Hi friends,
I'm trying to get into the swing of things at work. It has been hard getting up early and getting to work on time. In the evening, I don't want to go out again and don't have a lot of energy left to do any cleaning up. I will just have to do what I can and try to keep from going backwards.
I paid the storage bill this afternoon for my unit just a few blocks away. I rent it to put boxes of things that I don't need right now but need to decide what to do with. They are things that would go into an outdoor storage shed (if I had one) like dog agility equipment and garden fencing, boxes of books and things I brought back from Mom's when we cleaned out and sold her house. I don't have a basement or attic in my small house and don't have many closets so things I can't seem to find room for are there. The storage unit is only one quarter full. When my house is under control, I will deal with the storage unit.
I hope to do a load of laundry tonight and catch up on dishes.
The weekend will be here soon.
I hope that all of you are doing well.

Good morning 🙂
Still morning here.
Got up super early and
watered everything outside
washed & sanitized litter boxes
washed Scooter's kennel (where he sleeps at night because in there is the only place he ever settles down)
raked and picked up lots of stuff
tidied up in the house

Last afternoon through the night we got a really terrible wind storm. Lasted for hours and blew so much dirt/dust.
The air was thick with all this dark brown dust!
Choking us and hurting our eyes.
Then the power went out and we were all closed up inside without even a fan.
This morning I tried to clean up a lot of the branches and sticks and leaves and put everything back where it belongs.

I just ate and now I am going to take a shower.
My work for today is done. 😀

TTYL 🙂

Hi everyone! 😀

Thanks Mare! 😀

Hi Karl,
Good luck getting rid of the rest of the fruit flies. 🙂

Hi Dianne! 😀

Hi Tillie! 😀

WAY TO GO diane! I'm glad today was better for you. 🙂

Nothing to exciting happened today. I did almost drop Snuggles though. Today while I was in my room, holding Snuggles, I accidentally tripped over one of my shoes; which caused Snuggles to go air-born. He's okay though. I ended up catching him before he could even hit the ground. Playing football with the guys has really paid off. LOL. 😉

Wow diane that is wonderful and so encouraging too. I can do this! WE can do this!

Better day today. I started on antibiotics. Had a hip replacement so have to take antibiotics before dentist can work on mouth.
I worked on clutter all day. I got through 6 bins of junk and only kept a tiny box of stuff.
the walk way is almost done. I had to turn sideways 4 months ago and now everything is clean and painted and organized, just a little more to do and will be complete. Instead of 1 foot, walkway is now at least 5 feet wide.
I just stood and looked in amazement, will take a picture tomorrow.
Dishes were done Sunday night, monday, tuesday
Thanks Tillie and Mare, yes I have spent thousands on my teeth over the years, felt comforting to read you have also had teeth probems.

MayMay you are always so cheerful, thank you for that 🙂

Dianne I can feel your pain and frustration so closely... I am sending good vibes your way and hoping for great improvements and I know how frustrating and difficult it all is. You are such a wealth of wisdom here, and kindness and encouragement. I am glad though that when you have struggle and down times you can share with us and lean on us for help and understanding. We love you... I hope things improve but I know the waiting and wading are not easy.

Depression and insomnia really are a pain in the ass, it seems we are in the same boat rather. My days and nights have been turned around but at least when I do go to bed I can sleep (too much really) and the racing thoughts are not as bad as they can get.

Rage on whenever you feel like it and we will always listen and try to be encouraging even if its just to say we know how you feel, we know how you feel, we know how you feel!

Hello diane... I know what you mean about the fires and smoke, my daughter's sister-in-law lost a house in Texas to the fires a couple of years ago and it does make us grateful for what we have and feel bad when we complain about the smoke, but smoke is also hard to bear. It seems to be always something... I get a headache whenever a pole cat goes off nearby haha. Skunk. On the other hand I love to see them especially when there are cute little ones following their mother as the cross the yard.

Thank you for explaining about your days and the clinics, I can understand that and getting used to it all just takes time. Good ole time haha.

I hope you can come and chat soon I get lonely and then depressed and the chat with 15 minutes chores reeeeaaaaaaalllly helps me a lot!

Hello Tillie! My to do's for today are:

Sweep and mop everything I can get to.
wash dishes and wipe counters
look at the boxes and bags - as bad as it sounds, sometimes looking at them is all I can do then out of the blue I am able to do one, twoo, three...
put the laundry away
wipe down all the wood furniture - this place is so damp, I am finding mildew in places I never knew it would get to, like inside the china cabinet this is going to be a royal pain!
I love that you said... This is my wish for you, that soon you can all have an easier home life. Less time cleaning and more time to enjoy yourselves. 😉

oh diane I have the same problem with my teeth and hating to spend the money... I had so much work done on them a few years ago and I am scared to death that it will all be for nothing and I will lose them all anyway, such a downer. I am more inclined to call the dentist after reading your post, thank you so much.

