Hello everyone! I had a good day at work today and thank goodness tomorrow is payday. I've really been struggling.

Congratulations SubC! The fair sounds like so much fun. Anony keep exploring your options/I know you'll come up with something. Tillie, what can I say? You amaze me every day.

Thank you all for your support. I will deal with dining room table papers. I hate the way it looks. I did seem to pull it all together last night. Not as sure about tonight. I stopped by mom's on way home to give her some dinner and beverages. She seems very lonely. I couldn't stay because BF was waiting for me downstairs and I had my own food to get home and into fridge.

Thank you everybody for supporting me. No final decisions on my artwork but I'm getting there. I've branched out from my usual etchings and black & white photographs, and have to now coordinate more with the oil paintings and other works. The oil paintings are in elaborate frames. It takes more planning now. Some of my oil paintings are very large but I have high ceilings so it works very well. I'm not going to worry too much because my overseas friend will have her own ideas when she starts to redo my place. But in the meantime I need the art hung or sent to the comsignor's for sale.

~☆~Greetings & coffee clinks!~☆~
Subclinical, i had no idea about the creosote thing till i just now read your post?!? Thank you! I can have the poles be on the outside...i guess...but the thing is, i do not know what im doing, or rather, what i want to do...or think i want to do?!!!? I want to take this on as something to create independence & growth, ect. I do not want to foster more dependence on others...it is too much to do on my own. I need to get this trailer Saran Wrapped...ha ha...while i figure out how i can get help in a way that will work...im trying to keep calm & be practical...
~♡~All of y'all's posts sound exciting & hopeful & good, like things are quite positive for everybody?!~♡~

Good Morning Everybody 🙂
Still morning here where I live.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WOW! you sure are getting to a lot of things even with the nasty humidity.
WTG!!! 😀
Moving stuff from where it's been sitting to a new location is the best way to see it with new eyes.

Hi Subclinical 🙂
WTG! for all the ribbons!
Happy this fair was a wonderful success. ;D

Hi Porter 🙂
Recyclables are a big problem for a lot of people.
They want to do it correctly but end up living with them all stacked up around them.
The rule is...
recycle what you can without getting bogged down and the recyclables staying around the home.
But it is allowable to just toss EVERYTHING in the trash if that's the only way to get your home under control.
Many garbage collecting companies sort through all the garbage anyways and recycle/sell the stuff.
So it is not all languishing in a landfill somewhere. 😉

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
Hi Anonymoniker 🙂

Still smoky.
Had to get out and water earlier.
Back inside until evening when I will water the grass.
Vacuumed and swept already.
Cat needs have been tended to.
Another small gopher snake is in the well house near the faucet that I need to access to water outside.
It came from under the house where I know they like to live.
This means that the mouse population under the house is greatly reduced and the snakes are moving out to find more food.
The snakes in the garage live there all summer because they find more than enough food in there.
The garage is floor to rafters stuffed/hoarded, with only a tiny "goat path" down the center.

Hi everybody!

Porter, good to hear from you! I'm glad you have company and that your inventory keeps you in order.

Tatoulia, sometimes you have to just move things around to get unstuck. I think it's great that you are working on the art, and your system makes sense.

Tillie, I can't imagine fire as weather either. I'm glad you didn't have to go out in it.

Anony, I will be very interested to hear how your tiny home journey goes. Do the telephone poles have creosote on them? I would think that might be a problem.

Cm, I really understand the urge to buy the new dolls. How realistic are you being about their importance as an income resource? Could you set aside a percentage of what you actually make selling doll clothes and only buy one when you have enough money from that? Resisting is good though.

the progress on your quilt is great! A quilt us a really big project. There were some beautiful ones at the fair this year.

I entered two that my great grandmother made in the antique division, and an afghan my grandmother crocheted. All three won ribbons!

I had a really good time at the fair catching up with my friends. I did buy a t-shirt. The farm bureau puts one out every year to support the 4h kids. This one was a leftover of one of my favorites that was selling at a reduced price.

I also acquired a plastic spoon, a souvenier cup (in order to avoid a styrofoam cup) a booklet for the class I'm teaching, a note with someone's contact info, and a post card with info on it I want to pass on to one of my students.

