Oh Tillie! I am so sorry! That is true despair, being up in the dead of night with really awful thoughts. I'm so sorry.

SubC I'm excited about the booth and your sales. I would so love to see your work. I'm excited for you. Your family is so sweet. I bet that was a fun evening. You have a lot this week! I know when I have too many evenings scheduled that I start to feel like I can't breathe, so I try not to do that. One thing that has eased up my life and breathing room is ending that ridiculous obligation of spending each Saturday with my brother. I have time and space to breathe!

CM! You were sound asleep! My goodness! Grateful you didn't hit your head! Sounds like you had a fun time at the doll show! I go to a lot of lectures on various topics out of the pure enjoyment of the learning. I miss going to little fairs and lectures with my mom. I still do many of these things, but I miss doing with mom.

Mom's cat is working on it. She hides a lot but is eating and mom sees her occasionally. She's such a pretty little one. I washed mom's dishes and brought them back to her last night. I can't believe I hadn't thought of this earlier. And now we know they are really clean. I say that because an exhausted 90 year old with poor vision cannot get the same results as a brand new dishwasher. I then wrapped her dishes in a clean tea towel, and brought them back. It's going to be a good system for us.

I have a trip planned in mid September and already I'm trying to back out of it. I don't know why I do this. This has been my behavior patterns for decades. I've rented a car for it and I will have a wonderful, relaxing, much needed get-away. I have a jigsaw puzzle from the Museum of Fine Arts and two Sunday NY Times crossword puzzles so essentially I'm ready to go. I can have BF feed the cat on the Saturday and Sunday I'm gone and I'll feed her the Friday that I leave and of course the Monday I come back. I have the rental til Tuesday and I also took Tuesday off in case I decide to stay an extra day.

I'd be happiest if BF just decided to stay here those nights but I won't push him. I'll throw it out there and see if it sticks

There's a badger in my closet and I'll go address it.

I'm sorry Tillie.

The things in our heads are the hardest.

Today is a day for me to stay home, rest, and prep for my week, because starting tomorrow, I am away from home every day for 5 days. 6 if I go to the dinner party.

Here it is 3:30am and I have been awake for a while now.
I fall asleep just fine but after only a few hours I wake up and can't get my mind to stop.
Nothing but bad thoughts, so many bad thoughts.

Hi Subclinical
You're welcome sweetie (((HUG)))

Happy you had family company and a dirty dog too. ;)

GREAT! that you have enough to fill a booth.
Have fun making pumpkin bowls.
They should be big sellers.

Then after preparation for this sale is all over with you can start making Christmas themed items.
You'll do great.

WTG! with your new earlier to bed schedule routine.

CM, i'm glad you are ok.

the doll show sounds like fun. I used to love to go to doll shows with my grandmother.

Tillie, I too am angry about the roof. I think my answer to "what do you want me to say" would be "I want you to say the account numbers and passwords."

Tatoulia, good to hear there is kitty progress.

Hi Debbie. Thank you.

Thank you to all of you.

I have enough to fill the booth, but I will be doing a few particular fall pieces - like my pumpkin bowls. I am also doing some Christmas stuff, but that is more for the studio fair in November.

The last two Saturday markets are the end of September and the end of October.

Dsil texted dh this afternoon and invited himself and Dd over to cook us dinner, so that was fun. The dog, as usual, needed a bath, so I have a load of dog towels going in my washer.

I stayed up late tonight and need to get to bed!

Good Evening Everyone

Hi CriticalMass
Glad you got out and enjoyed that doll show. :D

WOW! you sprang up so fast your feet were still sleeping there!
No wonder you fell so soundly asleep, chickens & biscuits do that. ;)

Have a good little vacation having the place to yourself.
It's always nice to not have to worry or work around someone else's schedule.

Legal help would not help me with what I need help with.
I need a hoarding task force.
The financial stuff I could get but not the code words to access the online bill paying accounts.
But push come to shove, I can just open new online accounts and take over.
But it would be easier if he would just give me access and a list of just what bills he has besides the ones I know about like the utilities, insurance and credit card.
What I think it is that he has mismanaged everything and does not want me to find out how he has squandered money.
But I already know about most all his 500.00+ squandering for things he never used.

Saw roommate off this a.m. Just yesterday I had recalled I wanted to go to the Kansas Doll Show today. So I did.

This is different from the Wichita Doll Show which will be at the end of September. This one featured "reborn," highly realistic art dolls most of which look uncannily like real babies. I didn't know if I'd find that cute or creepy, but I was curious.

They were generally cute. Some fantasy creatures like fairy dolls and dragons too. It's a high-end thing so the only money I spent was for admission but I just enjoyed learning about the process. It ties in loosely with the small amount of doll sculpting I've done and hope to do again, and my desire to make little aliens.

Came back here intending to eat leftover chicken & biscuit then go to 5:30 Mass. Fell into a food coma sitting on the sofa, woke at 4:55, hurried to get up but my feet were still asleep. Pitched forward onto hands and knees, startling myself and the cats and jarring my bones. But got a bandaid on my knee and made it to church. I'm getting ready to have a snack and ibuprofen now. I may fade pretty early tonight.

SubC, I will pray for both those young men, for the soul of the deceased and the healing of the one remaining, for the young lady, the families, and all of you. I don't know if you recall but I think I've shared here that I lost a cousin to a possessive ex-boyfriend. It was when she had just graduated salutatorian of her class, in '67. I was only 5. Two young lives that didn't need to end. Such a waste. Such pain in the family.

