Karl, interesting idea of the use of vertical space. 🙂

Ceiling project: take advantage of the ceiling hook in the corner of my room to somehow make use of vertical space. My tentative plan was to make a chain of plastic rings, but while I was at my storage unit, I realized that the kite string was an adequate mechanism, and much simpler. I wasn't sure what to suspend from it -- I'd been considering a paper shopping bag -- but when I finished off the last of the ice cream, I realized that the gallon bucket was a better choice. I chose the height so that it's out of the way while I'm sitting here to use the computer, but it's at about chin height when I'm standing, so I can easily access the contents. I'm currently using it for pens and pencils and a few miscellaneous desk items which had previously been cluttering up a horizontal surface.

Dianne, I was referring to a comment in Sunday night chat about my harshness. I do remember all the details you discussed in your post. I thought you handled the situation very well, my finality was after spending hours trying to figure out ways to help her succeed and then got angry when I realized it was futile, no way did she want to change. I know I have to watch out for reacting the same way when I hear similar stories now, not even knowing if current situation is different, just hear the same excuses and jump to conclusion.
Ok about my day. I did get all weeds sprayed, bugs sprayed, a few bugs relocated.
I lounged on deck and had some ice water and peanuts. One slipped over to the left side of my mouth. I had a tooth pulled there last year. The dentist either pulled the wrong tooth or broke the tooth in front of pulled tooth while yanking. I have not been able to eat since then without pain. I have lived on smoothies and soup basically. I did get a second opinion, that dentist said 2nd tooth must be pulled. Today with extreme pain I am motivated to write to first dentist and ask him to look at before and after xray and see if he pulled wrong tooth or broke 2nd tooth. I want to write just the facts and not appear harsh, and ask for a refund in either case. then will go to 2nd dentist to have second tooth pulled. I feel bad asking him to take time to look at my problem. Being reminded of my harshness 5 months ago, really was bad timing, but a good reminder to tone down my comments.

Hey Diane, I felt like I needed to address a couple of your comments. You mentioned Dave and I helping others then disappearing. I was only gone 2 1/2 weeks and gave a heads up in the Quick Check-In thread that I was going thru stuff I didn't want to talk about. My posts before then had gone from daily to once every 2 or 3 days but that was maybe a week? I didn't mean to worry anyone. You're right in saying perhaps it is easier to focus on helping others rather than work on our own problems. I can see that in myself and recognize that when I do it, it's a signal to look at what I would be avoiding. As far as Dave, or anyone disappearing, I just figure real life has intervened. I do worry and I pray that they will be well and maybe drop back in for an update but it's out of our control. When I first came here Tillie had been missing several weeks. MayMay started a post asking where she was. Corey got back to us and said no worries, Tillie was just taking a break. We all need one sometimes. Mine was family related.

I run a spider relocation program in my home.
When I find a spider I use a clear/see through glass and a stiff piece of paper.
Placing the glass over the said spider I then slip the paper gently under the rim of the glass capturing the spider inside the glass.
Holding the paper in place I then turn the glass upright and carry it to the door where I return the spider to the wild while singing "Born Free" to it.

craft rooms 😀

Dianne, I am so glad you are back. I really miss Dave, too, and hope he comes back.

patio gardens

Looking at pictures just to get some ideas.

