~♡~Good morning & coffee clinks!~♡~
Tatoulua, i am also very much looking forward to when calm, kindness is the norm for you, too! You absolutely deserve that all the time! 😀
Tillie, using vinegar on the weeds is likely better for all the cats & critters out in the yard, too? With my cat whose RV space i want to clean, she is smaller & has a tough time defendind her area. She sprays around it constantly. Thats why i dont want to disturb her marking too much. I did change her bedding & cleaned 3 other surfaces, tho. Its so hard to know. Im sure she has told me, but i didnt understand her... ~♡~
Well, im stuck on a carpentry math problem on my wooden form for the blocks...if i can figure that out, then i can try out the different saws i have for which one is for lumber...ha ha...this is the only way for me to learn, tho...not that i didnt try to google it...ha ha
Im liking this early morning routine! Yesterday i thought id messed it up by taking too long of a nap, but im up! YEA!!!
~☆♡☆~Happy Homes, Homies!~☆♡☆~

Coffee clinks! Soon I'll be making my pitchers of iced tea and I'll be so happy!

I've got my dear one sitting next to me and purring away. I was hoping to do laundry but the laundry room is a mess. I can't tell what stuff goes into which basket so I'll sit today out.

My chest hurts when I think of male sibling but otherwise I am relaxed. I'm not worried about him--or me--I am concentrating on making this stick.

Today I will take comforter to cleaner to do for me. I'm also going to take my down jacket and vest to the dry cleaners. I'm in constant contact with my designer and she'll be here at the end of the month!! I'm hoping she'll help me get rid of stuff too even though that's not her task at hand. She was very helpful over the phone when I had to clear out mom's house when mom was coming home from hospital. I am also storing two things for my designer friend and she will pick up when she's here--stuff we bought at auction for her.

So I will work and clean today. I'm also thinking about mani/pedi. Time will tell.

What are you doing today?!?

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
We posted at the same time! 😀

Twinkles only has three canine teeth left and yet he STILL crunches kitty cereal and regular cat snax.
LOL ;D
Happy you have been having lovely peaceful times, enjoying all the beauty of Spring.
WAY TO GO!!! for dropping off the donation bags! 😀
And yes, that is such a good feeling.

P.S. with the TV volume turned up high I can't hear what's going on outside. ;D

I feel your pain, Tillie. I have enjoyed a weekend without any yelling, swearing, ranting and raving. It feels odd and I cannot wait til this is my new normal.

Mom and I had a lovely time together day, driving around, looking at trees in bloom, etc. then I did our grocery shopping. She stays in the car while I sip around the store. I bought special treats for BF's cat. His cat has very few teeth left and I found a treat that's like a little tube of chicken pudding. He loved it! We had previously tried cat broth, which kitty did not enjoy. It's just a treat, not a food substitute.

I'm making my dinner early. I'm in my pjs. Hoping to stay awake.

Mom is doing well and is hoping not to hear from sibling.

I had a trunkful of bags waiting to be donated and they've been dropped off! Good feeling.

Just sitting here resting up after lunch.
Only a little past 1:00pm now.
Got two loads of laundry hanging out on the line.
Steven did mow the grass then he went back into town to the hardware store, came back with some new parts for the cooler.
While he was gone me and all the cats were outside enjoying this absolutely beautiful day.
The whole place smells of lilac too. 😀
Yesterday I finished up all my leftover burrito makings and then washed all the dishes so the kitchen is still clean.
Vacuumed the carpet this morning, scooped litter boxes & swept.
Basically just a slow moving relaxing day.

Hope you all are enjoying the Spring. (((hugs)))

Good Morning Everyone 🙂
"Clink!"

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
I have found that cats like when their special spaces are tidied up especially if I add a nice new feature, like a new freshly washed blanket or a new cardboard box to the area.
Have a wonderful time playing with your dirt to see how it works for making bricks.
That reminds me of making mud pies when I was a little girl. ;D

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Sounds like you all had a very lovely time. 😉
Wishing you another wonderful day today.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
It's so wonderful to now be able to sleep with our windows open! 😀
What a beautiful dinner you & BF enjoyed.
Wishing you many, many more peaceful experiences. (((hugs)))