Karl its good to hear from you I love the way you keep us all informed. I hate those fruit flies and they are so hard to control. I hope to see you in chat soon you are such a great buddy!

I will be around today, in and out of chat, hoping to catch some of you there. I love you people!!! HUGS all around, and muchmuchmuch gratitude.

Good morning 🙂

Diane,
So sorry to hear this! (((hugs)))
Hate thinking about all the money my teeth have cost me too. But the pain and sickness makes us pay whatever it costs.
Hoping you can get an appointment right away.

Hi Karl
I hate those nasty little bugs. Hope they all go away and leave you alone.

how to get rid of fruit flies

Hi Dianne 🙂
That's the spirit! 😉
Keep pushing on till you get to the other side.

Diane and Karl, I'm there with you.

Only alternative is to let it get worse so here I go again working thru the sludge.....

I had an orange with my breakfast. As I prepared to discard the peel, I found that I had an infestation of fruit flies in the garbage. Yuck. I took the food-garbage to the nearest public trash; I didn't want to wait for the next curbside pickup. I imagine I'll have to do more to get rid of any remaining bugs.

I started to wash some dishes but gave up after just a couple of minutes. I still have bills to pay, and a work project, and mail to sort, and rooms to clean before the next inspection. Life is kinda sucky right now.

Not a good day. Gum has abses by back molar, had that crown replaced in January, for about the 10th time since I was a kid. I am so tired of spending my savings on my teeth. Looked online and there is no alternative treatment other than root canal, have to call dentist in morning, I am in denial, but pain is getting worse. Just such a bummer I do all my home repairs myself so can take care of myself financially in future, and teeth keep eating up my money. Went to lake with friend but came back early because felt sick. Have not accomplished anything since I have been home today, not a happy dance day. Just have to suck it up and go to dentist.

Good morning everybody 😀

Missed posting here yesterday but was running around here all day and got a lot accomplished.
Really enjoyed last night's chat. 🙂

WAY TO GO! Everyone for all you have been doing.
I know it is not easy physically or mentally but love that you are still working at it.
Little bit by little bit it will get done.

Maintenance is a constant thing. Every day/week/month there is something that needs to be done.
Today my To-Dos are...
sweep floors & porches
clean the bathroom
vacuum the carpet
dust
laundry
water the lilac hedge
kitchen is already clean

I will be finished before noon and my "no clutter zones" will be back to clean & tidy condition.
With no excess items in my way the weekly cleaning is fast & easy.
This is my wish for you, that soon you can all have an easier home life. Less time cleaning and more time to enjoy yourselves. 😉

Monday, the start of a fresh new week!

I caught myself dozing off at the keyboard several times tonight. Do I still have a sleep deficit? Or is it anemia from the blood donation? Anyway, billie and I did 15 minutes of buddy cleaning after tonight's chat; my task was to put away the clean laundry that's been sitting around in a basket since who-knows-when. One shirt needs a couple of buttons replaced, and there's a pair of jeans that needs a patch before the hole gets bigger... I'll have to find a separate place to put those until they can be dealt with.

Hello all. Dianne, glad you got it out, and hope it helped get you going on clean up.
I finished cleaning and painting the cement in the walkway outside. Molly is blind so stepped in paint pan, yep all four paws, I didn't notice until I saw paw prints everywhere, up the steps, on the deck etc. I cleaned her paws best I could but they are grey for sure. I like the doing, like painting, then I get to the point of frustration when I have to make decisions about organizing what I am keeping. Now, when did you say it will get easier to make decisions? Still not easy for me. Started filling up the 95 gallon garbage cart today, that was fun. Today the wind is blowing in a different direction and the air is clean. Have been suffocated in smoke from fires for 11 days, even the rain didn't help, but today is glorious, although too hot for me. So many lightening strikes and fires, so sad for so many. And I have the nerve to complain about smoke!!
The clinics I spoke of earlier are flu shot clinics I set up and go to in Sept. and Oct every year, only outside work I have been doing, and living on $736 Social Security, so glad I stopped shopping!!!!! I am feeling tired today and feel I have to get more done because tomorrow is "go to the lake day" so will have day off. Once the clinics start I don't have much energy for cleaning and decision making after being around so many people all day, so that is why I have been feeling an urgency to get things done. Especially painting, cause once I finish working 2 months, it will be too cold to paint out there. Apparently deadlines are what I need to stay focused and get stuff done, except dishes, oops, yep missed a few days of dishes and we have a mess in kitchen which is extremely tiny, so any mess is really bad.
Thanks again Tillie for all you do, and time our 15 minutes in chat, so more people get to share earlier in evening. I think I may write down questions today, so I don't waste my 15 minutes rambling.

3 Black bags went out today. washed the bin area, recycle bin too.

cook lamb roast and then washed up.

