We have a little cow girl kitty, too? Oh so cute!

Great work roasting your pumpkin seeds and carving your . Jack o lantern!

I brought mom her clean dishes after my haircut. She's having bad stomach issues. I ran to the pharmacy for Imodium and ginger ale. The poor thing.

It's misting heavily and I'm soaked! I was going to visit BF but I was too wet. I'll change my clothes and see him in a bit.

Hi Tatoulia
HI EVERYBODY!!!

WTG! for laundry and a haircut!

Yeah, it's that time of year when I start to really enjoy those tiny tangerines.

I'm working on my shopping list too.
Sometime tomorrow I plan to head into town.
I will take the scenic back country roads and stay away from the deadly highway.

Jack-O-Lantern is all carved up and looks like a big angry demon cat.
Pumpkin seeds are all roasted.
Having the oven on warmed the place very nicely.
I should bake or roast something every sunrise. ;p

Are you going to sit on the front steps and hand out treats again this year?
I get to eat all the candy myself since it's too rural for kids to go door to door here.
I have Snickers and Reese's peanut butter cups. 😀

Jack had his canned food on the front porch in the sunshine at about 1pm today.
Little "Cow" girl cat came afterward and begged for some too.
She is so cute and sweet I can't refuse her.

Nine degrees, Tillie! Brrrrr! Jack what is your problem? We have someplace nice for you!!! I hope he will start going in there for a snooze.

I've put clean sheets on my bed. I'm finishing up laundry before my haircut. I took a quick walk down to the bank to get "haircut money".

I think I'll work from home again tmr. Hard to find the motivation go in. Plus it's Halloween and I'm not up for what that brings. Scary walking home in the dark. Although it is fun to see what everyone dresses up as. I wear the same pair of earrings I've been wearing since the 1980s. I'll post a picture on Instagram. Later. It's down today.

Okay I've run my dishwasher and I'm making a list of things I need from the store. I'm craving and enjoying my orange juice and want to get some more. I don't know if BF can do errands tonight. I think he has someone working with him tonight, which is unusual for a Wednesday.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Tatoulia
WTG! for developing routines and good habits!!!
That's the only way to keep things from getting out of control, backing up.
Plus it takes so much less time putting things to right than waiting for things to pile up before you tackle them.

Wishing I had some rain...
Been so very, very long since it has rained here.

Say "HI" to Mom's kitty for me. 😉

Was awake at 4am this morning.
Was able to fall back to sleep about 6am and slept till 9am.

9 degrees is so cold!
It's finally 22 degrees now.
My plan for today is to carve my pumpkin.

Jack sits on the door mat waiting for me to get up and feed him.
It's so cold and dark and he's sitting on the door mat, not in his bed that's right beside the door mat.
So I am not feeding him canned food in the morning any more, just crispies.
Trying to train him that I will not be giving him his preferred food until afternoon so he won't be sitting there in the cold dark morning waiting for me.
He still has not tried out his down comforter bed. 🙁

Oh Tillie that accident is horrific! Yes taking a left onto a highway would scare me too! I am so sorry to hear about the fatality.

SubC I am so proud of all you've accomplished! You did so much! So wonderful! I know that jumbled up feeling.

I am continuing to work on finishing. Finishing in a small way. Change sheets; put in pillow cases no need to say, I'll put those on later. I do that with the smallest things and. Is that I'm doing now, it's better. I'm building a habit.

Speaking of which, I forgot I change my sheets on Wednesdays. Must go do!

Bright beautiful fall day. Was rainy and misting yesterday, which I also love.

I have a hair cut tonight and I want to bring mom her clean dishes tonight. And see the pretty kitty.

Good Evening Anybody?

It was a good day, I think.
Cold & very breezy but sunny.
Cleaned the kitchen.
Did cat stuff.

There was a terrible accident out on the highway this morning.
One dead, one life flighted to Reno, several treated at local hospital for broken bones & etc.
Accident knocked down powerlines across the highway so traffic could not get past.
THIS IS WHY I HATE TURNING LEFT ONTO THAT HIGHWAY!

