Thanks for the support, everyone. Tat, I appreciate your saying that I have to take care of my health. I was always persecuted by my alleged family, and most other people I knew, for taking care of myself.

It is only recently that I realized not only did they want to take my resources to subsidize their own self-serving agendas, but they also were EXPECTING me to die so they could cash in on everything that belongs to me. They are actually angry that I am still alive. It is more complex and far more twisted than I can get into here, but every time I think of it, it sours me on the whole human race. I ask myself, "How could I be so stupid?", but it really had nothing to do with me. I survived supreme evil, and in the process, everyone around me wanted to sink my ship. It is the intentions of less than a handful of people in my life that have kept me on the planet.

It would be great if I could go and create a new life for myself, but the biting disorder keeps me sitting in the same spot, biting my cheeks bloody, unable to move or even think straight most of the time. There is almost nothing good to think about. People here always wanted me dead. It can be very discouraging.

Hi everybody!

Anony, you are doing a lot of housework! Do you have the clutter out of the way? It sounds like you are really making your home nice!

Tillie, I am sorry about the nasty laundry pile. Too bad the clothes won't just dissolve in the wash and drain away!

8 loads is all my laundry for a week for three people on a farm!

I was a little dissapointed that the out list wasn't bigger compared to the in list, but it was still a pretty good six weeks. The average in was less than one thing a day even with 7 cookie cutters, and we did visit both our moms - who are both cleaning out. And I am keeping the out going.

I'm also keeping up with eggs, milk, and chicken bread. Not with the garden or housework, but the housework isn't getting too behind, and there are two other people living here who could help!

I've made progress painting the addition, and today I made time to work in my studio - on actual projects. (I'm still behind for my class though.)

I also tidied it up a little more and threw a few small bits and pieces in the trash. (I'm not tracking little stuff like that for the outs so that is bonus.)

Hello! 😀

Hi Subclinical 🙂
WAY TO GO! for all the decision making on getting unneeded stuff out! 😀

Hi Joan 🙂
Hope the new meds adjustment is working for you 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
WOOHOO!!! WAY TO GO!!!
What a marvelous change!
You are the Mistress of your domain! ;D

Decided that due to the heat, I will go grocery shopping this evening, sometime after 6pm.
This way putting the things into the car out in the parking lot and then schlepping them in once home won't be in the heat.

I generally leave his bedroom alone, don't change anything in there.
But there was a horrid stench that just would not stay in there and was making the whole house stink.
It was his dirty laundry.
He hoards clothes, so he can make a mountain of dirty clothes and still have lots of stuff to wear.
I washed just the stuff on the floor yesterday.
EIGHT full wash loads!
Today I washed the putrid blanket that was crumpled and on the floor.
There is still bedding needing washing but he would get P.O.ed if I moved all the things on the bed to get to the sheets.
Sprayed some Febreeze toward the bed.
The house is smelling much fresher now. 😀
Hoping this might inspire him to gather up and take out the huge pile of trash in there.
OK, but I am allowed to dream. ;P

~Greetings, to all!~
Tillie, it took me a while to catch your triple hello to me...ha ha ;D
Last night i vacuumed the kitchen & cleared the spider/cobwebs in half the house. I also spot cleaned the bathroom & several other areas that i detested seeing that were filthy. Its not even so much that i did those chores, but it is my attitude about it that has shifted. It use to be id look at these awful areas in horror. I felt helpless & overpowered by them. Now i just wanna run grab a cloth & some windex or a rag, etc. ~☆~I have become Wonderwoman of the Woods!~☆~ ;D

Keep up the good work, Joan. I know it is hard on you and you are doing a great job of keeping it all in balance.

Better.

Coin silver spoon rack, (no spoons) went out.
One doll came in
The racetrack went out.

The first post took out the space between the lists. Let me try again.

In-----------------------------------Out
Divided Tray ------------------- Roll basket
7 cookie cutters --------------- 2 sets of playdo toys
Toddler rocking chair -------- 2 doll strollers
Box of Magnets --------------- 2 geography card games
Antique Lap desk ------------ Empty K'nex case
Peg rack ----------------------- Coin silver spoon rack (no Doll ----Doll ------------------------------ racetrack
Drywall scraps ---------------- scrap wood (burned)
Box of papers ---------------- At least 7 magazines
Class notes -------------------10 decks of cards
Plastic spoon ----------------- Keychain puzzle
Lunch container --------------Small styrofoam cooler
Piece of fabric ---------------- Scarf
4 ice packs -------------------- 2 pairs of girls clogs
Christmas stocking ---------- Pair of jeans
Lamp ----------------------------9 hangers
Pottery tool ------------------- Candy mold
Flower pot -------------------- Skirt
Pottery example -------------Magic trick toy
Rolling underbed bin ------- 2 pot holders
Puppet (temporary) -------- Box of book plates
Paper bells (temporary) --- Christmas ornament
------------------------------------Rubber ball
------------------------------------2 slinkys
------------------------------------3 ring binder
----------------------------------- Hard cover book

Hi joan! Glad you could stop in. You definitely need to focus on your health first!