I accidentally ordered a snack that came on a styrofoam tray, which I threw out, but I rescued a couple of empty water bottles that had been left on the stands to recycle so maybe those are "offsets"?

I placed well in a lot of the areas I entered. I should have a little money left after I replenish my "ticket and spending money" fund for next year's fair.

I took best of show in Ceramics too, which is nice.

Trash Day is still what keeps my routine in check.
my friend bryan practically lives here now.
I don't mind because he helps keep everthing in place.
and if I start a project he stays with me till its complete.
I don't like the empty cave . My house is too big for just one person.

I keep thinking I'll get it all messed up again for one reason or another. But the system where I i can swipe photos of what's inside labeled tubs keeps me from rummaging through junk I keep hoarded in the basement.

I swept under couch, vacuumed rug under desk, did a giant no-no where in one fell swoop I took every thing off the coffee table and put on dining room table. I just need to see my coffee table. I dusted it.

Dining room table is a task for tomorrow night. I am happy to see my coffee table.

Dying of humidity. Going to shower and call it a night. Sorry to post so much. I needed you.

Ok I've vacuumed kitty's couch. Now I'll put some clean kitty sheets on it. I put the ceiling fan on for her in the bedroom and I just checked in her and she is feeling much cooler.

I'm working on the art. A lot of decisions. Moving stuff around. I'm trying to place things on existing hooks til I decide what is going where--so while I try it out it may not be hung at the correct height but I do not want to make too many holes in the wall until I know that which pieces have found a semi-permanent home.

Very warm. Drinking lots of water. Will put on AC while I shower so my bedroom will be nice and cool when I get ready for bed.

Hi Tillie!!! Worried about Yosemite, you and the cats. It must be very odd to have smoke & fire be part of your weather pattern.

I've run the dishwasher and made iced tea. I have cleaned inside toilet and scrubbed the sink and vanity. I have moved some art, SubC, you know how long I've been puttIng that off.

It's terribly hot and humid but for some reason, I'm doing okay. Tiny cat is on my white bedspread (black cat/white bedspread:I think we know how that's going to end). She feels very ea to me but she's drinking plenty of water do I won't worry too much. I may try to take this opportunity to vacuum the couch. I have no idea where the energy is coming from but let's not look too hard--no need to talk myself out of some productivity.

Much love to all.

HI Everybody 🙂
PORTER!!! how are you?

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! for working on your quilt! 😀
Soon as the quilt and papers are done you can start on other more interesting subjects.
Keep resisting the urge to add the new dolls (((HUGS)))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
GREAT!! that you got some good sound sleep.
This morning I managed to sleep in till 9am.
Take care and try not to stress about not getting stuff at home done while the weather is so miserable there. (((HUGS)))

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Keep brainstorming on manageable home solutions, I an positive you will find something that will be good for you (((HUGS)))
And I believe you are right. That you will be able to let go of the old stuff when you have a new place to live. 😀

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Looking forward to your post as to how the fair went. 😀

Funky looking day here today.
Yosemite is burning and the smoke is coming my way. 🙁
But the cooler weather is still holding in the 90s.
Been putzing around inside doing a little of this and that.
Happy that I don't have any reason to go outside today. ;D

Anony you are brave & resourceful! I am glad you have a big piece of property. 200 sq feet is not a lot but I bet you can do it!

I have not done any household stuff today. Took some things up to mom's and It's like I'm wearing the weather. Just so humid.

I'm staying hydrated and will need to brew some iced tea later.

~Good morning, to all!~
So far, im liking the idea of using the old solar tower as a frame for one or 2 rooms that would each be under the legal size limit. One as a bedroom & the other as a kitchen? It is strong, made of telephone poles, and is situated in a perfect spot! Im just not sure if itd be easier to have a sturdy frame already there, or if itd be easier to just start from scratch, with a conventional plan? ...i usually struggle with anything conventional...ha ha Part of me really wishes i had a guy partner that knows how to do construction to help, and part of me wants to do this on my own...as long as i can get this trailer from further falling apart, ill have some time to figure it out? One thing that i feel will happen if i create a new space, is that itll be easier to let go of old stuff...? Ive been watching YouTube videos on easy buildings, and ive been following alternative & tiny homes for a while. It could be a great experience to really build my own home....?!?

