CM, it's good to hear you sounding so upbeat! I hope whatever it is works out, and that you find a yard sale option. Some places around here have regular sales where you can just set up a space in a parking lot - they call them "boot sales" in England. Maybe you could look around for something like that?

Tatoulia, go coffee table! I am laughing about selling your car to clean out the trunk. Seems a bit drastic. :)

I was so proud of myself when my old car died - I was able to clear everything important out of it into a paper bag. I am trying to keep the "new" car just as clean.

Tillie, it has definitely been more in than out this summer. But the ins have been things like furniture and my new jeans, and the outs have been mostly recycling and trash, and the using up of stockpiled consumables. I need to clear out my closet again, but I am so fat right now it is too discouraging. I know there are a lot of things in there that "almost fit" last summer and are now "no way". I would rather shed 15 lbs than half my clothes, but i don't seem to be able to budge the weight.

- oh wait, I did get ds's Train set out, that was a lot of space. But it doesn't feel like an "out" because it wasn't mine at all.

Hi CriticalMass :)
What a wonderful post!
Who wouldn't love to hold a soft warm bunny ;D
Sounds like a very nice home to have bunny visits in.
Sure hope you find a yard sale buddy.
You would have two months to pull it all together.
Location is important to get a lot of traffic at a yard sale.
Sometimes just talking to someone about having a sale will give them the idea to have one.
So go put a bug in someone's ear. ;)
Keeping my fingers crossed that whatever it is all comes true for you (((hug)))

Hi Tatoulia :)
WTG! for working on that pile! :)
When you sell your car I guess you have to finally clear it out. HaHaHa


Hi Subclinical :)
Yes, my cat leaves a grubby dirty spot on the wall where she gets behind my dresser to sleep underneath it.
A rack to organize a shelf definitely counts.
Sorry you are struggling with having things and wanting things.
Please don't be hard on yourself because you do put a lot of thought into what you bring home.
Enjoy having the basket and fabric and try to find a way to use them in your home.
As long as more keeps leaving the home than comes in you're doing great.
Decluttering and organizing and cleaning this way all by yourself
takes time and a LOT of thinking and coming to terms with emotions and conditioning from our pasts. (((HUG)))


Today I washed, dried, folded and put away three loads of laundry.
Washed dishes & wiped down the kitchen.
Did all cat related stuff.
Washed my hair too.
Swept the floor & took out the trash.

Hey gals - and guys too - I mean to set time soon to go back through posts even in Phase 9 and I know Porter was posting some there. He's probably busy with his lady friend. If you see this, Porter, Hi!

This has been a busy week already and there may be good news soon but I don't want to "jinx" it so I'll say no more at the moment. ;)

We took the bunnies yesterday to the therapy session in a care facility that's in a really nice neighborhood - a large home converted into a family style care home. About 8-10 residents with mild memory issues. The bunnies were a big hit with the folks.

SubC, you and I may be in a similar headspace. I want to minimalize, yet my "wanter" is wanting stuff, and I go back and forth. I have bought some Barbies but I do plan to sell some dolls too and other items.

I wish my roommate was the type to want to have a garage sale, because I think I could get myself to let go of other items I'm not interested in much, make a few bucks to compensate for the eBay purchases, and reclaim space which as we know is always at a premium. The items I have in mind for a garage sale are things that wouldn't be practical to sell on eBay. Maybe Facebook Marketplace.

Anyway, my roomie just isn't comfortable with the idea of a garage sale. Maybe I can find another friend who's planning one. In the fall would be better anyway when it'd be cooler.

In general I am feeling optimistic still, and soon I hope to reveal the reasons why.

I am very close to finishing the coffee table clean off. Some of it is going in a bag for some sorting somewhere else. The rest needs to be dealt with.

I've polished some silver. I made a fresh batch of iced tea.

Now I will relax for a bit.

Wow! Great work today, SubC! Thanks for giving such a nice picture of your day and accomplishments! Of course the rack counts toward drawer/shelf challenge! Plus you can continue floor work! It all counts! Except two years ago when my December challenge was to clear out the trunk of my car. I still have not done so but it's better! It will be much better once I sell it.

I am going to move the 10%. Thank you for the excellent suggestion, Tillie. I will get through this. Somehow, some way.

It is trash night.

I went out.

I started mudding the wall and I ran out of mud. (Side note, it was the base of the wall that I washed, I think it was just accumulated dust and grime and maybe cat rubbing.) so I had to got to town for more mud. I also needed to drop off my car payment (did that) and get some groceries.

