Pain, all i can say is, i sure wish coffee did THAT to me?! WOW! WAY TO GO!!! It all sounds truly fantastic!!!
....there are so many good things with my relationship...ive been single most of my life....i know what that is about....if i could just not depend on him as a boyfriend, just a guy i see...i keep trying to stay my normal i dependant self, too....
Thank you, Tatoulia!
I hope youre feeling better, Tillie?! ~☆~♡~☆~

I am so socially awkward.

At some point I took on. The idea . That normal thinkers can do things for me if I pay them. Or if we're friends that exchange services. That worked for a while. Buy on the homefront. My wife just makes it hard. If I do have friends over it's a bash fest on everything I've ever done stupidly.
Then when the house got trashed I didn't keep giving my friends time.
I'm gratefully I'm driven and getting this done. However it's like a snapshot . Years and years of neglect . Then finally pushing hard in just a month. It's always the social angle that does the heavy lifting that I can not.

I've had a alot of sleep. I did get all of the stuff in my wife's room tubbed up . I can tell you this. I was yelled at. Like a thief. I was in her room is was going through HR stuff. Not Luke investigating. That was so stressful for her. I don't her to have stress. But the mess just has to go. It should never got to that point. I stopped sleeping in her room because of her hoard. But the other problems come forward . I heard it said we're need to sleep Like spoons or our bond diminishes. I can say that applies to us .

Mnnn. It's like ripping off a bandaid . It's worse to go slow , but going fast can seem mean too.

I know what you mean about getting bogged down.
I'm doing what I call a four corner clean.
Remove everything. Sweep the floors, clean the WIndows, put the furniture back and clean everything as I put it back.

Put the clutter into tubs ,
Eventually put tubs in storage
Photo the tubs .

All know is no one helped. When non of us were helping ourselves.

I think I'm not just swinging for the fences.
I feel like its the world series the last game in the ninth inning . Two outs, bases loaded.
But I get to use the best bat ever made.
I'm determined. I'm ready.
Tomorrow will be the last day that any traces of the hoard.

I've got a plan to pull up carpet and paint walls.
I've got the man power to do it.
The only thing that remain will be the memories.

I have a plan to have a maid service in the future.
I don't need a maid.
However I need to stop the madness coming back.
A professional cleaner. To keep the kitchen and bathrooms clean. I think I could Handel the rest.

To be clear . I'm cleaning. Not sorting. I have much much further to go on the sorting. I may never get it all sorted. So it's easy to get helpers to clear space and move furniture paint walls, wash windows. Bring food.

Right now the possessions in the hoard are not as important as the home environment where our daughter and her friends laugh and play. Where mother In law enjoys the environment that is our home. Where we can spend time together as close friends..

We may still have drama , but won't be hoarding related.

I never realised how much people want to help. I mean I do but I didn't let them .
Just say free Chili and please. And say nothing else until they speak.
But I know of my clean freak relatives. I'm paying them to lead . Specific tasks and goals.
Everything must be done in 6 hours.
2 three hour periods. Starting at 9am.

Just details.

I'm just going over the list again and getting all the supplies and tools prepped.

If wife and mother in law cause trouble.
My plan is to send them to a movie, or to her mother's house an hour away.

Tillie my dear I hope you are keeping yourself hydrated. I wish I were there to keep an eye on you. So sorry you are dizzy. Sending you much love.

Anony please just remember that you are important and your opinions are important and your emotions are valid. I do not want you to be batted around like a toy. But that's all I'll say because I value your friendship and your advice and I don't want to step on your toes. I am saying what i would say to a most cherished friend. I am excited for your progress! I've been a little stalled all week.

I am still at office, eager to get home, but I wanted to check in on everyone.

Wishing us all a healthy and productive weekend. I'm cheering for all of us!!

I am taking Monday off with the hope I can get a mental break from life and get work done.

Wow, CM, i can not believe how your bit on having help is exactly what im going through! Except add in the many criminals in the area to worry about coming here on top of all that. Yesterday i decided to just rent a truck & do what i can on my own. My ex & i may get back together...for a while...?!?...maybe he can grab one end of the big heavy stuff...i want to try to work things out with him. I cant just not even try. I just wish i didnt care as much...
~☆♡☆~Love & Happy Cleaning to all!~☆♡☆~

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Hi Pain 🙂

Just a quick "drive-By".
Wonderful to read all your posts! 😀
Will write more later if/when this dizziness passes. 😛

CM, thanks for your post. For some reason it really resonated with me.

