Good Evening Everybody

What a day...

Have spent so much time trying to straighten out my laptop.
Got it a little more functional.
There are a LOT of things I am missing and they are irretrievable.
So unfair of them.
Why did they delete some of my links but not all?
They erased Instagram links and facebook and my genealogy links and about 10 other links.
But they did leave me this link but removed some things here like my name and my spam name etc. on the drop down.
Issues on other sites too. :P


Anyways...
Waited till the sun was lower on the horizon to water.
Finally finished watering at 10:30pm.
But it was not too hot.
Had company out there.
Jack woke up from his nap in the catmint and gave me lots of lovings.
I was worried about skeeters (mosquitos) but I had Bats keeping me safe. :D
Not sure yet if the tiny green sprout is the Ginger or a weed coming up.
The Grass and the Honeysuckle are really suffering from the heat and look terrible.

Sorry but could you make that a link?
I can't get into the site without giving them all my personal data and allowing them to share that with the rest of the world. :(

IG is BunnyPlanetQueen

I hate that Linux - or the laptop I bought - not sure which - has been rather disappointing yet Microsoft has tinkered with Windows until it's a hot mess.

So I feel your pain, Tillie.

Hello CriticalMass

Very relieved you two are now more comfortable with this whole procedure (((HUG)))
Now it's just a matter of days before things will be back to "normal".

Watch out the side & back aches are not your kidneys acting up.
Anyways, you always need to drink plenty of water, more so now with this heat.

When I browse the clothes in the thrift shop I always smile and think to myself "that WAS my style, but not any more".
We all change. Things that were our style when we were at different ages no longer appeal to us.
Just another part of growing up and aging.
Nobody wants to see an older me in things I wore as a teen. :D

Arts and crafts supplies are very hard to declutter when you haven't been able to do them for a long time.
Plus getting just the right items is a whole nuther adventure in it's self.

I try to consume my consumables. Sometimes it's hard because I tend to want to keep things for special occasions.
So I force myself to use and enjoy my consumables regularly.
Like my pretty candles, the "good" body powder, the better shampoo, the pretty dress, etc.
Used to worry there would never be any more nice things in my life once these were gone/used up but I was SO VERY WRONG.
Maybe not the same kind of nice things but nice things none the less. :)

And now, the followup:

Post 2 of 2: "The Decluttering Status Update Post"

Been thinking about the storage unit and the "UGH" feeling, yet some optimistic ideas are also coming to me. Beginning to remember some elements of the strategies I had brainstormed pre-Covid.

One, for example, was to use some of my stimulus money (make that now "what's left of my stimulus money" but oh well!) to buy plastic boxes for books, and start getting the books that got scattered into order and neatly onto the shelves. And ditch any wobbly shelves. I'm going to be selective as to what books I keep, but I do have books that mean a lot to me and that I will still use.

I had another piece of insight. I think of so many items I own as "my" this or that in a really particular, attached way. For example, button down short sleeved print cotton shirts. I used to wear those more often. Nowadays I don't. Yet I kept a bagful because those were MY button down shirts. The pink flowered one. The blue striped one. Etc.

But really, there is no law that says I have to keep exactly those shirts for the rest of my life! (Tatoulia, maybe this relates to your silk quilt, I don't know - if it does, glad to be of help.) Some hangup I have about "ownership" and it goes back to childhood - familiarity is probably behind it. My doll, my Mickey Mouse toy, my red sneakers, etc.

As an adult, I can choose how to conceptualize my the material things I own. They don't have to be some sort of touchstones. They can just be ordinary things. They can flow in and out of my life, like money does (money mostly flows OUT, but you know what I mean). When a person makes money, they don't stop to ooh and ahh over every bill or coin, or keep those forever. Or when one buys food to eat, they don't plan to keep it forever - one hopes anyway.

That's it - I want to look upon more of my ordinary possessions as "consumables" rather than "keepsakes."

Back to clothes - a few of them CAN be hard since I'm fussy - but that's okay sometimes. If, say, I want to keep my 100% cotton shorts I customize with good pockets that are hard to find. But generic things - like those shirts - only keep what will really be used. My tastes and habits change. If I want one again, go get one. Easy-peasy.

Many categories of "stuff" in the storage unit and at this house to deal with. And so many attachments taken for granted. But I think this "consumables" vs. "keepsakes" concept is going to help.

Only one potential drawback, and that's supplies to create with - theoretically they are consumables, yet the rate of using up stash is not as fast as I'd like (SubC can probably relate to this quite well!). I'm going to have to step up my crafting and stash-busting or decide to pare the stash.

All this, as I've said before, would be so much easier if I had a place of my own, and preferably a studio as well. Still, I at least feel now like I'm reconstructing my game plan and that helps.

Okay! Now that I've said all that, I can take my nap!

An update - and a big "Hello" to Tatoulia!

This got longer than I intended as I typed, so I'm splitting it up. I give you:

Post 1 of 2 - "The Social and Life Events Post"

This morning went amazingly fast. We have been home since 12:20 and her appointment was at 11:00. I had gone to McDonald's across from the hospital and just finished my food when she texted me that they would release her in 10 minutes.

Tillie, thanks SO much for the reassurance about riding in the van. The hospital people gave her some more pointers - between your comment and all of that we relaxed a great deal. Being plenty cautious but not uptight and scrupulous to a ridiculous degree. It's not as different from all we've already been doing with the Covid, actually. Plus it's just so nice to be on the downhill side of all the planning!

Everything fell into place nicely even with the planning, too - last night and this morning. The cats weren't too happy though. Especially little floofy grey boy, who yowled for awhile when we got back. But he is now napping on her little table - and not picking on his sister - yay! She is curious, her default setting for when things are unusual. And playful. (Photo on IG)

Naps are about to happen for we humans too, as it's been quite a ride. Don't know if I mentioned in any posts about my side and back aches - been going on about 3 weeks now, some from sleeping wrong probably, maybe twisting to do stuff, and I could certainly use more exercise than I'm getting. When I can swim again someday, I will not procrastinate anymore, ever. That stretching in the water is what my muscles are screaming for.

