Hi Everybody

Hello Subclinical
Your plans for after thanksgiving sound like it will be a lot of fun!!!
Best wishes the firing comes out perfectly. ;D
Glad you got a little more rested today.

Hi Tatoulia
Good that BF got to spend time with friends he hadn't seen in a long time.
Please sent some snow flurries this way 😀

Shopping out here is very limited unless I want to travel 170+ miles round trip then try to maneuver around in nasty city traffic to try to find stores selling what I am looking for.
So today I finally gave in and shopped at amazon.
There were 4 items that I have wanted for a very long time and now they will arrive here soon.
Nothing fun or fancy, just items that I need to carry on.
Plus Discover card has cash back bonus feature and when I shop at amazon I can use those credits so my purchase cost 00.00 with free shipping too.
Just hope Steven never discovers this and starts ordering stuff. >:/

The kitty is dear.

I do not go to funerals if I can help it. People go to funerals for comfort and they do not comfort me. I only go if someone who is alive needs me to be there. I did not go to the funerals for two of my grandparents, but I went for all three of dh's (dh fourth gparent died when he was small.)

My father has requested no funeral and my mother says if she dies first not to have one because my father won't come and that would be awful.

I didn't try to do as many things today. So I am a little less tired, but also less caught up.

Most of the things I have to do are caused by the things I want to do.

The kiln is firing to unload in the morning. (Afternoon?) tomorrow. I also have to run errands and do lesson plans. And fire the kiln again.

My girls (and sil) are coming to stay the weekend after Thanksgiving and helping us get our Christmas tree.

She is such a sweet kitty. You'll see lots of boxes in the background. It's tough.

I can understand that, Tillie. This was a 40 day mass, I just said funeral as shorthand. So the service was mainly not in English which gave me good time to just pray. We weren't going to stay but BF saw some people he hadn't seen in a long time so we stayed. And it was very nice. We had little snow flurries.

I haven't walked much at all today. I'm going to get dressed and head out.

Good Afternoon Early evening Everybody

The kitty is so pretty.
I like how she wears different socks on all four feet. 😀

I will go to the grave side part but not the church beforehand or the buffet afterward.
I do much better when I am outdoors.
I do dress nice but most people dress like they have just stepped off the ranch, which they actually have done.

Last time I realized that I know more people who now reside in the cemetery than I know now above ground.
Just another interesting fact of life of getting old. 😉

Did diddly squat to improve the condition of the house today.
Did do cat related things, as always.
Had a very good day off today.

Feeding the animals is a beautiful gift, Tillie.

Sorry about the fight, SubC. Fights happen. And they feel terrible.

Just back from a funeral then the mercy meal. I'm still in my dress and shoes.

I'm going to rest a bit.

I posted a few new pictures of mom's cat. There's debris in the background. Boxes where mom got her private products delivered and other messes. But the kitty (giant ears) is just such a sweetheart! None of her socks match!

I'll be resting for a bit.

SubC, I had seen reusable fabric gift bags and I thought, as soon as my paper is done with, I'm going to see some. I have a lot of half yards of fabrics as I've been working through which ones to use for my new shower curtain. I bet I could see these. I love the idea and I see that Etsy sells quite a few, too

Good Morning Everybody
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical
So sorry about the stupid fight (((HUG)))
Please find your happy spot again, your wonderful new adventures coming your way.

From the small amount of your daily activities you write down here, you try to get 40 hours out of every day.
Too often all your "have-tos" make it impossible for you to do any of your "want-tos".
I really want you to have more "me" time and a lot less hurry & hassle.

I like your cloth bags!
Great idea especially for a larger family. 😀

Woke up a little before 5am with Twinkles complaining that Scooter put his mousie in the water bowl again.
Taking another slow day today.
Planning to do a mani-pedi since all my nails need trimming.
Will hang linens out soon as the sun is up.
Will make plans as to how to best start tackling this dusty house tomorrow.
The extended weather forecast is teasing that there will be rain by Wednesday.
XXXXX fingers crossed XXXXX

Only gifts I give are on the Winter solstice when I put out lots of food treats for all the animals.
They don't appreciate wrapping, "just give me the food lady".

I use cloth or paper gift bags for wrapping. I bought all the cloth on clearance at 99 cents a yard after Christmas when my kids were little. People usually give them back, and we toss them in a basket during gift opening at my house.

