that you can get ready made good Indian food close by there.
I don't feel that we need to ban holidays but I feel strongly that we need to put a ban on the over commercialization of the holidays.
It is ridiculous how strongly they promote overspending, going into debt even, for holidays that are supposed to represent the unconditional love of family and friends, peace on earth goodwill to men etc.

All that dark gloomy overcast sky has finally broken up and today we have partially cloudy skies with lots of actual sunshine coming through! :D
Very quiet here. Nothing much happening today.
Try not to venture out tomorrow when the hoards will be back at the stores to buy up all the 50% to 75% off on all the holiday crap.
;)

HI ANONYMONIKER! :D
I will wait with you! (((HUGS)))

~☆♡☆~Happy Human Holiday!~☆♡☆~ ....im just waiting for it to end....

Hi Porter! Good to hear from you.

A little snow here this morning. Love the quiet.

Thinking of heating up Indian food for lunch. I like Indian food. Don't buy it often. There is a good dish or two I like at the gricery store, ready to eat.

I am torn between thinking we should have more holidays and we should ban holidays. I always feel even more ostrasized than usual once the holiday hits. On the other hand, I am on record as not being fond of humans, in general.

Glad to be living in a time when things on this planet are finally changing for the better.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Ive been trying to stay on the nice list.
Dont know if I said anything about adopting an outside cat.
I named her Jackie. She has bad manners adopted at approx 7mos. She basically aboupted the house . Shes asleep under the tissue papers in the middle of the living room.
Ive been riding the hilly part of the rollercoaster of life.
I no longer have any of my wifes or daughters possessions.
Im still sad about it because I didnt want either of them to go. So im trying to move on . But im just not ready and do t know if I will ever be as open to anyone like I was to them. Ive been in a few famlies and livibg with wife and daighter was about as close to feeling at home as ive lived .
now everything associated with them gone.

I dont know. I kinda miss their stuff as opposed to the house being so barren. Its grief , and I know as time goes by I feel differently. Igot a better paying job but it aggregates carple tunnel syndrome. I keepon with cleaning routine.

hmmm
once I had sailboats and when I would return to them I clean them before relaxing . It became my social spot. I never invited people to my home. But the boatwas easily cleaned. And no one ever complain about it .
So I have abopted that method too.
I come home and spend about 30min to hour cleani g or organizing. Then usually fall asleep in front of tv, stumble into shower and go to bed.
I no longer consider myself and active hoarder.
I do have a small hoard of thing I wont part with, but im not adding to them to it. After the experiences of the last two years. I know how unhappy I was living in a hoard. Learned to see the hoard as capacity issue for point of view.
If it is just sitting there in boxes where family space could used for doing things together then it must be put away where it doesnt take up family time or space.
I am a hoarder, but im not actively hoarding.

I still make modle homes . Im still working hover craft.
but my small budget . Ill not be a wright brother, if you know what I mean. But I enjoy making the models perhaps in some ways other people like adult coloring books.its a past time. But for reference I make the adobe designes to fit areas like the California wild fires. There would be some damage but only on the outer skin of the rooftop . Seeing it onThe news year after years. Is why I keep obsessing on the abobe/foamcore concept as my creative outlet.

I look forward to reading whats been going on.
ill post again in a few days.

Good Morning Everybody :)
Chai masala "Clink!"

Hi Tatoulia :)
Wonderful! that you are feeling better! :D
Have a most magical Christmas. (((HUGS)))

Hi Joan :)
So happy to hear you are so much better! (((hugs)))
The old models of quartz heaters were very dangerous.
The new models have very good safety features.
If you even slightly bump into it or move it in even the slightest way, it immediately shuts off and you then have to use the "reset" button to turn it on again.
The only heat we have in this house is with portable electric heaters and mainly I use the electric radiators because they are the safest and cheapest to run.

Another dark, cold dreary overcast day here.
When the weather is like this I can not do any laundry that needs hanging out, like sheets or table cloths or cat blankets.
Over the years I have been gifted two clothes dryers.
The only place to put them is in the garage,
Steven has refused to allow this because that means less space for his hoard so he gave my dryers away. :(
Anyways, this is why I have more sheets & blankets & etc. than you would think is necessary but this time of year it all becomes necessary.
And no, I can't take it to the laundromat to dry it because I have a great fear of germs, spooky random people germs.
My plan for today is to warm up the house and then shampoo my hair.
Might do some sewing or beading or crocheting but otherwise just have a quiet peaceful day. :D

Wishing you all peace and happiness (((HUGS)))

Happy Holidays!!