hope this link works 🙂

Dianne, yes dave and you were people I was referring to who spent lots of time helping others with thoughtful comments, then disappeared. It is just too much to comment on everyones posts when we have so much to do ourselves. Perhaps that part of us finds it easier to focus on others and try to help them than deal with the difficult job of making our own life better since it is so unfamiliar to us.
This morning I tied up the raspberries, pulled more grass and flowers that take over, did same last night. Realized I don't have to transplant or give these things to others, just dump them, this is a first, I was ruthless. Wicked and it felt good. Drew up how I want upper yard to be, would like to bring rose and burning bush and one other small cute shrub up to upper yard to complete the circle, and one colorful plant from garden to edge. Not that much to do, have to get some good soil too. Decided to let 2 long areas of vines go this year and just keep the third. I had recently planted wild flower seed at the edge of my property, we are talking yards of flowerseed to water, that will no longer be watered, I just have too much to care for, and my decision was clear after chat and drawing up plan and looking honestly at upper yard and lower yard, it is a hoarders dream, too much of everything. Plan to remove some bunch grass from middle upper yard, may or may not survive at edge of upper, I do not care now, just want more garden area. My raspberries are what I love so excess clutter has to make room for my berries. When I tied them up this morning, saw some are blooming already, so happy. tied lilac bush branches over toward my spot so can smell them better.
Today plan to pound t-post into ground at end of wood pile fence so can stack more wood closer to where I bring it in to use.
Finish removing grass from raised area for flowers, upper yard.
ant spray under rocks upper yard, just discovered them and on an ant pile in back yard.
hang all sleeveless tshirts and dresses for summer I found in bottom of closet, very cute stuff
Try to talk myself into getting rid of clothes in closet that I rarely wear so there is room for cute stuff that was missing in action for 3 years, then won't have to dress like a homeless person
and todays big job is to spray weeds in back yard, driveway and back upper area, we are talking alot of weed spraying, no wind yet and almost warm enough so plan to do that soon before wind picks up.
Then shower and wash my hair, hooray, wash all that dirt and weed spray off, and maybe even curl my hair, to get ready for my handsome dog that will arrive tomorrow. I have alot to do today plus need to cook some good food, helps to have clean living area to refresh in!! So happy I am willing to do what it takes to change shameful ways. Oh, went to do dishes last night, was repelled, then said remember, once you start it will be ok, against all my instincts started doing dishes and it was ok, almost enjoyable, knowing I am actually learning new behaviors, thanks so much for the support I get on here. Lr loved your story about soccer ball, helped so much when I was tossing grass and plants last night, saying probably nobody would want this soccer ball anyway

My first to-do today was to get a wiper blade repaired. In the last snow we had which was wet and heavy I was in a rush and too lazy to scrape the windshield. I tried to force the wipers to clear it and ended up stripping the gears on the driver's side. Another expensive lesson.

p.s. I was reading some old posts and came across Dave advice. I really miss him.

Good morning, everyone!

Here are some of my goals for today: Work at least 15 minutes in my BIT book, add to my gratitude list, spend a minimum of 20 minutes on paperwork, pick up some groceries, get some needed photocopies made, and work on my written-out plans for the week. I usually would have done that already (the written-out plans), but I spent so much time on my outside work yesterday that I didn't even start on it. I expect to be at the chat tonight if possible.

Happy cleaning and decluttering, enjoying life, and whatever else your plans for today include. Hugs.

It's about 12:30 a.m. here. I just got back from the beach. Went for the day, 6 hours in the car but I love driving. Gives me so much time to think and plan.

Well, my day did not go as expected/planned. The weather was so windy and otherwise non-agreeable by the time I was ready to start my original outdoor plan that I decided it would have to wait for another day. I hadn't used that insect treatment before, and I wasn't too sure I could use it safely with such strong winds. Sometimes, even though plans don't go as planned, maybe they are actually working out just the way they are "supposed to." As a result of the change in schedule, I just happened to run into some old family friends at a store, friends that I probably wouldn't have run into had things gone as I'd originally planned.

I did get my laundry dried (yes, Tillie, there was an empty dryer just for me), got some other outdoor work done at that rural area I mention so much, met a neighbor I hadn't met before, and bought some TSP to use for a project later in the week. Before this evening is over, I plan to finish folding and putting away the laundry I dried earlier.

You all were ever-present with me as I did that outdoor work today. For the sake of speed and time (wanted to get my outdoor work done and then get back indoors before storms hit), I was tempted to drive on out to my work spot without taking a good drink supply with me. But no! I heard your voices from last night . . . "stay well-hydrated, LR." So I stopped off and bought a big sports drink to take with me. (Thanks for that.)

Diane, I like that idea of "practicing having fun." FYI, I decided I didn't need to set up a reward for the outdoor work I did today (since I changed the location of it). I enjoy the work at that particular place so much that for me, it brings with it a built-in reward. It's great to be able to work and have fun at the same time! (Whew, am I tired, though! But it's a good kind of tired.)

Have a good evening, everyone.