I started at the thrift store to reward myself for going out. Bought:
three glasses (we need glasses, they kept getting broken)
a rack to keep my cutting boards from falling over in the cabinet so I can pull them out easily (i've been looking for one and it is already put to work - does that count for my shelf/drawer thing today?)
A wire shelf stacking piece that I have also been keeping an eye out for and know exactly where it will go
And a basket that I probably dodn't Need, but it just looked so useful and well made...

So now, I need to decide what I am going to do with the basket. It is currently sitting in the floor containing things I need to carry out to my studio. The basket is like the fabric "I don't need this now, but I like it, and it is very cheap, and I can see myself using it at some indeterminate point in the future when I will be sorry that I didn't buy it."

I don't really have buyers remorse, because I don't miss the small costs (better that than treating myself to donut and coffee calories) and I like the thing I got. I just know I am going to have to use/store it, and there are too many things already, and it doesn't have an immediate purpose, I don't want to get rid of it, and it doesn't make anything else easier to get rid of, and so, it is part of the problem. But I still want it.

Next stop was the bank, then hardware store, where I got the mud, and then, because I had a coupon, bought the bullseye bubble level I have been wanting for my pottery studio and a new collar for the goat who has almost outgrown hers, so I was over the limit to save $7. The collar was more expensive than I would normally get, so I really only saved $5 - basically, buy collar, get free level.

Then grocery store, where I dropped off my trash for the week, and only bought food. I even remembered my coupons to save $1.05 on exactly what I was going to buy anyway.

And home, and tired.

Tatoulia, good luck with your scraps! That last 10% can be so hard!

Good Morning Everyone :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
WTG! for just scraps on the livingroom table!
Sometimes it helps if we move things from a spot where they have been for a while and sort them out in a different location.
It's a mental change from seeing them where we have become accustomed to seeing them.
Funny that your Mom has friends in China! :D


Lovely cool morning right now.
Last night it was perfect weather for sleeping with all windows open.
But the direction of the wind changed and brought choking smoke from the distant wildfires this way.
It has shifted back the other way and the air here is clear right now. :)
Yesterday I straightened my underwear drawer, that counts.
Today is laundry day and the kitchen needs some attention too.
So far this month I have been good about reducing my processed sugar intake.
Helps that I don't have any tempting treats laying around the house.

Iced tea clinks!

SubC that little table/cabinet you found sounds delightful! I too like the idea of your dollhouse furniture and Tillie's idea of lighting it. But, I live alone. Regarding the fabric purchase, i know that feeling of buyer's remorse and just try to remember that feeling (and in this case, it was a 50 cent purchase) so that could help you from buying stuff again. I struggled Saturday night when I was at Macy's with BF. I kept struggling with an item and ultimately put it back.

I learned something from your exchange with your husband on the tapes. I am sometimes harsh and a bit accusatory when I'm trying to get mom to let go of something. I learned from your exchange (in which I am solidly and firmly of your husband's ilk) that I could ask in a gentle way and I could ask a different question rather than my usual, when did you last use this and when are you going to use it again. It's tough because mom has such incredibly limited space and she will not let go of anything, even if I find it hidden and covered in dust. She complains about the lack of space but won't get rid of anything. I remember once trying to get her to donate something stupid and she said, but my friend made that for me. So I saw the made in China label and asked her how many friends she has in China and we had a giant laugh.

Anyway, you have opened my eyes to the fact that I am unnecessarily harsh and I will be kinder.

I scrubbed my kitchen sink before bed last night. And then I hung a hook and a bag of activated charcoal in the kitty cabinet.

I'm still working on floors and drawers! My living room pile is down to just scraps of things on my coffee table. I need to get that finished because the table is cool tile and gives kitty a nice place to rest in this terrible and oppressive weather.

Have a great day, everyone!

Hi Subclinical :)

OH YES!!! YOU MUST DO THAT!!!
Explain to DH that this would make you happy to see the tiny room set up there.
What does he like there that you aren't too crazy about?
Tell him to compromise.
What would be nice is if you could light the tiny room from inside too to highlight the furnishings.
Like a really wonderfully magical night light.

Do you know anybody who could burn your rare unavailable elsewhere tapes onto discs?
This way you could more easily listen to them.

You burn wood in your home so this is why the wall wash water was dark.
After a few years the little wisps of smoke that escape builds up.

Tillie, you were busy!

And tatoulia, you did a lot too!

Everybody stay cool!

I didn't tell you guys about the rummage sale. I stopped at a church rummage sale and bought two games for school, a large shoeboxe of fabric scraps (there were some really cute Christmas ones I couldn't resist, and it was only 50 cents, but it was probably a mistake), and a little cabinet/table. It is a cube the size of a small nightstand up on legs with two glass doors on the front. It fits very neatly under my cuckoo clock, next to a chair, so you could set your book or snack on it, and I am currently just enjoying the possiblilities of the empty display space. I have been thinking about setting up one of the rooms of furniture from my broken dollhouse in it, but dh probably would object to that in the living room. I think if I set up the living room it would be cute....