So anyway, for now, ibuprofen and an ice pack (not as sweaty as a heating pad this time of year, and it does feel nice). Will also do some gentle standing stretches later. And keep chilling mentally - I probably was so tense and knotted up when I was the most worried, that can't have helped at all. One doesn't know how tense one is sometimes until one relaxes later and feels it leaving.

SubC, I'll pray for a safe happy delivery of a healthy grandson! It really has come around so quickly toward the big day.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Tatoulia

YEA! for the haircut! :D

Try not to be out and active when the heat and humidity is at it's worst.
Cities are deadly hot with all that concrete and asphalt holding in all the heat.

I know what you mean by that snaggy foot feeling with that quilt.
Don't over think about how to get rid of it.
You could just ask the closest person to you if they want it or drop it off at donation.
Whatever you decide is perfectly alright, there is no right or wrong. (((HUG)))

YEA! for BF getting the postcard stamps and the cleaning Fairies coming in!

Last time I went into town, wearing the face mask was just killing me.
Making me so much hotter and very dizzy.
The heat always makes me quarantine at home even before viruses.

Need to water garden and grass this evening.
Will do a load of cat laundry.
General tidying up and a whole lot of taking it easy with Netflix. :)

Just breathe and stay hydrated. You are doing a great job, CM! You really are. I can certainly understand your anxiety and I just want you to stay hydrated. You are doing a great job.

SubC I cannot believe the baby is almost here!!!

Tillie that must e been fun to run into a friend.

I'm suffering in the heat, as usual. The mask makes it worse. I be stopped wearing gloves and have been very good about not touching my face. I had a hair cut today. My hair was making me crazy. I am not coloring it. We shall see how it grows out.

Bf stopped at the PO for me today and bought me three sheets of postcard stamps. I go through them pretty rapidly. Although the last two days I've only sent one postcard each day. To mom, naturally.

I've been a bit cranky all week. It's tough being in a city when everything is upside down. Our friends (we love their kids) reiterated again today that we can move in with them. It's tempting. They have a big house and a yard. Way out.

SubC I think you mentioned having sweat drip down your neck. When I come I from being outside, it's like something overtakes my body and I am a positively drenched. That happened to me tonight so I took a shower. I was going to shower anyway after having been to the hair salon.

My cleaning fairies did an exceptional job this week. Just so clean. I've been editing what is out and each thing I remove is not missed and immediately makes my apartment feel fresher. What a gift. I have also made a decision on a thin satin, cafe au lait colored quilt which I use at small seasonal intervals. I had it professionally cleaned and I think it's time to get rid of it. It's very nice and looks good but my feet are always a bit rough and they snag on it (sorry to be gross). So I don't like the feel of it. I don't know if I should call my original cleaning fairy (she sends her two friends here to clean) or if I should just take to goodwill. What do you think? I know she appreciates the things. Maybe I'll ask her if she comes into Boston still. I like the women she sends here to clean and. So I think of them as my ladies. In fact, they now clean the doctors' apartment and I didn't go through my original lady. I can't get involved in who does what or how the money is split. I now just pay the ladies in cash most of the time and I've increased what I pay them by $10 to help them through this terrible time. So I don't know what to do regarding the bedding.

I did a quick load of laundry tonight just so I'd have some clean underthings. They are hung on the rack to dry.

I'm sleepy. Will call BF and make sure he got home from work and then off to bed.

I hope you can sleep peacefully tonight, CM.

Hey CriticalMass

Father, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other.

Happy you and Kitty had a good nighttime snuggle on the couch.
Sorry you didn't get that rain.

You should be fine on the ride home with Roommate in the back seat.
It will take a little while before she starts emitting any strong radioactivity.
Plenty of time to get her back home safely.

Remember, Roommate will be right there to help answer your questions about any pet care should you think maybe you are forgetting something.

You two will do fine (((HUG)))

Hey

Glad you got your errands done, Tillie, and SubC I concur it's good to have a strategy in place for bridge work and hopefully you won't get flooding but always "Turn around don't drown!". When my roommate was coming back from getting her 2nd shot she saw a bunch of fire & rescue trucks on the bridge and we were concerned someone was drowned in the river. Turned out to be a training exercise. Whew!

I'm sure you have good sense about all that. ;) I had a momentary mental image of you putting the doggy on a little inflatable boat like the one I used to take to the lake going camping with my cousins.

We had rain predicted for here last night. I think it missed us. Also for the weekend but it was taken off the forecast. Just hot days ahead. Roommate has left for the kennel with her dog.

I have had dreams sleeping on the couch, but nothing bad, and my anxiety has diminished. Kind of resigned, and more able to Let Go and Let God about this crazy world. Nothing I can do anyway. Idiots gonna idiot. Oh, and kitty did stay on the couch with me last night, bless him. He is better than xanax!

So we're getting close to being ready. I'm doing laundry. Need to get a list and schedule made of all kitty, bunny, fish, etc. tasks. Also any radioactivity things to remember. Need to sweep leaves out of the back of the van.

Yesterday I offloaded a few items from the van into storage so I can drive my roommate and she can be on the stow and go seat in back coming back. We should be far enough apart that way.

The storage unit is a disaster. I will have to address that. Do some soul searching and, when weather permits, some of the things I had planned pre-Covid. Sigh. So many things came screeching to a halt. And in many ways it has been a blessing to step off my personal rat treadmill. But problems don't magically vanish in the meantime.

I can't dwell on it now though, or I'll be on overload. Must get through this immediate situation.