Good Morning Everyone

Subclinical
you really did work hard and long yesterday!
I know there are lots of other things you didn't list as having done too.
Have a fun swim and I really hope you have time to work/play in the studio too.

< clink >

Ellie, where did you go?

I worked really hard yesterday.

I made some cheese. Mostly I dumped out a bunch of sour milk that had gotten lost at the back because I have not been rotating jars properly or making cheese.

I washed all the cheese making stuff and most of the jars and dishes.

I made another applecake for the freezer (I have 4 frozen now. I will need at least two for Christmas. Any that don't get pulled out for guests at holiday time will be winter treats for us.)

I put clean sheets on the bed and got the dirty laundry down to "fits in the hamper".

I emailed a parent and did my lesson plans for today.

I cleaned out my car from the sale.

And I threw 18 little cups. I will probably smash half of them today - I was out of practice and it took me most of the time to get back in the groove. I squooshed about six on the spot. But I am also out of practice footing, so hopefully I will get back out there before school this morning and do some of that - I will start with the worst ones until my hand gets steady.

And still my house is a mess and my list gets no shorter... I had to fight the chorus in my head that wants to list all the things I didn't do the whole time I was typing that.

Dh is having a rough week. Last night I had leftovers and he had a frozen dinner. But we had a nice fire in the woodstove. It got up to 70F in here.

Today I teach, and swim with dd1, and return some stuff I borrowed from school that is on my dining porch.

And put the new jars of milk at the back.

Tatoulia
By using the lamp consistently starting now WILL help.
There may be no difference now but in January and February there WILL be a noticeable difference.
Your brain will thank you. ;D

Good Morning Everyone
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical
Wishing you a pleasant less hectic week. 😉

Hi Tatoulia
YEA! for having a livable home!!!

Yes, there is a big misconception as to just what organizing really is all about.
So many companies/businesses are out to sell people those color coordinated "organizing" solutions that are just a waste of money and just add to the clutter.

First we must declutter.
Then find good storage solutions for what we are keeping to use and enjoy.
A great example is your linen closet.
You decluttered then you organized.

You can not organize a hoard.

Subclinical has been doing a great job where she cleared clutter off shelves/areas then put back only what she uses/needs and truly wants.
Making it easier to find and use her things.

This way all our things are put away in a personalized manner.
The best way for our own ways of living.

That breeze, it's coming directly down from the north.
North pole to Alaska, through Canada, to here.
9 degrees over night, highs of maybe 40s.
Good thing is the breeze is not coming from the west so there is no California wildfire smoke.
Next week is supposed to be a little warmer.
This week it will be too cold most days to hang out laundry.

Taking the day off from cleaning today due to back/neck/shoulder pain from cleaning yesterday.

Good morning!

Enjoying a cup of coffee while I use my therapy lamp. Is it working? Who knows. And that's the beauty of it. I'll be able to tell if it's not working but I won't notice if it is. Many years ago I went on anti-depressants and I remember walking around, doing an architecture tour in the Fall, and all of a sudden my face and cheeks felt so heavy and I felt so pointless. And it was then that I realized I used to always feel that way, and that the medications had been working. Pretty eye-opening for me. So I suspect the lamp will work in the same way. I'll only notice if it doesn't.

Laundry today. I'll go downstairs and see if anyone is using. I also have a really large number of items for the drycleaners.

So, what are you doing today?!?!?!

I can relate to that, Tillie, except I find my house more livable in summer when it's clean. Actually it's just plain livable now.

SubC I'm glad you found the socks! We all have those days where the things don't get done. I have so little to show for my today. I just got back from mom's and I brought back her dishes. I'll run it in a few minutes.