I am much better today and greatly cheered by hearing that Joan is doing better!

I am going to get ready soon to go to brother's house. BF will help me pack up the car, as I don't want anyone breaking into it as they see me pack it up. There's plenty of parking by my house so that is good. And he doesn't mind doing it.

Just wanted to let everyone know that my viral meningitis is almost gone. The herbal tincture and remedy my doctor gave me were kick-ass. My immune system is taking it from here.

Tat, sorry to hear you are sick! Tillie, hah, yes, you have to be careful with those quartz space heaters. If a cat knocked the heater over you would be trouble. I know the heat is attractive in cold weather, but you do have to watch those heaters.

This morning was yoga class. It was very dark, cold, and rain/ice all day today. The driving wasn't too bad because a lot of people stayed home. I have heard a couple of people say they are looking forward to staying home and watching movies on Christmas Day. L'état, c'est moi‼️‼️‼️

Happy holidays to all, Tillie, Tat, CM, SubC, Anony, and others here I may have forgotten.

(((((HUGS))))) Tatoulia

Stay warm, drink your juice and get all the rest you can.
Feel better real soon.

Hello everyone! I am sick, which is unfortunate. I did pick up all the food I need for Christmas Eve dinner. I bought everything prepared from a local grocery store. I only need to pop the turkey breast into the oven/everything else just needs to be reheated. I got the groceries last night.

Today is sleet and icy rain. I just had an orange juice and a blueberry muffin and now I'm going back to bed.

Good morning Everybody :)
"clink!"

Hi Subclinical :)
WTG! for dropping off donations and recycling! :D
Sorry about the extra unplanned for company.
Just go ahead with your regular plans and enjoy the holiday.
My big orange boy cat is practically 20 years old and has gotten a bit "dotty" lately.
Cat oldtimers disease has set in.

I don't talk about health issues with my cats here. Just too sad.
But every day I try to just enjoy whatever happiness they bring me and in return I try to make their days good ones for them.

Another dark, cold, cloudy day here. No snow predicted.
No need to leave the house except to take trash out to the can and bring in mail, if we get any.
Need to do the usual daily cat related tasks and generally straighten up around here.
Since the livingroom, diningroom area and kitchen are all just one small room, once I wash the dishes it really makes a nice improvement. ;D

So, what are you all up to today?
We really want to know. ;D

We have a wood stove and our cat has never set himself on fire.

I took the pile to goodwill and dropped the recycling and trash and bought a rediculous amount of stocking filler. (8 stockings)

Dh parents are coming for Christmas Day (and the night before and after) we didn't invite them. They just told dh they were coming and he did not say no.

But my children will be here. (IncIuding the two we stole by marriage, but not my heart daughter and her family) i am focusing on that.

I turned on the quartz heater in the kitchen area this evening because the house temp went down to 62 and me & the cats were chilly.
My big orange boy cat went right over and sat right in front of the heater.
A few minutes later I went to pet him and his fur was really hot!
I was afraid he would start to smolder & burst into flames.
But he was happy to be piping hot and wouldn't move away.
So, I turned the unit down, still warm but not as hot.
Finally my kitty moved away from the heater and returned to his bed since the heater was no longer fun to sit next to.
So, I can never use the quartz heater when I am not right there at all times to keep the cat from cremating himself. ;P

Good Morning Everybody :)

Cloudy dark cold overcast day. No more snow predicted.
Taking the day slow. Steven is off work until the 26th.
He's gone off shopping to thrift shops, maybe dumpster diving too.
He took with him the discount coupons from the hardware store, wonder what he plans to buy there?
When I was a kid I always loved going to the hardware store with my Dad.
Mr. Ronstadt's hardware store always had everything.
His daughter Linda was one of those "mean girls".
Said mean things to my little sister that made her cry.
LOLOL ;D

Everybody have lots of fun doing whatever you are doing this weekend.
Even if you are just enjoying a lot of quiet time or watching movies.
(((HUGS)))

CM, I am sorry about the insurance. But please do not take it personally! It is just a money setback, and I am glad your mechanic will work with you (see, that says what sort of person you are! You are a person who can be trusted.)