Good Morning Anybody

The rain didn't last long but was wonderful.
Made some small puddles.
Scooter and I got wet.
The west side windows are a mess.
The morning is pleasantly cooler today and the dust is out of the air.

Need to do a load of laundry and clean the kitchen.
The bathroom needs some attention too.

Good Afternoon Everyone
105F in the shade WITH humidity :P

Hi Subclinical
Good luck with your bridge work.
Hope you are never "trapped" either side of that raging water (((hug)))

Did you pick enough peas to bring some inside for dinner or just eat them all like I would have. :D

WAY TO GO! for getting feed, making cheese and doing dishes!

YEA!!!! for the new cutter!!! ENJOY! :D


Hi CriticalMass
WAY TO GO! working the computer & tablet!
I know that kind of stuff can be frustrating figuring out how to do it and then getting them to do it.

Don't fret Roommate's treatment & all that.
You two have done fantastic thinking it all out and getting ready.
Plus you can still tweak the arrangements day by day as you get into her quarantine.
The important thing was the safety of your Fur Babies and you've got that covered. :D

Sorry you have anxiety filled nightmares.
Please keep away from the news as much as possible.
Look at the cute animal pics and listen to happy music ((((HUG))))


Went this morning and filled 3 water bottles.
My Friend was there getting water too, happy time! :D
Spent about 10 minutes talking but it was too hot.
I saw dollar tree was open and the parking lot was empty except for 2 cars.
There have been some things I had been wanting to get from there for months now.
So I dashed in and was able to easily get my stuff & get out again with only the cashier getting close to me.
YEA! :D

Anyways it is deadly hot here.
I got lightheaded and nauseous so I have been resting here drinking cool liquids since getting back home.

No new cases of covid19 discovered here.

Hi CM,

Good job cleaning out the files!

Tillie, I hope you got your water bottles filled.

This morning I picked peas and hoed weeds in the garden. ❤️Daughter came by to borrow the truck, so I got to have a nice shouting visit with her out in the yard.

She's bringing it back tonight because we are having bridge work done tomorrow and if she doesn't, her car will be stuck for a week.

Dh says I have to drive my car up and park it near the road. I was thinking I might just skip going to the studio next week instead, but he said no, I need to be able to get out in an emergency - what if something happened with the baby and Dd needed me? Good point. So, anyway, they say they can do the work in one day, but then we can't drive on the concrete for six days, So the only way in or out will be to wade across the creek. If we get a heavy rain that won't be an option. (The water rises as much as 13 ft and flows fast in flood stage)

The baby shouldn't be born any sooner than July 3, so we should be ok. I really don't want to have to pick up her dog and bring it home through the creek.

I got feed today, so I am set for that. And then I made mozzarella cheese and am running the dishwasher.

My new rotary cutter is here, so I can start the wipes, but that might be a project for tomorrow.

That last post I made, I had been going to include some things I had accomplished. But I had to cut it short. So now:

I accomplished some things the other day.

What I did was, I got a bunch of files from my tablet backed up then deleted off the tablet. It was running out of room and couldn't do much if I didn't clear some space on it. Still have more to do but it at least works again.

The laptop is about the same although I did discover how to make it display my file directory tree. It's only been how many months since I bought the thing, and now I can do this basic function. Progress!

Roommate got her first preparation shot this morning to make her body take up the radioactive iodine on Friday. Another prep shot tomorrow. Dog will go to kennel tomorrow afternoon.

We are getting various things ready in the house. It hasn't been an entirely efficient process, but she has this amazing knack for extrapolating logically the steps that need to happen to make XYZ possible - and also the effects XYZ will have on other things. Mainly if I can just catch the parts that pertain to things I need to do, I think we'll be all right.

Yesterday morning I had awakened from a nightmare symbolizing all my anxieties about civil unrest. Felt bad, anxious off and on yesterday. But last night I did get myself to get off any websites that would just bring scary news. I looked at a couple pages of 2020 memes instead.

Also, the kitty had thought I was going to sleep on the sofa so he started curling up on it. So I decided to go ahead and move in there ahead of schedule for last night. Turned out to be a good decision. Although kitty didn't stay, I slept much better. Not enough hours, though, so I may get a cat nap.

Whether or not I'll get a chance to post again here before the treatment is done I don't know. So everybody please take care and I'll be back when I can.

Plan is to go into town tomorrow morning before it's too hot and fill some water bottles.

Good Morning
"Clink!"

Had the fan on all night that brought in cool enough air.
This morning the birds have been very busy cheeping at cats.
The Finches told me Cowgirl Kitty was on the porch waiting for breakfast.

Jack has made himself a little fort out in the Catmint near the birdbath.
He spends the hottest part of the day sleeping in there.
He has smushed down the plants making a Jack sized little bed in there.
You have to get right up on him to see him but the birds have a bird's eye view of him sleeping in there.

Good Evening Everyone

Yum! Fresh raspberries straight off the picker bushes!
Makes putting on your shorts worth it! :D

Yep, that's what I am hoping too. :/

Fiskars make GREAT products. I only have several different scissors but I love using them.

Bet that last shower felt so good and I hope you are sleeping comfortably by now. ;)


Hi CriticalMass
WTG! for purging the ratty old clothes!
When we dress better it helps our self esteem and that makes us feel better about most everything in general.
You can always put on a pretty top and then change it before doing something messy.
I do that, change when I go into town then change back once home again before doing any messy chores.


I felt good about shopping in the hospital auxiliary thrift shop because they had proper spacing, few customers and everybody had to wear masks.
They also had hand sanitizer placed all around for us to use.
They said they washed or wiped all the donations before putting them out.

I was wondering if you felt that quake, I saw you had one n the area.

