~♡~Good morning to all!~♡~
Tillie, youve done what i so regret not doing years ago, too. Youve turned your place into as much of an Oasis as possible! That is fantastic! Doing as much as there is potential for, is all you can do! I really wish i had done that. 😀
Tatoulia, Welcome Home! Im glad your kitty was happy & ok! I take a charcoal capsule after eating in restaurants. Its kind of a happy compromise of health & entertainment!
My kitty seems to be walking much better today. I have an appointment for an x-ray for him when they had an opening, but if it seems to heal up fast, i wont put him through that. Its so hard to know. And the dog at the border check point can be scary, too!
......this sounds so terrible, but just even working like that for less than a week makes me soooo appreciative of just being at home....

Hello Tillie!

Oh how they carry on whe. They dont have their bedding!

Although I swore I'd take today off and not see brother, I've gone ahead and called him. He's as crazy as ever, and not in a good way. I told him I'd take him to lunch. Hopefully he can keep it together in the restaurant. I'm trying to figure out what to eat as I can't have more salt. I successfully drank only water and tea yesterday and so far only coffee today. They'll probably have a fruit plate.

I have more things I can donate. And I'm happy about that. Just before I left I took a fleece out of a donation bag, figuring I'd wear it and then abandon it in my hotel room. (It was going to be cold where I was traveling). Well, I got to the airport and used the rest room, and the fleece fell on the floor. Of the bathroom. In an airport. So I threw it out in the bathroom garbage. IM SORRY SUBC. I even thought if you as I did it, and felt your (justified) disappointment. So I ended up not having it for my trip. Such is life.

Okay I'm showered so I should get dressed. Have a great day everyone!

Welcome Back Tatoulia 😀

Happy to hear Miss Kitty was just fine! 😉
Yes, restaurant food does have way too much salt!
Hope it all flushes out of you ASAP.
Have a wonderful time tonight being back in your own home sleeping in your own bed with your own pillow and Miss Kitty near by. (((hugs)))

Perfect day today to dry overly fuzzy kitty bedding.
Warm & sunny with a brisk breeze to help blow some of the fur away.
Had the clothes line completely filled with kitty stuff.
Unfortunately, all the kitties were not happy having to wait to get their stuff back.
But you can see now how much they appreciate having fresh clean blankies to snuggle with.

Hello hello! I'm back from my trip. Got in after midnight and kitty was in great shape. She seemed to enjoy the break! I'm working from home today which is a little difficult because I am dead tired. I have a haircut tonight so I can't lay down til a bit later.

Tillie hearing about your garden makes me happy. And Anony! You are in a good groove right now!

I overate on my trip. Too much salt in restaurant food. I couldn't get my rings on Thursday am. I have not tried to put them on today. Only drinking water today.

Will write more later.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
So many opportunities to learn even more about building alternative housing!
These earth bag homes must be becoming very popular where you live. 😀
Enjoy your resting and kitty time. ;D

When I look out my front door/windows I see my flower herb garden to the left of the walkway and to the right is the small square of grass.
To the right of the lawn is a flower bed of wild yellow roses and rhubarb.
Behind all this is now a large wall of purple as the lilac hedge is all in various stages of blooms.
The air is heavy with the scent of lilac and it even gently wanders inside the house.
I planted the lilacs as a wind and dust barrier between the house and the dirt road.
When I first moved into this house the desert winds had blown in so much sand that I did not know there was a cement porch and walkway out there.
The place was just a huge sand dune until I started digging it out.
Then I had to work the sand to make it into soil by adding tons of compost so it would support plant life.
Over the years I have managed to turn it into this tiny green & cool flowering desert oasis. ;D

~☆~Hello, Happy Homemakers & Improvers!~☆~
Tillie, i love the Forget-me-nots for Marty idea! ~♡~Today is the 20 year anniversary of when my cat, Cleopatra showed up. She had a tragic ending that im still deeply traumatized over....♡
A new building workshop was announced for next week, so ill get to learn some new techniques for plastering, poured earthen floors, paper crete & paper adobe! YEA!!! And the project ive been helping with is taking time off, so i wont be missing anything there & ill get to rest & watch after my kitties! ~♡~

Good Morning Anybody 😉

Going to be another warm sunny day today with possible thunder storms in the near future.
Debating about doing some laundry since the other day the neighbor burned leaves & weeds & etc. all day long and I worry that he will continue doing that.
Not a pleasant scent to have on the laundry. 🙁
Going outside after I finish my tea "Clink!" and water some things.
I planted "Bee Balm" in front of the house in a place where it would get morning sun & afternoon shade but it has migrated to the spot that gets sun ALL day long and it gets all wilted by evening.
Too hard to move it since it is now all tangled in with the Grape Hyacinth now.