I never considered organizing, Tillie, because for a long time I equated organizing with churning. My idea of organizing was to get things to be stuffed in better. And I note on line that organizing often means a ton of color coding and lots of stuff. But I need to remember the great job I did on organizing my linen closet and a few shelves in my bedroom closet. And my underwear drawer remains a simple, easy place for my things instead of too many and all mashed together. It is definitely time for me to organize because I need to see that a few of my things have easy, logical homes. And I have enough fewer things to make this happen.

Yesterday it felt good to get those goodwill bags out of my car.

I am not having cleaners this week. I was trying to justify again this week but the cleaner herself recommended that we do every other week. This way we are calibrated with the people upstairs. Somehow we'd fallen out of sync.

Ok time for bed. I did a lot of sleeping this weekend.

Good Evening Everyone

Hi Subclinical
YEA!!! for finding socks!
WAY TO GO! for making some spots a bit better and for a clean entryway!

Hi Tatoulia
Sounds like a pleasant day for you except for getting all cold and wet.

Bitterly cold day all day here but we had lots of sunshine.
The wind started last evening, it's not bad just brisk and that is what has brought in the cold temperatures.
So much easier to be all closed up in the house when it's clean. LOL

Good job on the thorough cleaning, Tillie! SubC glad you have done your decorating! And have a clean, lovely, lovingly-made coffee mug.

Rainy and windy autumn day here. I spent just under an hour at mom's, while she enjoyed breakfast. Then we went out some Halloween cards. I did get her basic groceries but I was soaked to the gills and cake back here to shower, make later lunch, then nap. Now I'm up and I'll get dressed and take mom's things to her.

Very dark and stormy here!!!m
I love that you made Jack a shelter, Tillie. He will use it.

I did not make cheese, or ice cream, or applecake, or work in the studio.

But I found dh socks and the entryway is clean and some other spots are a bit better.

Did a lot of cleaning.
Bathroom.
Floors washed, carpet vacuumed.
Washed under both sinks.
Wiped off a lot of areas & things like door knobs, light switches, window sills, door frames, doors & anything else that could be wiped off with my scrub water.

Tomorrow or later this next week I plan to Murphy's and Pledge kitchen cupboards, ceiling fan, light fixtures and furniture.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
Happy you have a clean mug and a warm kitty.
Have fun with your plans for today.

Scooter kept cramping up my legs. Every time I would roll over he would plop right back down on them, so I just got up.
5am, 17 degrees, sun not up.
It was 62 degrees inside so my winterizing is good.

7am now and it's just starting to get light out.
Soon I'll get up and start cleaning house.

Well, things are far from under control, but we have one clean orderly room with some holiday cheer and a wood stove, and it is the room we spend the most time in.

Tillie, I think that was a very nice thing to do for a cat who isn't Even yours. 😉

Tatoulia, how wonderful that the visit and party went so well!

I'm drinking my coffee from a nice clean mug. It was a happy discovery in the bag I chose during the gift exchange at a studio Christmas party. It was made by a woman who has taught me a lot over the years, is a soft soothing blue, and feels good in my hands.

I meant to sleep in this morning, but my body refused. So I am relaxing on the couch with mr.kitty, who prefers to come in at 5 for his cereal and morning nap anyway.

Good Evening Everybody

Hi Subclinical
So happy you got things under control and have decorated!!!
YEA! for using your pumpkin bowl!
Get a good solid night's sleep (((HUG)))

Hi Tatoulia
The party sounds WONDERFUL!
So happy you and your sister had a very pleasant visit.
Your home is so clean and peaceful because of all the things you have done to make it so.
Does not matter one bit how you have achieved these results.
You DID it! ;D

The vitrine has gone to it's new home where it will be appreciated.
You were going to sell it, better now that you know how it's being loved.

Get a good night's sleep and don't accept any viruses.