Just one, big, fat rant today.

That's pretty much it. The good thing is once I get to this place of tantrum anger it's a good amount of energy to throw into work.

Out all day, no cleaning done... Maybe I'll go into detail during the Sunday chat if I can't come up with anything better to talk about. I'm exhausted; going to bed now.

Hi everyone! 😀

WAY TO GO Karl! 😀

Hi Tillie,
Sorry to hear that the smoke was really bad last night. I hope it will be better tonight. 🙂

Hi Barb and Mare,
I prefer shower curtains too. The only problem with shower curtains is that they are able to allow wild dogs to sneak into the shower while you are showering. It happens to me all the time. LOL. Thanks Mare. 🙂

Hi Roxie! 🙂

WAY TO GO Kara! 😀

Yes I am rallying, today battling depression and anxiety with the new boxes but I am sure it will be alright. I feel so lonely today and that breeds unpleasant feelings but its all part of the deal I suppose. I can get through this and I don;t have to feel completely alone with all of you here, so I will do my best to celebrate that and take it one step and one day at a time.

Hoorah.

I made some real progress last night. I clear a surface !!!!!

Real please with it. I then slept all day.

Found another board where the chat room is open 24/7 and at least 3 or 4 people are in it at any time. It helps me with motivation. I am making daily lists for maintainance.

Keep going. I got myself a job cleaning my hoard 2 hours every day.

Just a quick hi. I am up but groggy. I ought to go to the cat shelter to help out today, but I really just want to roll into bed and sleep. 🙁 I've at least taken meds and brushed my teeth already.

Good day my darlings...
Barb How is the job? Don't worry you will get back on track with the decluttering remember to be kind to yourself and think positive thoughts, and remember we are here, too. I feel like its a group effort and when I have accomplishments it is joint celebrations, when I am down I get great support and wisdom from everyone here.

I find myself watching too much TV these days but I have cut down on the reality shows, they make me nervous hahaha. I still watch Big Brother and it runs the whole summer, I record it at least so I can fast forward the parts that make me antsy, and the commercials.

I'm glad you got to go with the guys MayMat, listening to you makes me want to go join the local Fire Department, put my boots on, and get back to that myself. Must concentrate on house, must finish what I started this time, must make steady progress!!!

Roxie... I am coming a little out of the fog today, still fighting it some but am feeling much better so will meet some simple goals today I hope.

Did you ever find out how the baby raccoon got in the kitchen? That is too funny, yes they are really characters. I used to do bird and wildlife rehab and it was so interesting to get to know the birds and critters.

I really get a lot out of your posts, thank you for taking the time to keep us all posted. Why does your computer keep crashing? I wish I could help I am good with computers but it has to be hands on of course. Drats!

Hello Tillie! Are you feeling better (reference the day the guys came and had to work inside the house)? You are such a huge encouragement to us all its good of you to keep us informed when you are having a rough day... this isn't coming out right... I hope you know what I mean.

Karl how are you and how is the clean-up coming along? When is the deadline again... next month?

diane you are doing so amazingly well! Creative Cottage says so much, yes. I love your spirit. I found something broken in a box today and you are right - easy to throw away and help in funny little ways.

Hello Susan!

Tillie how is the smoke?! Cough cough wheeze wheeze hahaha. My plans for the weekend are nothing much, just another couple of days but I have gotten a lot more comfortable in the new place and went to see the grandbabies yesterday so that was an accomplishment!

Its inspiring to see you post your progress diane... I get so much from everyone one here and feel like I don't really give much back ohwait I need to take my own advice and tell myself positive things! Hahaha.

Kara how are you doing I miss you. Ups and downs, ups and downs, we will be alright!

Its good to hear about your progress too, Karl... bathroom gunk is such a pain you just have to keep chipping away at it and resort to chemicals at times if you can tolerate them. Good old comet works well too for me and even gets some rust stains, hard to rinse off though.

I'm sorry I got so behind in here and had to go back but I enjoyed reading all the posts and catching up. Tillie you are such a joy and so faithful with the dailies.

I am with you re: shower curtains vs doors Barb, so true. My son-in-law got me a shower curtain... I had to not laugh when he put it up because its just a meshy fabric one, and doesn't have rings, its really a real curtain I think but I left it up hahaha.

Today I will work in 15 minute spurts to get kitchen boxes unpacked and go through a few others here. He is getting everything out of storage and putting it in his warehouse and thinks I will go over there to do them. Not.

Good work,Kari! You are making progress.
I found that I prefer shower curtains over shower doors. I can throw it in the washing machine on gentle/cold every so often and throw it out when it wears out.
I am glad the weekend is here. I am starting to get back into the groove at work. I was less tired yesterday. I am a person who needs the order of a daily routine and don't like change.
This weekend I need to:
Do one or two loads of laundry
Grocery shop
Clean the kitchen and bathroom
Pick up the dog yard and clean the cat box
If I can remove one trash bag of clutter, too, I will feel like I am back on track.