The ginger is in the garden now. I'll let you know when it sprouts.
Never did this before but I watched youtube videos and it is so easy.
I really would like you to try growing a ginger plant.
One rhizome in a little pot would make a lovely house plant and you don't have to harvest and eat it.


Tomorrow supposed to be over 100F.
Plan to water the trees & lilacs, watered grass & garden tonight.
Cooler has been running since 10am and is still running now at 10pm. :p

Hi CM,

I got the Fiskars one! Glad to hear you like it.

My ds can also recycle any plastic with a number. I think it's regional. It means you have good recycling. Yay!

Tillie, I put on my pants (shorts) and opened the door and decided not to get the mail. Spent the afternoon getting (mostly) caught up on dishes and laundry instead.

Dh and I walked up together after dinner. The black raspberries are coming in, so we enjoyed a bunch of them in the way back for dessert.

Right now it is so hot and humid that I had to take a break in the middle of evening chores. My hair is pinned up, but sweat is just running down my neck. I'll need another shower before bed!

Tomorrow it's going to rain all day. I'm planning to go down to the studio again.

Today I found another big rat and two little rats (dead) and saw another medium sized live rat. I am hoping the partial rat was partially eaten by other rats. I've got the feed locked down well now.

Hi

Belated happy solstice :) Every year I swear I'm going to get out my Shakespeare book from college and read "A Midsummer Night's Dream" - which I sadly have never read - bucket list! This year I didn't. Next year - or even between now and then, what the heck.

How is the ginger growing, Tillie? I didn't realize how easy that was - just like potatoes, eh?

Most all the plant pots had triangles with numbers in them and from what I understand our recycling company said any plastic with a number. Hope I'm correct.

Rotary cutters - I like my purple Fiskars one that is ergonomic. Hate the straight handled kind - that gave me tendonitis in my thumb. I should give it away. Or maybe I did. Can't remember. May have taken it to church to quilting for whoever wants it.

My summer clothes are kind of in need of an overhaul between the issue of pockets and the other problem, namely, sleeveless tops. I get them at the thrift store these days, because I find it difficult sometimes to locate 100% cotton ones in regular stores at a reasonable price. And issues such as gaping armholes, tops that shrink up too short, etc., plague me.

Plus if a top is too nice, I won't wear it for everyday because I'm messy and often get garden dirt smudges or spill food on me. But I also got rid of some of the most hideous looking old "around the house" tops recently. It's like there need to be a few more in that in-between stage, not too nice to wear regularly, not gross and ugly and raggedy. LOL.

And I don't know when I'll feel okay about shopping in thrift stores. So there's that.

Weight keeps trying to creep up further, I keep pushing back, wish I could get it to go really down and stay there. But am trying not to fret about that, because fretting has never lost me an ounce, really. More likely it makes me gain even more.

Had a little remnant of an Oklahoma earthquake here Saturday night, and 3/8" more rain last night.

We need to go to the pet store so I can get frog crickets and roommate can get cat food and whatever else. So I'm going to have to wind this post up without telling what I've been up to. I'll make a second one asap.

Tatoulia, glad bf has not had worse losses and hope things will stabilize and move forward.

SubC, good luck winning the War of the Rats.

I bet that big active rat was so happy because it just came in from the fields and saw your almost rat-less barn to play in.

Disturbing there was only 3/4 of that dead one.
Best of luck with tempting them all to snack.

WAY TO GO!!!! for all you got done this morning! :D

Yep, I have to get dressed too to walk out across the road for the mail.
I have a yellow "pop up" flag on my box so I know if it has been opened.
Fortunately I can see the box from in the yard.
No flag means no reason to walk all the way out there. ;)

Oh my Tillie,

I'm glad I don't have to be wary of chipmunks!

This morning I found 3/4 of a large dead rat and a mouse sized rat that was too poisoned to try to run.

Unfortunately I also saw a very happy active big rat.

The snack bar was barely touched again last night. I have to do some work before I can relocate it where I want it, so I will just hope I keep making progress until I get to that.

So - my busy day so far:

I got up at 5, had my coffee and read the paper. Yoga with dh, made him breakfast and ate mine, morning chores, unloaded, loaded, and ran the dishwasher, cleaned stalls, took a shower, started a load of laundry, ate lunch, and unloaded the dishwasher again.

Now I'm resting and thinking about putting on pants and checking the mail.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
That's one nice thing I have found with being quarantined.
Our clothing doesn't have to be all that great since we aren't going anywhere and nobody will be just dropping by. :)

Great plan for today, just picking and choosing as you move along.

When I was expecting I had a name picked out but had to see his face first to be sure that the name was right for him, it was.
Hope you like their final choice. ;D

Sorry the rats didn't go outside the barn somewhere before they passed on.
But WTG! with your extermination!

Here in northern Nevada we all have to be extra wary of ground squirrels like Chipmunks because they tend to carry Bubonic plague so I can't allow even the rats to move in too close.


Going to be hot again today and even hotter tomorrow, over 100F.
Planted the ginger last evening. Need to keep the ground wet.
Should do something today but haven't figured out yet what that will be.

Good morning!

Tatoulia, the oldest teacher is a little older than I am and the youngest I know is At least 20 years younger. I don't know how old this new one is. If she's really a new teacher she could make the range over 30 years.

I'm glad your bf is ok, but I hope things improve for him.

Your summer wardrobe sounds nice. I am still struggling with my weight. I gave a drawer full of shorts, but only three fit and at least one is too rattyvto wear in public. But I do not want to buy new ones. For one thing, I will not be going anywhere I can touch the fabric or try them on...

Tillie, true. Flat cat acknowledges me by becoming flat. And also by running away if I come too close.

I found two very small (almost mouse sized) dead rats yesterday and only saw one live one. Unfortunately my barn smells really bad right now. I need to start filling in the holes.