It is basically the middle of July, so here is my reckoning. If I acquired something but got rid of the same thing (i.e., a pair of shorts in, a pair of shorts out) I will not put it on the list. If it says (temporary) I got it to give away but didn't yet.

In Out
Divided tray Roll basket
7 cookie cutters 2 sets of playdo toys
Toddler rocking chair 2 doll strollers
Box of Magnets 2 geography card games
Antique Lap desk Empty K'nex case
Peg rack Coin silver spoon rack (no spoons)
Doll racetrack
Drywall scraps scrap wood (burned)
Box of papers At least 7 magazines
Class notes 10 decks of cards
Plastic spoon Keychain puzzle
Lunch container Small styrofoam cooler
Piece of fabric Scarf
4 ice packs 2 pairs of girls clogs
Christmas stocking Pair of jeans
Lamp 9 hangers
Pottery tool Candy mold
Flower pot Skirt
Pottery example Magic trick toy
Rolling underbed bin 2 pot holders
Puppet (temporary) Box of book plates
Paper bells (temporary) Christmas ornament
Rubber ball
2 slinkys
3 ring binder
Hard cover book

This includes only ins and outs that "belong" to me. If someone else in the house acquired or disposed of a thing, I didn't count it. If it used to belong to other people but i saved it (paper bells) or had saved it and now got rid of it (clogs from when my girls were little) I listed it.

My out list is longer, but because of the underbed bin, my in list takes up more space.

I am not sure where I stand on general papers and glass or plastic containers that arrived via groceries. I need to pay better attention. Also, not listed is the huge pile of feed bags that is accumulating in my barn. I started saving them for a project I haven't gotten to, but also, they are too big for me to throw away without trash service, so I'm going to have to figure something out.

Thanks for the shoutout, Tillie. You seemed in good spirits with that post.

I haven't been able to follow along with the thread as well as I usually do. I made a big change in my meds last weekend. It had to be done. I have to really pay even more attention than usual to adjust the remedies, meds, etc. that remain after stopping ome of them.

I would have been dead 30 years ago if I'd left things up to the doctors. They have no clue. The doctors I have now basically let me tell them how I want them to support me, and it is up to me to coordinate the treatments and pull it off.

Svaroopa (yoga) class early tomorrow morning, ahhhh. . .

Wishing everyone well.

Ah yes, that "places to put things" challenge. Preferably near their point of use. I just walked all the way back from the studio for scissors and a light bulb. (Then I realized I also needed some water.) - if you imagine my "yard" as a square of 9 three acre lots - the house is in the center of the center lot, and the studio is slightly to the inside of the center of the back left corner lot. Or, in my Dd's neighborhood - 6 houses over around the corner.

So I probably could use a pair of scissors out there.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WTG! for putting away the vacuum!
It really makes a big difference in the visual clutter when we put away things after using them, even though we plan to use them again real soon.
The real accomplishment is having a place to put things away.
A place easy enough to access and room enough to hold the things. (((HUG)))

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Hi Anonymoniker 🙂

Just kidding 😀
WAY TO GO!!! for great puttering and just doing whatever is bugging you the most!!!
That method is what I call "tidying up".
Once you get an area clear and clean that is the best way to keep it looking good and from falling back into disorder too. ;D

Hi Subclinical 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! with your magazines and wonderful plan for keeping future issues up to date!!!
It's good that you get this break from the bread so you can start feeding them the pasta & lentils and don't have them sitting around too long.
I have a feeling that more will be coming your way soon.
Great budgeting buying the classroom supplies while they were 20% off.
Sounds like it was a really worthwhile class for you over all. 😀

Hi Porter, CriticalMass and Joan 🙂

Was planning on going into town this morning but he never told me he had plans to take the car to the repair shop today.
The air conditioner needs a new compressor. I thought he would wait on this since the Freon recharging has been working well and the new compressor is very expensive.