Living with other people can be difficult.

I think if all you accomplished this year was moving the storage unit it would be impressive, but you have done so much more! Be proud of yourself!

Tillie, I am grateful for your coat.

All of the puppets have been washed and mended or consigned to oblivion except 4 I set aside to re-evaluate after the holidays when I am calmer ("maybe I can do something with these") the heads are fine....

I have a very large pile going to goodwill today, and my brother gave me permission to give one of my dolls to his daughter when I see them next week.

I gave my husband his solstice gift last night (the stand for the poker) and he was pleased with it. It looks very nice next to the stove. He did his wrapping yesterday and I have TWO boxes under the tree! One of them is socks ;). I wonder if the other one is pajamas..... it could be. i won't get to open them until everyone is here on Christmas.

I will be busy, busy, busy today! My son and dil arrive tomorrow with two dogs in tow.

Hi CriticalMass :)
Lovely post.
So glad you have a mechanic who will take payments! :D
Please take care of yourself, eat properly and in a timely manner.
Sleep when you need sleep and remember to forgive yourself as you would forgive others.
(((HUGS)))
I was just startled to suddenly find myself laying on my back on the porch.
Fortunately I was wearing a down filled coat that helped cushion the fall. ;)
Your "hold" container is something like I do at times.
I will put something in a bag/box and stow it away in a derelict vehicle on the property.
It is outside, out of my space but still there.
After time has passed I am able to finally make up my mind to keep it or not.
You have really done GREAT this year!
We are all so very very proud of you. ((((HUGS))))

To longer days! *iced tea clinks* ;)

Hello my cherished friends - and I mean that sincerely. I can spill out the good, bad, and the ugly to you all and feel the love.

And today I need it. I was glad it's the solstice and the days will be getting longer. That's part of the good. And then came the bad and the ugly, and getting through it and the good is beginning to return.

Two days ago, I heard from my insurance company regarding the van. They felt it was a "50-50" situation. I kind of agree because while I don't think I was speeding badly, if I had it to do over again I would go more slowly. Then this morning I heard from the other party's insurance. They aren't going to pay.

But as I may have mentioned, at this point I just want the whole thing over with - and if I have to eat the cost of repairs, well, they aren't too bad and my mechanic will take payments, and I'll survive that. And most of all, I have wanted to move on. However. There was still a "sting" to the news - I think I felt judged somehow and my pride was wounded a bit. I'll get past that, I know it wasn't really personal, that they say similar things to hundreds and thousands of other people - and that when it comes to judging me, really only God and the cats have the right! LOL!

Well, so I was just working on stuff on the computer this afternoon, when I had an unfortunate episode with roommate. I won't go into the gory details, but I lost my temper and said things I regretted. I apologized, and I went to Confession and my peace is returning. I'd been ready to break for lunch, too, right before the bad stuff - my blood sugar was less than optimal. I've now eaten and taken my vitamins that help my mood, and am much calmer.

So, we pick ourselves up and keep going, right? I hope everything is on the upswing for all of you. Tatoulia, sounds like our emotional states are sort of similar, and I hope your being able to vent with BF has continued to help both you and him.

Tillie, glad your fall wasn't a bad one - I don't know if I'd be able to react quickly and roll and such like you described, but I'm sure glad you have that skill! Hope you didn't feel jarred - that doesn't always make itself evident for a day or two, in my experience. Be safe out there especially in the snow.

SubC, I so understand about gifts. I've just been through it with the quilting ladies. Some of the items are useful, some are consumable which is my favorite these days, and occasionally some make me go "Oh, I wish people wouldn't." Either items not really to my taste, or just unnecessary, or that I don't need another one of.

I'm putting most in a bag for awhile and I may make an "on hold" container (which wouldn't be big, simply separate) instead of trying to add them to my regular wardrobe or whatever category. This allows for deliberately deferring decisions on these new things, because I have enough difficulty with decisions right now on the stuff I've voluntarily brought into my life.