I have let the house get away from me again. I have an impossibly long list for today, but my plan is to pick and choose from it - it doesn't matter too much what I do as long as I stay busy.

Dd and sil came over yesterday for a yard visit. Dd took a small box of her toys she had asked me to find.

Sil told us the name they have picked for the baby. It is one I like, but this is the second time they have picked a name, so I'll believe it when it's on his birth certificate.

Well...
I was planning to take today off from house chores.
But since I had to wash my blanket so I can use it tonight I went ahead and did more laundry.
Last night he also arfed on the couch quilt and I was planning to wash that tomorrow but it's washed & out on the line now.
Have a load of towels & washcloths soaking in hot water now.
Then I will go ahead and wash the sheets & pillowcases I took off the bed last night.

Figured I would go ahead and vacuum once Steven got up, that's done.

May as well since my whole day off has been sidetracked.

Good Morning Everybody

Going to be a hot day today.
Would be a quiet morning except for that Robin out there.
She chirps constantly all day long at Jack and Cowgirl kitty and anything else she thinks is a threat.

Must wash my blanket this morning because Scooter barfed on it last night. :(
He vomited 4 times since yesterday evening and I am beginning to think it's from all the ginger water he drinks.

Planning to plant the rhizomes this evening.

Good Evening Everybody

Hi Subclinical
No, Flat Cat acknowledges your existence from a distance ;)

LOL :D all the teachers have the same name!
Many years ago every man living on this road was named Steve.

Glad DD is comfortable with the hospital. :D

WAY TO GO! for a successful rat extermination project!
Yeah, go get those small ones because they can reproduce at only six weeks old.
The big rats will keep smaller rats away from a food source so when the big rats have eaten their fill and crossed the bridge the little rats get to eat.


Hi Tatoulia
There's an old saying that if you want something done, give it to a busy woman.
She'll get the job done.

Sorry the heat is zapping all your energy.
Don't push it and make yourself sick.

Sweet, sweet Tigger BIG ((((HUGS))))

Thanks for noticing my wardrobe ;D
I looked at my clothes today and am happy I woke up from that silly dream. LOL

Sounds like your Summer wardrobe will be cool and easy, no fussiness.
That's one thing I like about dresses, no fussiness, just put it on. Done.

I am glad BF has you to take care of him and you have him to take care of you (((HUG)))

Good luck and WTG! for laundry!
I have to wash the cat's white sheet that's on the rocker too.


Got up to 97 degrees today.
Tomorrow is supposed to be a little hotter and Monday 100F is predicted.
Went out and prepped the dirt where I will plant my ginger roots even though I plan to let them soak a few more days.
They just started putting out roots.
Now I am going to shower & shampoo and get ready for bed cause it's 8pm now. :)

SubC that is so funny that I thought it would be a saw! I'm sorry for my ignorance. I think I never really went into my mother's sewing room. I remember it, and I can picture it, but I don't remember spending any time in it. My mother only used cloth diapers and I used to help fold them after taking them off the line. My brother is nine or ten years younger.

That's funny about all of the same names. Are you all about the same age? We have every spelling and version of Caitlins in my office. Ditto Amandas. And all the Nicks and Nates you'd ever need. All names that I didn't grow up with but all the 20 and 30 year olds have.

Okay one load dried, folded and the most crucial step, put away. The other load is in the dryer-half I hung up drip dry and the other half is in the dryer. Just waking up and down the stairs in this heat and with the mask is taking it out of me.

Tillie I understand your urge to continue reducing. I'm so grateful that was just a dream. You do a nice job of keeping your clothes to the perfect amount. I like to think of you in your dresses as you go about your day.

I ordered four (all different) white tops from Talbots and they arrived today. They are mainly just t-shirts with some embellishment. Just what I needed. I now have, with last years white tops, about 10 that fit well and are cool to wear. I only have two skirts that are super cool to wear and I have two denim skirts. I have three other skirts that don't currently fit.

So that's what I'm wearing this summer. And I'm good with it. I certainly don't mind wearing the skirts in a frequent rotation. We are not returning to the office anytime soon and if we did, I'd wear a dress. I've heard a rumor from two different people, in two completely different departments, that they don't think we'll be going back this year. They took a survey to gauge our interest in returning to work and our interest in options such as staggered start times (sign me up for 3PM to 10PM ? that's my sweet spot).

Okay I overheard BF talking to someone. He's making just enough money to pay rent, utilities and payroll on his businesses with the big exception that he stopped paying himself. He had enough in savings to pay his home mtg for quite a while and of course I'd pick up the slack if he needed it. When we first met, we were both rolling in money. It's nice that we've each had ups and downs. So if he did need some money, it wouldn't be a problem. Our lives are even enough.

Okay need to stay awake long enough to get laundry out of the dryer. I haven't wiped kitchen counters. I'm just so warm. And the portable ACs, while a Godsend to be sure, just don't get the place as cool as window ACs. Also I have 11' ceilings.

Oh my Tatoulia, you made me smile about my "saw". A rotary cutter is like a pizza cutter, but with a very sharp blade for cutting fabric. You use it to cut long straight lines because it's more accurate than scissors and you can stack the fabric up and cut a bunch at once. CM might have one because they are used a lot in quilting.

I am waiting for mine because it will save me a lot of time cutting 8" squares.

I'm very pleased about your CEO.

I'm sorry you are feeling so tired.
Li dobtgst "start something to push me through" thing too. I gave to be careful about it though, because if I am feeling too down I don't finish it and then I have to pay the consequences and I feel even worse.

The baby will have cloth diapers, so the wipes can just be tossed right in.

Tillie, it must be strange living with someone who never speaks to you or acknowledges you. Like a nasty version of Flat Cat.

The rats hardly ate any snax today. If they leave them alone for a few days, I will move them to the other side of the barn where I saw two small ones today. There is a very busy hole over there I can set up my snack stand near.