My emotional state is still very raw. Today Dh and I had a discussion about my music tapes (that felt like an argument to me because he made comments that felt critical) - I was finally putting those tapes from the recycling dumpster in the trash and saving the unbroken cases for my tapes that need them and I told him what I was doing. He asked when was the last time I listened to a tape (I don't know, my old car had a tape deck and this one doesn't, but I hadn't used it in a while) and told me all the music I could want is on Amazon. I said "not my music." Because I have a lot of tapes I bought out of people's guitar cases when I was young.

And then he actually found two of the people on amazon and when I heard the second one's voice, I started crying. I heard her voice, I remembered hearing her for the first time with my friend Scott and having him immediately turn to me and announce "I am in love" and I just started crying. And I still can't articulate why. I don't think I know. Loss? Nostalgia? Relief? Gratitude? Exhaustion? Sadness? Frustration?... I don't know.

The only shelf/drawer thing I did today was wash the base of the wall where I need to patch and mud. The water turned the color of tea.

Good July 1st, afternoon :D
Cold watermelon toast! "Splat!"

Hi Tatoulia :)
Sorry it's hot with bad air quality there. :(
WAY TO GO! for all you have been up to!
Having two bags of kitty litter would be handy for when the weather is not nice and you won't be forced to get out to the store.
Sometimes I am doubled up on litter.
How lucky to find parking right out front. ;D

Been busy all morning.
Watered flower/herb beds, lilac bushes, roses and laurels.
Did a wash load of rags.
Cleaned the bathroom.
Brushed Pooh Kitty.
Scooped litter boxes, then scooped them more cause they were having a poop party.
Swept the floor.
Poison sprayed an outbreak of pi$$ ants on the walkway.
Pulled a few weeds.
Almost 2:00pm and I need to eat more than just this watermelon.
Tomorrow will be easier. ;)

After coffee this AM (was craving coffee instead of iced tea), I read for a while and then took a bag of donations over to the center. Then I did mom's groceries and stocked up on a few things for myself and kitty. I called mom and had her meet me downstairs. I found parking right in front of my house so I was able to unload my car. I returned car to the garage and hung out with BF for a little bit.

I bought cat litter and it fits nicely in the space I made for it. I could actually fit two bags in there.

It is an oven outside. I'm going to shower now. I've only done maintenance here today and that is good enough for me.

I treasure the stories about your Gramma, Tillie. I am transported in time and place. SubC, you are doing a wonderful job on the floors! I am so proud of you. I am sending you strength and peace, and the same to your dear husband.

Shout out to CM, Anony, Joan, and dear Diane. Joan and Diane, wherever you are and no matter what your house looks like, you can always come back even just to say hello. And if you happen to read this but cannot post, that's okay too. I do think of Diane's freezer from time-to-time.

I'm drying my towels and have a load of delicates in the washer. I will hang the delicates in the bathroom. Then I'll go to the grocery store. I won't take mom, I can't have anything happen to her. The air quality is poor and the best and humidity will be brutal on her. I'll surprise her by bringing some ice cream or some other treat.

I can clearly see what I'd like to do today.

Hi Fellow human bean Subclinical :)
WOOHOO!!! WAY TO GO!!! for clear floor space and sit-able seats! :D
I so want you to get that doll shelf up and your dolls properly displayed so you can enjoy them!
Very important that the items we treasure are not kept hidden away in boxes. (((HUGS)))

Hi Tatoulia :)
The fact that you now pick up dropped things shows that you are now showing yourself self love.
You are in a much better mental place now (((HUGS)))

I learned cleaning from my Granma.
She would do what needed doing as it needed it daily, weekly, monthly.
But there are times like Spring cleaning when you do everything in a room.
Granma grew up out in the country in a large house with no electricity or indoor plumbing and with a wood burning kitchen stove.
They were wealthy and had large, wall to wall rugs that every Spring had to be taken out and beaten clean since there was no vacuum.
But as needed they were swept with a sprinkling of wood shavings sprinkled down to help get up the dirt & dust.
So since a whole room of furnishings was sitting out on the lawn it was a great time to also wash everything down when brought back inside.
Also, with the room empty it was a good time to wash down the walls.
When Granma was old I did her Spring cleaning for her since I was in my twenties.
Now I wish I had younger me to help old me clean house. ;P

<smiles> for everyone's posts! Drawers and being dry and keeping things clean.