Iced tea clinks!!

Another hot and humid day. I remember when I lived in the Midwest they'd say, hazy hot & humid. I don't hearcthst onnthe news any more.

Today I am going to work on bathroom. I'm home and working & will spend time on bathroom.

So good to read everyone's posts! Keep up the good work! Your progress is truly helping me. I too struggle with bringing more stuff into house. But I've cut back by 80% so that's good.

Tillie I slept after work last night. I woke up at 10 but I would've sworn it was 3 AM. I had to keep looking st clock--it's really only 10PM. Very restful sleep.

I'll write more later!!!!

Scrambling to catch back up to where I was about a month ago when I was focused and had several tasks laid out and they seemed oh so doable. Well, I still know what they were, basically. It's just that there's been an "influx" of more stuff, and some days when I was called away so it broke the steady flow.

On the good side, I'm getting those quilt pieces embroidered - that may not sound like much but this unfinished quilt has been hanging over my head way too long. And when I get it put together and taken to the church, I can neatly put away the equipment and fabric and that'll reduce some clutteredness.

Then it's back to those paperwork tasks - not exciting but the hot summertime indoors in the AC is as good a time as any to tackle them. Add a little iced tea and some tunes and I'll be good to go. And when the papers are data-entered and shredded that will also free up space. There aren't that many but I will be glad to get them done and see them not be a physical presence any longer.

I can reward myself for doing the boring tasks with time to do artwork or sewing.

Haven't been as disciplined as I should with the shopping, though not out of control. There have been about three categories of "shiny things" calling to me - alcohol inks for artwork, beads and findings for jewelry making, and the new sized Barbie & Ken dolls for making patterns for sewing and selling the clothes.

I'm resisting the urge to actually collect additional dolls in the new Fashionista series just because I like them, though. Debating whether to get Monster High dolls and make and sell clothes for them as well. I have a $10 Toys R Us gift coupon, so I could get either one more Barbie or Ken, or two of the cheapest Monster High dolls. I won't go to TRU until I'm going to that side of town - way far from where I live so a trip just for that is not justifiable in terms of gasoline cost.

I actually meant this to be a short post! Oh well.

I have Clutter Cleaners club this afternoon. Looking forward to telling about meeting Cory.

Thanks Tillie.

Tomorrow I get to spend the whole day. Everything will be judged by evening so I will know how I did. My dd was there today and some categories had been judged. I asked her not to tell me because I like to go in and see for myself and take my time walking through the exhibits, so she said, "ok, but I have to tell you - you're going to be happy." So that is something nice to look forward to.

Also, it is the day that most of my farm friends will be there. Some of them I see only on fair week each year.

I will remember to focus on people and experiences.

(Dd handed the button on to a friend. 🙂 )

Today I used some of those free flat promotional fridge magnets to turn a bumper sticker into a car magnet because dh doesn't like me to put stickers on my car. I already had all the items. I also cut some of the drywall scraps and ran tape around them. Some are for me to keep, but I also plan to take some to the pottery studio where I have class on Thursday as a gift.

Hello 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Sounds like I got my wish for your weekend.
Fun times 😀
Yes, I wore rubber gloves while dealing with that laundry :/
Scooter says "HI"

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Hoping the fair is a good one for you 😉
Once upon a time I made a ledger listing every single penny I spent for a whole year.
Every time I spent any money it was listed in my ledger.
After a year I was able to evaluate my spending and knew the exact dollar amount I spent on every category.
Food, cleaning/household, pets, insurance, utilities, car maintenance, etc...
It was a very valuable experiment for me.
I also listed whatever I was able to put into a savings account and how much I saved by using coupons for products I was going to buy anyway, coupon or not.