Good morning everybody! 😀

Diane, WTG! working the clinics. 🙂
When you get home the important things are rest and maintaining your clear/clean areas.
My Granma had a sweet little cottage on the shore of a small lake out in the country in Michigan.
When I am feeling at my lowest that's where I daydream that I am.

Hi Kara 🙂 you little sleepy head. 😉

Hi MayMay 🙂
The smoke last night was the worst yet. Had to keep all the windows shut. Went onto the porch to see if it was any better at 11pm and my eyes immediately started burning. Thanks anyways ;D

Hi Karl 🙂
WAY TO GO! scraping gunk and finding homes for some stuff in the "holding pen". 😀

Have absolutely no idea what I will be doing today.
Could ask him if he has any plans but he has been acting like a butthead so I'm not speaking to him. ;P
I fed all the cats & made my bed. Now time to get dressed, brush & braid my hair, brush my teeth and wash my face.
Hoping the wind will blow from east to west today and blow that forest fire smoke away.
TTYL 😀

I've failed at shifting to an earlier schedule; it's going on 3:15 now and I'm only going to get about 6.5h of sleep. Then eat breakfast and head over to the blood center to donate. I timed it so that I'll be finished there at about the same time that a board games event will be starting just a couple of blocks away.

Cleaning status -- well, I did spend some time scraping at the gunk at the bottom of the shower door. And I went through a few things that were in the "temporary" holding pen in the garage, and found a "home location" for them with the household tools.

Hi everyone! 😀

Thanks Roxie,
Yeah it was a really cool experience! WOW! A baby raccoon in your kitchen?!... That would totally freak me out! I think raccoons are cute; but if I ever saw one in my kitchen, it would totally freak me out! Great job today! 🙂

Hi Karl! 🙂

Hi diane,
Great job today! I love the name "Creative Cottage". You've now made me want to name my room too. 🙂

Hi SusanL,
Congratulations on getting your hearing aids. 🙂

Hi Tillie,
Sorry to hear about the smoke from the fire. I hope you will be able to sleep okay tonight. 🙂

Hi Kara! 🙂

tried de-hoarding wednesday
ended up sleeping all day today.

Thanks Tillie, am really enjoying the name,
Creative Cottage. I have always wanted a cute little cottage, so to name this Creative Cottage, is so funny to me. Not the cottage I imagined, tacky little room, with weird boards, with lots of holes that still need to be patched. By classing it up with a cute name, tickles my funny bone.
Finished painting a section of trailer, in walkway, then a huge thunder storm came and rained fast and hard, found a few leaks in walkway roof, now that junk is mostly out can see where I need to patch roof, seems never ending, good thing I enjoy it. Started getting clinics scheduled for next two months, hope work doesn't interfere with decluttering too much.

WAY TO GO! Karl for getting the trash out on time! 😀

Diane, "Creative Cottage" has so many possibilities and potential. A pleasant place to create anything and everything! 😀
I too like when an item makes up my mind for me by breaking, tearing or simply wearing out. 😉

SusanL
SO WONDERFUL! I am so very happy that you have hearing aids! 😀
(((HGS)))

I haven't done anything really today.
Tidied up, took out the trash, ate lunch & took a nap.
Hoping the smoke from that fire in the Tahoe area doesn't get thick here again. Has been worse at night and makes sleeping hard. Cough, cough, wheeze wheeze. lol

Hope everybody has some fun planned for the weekend. ;D

Hi all,

Self care - got hearing aids after postponing that for a long, long time. I've been missing both conversation and sounds in nature.

As always, inspired by your stories and struggles. You guys rock.

Hi everyone. I worked on walkway all morning. cleaned and painted a section of the trailer that is in walkway, then put up storage rack that I washed last night. Rack and wall are the same color, off white, looks good so far.
Tillie I actually did a happy dance in living room and in room that is insulated out there, my dog was wondering what was going on, she is better today.
I wrote a bunch of names for the room out there, and for now, she is named "Creative Cottage". Gives me unlimited possibilities for adventure in creating, so happy I am finally cleaning up areas. Still difficult for me to focus on just one area, so for now I am giving myself permission to do whatever I want out there in the morning then in afternoon, do some work in here. Now will make good lunch and do dishes. It was great yesterday, knocked over coffee so had to clean whole counter, under microwave etc.
I have dropped so many things that I was trying to decide if I wanted to keep, broken, easy to toss!!! I am getting help making decisions in funny little ways.
Sounds funny MayMay, thanks Roxie for kind words. Yes lots of us are feeling tired, took afternoon off yesterday, may do the same today, after dishes of course, my fav. Happy so many of us are sticking with this.