When I say I am struggling with being human, I mean things like eating, and answering the phone, and sometimes posting is hard. Last night dh took me out to dinner - he picked my clothes and chose and ordered my food and I didn't have to make decisions or talk to anyone.

Today has been pretty good. I feel proud of myself right now because I can report that in three of the main rooms of my house, the small guest room, and my downstairs hall and all stairs, there is nothing on the floor that doesn't belong there.

On my dining porch floor there is a flat of plants that should have been planted out a month ago, but that is all (the dining table, however, is completely buried) in my bedroom there is a mending basket and some of dh laundry. I don't care about the laundry - he will clean it up by Monday.

One of the first areas I conquered was the seats of chairs, and I am happy to report than no chairs were sacrificed in the floor project, however I still can't get out if the habit of leaving my book and my purse on the couch.

I am ready to move on to drawers and shelves. Dh helped me put pieces of drywall up today, so my big shelf goal for July is to tape, mud, and paint the wall, and put my doll shelf back up.

I will try to do some cleaning out and organizing also.

I've noticed that too, Tillie. I take care of things as I see them. Naturally my house still needs a deep clean but I'm sweeping and wiping down as I go. It will be even easier once I have a cleaning lady. Can you believe that I used to have someone come in to clean once a week? I'm thinking every other week although even once a month would be nice.

But for now, when I drop something I pick it up. Yes I let things get that bad that I didn't pick up what I dropped.

My friend really did me a giant favor. Rearranging my furniture and hanging my art work has made a huge difference. I have been enjoying some things she hung in the kitchen and I've been focused on a few of them to the exclusion of a very sweet piece she hung near the lamp she put in there.

I just ate my dinner and I am full. I ate too quickly. Salmon filet and some vegetable slaw with raisins. Completely delicious. I only ate half. The rest will be tomorrow's lunch.

I stopped by mom's with dinner as well as a shirt and sweater I picked up for her at Macy's. She looked really cute in the sweater. It's a very light, open, short- sleeved cardigan. She usually makes all of her sweaters so I rarely buy them for her. But this was very light, almost gauze.

Kitty hasn't eaten but she's taking a bath next to me. It has gotten quite warm in here. I'll go out AC on in bedroom and see if she'd like a cat nap. I know I would.

HI :D

YEA!!! for room for kitty litter!
It's so important to always have some of that on hand, LOL
How wonderful to have tons more room in the linen closet.


When areas of the home are not overloaded and crammed full
it is easy to do tiny tidy-ups.
Takes only a few minutes to clean and straighten an area, shelf or drawer.
By doing this as I go through the day, here or there as I see they could use some attention
it only takes a few minutes now & then to keep drawers and shelves nice.
This way it never gets to the point where it would take forever to get them done.
I will admit that I am lazy and don't want to have to do a huge cleaning project.
Little bit by little bit keeps me from having to do a major clean. ;)

Tillie I now understand what it is like to clean things. Honestly I had forgotten how to do anything of any import in my house. Hearing you clean your shelf makes perfect sense to me now. I truly appreciate being here and having the support to get my act together.

I have a home for kitty litter. I've cleared the linen closet partially and there is tons more room. Now if I just had some kitty litter! I am waiting for BF to call so we can head to my office.

Hi Tatoulia :)

YEA!!! WTG!!!
Wonderful that now the sheets and pillow cases can now fit in the drawer.
Don't be discouraged on the sock/tight/nylon drawer.
The first time going through stuff like that we get rid of some and then later we sort out that drawer again and see more things to go and better ways to store them.
Plus when we get something new we are then able to let go of things past their prime.

Since it has been a cool morning I had doors and windows open.
Now that it's warming up outside I have closed the doors and some windows to maintain the lovely coolness.
The cats have all disappeared into their special nap hidey holes.

On a shelf in my room I keep all my toiletries sorted into small baskets as to what they are for.
One for daily wash up, one for showers, one for shampooing, one for manicures/pedicures.
Today I cleared the shelf and wiped it down, washed the baskets and put it all back nice & tidy.
This method also helps keep me from over buying toiletries or keeping unwanted/ignored/abandoned stuff around.

Ok it worked. My sheets and pillow cases fit in the drawer. The other drawer is filled to the brim with socks, nylons and tights so I didn't achieve my plan to only have it 2/3ds full. But I did it. I'm now working on the linen closet. I'm going to shower soon and get ready to go get my computer. Kitty's found a cool spot to sleep. I've grown in the last decade or so. Now I just let her enjoy her hiding spot instead of looking for her. I have all the windows closed and the ceiling fans on. I'll use ac when I need it but for now it is perfectly pleasant in here.

I got two loads of laundry done today. I'll do the rest tomorrow or Monday. Need towels and clothes washed. That's two separate loads.