The paper ones are all reused and I use them for people who probably won't return my cloth bag.

I make tags from old Christmas cards.

I had a stupid fight with dh yesterday, shattered into a million pieces, and fell back down the rabbit hole.i did most of my things anyway.

More firing and glazing to do today, plus lesson plans, paper grading, and prep work. Also have to call the clay studio and arrange to have an order ready on Tuesday because I will be short on time.

Lately I am always short on time.

I told dh I think I want to cut my hours back at school again next year. I don't want to have to think about anything but the baby when I have the baby, and I don't know how I would keep up this level without Monday to work on things. I'm barely keeping up WITH Monday.

Tatoulia
You mean the world to me ((((HUGS))))

(((Hugs))) (((Tillie))). I had a sense you'd lost your son. What a terrible thing to live this lifetime without him. I am so sorry. You did a lot of good and creative and educational things with him. A great mom.

Freedom. What a beautiful middle name.

Tillie you have changed my life. I hope you know that.

Hi Tatoulia
No, son has been gone since Sept 9th, 1988.
Thank you (((HUGS)))

The pawn shop here pays me for the gold/silver by the daily going rate for the metals.
You show picture ID, they make you an account.
That is for just in case someone pawns stolen merchandise and the cops can trace it.
I am happy just to get the price of the metals and it's great if something like a gold chain is broken and useless.

You should try to find a jewelry store to sell items with gems or exceptional workmanship.
You know, the good stuff.
Here, I would have to drive all the way to Reno or Carson City to find a jeweler who buys stuff but you probably have several in your town.

WAY TO GO!!! so happy you released those items from your car!
FREEDOM 🙂

So sweet of you looking after Mom (((HUG)))
Yes, use up your wrappings, bows & ribbons and all that.
I do know that specialty stores sell environmentally sound sourced gift wrap/gift bags along with lots of Hippie friendly items.

I think I told you already that my paternal Grandmother's middle name was Freedom.

Tillie, I remember decorating with potatoes! So much fun!

I don't know if you still have your son, but I know you were a good mother to him.

Hello, hello!!

I took a small bag from my house to goodwill today. When I got to my car and garage, I looked through the trunk. I still had bags of stuff that didn't sell at the consignment store. I pulled out the jewelry (will take to Pawn Shop) then put the rest in the goodwill bag. It was hard. But as I held the stuff in my hand, I felt the emotional weight. And that I do not need. So it's gone. And I'm lighter. I did it. I put the jewelry in my purse. I'll have to see if the pawn shop will take. There's some gold and pearls. I have never been to a pawn shop. Tillie, I know you have. How does it work?

I renewed the listing on my chair and I reduced the price by $25. But I don't think it's the price that's in the way. I just don't think anyone wants it.

And that's fine. Surely someone at Goodwill will buy it. It has one more week in my house.

After Goodwill I went to see BF at work and I ran out and got us sandwiches. Then I ran to mom's and played with the kitty and changed mom's bed. She'd had an accident and couldn't wait til the sheet-changing day on Monday. So she's organized.

I'm going to work on papers now.

I didn't know that about wrapping paper, Tillie. For me, I just need to use up what I have.

Wrapping paper reminded me...
Back when I had a young son I taught him to take a paper grocery bag and cut it to open flat.
Then I would cut a potato in half and whittle away everything but the desired design on the flat cut part.
Usually an evergreen tree or star.
Then he would dip the potato in tempera paint and print his designs all over the plain, unprinted on side of the paper bag.
It was so much fun making wrapping paper.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
Your no mindless spending December plan sounds spot on!!!
Of course you will buy food stuffs, you must eat and feed guests.
Not participating in the mindless frivolous over consumption purchasing of whatever shiny new thing they dangling in front of consumers is very sane and rational. 😉

Wreathes for your windows is your traditional home décor.

For many decades I have only ever wrapped in tissue paper.
The colorful & shiny wraps do so much damage to the environment.
In dumps they bleed into the ground water. Burned and they release dangerous toxins into the air, which then settles down and contaminates the water.
Supposedly they have banned and removed all the heavy deadly metals used to create the vibrant colors but they are still bad for life.
Now Tillie jumps down off her soap box. ;p

WTG! shredding and doing laundry!:D

Here when they light the XMas tree that they put up in the middle of main street it's a big thing to attend.
They block off main street with bales of straw.
There is music, horse drawn wagons with huge draught horses, cocoa and cookies and Santa with candy canes.
I'm sure there are plenty of these kinds of things for you to amuse yourself rather than shopping.