Hi Diane 🙂
Loved reading your post, so much truth and honesty expressed. (((hugs)))

Played hookey today.
The kitchen is a big mess, the bathroom needs cleaning, floors need sweeping/vacuuming.
Cats have been taken care of.
Just too tired so figured I better listen to my body and rest.
Beautiful day though, a good day for just enjoying 🙂

Good morning. Roxie chat is 15 minutes per person to focus on their issues, so the timed sessions help keep us focused on just that person, not our stuff or what we did in past, unless it is meant to help that person.
I was so happy to read the posts that said it is ok to just say what we are thinking about unless we really want to reply to something someone else has said in a post. Example: Dianne I think it is wonderful you have the money and willingness to hire help, and thank you for the kindness you have extended to me. I still fear hiring someone and having them judge me for clutter, how my previous repairs suck, how difficult it is to repair this old place because it is so old. I will get there, I know, just good to read your willingness to trust others.
So this morning I went out to my coffee spot,, trying to figure out how to simplify yard work. I saw lots of dead stuff in bush by my spot. Last year I cut, cleared 20 years of dead stuff out and got rid of all the spiders so I could sit there without getting bit It took over an hour but got it all cleared out, do not want to have spiders again. Coffee got branches and dirt in it, so came in to make fresh coffee, I make one cup drip each morning. Thought what the heck, check the board. Thought about the comment about me making harsh comments. I do make them to myself and others when I see self defeating behaviors and excuses. Kindness is more acceptable, but there is something about the shock value of blurting things out that makes me think, it has its purpose to make us look at what we are doing to hold us in the old behaviors. LR said she is staying out of other peoples business, and that is something that is important for me to learn. I do not have to endorse others excuses, nor do I need to wake them up. I think part of it is I have seen people on here that want to stay just the way they are, then after we invest time and energy in their recovery, they just leave. Others spend lots of time helping others, we learn to love them, then they leave. So I think it is a balancing act to not look for sympathy, state the facts, learn from others and take actions to improve our life. So today I am working on the fun of life. When I was trimming, it was work, I reminded myself to find fun in everything as tillie said. I then was grateful that I have the time to do the trimming, grateful there are no spiders in bush this year, loved the fact lilacs are next bush over. When it was fun, noticed that this bush is about to bloom, it has white flowers that bloom after lilacs are done. Noticed I was tired, came in sat down, read past two days on board, that was fun.
It is sunny and a good day to practice having fun. It might be a 2 smoothie day, since will be warm. Dog will be here Wednesday, hooray, so will clean up the area of yard that has all the comforts a dog could want. Do the few dishes that are dirty. Take at least 1/2 hour to visualize and draw how my ideal upper yard will be, and lounge on lounger while I drink a smoothie and focus on how blessed I am to have this group. Thanks to all

Good morning 🙂

Hi Roxie 🙂
Sorry I missed you last night.
We tend to be an outspoken chat group and would have no problem asking you to slow down a bit.
Please come to chat and share your wisdom with us. 🙂

Hi LR2014 🙂
Rewards are important to help keep us motivated and not fall into a slump or depression, you know, all work & no play type mood.
Hope the laundromat is empty and all the machines are available for you. 😀

About hiring help...
Most times hiring someone to do work for us is money very well spent.
Just because we could do the work ourselves does not mean that we should.
Hiring help to declutter, clean, organize, bi monthly maid service, garden/yard work, home repairs, you name it
is well worth it because it frees up our time to do other things and does not harm our bodies from trying to do too much ourselves.
Also, we are not all experts in everything and sometimes professional help is what's needed to get the job done correctly.
Also, asking friends or family for help can be good too, depends on the relationship.
When we hire help we are paying ourselves with time and freedom and less wear & tear on our bodies.

My plans for today are simple....
a general tidy up and animal care
need to clean the kitchen since I took yesterday off 😛
The weather forecast is for a lovely warm day and I think I will get out & enjoy it.

Have a great Monday everybody. 🙂

Good morning, everyone. Sorry I missed you at the chat last night, Roxie!

I did my goals yesterday except for the laundry. I figured the Laundromat would be packed yesterday, so I decided to wait until today for that task.

My morning goals are what I mentioned last night at chat: to go do some outdoor bug treatment before heavy rains hit. Diane, you have reminded me that I should think in terms of rewarding myself when I get outdoor work done. Funny that I do think to reward myself (and it really helps) for indoor stuff, but for some reason my brain hasn't thought to do the same for my outdoor goals. Thanks!

Hugs!

Well, I finally remembered it was group night, only too late. I showed up and a few were there still to chat. At least I know how to get there now.

Another rainy day. Where's my roap?

Hi to all. My plans for the rest of today are light. I've done a load of laundry that I plan to dry and put away. I plan to get at least a 20 or 30 minute walk (maybe I can walk while clothes are drying at the Laundromat), to eat a decent and early supper, and likely to be at the chat. The challenge will be to get myself to sign off early enough to get to bed at a decent time, since you guys are so much fun to chat with! Hugs.