Tatoulia, I wish you good progress with the coffee cups and kitty. I used to leave entire murky stinky sinkfuls of dishes for a terribly long time, and I am now converted to the "wash them as you use them" protocol. And it feels so good.

Tillie, I'll pray for your situation too. Sorry Steven is stonewalling - whether it's a huge blind spot or spitefulness or what, you have a right to your property and means of support. Is there any kind of legal aid available? If the situation isn't too complicated - which maybe it is. I've been there with the foreclosure and Mom's estate and people would say call legal aid but I had and they didn't do probate and such. Anyway, I just wish the tide would turn for you.

Well, I better go have my snack and medicine, and get started on kitty and bunny evening routines.

Hi Tatoulia
So true about taking a community to help raise educated healthy well adjusted children.
Fortunately for me, the entire Sheriffs department was on my side backing me up and the parents had to allow me this access to their boys.

(((((HUGS))))) to you and BF for stepping up.

Awe, once new kitty comes around she will be an extra loving little companion for Mom.
The hardest ones to win over are always the most loyal.
Wild weasel biting Scooter sleeps snuggled up with me at night and allows me to handle him to wash and medicate his eyes.
Mutual trust.

Taking your Mom to a clean orderly home is really the best motivation for her.
Many people get motivated after spending time in a clear & clean place.

Hope you got your groceries.
Slow & steady will get that closet conquered. ;)

Hi Debbie
(((HUG)))


Well, I tried talking to him once again.
Went how it always goes.
I speak then wait for him to speak and all he does is sit and stare at me then asks me
"what do you want me to say?"
I tell him to speak his mind, explain his reasons to me, if he has any.
Nothing.....................
Crickets chirping.


anyways, I have the kitchen sink all scoured and shiney and will wash the few dishes at 2pm.

Ps the moldy coffee mugs are never more than four days old because I'm taking the dishes with me. But I need to get this down to NO days old.

Tillie, I'm sure your nerves are shot; you've been handled a great deal of worry upon worry upon worry, and it some of it could be solved with passwords and financial information. This is absolute madness. You've learned to live with a lot and this is a small thing to take a heap off of your shoulders. And I'm pretty incensed that the roof has not been fixed.

I love the gun safety story. You know, it takes a community to raise a child. We work with our kids here to help fill in the gaps. I tell them I'm proud of them. Sometimes their parents are too frazzled. Some of these kids have grown up very nicely and some are struggling. And while we won't fall for the stuff their mother's will, we are loving and kind. I once, long ago, heard my BF tell some kid, I'm not like your mother. I can see you when you do bad things. So we fill in the gaps.

Cm I'm pleased you stayed at the community seeing place and worked on your sewing! Cannot wait to see you post pictures of the clothes!

Debbie Hello! What is going on? SubC the dinner party sounds like fun!

I've been both busy and exhausted this week. New kitty still hides a lot but my mother is seeing her more and more. When I go over I pull the little one out of wherever she's sleeping and I hold her and pet her. She's so thin but she's a good little eater. Mom is seeing her a little more during the day.

I swore I was only going to take care of myself today (which includes my closet) and so far I've visited BF (always charming) then I went to mom's with her clean comforter, I did some kitchen cleaning there (her place is just so filthy and I wish she'd let me throw some stuff out) and I brought her dishes back here to wash. She has coffee, then she puts silverware in the coffee cup, then it molds, then she adds water, then she spills the cups on the counters, etc. gives me the absolute willies to be there. I know some is age-related and vision-related and exhaustion-related so I don't say anything. But honest to God the amount of stuff in her apartment makes me buggy. But still there's less than there was before. We are going to my friend's house to do some baking at the end of September. Last time we went to her house (also was our first time being there), her place was so neat and so clean and so well organized that mom came home and allowed me to get rid of some things for her. We shall do this again.

Ok I'm running a laundry (swore I wouldn't do any today) and I'm going to have to go groceries. Just for me. I'm out of everything and I can't even cook a meal for myself tonight. So I'll shop for me alone. Then I'll come back here, put on the tunes and turtle my way through the closet.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
How exciting possibly having a booth next month!
Do you have enough ready or near enough ready to fill it?
Will you be having a pottery marathon to prepare?

YEA! for new socks and right before the weather changes to chilly!
So glad you had the donut. I have been resisting donuts and all their wonderful goodness.

That party sounds nice, hoping that you do attend.

After an incident here where I rendered 1st aid to a young boy accidently shot in the hand by his friend, the boys came to me to try to make it up to me.
My demand was that they were to both take the hunter safety course and were to get 100% on the tests, I would accept 98% as long as they reviewed the questions with me.
I also personally insisted on giving safety lessons and also had them on the shooting range with knowledgeable no nonsense instructors.
Educating the boys was the only way I could keep them safe.
Their patents weren't teaching them like I was taught and like I taught my own son.
The boys both did very well and showed me their heartfelt gratitude.

Hi CriticalMass
Happy you had a good week. :D

Wonderful that you went to that sewing group!
Proud of you for staying and sewing even with your friend not there.
Really hope you do that again.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUNNY!!!

Yes, this new storm is one to be wary of.
My fingers are crossed for all in it's way.


Hi Tatoulia
How is the new kitty?
What's been happening in your neck of the woods.


According to "Dr. Google" I am having a nervous break down.
Wish there was some agency locally here to help me.
He just keeps giving me lip service about the financial matters and why the roof repairs have not been done.
He has not done anything to improve the hoard of squalor all around here and has just been making it worse.
He just is flippant and dismissive of all my inquires.
I am so all alone...