Tonight I am just doing a little laundry. I am going to gather up things to consign over the weekend and I want to shred papers and get rid of things. I have two bags ready for goodwill. Honestly I don't know where all this stuff comes from. I really have every closet filled.

I need to change nyinue to let go of stuff if I'm to have any peace. I don't have the peace I want yet. But I'm closer, I'm getting closer. 30% reduction in February is the goal.

Keep up the good work, everyone. Try to find some rest, Oain. I cannot believe how driven you are.

Hello everyone

It's been a day of not doing too much for me. Last night I did get the tub filled with doll clothes trims, today I took it to the van which is where they must live for now due to not enough room in the house and not wanting them clear across town in the storage unit where they'll never get used up during sewing sessions. After that I was tired. The day here was overcast and grey (groundhog did see his shadow but that was in Pennsylvania). And I think I did a lot yesterday and wore myself out.

Anony, good going with the plastic pieces. Taking it clear down to the fresh soil sounds like a metaphor for making a fresh start. 🙂 I hope your heartache eases as quickly as possible. Me, I don't really believe in soulmates so much as long term building of a solid mutual respect, maturity, and being grounded in the other person's greater good. No romantic fantasies, no codependency, etc. What I did years ago making those errors messed with me so badly, and I didn't get married because it took me so long to get steadied out. I'm also socially awkward with men so whether I will ever, I don't know. The childbearing ship has sailed anyway. But I'm okay, life is good, I just want to deal with the hoarding and the future will be bright however it turns out.

Pain, you are so blessed to have great helpers. Not having helpers has been one of my biggest holdups dealing with my hoard. Even if I did have them, it would be tricky as I'd have to get past my embarrassment for one thing. I could probably do that with the right helpers, though, if they weren't judgmental or bossy. Another thing that has been anissue in the past when I did have people helping is that I get mentally bogged down because I'm a big picture person. So I'd be standing there in confusion trying to envision a plan and my helpers would grow impatient with no concrete tasks to do because I didn't want them to just start in any old where!

Tomorrow is payday! It has been a long stretch since the last one. So I'll go pay bills and that sort of thing. Something good may happen but I don't want to say more or count chickens. But if it does you all will know. More later.

Hey there Anony! Thanks for stopping in! Great work. Stay strong.

Better day at work today. Now I'm just tired. Good to read your posts. Hope you got groceries ok today Tillie. I have nothing in the house and will take care of over the weekend. I have kitty food and kitty litter so I'm all set if you think about it.

Keep up with the good work everyone!

I couldnt get to sleep all night...i think i dozed a bit this morning...im just so deeply disappointed that my 'soulmate' is not who i thought he was......oddly, im.really looking forward to cleaning up more of the disgusting plastic bits on the ground! 😀 ~♡~Love to All!!~♡~

Anony
Time heals us. Some journeys we walk together seeking comfort and joy. My favourites have always been the longest walks home. I hope you are well today.

Tillie
Things are quiet. There is much to do. And all those I could remember asking if we ever needed anything. I've called upon them . I believe it best to bring a swift end to the drama. A large cleaning party of 3 strong cleaning leaders with 3 people each... and 4 vehicles.

My logic is a lesson in capacity. Something that I think has always eluded me. No hoard is so large that as many hands may carry time itself.

And with that I'm into the hoard.

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY 🙂
Haven't looked yet to see what the groundhog saw.

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! for working to make your home a spider-free environment and getting up those tiny bits & pieces from the ground! 😀

Hi Pain 🙂
OK, so when you say coffee what you really mean is a home made energy drink. That makes sense.
You have done FANTASTIC! toward getting that house all done! 😀
Good Luck with your weekend plans.
You have a wonderful way of planning things out logically. 😉

Going into town this morning.
Raining right now but a major snow storm is predicted for the next few days.
So wonderful to have all the rain and snow this year!
We've been in severe drought conditions for way too many years.