Good morning 🙂

So nice to read all your postings as I drink my tea. 🙂
I have no plans for today.
Will do the usual daily maintenance and perhaps a wash load or two of laundry.
The wind has been raging here day after day, night after night and it really makes me tired and messes up my brain.
This morning is bitterly cold but the wind is not blowing, yet.
Still need to do the Spring cleaning and window washing and my garden really needs a lot of thinning out & weeding and there is a lot of pruning & trimming to do.
But I am exhausted and having a lot of arthritis pain.
Oh well...
I will do what I can, when I can and that will have to be good enough. 🙂

Wishing you all a great day and some happiness to all you mothers out there too.
"See" you all later in the Sunday night online support group. 🙂

LR, thanks for the perspective on hiring help. Sometimes I feel so guilty about that. Your logic about the time and expense, not just in terms of money but in energy expended and recovery time, makes so much sense.

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Good morning. Can you smell my coffee brewing? 🙂

Hugs

Hi to all. Hope you have all had a good Saturday.
I did do my goals for yesterday. I on purpose didn't set any specific cleaning/decluttering goals for today, because I planned to be out of town most of the day. (Went to visit a beloved older relative.) I did manage to run the dishwasher before I left.

Sorry, Tillie, that you wrote all that on Thursday and that it "disappeared." That would be so frustrating! I know you were sending loving thoughts our way, even if those thoughts didn't get specifically printed out!

Karl: Hope the game demos go/went well. Your comment about things looking more cluttered than the "before" picture reminded me of something: I think that the BIT book specifically points out that sometimes things will in fact look worse before they look better as we are working on our stuff. In your case, it sounds like you weren't expecting it to look "worse" for long. Regardless, I think it's something important to keep in mind as we work on our organizing and decluttering efforts. I think that we're less likely to get discouraged if we realize that that temporary "worse" state is often just part of the improvement process.

Dianne: I like that idea of having an area carved out, "even if it's only in my brain," to breathe quietly. Helpful image. Also, you bring up an interesting question of when to try to do something myself and when to ask for or hire help. One of my problems in getting certain things done sometimes is thinking I have to do it all myself. There are times I like to do something myself just for the satisfaction of finding out I can do it. Sometimes I do it myself because I'm too afraid or shy or whatever to ask someone to help me. There are a lot of times when it just makes sense to pay someone else, if I can afford it. Take yard work the other day. I had a big yard that needed to be dealt with. To mow and weed eat and do the cleanup would have taken me all day, and I would have probably been covered with mosquito and chigger bites that would have interrupted my concentration for a good two weeks (because of all the itching). On the other hand, the lawn guys I paid to do it have equipment ready to go. They can get in and out, get it done, and move on to the next customer in less time than it would have taken me to get more gas picked up for my lawnmower! I would have been so exhausted doing it all myself that I would have gotten little else done. Sometimes, it just pays to pay someone else.

Roxie: I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who has problems with those plastic gas can spouts!

Vi: Wow! You really sound like you're getting a lot done! Looking forward to hearing how things go with the 8 year old.

Diane: I love your posts! As for replying to everyone's posts . . . while I have been, for the most part, trying to do that, I am realizing that as much as I want to keep doing it, it's going to be pretty impossible for me to keep that up. One of the biggest reasons is also one of the best reasons: our numbers keep growing! I would eventually be spending all my day replying to posts instead of getting my organizing/cleaning/decluttering/living-life done.

Hugs to all.

Diane, I understand the tendency to compare ourselves to others. Just a week ago I was comparing myself to you when I found a steady leak in a basement pipe. I looked in a few places to see if it was coming from somewhere else and just running down the pipe. I knew, being a Sunday, plumber prices would be crazy expensive. I was so angry with myself for being so useless. I didn't want to post about it because I felt like people might think I was stupid and frivolous for spending the money to fix it instead of figuring a way to do it myself ~ at least for a day til the prices dropped. I was thinking about all you went thru this winter and how resourceful you were even with bad injuries. To me, you can do it all and I wish I had your abilities.

Your biggest gifts are your tremendous self-reliance, your handy-woman skills, your persistence, your self-knowledge, your willingness to put yourself in social contact in the real world and your ability to pull back when you're feeling overwhelmed. If we're going to compare, YOU are the one we can look to for attaining higher ground!