There were two kids involved. My friend's son is alive. The other boy is dead. They were close in age, but only my friend's son was old enough to buy the gun. They both intended to die. But watching someone die of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head shakes your resolve. So my friend's son called 911 instead of shooting himself. He is being charged with everything they can think of including murder and sex offenses. His mother is praying they will plea bargain down to assisted suicide and providing firearms to a minor.

We have guns. Guns are tools. Dangerous tools. My 17 y.o. had to take driver's ed and practice under supervision for six months before getting her license. She had to take a test and have her vision checked before she got her learner's permit. But somehow a year later is old enough to buy a firearm with no waiting period and a background check that doesn't include juvenile records, training or references of any kind, or mental health information?

We went to the market, which was fun and distracting. I talked to the woman in charge about having a booth next month.

I also got a donut, a new pair of socks, a wooden flower centerpiece as a gift for ddil when we go to visit next month, soup for lunch, and some vegetables.

SubC,

We are your friends. We are here for you, through thick and thin.

I am reeling from reading your post. I am absolutely reeling. This is a terrible event for so many people. No one is coming out unscathed.

You need to support your friend by listening and reassuring him/her that this is not a reflection on parenting. This had a number of difficult things coming in at once. Being a teenager (the absolute worst), unrequited love (difficult to breathe), depression (can be a lifelong struggle), guns (which have their place, to be sure, but not as playthings-hunting, collecting, studying, protection, shooting ranges, etc the list goes on), and probably an argument or two. Your job now is to support your friend. Listen, hug, cry, tell the fishy story. From what I gather, the girl is alive but the other boy is dead? Terrible all around. I am so sorry. Drop by for tea, drop off a casserole. Just let the parents know you feel their pain and they are not alone.
Sending you much love. I am just reading this now.

I am so sorry. I am just so sorry.

CM, good for you on going to the sewing! And staying! I might have panicked and left.

Also good on the books. I did not go near the books at the rummage sale. I am not that strong yet.

I hope things go smoothly for you cousins.

Yesterday I put away laundry.

I also called ❤️Dd. I want to talk to her about it, but she has a new job and I don't know her hours yet and she was at work. She sounded so happy! The new job is a really good change for her. And I just wanted to enjoy her being happy, so I didn't say anything. We just talked about the job for a few minutes and made plans for Monday. She also invited me to a small dinner party at her house next week. I am thinking about it. Dh says go. It would be a big deal for me, but it is a "safe" setting, and there will be a former coworker there whom I really like, and the party has a theme for discussion that I am very invested in, so small talk would not be a problem, and she doesn't expect me to get into a heated disagreement with anyone or she would not have invited me....

Also, you may remember the giant clean-out of her house that we did? I haven't been over for a while. I said "you have space for a dinner party?!" And she replied "I have space for a dinner party." She sounded very proud.

I think I am pretty much cried out for now. My friend knows I am here.

My new vacuum is here and I like it.

Dh and I might go out to the last Saturday market and get donuts today. And I plan to get serious about my lesson plans. I need the first week locked down.

SubC, so sorry... it's okay to talk of painful things. We've all been through them in one form or the other. Young people can't see far enough into the future and their prefrontal cortexes aren't fully developed to make better decisions. There are no words adequate really, but sending my love.

My week has been a miscellaneous one, in a good way. My friend who was my previous rommate had vacation and we went out for Chinese buffet lunch on Wednesday. It was good. One of the few ways I enjoy eating vegetables - beef broccoli, yum.

Yesterday she and I went to the library sale. We didn't think we'd either of us buy much. It was a bag sale - and she bought most of the contents of the bag! I got two books that were just duplicates in better shape of books I had, so one in one out with those.

I got a book by Pope Francis and a Bible guide, both modest in thickness. And a large book and a smaller, square fat book on glass painting. I have some glass paints; this should motivate me to get them out. Many of the designs would also work for quilting. I may trade the small fat book after I copy the designs I like. The big one has techniques and materials info and is a keeper. So I didn't do too badly.

There was a big storm here last night with strong winds. Early on, a limb about 3" thick and 10 or more feet long fell right by the outside corner of my bedroom. My roommate heard the thud - I just heard the general chaos of the wind and hurried out to pull my van up in the driveway in case of street flooding. It looked like a hurricane outside. Luckily the branch didn't damage the corner of the roof and gutter where part of it stuck and we lifted it carefully away. I'll chop it up.

Today I went to that sewing place - but I hadn't got round to texting my acquaintance from quilting, and she wasn't there. Awkward - but the ladies were nice and let me stay, so I got more of the Barbie clothes done. Only a bit more and I'll be ready to give them to my cousin's girl.

Keeping a watch on Hurricane Dorian reports because of my other cousins in Florida, the ones with the son with cancer. He always has checkup scans in NYC in September, and there is concern over why he has a fractured vertebra. How nerve wracking - I hope they are still able to fly out at the right time.

Tatoulia, how is new kitty girl? That's good if she seems to be getting past the pain. Spoil her with some rich food to build her up! I've been spayed, and it is draining - and I didn't just give birth to kittens beforehand.

My bunny son is now 7 (estimated birthday). How time flies. He wasn't a year old when I adopted him, and so impish. He's more Joe Bunny Sixpack these days, easy to picture him in a Barcalounger with a remote. But always my boy! He and I and the others will have a carrot party. My roommate is going out of town, but she can give him a hug in the morning.

Tillie, I'm being bad right now staying up too late on this tablet! And my sleep has been awful lately. So I better call it a night, or early morning technically.

Good Afternoon Everybody

I got some things dusted.
Trees got watered.
Will water the lilacs this evening once it cools off a little.