TTYL 🙂

Hi everyone!
Ive been gradually getting some outdoor areas cleaned up & also finally dealing with that spider infested bureau from last summer!
Im also trying not to be effected by my ex now wanting me back again after that awful treatment.
Im going through a lot of processing of things & having important dreams. Im still going with that great feeling of cleaning up all those horrid tiny pieces of old tarps, plastic containers & debris that has been on the ground for a decade or 2...the only way to get it up is to take up all the top soil with it. It feels great! No decisions! I rigged up a trash can on a dolly so i can just keep going & hopefully either rent a truck or hire someone to run it all to the dump.
It has been a very intense time in many ways.
It sounds like everyone is getting some good stuff done! ~☆~♡~☆~

Grrr!
I'm trying to sleep. Just a wink before 3rd shift 10 hrs.
Mother in law knocks on door and starts in on me.
After the eighth sentence without a pause.
I clapped my hand 4 times.
Told her I want to hear her laugh.
. She just walked away.

I got to figure this out.
No way I'm letting mother in law control the house with unending drama.

Just got to stick to plan. Keep my mouth shut.
I know this week end I'm purposely putting pressure on mother in law to stay during the week. And she's here this week.
But I'll need her to go away Friday , Saturday , Sunday.

Tillie.
So glad you helped me see the limits. Not get exhausted, but not give up.
I could relax now , but I truly believe the mountains out of mole hills mentality is just too much strain. I'll mouth off . So I'm going all in this week end. Calling in everyone, paying some, Circling the wagons.
Once it's done I could leave while she's here without dragging it out.

OK rant over .
Good luck everyone.

just got back from storage unit.
have about two hours to sleep before work.
I got 9 hrs today .
as I was clearing wife's room .mother in law got my wife upset , not hard to do.
so just left to do something else on the task list.

I now have both storage units .
for 1 month .it's a total of 350 for 5 months.
by then I think I can purge enough to get a $50
unit which I feel is acceptable to keep a hoard from causing so much social angst.
I moved the counter top to the new unit.
and started moving wife's stuff to the new unit.
that way if she comes to it she wo t get distracted by what's in my daughter and I unit.

I know have room for the entire hoard in the units. I couldn't figure it out before. if the unit is to small then it keep the hoard in it. so the house. the common areas get hoard in it.

yeah I think I've went minimalist in the house.
but Considering the mice Infestation I need to get under the hoard and eliminate spaces they can nest. so I dont plan to keep our stuff in storage forevermore. just not allowing it to compromise our health and social functions.

the trash is out
the kitchen is clean.
the cars are tidy
the bathrooms have been disinfected.
the living room is a bedroom.
the dinning room just has a few dishes on the table.
the stairs are swept
the upstairs hallway is filled with tubs for storage.
daughters room has only a bed and clean clothes hung on hangers.
the drum room is clean and smells like vanilla.
the wife's room has a path .
the back room is tubbed up.

the plan is keeping moving forward.

tomorrow is laundry day. nothing else can happen until all the laundry is washed, dried, and putaway.

Friday I plan to push the hardest on the wife's room. reclaim the floor space.
nothing thrown away.
all in tubs.
all tubs photographed
scoop up loose ends into Xmas tree bag. sweep floor.
remove everything except furniture

Saturday take all tubs and bags to storage units. eat chili and watch a concert.

Sunday stay in the backroom until it is done.

Monday. rest
Tuesday trash day and kitchen
Wednesday bathrooms
Thursday laundry
Friday wife and daughters rooms
Saturday storage
Sunday rest
Monday. common areas

I think this is doable.

Tea is OK.
But it doesn't turn me Into a robot. Like coffee.

Well it isn't exactly coffee.

It's in a beer mug.
It's 1/2 dark coffee.
1/4 dark chocolate whey protein
1/4 dark chocolate cashew milk.

I use that same combo when I go to the gym.

G
Happy Groundhog Eve 😉

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Funny how we post at the same time so often. ;D

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
Wonderful that you have been painting! 😀
So nice that you have your quilt guild to socialize and quilt and contribute to your church all at the same time.

Hi Pain 🙂
Very glad you have an appointment to talk with someone.
You are going through so much at this time. (((hug)))
I think you could never please your mother in law no matter what you do so just keep doing what you have been doing.
Your plan is a good one.
Separating everybody's things, moving them out of the way so the house is a safe and mouse-less place.
Cleaning and re-cleaning.

Coffee makes me feel all jittery inside but the caffeine from tea doesn't.
I drink a LOT of strong tea every day.
Have you ever thought of having some tea when you need a caffeine boost?