It's like I don't want to mix the new items, that I haven't formed an attachment to, with the existing that I mostly know how I feel about. The new ones I feel pressured to decide about; the pressure is made of a mixture of guilt and questioning, that compromise . . . "well, maybe I could wear/use this . . ." - yet honestly in my heart I'd rather not have received anything but comsumables. I guess you could characterize my "hold" container as like the airlock on a spacecraft. The things are technically on board my ship, but they aren't "inside" either, and I'll keep piloting the ship and dealing with what IS inside, whether it stays or gets jettisoned.

Starting to look back on 2017 as it draws to a close, I am glad to realize I got the storage unit moved (New Year's resolution to kick butt on getting it really how I want it!) and the quilt finished. And the decluttering I was able to do in spurts, and hopefully will be wrapping up the year with at least a decent amount of progress on the bedroom area. And keeping off the weight I lost. Must remember these things and believe more good is in store.

To longer days! *iced tea clinks*

Hi Subclinical :)
Oh course you like your gifts.
But you have started on a journey to become someone who does not have an overabundance of things.
You know that having less will help you physically, mentally and emotionally, especially now at this time in your life.
With children growing up and moving on and the changes in your profession some things have served their purpose and are no longer needed.
You have been doing all the hard emotional work to separate the items from the cherished memories.
You also see that down the road there will be so much more coming your way and don't want to be buried in too many sentimental & pretty things.
So sorry about the mouse damage. (((HUGS)))
Give the poor chewed up puppets a proper send off/funeral.
Thank them for the sweet memories that you will always cherish.
WAY TO GO! on the closet cleaning out and the book thinning! :D
Great making room for the new by releasing the old.
I too mainly wear my black crepe soul Minnetonka moccasins, they really do go with most everything. ;)

Thank you friends.

Part of the problem is that she mostly gave me things I DO like and want, but do not need and do not have room for, and so it would have been better if I had never seen them.

Between having just been at my mother's house (her house is so big- easily 3x the size of mine, and so full!) and feeling a dread of all the gifts to come, I decided to take a deep breath and do a clean out.

I started with my closet because my mom "showed off" her closet and the amount of unneeded clothing in it was still depressing (although it is a big walk in closet and you can now see most of mom's clothes, and if you take a hanger away, the dress will no longer be held up by the pressure of the other dresses) and it made me think about the state of my closet. Also, I accidentally saw a package from my favorite sock store before dh whisked it away, so I am motivated to clean out older socks and tights.

That went pretty well. One skirt out, a poncho and scarf, a bag of socks/tights, 5 belts, 2 pairs of pants. I made a small dent in the shoes also (I need to buy myself a new pair of everyday shoes soon, but I think I will see how long I can wait. I have other shoes to match everything I own, but tend to always were my black, rubber soled Mocs, because unless I am dressing up, they match everything.

Then I hit the cookbooks hard. I cleared out over 1/4 of them and stuck my thin little chocolate book on the shelf.

On to the puppets, where things did not go well. Half the puppets were stored in a nice tight Rubbermaid bin, but the rest were in a wooden toy box with slats. A mouse had made it's home in the toy box, and while I managed to find some puppets I was ready to part with from the first bin, I am terribly sad over how many have been destroyed in the toy box.

I am washing and mending, the clean, mended puppets will go in the old thanksgiving bin. but half a dozen of my children's favorites along with a few discardable are beyond help. So now I am feeling very discouraged.

Happy Solstice! :D

Hi Subclinical :)
Your night at the zoo sounds so fascinating!
How wonderful! ;D
I know too well that feeling that I'm just an ungrateful brat when given things that I have absolutely no use for.
Please keep repeating to yourself that it's really not the object that matters, it's the thought that counts.
Feel free to release the items to the universe where they will find the person who truly wants them.
Tuck away the puppets and fairy with the other like items.
She gave you things that she would have liked to have had if she were living your life.
You have been working so very hard to make your life your own.
Be true to yourself. (((HUGS)))

Hi Tatoulia :)
Good luck today with the BIG meetings and presentation.
As if the season weren't already full of time sensitive pressing matters.
(((hugs)))

Today is clear bright cloudless skies but colder than a well diggers butt.
Just recently I had been wondering if my instincts would remember how to fall since it has been a long time since I trained.
Was very pleased that I did instinctively remember.
Basically just a "tuck and roll".
Do not extend your arms, they get broken that way.
Try to land flat, not on a shoulder or hip area.
Protect your head.
At 7:30pm I took the longest & warmest shower, felt soooo good after being out in the snow.
This morning there is no sore spots or any stiffness. ;D
My plans for today?
Eat, drink tea and be merry. ;)

Tillie! I'm so sorry about your fall. I know you know how to take care of yourself but gentle reminder: take a hot bath/shower today, put on some comfy pjs and have a bowl of soup or a cup of tea.