Scooter is bored and lonely.
Twinkles is bored and lonely.
They let me know often.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
Here, NOTHING is really off topic.
This is a place to share what is going on in all our lives.
Not just the good things and the the cleaning out and cleaning up.
The sad and disappointing things color our entire world and we want to know the struggles we are each dealing with along with the mundane daily challenges.

Of course your new schedule is all out of whack.
Of course you are going to be in a place of deep reflection, distracted and melancholic.

We all "get" it.
We all have experienced such tragedies before and sympathize.

We are all here to support you through the hard times and to cheer for you during the good times.

Please accept my condolences and (((((HUGS)))))


Hi Tatoulia
Hoping today you are well rested and no longer overwrought.
(((HUG)))


Have the hose set out slowly watering the trees today.
A bug bit me on my finger and it itches, probably a mosquito.
Plan to take it easy today with just doing a little dusting.

I did not mean to silence the conversation.

That was off topic and hard to respond to.

Just carry on.

What are the bunnies doing? What's for lunch? Did anybody clear out a space or resist a purchase?

I'm sorry, there is no delete button, but skip ahead.

8:30 pm.

I didn't make the cheese yesterday.

I worked on lesson plans and ran all my errands (I found another keurig thingy at the thrift shop!)

And on the way home I stopped at a bug church rummage sale - in the old fashioned sense of rummage - boxes if stuff partly unpacked and roughly sorted, gather up what you want and go make a deal with the lady in charge.

I have to confess I had a lot of fun searching for treasures. But I didn't find as many as I would have once. A less than full plastic grocery bag. And besides two more wire shelf stackers for my studio, everything was for my classroom.

Cooked some chicken breasts to cut up and freeze for salads for dh. Put away laundry. Picked beans and tomatoes, and cooked dinner.

Then I forgot to set up my coffee, and this morning I am not practicing my routine and I am tired.

I got to bed late. My friend's son did something horrible. Because he was in love and suffers from depression and because we let people buy guns when we don't let them buy beer. Maybe if we let them buy beer instead he and his "friend" (the newspaper called them "friends") would have gotten drunk and slept it off, and they would both still be alive and no one would be going to jail.

I have this endless loop in my head of the day I met him. He put his little felt fish in my coffee and gleefully cried out "fishy swim!" My brain keeps saying "how did this happen? Five minutes ago he was two years old and put a fish in my coffee."

I tell my teenagers over and over, Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy, not a romance.

SubC I am so proud of you! Your classroom is ready, you have a great plan for limiting computer time (AM or PM?) had your house is noticeably in much better shape!

Tillie that is a lot of deep cleaning you did today. I bet your shower will feel great!

I am just out of the shower myself. Stayed late at work then ambled around. I ran into a neighbor of my mom's and is just punched up groceries for mom so she offered to take up to her. I had picked up two coffee cakes for work tmr so I gave one to her to split with my mom.

I'm tired. And a bit overwrought.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Well...
Bathroom is all squeaky clean.
Also washed under bathroom sink and kitchen sink.
Also washed the area by the bathroom door & back door where the water heater and litter box are & washed the floor there.
Wiped down so many areas and washed the kitchen floor and bathroom floor.
Used a dowel rod and a rag to clean way back under the washing machine that lives in the bathroom.
Doing that I found the cloth mousie finger puppet that has been missing for ages.
YEA!!!
Washed it and it is back in play.
Right now the plastic shower curtain and some rags are soaking in the washer.
Washed my broom, dust pan and kitchen trash can.

I would no longer be mortified if someone were to come by for a visit. :)

Looking forward to my evening shower.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
I like your new routines/schedules for time management.
"They" say that the light of computer screens late into the night messes up our natural sleep/wake rhythms.

Of course your home is in better shape this time.
You worked very hard this Summer, spent a lot of hours working bringing more order to it.
All that hard work will pay off with your new busier work schedule.

WAY TO GO!!! for the classroom being all ready for first day!!!

Have fun in the big town, good luck getting all you need and wishing you safe driving conditions.


So far my only plan for today is to clean the bathroom.
But sometimes that's harder than it sounds because Steven keeps "needing" to get in there and I have to stand there waiting for him to get out before I can continue. >:P

Good morning!

I am working on my school year structure - no computer after 8:30 unless essential for work, and today I am practicing my morning routine (which means this will be short.)

Tillie, that was smart bout the heater.

Tatoulia, I think it is good that you are raking time to spend with the new little one.

I look forward to hearing about your closet.

I did not drop anything off yesterday except trash.

But, my classroom is completely ready even down to materials set out on tables. My first lesson will involve introduction of some of our new tools.

My house is more in order than it was when school started last year.

I swam yesterday and traffic was horrible and it took me two hours to get home. (Accident shut the highway down)

Today I need to drive to the next big town away from the city and buy some goat medications. I'll go to the feed store, their grocery, and maybe a thrift store while i'm out. I discovered that the Keurig carousel is perfect for holding my little pots of glaze in my classroom. I need 2 more.

Also lesson plans and more stuff around the house. My ten minutes is up! See you later.

Good Evening Everybody

Hi Tatoulia
I suppose her hysterectomy is more involved since she is mature and also had kittens.
Not like a three month old virgin kitten who rebounds quickly.

We had a few tiny sprinkles at sundown with lots of lightning and thunder and blowing winds.
I actually got two sprinkles on my skin! :D

WTG! for keeping up on housework.
Doing a few little tasks as they arise really makes a difference overall.