Good to hear from you CM! And so pleased with your quilting at the church and painting. I'm so glad you had a nice time st lunch. I frequently treat people for lunch and I let people treat me. It's nice to be able to do it when I can and very nice to be on the receiving end.

I like your idea re the plants. You don't need to keep alll of your plants all of the time. Before I had my cat I used to enjoy having poinsettia plants at Christmas and I would throw them out when the holidays were over. Some people take great pride in keeping them alive but for me, I'd rather just let them go. I am getting used to the idea of it being ok to temporarily enjoy something/I don't need to make a lifelong commitment to every object in the home. In fact, I'm trying to break up with as much as possible!

Anony--are you up for a quick drive by?

Hi all,

Just little things, but it's been a good day. I went to my quilt guild at church. I so enjoy quilting with the ladies. And since I'm poor as a church mouse (pun intended) it feels good to be able to contribute my skills for something that helps make a bigger amount for the church than I ever could contribute in dollars of my own. They've been running a deficit so they need it.

Then one of the gals whom I've only recently met there treated me to lunch! I've been wanting to get to know her better. We had a good time, and then went to JoAnn Fabrics. I didn't buy anything I didn't need, just replaced a broken paintbrush.

Then I went on my own to Walmart and got that tub for my doll clothes trims, and came home and got out the new paintbrush and my paints, and did some on a rework of a painting that I've carted around for several years. The colors were UGLY - I had been using up old paint. Now I'm overpainting with better colors. My paintings are abstract expressionist so I just play around with color, line, and form, and embellishments till I like how a painting looks. I'd say with this one I'm about halfway there.

Letting the paint dry now, and will do more on it tomorrow or whenever. It's hard to find a spot with clear work space and good lighting to spread my painting stuff out here where I'm renting a room. But I found a spot that was good enough for this stage. The next stage is where I'll be more meticulous; today I was just covering the old ugly paint to be able to re-envision the piece.

Having the creative juices flowing feels so good! Now I'll turn my attention to putting the doll clothes trims in their tub, since the sun will be going down soon and it'll be harder to paint anyway. I'm eager for spring, when my roommate's large plants will go outdoors and the house will be more roomy.

A couple of my plants are large and they'll go out too. They are "special" ones from each of my parents' funerals. I enjoy plants but have decided at this stage in my life to not try to overwinter plants other than the Mom & Dad ones. This year I'm going to get plants I'm sure will die off come fall! That will teach me to live in the moment, and keep my roommate from urging me to bring any of them indoors.

Because someday when I get my own place again, this is one of the ways I'm going to live more minimalist. If I decide to have plants, and they die, they die. Maybe I get new ones, maybe not. Due to my physical restrictions on heavy lifting, I don't plan to get any new ones that need huge pots. I can go to the botanical gardens or a plant nursery and stroll around if I feel a need for a "plant fix." It's free and I can see, even photograph, way more species and I won't need to own them to enjoy them! 🙂

Just a jot.
I'm realizing how depressed I am.
Made an appointment with a clinical therapist.
I'm not suicidal. Just depressed.
I don't want to naval gaze too much .

I got cornered by mother in law. She trying to make me feel bad for the hoarding especially for cleaning everything else but where her daughter sleeps. It made me very angry Inside. If it were a man I would have handed the dude a trash bag and bought beer. But since it's her mother I just stood there and cowed.

I have to over come the drama. It's very weird. Now when think about cleaning wife bedroom it's like a strong overwhelming mood makes me want to laydown.in the past I used to selfmedicate with beer.

Well I there's other things going on. I know I should expect to be depressed . 1 I'm in a sexless marriage for very long time. Not that I in her state I would be appropriate anyway. But has been more than ten years. So where I know I'll grieve it won't be the same . I often drift into thinking what single life will be like. She's been sick for so long I don't want her life to end . But she often refers to wanting to pass. We argue so much over mole hills. Ill miss her but I sorta look forward to not being emasculate so often.

So with that I think I need to see a therapist.

The back room is coming g along .
Strategically I've made it to a stopping point.
Where if my guests want to help with carting.
It will help get very close to the backroom being cleared completely.

So I I have have high Confidence that Sunday I can get help carrying In the really big couch.
It's already bought .