Thought that I really should watch "Breaking Bad" on Netflix. There are so many references and "easter eggs" relating to it on so many other shows and even movies now.
Had to watch "Better Call Saul" first because it explains some major characters in "Breaking Bad".
Still have about half the episodes of season five to watch yet.
It's good, I give it a "thumbs up". ;D

Happy Friday everyone! Leaving for office. Good work, SubC! Whittling the magazine pile, saving money for the classroom, etc!

I did nothing household wise yesterday but did get groceries for mom and I kept up with dishes & recyling. I also got brother's script ftom pharmacy. I got a walk in and listened to a relaxation/hypnosis tape. Went to bed early (for me) and read before going to sleep. Good day all around.

Now to finish getting ready for work and gathering up garbage to take outside.

Good morning!

Another putterer here.

Anony, I'm glad you are seeing good results from your approach.

Incidental update - I reduced the magazine pile to one magazine. It is the July issue and I have finished reading it (but dh has not and it is in the bathroom where he prefers to keep some sort of reading material.) when the August issue arrives, I will recycle and replace.

I attended a free workshop yesterday in which we got to try out a new line of pottery tools. They gave each of us one of the tools as a promotion so I added that to my in list. I also bought a variety of the tools for my classroom (out of the classroom budget) because we got 20% off the day of the workshop and I really liked them. I have several days of good lesson plans from the workshop. The tools are in a bag in my studio, but will leave in August when we do classroom set up.

I worked at the food bank last night, but we were low on bread and I did not bring any home. Jim got the small amount that was discarded. I still have lentils and pasta anyway.

Today I need to paint in the addition.

Congratulations on a good puttering day! I'm a Pisces btw, so I guess I'm doing what comes naturally to me. I never would have put two and two together like that! Great to hear you happy.

Ooooops?!! Im so sorry for the overdose of my post?!! The dang button was stuck, so i kept pressing it...

Hello, all!
Yesterday was amazing! As my first 'experiment' i just kinda spontaneously cleaned what i saw that bugged me. And like youd said Tillie, rather than put a post-it note up, or add it to a list, or integrated it into a plan, i just walked over and dusted it, or wiped it, or tossed it, or whatever, right then! I did little patches all over my house AND outside! The funny thing is, ive always thought i had to be organized with it, and i think that is why id get overwhelmed, but what i think im going to try is just spontaneous-spot cleaning until it is not as overwhelming, overall, then maybe go back to project/plan type of cleaning? And Tatoulia, your mention of 'puttering' kinda inspired me, cuz thats what its like, but i did that all day long without tiring or getting freaked out or any of my usual problems! My astrological interpretation of this is, that my property purchase chart has the sun & moon, both intercepted in virgo, but this method is very piscean, so that could be why it feels so very flowing & easy?!!
~I hope you all are having things fall into place & work out today!~ ~♡~

Hello! Thanks for the kind words, everyone! I vacuumed the back of my house (living room, den, under desk). I'm doing one more laundry then climbing into bed to read. It's early for me--only 9Pm but I'm ready to call it a day. I did put vacuum away even though I'll need it to do bedroom tomorrow. I am trying to develop normal habits. Use something, put it away.

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Hope you get some relief soon from that darned poison ivy.
I would give you a hug but don't want to get the rash as you did, from hugging that baby goat. ;D

(((.....hug.....)))

Hi 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WTG! for laundry and dusting even though it's humid.
Hope you enjoy your new haircut ;D
I keep my hair long so I can put it up in a bun to keep it up off my neck.
No, we really can't vacuum and disturb the kitties. 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Scheduling a straight hour daily to do something with no disruptions can really help focus and productivity.
After I spend the day cleaning house I always schedule in a treat/reward for myself.
It's always something like a long shower with lots of pampering of myself.

Been enjoying today.
Doing nothing really.
But at least I feel good while I do nothing much 😀

Hi all!

Anony, it sounds like you really turned your experience into motivation. Let us know how your plans work for you.

Tatoulia, I absolutely need you guys to question my buying decisions! One of the things that is so valuable to me here is that I feel like I can talk over decisions that seem really minor to most people and work on the process.

Tillie, I'm glad you are feeling better. That smoke sounded awful.

I ran out of laundry soap today and had to go into town.