OK, so we are going back into that closet.
You did such a lovely job on the linen closet getting it all organized.
You might want to break it down into smaller bites.
Maybe one section of the closet at a time.
Like, what do you want stored on the floor?
What do you want to keep on the shelf if there is room there with the dishes you have stored there already?
If thinking about the whole closet is too overwhelming break it down into smaller bites.

I like that you are thinking of what you can do to make yourself happier. :)

It's been nice here too sleeping with the window open, the ceiling fan on and a nice blanket.
Then pulling up the other blanket around 3am.

Hello, hello. Busy day today. I was working from home but so busy. I made it up to mom's twice today. Working on socializing the little one. She is much less swollen and she seems to be feeling a bit better.

I met friends for dinner tonight and I was grateful for that. Just a little bar that serves Italian food. Then I walked the malls. It's been raining here since about five but it's a tad humid. Sunday Monday and Tuesday felt like fall. I was sleeping with windows open, ceiling fan on and extra blanket. So nice.

Cm that is an answered prayer! I love the idea of the friendship and sewing. Terrific news!

Tillie you are so smart about disinfecting the heater. You have a marvelous mind. SubC, Tess and Debbie, a big hello!

I have not been focused on my home but I've been keeping it up fairly well. I vacuumed the cat hair from the sofa two days ago before putting a clean cloth down. I need to make this weekend about my dining room closet. I just do. There's plenty I can do to make it more usable. And I'll be happier.

I think I need to ask myself, how can I make myself happier over the Labor Day weekend. What changes in my house will increase my happiness?

Hello

Swept and vacuumed this morning.

Was trying to figure out how to disinfect the inside of that Edenpur space heater since I can't disassemble it.

Finally decided that I could use an empty Febreze spray bottle since it sprays a mist.
Filled it with a mixture of 50% bleach and 50% water.
Sprayed into every opening.

Since it is an electric appliance, spraying it should be alright because it will be all thoroughly dry long before I want to use it.

It is important that I disinfect the heater and all the areas where nasty mouse may have traveled.
There is Hantavirus near here.
Nasty mouse is a Deer Mouse variety known to carry the virus.
A man not 100 miles away died from Hantavirus and I live extremely close to Yosemite where they have had people get infected.
Some were just sick and some even died.

Good Morning Everybody

WTG! Subclinical on your 40 hour challenge!

Beautiful quiet cool morning here.
Wildfire smoke is continuing to stay thin and not overwhelming this past week.
Really need to wash the windows and window screens but I have been physically unable to.
When the weather is cooler I can take more time and wash them slower, not having to hurry to get it done before it's too hot out.

CM,

The sewing thing sounds wonderful! Always a clear space to work, and you have to clean up when you are done. Maybe there will be another quilter and you can swap some fabrics - lighten your stash and get new stuff that you want to use in the moment.

Great job on reducing the storage area! Keep on turtling on! A little at a time is all it takes. I have been doing a 40 hour challenge in my studio. Some days I only do ten minutes, but I am up to 31 hours and the studio looks a lot better! Most of the stuff I haven't gotten to yet is in one area that dh actually referred to as "the incredible shrinking pile" (I do still have some drawers and cupboards I haven't addressed)

It's wonderful that you no longer feel pulled to shop!

Good Evening Everybody

Hi CriticalMass
Hope the sewing thing works out.
When I was in school my friends and I would get together at someone's home in the evenings or weekends and sew whatever dresses/outfits we were making.
It was so much fun having company rather than sitting at home sewing all alone.

YEA! for going to storage and taking care of some things there.
WAY TO GO! for catching up on stuff and doing hot spots and recycling!!!
Slow & steady always gets results.

So wonderful the shopping urge is receding.
SPACE, the final frontier!

Hi Subclinical
Wish I could share this cake with you and also taste your frozen custard.

Really nice crunchy green bean snack you made.
WAY TO GO! for a clean kitchen after all that food prep you did today.

Wishing you smooth sailing with all your plans for tomorrow.

Good to see we're all keeping busy. Hi Tess!

Tatoulia, so happy about the new kitty.

Tillie, enjoyed the mouse tale, and happy for you that it worked so you could get him outdoors and gone.

SubC - glad open house went well and the year is starting off with a good arrangement for having your classroom space.

I may have an answered prayer - went to lunch with a new lady from quilting and we seem to have a lot in common. She is connected with a sewing bee group, which I might get to go to - a BYOSM (Bring Your Own Sewing Machine) and project you're working on arrangement.

This could really help me be productive with doll clothes and quilt piecing, and in the process busting my fabric stash. Also yarn - the lady makes throws and baby blankets for charities so whatever I make I would just pass to her to take with her finished ones. They go to domestic violence shelter, police to give to kids removed from bad situations, veterans, people in nursing homes, etc.

On the way home I did follow Badger's plan and go by the storage unit, and grab out that big bag of boxes and packing materials. Brought it home and most went in recycling. I saved just 1 cubic foot or so of bubble wrap since that stuff's pricey to buy. But I'm willing to let go of it at a later date if that seems right to do. I promise not to save tons of bubble wrap for Justin Case!

I'm starting to do catch up things on the computer, sorting and discarding paper, clearing "hot spots," and other projects I had on the docket for after the bunny club event. It is a lot, but it is doable if I pace myself. Slow and steady wins the race.

And one more answered prayer - the desire to shop is receding! I'm reminding myself that shopping really has gotten boring, and that getting this mess dealt with is going to feel so darn good, and is how I want to spend my time now. So that later I can spend my time enjoying and being productive in the freed up SPACE!

Please pass the cake ;)

I have two batches of custard mix (it is really custard, not ice cream) chilling in the fridge for tomorrow, and the dehydrator is working on 2.5 lbs of green beans. I coated them with olive oil, salt, and nutritional yeast and will dry them until they crunch. they will be a healthy, salty snack.