Tillie that is so cute human bean!

I actually started on two drawers in my closet. I do not need socks, tights and nylons to be eating up the two deepest drawers in my closet. I'm matching socks and putting in a donation bin. So far I have cleaned out one drawer, and I've saved about a third. Now I'm doing second drawer, with the idea that it will be completely empty and I'll save one third of the items to put in the other drawer. They are both overflowing and unusable right now.

Then I'll have space. It will be a miracle. I wonder if my sheets would fit in it. Then I could reconfigure my linen closet and perhaps store my kitty litter there.

So there it is, I'm starting on an easier drawer. I am thinking like Tillie!

Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Anonymoniker :)
Nothing is more wonderful than when the monsoons come! :D
Happy you are able to enjoy it and stay dry (((hug)))
WAY TO GO! for being prepared to add more plastic sheeting as needed!

Hi Tatoulia, fellow human bean ;D
YEA! for getting more sleep.
So wonderful that you need to sweep floors. Now you are in maintenance. (((HUG)))
Tomorrow is the 1st. of July and we will begin that drawer/shelf challenge.
Maybe you have a less spooky drawer to start on first and work up your nerve to tackle the bottom drawer?

The weather was cooler yesterday and should be again today too but then get hot again.
Kitchen needs some attention and as always there are cat related chores to do.
Other than that I will just hang out here and do whatever strikes my fancy. ;)

That is great news, Anony!

I am doing laundry. I just used WD40 on the squeaky door to the laundry room and then I did my front door. Can you believe it? I'm back to being human!!!!!

~Good morning & coffee clinks!~
Tillie, im so sorry the bird didnt make it. They are so difficult to save. It was cozy & felt loved before its departure~♡~
The storm here was wild & fantastic! Everything stayed in tact & im prepared once i need to add more plastic sheeting as the storm season progresses. I cant imagine having been in a mud hut on the ground during that storm?!?
I hope you all enjoy all of the great changes youve each made!
~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

Good morning! I was up very early today and then chose to go back to sleep. I'm washing car blankets and just changed my sheets. Going to be oppressively hot and humid today. I'm going to stay in except to go to office to get my computer.

I hope to do some reading and cleaning. I so would like to clean out that bottom drawer in my kitchen. I'm afraid to open it.

Now that my floors are so much better, I notice that I need to sweep. Isn't that amazing? When they were filthy, sweeping was so far from my mind.

What are you doing today?

I am so sorry about the bird. I'm glad you were able to give the little one food and love.

This afternoon the baby bird succumbed to the injuries he sustained when he fell two stories from the nest to the ground.

First lesson I was taught is that you can do everything right but they still die.
Had I not done anything he would have died.
But I gave him a chance to live, if he had been able to.

Anony! Your hard work and foresight are paying off! I am so pleased!

~☆~Greetings from a wild, unexpected monsoon storm!~☆~YEA!!! Its fun cuz i was totally prepared from the big storm that was a bit of a dud a few weeks ago. Everything is all nice & covered or in bins, so i can love the storm instead of freaking out! My place is everything it needs to be in the backdrop of days like this! Only a few leaks here & there, awnings, porches, plastic bins, towels...im nice & dry, and so is everything that needs to be...(overflowing with gratitude!) ~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

Hello, hello!

Great to read all your posts! Anony you have an exciting weekend coming up! I'm very happy for you! Great purchases, SubC. Yes, working on being human is important! Tillie that's a good idea to keep your towel and other things to yourself. I'm glad the kitchen is your domain.

My hamper is working out terrifically! I'm very happy with it and I use it.

Very humid here today but I did manage to walk home from work. Thank you for all of the encouragement on getting healthy. It is exceedingly important that I take care of myself. I take care of my house now too. This is all so wonderful. I'm able to leave work by 4:30 each day as I come in so early. What a gift to have the time and energy to pull things together.

I will talk with you all soon. Going to enjoy a little seltzer water and watch tv.

Quick stop for accountability.

I got out of the house again today.

Stopped at the thrift store and bought a shelf and a small lined basket. Big sale at the grocery store and stocked up on tp and enough laundry soap for the rest of 2018. Saved $7.00 on the soap, which was half the cost of the shelf and basket. The math is too hard on the tp.

Also bought a new pastry cutter on clearance. My old one broke and i'm sick of making pie crust with a whisk and a knife.

Still working on the floors. And being human.

.......oh, and im watching season 9 of The Big Bang Theory, from the library, and since i dont have tv i was a little taken aback when the main character Sheldon let his girlfriend Amy in on his 'horrid secret' of having a storage unit with mostly sentimental things. It was supposed to show how she still loved him even though he was so 'distrurbed' to have such a shocking secret. I am 'disturbed' how society has created that ridiculous & inaccurate portrayal!!!