So now I'm self medicating with caffeine. And it makes me moody- irritable. I'm working on wife's room. She's doesn't want me in there and is angry and upset . But her mom is goading me to keep going. It's like having two of them in the house.
The only way I know how to put into words.
They both voice their frustrations but do nothing.
They make me feel depressed.
So I just keep focused on my own plan. Draw on my own strengths. I'm real ed to keep at it to very last piece. To then empty and clean the sweepers and trash cans . To the level of completely done.

The weirdest thing is like they don't ever talk about how bad it was. Only how bad it is. I'm all for living in the moment but it's ridiculous. And I see it as ridiculous. Wife and mother in law FEEL there is 100 things to do . I've done 80 of them.
They still want nag about the 20 left to do without acknowledging the 80. I'm betting that when I do reach completion. There will still be unappreciative drama. It's very overwhelming.

I do appreciate mother in law dominating in The kitchen. It's being Maintained. So I don't walk Into big abandoned messes. And don't have to spend time cooking. Mother in law is feeding us well and when she leaves we have food in the freezer.
I can tell my wife wants to just have the family time In the kitchen like we did when I got the kitchen clean and they messed it up and I kept cleaning it. So I'll work on that issue after I get the hoard organized. Thing is . The house may become hoardless. But the hoard still exists in storage. .

I thinks that was when I got hit with feelings of being overwhelmed. When I see what I'm doing is separating from my wife even before she passes. It'll be in 4-6 months possibly suddenly.
I mean to say I've separated all our clutter. In the storage bin. I made it so that what I consider to be crap that no one but she would want can just be dumped. And my daughters stuff can go with my daughter and mine. Can be purged.
So it's like looking into the future. Making plans on what will need to be done when she's not with us anymore. Its feelings. I mean I feel lime a bull in a China shop. The hoard has to go. Nothing I can do about my wife.
No matter how they make me feel. I know I'm making our home a livable place for all our family and friends to come visit and stay if they wish.

Looking forward to Chili fest.
And looking forward to going to my brothers for a Superbowl.

Tillie we are in sync. That cheers me up.

Working from home so day is going better. I have to go in tomorrow and I don't want to. I am generally the happiest person in any office and I am extremely unhappy these days. I couldn't stop crying yesterday. So terrible. But I'll work on that later.

For now, I'm going to get dressed and surprise mom with lunch. I've washed donation duvet and it's drying now. I need to get recycling out. Tillie it adds up so quickly--orange juice container, milk container, coffee can, etc. we recycle everything paper, plastic and glass. So that's good but it's shocking how quickly it adds up. I'll take to bin in way to mom's.

Trying not to be so upset.

HAPPY FEBRUARY 😉

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Yes, the rugs are those old fashioned handmade braided oval rugs.
Good Luck selling your artwork!
Glad you have decided to put off any more diary purging since it was upsetting to go through them right now.
Sorry you have received a large unwanted gift that needs to hang around for a while. (((hugs)))

Another dark dreary day...
Should do some housework even though I really don't want to.
Maybe tomorrow I should go grocery shopping.
We'll see.
But it would be good for me to get out of this house for a while, maybe even talk to a human.
;D

Tillie I am sorry you are down. I'm excited for your rag rugs. I tell me, are they anything like those braided oval rugs I grew up with? How I loved those. Mom always had a small one by the kitchen sink and then a large one in her bedroom. Such an easier time.

I will get through my art this weekend, let BF take first dibs, then hope consignment shop has some luck with them. Would be fun to get a little money.

I need this keep cleaning and purging. I have to lay off the diaries, even though I'm almost there. Reading them is surprisingly upsetting.

I am comfortable with my choice on the duvet. I'll wash it tomorrow.

Ugh. A friend sent me a very thoughtful, very large gift that I would never buy or use or even admire in the store. No interest in it all. Normally I just immediately get rid of such stuff, but I can't in this case. I'm going to have to clear space to save it. She will likely visit me this summer and I'll keep for one visit here but not beyond that.

Hi Everybody 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Happy you have come to a comfortable decision. 😀
It's important that we remember that we can keep what we want when decluttering.
Nobody has to let go of so much that they make minimalists jealous of them.
While helping my neighbor friends downsize into an RV and one storage unit, on decision making I would always say "I want there to be no regrets".
This greatly helped them make all those difficult keep/toss/donate decisions.
Just checked and you posted while I was composing.
(((((HUGS)))))
Sorry work made you so unhappy.
Treat yourself kindly (((hug)))

Hi Pain 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! for selling some more items! 😀
Is there any reason why you must tell your mother when you sell something?
Since it could set her off maybe you could just not tell her?
My own mother would always give me stuff I did not want and tell me that I MUST keep it forever.
When she would ask where it was I would say I stored it in the garage loft waaayyy in the back where it was safe.
Of course that was a lie but it kept her off my back.
Good luck getting that chili party going and getting some much needed help to get things done there.
Those mice need to be hunted down and evicted.
Sorry your good mouser isn't there to help.