I also cleaned up the kitchen, although there are a few dishes in the scullery sink waiting for the next load.

Hopefully on Thursday I will turn the skim milk from the custard making into mozzarella. I don't have a robot for that though.

Yes, it was jasmine Harmon! She is lovely and sweet like my people. When her mum said she needed to move everything out somewhere so she could work on it, and jasmine actually got her a warehouse, I thought "oh, now you have to. You just have to!" That she still had that much faith in her....

Been chatting with my students today. I have a teen helper for one of my little kid classes and have been going through some prework with another student I really like. I'm learning interesting new things about him. He's much more careful and cautious than he lets on in a group.

Tomorrow I free the green bean slave, set dh up with breakfast and a packed lunch, put the custard slave to work, and do chores. Plus lesson plans, because I didn't get to that. If I have enough time while the custard is freezing, i'll load up some stuff for drop off and work on dishes and laundry.

Then off to get gas (and drop trash) shop at the pottery studio, maybe stop at the reuse store if I have drop offs, to school to put away my purchases and print some more things out (forms for our recycling/environmental program and some class materials I just found) swimming, and home.

The cake is all done.
The pieces are all cut and sitting on individual pieces of wax paper finishing up cooling.
When they are thoroughly cooled I will wrap them up and freeze all but the one I have out for me to eat today.

The dishes are all washed and the kitchen all wiped up.

In a few minutes it will be cool enough to water the grass and garden.

Been nice today not having other things demanding my time and attention.
I needed this break and even got some cake out of it too. :)

Hi Tess
Wonderful to "see" you! :D

Since I am still living in the center of a massive dirty infested hoard, yes seeing the places makes me cringe.
But I focus on the professionals and what they are doing.
How they react to and talk to the hoarding person who is resisting everything.
What the Drs. say about certain conditions that are unearthed that show just how messed up the person's thinking is.
Helps me to relate to what I see here everyday.

My Friend Nate grew up in a squalorous horded house and he has never/will never watch any hoarding program.
Says it's just too much bad memories.


Hi Subclinical
That lady with the British show is Jasmine Harmon who was helping her hoarding Mum.
Loved her series.

GREAT that your Dd can be your swimming buddy!!!
WTG! getting all your slaves to working. ;)


Well, the cake is in the oven.
Taking a break to rest my back before washing up the dishes.
Standing in one place for any length of time really hurts my back but by taking little rests I can do whatever I want to do.

Hi Tess! What have you been up to? I have a hard time with the really filthy houses.

I realize (first hand) that any place you let stuff pile up is going to get dirty, because you can't clean it, but when spaces are full of rotten food and poop, that is too much for me.

There is a short series of British shows that I find better encouragement for where I am. The woman who works with the horders was inspired by her experience with her mum. I think the title of the first one has "my hoarding mum" in it. They're on you tube.

I like the new (current) hoarders episodes better than the old ones for the most part. They feel less sensational.

Tillie, i'm Glad one of us is sure I can handle this ;).

Sleep is the hardest one for me. Dh and I have such different biorhythms and it is hard not to stay up with him when it feels like we just got home. Also dh says that I have to swim, but then he doesn't push me hard enough. Good thing there though - I found out Dd can join the health center as a dependent even though she is married and moved out and independent. She wants to swim with me twice a week, and nobody pushes me like she does.

Today I am trying to get more caught up before I dive in. I have my laundry and dish slaves hard at work, and I just blanched some green beans so I can put them in the dehydrator overnight. After that I might prep some ice cream mix so the ice cream slave can get to work in the morning.

I'm also planning to get my lesson plans at least for tu/th in order before I go to bed tonight. Tomorrow I go out running errands, and if I get stuff together I might do a drop off or two.

Hi friends!

I've been watching hoarders lately. Does anybody else struggle to watch? I couldn't bring myself to watch when the show originally aired. I I was still buried and the show made me somehow feel exposed and uncomfortable. I thought I could watch now that I've dug myself out. But here I sit with my shoulders tense and teeth clinched right. I hope I'm not alone there. It's such an odd feeling.

Oh boy! I see I missed some mouse drama! I need to catch up on my reading.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
I love Fall too. Autumn is my favorite season.
But I'm just not ready, time is moving too fast.

I'm positive you will handle the full school schedule just fine.
Things at home will fall behind at times but you will play "catch up" when you have a few free minutes.
Keep the number one priority your health.
You must relax, eat, sleep and swimming exercise.
With busy schedules you need to let the lower priorities like some housework slide.

This school year sounds like it is going to be fantastic!


I'm glad nasty mouse didn't have to eliminated with extreme prejudice and he's now back in nature where he belongs.
Hope he had such a bad experience in here that he never wants to come back inside.
Twinkles and Scooter miss him, stupid cats. ;p

I had laundry out on the line over night and will bring it in and fold it at 10:00am.
Twinks finished his last dose of antibiotics last night.
He's eating his krispies and snax alright so he doesn't need any more extra care.
Think I can relax now, have a little time for myself.
Maybe I'll even make my chocolate chip, pecan & date crumb cake today.
Been wanting to do that for weeks now.

Hello all.

I'm glad the kitty is adjusting. And I have to confess that I am not sorry the mousie escaped. Poor mousie was probably lured in by the nice cozy home Steven has created and then discovered that all the grocery stores were listed....

I have had mice get into my hoard, and it is horrible and frustrating. Mr. kitty generally does a better job with outside mice than with inside ones.

Debbie, I hope the rest of the move goes smoothly!