Hope you are all having a GREAT Thursday. 😉

Hello Everybody 🙂
Cold water "Clink!"

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Happy to hear about all that earth bag building you're learning about!
Yes, your priorities are GREAT!
Spending your money on experiences rather than on things!!! 😀

Big problem with those Mylar balloons or any balloons for that matter is creatures EAT them and the material gets all tangled up in their guts, killing them.
Same as that plastic easter basket grass, XMas tree tinsel and plastic shopping bags.

Well I did it...
Went grocery shopping. Made a few other stops since I was in town anyways.
I'm exhausted!
It's also 80 degrees out there now!
Got everything put away but I'm too tired to fix myself something to eat right now.
Once it starts to cool down I will water my garden since I have tiny seedlings sprouting.
Poppies and Forget-me-nots for Marty. 😉

~☆~Good afternoon & ice coffee clinks!!!~☆~
SubC, i LOVE the trash can on wheels idea!!! And what a perfect thing to do for Earh Day week!!!
Tatoulia, i totally agree with your kitty plan!
And im not at all surprised how everyone liked you at the dinner! How could they not? You are amazing!!! I hope your presentation goes well?!! 😀
Tillie, it sounds like you are making lots of great improvements, and having fun outside, too! 😀
Ive found a lot of those balloons in my woods. Ive found a few that had unusual cards attached & then read about a therapy thing to write a message to a loved one that has passed, or a family member not in touch, etc., and send it up & away...kinda like writing a letter to rip up. ~♡~
Hi, Porter! 😀
Hi, CM! 😀
Hi, Joan! 😀
Hi, Sharon! 😀
Hi, whoever i may have forgotten, that im generally afraid to do this cuz i might forget someone & cant add them to my list later?!! ~♡~♡~♡~
Im home today cuz i have a kitty with a hurt leg. I think its just a bad sprain. Since i havent been here much, i bet the bully neighbor kitty is somehow involved?!
Its gotten really hot this week & keeping up with those 20 year olds at the building project has gotten much more challenging! Ive gotten a better idea tho, of how i want to do mine. Some older guys came by yesterday & talked about the one they are building. They had lots of great info & they asked lots of questions, so i followed them around a lot to listen!
My new guy & i bumped heads a bit over some things, one of which was my spending money on nice restaurants. One thing ive gotten clear on after my 'serial shopping' years, is that i want to buy experiences, NOT STUFF! His house is packed with gorgeous things & it is beautiful! I know everyone is in a different place, but i am not gonna feel like its wrong to spend my money that way. That fancy dinner i took my good friend to for her birthday was spectacular & we really enjoyed it! It reminded me of my Dad freaking out over that sort of thing growing up, even though we had plenty of money. He was a surgeon! Im not gonna get mad, but im going to make it VERY CLEAR how i feel.
~♡~Stay cool & comfy, all my happy homeys!!!~♡~

Hello Everyone 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Relax!
You did all the planning, prepping and work for this trip and there is no reason to fret.
It will all be just fine. (((HUGS)))
WAY TO GO! for two donation bags!

Since it was 50 degrees inside this morning I decided today was a good day to clean & cover the space heaters and store them away until next Autumn.
But I did leave one in here, just in case.
Did a bunch of decluttering too, here & there.
Filled a big garbage can, stuff outside that has outlived it's purpose, too worn out or nasty to donate.
Feels GREAT! 😀
Tomorrow I plan to go grocery shopping, been too long since I last went and I sorta miss eating food. ;P

Quick drive by. I leave tomorrow. Thanks for the reassurance on kitty. Tillie, That is a tough decision on Marty's crib. You'll know when it's time.

I got two bags to my car last night--two donation bags. That felt good.

SubC you are opening my eyes on packaging, plastic and waste. Thank you for that.

Anony would love an update! CM don't forget us! Porter have a good day!

Hope I didn't leave anyone out!

I slept with one window open and ceiling fan on. I was freezing. And I loved it!