~Coffee clinks to all!~
Tatoulia, thats great that youre getting healthier & i totally agree about not weighing yourself, just focus on getting healthier, instead! Plus, if you gain fat, but lose muscle, you would weigh less?!?
Tillie, congrats on the bird doing so well! Ive never been able to get the cat scratcher post rope to stay back on the post once they pull it off?
Im ready for the event this weekend. I hope it works out. It could be fun & make enough money to make a difference, too!
The skunk trashed the kitchen again. Its cuz im not over feeding the cats, so there isnt food left after dark, so now the critters are looking inside for food.
Next week i plan to do runs to the dump in my new truck for the first time! Im gonna make it an empowering adventure, cuz it is in many ways!
Hello to CM, SubC, Joan & Porter!
~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

Good Morning Everybody :)
Iced tea "Clink!"

Hi Tatoulia :)
How's the old kitchen trash can working out as a clothes hamper?
Since Steven makes such a nasty mess in and around the bathroom sink every morning, I keep my toiletries and clean hand towel in a small plastic basket on a shelf in my room.
I bring it out when I wash up and put it back when I'm done to keep those things uncontaminated.
I finally got him to quit using the kitchen sink for anything so it doesn't get nasty any more and now it's mine, all mine!
And I keep it clean and useable. ;)

Little Peeper has had 1st. breakfast and I am having tea.
Think today there is nothing pressing that I need to do.
Might even have the time to hot glue the sisal back onto the cat's scratch post.
They tend to scratch hard in one spot until they break the sisal rope and it comes undone.
Hope today I have the chance to finally cut into that watermelon.
The car is a mess. The trees have dropped all sorts of pollinating things on it and now it looks fuzzy.
But I won't worry about that because a lot of other people's cars are fuzzy looking now too.

Oh I can picture the little bird, Tillie! You are doing a great job!

I've thoroughly cleaned the cat box and the cabinet where it is now kept. I scrubbed my kitchen sink and wiped down the counters. I'm running the dishwasher.

Now that litter is in the bathroom, I've moved my toothbrush to the kitchen. The toothpaste in the kitchen is a bit awkward. Perhaps at some point I'll find a better place for it. The toothbrush is ok because I keep it in a pretty milk glass cup. I'll figure it out.

Thank you for the encouragement on my weight, Tillie. Greatly appreciated.

Hi Tatoulia :)

That's the correct way to do it!
Concentrating on the health aspects rather than the pounds.
I don't have a scale so I just go by the way my clothing fits and don't buy larger sizes.
My math was a lot better when I was working in medicine so now I have to regularly practice to keep sharp.
WTG! for gathering up garbage and keeping up with the dailies!

Tiny Chicklet has a huge appetite today and now peeps at me when he wants me to feed him.
I have a tall cat scratch post/perch on my back porch and put him in the cat carrier on the top shelf when the temperature is good.

Hello everyone! Good to read your comings and goings!

You are doing a great job with the baby bird, Tillie. Congratulations CM on your bunny club! I agree with Tillie, there's nothing like going into a library and going through the books in a particular section. Anony! I do hope you'll be able to find a way to boost your income. Believe it or not, I use math all the time for work. Daily. For hours. And as my mother was a biochemist, she was always a bit disappointed that I didn't go into math or the sciences. And when I made a career shift about ten years ago, I know work with numbers. I used to consider myself The Monet of Numbers, strictly impressionistic. Now I need accuracy.

I was wiped out after nutritionist yesterday. Two more appointments. I still don't know how many pounds I've shed because I don't want to focus on the numbers, I just want to improve my health. My clothes are fitting better. I will ask her at some point but I didn't want to look at my weight. I just want to concentrate on the important stuff.

I am gathering up my garbage. It is terribly sticky and humid here. Not too hot (yet) and it rained most of the day. Still, I met a friend for lunch and I walked 1/2-way home and BF took me the rest of the way.

That's it. I was happy to read each of your posts. Cm I do pray for a reliable vehicle for you. Special shout-out to SubC and very special love to Joan.