I took the recycling and plastic bags and some trash, and also finally dropped off the goodwill pile, so I will do my " reckoning" soon. I got gas, groceries, and also a mold and a lamp for my pottery studio. I have wanted the lamp for a while - been keeping an eye out for one like this - and the mold fits with the class I am taking. I might get rid of it when lass is over. It was only $2.

I forgot my "camera" though and was sad because I saw more good ideas. Must remember to take the iPad when I go thrifting! I don't sketch well. I am very tactile/3D.

Btw, if you are wondering how I am shopping when I said my spending money was all gone - I sold a goat. This is a good thing. Every spring I have baby goats and every summer/fall I cut the numbers back down. I should sell 5-7 more by first snow. The goat went to a terrific home too. My dd jokingly (I think) offered to go with him.

I still haven't finished my homework for class. The itching makes me so tired!

Sorry to hear about your meltdown, Anony--you are so good at turning those things into productive action! So proud of you!

Let us know how it goes today! I haven't done anything beyond dusting the bedroom. I might vacuum the back of the house right now. Kitty is on my bed so I can't vacuum in there. WELL I COULD but no, I really can't. 🙂

~Good Morning!~
SubC, i really like your comparison of not losing weight cuz itd be like wasting that money from the food bought...wow?!! Good one!!! I hope your poison ivy heals up quickly? That sounds really miserable!
Tatoulia, i hope youre feeling better?
Tillie, that smoke & heat sounds aweful! We finally got our monsoons & it feels soooo glorious!!! I hope yours comes soon?
Well, i had a bit of a meltdown yesterday. This one brought some good ideas and realizations, at least, tho. Im thinking of keeping a log(i really like that idea!), and looking at this, for now, as an experiment. Maybe a daily hour of straight cleaning, no decisions. Then grading both its effort level, as well as its satisfying level. Also doing an hour a day of productive planning: decisions, ideas, envisioning, etc. Today im gonna just clean! All day! Im gonna see how much better i can feel from it. Yesterday i started this & i was surprised at the difference?! .....ill report my findings...ha ha
~Happy Productive Day To All!~ ~♡~

I've been thinking of you, Tillie. Please take it as easy as you can. The news never really talks about the terrible effects of wildfires for those in the path of the smoke. I'm thinking of you. Please rest.

SubC good plan for the use of the drawer--I was just checking in in the event you needed to reconsider it--I know we both don't mind the prodding--you are doing a great job and I am envious of your planned bedroom suite!

I have dusted the bedroom and am working on laundry. Our humidity is back. I'm getting my hair cut today. It is very long for me and it is driving me nuts. The feeling of itt on the back of my neck. It's just past my shoulders It's been fun to grow it out but I am only too happy to start over. Too much.

Good Morning Everyone 🙂
Ice tea "clink!"

Hi CriticalMass 🙂

Hi MsHope 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂

All the recent wildfire smoke and heatwave really knocked me down.
Made me so tired and felt like trying to run under water.
Still hot & smoky here but I am feeling better.
Wishing you all a Good day (((hug)))

Thanks for the sympathy tatoulia. I hope you are feeling better!

The only place on my property with no poison ivy is inside the goat pens. This little guy had gotten loose.

I will put the under bed drawer either:
Under Dd's bed (moving her art)
Or on the floor of Dd's closet (I'll have to turn the wheels 90*.

Either of those will best be done after she moves back out of my house in six weeks. So for now, it will get parked in the basement.

I am going to put extra sheets and blankets in it. Currently they are on shelves in Dd's bathroom and I don't like that because of the humidity.

The next major renovation is the "master bedroom suite" (the master bedroom has always been a kid's room or guest room, the "suite" includes it, another little room "Dd's room" we created by closing in the porch in front of it and turning an exterior window into an interior door, and the bathroom "Dd's bathroom" with a large dressing area and weird wall closet)

SubC I'm so terribly sorry about the poison ivy. Hugging a little goat--wow--such a sweet image. I know here we have goats who come in and eat poison ivy in our parks. Goats love it and no reaction. I am so sorry about your wounds and itching and hope you recover soon.

Regarding the bed drawer, could you move the flat art to under your bed? In the alternative (shudder) should you return the underbed storage? I used to hold on to things when they didn't work out. I'm trying not to do that. I used to tell myself, but it's perfect! But it's not if it just becomes One More Thing. In my decluttering, I've had to distinguish between finding a use for something and having something be useful. I've had to draw a line for myself/unless I have a use for it/it's gone. If after donating it I find I could've used it for this, that, or the other thing, that does not mean I should have kept it. I don't know how well I am explaining myself.