I took a big plastic storage bin/tote without it's lid.
Lined it all around inside with a down filled comforter.
Set it on it's side on the back porch beside the cat tree out there by the food & water bowls.
So it's in a sheltered area Jack is very familiar with.
Jack is a cat. He might sleep in it, he might not.
At least I have provided him with a very nice & warm bed, that's all I can do. ;p

Tomorrow's plan is to do some actual house cleaning.
Now that the house will be all closed up all the time having it cleaner will help.

SubC, great job getting the day turned around. Very good job!

Tillie it's hard to believe that the weather has turned and it's time to start keeping the kitties inside. I'm sure Jack will find a safe place to keep warm.

Well, mom's birthday party was an absolute success! It was terrific! Terrific people came, great conversations and we had just enough cake! I distributed the remaining cookies and ice cream among the residents. We left sodas and a few of the juices. I took the rest of the juices and waters home. So much fun! The table looked very nice. There were a rotating group of ten, I would say. I invited a young law student and she stayed the whole night. It was delightful in every way.

Time with sister was fantastic. No tension. Even after we came back here and I made up her bed, I sat in a chair and we did girl talk while she lay in bed. It was very nice. She slept well. I could hear her snoring.

Guess what? Two things. One: she said she's never been in a house so clean. Not that she's never been in my house when so clean, any house. She has no idea of the filth I used to live in. She's only ever seen the house in the years before and then now. She loved the decorating and said how peaceful my home is. It was really nice. The other big thing: she saw the vitrine in my kitchen (the one I tried to sell) and she said how much her BF would love it and I said great, take it, and give it to him for Christmas. So she took it! I'm good with it. I haven't minded it since I cleared it out significantly but it's gone. It hurt a little but I was ready to sell it a few weeks back. So the right thing happened.

Oh! I did not mention that I have cleaning ladies. Just enjoy my clean house, people.

So: Now I need to work on those things in the kitchen. In the meantime, I'm thrilled I could make her BF so happy. She of course gave to him right away even though I said to say it's from her and to wait til Christmas. And he said how it is priceless and he loves it. So see, it found the right place to go.

Oh and I took four huge HUGE bags to goodwill today.

I'm feeling a bit under the weather and will go to bed now. Sister has a cold and so I may be getting a bit of it.

My desk is cleaned up and the new room is cleaned up except for a bit of the kitchen.

I rewarded myself by finding my Halloween box and putting out the new tablecloth I bought on sale last year and moving the fruit to a pumpkin bowl that I made. I also hung the ghost from the chime on the porch.

Mr. kitty's bowl was behind an open French door. - which can now be closed.

Tomorrow I'm going to make cheese. I might also make more applecake and ice cream, or I might work in the studio. My worst clean up task right now is the laundry.

I'm heading to bed early tonight.

Good Afternoon Everybody

So nice, cozy and relaxing having a fire burning with homemade soup and sour dough bread.
GREAT use of your time grading papers while sitting at the sale.

WAY TO GO! hanging up stuff and starting the dishwasher.
Hopefully tomorrow morning you will be drinking your coffee in a clean cup and Mr. Kitty will have his bowl back from where ever he put it.
Just do the absolute necessities tomorrow, don't push yourself too hard.
Get a good night's sleep and catch up on all the rest you need for the week to come.

Last of the warm days here for a while so I have both cats outside.
I did all the usual stuff like cat things but not much else.
Got out some more warm cat blankies.

Thank you.

Snuggle Bunnies!

I have hung up the seven items of outterwear that were thrown on the couch (weather has varied) and started the dishwasher.

Helped dh bring the fountain back inside.

He washed windows and cleaned off all the wood stove associated items and brought them in. He made a little fire for coziness and wants me to clean up my desk next.

The sale went ok. I checked papers while I was sitting there, so good use of time.

We have home canned (but not by me) veggie soup and sourdough bread for dinner. 🙂

Trying again, you may have to click on it

Bunny Hugs

First, this - hope the link works:

Dear Subclinical ((((Bunny Hugs))))

You need a time out. Time to rest and breathe.
You're just spread too thin, not enough of you to go around.