Steven got the evaporative cooler running yesterday.
Which means he did not do it right.
It was getting water then not getting any water and then it was flooding the ground and then other things started to go wrong.
So I spent the afternoon listening to him rant & rave & slamming things around.
The usual...
This afternoon when it gets hot I will turn it on again and we'll see how that goes.
Meanwhile, I'll be in here, watching stuff on ROKU while I putter around.
The weed killing stuff he gave me from out of his hoard to kill those weeds has not worked. The weeds show no signs of dying.
So I will go ahead with my original plan and spray them with vinegar sometime this week.
Vinegar always kills the weeds.
Last weekend I wanted him to mow the grass but he didn't. I really hope he mows it today since it's all way too tall.
I would mow it myself but he won't let me use his gas mower.
I used to mow it myself with MY nice push mower, but he sold that to some guy for 20 bucks. >:(
He has no problem getting rid of MY things.
Anyways, soon as I get dressed I will go out and chase all the hiding tiny baby bunnies out of the lawn, just in case Steven decides to mow it today.
That is always fun! 😀

Hello everyone! Coffee clinks!

Tillie I like the decluttering you are doing right now. It's inspriring me to take another look at my books, which haven't been gone over in several years. I also like the reinforcement of letting go of emotional attachments.

SubC! The picnic sounds lovely! You have opened my eyes to the waste on the planet and I find myself looking for small ways to lower my waste. Thank you!

Anony, it is a funny thing about doing for others vs doing for ourselves. I can declutter (I call it de-sh*tting) someone else's house on a moment's notice with great glee. Hopefully together we will keep moving ourselves forward.

Spent afternoon and evening with BF. weather was so pleasant and we dined by the water, with a view of the city, as the sun went down. Spectacular.

Slept with both bedroom windows open and ceiling fan on. Clean sheets too, so imagine my joy. I have my comforter ready to go to cleaners and I will wash the duvet this week when I'm working from home. I did two quick loads yesterday but there was a line for the washers, so to speak, and I didn't want to be piggy when I am able to work from home during the week and do my laundry then.

What are you doing today?!?

I'll call mom in a bit.

Good morning!

Graduation was fun but exhausting. In laws went straight home.

Everyone else is sleeping in this morning (I "slept in" past 6)

I brought home one commencement program. And e-photos.

Instead of struggling to find a lunch place after graduation, we had a nice picnic with reusable plastic dishes and generated only a small bag of food wrapper and paper napkin trash for 7 people.

Dh mom gave him two old afghans made by his grandmothers. He wanted them. At least one needs repair.

Dd appreciated the troll.

~Good afternoon & ice coffee clinks!~
Tatoulia, YEA! Wonderwoman recharges!!! 😀
Tillie, i really admire you for carrying that out! How freeing! I want to find that strength, too...
~May the Force be with you~ was the only thing i liked about that famous movie!
The workshop was really good! In addition to the earthbags, i liked the adobe blocks & the paper-crete blocks the most, and the poured earthen floor!
My plan is to start testing my soil by making blocks out of dirt in different areas on my land. Ill need to make a form, which will be a challenge for my carpentry 'skills' Right now im hoping it will extend my 'earthing' & grounding therapy! I want to start cleaning a little at a time in my one cat's RV. I dont want to take away her marked territory, so im thinking maybe just slowly, a spot at a time. Its so hard to know what her preference would be? =^-^= Part of me really wants to somehow keep this extreme morning schedule, so i can work through the hot summer, in the cool mornings. Ive had this same aspiration every year since ive lived here. If i can do it for these projects, why cant i do it here on my own? Im looking for a new approach....again.....(groan) ~ ☆ ~ ♡ ~ ☆ ~

Good Morning Everyone 🙂
"Clink!"

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
GREAT! to read you have been getting all the rest and sleep you need. (((HUGS)))
Have a wonderful day. ;D

Yesterday the wild yellow roses started to bloom.
Over the last week I have little by little gathered up a couple of bags of donations.
All this year I have been very slowly doing this thing called "Swedish Death Cleaning".
It's where you declutter random stuff so that people don't have a lot of decluttering to do after you die.
It is not at all a morbid method of decluttering.
I have been finding it very freeing.
Gone are the obligations to be the Keeper of other dead peoples stuff just because it once belonged to them even though it was never something I would have ever wanted for myself.
Gone is the obligation to keep things forever from my past, no matter how long I have been holding onto them.
Gone is the need to hold onto things like dishes, pans & other cookware since I no longer plan to cook like I used to cook "back in the day".
This is all making my life so much easier and easy is what I need at this stage of my life.
Not so much the decluttering as it is the freedom I am feeling from admitting to myself that I'm no longer going to cook like I used to or to feel guilty for letting go of items that I felt obliged to keep forever. ;D

Good Saturday morning! I too enjoyed Star Wars Day, Tillie.