Hello 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WAY TO GO!!!
Sounds like you have it all under control,
except for the one over night bag issue.
Yes, go ahead and donate Kitty's unwanted blanket.
I have been seriously considering donating Marty's doll cradle bed since nobody has slept in it since he passed.
If I do, I will donate it to the no-kill animal shelter here.

All my cats have always preferred Pendleton wool blankets & shirts, cashmere sweaters, pashmina shawls and cotton flannel sheets to sleep on. ;P

Have a safe and enjoyable time Tatoulia (((HUGS)))

Hi Subclinical 🙂
You are lucky to not need to water everything! 😀
I have to water the trees until they are big enough to reach down deep enough to get their own water and everything else never goes that deep.
This morning I found a Mylar balloon in my back yard, must be something going around! ;D

All day today I have been busy slowly plodding along getting this place back to acceptable.
Did 3 loads of laundry, vacuumed, swept, did dishes, made spaghetti and washed my hair.
The place is still dusty but it's a lot better in here now.
Plus tomorrow is another day and I can probably get even more done. ;D

All laundry washed and dried. Including cat stuff. I'm giving away her blanket. The one I got her this year didn't do it for her. She had two cat beds and she enjoys those. I'll put down sheets on the couches once I vacuum them. I have to fold the laundry.

I'm trying to get away with just an overnight bag but I'm being thwarted.

I have two bags ready for donation.

Coffee clinks (almost--waiting for the brewing to stop)

SubC, the satisfaction of planting those trees must have been immense. Thank you for planting them. I am envious of you and Tillie with your outdoor space. But in the end, I am a city mouse and I do enjoy our many parks and public spaces.

I am trying to just stay focused and not let the panic set in. So much to do. But again, If I focus I'll get more done. I can do this.

Many thanks for the reassurance of kitty. Luckily she sleeps a good portion of the time. And unlike other cats I've had, when I walk in she will be thrilled. None of that turning her back on me stuff that more confident cats pull off!

Good morning! Clean coffee cup clink!

Tatoulia, I hope you will enjoy your trip. I'm sure Kitty will be fine. (We have always called dry food "kitty cereal" too. That made me smile)

Tillie, one of the advantages of living in a very wet place is not having to water anything most of the time. It's going to rain all day three days this week. During the summer I will probably have to water the three little bushes I planted in the new front yard (when we built the addition, we turned the house 90 degrees) but they are almost on the path between the hose and barn, so I will mostly dump out dirty water buckets on them when I am getting clean water for the goats. Most of the trees and bushes are deep rooted and planned to break open the clay and improve drainage.

I cleaned up some plastic in the yard while we were planting - bits of old drainage pipe and black plastic from the construction project (I tried to clean up at the time, but it is hard to get everything) and a big Mylar balloon someone lost or freed that found it's way into our field.

It will all end up in the landfill, but it exists and so must be somewhere. Hopefully the landfill will keep it out of the water.

The plastic marking tape was upsetting me yesterday. I think I will buy some biodegradable marking tape. It worries me because it says it biodegrades completely in 6-24 months and I need it to last a year, but maybe I can make a habit of taking a "remarking" walk every 3-4 months? I just can't buy any more of this plastic stuff right now.

Wonderful to catch up with you two! 😀

Hi Subclinical 🙂
WAY TO GO!!!
You did so much!
And YEA!!! for clean dishes and clothes too!
Roots, rocks and heavy clay, that's really hard work.
Makes me appreciate all my sand here.
I love your leaf cup design.
Will you also have to haul water around to water the new trees and bushes?
Here I have to attach three hoses together to reach six trees to water them.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
There have been times when I have left a cat or cats home alone for 48 hours.
They were always just fine when I got back home.
I like to use my large roasting pan...
Kibble in the lid and water in the base.
I would also leave the bathtub faucet slowly dripping since I had a cat who liked to drink in there.
For Marty I would leave the cover off of the toilet tank since that was his favorite place to drink.
Ms Kitty will be fine! 😀
Hope your trip goes smoothly and you have some fun too. ;D

Well, tomorrow I have to do some stuff in here.
The dishes have piled up and there's lots of laundry to do.
The floors are a disgrace and the whole place is thick with dust.
But I have had so much FUN these last two days playing outside. ;P

Hello everyone! Had a nice time with mom today. I took her for a ride then took her to see my brother. I got them each a hot chocolate, which they enjoyed in the car while I did mom's grocery shopping.