Cloudy cold dark overcast day today.
Cats & I are sorta depressed, wanted to go outside again and play.
Spent the day watching Netflix and making the rag rug fabric strips.

TTFN

Wow, Pain, you are getting so much done. Very impressive.

Another hard day at work. I am for the first time very unhappy with my job. I cried for about 40 minutes at work today.

I will go to bed soon. I'll do laundry tomorrow and work in some bags of stuff. I texted with consignment shop and I can bring my stuff a week from Sunday.

I know that at the sailing club we all put in community time .
Some us do different tasks.
One of those tasks is to bring Chili.

I thought that was odd.

Then a few years later my neighborhood block organised a clean up.

They also served Chili. And some how more people came after the Chili .
I never forgot that .
Chili equals free help.
Even more help if you turn it into a Chili contest.

I could care less. But some people take a Chili Co test like a serious challenge.

So I'll see if I can make that work for me too.
I don't think I'd get much help if the house was still a giant hoard of mess.
I'm betting that since the downstairs is almost clean. And people are wanting to help my wife.
I have a good chance of getting to the end of the end game.

I've sold another $25. Of the storage stuff.
Toys my daughter no longer wants.

My mom found out I'm selling toys and has demanded getting them back. Serious drama coming out of her mouth , including intelligence insults.
I have the type of mother that's gives us framed art to put on the walls. And gets voicestrous and upset when we don't use it.

So I keep my mom away becausecshe doesn't help , just stirs up drama.
Maybe when it's all done. I'll bring her in . But she's a hypochondriac and bugs my wife with guessing o. She should or not be doing about having cancer.

Plus I think my mother in law might harm my mother one these days . So I keep them separated.

Today is trash day. So I went through the whole house with trash bags in my back pocket. And got as much outside as I could. I still have more trash than the trash men will take.

The neighbors are good about letting me fill their cans. But still too many.

I'll clear my car when the can is empty.

So this morning before the trash man is coming I'm in the wife's room . I have the OK from her to gather trash. It's already almost all bagged up. And in the hall. I feel like I'm lying to her .
Because I'm actually getting her things packed up to bring downstairs . I don't want to say what looks like in there. But it's a daunting hoard.
Her mom was mad at me for letting it get like that.
And not cleaning it first instead of the rest of the house.
It goes in one ear and out the other . Honestly I see where my wife gets her god blame you BS.
WIFE still doesn't want me to do anything in her room. At this point with only 2 rooms left. Wether she moves to the downstairs or not.
I'm not going to leave her hoard in its present state. It dangerous , she sends me and daughter in there to look for stuff and it's we'll it's piled up . There no sense in keeping it that way.

My plan for her room is to make it the same as the storage unit. A wall of tubs labeled and photographed. . Currently there is not even a path to walk. So I will tub it up all of it. So I can sweep the floor. The key is it must be organised well enough that my daughter and I can fetch her items on demand. I know it will stress her out.

So I'm trying to get her mother to take her to NANN house . For a church service, before she'll be unable to go.
Then pounce on the hoard in respectful manner.

There is still mice in the two room with hoards I. Them. I bought a large bucket of baits and gave 50 bait placements. In almost every corner of every room and basement and porches.
The only place I hear them stirring is In the remaining hoards.

When my wife got sick this last summer . She gave our cat to her cousin. But he was mouser. And now we're infested with mice.
Was the primary reason for purging the living room and kitchen. Which has gotten me started in the first place. Honestly I miss the little predator.