SubC do not beat yourself up--the answer is right there-you get great joy out of receiving gifts, you understand the magic of giving and receiving gifts, and it's ok to pass them along. Or swap out a different bookmark for the new one. You opened the gifts and felt loved by your mom. There you go. Do not beat yourself up.


Have to leave soon. Big meetings and a presentation this AM.

I love kitty prints in the snow. But Miss Kitty and I are indoor cats now.

Happy solstice!

Tatoulia, I am glad you posted here when you were feeling down. Winter is hard. I'm also glad you have your bf to help you.

Tillie, ar you sure you are ok? A fall like that can leave you very sore the next day.

My older Dd works at the zoo (construction, not zoo keeping) and last night she invited us to their Festival of Lights. She has free passes, so we only had to pay parking, we also got dinner on her employee discount. We arrived early and saw some of the animals before they turned in for the night, plus the projects she has been working on recently. Once it got dark the lights were gorgeous and our special tour guide made sure we didn't miss anything.

There was one place where younger Dd started out onto a bridge to see a lake, and Dd put her hand on her shoulder. She said "we'll see that from the other side. I don't really want to go out on that bridge with that many people. I'm closing it on the 8th to completely rip it out and replace it, and i'm Not sure it has enough brackets left." So we did that.

Then we came home and opened the box of gifts my mother had sent. My mother is a big fan of gifts. I now have candy, a new puzzle to put out while everyone is here visiting (family tradition), a pretty tote bag, a nice framed picture of my parents, three very nice puppets my mom found at goodwill, a summery fairy doll, a book of chocolate recipes, and a fancy bookmark.

I love my mother and I love her gifts, (I love presents. I don't really care what they are. When one of my students brings me two pieces of macaroni on a piece of yarn, it makes me really happy - especially if it is wrapped up in a wad of notebook paper so I can't see what it is until I open it!)

but her side of the family is how I got here. I don't need another tote bag, but I really like this one. I really like the puppets. I have a collection of quality puppets from when my kids were little and from years when I taught classes that I could use them in. But right now they are all packed away because my kids are grown and my classes are different. So these will stay out for a while, and then one day I will get the puppet box out, sort through it, travel down memory lane, fail to discard anything, and add them to the box.

I have a beautiful doll collection and not enough room to display it. So again, the fairy will stay out for a while and then rotate into a box. I did manage to choose one very large doll to donate in the last goodwill box, and the fairy is small.

I definitely don't need another cookbook. I have been struggling to thin out those I have. And i'm Sure I already have bookmarks, somewhere....

And then I feel like a horrible, ungrateful person for having mixed feelings about her gifts. Especially when I know the love and care that went into finding things that made her think of me and I would like.

Hi Tatoulia :)
Mac & cheese is great comfort food.
YEA! for kitty pods! ;D
Scooter thought we should call the police and report the snow as vandalism.
Twinkles was the only cat begging to go out so I let him out.
I was able to track everywhere he went by the kitty prints in the snow.
I hand made a special snowball and put it inside on the rug.
They all had a taste.
Yeah, too many sweets can mess up our moods.
That sugar high messes up the whole metabolism.
Wishing you a good night sleep and low sugar sweet dreams. :)

Thank you Tillie. Winter solstice is here!

I'd love to see the white fluffy snow. How are the cats getting on?

I slept tonight and I made Mac n cheese with sundried tomatoes and now I'm doing a few things to get ready for tomorrow.

I bought a table cloth to fit brother's table for Christmas Eve. I dropped it off at dry cleaners since I don't have what it takes to wash and iron. I'm going to do a few things now.

I ate comfort food but no sweets. Those sweets aren't doing me any favors in the mood department.

Kitty is asleep next to me. She's in her pod bed and so I know she's keeping warm.