Well yesterday I walked home from work (terribly humid) hopped in the shower, fed kitty (naturally--everything I do is punctuated by feeding the kitty) and I went to bed. I put AC on and went to bed. Just now having my first cup of coffee. I am not emotionally tired as I wasn't awoken by a call from sibling. (I'm going to say sibling since the other word stresses me out.) It is a small victory to be sure but I'm taking it!

I just called BF. He's at work and he's so happy I'm not stressed out at this moment. He's been very supportive on having me just sleep. He very gently tells me not to worry but we don't discuss it a lot because it upsets me.

Well I'm off to do a whole lot of nothing!

I noticed Netflix has some new stuff for May, Tillie! Love my Netflix.

Only "work" I did today was exclusively cat related tasks.
Washed my hair, dressed in a pretty Summertime dress.
Watched a couple newly added things on Netflix.
Had a good lunch but it was too late to be called lunch, pre-dinner?
Did some beading.
Steven came home from work a little bit early.
He surprised me by removing the old water heater from the driveway and putting it into his truck. ???
It's only been out there annoying the heck out of me for less than 3 years.
Afraid to jinx this by asking him "what's up?"

My weekend plans are to just lay low in here and keep up with the usual daily tasks like cat stuff, dishes and maybe some laundry.

Happy Star Wars day
May the 4th. be with you ;D
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical 🙂
GREAT! self talk you did there.
Please keep doing that because it's all true what you said to yourself.
(((((HUGS)))))
WAY TO GO! with finding flattering outfits and also letting go of something no longer wanted.
Hope you soon find an occasion to wear that pretty but revealing dress. 😉
Finding that Troll doll like you did shows just how far you've come along with getting sorted out and organized.
We are ALL very proud of you. (((hugs)))

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
Missing you (((hugs))) 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Sounds like you have been having a lot of fun learning about different kinds of housing.
Have fun with it and the Cat Lady job and get inspired to make a difference in your own home. (((HUGS)))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
I am very happy you went to bed early.
That shows us that you are taking good care of yourself. (((HUGS)))

Well, I over did it yesterday and my body is letting me know it.
My back feels better but everything else is screaming "STOP!".
But the weather was pleasant and there is so much work needing to get done on the property and Steven refuses to do any of it.
The area I sprayed for weeds is along side the South side of the garage and the weeds there grow something terrible.
They soon dry out and then I really worry about wild fires catching the garage on fire which would catch the house on fire too.
Physically, I can manage only the small garden/oasis area and keep that nice.
But physically I can not do the rest of the over grown hoarded cluttered property.
Steven refuses to do this work and refuses to hire anyone to do it.
Wish he would wake up and see what I see.
Anyways...
Going to pamper myself today, shampoo my hair, pedicure my feet and watch something on Netflix. 😀

Good morning! I'm off to work in a bit.

Everyone is doing great work! SubC yes your mother loves you and that is powerful. You are doing a great job and what you are describing re hunting for things and a negative internal dialogue--well that is me. That is most of us here. I felt your pain and I admire your ability to turn that around. I will endeavor to do the same next time I start saying mean things to myself.

Anony, thank you so much for keeping me shored up. MTM is my absolute role model and I thank you for the comparison! I love the cat lady job--yes so easy to do for others. It's probably the lack of emotional attachment as well as the absence of the internal dialogue of how did I let it get this way. Doing for others removes our biggest obstacles PLUS there's the sense of satisfaction from helping others.

Tillie--the cat mint sounds like something that would absolutely be devoured here! I'm sorry your back is sore. I hope the peacefulness of working the land outweighs the soreness.

It is summer here. We went from cold, cold, cold to one day of spring to full-on heat and humidity. I slept with AC on last night.

I love you all. It's been a hard week but it helped me not think about personal situation. BF picked me up from work last night and I was in bed by 5:00. I got up at 8 for a few then back to bed. I'm exhausted but mainly emotionally exhausted.

Love to you all.