I will never know about the squirrel, but I did the best I could. Baby bunnies almost never survive once you remove them from the nest.

We got dh car back last night, so hopefully that is done. It better be!

I managed to partially salvage my day yesterday. The staff meeting was really good and I made some plans with some coworkers and did a little polishing and prep in my room - I have everything set out for my first class on Tuesday.

We got some money, and the science department is going to buy a chick incubator! Also, I am going down to the clay studio tomorrow morning to buy a few new tools for my class.

I swam, and then I picked dh up and we had a fight(around the logistics of picking him up) and I went to the grocery store. Then we had dinner and some wine and the fight blew over.

I have very bad poison ivy on the inside of my right elbow spreading up and down my arm and it is making me extra grumpy.

Anyway, I didn't put The non-perishables away last night and I have a lot to do today - staying home all day today. I'll report back aterinstead of setting myself up for failure with a very long list that I clearly can't finish.

I don't mind moving into fall at all. I love fall! Excited for school to start, but also worried about how i'm going to handle my very full schedule!...

Hi Tatoulia

Thank you and the worthless cats all thank you too ;)

Once kitty's spaying site is all healed she will come around.
I find it comforting that your Mom is not alone even if kitty is hiding nearby.

Read there is a mosquito carried virus in your area.
The EEE virus. Never heard of it, we just have West Nile here.
So please DO NOT feed the mosquitos.

WTG! for laundry, vacuuming and getting trash out!

YEA! for a great start filling that donation bag!

Labor Day weekend so soon.
I am not ready for Summer to end but I do already smell Autumn on the breeze and can see and hear it in the leaves.

Been thinking a lot since this whole mouse thing began.

I am so grateful that I have my food all mouse/bug proofed so I did not have to worry about it.

I am so grateful that the other things stored in my pantry are so minimal.
The two Edenpur heaters stacked to the left.
The electric radiator to the right of them.
The two cat food containers next then the step ladder and then the ironing board to the right.
To the left wall is my tool caddy and right wall the vacuum cleaner.

I had removed all that and had the ironing board and heaters in my little room.

I did not need to remove the food shelves, they were safe.

I am so grateful that my little room had space enough to set those things in there.

I am so very grateful that the rest of my house (except Steven's bedroom) is not cluttered.
Has just the right amount of things.
Lots of open space.

As much of a pain this was it was not difficult and I had the situation under control because I had room to do what I needed to do.

I am so very grateful that I have done all the planning, organizing and work to make my life easier for me.

I have never had a hoarding problem.
What really makes me sad is seeing just how much harder it is to do everything.
At times it becomes impossible to do even the simple things like cook, bathe, sleep
let alone remove a random nasty mouse visitor.

Hello all. GOOD WORK Tillie on he tting rid of the mouse. The cats were useless but only you and I know that. They cannot believe their helpfulness!

Debbie keep moving forward! You'll get good sleep in your new house! Generally the mortgage companies approve the mortgage in advance and then once you are near closing date, they need to make sure that the information is not too old-must be within thirty days of closing. At least that's the way it used to be. 730 is very early to be expected to be lucid and feeling like talking!

I have garbage gathered and must take out soon. Recycling is ready, too. I had to bring out the vacuum tonight due to a large bit of cat fur on the couch. I generally don't need to vacuum but the spread was in the washer and kitty was on the sofa.

I washed some laundry for mom today and I went up again to spend time with kitty. I know she'll come out of her shell. I don't know what I'm so anxious about this. She's very tired and worn out. But she's less swollen. And she's eating well. Mom finds it comforting just to know she's there.

SubC and CM I am thinking about you. You too Tess. And everyone else. Labor Day Weekend I need to tackle the closet. I've started on a goodwill bag and it's 1/2 full.

Hi Debbie
Noticed you had posted one minute before I did but had to run.

Life was not too hard for Granma back then.
They had hired hands to do the heavy lifting and work.

WAY TO GO! unplugging small kitchen appliances!
So much better to be safe rather than sorry.

Hope your broccoli was still warm & delicious. :D



Well...
I was keeping an eye on the heater from the window.
Jack lost interest and wandered off to roll around in the grass.
He loves to roll all around on the ground.
Anyways...
Nasty mouse jumped out of the heater
ran off the porch and into the catmint (catnip) in the garden right there.
I immediately ran out and said a few choice parting words to nasty mouse and brought the heater back in before nasty mouse could climb back in there.
THE END!


It's always something. ;p

Hi Guys

Hi Tatoulia
Hope by now you have had a tasty and filling dinner.
Soon the kitty will forget all about any spooky things that have happened in her life and relax into her new life. (((HUG)))


Back to nasty mouse...
At 5pm both Scooter and Twinkles gave up and were napping in the livingroom area.
The Edenpur was situated in the diningroom area.
At 5:20pm I looked over and THERE WAS NASTY MOUSE peeking out of the heater!
I called both stupid cats that the mouse was there and they said "BS" and continued to lay there.
Nasty mouse ducked back in when I approached.
So...
I picked up that heater and placed it on the front porch.
Jack came over to greet me and I filled him in on the situation.
Now Jack is guarding the heater.
Scooter is watching from the window.
Either way, nasty mouse is outside of the house where he should have been all along and I would not try to kill him. ;D

Hi All! My family all kept me on the phone all Sunday. Even had a sore throat from talking too much. So I didn't get a lot done and just took a day off! Today the mortgage people decided they needed all the stuff I already sent re-sent, updated, reviewed, etc. So that and the gym and Weight Watchers was my day. The bank woke me at 730 am! I couldn't believe it! I said aren't you supposed to wait till 9 to call people? She said no 830 is when we start. But it is 730 I said. She goes it's 830 in Indiana isn't it?
Well first of all I live in Illinois, and second, no in Indiana where I have not moved yet, it is the same time zone. And it is 730. She apologized so I tried to wake up and make sense! I usually am up by then, but I was reading and stayed up past 130 and set my alarm for 830 to get enough sleep. Oh well I will sleep well tonight.