Hi Tillie! Thanks for the advice. I changeout my bedding seasonally too. I have fewer comforters now, having gotten rid of three of them during the storage clean out and then another one last weekend. I'm down to some pretty layered pieces on my bed, which I switch out during the summer. So right now I have sheets, warm blanket, very thin white quilt, then a taupe shiny thin quilt (like gold satin but more of a cafe an lait color) that I keep folded at foot of bed during day then the comforter with duvet. In summer it's the thin white quilt with the gold thin quilt. I am able to change it up that way without having to own too much stuff. And if I get bored, I'll just add another piece and get rid of what I am using now

OKAY, after talking this out with you (and I am grateful for your advice) I am ready to get rid of the duvet. Thank you so much. I needed to work through it. And the permission to keep it was greatly appreciated.

Pain, thank you for your posts. It does help to be here--and hearing about what you are doing and how you are doing it is very, very helpful. A chili party sounds like fun! A good relaxing time to celebrate your hard work!!

Hi Pain 🙂
Having a chili party sounds great!
Definitely hope you do that.
Having people over is one of the best motivations there is and it's good for the soul too. 😀

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
That ivory and red embroidery duvet sounds lovely.
I will tell you what I would do and it's something that I do do.
I enjoy changing out things seasonally.
I have two different sets of drapes for some windows.
I have about 6 light weight sheer, frilly curtains that I enjoy swapping out throughout the summer.
I have three shower curtains.
I have a red duvet, red is my favorite color,
and a lighter weight purple comforter.
I have plans to make more rag rugs so that I can swap them out too.
I have a selection of blankets of different weights, materials and colors.
I enjoy the changes. They are simple and easy to do but they make a big difference in the rooms.
I have the space to store these things without cramming & stuffing them in.
I like change in my surroundings, I feel that it keeps things fresh and interesting.

So, if you don't want that pretty duvet
then go ahead and donate it.
Please don't feel that you must only have one of something just because you are decluttering.
If you are still sitting on the fence about the decision what I recommend is that you put it in a big clean bag, set it aside for a while.
Come back to it in a few weeks and see how you feel about it.

Now that I have completely confused Tatoulia here's what we did today...
It got all the way up to 50 degrees!!!!
All the cats and I went outside. I had the door open and opened some windows to get the clean fresh air inside.
I got the snippers and pruners out and did some snipping and pruning.
Still eating what's here in the house, still haven't grocery shopped.
Today I cooked some dry pinto beans, added a packet of dry onion soup mix and some water and 7 tiny packets of ketchup from Burger King that were in the fridge since last October.
Also opened a can of Mandarin orange sections.
Not doing too bad! 😀

Scooter got some different eye drops and a possible new diagnosis.
The Vet thinks it may be an allergic problem compounded by going improperly diagnosed for too long, causing some other issues.

I get my determination because I'm here.
I know it's weird , I'm guessing.
If I don't have my wife's approval I stall.
If she naggs I stall.

If I Come here and vent and plan. I sorta don't need or care what my wife wants. It would be different if she were taking care of herself.

But since she can longer put my plan off , or dominate my mood about clearing rooms. I only need the energy.
I drink a protein coffee..

It's got enough caffeine in it and sugar. That I seem to just well up with need to do something .
I simply can't sit still.

I have already planned out In hierarchical check list of tasks .

If I go Into room . Fully charged on sugar and caffeine.
Start on the biggest check boxes.

I sometime use my smartphone alarms to refocus o. The check lists. So if I become distracted the alarms prompt me to refocus on the check boxes.

.............
I'm feeling high.
I have depression. Not just from my wife. However I'm almost to the everything clean stage. I've only gotten to that point 5 times in my life. My social life improves, and more people makes for more opportunities to enjoy the small things.

I kinda got slow on going the rest of the way.
So I get out the hierarchical outliner . And make plans.

I came up with a scheme.

I have invited my family and friends to a Chili dinner to help me Finnish . I'm betting on my tendency to get started before they come and get even closer.

Critical Mass.
I don't know if this will make a difference for you you. A few years agi I bought a really huge tub with large wheels . It travels .

Of course because I'm a hoarder the tub got full. And when I couldn't get past the the full tub problem I would go months without purging anything g. So the large tub. Just became another part of my hoard.
I learned to get tubs all the same size if they are meant to stack. I learned to make a wall of tubs in one room of the house , keep a countertop in that room and use it just for the work space to keep the roller tub purged . But of course that just became part of the hoard too.

What finally made it. Fluid and flexible.

I keep two tubs inside the roller tub with a policy not ever just put clutter in the roller tub , but in the Shelving tubs inside the roller tub.

That became partridge the hoard.

I finally broke the hoard spiral.