~♡~Good Morning & coffee clinks to all!~♡~
SubC, the troll story is so beautiful! You are such a wonderful Mom & teacher! Im sorry your parents-in-law are not able to see that clearly enough! And, yes, i find it far easier to help clean or organize anywhere else but here! It is a strange phenomenon.
Tilie, i hope your back feels better today? I almost spit my coffee out laughing at your cats getting angry over you pulling up the catnip...ha ha...you are so cute! =^-^=
Tatoulia, you go, Wonderwoman! 😀
This is the final day of the workshop & in addition to the earthbags, i also like the bricks made of different mixes of clay, sand & a little Portland cement, etc. That is what i want to try here, next. Dirt varies so much, that it all just needs to be tried out first, so while its fresh in my mind, im looking forward to doing that here!
There are apparently a few women working at the 'catlady job' also building dome houses, so that should be interesting! 😀
~☆~May the 4th be with you!~☆~ha ha~ Its Star Wars Day!~☆~ 😀 ~☆♡☆~

So, I was quite self focused.

Sharon, it sounds like you are making progress, and you have a good attitude. That is great.

Tatoulia, I hope your work thing went well. So many big work and people th8ngs in a row is hard!

Anony, congrats on your job. Isn't it funny how it's often so much easier to do things for others? I hope you do find some inspiration to improve your own cat and Anony sanctuary.

Tillie, it's nice that you are getting garden time. The lilacs at school are starting to bloom, and they smell so nice! poor butterfly :(, but cats will be cats...

The thing with the troll sent me into a bit of a negative spin. As you all know, one of the problems with hoarding is that things get lost. And it is very easy for something like that to trigger a barrage of negative self talk for me. But, even though there is still too much stuff here, and even though a lot of it is still messy and disorganized, it is better. And I DID find the troll. And I did not create too much more mess looking for it. So things are definitely better.

After dd's graduation, she is moving back in with us "for a while". My parents are coming back here for a few days, so mom will be able to help me tackle a couple of areas i need to get to to help accommodate Dd. I don't know if my in laws are coming here or not. There is no plan for them to do so, but it is possible that it will become a last minute thing for one night. I was looking around last night and feeling stressed about that, but then I had a mental confrontation with myself. I imagined mil saying critical things about my home and me replying "yes. I didn't know you were coming." And the mil in my head countered "well, you knew your parents were coming." And I replied "yes. But they love me."

It is quite probable that no such interaction will happen. But I feel better. If she does come and gives me the highly probable critical looks and "suggestions". I will just think to myself. "You don't care about me, and I don't care what you think. My mom is here and she loves me!"

Also, I FOUND the troll. IN TIME. Big win.

And, dh helped me with the prepacking closet assault last night. I found a sweater that can go. One outfit was not flattering at my current weight, and one dress was a little snug, but dh said it looked nice, so I am taking it along, I also found a second dress that it comfortable and flattering, and shoes for both. And a skirt and top that looks nice and works with one of the pairs of shoes already selected. The dress that I liked because it was cool and I felt pretty in it dh vetoed because he thought it was too revealing when I lean over (one thing about my weight that is not awful is that i'm carrying some of it "high" 😉 ) and it is a wrap and he reminded me that it is usually very windy where we are going. But, there is not a giant pile of frustrating, rejected clothing in my bedroom. So, another victory.

Hello 🙂

Was a lovely day here.
Watered everything.
Did some weeding in my garden. Mostly pulled out a LOT of Cat mint (catnip).
Really a good healthy batch growing everywhere in the garden but there was too much!
It was trying to take over.
The cats all protested but there is still a LOT growing out there.
Sprayed some weed killer on some small weeds so they don't become big weeds.
A pretty Butterfly came by and was enjoying the lilac blossoms.
Scooter ate it. 🙁
I'm tired and my back hurts so I am taking tomorrow off. 😉

YEA!!!

You found the troll!!! ;D

What a wonderful time for your Daughter,
bet you are a very proud Mama.

And then, I did.

I am tired. I am not ready for my morning classes. I do not have sub plans for my afternoon sub. I don't know what I am going to wear.

But I found the troll.

My daughter graduates from college on Saturday. We leave tomorrow. When she was a freshman, she was horribly homesick, and she suffers from severe anxiety. I sent her care packages in identical shoeboxes, and I each one I put a troll doll.

She loved the trolls and felt like they were watching over her for me.

I saved a troll doll in a cap and gown for her graduation. I can't find it.

Good Morning Everyone 🙂
"Clink!"

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
So happy the cat is not holding a grudge against you! 😀
That "Cat Lady" job sounds perfect.

My plan for today...
Going to get outside and water stuff. Right now it's only 49 degrees out there so I will do some things inside until it gets a tad warmer out there.
Will wash some dishes.