I'll talk to everyone later. See you tomorrow.

Hi Everybody :)
Drinking green tea with fresh lemon "clink!"

Oh Tatoulia ((((((((((HUGS))))))))))
Wishing there was something I could do or say to help you through this sad depression time.
Please be extra kind and tender with yourself.
Take time off from everything not necessary and take advantage of all and any fun, enjoyable & relaxing activities.
Please don't send me anything for my B-Day.
Your friendship here is priceless to me and without your friendship my life would be colorless and lonely.
(((((HUGS)))))
WAY TO GO! for tidying up your home. ;)

Hi Subclinical :)
Welcome back :)
WAY TO GO!!!! for all you did at your mother's home!
Sounds like it was a very good time all around.
Have a wonderful time with your kids. ((((HUGS))))

Went to the store.
The snow was 6 inches deep but fluffy & light so I was able to sweep it off the porch and walkway and use the long handled squeegee to get it off the car.
The less used streets were slippery but in town they were just slushy.
So amazed that everybody was driving below the speed limit and behaving properly on the roads!
Usually there are a few "idiots" driving faster than conditions warrant.
For my B-Day I treated myself to a 6 pack of new panties.

At Sundown today I begin observing the Winter Solstice.
A time for new beginnings, a fresh start, more light.
That new life will return again in the Spring.
Blessed Solstice to you all!
((((HUGS))))

Checking in--got to work and then had a good cry with BF and worked on house and opened all drapes to get the sunshine in. I am still struggling but better. Sorry about this AM. I needed to reach out to someone and there you all were.

I worked on kitchen and bedroom and living room. And I felt better even though I cried during it. I did laundry and got two giant bags of recycling out. I do not know where this stuff comes from.

Kitty is keeping a close eye on things too. Went up and saw BF for a bit. He's been struggling too, he told me, which isn't like him to emote so that was nice. We had a big cry together.

SubC I am proud of all you accomplished. Tillie I do envy the snow BUT I don't like to drive in it so please be safe. I think last year you bought yourself a frozen pizza for your birthday.

Hello everyone. So glad to read your posts. I am suddenly, starting yesterday, terribly overcome with a serious depression. I'm not sure I'll be able to post. I'm not sure of anything.

Tillie I would like to send you some money for your birthday. I will see if Cory would agree to let me send him some money which he can send along to you. I know money is crass but I need to thank you for all you've done for me.

I'm sorry I don't have better things to say. Forgive me for being so down.

Good morning!

My skunk is the short haired, pet rabbit sized variety with a little v on his head and back.

My mother's attic is closer to empty (We - my daughter and I - could have emptied the whole thing in an hour, but she is resistant.) we did at least get down all the things she needs from now to February. She has promised nothing will go back up. My dad built her a big storage closet on the first floor this year when they expanded their house and retrofitted for accessibility. She is 73 and a few years ago she put her leg through the ceiling trying to get a big box out of the attic. The attic access is a rickety pull down ladder.

We found a small bag of Christmas decorations she is willing to donate and she sent two ornaments home with me (I hung them already)

We took the giant old speakers that were no longer connected to anything down from the tops of her living room bookshelves (to be donated), rehung all the pictures that came down during the renovations and painting, and put up her Christmas tree. (She still has some ornaments to hang at the bottom, but we did all the step stool height ones.) The tree is elevated so the bottom is about knee high to allow for gifts under it.

I helped her get the gifts ready for my nieces, including making doll bed sheets from some pillowcases that matched worn out sheets.

We had a lot of fun and laughs and my father fed us all well. the plane rides weren't too bad. The layovers with my daughter were actually fun.

Now back to getting my house in order! Younger Dd arrives this afternoon and my son and his wife arrive Saturday.

Good Morning :)

Well today I finally get use of the car again to go buy needed stuff like kibble & litter and some fresh veggies and...

IT IS SNOWING!!!

Oh Well :(
Maybe the store will not be too crowded?
Maybe most people will stay home and not drive in the snow?