Subc, glad your open house went so well! I bet the kids missed you just as much as you missed them. So convenient that you don't have to have a roommate and can leave things set up now! Nice! New undies and vacuum too! I need undies but am waiting till after the move.

Hope you managed to get something done in spite of having to drive DH around. Is his car almost fixed yet?

Hope the baby squirrel is okay? My neighbors found baby bunnies in the grass after mowing. One didn't make it but they were holding all of the others. I said I had them under the grass like that before and that the mom came at night to feed them I thought. They were trying to feed them. So I hope they survive. They have a large German shepherd in the yard and I am shocked the mom put them there.

I just unplugged my toaster and blender! I always unplug my coffee maker, but forget the toaster and blender and don't use them often. My sis in law had her toaster plugged in while on vacation and had a little cloth cover on it. When they got home it had just started smoldering!!! So I should know better! Thanks for the reminder Tillie.

Tillie, hope you can get what you need re finances from the mail if he won't tell you what you need to know. I can't believe it is 100 by you; I think it is 60 here! It's August for cripes sake!

Boy your Granma sounds Tough! That was such hard work keeping the floor clean!

I hope the mouse makes a run for the outside when the cats are distracted!

CM good luck with getting out of the spiritual slump. Now that I'm alone, I walk around saying thank you God for anything good that happens. I talk to my dead relatives and friends too. I want to believe and so I just act like I do.

Tatoulia yea for the new kitty! She sounds so perfect! What a nice thing you did to give up vacation days to volunteer! You make me hungry everytime, clam chowder is a favorite! I will have to look at the pictures on my tablet where I saved instagram address.

Well I have to go eat my broccoli before it gets cold, so have a great night!

Hello everyone

Busy day at work of one meeting after another. I am very hungry. I stopped up to see little pretty kitty today. I brought her out of the closet and loved her a bit then took her to mom's lap. We just support her and pet her quietly. She then went to eat her food and went back to the closet. I put her new bed in the closet for now, in the opposite corner of where she's been sleeping. She's so lovely. Lovely little cat.

Ok lots to do. Waiting to hear what BF is doing before I start cooking dinner. I haven't done mom's groceries. I ran errands with him last night and we also visited with his across the hall neighbors. They are very kind. They joined us for Christmas Eve dinner last year.

Need to get the garbage ready. I'll also go up to mom's to clean the kitty box.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi Subclinical
Hoping your day and busy broken up day smooths out for you.
WTG! for rehoming some art supplies.

Still absolutely no progress has been made on giving me the financial information. >:(


Last night Scooter said the nasty mouse was hiding inside the Edenpur space heater cabinet.
Twinkles agreed with his assessment.
Scooter spent the entire night standing guard waiting for nasty mouse to emerge.
He is still guarding the heater.
Periodically Twinkles comes over, investigates, sniffs and concurs that nasty mouse is still in there by sticking his paw into the narrow space to see if he can snag that mouse out of there.
I placed a grape and a peanut near to try to lure it out. It must be very hungry and thirsty by now.

The construction of the Edenpur is solid and made to not be opened by unauthorized people.
To be continued...........

Awww, she's a calico!

If one of my kids ever helps me get an online presence, i'll tell you guys where it is.

Today is a mess. Dh needs me to drive him places, staff meeting in the middle if the day, and it's raining.

I'm having a really hard time getting my thoughts/day organized and doing anything effective. Too many short pieces of day.

I did hand off some art supplies yesterday at school. Bit by bit.

Tillie, good luck with the disappearing mouse. Glad your food is safe!

Good Evening Everyone

She is BEAUTIFUL!
She will feel safe and loved in a few days. :)

Putting the toaster away is a personal preference.
I use mine more in the cold months. I only have one very short counter and the toaster easily fits down in the cabinet right in front of my Pyrex baking dishes.
Since you use it all the time it's not just sitting out getting in the way unnecessarily.

Unplugging the toaster is nonnegotiable. Just ask any fire Marshall.

YEA!!! Subclinical!
No roommate in the classroom!
Happy open house was great and wishing you another great day tomorrow. :D

Scooter and I heard a commotion down the hall.
We got up to investigate and saw Twinkles had been in a terrible fight with a mouse and the nasty mouse was now hiding behind a shelf.
The nasty mouse used an invisibility cloak to get away from the three of us.
Then Scooter had an incident in the pantry but nasty mouse went invisible again and we haven't seen him since.

All food in my pantry is mouse & bug proofed.
No packages or bags they can open.
I store things in glass jars with rubber seals, everything that comes in a bag or box is placed or poured into a jar, cat snax too.
Cat food is in plastic containers with tight snap on lids.
And of course I have things that come in cans and jars stored in there.
I store no food in kitchen cupboards/cabinets.

Tillie what a sad story about the fire at your house. Both you and SubC put the toaster away. Should I be doing that? I use it five times a week.

SubC great news on your room! I'm glad you are appreciated and valued!!! I would love to see your work someday and hope that you'll consider getting an Instagram acct so we could see some of it. No pressure, just a thought!

I don't have many pictures of the little one. She's still hiding for the most part. I got her out from under the bed today, gave her some livings, and put her on mom's lap for