Hope you are all having a wonderful day today and are able to find some fun along the way. 😉

......and part of what im hoping this catlady cleaning job may do, is help me get unstuck with my own place, and maybe by doing it for my cats...?
~☆♡☆~☆♡☆~☆♡☆~

Correction: ~♡~Tatoulia~♡~

~Good Middle of the night to all!~ha ha 😀
Tillie, i also feel that concern with the new guy. I cant imagine a guy id be close to even making a statement like that about caring for a hurt animal or any loved one. He thinks he isnt 'into money', yet he is constantly talking aboyt money & being stingy with it in his own life, while surround by all his exotic display of gems & statues. And amazingly, my cat is not mad at me about the carrier! Ive been gone so much at the workshop that he misses me! And your new kitty quilt sounds wonderful! Im glad youre having fun! 😀
Speaking of cats, i got offered a purrrfect catlady job by our local head of the Humane Society & general animal Saint who ran the clinic that fixed my cats years ago. Its just cleaning & fixing up a new cat room at her new sancuary & animal learning center, but im honored she asked me. There are other catlady's working there that are building dome houses, so that should be fun!
Hi Sharon! 😀
Tatoulua, you are Mary Tyler Moore in a Superwoman cape!!! WOW!!! 😀

Hello Everyone 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Hope you have had a wonderful day today 🙂
Has the cat forgiven you yet for putting him into the carrier?
I do not see how you could ever have a meaningful relationship with anyone who does not love and want to care for animals.

Hi Sharon 🙂
Thanks for dropping by and giving us an update on how & what you are up to. 😀

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
That's a lot of things you have to do in a short amount of time.
Rest whenever you can, eat properly and remember to stay hydrated. (((HUGS)))
And yes, I have been hanging out laundry yesterday and today.
The predicted rain never happened here. 🙂

Went into town today...
Filled two water bottles at the water depot.
Got kitty litter and some food, mostly fresh produce.
Stopped by the thrift shop, bought a cute little crib quilt for the cats.
Got home and put away everything, washed and hung out the quilt.
Cats all went outside for a while, then came back in to continue their naps.
Now I'm tired & looking forward to bedtime. 😉

Hello Sharon! Glad to see you posting! We are also having 70F where I am. Keep up the good work!

Anony thank you for the affirmation! Greatly appreciated!

Tillie are you able to hang out your laundry? I did a few after my breakfast seminar. I have an event tonight. I'm exhausted. I'm skipping the dinner before the event just so I don't have to talk. I'm too tired. I have another big work thing tomorrow and I'm one of the hosts for the event. I have to be at work way too early for me.

Okay, just checking in. Anony we need to talk about the BF. He shouldn't be criticizing you. Oh and How is kitty??!!! I'm sorry I've been so self absorbed. I'm sad and tired.

Spring and 70's are here, but still have my door closed. My nosy neighbors always trying to look in, but it is not quite presentable. Improved and close but not quite there. In exactly two weeks my gym membership expires. Working out three days a week for hours, takes alot of my energy. So hoping in two weeks, to use this extra time/energy for home tasks. Spring and fall, I'm at my best for doing improvements and getting rid of junk, so trying to maximize this positive mindset, before summer gets here.

Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts.

~Tatoulia, sweet Wonderwoman, i know it must be so hard. You are so amazing. Ive thought about how those years being on the watch out all the time was for me. I hope it gets better soon! You are so strong, but also creative & loving & nurturing & smart & fun! Please remember that?! 😀 ~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

~♡~Good morning!~♡~
~♡~I hope each of you has a Beautiful & Blissful day!~♡~I feel better today~♡~I hope all of you have Awesome Accomplishments & feel Lots of Love today!~♡~

Anony, I have taken your words to heart. And although it causes me chest pain, I'm trying to reasonably and calmly formulate a plan. I walk a lot, and I keep my wits about me, similarly, when I am on the train or subway, I never look at my phone. I like to people watch, experience life while it's happening, and be aware. Now I'm adding the extra layer of keeping watch for my brother. I appreciate everyone's support and advice and I am going to learn now how to keep myself safe rather than learn the hard(ER) way. Thank you.

I have a tightness in my chest just thinking about him.

I am up very early and need to keep moving--I have a 7:30 breakfast seminar and I have to finish getting ready.

I am exhausted despite going to bed at 7:30 last night.