Still trying to decide what to treat myself to for my B-Day the middle of next week.
Hard to decide what I want to eat. Do I even want any cake?
Oh well... maybe I will see something at the store that I'd like to eat.
;D

Hi Tatoulia :)
LOL sorry you have that "ate too many sweets" sick feeling. ;)
YEA!!!! for the new tires!!! :D
Those are especially important this time of year.
I need new tires too, not good enough tread for snow any more.
Wonderful that you get to attend concerts!
When I lived in Tucson I was always going to the university to listen to the classical music concerts.
They were wonderful and very affordable, as in free.
So hard this time of year working in an office setting with all the cookies and candies and cake.
I remember box after box of chocolates and tray/tin after tray/tin of cookies and sweet home made quick breads all being delivered to us.
And there were only 4 or 5 of us total in the office including the doctor.
But somehow we managed to eat every last bit of it.
;D LOL

My mistake--good work CM on sorting and donating the clothes.

Marty is a helper!

I love hearing about your home economics skills, Tillie. Anony good work on getting rid of clothes!

Well let's check off another item that has been hanging heavy over my head--I got new tires yesterday. Then went to a Christmas concert with BF. I'm still at office now. Feeling sickly from all the sweets.

Will ttyl. Keep up the good work!

Hello :)

Marty is "helping" me maneuver the laptop computer.
Has my left arm pinned down and he's laying on half the keyboard.
Feeling better this afternoon. ;D
Showered & washed my hair.
Have the bodice of the dress I am altering all done.
Now I need to reattach the sleeves and it will be all ready to wear next Spring & Summer.
I will buy thrift shop dresses that are in new condition when they are too large and alter them down to size.
This way I don't have to pass up a dress that is perfect in every way but size.
When Steven got home tonight he informed me that he was taking the car to work tomorrow because he didn't fill the gas tank before he came home tonight.
So I will have to go Wednesday to get kibble & kitty litter.
Honestly, I'm afraid to venture into any store this close to the 24th. ;P

Good Morning Everybody! :D
Tea "clink!"

Hi Anonymoniker :)
My skunks grow to be large but are actually just very fuzzy.
They have a small white "cap" that runs down their neck where it becomes two white stripes on the back then tapers down to one stripe again on the tail.
I believe that Subclinical's and my skunks are from hundreds of generations of skunks that have coexisted beside humans, making them more docile toward us.
I remember the skunks in Arizona would often stomp their feet and do handstands for a while but then give up and wander off, never actually spraying.
When camping they felt free to steal all our food and curl up and nap on anybody sleeping in a sleeping bag. LOL :D
Big, big WAY TO GO! for doing so much in your home!
(((HUGS)))

Hi CriticalMass :)
I'm counting down the days to the Solstice too! :D
It's been my experience that nothing ever gets done by anybody around this time of year.
So very inconvenient having to put our lives on hold.
WAY TO GO! for working on the clothing in your room!
When looking back on the past year make sure to see all you have accomplished. You really have done a lot. (((HUGS)))
Hard to believe you weren't up to date on Monty Python movies. ;)
I still often do the "run away!!! it's a bloody bunny!" routine. LOLOLOL

Hi Subclinical :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
Thank you for your understanding.
Sorry that you don't receive the love, acknowledgement and respect you deserve.
(((HUGS)))
My blood family was so abusive that to save myself I had to sever all ties & contact with them.
I too paid my own way through college, worked hard and was extremely proud to receive my 4.0 GPA from UofA but they all said that everything I ever had/earned was just handed to me. ?
Keep enjoying the life you have created for yourself.
You have worked very hard, been a very giving and forgiving soul and deserve everything good in your life. (((HUGS)))

Taking today off. Almost noon here and I'm not dressed yet.
Woke up about 3:30am with a bad headache & stiff neck, took aspirin and slept until around 10:00am.
Soon I will shower and get dressed.
This cold or whatever I have is not too bad so far and I plan to keep it from getting worse by resting and flushing it out with lots of green tea and fresh lemon. :D
Of course I will keep up with the cat chores. Already fed & watered them. They are all napping now.

Three days till solstice! Longer days coming, I can't wait.

Just checked my email from the insurance. Nada. I'm wondering how far I'd even get in this week before Christmas and next week between it and New Year's. Wonder if everyone's out of the office or if they're in, are they getting much work done.

I may or may not get the gumption to call today. Tomorrow is going to be an away from home day - including quilting, where my quilt is in the frame ready to go. Back to the insurance deal - maybe I'll bug them Wednesday.