You are just hemorrhaging all over.
I so wish we were nearby to come comfort you and give you first aid.

(((((more Bunny HUGS)))))

SubC, thank you for the painful and candid post. I am just so sorry. You are handling your situations with grace and care. I too am "on" at work and it is exhausting. I admire you greatly. I'll yell at you some other day about the gash in your arm. Right now, I just want you to know that I heard you, I hear you, and I'm here.

Sending peace and love.

Good morning friends.

Ellie, that means you too! I am glad you are here.

CM, it is good to see you posting more.

I feel like scooter singing to his drowned mousie.

I am down to my last clean coffee cup. I am a potter. I collect other people's work. That is a lot of coffee cups. All the wine glasses are dirty (2 people, 8 glasses, hand wash)

There are drifts on the floor in the bedroom, bathroom, scullery, entryway, main hall, dining porch, all three "guest" rooms and the new living space. One guest bed is buried in clean laundry and I can only find two pairs of dh socks.

Mr. kitty had his breakfast in a dirty coffee cup - I don't know where his bowl is. He pushes it around and it apparently got lost in a drift. But there was a time "before" when I left the kitty cereal bag on the floor and cut a hole in it. It is not that bad.

Dh has been doing all the cooking.

The only new stuff I have brought in deliberately is a pottery piece I bought at a gallery I walked through on my way to buy stuff for my class (my mom sent me a check for my birthday and she always tells me to please treat myself and not spend it on stuff that s just practical)., but there are also boxes I carried things home from school in, partly finished class projects, unchecked assignments (i'm Afraid I will lose some of those) materials I have used to teach, and materials I pulled off of shelves or out of closets looking for things I needed to teach. Plus food packaging. When dh cooks he buys a lot more packaged food and he brings it home in plastic bags.

I have a sale today and it is forcing me to realize that I have not worked in my studio in the month since the last sale.

The eggs in our classroom incubator are due to hatch on Thursday, and then I will have baby chicks to care for.

I have over a month of receipts for class expenses I need to turn in before I lose them.

I have a rat problem in the barn. My dd1 was in a car accident and is fine, but her car is totaled. My friend's son has his hearing a week from Monday. My parents won't be able to visit this fall due to difficulties and I don't know how I am going to go to see them. Those are my top three, not my list.

I am always "on" at work. Yesterday I was being the "glass half full" half of a conversation about some problems with our building, and the director asked me "is it always butterflies and rainbows in your world?" My copies had just finished and I grabbed them, called out "I have R in my class and love in my heart!" (R is a tiny little darling who has "love in her heart.") and made it to the empty hall before I started crying. I got myself pulled together in the bathroom before class.

Later I had a class doing a project outside and managed to slice my forearm (about 4 inches) on a broken plastic lid. I yelped and they asked if I was ok. I looked at my arm and my class, made the split second calculation that it would stop bleeding and I was the only teacher outside, said "yep!", pulled my fleece sleeve down over it and went on. I had to go wash my arm in the bathroom between classes and the inside of my fleece sleeve is covered in blood. It's very sore today.

That is how my life feels right now. Like I am quietly and cheerfully bleeding with no one to ask for help.

When I get home from the sale, I will run the dishwasher and start putting away laundry. Keep the badger. Send the bunnies!

LOL Tatoulia 😀

I understand it's a strange concept for you
but what you are doing is called
organizing.

Getting all your things put away in logical easy to get in & get out of places in your home.

It's a real time saver
not to mention how much easier, simple, less complicated and a lot less frustrating your life can be.

Keep up the GREAT thinking, plotting and rearranging to get your spaces organized! 😀

All finished getting the stuff winterized.
Temps going down into the 20s over night then down even lower next week.

Hold on tight, Tillie, I'm thinking about creating a catch phrase, like everything in its place and a place for everything.

Seriously I am looking at it from the other side and I'm feeling good. I've been getting rid of stuff because I have too much but now I have to think about making my life more useful. Again, I don't have a patent yet