I really like the idea of you baking some gifts.

If you start feeling tempted, throw open your closets, cupboards, drawers and look at what you have and how good it feels to not have too much. (((HUG)))

Keep up with that lamp! I know it will help.

Pretty much took today off.
Showered & shampooed my hair.
Sautéed mushrooms in butter then sautéed zucchini in butter and sprinkled parmesan on it.
Ate my fill and have enough for two more servings.
Played with all my new stone beads and watched Roku.
Ate a heavily seeded "everything" bagel with cream cheese.
Plan to wash sheets & etc. tonight and hang out at sunrise tomorrow.

Hello everyone!! Great to read your posts!!! You are motivating me!!! Yay!

I slept a million hours last night. And now I'm taking it slow with my coffee and therapy lamp! I also put my sheets in the washer.

Cm!! Your new computer works!!! Hip hip hooray!!! I'm so happy for you!

Tillie, great work yesterday! Socializing, snapping up some holiday and other fun items for very little! Enjoying your life!!!

SubC! I know that you and I can get things done today! I am going to continue working on shredding closet papers. I want my closet space!!

Ok here is how I am viewing/modifying the No Spend December: It is the actual purchase of things. Purchasing cute stuff, funny stuff, this stuff, that stuff. I have everything I need. I have all last minute gifts and not last minute gifts. If BF's neighbors join us for Christmas Eve, I go to my well of gifts and choose a couple (nice jam, tea towel, small box of Frango mints, Swedish sponge). I'm not making stockings the way I used to because we don't need more candy. If I find I "need" more gifts then I'll bake a few quick breads. Easy.

I will be having a few dinners out here and there with friends but no shopping. I have all I need. I keep saying this to reinforce and to help build my resolve. Yesterday I had some Macy's $ (50 to spend, it's like cash, I don't pay anything) and I used it to buy pjs for sister's BF's daughter and I sent them some Frango mints. I didn't spend all of it but I'm done. Shipping was free and I asked sister to wrap the little girl's pjs and make them from the cat.

So i am good with all of this. One night I am doing the Beacon Hill Holiday Stroll with two friends and I will not buy anything. I have all the wrapping paper, cards, tags, etc for a lifetime. I will buy my wreaths for my windows from the church sale I go to but I won't buy anything else.

What are your thoughts? It's avoiding buying those cute little add-ons that no one needs, wants or uses.

My goal today, in addition to shredding papers, is to get some of the presents wrapped. I'm wrapping everything in tissue paper this year. I have a lot of tissue paper from years gone by and I'd like to use it up.

That is my goal. It's the accumulation of stuff and the lack of thought. It's avoiding the automatic pilot shopping.

Let me know. If you think I should cut down more than that, I'll need you to tell me. The aspiration is avoiding more stuff. Avoiding the depressing consumerism.

Good Morning Everybody
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical
So happy for you! 😀
Have a wonderful day doing all those things you now want to do.
Just start and let inspiration carry you from task to task.

Mr. Kitty doesn't want to share you. ;p

Knew I had a D.D.S. appt, thought it was this week but it's next Monday, YEA!!!
Have one whole week to get the house cleaned up.
I've let everything go around here with everything else going on.
It's so dry and dusty here not having any rain all these months and everything in here is heavily coated with dust.
Every vehicle that goes down the road raises a huge choking cloud of dust.
I'm living in a dust bowl. ;p

Forgot to list a medium sized beautiful leaded beveled glass hanging thingie with dried flowers pressed between the panes I got and already hung up in my room. 🙂

Good morning all.

CM, you sound quite pleased with your new machine. 🙂

And tillie, I'm glad you had a fun day out. You can fancy up your room and put up your ceiling tiles!

Tatoulia, I would find a no spend December an awful challenge, but you are done your Christmas shopping and don't have a bunch of kids coming from out of town who you want to treat, so go for it! I bet there are a lot of cool, free things to do in December where you live.