I don't know what the process is for DD's delivery. She will be going to a large hospital which has a bunch of different entrances, so hopefully that will be the first managed step. She seems fairly comfortable with whatever they have in place. I think they do send them home pretty quickly.

My administration sent out an announcement to the teachers today that our 3-6 social studies teacher is not returning in the fall. They have hired her replacement and wanted those of us who work with the same subject or age groups to reach out to her. The very funny thing is, she has my same first name. It is not a particularly unusual first name, but I only knew one other person who had it until I was in college. Now there are FIVE of us at my school. One in math, one in science, one in language arts, one in social studies, and me (who has taught every core subject but math - where I do sub.) It's funny, because most of us use our first names with the kids, so when they talk about us, they refer to us by either full name or name, subject. I am almost always name, pottery. I think a lot of my kids don't know my last name. The science teacher is "Mrs." Last name.

Well I'm doing laundry now. I ran the dishwasher earlier today. I went to BF's to work on a crossword puzzle. I talked to a friend going through a divorce and we worked on his new apartment via FaceTime. It was a lot of fun.

Now I'm just chilling while the laundry machine does it thing. I am feeling more hopeful.

It is a weird phenomenon that when I had less time, I did more. Now I let the laundry sit. I find that I don't like to do it during the mornings because I'd rather work. I didn't feel like doing the second load tonight because I'm so tired. But it's in the washer snd nothing to do now about it

I cleared off my coffee table today. It had started to get gunked up with stuff. Kitty likes to lay on the cool ties of the table.

I'm going to go wipe down the kitchen counters. I am very tired right now.

SubC I'm glad you ordered the new saw. You need to be safe! I am excited about your baby wipe project. I had seen that some people were making their own cloth TP and it sounded like pleasant way to treat your skin. I am sure that new baby will be grateful for nice cloth wipes.

Here it is 8;47 and off in the distance, there's still some light in the sky.

I'm glad you got your much needed rain, CM!

I just remembered that I need to wash the kitty sheet. Lots of black cat fur everywhere.

I saw Tigger today! He gets cold now, so when the AC is too much, he goes to the basement to warm up. I was sitting and doing the crossword when he came up to me with a big meow. He's deaf and his voice has gotten louder, dear little one.

Hi Tatoulia

Yep, staying at home now most people aren't doing morning tasks till later in the day.
It's like "why bother? I'll do it later".

Enjoy all your laundry doing. :D
Happy you will be wearing Summertime clothes.

That is very encouraging that the CEO received so many letters.
So many people speaking up and are being heard.
:D

Yeah, my car is super dusty and has bird poop on it.

Yesterday Steven got up and went out into the garage.
Stayed in there until nighttime.
He did not turn on the cooler, I heard no TV playing or him screaming at the internet people.
Dead silence for all those hours.
Wondered if he was dead out there.
When he emerged he looked like he just woke up so I think he was sleeping in his desk chair all day long.
He has not spoken a single word to me for weeks now.
Has not even acknowledged my existence.

Happy Solstice!!!

I'm not up to date yet but I've read a few posts! SubC WTG on the mystery room! Getting rid of the wicker wreath will take a load off of your mind. Knowing that you didn't use it and won't use it-difficult yet solid decision! I am so proud of your brother. He is exactly the type of person we need in our lives. We don't have to agree on politics. Only need to make reasoned life choices.

Yesterday I rested up and took care of myself. I finally got my summer clothes out. I have only washed one load so far. I'll see what the laundry room status is later. I have a lot of things to wash. The tops will mostly fit and one skirt fits. That's okay.

I finally changed my sheets yesterday, two days late. I don't know if I mentioned this, but I finally went to the car and I even went to the grocery store. Oh the car AC is so nice. It felt weird to be driving. My car was super dusty.

Tillie I haven't finished reading the posts so I don't know if Steven continues to live in the right direction.

I know that today I need to make sure that I am moving forward. I did make my bed and I've showered. Making my bed has been important to me, but I found that now that I'm home 95% of the time, I don't prioritize it in the AM the way I used to. Will get back in that.

Oh, my CEO received over 100 letters like mine and he reiterated we can call him at his home anytime to talk about anything. There are sweeping diversity efforts including giving us each $500 to donate, just as they did with COVID.

Okay let me make a positive difference in my life and I'll get back to you!! I'll start by reading all the posts.

Hi Subclinical
WAY TO GO! Getting all but one outdoor task completed before it got too hot today!

YEA! Fewer rats dining on their tasty treats! :D
As ones who live closer to the snack station die off, others from the next neighborhood would move in to that newly deserted space.
Keep up with putting snax out for about a month after you notice no new activity.
Bonus is that without rats in the way mice will also enjoy the treats. ;D

Very happy you have salad fixins. :D
Salad is always good but when it's hot out salad is especially delicious and refreshing.

Good that you ordered the rotary cutter with the guard.
If you find the old one or not that's OK.
You are just upgrading your equipment.

I have been worrying about the birthing center.
Have you been told how it's being set up and all the precautions put in place?
Really hoping that all uneventful deliveries are sent home within 20 hours or less.

Yes, Scooter has been drinking more water since I am providing him with his ginger water. ;)
LOL


Right before my brain was waking up from sleep this morning I was thinking...
thinking that I should get rid of most all my clothes.
That would make more empty space in the dresser drawers.
But then my brain woke up and I realized that was a really stupid thought.
I need my clothes and I like my clothes and I want my clothes.
I don't need any more drawer space, have nothing else needing to go into the drawers.

I know that I really want to declutter but what I want decluttered is that carport.
But I can't do that cause it's not my stuff.
Decluttering my stuff doesn't make any sense because I don't have much stuff and what I have I need and want.
LOL ;D

Happy solstice!

So nice of you to provide scooter with fresh ginger water, Tillie.