Good Afternoon :)

Hi CriticalMass :)
WAY TO GO!!! for your bunny club!!! :D

Here I just turn over cottontail bunnies, quail and raptors to the fish & game/wildlife people to handle.
I'm not certified to treat raptors and the others have different special needs, not like other bird species.
Our library has very few actual books any more. They can order a few books from other libraries.
How are people supposed to peruse the titles and find interesting books. :(
YEA! for keeping up with things and especially for OHIO!
My fingers are still crossed that you get a reliable vehicle soon. (((hugs)))

Hi Anonymoniker :)
WAY TO GO!!! for clearing off the counter area!
Happy the evil varmint didn't mess with your sprouts.
I have found with mathematics we have to constantly use it or we lose it.
Fortunately, we CAN get it back. ;D

I have been running since I got up.
Tiny Chicklet is hanging in there.
Eating well and pooping a lot.
Finished cleaning/dusting the pantry this morning.
Washed the pantry floor and vacuumed the carpet.
Watered the flower beds & laurels.
Food & water for the cats.
Almost 1:00pm and I just ate and taking a rest.
Scooter has finally quit begging for the baby bird.
But he is being very watchful to see if I forget to shut the bathroom door.
Next few days are supposed to be under 100 degrees.

~Good morning!~
CM, i think your enthusiasm for the dolls, and sci-fi is fantastic & fun & wonderful!!! With limited transportation, you could likely focus more deeply on stories & ideas!
Yesterday i cleared off my kitchen counter area, and it was nice, then last night a skunk got up there & knocked everything left down, but didnt break into my sprouting seeds, so i am grateful.
I havent worked in over a year now & its crazy, but i cant remember how to do the math calculations needed....i remember being in school when teachers would say, 'If you dont learn this, youre gonna feel mighty stupid as an adult having to ask someone'....wow, was that the truth...ha ha
~☆♡☆~☆♡☆~☆♡☆~☆♡☆~☆♡☆~

Hi, I'm liking getting back here more and catching up with you all. Tillie, how's the little bird? That's great that you have the wildlife rehabbing know how.

I don't know if I mentioned awhile back that our bunny club is now officially 501(c)(3)? Which means we can start raising the big money for a rabbit shelter. Our focus will be domestic rabbits but we get calls already from people who find baby cottontails. However, there's a very bad rabbit disease that was only overseas and now it has turned up in North America so we probably won't take in wild rabbits. But we can work with those who are able to do that.

Anony, I know that feeling of having the sentimentality and/or desire to keep things increase. I think that's normal and we just have to do our best to recognize it and work around it. One of the things that has happened since I've been out of the loop without a vehicle is that a brand new main library had its grand opening. The focus is on tech a lot, which is good in that the wait for a computer will be nonexistent, but bad in that they thinned out the selection of traditional books.

I'd gone to a sale in March and found some that were very specialized that I'd checked out for my sci-fi novel research. If those weren't going to be available at the library anymore, darn right they were coming home with me! And I checked availability for some others online, found they'd been eliminated, and bought copies from Amazon. They are older, not in great demand books, but very pertinent to my projects. What's a geeky girl to do?

But I'm doing some good in other areas, anyway. Keeping up pretty well with laundry, catching up on shredding, clearing away some of the 26,185,904 little notes scribbled on bits of paper. Working on making the OHIO principle a habit.

And planning, when I get a vehicle, to tackle the storage unit. It's close to home now, so I can do short sessions, stop when I'm hungry or tired or it's too hot, yet still accomplish what I want. The only bad thing is that stuff had to be shoved in from my old van to prepare for it being hauled to the auto graveyard. But the car items will go in a new vehicle (not too many!), or be integrated into the storage where they were originally destined.

It will be slow going at first, but hopefully pick up as more stuff gets sorted and more used up, given away, tossed, whatever.

Tillie, thank you so much!!! For now, im too scared to call. You are doing wonderful things to enhance the reality portion of your 'fantasy' home! Wink! HUG! ~♡~

HI Anonymoniker :D

Good luck with that job prospect!
So happy to hear that your improvements are cheering for you (((HUGS)))

Temperature is staying just at or below 100 degrees today.
I actually found the time to make up the fixins for been burritos and I actually had time to sit down and eat one!
Got all cat chores accomplished, swept the floor and washed all the dishes & wiped down the kitchen.
Have a wash load of rags soaking in hot water.
Just now 12:00noon and I am ready to go back to bed. ;P

~Coffee clinks!~
CM, your quilt sounds wonderful! Im really tending towards wanting to keep all memories right now. All my crazy attempts at letting go have me feeling even more insecure & nostalgic.
Tillie, saving baby birds is a huge challenge! WOW! Even without cats around! I am regularly faced with little critters that are likely maimed by one of my cats, and not wanting them to just suffer then die, but not knowing if theyll be ok.
Today im seeing about a possible new income. It could be really good....except my ex is nearby...so far, the only thing that has made me miss him is dating anyone else....
I must say that the few improvements ive made have really been uplifting for me!
Tatoulia & Tillie, im so glad letting the jewelry items go has been a positive thing. I keep trying to imagine that! ~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi CriticalMass :)
WTG! for the quilt!
Once I salvaged some lovely orphaned and abandoned quilt blocks and made them into a small quilt.
I really do understand not wanting them to forever languish in a box somewhere forgotten.