Dd went to the doctor yesterday for confirmation and everything looks fine. Only Mr. kitty is not excited.

I have a ton of stuff to do this weekend, but finally, I want to do it. Not just with my head, but I am feeling the wanting to do it. The only hard decision is where to start.

Good Evening Everybody

Hi CriticalMass
WAY TO GO!!!
New computer and you are learning it's functions!

NO! you and roommate are not allowed to be sickly!
Best wishes for her speedy recovery and that you don't catch it if it's contagious.

Yeah, love those muscle cars.
1st. car was a 68 Plymouth Fury, then a 68 Camaro super sport.
Last car I owned was a 72 VW super Beetle.
It's still here. Steven ran it into the ground and parked it in the yard where it still sits. 🙁

Sweet dreams with a kitty to snuggle. 🙂

Hi Tatoulia
Hope your weekend is relaxing after a busy week.
WTG! doing laundry. So nice of you to be considerate with the machines.
Shrimp & pasta sounds so yummy.

A no spend December???
Don't let the ads tempt you. There will be more & better sales with lesser crowds next year.
Delete any emails from stores.
It might be hard with all the usual XMas frenzy going on but you CAN do this! 😀
Good luck.

I am so tired physically and mentally.
What a week!
Then today I was out in town from 10:30am to 3:00pm.
Saw lots of people, had lots of conversations.
Was at the thrift shop and the clerk (my friend) and the reverend were discussing sales.
They put the entire store on sale for half off.
So much holiday stuff so I bought 5 scented pillar candles and a scented jar candle.
A large elaborate reed diffuser.
5 strands of shaped gemstone beads.
A large box of pine/fir/evergreen incense.
A tiny fabric toy duckie for Scooter.
A crossword puzzle book.
Cinnamon sticks for potpourri.
A bottle of cologne.
Box of scented talcum powder.
And probably some more I can't remember right now.
All for 10.50

Then when I was at the grocery store buying kibble and litter I ran into more people to catch up with.
When I came home I spent a few minutes talking with my neighbor and two horses and the dog who were all out for a walk.
Looking forward to a quiet relaxing weekend.

First post from my new computer!

At the library I was able to look up some manuals and help sites. I'll have to re-download the manuals, though, because it looks like there was a typo on the ticket re the Dell model number. On the computer itself is a different one.

But the manuals are just for occasional reference mainly. I made a happy discovery too that several of the software programs do come bundled with Linux Mint - my Firefox browser, the Libre Office, GIMP (like Photoshop) - main ones I will use. I will want Inkscape as soon as I'm sure how to download and install it.

At first there was a problem with connecting to the library wifi. Kept getting a "Server Not Found" error. So kept Googling different Linux help and trying suggested fixes. Finally, about the last 15 minutes before I headed home, Bingo! I got it to work.

So I'm at home and I've already successfully hooked it up to the wifi here.

I feel so sad for my roommate - she was even more excited than I was through all this, especially earlier today - and then a tummy bug hit her. So she has taken some medicine and I hope it works so she can share the excitement of all this again.

The boy kitty slept with me most of the night. So sweet.

Yay for new computer, CM. I hope it serves you for many years to come.

I had a pretty good day after a very busy and big week. I worked from home today and I got three loads of laundry done. I would've loved one more but I could tell people were waiting for it. I did two this AM and then when no one went down in the afternoon, I did one more quick load.
I got my bed changed! I haven't washed my sheets yet. I was trying to leave the washer free for the others.

I'm about to make a shrimp and pasta dish! I'm soooo hungry.

What are the chances I can do a no spend December?

Tillie, that's all so fantastic! Hope there will be more clearing out to come.

I had a 1979 Ford LTD from 1997 to 2011. Though by the last years it would've needed the engine rebuilt. I loved that car when it was running well. What's funny is I went from it to the infamous red Ford van.

The night I was dealing with the seller, my friend's husband was along for asking manly mechanical questions. I said something about how long the red van was. He said it was the same length as the LTD. He was right - 17 feet on both!

I've liked big vehicles except for when I first got my Camaro at 19. Eventually the Camaro was what made me like larger vehicles so much.

My Dodge Caravan is plenty big for this time in my life.

My phone rang a little while ago. I got excited that maybe it was the computer shop, but it was a robocall. Pooh.