I am traveling this week. Kittycat will be alone for about 36-40 hours. I always have two bowls of water and two bowls of cereal out. I'll make a second feeding place with one more of each. I was thinking of asking new neighbor to come in but after thinking about it and talking over with BF, i would only be doing this for my peace of mind and not for kitty. She hides and is a scaredy cat, so that would upset her more. so essentially I'd be making her situation worse, not better. In addition, I'd have to leave my alarm off, which would only cause me further worry. BF said he'd stop in if I want but I think ultimately I'll just leave her be. And try not to worry. When I go away for more than one night, she goes to his house. But that's a whole lotta upset for just one night. The trauma of getting her in the carrier, etc.

I tried not to make the planet a worse place today, SubC. I adore your feed bag idea! . Anony! I am so glad to hear from you! It sounds like you are having a great weekend learning about earth houses and it does sound like you've met a nice man! Keep it up!

Tillie we also had nice weather today. I have windows open and will sleep, for a second night, with my bedroom window open. It will get down to about 40 degrees but I will stay warm under my blankets.

Well I am the spa torture girl here. I haven't done a lot in recent years due to lack of money. I will get my nails done tmr, in anticipation of my trip. I also enjoy reflexology, which I will do a few times a year. BF gave me gift certificates soI likely have enough to do once a month for the rest of the year. I do moisture masks at home but no facials.

I took my recycling out tonight. I can see what I want to do before I leave. I also want to pack maybe tmr. I hAve figured out what to wear so I only need to bring one dress and then change out jewelry/add a scarf to transform the look between dinner the evening I arrive and then next day's presentation. I'm not nervous and hope I continue to be calm. I'm not the best flyer around but I have managed to go to Europe and Asia multiple times.

BF mentioned how much everyone at the dinner the other night liked me. That made me happy. Oh! And in my speech I said, that all my good deeds in life paid off and allowed me to do the specific volunteer work. He said that was really sweet. What he doesn't know is i also tell people that all my good deeds in life paid off and I get to be with him.

Well, everyone, I appreciate your support. I need it so much.

Anony, wonderful that you are getting your earth bag plans together!

I hope this new relationship turns out to be all you hope.

I am very tired. We planted 34 trees. (Well, a few were bushes, but they are all 1-3' tall anyway.) I haul water around to the planting locations in a water wagon dh made me from an old wheeled trash can. The can also holds the trees, the stakes, the shovel, the mallet, the tape, and a bucket for watering. Dh digs the holes, which is really hard because there are roots and rocks everywhere, and the ground is heavy clay.

I also worked a little on some projects for my class - I made the "same" cup in three styles - all with handles based on leaves.

And I got hay.

I have a clean coffee cup for tomorrow and we both have clean clothes to wear and enough dishes for breakfast and lunch.

Hello 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! running the dish washer! ;D
Happy tree planting.

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
I have never had any spa torture either and I have never worn high heels, died or bleached my hair or had a massage.
I don't wear make up either. When I do my manicure/pedicure I just cut my nails and shape them with an emery board, no cuticle cutting because they don't need it.
No polish.
Great plan going with the smaller dirt bags and going at a slower pace.
Since you will be doing so much of this work all by yourself, it is the most logical way to proceed.

Sitting here in the shade enjoying the beautiful breeze.
A few of the lilac buds have opened! 😀
The Gladiola leaves keep popping up through the soil, 15 so far.
So happy to see all the fresh new green in my little garden sanctuary. 😉

~♡~Happy Earth Day!~♡~
I had a long post that disappeared...ugh?!
SubC, when my Mom came to visit she wanted us to get manicures & facials together & i really did not want that stuff, partly cuz it hurts, but also cuz it seems like self induced crippling of the hands with all the cuticle chopping & having long nails. I feel that way about high heeled shoes, too. I got a massage, instead of having a tight mask applied & then ripped off my face & my hands maimed.
Hi Sharon! 😀
Tillie, the freshly painted rooms sound wonderful! And good for you to let go of those 'gifts of obligation'! Im looking at doing some of that too, cuz they just remind me of being rejected by my birth family... 🙁
The earthbag project is definitely helping me learn! I have gotten clearer on which method i want to do. Since i want to do it mostly myself, im going to do the smaller, single bags, instead of the long tubing type bags, which is what this project is using. That method requires a crew & a fast pace! I dont want to be going at that frantic rate. Im not in a big hurry...plus, im older, so i want to do it at a more leisurely pace. 😀
My new guy has a gorgeous place! As soon as i saw it all i decided against showing him pics of my dump. He calls himself a 'maximumist', because there are antiques everywhere! All along every wall & table are oriental Buddha statues & gemstones & Tibetan lanterns & furniture from Bali, etc. He has made an income from buying & selling these type things, getting to travel buying them! A nicer style of 'hoarding', i could not imagine! I asked him how he manages dusting it all & he said he has not ever dusted in the 5 years hes lived there! That amount of dust would take less than one week here at my place! Every other place ive lived was like that, but not here! Id feel so differently about my place if it stayed clean from dust & spider webs & all that! Im hoping i will be motivated, or at least have a shift in a better direction from how he lives. I really admire his whole path in life! ~♡~