You did a great job of taking photos of stuff instead of just blindly buying it!

SubC I loved your parallel between owning too much and eating too much food. So wonderful! Thank you!

I am working from home today, which I am happy about.

Clink!

I stopped at the goodwill yesterday. I needed a sheer stretchy piece of fBric for a pottery project, so I bought a large nightgown.

I also bought another lunch container for dh. It is bento boxy and I am hoping it will help inspire me in packing his lunches.

And I bought an under bed box. It is solid wood and nicely finished and the wheels roll smoothly. If was $10. Unfortunately it doesn't quite fit under the bed I wanted to put it under. It will fit under Dd's bed, but currently she has a lot of flat art stored there, and it doesn't match. So now I'm not sure what I will do about it.

I chose but put back a shadow box picture frame (i want to make a shadow box of some high school stuff, but I have enough projects right now) and a twisty tree sculpture thing with rings on it that I thought would make a neat display for my Christmas ornaments at sales (but might be hard to store and transport and could be knocked over if people took too many ornaments off one side. I already have something that is less cool, but works.)

And I found several items that inspired me about pieces to make, and I took pictures instead of buying them.

I have terrible poison ivy. On the webbing between my fingers and on the backs of my hands and up the inside of both arms past the elbows. Also on top of one thigh and on my chin all down the front of my neck. I picked up a little goat and cuddled him while wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I didn't know he had been in poison ivy. I am horribly allergic and I have my arms wrapped in bandages because the blisters are breaking and weeping. It makes it very hard to do anything.

Tatoulia, I'm sorry you aren't well! I hope you can get to a dr. If you need to.

Hi MsHope!

It's great that you are almost out of debt! You have to let go of the idea of keeping everything because you spent money on it. You enjoyed it at the time and that's what you got for your money. If you were overweight, you wouldn't say "but I can't lose weight, I spent so much money on food!"

As for the not sure hobbies, maybe plan a day to make some soap and see how you feel about it?

CM, are there paths in all the space where you live, originally just your personal space? I'm glad you're getting a nice break cat sitting! Labor Day sounds like a good goal if it isn't too hot.

I have always had a lot of books. I can't imagine not having a lot of books. But last year for the first time I can remember I got them all on shelves.

Right now there are about 30 stacked sideways on top of each other instead of shelved correctly, but that iartly because I have fewer shelves than I used to.

The cabinets came for the addition, but the painting isn't done.

Very busy all day today with out of the house things. My friend is leaving today also.

Cm, I hear you on the books. I got rid of 20 boxes of books. It was tough. Of my nancy drew books (some from the 30s) I kept only two. It was very very hard to get rid of my books. So many first editions , many signed by the authors, all gone. I kept only maybe 200 books. I am lucky I that I love my kindle. It really does fhe trick for me. No new books into the house. I don't really like library books anymore because I like to read in bed and I don't want the dirty book in the bed with me.

Hellooo MsHope! Happy for the check in! Great work! I know it's tough to decide on project materials. It feels like giving up on a dream. I remember thinking the same thing/-no wonder I'm in debt! I did ultimately get rid of my yarn and knitting needles. I'm just not convinced I'll be knitting again. Right now I'm being tripped up by 'treasures' stuff that doesn't fit in a category, just stuff I like. So difficult to decide which things I've loved enough. I look at each piece and think, well it's only one piece. But in fact, it's hundreds of pieces. I don't have a good answer for it.

Suddenly I'm not felling well. Must go. Have been having health problems but haven't seen dr. I'm very uncomfortable.

Hi all,

It's nice to read down a little and see that other people still struggle with the process of hoarding. I have cleaned out my house a huge degree this past year. Now, I am in the process of going through bins of my hobbies in my garage. I am realizing how much money and materials I have wasted. No wonder I am in debt! I find so many different packs of beads, glues, papers, and other items that I "saved"...I'm struggling with the question: "Will I go back to these hobbies?"

I've been having fun using up my old oil paints. For many tubes, I just cut them open with scissors and squeeze out the paint and use it up. Some of these paints are over 20 years old.

I do have the space to neatly store these supplies in my basement. However, I'm not sure I ever will make candles or soap again. Yet, maybe I will. I guess this is part of the process. I have a ton of collage items for mixed media art. It is basically worthless, but to me it feels like gold.

Hope everyone is having a good day and taking it one day at a time. When I started, I never thought I would get this far. I'm also done spending or going to craft stores. I have three more debts to pay off and I'm good to go.