Hot and humid here today. I started the dishwasher, then spent a few hours working in the barn and then took a shower and ate another ginormous salad.

I have to top off the water buckets, but other than that I am staying in this afternoon. Not sure what I'll get into.

CM it is nice that you can recycle those flower pots. We can't here - only type 1 and 2 containers with necks smaller than the container. I don't know why. But flower pots are even listed on the forbidden items sign on the community drop off. People throw them in anyway though. People. :(

Good luck with your plan. It sounds like you are really thinking things through.

The rats did not finish all the special treats in their snack bar last night. This was the first time it has not been empty in the morning. Maybe I am winning.

I washed and started ironing all the fabric for the baby wipes yesterday, and then realized I cannot find my rotary cutter. I am starting to wonder if I got rid of it because I rarely used it and it did not have a blade guard. I finally decided to order a new one. It was on sale and should be here by Wednesday. Also, it has a blade guard. Since the baby should not be here until at least July 3 I think I will be ok.

Longest day of the year
HAPPY SOLSTICE :)

Hi CriticalMass
YEA! you got some nice rain!

WTG! getting those pots rinsed and ready to recycle :D
Hope your back has rested up & not aching today.

Good idea thinking through how you will function during Roommate's treatment.
Keep remembering that it won't last long and things can be more regular again.
First seven days are the most radioactive.

Yep, one day at a time. That's about all anybody can do these days with things changing so quickly.


Have my ginger rhizomes soaking in water in the kitchen.
Was wondering why the water is getting low so quickly.
Scooter has been up on the counter drinking the water. ;p

Going to be in the 90s today, going to water the garden soon as I get off the computer.
High wildfire danger.
The catnip has grown tall all around a birdbath making it hard for the birds to sit on the edge so today I will clip it down for them.
The clippings never go to waste. ;)

Being a night owl again - hoot, hoot...

In the morning (now yesterday morning), we finally got R A I N !

It was wonderful. Thursday evening my roommate had been looking at the forecasts and saying she thought it looked like it might dry up and we were both disappointed. But I saw some on the radar later that looked possible, depending on which direction it moved. Then in the wee hours, I heard some thunder. Then later some really BIG thunder. Some of it was like an earthquake!

By morning we'd gotten 1-1/2" and it was cooler out. I decided to do one of the projects on my list - rinsing out some dirty plant nursery pots so they could go in the recycling bin. Embarrassing how long I have procrastinated on those - let's just say they weren't all from this gardening season, LOL!

The rain continued, so I was a drowned rat by the time I finished the plant pots. We'll have a new system in future; roommate will put hers by the recycling dumpster and I'll wash out hers and any I have, within that 2-week recycling period, and get them gone. There won't be as many anyway now, since the bulk of this spring's planting is done.

A good feeling of accomplishment, but oh my aching back from getting up and down! Had hoped to do more on the computer etc. when I got back inside, but I got sleepy. I did work on a shirt while we watched Dark Shadows.

It's getting to be time to do what I can to be ready for roommate's treatment now less than a week away. Thinking I'll sleep in the living room since it's a little further from her room than my bedroom is. So need to get my projects put away that I sometimes do sitting on the couch.

Then I want to see what from my room I might want to take elsewhere - like my pills and stuff - and put them way in the other end of the house in the family room. Maybe even some changes of clothes, computer, etc. And keep the door to my room closed during her radioactive days. Not go in there unless necessary.

I'm glad I thought of all this far enough out, because it'll take several days. And hopefully it'll segue into further decluttering even after the whole business is done. I've been feeling more motivated overall. Sometimes it gets tricky coordinating things needing to be done, sometimes we even get a little irritable, but I think we will get into the groove. The big thing for me is to have a list and a sense of time so that I don't freak and go "Was that today?!" about something.

One day at a time, too - plan with the big picture in mind, but then just tackle each day as it comes.

Well, the night owl is going to roost now. G'nite!

The county website just updated the covid19 results.

No new infections to report today and all 9 people who were sick have now recovered.
The tenth person was the first reported case here and he died soon after he was tested.
Maybe the medical treatment has gotten better. ?

Treatments seem to be evolving every day.



I still need to wash dishes but there aren't many.
Brushed Twinkles and he's now napping on the couch.
Scooter is in the rocking chair.
Another one of those kinda cold but yet kinda hot days.
Typical Spring weather but Summer will be here this weekend! :D

Good Morning Everybody
Happy Juneteenth :)

Hi Subclinical
I am so very proud of your Brother being smart and keeping himself and his Family safe (((HUG)))

No place here requires/demands masks.
Some places ask people to please wear them and give small rewards/incentives to those who do, like an extra stamping on their frequent buyer card or 10% off their purchase.

I am so, so sorry your area is getting more positive cases.
Keep doing as you have been doing all along, especially now (((HUG)))

I think there is some peer pressure happening and no mask people are winning the debate.
At the grocery store yesterday very few customers were wearing masks.
Used to be all the store employees wore masks but now they weren't.
Some had their masks around their necks.
There was little social distancing happening.
Fortunately not many people were in the store and I was able to keep away from them all.


Steven did take a big load of garbage to the dump so his truck was finally empty of all the newly gathered up trash.
I will be watching to see if he refills it with garbage or things he wants to donate.
Sometimes thrift stores reject his donations because they are all so filthy.
I know these things should not be donated because they have mouse & rat contamination on them.
We do have hantavirus in the area.
But he gets so very angry if I mention that his precious things are contaminated and filthy and need to go to the dump.


Today I need to clean the kitchen and wash up some cherries & grapes to munch on.
Not enough laundry to do a load.
No need to water outside.
So it will be a laid back day.
It is sunny but still chilly and won't really get hot.
Last night I had to get up and put another blanket on the bed.
I am sitting in bed right now and Scooter is still snuggled up tight to my legs to keep warm. :)

Happy Juneteenth!