Hi Tatoulia :)
Hope you get some milk. ;)
WAY TO GO!!! for all you are doing!.
Keeping things clean and filling donation bags.

I'm tired.
Been too busy the last few days, no time to rest or eat.
I have to do all the yard work myself and all the cat things myself and all the house cleaning myself.
At the store I have to buy and tote home all the cat food & litter myself.
Wouldn't be so frustrating if I lived all alone.

Yesterday afternoon I found a baby Sparrow had fallen from the nest.
The nest is too high up to put him back.
He has just begun to open his eyes and get tiny feathers on the wings and tail.
He survived the night and had his 1st breakfast already.
Soon as I post this I will feed him his 2nd. breakfast.
I was professionally trained as a baby/injured bird rescuer and have successfully done this many times before.
But never with so many cats in the house.
I can train and keep an eye on one cat but with four cats it's real hard.

Iced tea clinks! I would've loved a cup of coffee but I forgot to buy milk last night.

I am puttering away and making space and putting things into my donation bag. I'm keeping up with all cleaned and cleared spaces. I'd like to get a little something extra done before I leave for nutritionist.

So, what are you doing today?

Cm! You are having an amazing day. I love that you rescued those blocks and that you are working on a quilt! I like getting hearing about your quilting bees and other church activities. AND I'm really glad you are finding the time to post more.

Yikes on the weather, Tillie and CM!

Good for you, Tillie, for the donations and for selling your jewelry! I recently consigned jewelry that was given to me and must of it I never even wore. Some of it I wore but I wouldn't wear it today. I even polished up a pair of sterling silver earrings that I likely wore every day while in my 20s and they sold for $38! Oh how I loved those earrings. I paid $5 for them and literally wore them all the time.

Tillie you did a good, hard job.

Well guess who found herself sweeping up before she went to the office today? It was ME! Just sweeping up a little.

I just got back from a board meeting. I started on the board (volunteer) in January. It's not terribly interesting to me and I don't always understand what's going on but I was nominated to be a co-chair today. Why not?

Shout out to SubC and Anony! I'm a little wound up. Have nutritionist tomorrow. I can tell I've lost weight by how my clothes fit. Well I am going to work on house a bit more. Terrible heat and humidity on the way. Tonight is gorgeous so I'll try to get a few more chores done. I have an outdoor baby shower on Saturday. I saw the expectant mother today and she told me not today go if it's hot and miserable. I thought that was really sweet.

Hi all

Tillie - 105?! This is the first week we're predicted to hit 100-101. You have my sympathy!

Tatoulia, sounds like you're getting lots accomplished.

I'm at the church awaiting my roommate and ride home. On Tuesdays I come early, attend the morning Mass, quilt for 3 hours, then after the others leave I eat my brown bag lunch and piddle around. I have a holy hour from 3:00-4:00. Sometimes I can get a ride from someone after that, but not always.

But though I have had the longer wait today, I made good use of the time. I'm designing a quilt around 4 orphaned embroidered blocks someone made. They will be the four corners, and I'll make a big central panel incorporating the same colors and motifs. I matched the floss colors, plus I'm going to add a few extra. Then I do the math to make the smaller and bigger blocks come together into a quilt of the size desired.

I made progress even though math isn't my favorite thing - but I don't mind it as much when I'm wearing my Crafting Rockstar Designer hat, LOL!

I know you all will get a kick out of the fact that I am designing this quilt because my hoarder self couldn't stand not to rescue those 4 blocks from languishing in a drawer forever! But I do think it's going to be a pretty cool quilt.

Sport water bottle clink!

Hello Everybody :D
Iced tea "Clink!"

Another very busy day today.
Only 2:30pm and I have done a LOT already.
Got up early to try to beat the heat.
It's a lovely two degrees cooler today. ;P
Went into town first thing.
Sold all the silver charm bracelets and some chains at the pawn shop.
Then went to the thrift shop and donated half the back seat full of stuff.
Realized that everything I offloaded today was not anything I personally bought for myself.
Either it was inherited or gifts.
For way too long I felt obliged to be the keeper of these things.
Well, I did my time and have now freed myself of the obligation. ;D
Got home and had a lot of chores to do, mostly cat related.
Started to slow water the trees.
I turn the hose on to flow very slowly and set my timer to return and put the hose into a different tree well every one or two hours.
I need to eat something.
Yesterday I didn't eat cause being busy takes away my appetite and I should not fast two days in a row, no matter how busy I am today.
Still have tasks to accomplish inside here where it's nice and cool (76 degrees) with the cooler and ceiling fan both on. ;)

~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~