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
The only person I have to will my house & stuff to really doesn't want it.
He is happy to have me. I told him to just sell whatever & get the money because I want him to have the 80K or more he would get.
About your house...
Alternative housing of some sort.
Maybe a shipping crate. Solid construction but you need to have windows cut into the metal sides.
Look at Youtube videos to see if that would work for you. (((HUGS)))

WAY TO GO!!! Everybody for all you are doing and for all your thinking and planning and living in the moment, 😀

No new excitement around here. Pretty boring actually.
Last evening it cooled off. A beautiful little cool breeze blew all night long.
I needed my blanket & not just the sheet.
Scooter had the blanket and fought hard to keep it, but I eventually got some covers back.
Only got up into the mid 90s yesterday and today.
I know that is still hot but not so deadly hot as those 104s and higher were.

Anony, 200 sq ft is pretty small. How big is your trailer? Would you be able to move into the little building temporarily and eventually replace the trailer?

Have you checked out all the stuff on tiny houses?

~Hello, to all!~
Ive been really soul-searching over what to do & im trying to look at keeping it simple & within the realms of what i have. I have a tight budget & I can legally only do a 200 square foot building. For now, im gonna watch YouTube videos & figure on doing a lot of it myself & get help for certain parts of it, but not put anyone else in charge of it. Thats where im at for now. I can have plastic sheeting put across my trailer to keep it more or less in tact in the mean time. One of the more difficult parts of 'improving' my home, has been that underneath all my junk & dirt, is a junk trailer, so it has made the illusion of improving it kinda futile. Its not like a beautiful home was there, if i just cleaned it out better. I am still loving being the nice areas i made in the kitchen & porch, tho! I regularly hang out there in bliss! Im scared, but also excited. It could be an awesome adventure.....☆

Thanks Tatoulia. Returning the sweaters was good! It's hard to keep track of receipts and remember to do that in time!

If you have ever read "your money or your life", it starts with the premise that before you can really gain control of your spending, you have to really know where your money is going. So you are supposed to write down every penny you spend for a month.

When I cancelled our trash service, I became much more aware of where and how we generate garbage.

So I decided that if I was really going to gain control of my relationship to stuff, I needed to take a "your money or your life" approach and really understand where it was coming from. (Because clearly it was still coming in or I would be much further along by now) I think it will take much more than a month. Maybe a year? Because stuff sources change with seasons and activities. But I can make changes as I go and not wait for the "record" to be complete.

The mail is still in the car.

You are doing great! SubC and Anony! SubC you are really keeping inventory and that is great! Very sweet story about your youngest daughter--i chuckled and smiled

Anony I'm worried about your siding too! I am not handy with things like that. You mentioned maybe a good time to start on your new structure--what would you need to do to get that going?

I accomplished only my laundry today, my dishes and getting some things returned to the store. I had purchased several sweaters before the recent wedding and returned the three that I didn't wear. I stopped at grocery store and bought some yogurt. And took a walk. Terribly humid. I took a shower as soon as I got home and I am sitting here still feeling really sweaty and uncomfortable,

Cold water clinks.

Tatoulia, it's good to take a weekend off sometimes! I'm glad you enjoyed yours.

How did today's project go?

Anony, I am worried about your house! What is the siding made of?

I hope your stepson wouldn't be "waiting for you to die" how awful. I gave appreciated things that have been left to me, but there is nothing I wouldn't give up to have the person back in my life!

When my kids were middle school age we decided to tell them who their guardian would be if anything happened to us because the youngest suffered from severe anxiety and if the worst did happen, we wanted her at least to know there was a carefully made plan and what would happen. Her guardians were her favorite aunt and uncle, and her response was "I would get to live with aunt c and uncle k?!" She sounded a little too excited, so I reminded her "you realize we would be dead, right?" And she said, "well, yeah, that would be bad. But I would get to live with aunt c and uncle k!"

I took all my entries to the fair today. In the process of gathering them, I realized there are more areas I may be ready to clear out. Not this week though. This week is full.

I picked up one free metal "button" on the fairgrounds and pinned it to my dd. I don't know if she will keep it, but I'm not counting it as an in for me.

Still need to process today's mail.