On break from tree planting.

Tillie, I loaded the top of the dishwasher with mugs and the bottom with other things and ran it.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical 🙂
I can assure you that there will be no carbon footprint made by me or the cats today. ;D
Great that you found a good home for those furnace filters!
Please at least wash the coffee mugs today so you can start tomorrow with the joy of drinking from a nice clean cup. (((hugs)))

Hi Porter 🙂
Nice to read about your cleaning & tidying schedule.
Great that you are still finding things to let go of and doing a lot of thinking about only adding a few quality items as décor. ;D

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WAY TO GO! for having a good time tidying up and puttering around! 😀
Wishing you & your Mom a lovely day out today. 😉

My plan for today is to do more of what I did yesterday, play outside!
So nice this morning to wake up to 63 degrees so no need for turning on any space heaters.
After I painted the livingroom/dining room/kitchen areas and removing that kitchen cupboard
came the task of putting everything back in the rooms.
Have been doing a LOT of intense thinking about all these items.
Most all of it is things that I inherited from deceased people or were gifts.
99.9% of the items are not anything I would have chosen for myself but felt obligated to keep.
Fear of being called "an ungrateful brat" made me the curator of unwanted stuff.
Well, I have kept them long enough!
It's not much stuff, two small 14 by 14 boxes total, mostly tchotchkes.
See, even people without a hoarding issue always have to keep rethinking what they have in their homes. ;D

Coffe clinks!

Porter thank you for your comments. My brother is severely mentally disabled so there's no sorting it out. It's been a lifetime of this. His issues change and morph over the years with each passing decade, but the core issues of his handicap remain. Oddly, his physical issues have resolved somewhat with time, including his partial paralysis. Or maybe I don't see it anymore.

Tillie and SubC! Glad to hear about your goings-on and wearing pretty things!

Good point on the men's shirts, Tillie! They do all seem to wear out at the same time. Plus his are professionally laundered and ironed, which although they look beautiful, must also take a toll on the shirts. He also goes through shoes a lot. He has no issues with keeping old clothes or letting go.

I got my bed changed, I swept, I puttered yesterday. It all felt so good. I will try to replicate that today.

Another beautiful day. Cannot wait to get mom out for a little ride.

Porter, i'm Glad th8ngs are going well for you and Marcie.

Tillie, yay for your lizard! And for getting to wear your new dress. Our lilacs just have tiny leaf buds.

Tatoulia, I am glad you like your bowl. I wish you could have more good days with your brother. You are a good sister!

Dh took me out to a concert last night and I wore my thick, cozy red cape that he got me for Christmas. He also bought me a treat, but then there was a plastic cup and a straw and a little baggie with a twist tie. I didn't even have a pocket for the twist tie.

Also yesterday a friend came over so I could disbud her goats for her. I was able to give her the package of unused furnace filters left over from when we changed our system after the construction. So that is out of my basement.

We discussed the difficulty of feed bags. I threw out the idea of having her club use them to make bags for the food bank as a service project. Since I am never going to get to it! Don't know if it will come to anything, but she liked the idea.

Today is earth day. Dh and I are going to plant some trees. If you can, please think of me and try to avoid some plastic.

I have been letting the house go. It is getting pretty bad. I am currently drinking coffee out of my last clean mug - and I have a lot of mugs! Ds is coming to visit on Friday, so something must be done.

Tat
I think I understand what you're saying about your brother.
Not saying anything about him or you OK.