I went to harbor freight. It's a low cost tools only outlet. I bought a large 4 wheel cart . The metal one with solid base and fold down handle.
I could stack 8 tubs on it 4 high.
All labeled. Papers, art supplies, clutter upstairs,tools and dishes, Me,wife, daughter.

I push it around easily , and I keep baggies for projects that have loose pieces, and trash bags .

This became part of the hoard.

However when I'm ready to purge or organize I have a process that makes sense to me, and I only have to spend time with it and I reclaim spaces .
It's so empowering to know I can get far if I just put in the time, because I've got a method that makes sense to me.

Mother in law finally left. I stopped asking if she was staying longer. I could see that she was seeing my wife's illness is advancing . I offered no drama. Discussed very little. Just kept feeding her. She said she be back on the week end.
She's retired . I wish she would stay when I'm working on week days.
I think I'll manipulate her a few times to see if she gravitate to weekdays. Plus having a Chili party on Superbowl weekend I'm hoping the same opportunity. Of having 4 people able to make a bucket brigade and talk then into a half hour or more of me. Putting hoard clutter into tubs out to the porch. I've been spending a little time in my wife's room . Quietly clearing the trash. Family gets disgusted with going hands on the trash. But put it on a tub and they would carry it around the mall. Sorry just being goofy.

I'm just guessing here so please understand I'm just trying to figure it out loud.

I have trouble completing things. So clearing space and the cleaning it us no different. If I ask for help . Especially from those who offer it, and those that jump right in without having to talk about first.

My sister in law.
My cousin Doug and his son.
My friend Ken.

I'll mention. To my mom and brothers that I need help but I'll let them volunteer.

More gets done in the end game when I'm not alone.
More gets done when I scoop up the loose ends into a Christmas bag and take it storage .

It's nice to have. So much food coma g out of the kitchen again. Her mother spent 4 hours in there yesterday scrubbing things I can't figure out why needs scrubbing. But I just stay away and let her do what she wants . I consider it her putting her foot in . And trying to dominate the kitchen as her space. I think that's about right @ the Psych level. But I'm just guessing.
I've discovered a great couch at a mission thrift store. When the pillows are removed it's as big as a twin sized bed. And the cushions are more supportive than mattress , and all one piece. So no
Lumpy voids.
They're open on Saturday. I could ask my brother for his van and hope he comes along sigh it.
He did sound like he wanted to bring chili.

It would be great if that all came together.

Tax money makes getting the bigger storage bin at the same storage facility possible .
So I will go tomorrow and upgrade . And. Buy the couch large couch.

It's so deep and long the only thing that fit In the back room will be the couch and the big hutch .

I think I can make it into a wardrobe. Sorta.
And use the laundry room as place to put clothes on hangers.

If I can do all that and not wear out . It'll be done.
Maybe encourage daughter to have a sleep over and offer mall money to help carry tubs to the porch.

That will be a clean house.
But the hoard will still exist in the storage unit.
When I think about it there my stomach feels like knots. Hopefully with time I'll get used to it.

I'll set up a regular online payment so if something happens it won't get confiscated in an absence.

.......

Tillie I'm sorry for the pressure I'm about to put on you. Could you tell me what to do with the ivory and red duvet. I'm going to wash it in Wednesday and I need someone to tell me what to do with it. I need someone to tell me to donate it.

Hello everyone! CM--keep up the good work. Please don't feel that you have to stop mentioning the car repairs--we are here by your side. So do it for you, not for us. I am as frustrated as you are and wish there were some way to speed it up for you. Your work in the meantime is going great!! Congratulations!

Tillie, I'm sorry the weekend went so poorly. I'd think he'd love be the idea of having to buy a new toilet. What a shame. How did scooter go today at vet? Poor little thing.

Pain, what you are accomplishing is amazing. I don't know where you get your strength and determination!

I am gathering up artwork to consign. I could just take it to goodwill but I'd like to see if I can get something for it. Mainly framed black and white photographs. A few other things too.

I washed a duvet cover today/plain white cotton/want to put on my bed now. Not sure what to do with the ivory one with red embroidery. I love it but not sure I need two duvet covers. I bought it many years ago and have gotten rid of the pillow shams. I got rid of a lot of bedding and have enjoyed alternating between the two. But maybe it's time.

Garbage out. Shredded two more diaries. Only about seven or eight left at this point.