Tillie, all your fruit sounds lovely!

I am glad your cases are staying down. I'm sorry your neighbors are not being careful though.

Cases are still going up in my county. Yesterday there were 13 cases reported. We have 73 known cases in the last two weeks. 7 of those people are hospitalized. In DD's county Where my school is (I live in a tricounty area) There were 139 new cases yesterday. Almost no one wears masks. Only people who look old and frail, or places like the pottery studio that require them (most places don't require them.)

I think the pottery studio is able to require masks because it is already a hotbed of liberal thought. Which makes me nuts. I understand why reopening is political, but I don't understand the mask thing.

My brother is a republican and a Christian fundamentalist. His church Is the center of his life. They reopened last week for multiple services to reduce numbers. They assigned families to service times. When he arrived, wearing his mask, with his masked family, he told them to wait in the car and went inside to see if he felt it was safe. Almost no one was wearing a mask. He went back to the car and took them home.

The county wide positive covid19 test results are still at only 10 people.
They have been testing a lot of people without any symptoms too.
Unfortunately, too many people are letting their guard down.
Not wearing masks or social distancing any more and probably not keeping their hands sanitized.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi Subclinical
You have had a very busy & productive day.
WAY TO GO!!!

Great idea letting the room just evolve on it's own.
A daybed for reading and naps & kitty cuddles sounds so great.

My big orange boy Kitty used to always lay on the table when I had the sewing machine going.
He was helping me.

Your salad sounds delicious :D
YEA! for DD taking another possession home with her!
Glad her dental surgery went well and it's all over & done with.

Only thing I have in the carport that's mine is my 1972 VW Beatle that Steven trashed and I want to sell off, it's buried deep.
My garden cart and a couple bags of manure are along the side of the house and will be hard to access.
I am hoping he is just "staging" these things with plans to drop off at donation.
That maybe he is clearing the garage and will continue on with clearing the carport.
Really wish I could ask him.


I did go get groceries this morning.
I now have a watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, peaches, plums, lemons, grapes, cherries and ginger root.

I have been wanting to grow ginger and they never had any with any eye buds but today there were two nice rhizomes with several eye buds each.
Have it soaking in water now. :D

Could not reach the molasses at the back of the top shelf.
Walked around until I found a nice tall young man to help me.
He was a real sweetheart, his job there was to fill peoples online orders for pickup.

Came home and watered the lilacs and am drip watering the Apricot Tree now.
Ate the other half of last night's dinner cantaloupe.
It's one of those days where it's kinda hot but kinda cool.

Oh dear Tillie, I thought I posted this earlier, but I see now I did not -

Do you have things in the carport?

I was hoping the alien was taking things to the dump since they were going in the truck. :(

I have had a pretty good day.

Started with rabbit grooming and cage cleaning and moved on to taking care of goat tetanus shots and disbudding (Horn prevention) the last two baby goats.

Took a shower, moved a few more of DD's things and then she stopped by on her way to her dental follow up and I convinced her to rake her giant are portfolio home with her.

I ran the dishwasher and I took out the compost and I made myself a lively big salad with lettuce from the garden and other things from the pantry and fridge.

Mr. kitty likes the big empty table by the window that I am planning to set my sewing machine up on soon to make the baby wipes for my grandson.

We (mr kitty and I) are thinking about leaving the daybed in here after all because we have found that it is a rather nice place to curl up and read and have pets. (It rained this afternoon)

I am going to let the room evolve as I see how I use it rather than try to set it up as any particular thing.

I may try to start a load of laundry before evening chores if mr. kitty gets done with my lap.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
That was some pretty good puttering around you did!
WTG!
Have fun with the new mystery room. :D


Got cold after sundown last night.
Still chilly this morning.
Got a look at the carport and see Steven has been moving things from the garage and adding them to the Heap-O-Clutter in the carport.
Really making the narrow goat paths through there impossible to walk through.
I wonder if he is keeping all that stuff and is just storing it all there now?

Yay Tatoulia!

I puttered around today - bit of this and that, rearranged bits and pieces, removed things from the ... Sleeping porch? Bonus room? Don't know what I should call that room now that neither of my girls live in it and I am not storing their stuff in it. (Dd2's stuff is not all moved yet)

I found four things that can go. A wicker wreath I got to use for crafts that I decided I am never going to do anything with, a bowl I made and never really liked, a glittery lantern that a student gave me years ago (I realized I forgot which student) and a framed print (the kind you buy at a home decor shop) from my grandfather's office. He had a lot of them hanging down the hall. After he died, my kids and I went to the office with my uncle, and my uncle let each kid choose a print. Over time the kids got tired of them and released them back to me, and this one is not that interesting or meaningful to me. I am keeping the one room schoolhouse (my grandfather attended one and took me to interview his teacher for a community history project for school) and the farm scene. (Because I really like it and there are many farms in the story of my life - including the one he grew up on)

Also I got everything off the floor of the mystery room and vacuumed the carpet. And I ran the dishwasher.

That is my progress for the day.

YEA!!!!!!!!! TATOULIA! :D

A diversity committee, a place where ALL voices can be heard!

WAY TO GO!


Hi Subclinical

Yeah, all I seem to do is just the same old chores time after time.
No satisfaction always treading water and making no progress in other areas.

Looks like he is still removing things from the garage and putting them in the truck.
Would like to ask him what he's doing but he would just get all angry and nasty and probably quit.


Wondering if I should go get fresh produce tomorrow morning.
I still have a cantaloupe and a lemon.
Plan to eat the cantaloupe for dinner tonight.

Quick drive-by! My company has set a diversity committee and we will have Friday, Juneteenth off. The CEO is set to make an announcement tomorrow. My letter worked!!!!