Good morning 🙂

Hi Diane 🙂
Nobody posting here has to respond to any other posters.
We can post however/whatever we want to say.
I started this thread just so people had a place to keep in touch with others by putting down in words things they wanted or needed to get out.
A safe place where even if you had a crappy day or got absolutely nothing accomplished, it is alright.
Many times just writing it down and putting "it out there" helps us to understand our own selves better, insight.
Often, it is very cleansing for the soul.
When we write out our dissapiontments, sadness, misery or pain, these problems get lighter.
Here, we are not all alone in the world any more.

WAY TO GO! everybody for what you have accomplished, for making plans and most of all for keeping on trying your best every day. 😀

After Tuesday pm chat, I did take a shower as planned. Got all dishes caught up on Wednesday, worked in yard all day. Yesterday I worked at a health clinic for a few hours then spent the rest of the day cleaning house and deck for a visit this morning at 9:30am. She actually got here at 9:10 as I was finishing cleaning this morning. I did a dash and stash at 8:30 for the things I could not finish. Yesterday I spent well over 2 hours going through 2 bins of papers and bills, tossing, or filing, also have a burn pile, papers with personal information.
I was able to have a visit with my friend and her dog without too much stress, although all week I worked like a maniac to prepare for visit. Her first time here, I will be taking care of her dog starting next Thursday, loved spending time with her dog, just so sweet and affectionate, although first dog I have had here that sheds. Vacuumed after they left, hair everywhere. they left at noon and I spent the rest of the day doing very little. I skipped class this afternoon, enough being around people for awhile.
I have not posted because I feel it is difficult to respond to all of the posters, and compare myself to others who do this so well, then feel bad. I am tired from all the cleaning this week, and appreciate how nice it looks. Ashamed of the rooms that have more junk in them. Did throw away a bunch of stuff. Had planned to place things in bag, place in car, wait a week----instead I said it is easier to just throw things away that I am not sure if good enough to donate. Trunk is still full of donations, will do when I go somewhere in car. Very windy here, rain on and off, getting ready for nice weather that should be here Monday.

Hi, all. I haven't read other people's posts yet, so I'll save my comments and cheers for later. I wanted to "check in," though.

So far, I've taken out trash (not just here but also at another location I have to deal with), washed and dried laundry (haven't put it up yet, though), did a little bit (just a little bit) in that bedroom I've been working on, and got a battery replaced in a smoke alarm. I have an event to attend early this evening, so I'll try not to be too ambitious with my goals for the rest of the day. I do plan to read posts, add to my gratitude list, and load some dishes into the dishwasher. I'd list more goals, but one thing I'm trying to learn to do is to be realistic about what I can and can't get done in a given day. I feel that I am making progress in that arena.

Looking forward to reading your posts later!

been making progress this week, earlier this week i cleaned out my room and have been able to keep it clean, the next day i cleaned out my son's room and the next i cleaned my daughter's and organized all the toys from both children's rooms, including separating the legos from the rest of the toys. I've started the den, but because my SO has been working from home all week i haven't made much progress. today he's a few towns away so i hope to make much more headway with the den. I've also been killing the laundry pile and find that I now need to thin the herd in that department. we all have too much stuff, my children included. yesterday I wrote my son a letter regarding his room and my expectations of his cleaning habits and his responsibility to himself and our home. he's 8 but he needs to start somewhere. tomorrow we're going to the new apartments to sign papers and get the processs started after we view the rooms.

I also need to clean the fridge and do the dishes today. work work work. I'm tired but it's so worth it. Last night my SO and I talked about how a minimalist vision is what we both want. And I so do. that movie, Finding Nemo has a character who's greatest line is "just keep swimming" and it's a great line, but it just isn't enough. I'm not looking to walk around someone else's town when I've got an empire to build. Good luck to all of you this weekend, and to the other Mommies Happy Mother's Day.

Good morning 🙂

The wind just keeps on blowing day & night. :/
It has my brain all scrambled and I can't get outside to enjoy the flowers.
The cats all try to go out but just come back inside after about half an hour.
Oh well....
Have a short list of TO-DOs for today.
Another weekend on the horizon where I wait & hope he will finally do something but I am not holding my breath.

Keep up all the GREAT work you all are doing!
Remember, even just simple easy tasks all matter in the long run and making time for you to rest, relax and enjoy life is so very very important too.