Started breaking up the logjam in my room - although you know how it goes - these things tend to look worse before they look better. I hung up a bunch of clothes, though, that have been lying on a table for about a month. I'd realized I could squeeze into the space by the closet, grab out hangers, then hang up the clothes or put them in the chest of drawers beside the closet, depending on which place they went.

I got out 2 pairs of my old jeans from before my weight loss. They will be going in donations. I hung up the capri pants I bought last year, hoping that come spring, they can be taken in. I had a hard enough time finding 100% cotton ones with adequate pockets and drawstring waists. Alterations aren't my favorite sewing projects by a long shot, but I'm either going to get those wearable or pass them along to someone else.

After doing the clothing project, I felt it was time to leave the room and let my brain decompress. I'm dealing with the fallout from the crazy year 2017 has been (each year is crazy in its own way). The Big Storage Unit Move - stuff that prior to it I brought over thinking I could buzz through quickly but that
didn't happen. And some new things I got excited about - alcohol ink art supplies, and some new Barbie/vintage dolls.

Plus now that the quilt is done I'm also wanting to carve out time to work on my writing, especially my science fiction. I haven't seen the new Star Wars movie yet - I'm not as crazy about these newer ones, except for "Rogue One."

Last night, my roommate and I both, for the very first time if you can imagine, watched "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Now I get all the cultural references. Also watched YouTube compilation of "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition." LOL!

To everyone who is scared of planes - Me too! My last flight was in 1987. My dad worked for an airline and was in the Air Force (before he met my mom - even had his own small plane way back then, in the 50s). In '87, my then boyfriend had to coax me along, but I managed.

I'm even more easily freaked out these days - and 9/11 capped it for good. Anony, seriously is it a federal offense to freak out? Then they'd have to sedate me pretty well if I were ever forced to fly. Hopefully I'm not in any danger of ever needing to, because most of my family is within reasonable road travel distance (even then I don't drive highways alone, so I have to get rides). I'm a happy homebody - and will be even more so as I get my home space decluttered.

Have a great week, everyone!

Anony! I love it when you are happily getting things done! SubC, one of my co-workers once said to me, "you really are a city mouse, aren't you?"

Tillie I feel your pain on the constant struggle with S. Sometimes he does what you want but then again, it's half-way or worse. It's like everything is always half-*ssed and it is somehow YOUR fault. Just this weekend I was t.hinking about how much I do not like my brother or my sister. They each managed to insult me greatly this weekend. Sister with an email praising me for all I do with a follow up saying, well I don't know why I admire you. Sweet, right? And my " good day" with my brother was he only pushed me around once and only started screaming once. I try to disassociate by pretending it didn't happen. But it all did. And they are jerks. But I don't let them know it ONLY because then I feel guilty for being educated (on my own dime unlike the colleges that they dropped out of after my mother paid for their first year) and employed and having friends and eating out and going to concerts and theatre, etc. I play into their ideas that I am selfish.

Thank goodness I am like my mom and I find a way to balance it all.

Thank you all for loving me and letting me love you.

~♡~Good Morning!~♡~
Im curious about y'all's skunks that are so well behaved. Are they the liitle mini variety with lots of stripes? These type are of a whole different attitude!!! They have no fear at all & they chase you with their butt aimed at you while running towards you on their front paws! Im serious!
Im so pleased how i managed to get what i wanted done! I bought a second heater, which will also make cleaning & organinzing inside much more comfortable, as well as enjoying my new opened up area in the living room! I made lots of good food last night & the table is clear & clean for sitting & eating while my friend is here helping! Im really pleased!
~♡~Love, Light & Goodness to you all!~♡~

~♡~Good Morning!~♡~
Im curious about y'all's skunks that are so well behaved. Are they the liitle mini variety with lots of stripes? These type are of a whole different attitude!!! They have no fear at all & they chase you with their butt aimed at you while running towards you on their front paws! Im serious!
Im so pleased how i managed to get what i wanted done! I bought a second heater, which will also make cleaning & organinzing inside much more comfortable, as well as enjoying my new opened up area in the living room! I made lots of good food last night & the table is clear & clean for sitting & eating while my friend is here helping! Im really pleased!
~♡~Love, Light & Goodness to you all!~♡~