~☆~Good Morning!~☆~
(((coffee clinks & HUGS!!!)))
Well, i was happily dusting & vacuuming along, feeling hopeful...and then, due to to the past few days of heavy rains & wind, the outside walls of this trailer, all across the front, are curling up, crumbling & falling off....i can ignore it for a little while longer, but im gonna need a new building to live in...id gone around on different building options last year around this,time, but ended up deciding it was too complicated & expensive. I am not naturally good at construction, to say the least!!! Maybe i just need to do it anyway. Maybe learn from YouTube videos...?
Joan, i can really relate to your situation! My blood family has shunned me for not doing all kinds of 'conventional' things that would have likely killed me or at least put me in an aweful way!
And im also uncomfortable setting up my land to my stepson in any way that makes him even kind of wanting me to die, so he can live here?!? Im hoping to figure out something other than my doom making his life better?!? Joan, this is what i think when i get sad about these things: Im glad that i did not try to be accepted by them, by putting myself in harms way. I know i would hate myself soooo much if id gone that route! And that is true for you, too! Being unconventional is way better! It does still hurt, but knowing how many others go through this too, helps.
~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

~☆~Good Morning!~☆~
(((coffee clinks & HUGS!!!)))
Well, i was happily dusting & vacuuming along, feeling hopeful...and then, due to to the past few days of heavy rains & wind, the outside walls of this trailer, all across the front, are curling up, crumbling & falling off....i can ignore it for a little while longer, but im gonna need a new building to live in...id gone around on different building options last year around this,time, but ended up deciding it was too complicated & expensive. I am not naturally good at construction, to say the least!!! Maybe i just need to do it anyway. Maybe learn from YouTube videos...?
Joan, i can really relate to your situation! My blood family has shunned me for not doing all kinds of 'conventional' things that would have likely killed me or at least put me in an aweful way!
And im also uncomfortable setting up my land to my stepson in any way that makes him even kind of wanting me to die, so he can live here?!? Im hoping to figure out something other than my doom making his life better?!? Joan, this is what i think when i get sad about these things: Im glad that i did not try to be accepted by them, by putting myself in harms way. I know i would hate myself soooo much if id gone that route! And that is true for you, too! Being unconventional is way better! It does still hurt, but knowing how many others go through this too, helps.
~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

PS I'm truly amazed and inspired with everyone's progress.

Great to read all your posts--I merely skimmed them this weekend and now have read them all. Congratulations to all! It sounds like you are getting a good mix of fun and progress!

I did only fun this weekend if you can believe it. Went to the theatre with BF, saw brother (went fine) saw mom (always pleasant--took her for a ride then I did her grocery shopping) and BF and I went to museum. Pretty good weekend. And no napping-/although I did collapse in bed by 8 PM last night.

Tillie--yuck! that laundry. I hope you wore gloves. so disgusting. Special shout out to Scooter--haha that the other cats were rooting for the opponent. SubC, CM, Anony--you are all doing great.

I am home today, which means laundry. I also have trash night tonight. I did nothing other than changing sheets this weekend so I'll work on some actual progress today. Think I'll start a donation bag--that tends to set things in motion for me.

I'm glad the snake is ok, but I hope scooter hot some love for his valiant attempt to save his family from certain destruction!

I am noticing a shortage of shorts that fit. Given the choice between shopping and dieting, I think I'm going to have to lose 5 lbs.

9:00pm
I was sitting here watching a movie on Netflix when I started to hear a disturbance.
Scooter had discovered that a two foot long gopher snake was hiding underneath the little crib cat bed by the dining room table.
Scooter was trying to be brave and save us all from this intruder but it HISSED so he had to keep leaping backwards away from it.
All the other cats came to watch. They all thought/hoped the snake would win.

For a long time this morning I had the front door propped open so all the cats could come & go, in & out.
He must have come in then???
Anyways, the snake has been placed in the side yard, safe & sound. ;D

Joan, I am so sorry that the people who were supposed to love you didn't! I wish there was some sort of easy answer for you. I think you're really brave.

CM, how was your nap?

I think it's nice that you have new "sewing friends". My baby doll arrived and I tucked him into the cradle my real babies slept in. It's an antique that my grandmother gifted to me - not a fancy antique, at one point it was used as an apple bin, but well restored and sturdy.