I'm dressed, have fed all the furry residents, and am probably going to hang out at the library awhile until hopefully I get the call that the computer's ready. I'm restless - I know my location won't make things go any faster but I'd be close and could hop in the car and zip over.

It'll be different, I know, than getting another Windows machine - may or may not take awhile to be up and running. But surely I can figure this out between what I can learn reading - I joined a Linux users forum - or watching YouTube or whatever.

*Jiggles feet in excitement*

Wow!!!!! Congratulations Tillie!!!!! Wow!!! You did it! You made this happen! I know you are bumped and bruised and sore and I guess it doesn't matter because this is such fantastic news!!!! You did this!!!! You did this!!!

Yay roofer dad roofer son roofer son friend!!!

Yay!!!!

I am so excited about this!!!!!!!!

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
Sounds like a fun day at school, enjoy! ;D

Last night before bed I took some aspirin because I knew I would be hurting this morning.
It worked and I am not doing bad at all.

Found Scooter's mousie drowned in the water bowl again this morning.

Can't believe that I actually picked up, shoved and dragged so much hoard yesterday.
Also had to push an old Ford LTD across the yard out of the way.
It had sat out there for so many years it was sunk down into holes/pits at the tires, making it even harder to get moving.

The only clear space to move all the clutter to was the clear narrow path along the driveway.
Now it's really hard maneuvering from the house to the yard, car, road.
Steven needs to get out there and deal with all his "stuff".
I did my part. My areas are all clean & tidy. I helped clear space for the vehicles to get hauled out. I took care of the car title transaction.
Steven was always too busy? He was always in the garage saying he was "lookin" for something.
Something unnecessary because I would grab what we needed or the roofer would since we knew where our tools were.
I am hoping he was embarrassed by the state of things and that it's enough to motivate him to do something about it.
As you know, I can not make all those keep/toss/recycle/donate decisions because it's not my stuff.

9am here. Time to get dressed and go into town.
So happy today! ;D

SO HAPPY about the roof and the vehicles!

CM, I hope you like your new computer.

Planting mushrooms at school, today. Also starting hand puppets.

Then I washed dishes
hemmed a pair of jeans
and washed two loads of laundry.

Just so darned happy the roof is fixed and some derelict vehicles are gone. 😀

After I ate lunch I went back out and rehung my clothesline.
Then moved some stuff out of the areas of the yard that are mine, areas I keep up.
Then I swept the porch and walkway.

All done 😀

Now I am thinking about going into town tomorrow just for a change of pace.
Need to get kitty litter & kitty cereal anyways.

Would stop by the thrift shop too and talk to humans I know.

Hi CriticalMass
YEA! for feeling well enough to sit with your lady friend! 🙂

Yeah, a web browser then start adding your other stuff.

Youtube has a lot of videos by people explaining things electronic.
I use it often and it really explains things in ways even I can understand.

The Jeep and camper trailer are GONE!!
No longer cluttering up the property.

The roofer son and I moved heaven and earth to clear paths for them to be moved out.
I'm tired LOL 😀
Steven has a space to park the truck now that does NOT block in the car so I can come and go as I please.

A friend of the roofer's son is very interested in the old Dodge pickup.
Would be sold but Steven has "misplaced"the title somewhere...
But there are ways to get around that and he's looking into it.
Fingers crossed that truck goes too X

Oh yeah, the roof work is all finished 😀

Plus I have some wood from when the power company cut down those trees for me.
I offered it to the son since he heats with a wood stove and he will return to collect it.
Win, win all around.

BYE-BYE JEEP!

Woohoo!

I'm feeling better - took a longer nap than I meant to yesterday afternoon but it did me good. I'm going to be able to keep today's time to sit with my older lady. Had to cancel Tuesday because I was still coughing, blowing my nose, and exhausted.

Getting excited, albeit nervous, to hear soon from the computer place!

I guess the first thing to install would be a web browser, then install the rest of my software?

THE SON IS TAKING THE JEEP!!!!!!!

Now he has to figure out how to move a derelict Ford that's behind it so he can get that Jeep out.

Two fewer derelict vehicles/campers for me to have to maneuver around.
Fewer places for wasps to build nests!

HAPPY DANCING 😀

I have the pink slip right here on the fridge ready to finalize the deal. 😀