My wife would get moody and confront me on very small things , then once she was upset shed bring out big issues , but so upset it couldn't be discussed rationally , I would lash out and she would retaliate. We would go round and round bring up every annoyance and get nothing settled, then later we were walking on eggshells just to discuss little things , because it could reignite another arguing session.

My point is once that was all over it wasn't over.
I felt exhausted and depressed. I didn't feel like doing anything . Not only did I have trouble organizing and cleaning when I was in good mood , but my wife would pick the worst times to depress me. Fridays right after dinner. Then the whole weekend felt overwhelming.
Another week would go by with very little progress on the hoard. Just slink into my sleeping area and lay there in the fetal position until it actually hurt to lay there any longer. Sad for me to share that.
Once I would start cleaning I was usually confronted about where I put the items left in the rooms and I felt like I was constantly interrupted from my clean house goals.

So with Marcie , I've treid to avoid the hoarding depression from my cycle. With my ADHD , delegating tasks I neglect is an issue. I've made sure to utilize my coping skill.
Marcie does the bedrooms. If not I do them.
Maid does kitchen , bath , and laundry.
I pay a neighbor to cut grass 1 time a month. But I cut it if needed before the 1st.
Then I delegate the remainder to myself.
Trash day, clean car and porches
After that I clear rooms 1 room at a time until Its completed.

At my house I now spend less than three days there so most rooms are untouched. Now typically I just do everything in one room the living room . That way it's easier to clear and clean before I leave.

So now there's very little resistance to cleaning and organizing , and almost everyday , I fill a tote with loose items to reorganize and then empy the tote. I find myself taking pictures of sentimental things and attaching voice overs . Then I throw it out or donate it. But I'm going minimalistic though. More like redecorating throwing out the clutter and replacing with art or conversation pieces. But in just the right measure.

I wish you the best!

Hello 🙂

Hi Porter 🙂
So nice to catch up with all your goings ons. 🙂
Hope the car problems are not too serious & easily fixed.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
(((HUGS))) so sorry brother is so trying (((HUGS)))
So nice to finally have those windows open!
I have all of mine open today and both doors with just the screen doors shut.
I have noticed that when men buy multiples of shirts, trousers or socks all at the same time,
they all seen to wear out all at the same time.

Forgot to mention that yesterday I saw my first lizard of the season! 😀
Spend ALL day outside today.
Watered everything, did some plant food, did some bug treatments, did some plant killer on some tiny rogue trees growing where I do not want trees.
The lilacs are almost ready to bloom. The flower buds are big & fat and deep purple.
The cats were out with me for a while then they went back inside to take naps, except Twinkles, he took his naps outside.
Today I wore my pretty new summertime dress and my new sandals.
It was a good day. ;D

Sorry for not keeping up on the daily reading.
I keep everything that is private to me on an old iPad2
.
Marcie looks through my stuff . I don't mind , but I do need a place to just be porter and nothing but porter. Marcie would be suffocating if I werent enjoying her time and attention so much. I still refuse to get upset at her for anything , but patiently wait until were both ready to discuss big issues and if I do feel upidy about something I find a way to time out.

This week she surprised me. She took the whole week off, and spent it in her storage. She's thrown out 90% I'd guess
Leaving only 20 totes. Very manageable .
I permanatlely hired the cleaning service to clean her house.
Kitchen, bathroom , and laundry. Marcie bought a saFe box.

Then she said it was time for me to go through my hoard .
I firmly said I'll be keeping mine in my basement or if ever move in a storage. She got a little tense like since she purged I should too. But I tried to explain I already have. I just have alot I still keep.

The next day she brought out some charts and graphs.
I chuckled because it reminds me of my myself, but she took my lol as a scoff. It took me almost all say to get her to be comfortable explaining her charts to me again. Definately OCD . If she were perfect , Id guess I wouldn't be a fit for her. But our common imperfections is like something in common than than would keep us apart.

After 3 hours of going over the charts . I felt like I deserved an A+ . As the sun went down I went out to start a fire . Again she tried to put us back into the chart ,
But I just took her hand and lead outside . And said to her .

I pulled her close enough just to whisper.
I'm in love with you. I miss you when were apart .
Here just now I feel such love you. Just this spontaneous moment unplanned holding you close while sun goes down.