I'm taking a bunch of my dolls to the fair tomorrow, along with an assortment of other entries. A few of them are cooling in my kiln right now.

I'll start swimming again in the fall. Maybe you will have a routine by then and can encourage me.

Hi Tillie,

I'm sure your plants are grateful for the water. Potato salad sounds yummy! I think I will put it on my menu for this week. I can never think of things to cook.

I am very lucky. My dh is really good to me. He spent the day working on my new kitchen. Three of the cabinets are hung and a lot of it is set in place so I can see how it will look. I am so excited! It's going to be sunny and beautiful! This is the first time in my life I've had any choices about my kitchen besides a narrow choice of appliances when a replacement was essential and the color of the walls.

Then this evening he told me that if I will pack up my cuckoo clock, he will take it to the clock repair shop tomorrow and have it fixed for me. He is taking the family pocket watch his mother recently gave him because it is broken. (She gave it to him because it is broken). I inherited the clock from my grandparents - it stopped working when they were still alive and my kids were small and my grandparents never got around to getting it fixed. I adored it when I was little though, and it has been hanging silently on my wall for almost 3 years.

He chose a spot for it next to the new kitchen (the kitchen is a three walled bump out, not really a "room".)

Hi 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Great that you had a chance to paint in the addition and that you got to work on some studio projects. 😀

Hi Joan 🙂
Living well is the best revenge 😉
Keep up the good work finding your own solutions.

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
WTG! for working on your quilt!
It will feel so good when you tie that last knot and have it finished.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Hoping you are having a great weekend,
Catching up on your sleep, having pleasant conversations and not too hot or humid. 🙂

Been up since early watering trees, bushes & everything.
It's all so dry and suffering no matter how much water I give it.
Had to wash out my washing machine after washing all that funky stuff before I could use it for mine and the cats stuff.
Then had to tighten the clothes line because all the weight of all those loads loosened up the rope.
Bought things to make potato salad but will do that tomorrow when I'm not so frazzled.
Have lots of plans for tomorrow.
Tomorrow will be an easier day 😀

Joan, we are here for you! Keep up the fight! You've mentioned in the past that you have made progress over the years. I hope that your progress is helping you to continue the battle. You are brave and courageous and resourceful --and a good friend to us here.

Oh Joan, I wish a cure could be found for the biting! I will definitely keep you in my prayers! You are quite the survivor, it sounds, and you deserve to have the chance to enjoy life freely. Still, although coming here and connecting doesn't cure the physical, you are doing positive things for your mind and spirit, and in my book, that is the sort of living well that they say is the best revenge over those who would wish or do you ill.

I've been kind of burning the candle at both ends - several times this week sat with my elderly friend. Took my embroidery for my quilt top along to do while we sat and visited. I'm feeling so good about seeing this quilt coming together. It's proving to me that with perseverance, I CAN finish things!

My bedroom is sorely in need of attention; pileup happens quickly when I'm dashing in and out. I hope this coming week to have one or more daytime sessions where I set up the card table in the living room, bring things out from the bedroom to sort and deal with. Then I can put them back way more neatly, or perhaps some of them need to go elsewhere.

This process has helped before and I'm sure it will again. I seem to be stuck in the "80/20" rule - feels like I spend 80% of my life regrouping from whetever it is I'm doing in the other 20%.

I'm also sorely in need of resuming my gym and swim "routine" (i.e., attempting to build a routine of it - not quite there yet). And more immediately, I'm in need of a major NAP. I've been having my usual tormenting dreams toward morning. I think the waning moon, which rises in the wee hours, must be exacerbating that, along with fatigue and too much going on. Hopefully the nap will clear out my cache in my brain and defrag my hard drive! And then I can "reboot" and feel like a human being more or less.

Here I want to go back and catch up with y'all's doings; I know I've missed a lot.

My new Ken dolls arrived yesterday - now I can start that sewing project, like I need more projects, LOL, but it's harmless fun and maybe I can make a little pin money from it. I'm going to stay as focused as I can on finishing the quilt project first, though. But it was just fun to open the box and finally have the dolls. 😉