If I give myself to be scheduled into every moment I may become unhappy and say things without thinking. I don't ever want to hurt you or ignore you either. How about a compromise that you schedule the day time and I get 1 hour before dusk and into the night. I'll give you the rest of this night to think about it. Then I let her go. I set the fire . Got the steaks potatoes and marsh mallows .put on our favorite music and danced and sang with her. It was cold. But the fire kept us warm and we snuggled as I talked about the stars and Jesus. After we went inside I thought to myself I hope this works, because just the way she relaxed and we leaned on eachother and she was in my arms . I feel like sundown is the time for me to just take over the end of the day with nothing but loving and relaxing time together.
The next day Thursday , I had major car trouble.
So did not do anything on the charts at all.
When I got back and decided to go to her , she was rewriting the charts. Iwas ohh noo. I took a photo of her charts and just started in on what she's got and put it in order that makes sense to me . I told her I would these ten things if she could do those ten things. It was like her panic switch was turned off. I just got the last of it done and she was about half way through so I helped her Finnish her list from the 10th thing backwards until we finished with photos.
I was so tired . I fell asleep on couch In the most amazing quilt . It smelled like her. . But woke up to breakfast fit for a king. I did the dishes and left.
I almost couldn't leave her because it felt like I was in some kind of hallmark movie . Like no matter what we do , good or bad , still feels like love. Just being together . I feel like I don't deserve her, but I try to honor her . I left a chart on the refrigerator , basically like 730 love me , 800 love you, 830 love eachother, .

So that's how it went this week. Near sun down after the house work is put away. The charts re organized. It's downtime. Just time to be very good to eachother .

I'm working on a chart version of how I click. A Tic Toc of how I can clean house in just three hours. And with the held of the maid service cook too. What's hard to get across to Marcie is my fasting and exercise routines. Because their not fad weightloss with giant losses in just a few weeks but 20lbs over a years time.
I'm down to 215lbs and can jump rope for 8minutes consecutive. I try to explain that the body almost alays burns carbs after 30seconds of exercise so I do alot of anaerobic exercise spontaneously for about 3minutes as often as I can throughout the day.

My suggestion to her this week.
After dinner at 6.
Let's take a 75minute walk. That ends near sundown.
..........
This way we have time to talk without charts.
I'm glad to see the cleaning side of her start to come forth.
Asked her to be in charge of the bedrooms at both houses .

Today is grass day. I'll be cooking lunch and dinner on the fire pit. While I tend to the yard only.

How I love hearing about your garden, Tillie!

I am home. Time with brother was a disaster but certainly not our worst time together. He was mean and yelling and angry, etc. afterward I stopped by mom's and changed her sheets and dropped off some bread. I just put a quick load into washer. Have a window open in the front and one in the back. I'll put on some music to putter by until BF calls. I think he wants to go shopping. He needs shirts, which is laughable because he buys cotton button down shirts five and six at a time. But he said he's down to one white one.

I'll see what I can get done. I feel very tired and drained. My brother is just so ill and very ugly to be with.

Good Morning Everyone 🙂
"Clink!" my chai masala with Subclinical's cereal bowl.

Hi Subclinical 🙂
I think it's a good thing that you instilled an awareness in your Dd that we should all try our best to make the smallest footprint we can.
But in this day and age it is not easy and at times impossible to always be zero waste. (((HUGS)))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
YEA! for sunshine! 😀
How lovely, a pewter bowl!
Some years ago I found a nice one at a thrift shop and have been enjoying and using it all the time.
Mostly for fruit but also for lots of other things.
Wishing you a pleasant day with brother. (((hugs)))

Laid in bed a long time this morning dozing off & on, not wanting to get up, too tired.
If I did get up at 6am I knew I would be needing a nap all afternoon.
Steven has taken off to do his every single stinking week shopping at thrift shops and dumpster dives.
Now the weather is nice he will also be shopping at yard sales too.
Depressing.
Anyways... after I finish my tea, the cats & I are going outside and water the trees, rhubarb, roses, etc... and have a lovely quiet day. 😉

Good morning! Welcome, Sharon! Glad you are here.

Tillie we have warmer weather today and the sun is out. I'm getting ready/bracing myself for time with brother. I too have cat-related chores. SubC, I think if you when I eat because I use cloth napkins at home.

I had a wonderful dinner the other night! And the gift was an engraved pewter bowl--exactly the type of thing I will use and cherish. I was worried it would be a plaque, and since I don't have an office, it's something that would just go to waste. Or as my boyfriend put it, it would end up being something I hung in his office. (We do not work together).

I'm off for the day. What are you doing today?!?!