| Tillie | Posted: 19 May 2014 - 09:54 AM |
Lets see if a new thread will help solve some of the posting issues we have developed in the first, long running thread 😀 | |
Replies (2007)
| Dianne | Posted: 12 January 2015 - 04:43 AM |
Tat, it was a *hit the wall* feeling of tired by the time I got home. So now I'm up at 3:30 feeling uncomfortable. This old body forgets its limits when the mind is saying go! But I do love children and I was especially pleased that two of the boys remembered me from the games we played at Halloween and were happy to see me and show off their basketball skills. I'm so happy your mother is in more comfortable, pleasant surroundings! It's good for her health and spirits and good for you because you don't have to worry as much. It's nice for her to have a few pretty new things like the chair cushions and the little table. And really nice of you to reinforce her progress without pushing her. My daughter and son-in-law are looking at a much larger home to buy in their area. Five bedrooms each with its own private bathroom. A couple powderrooms on other floors. Massive rooms and the basement is completely finished including a kitchen and bar, exercise room, several entertainment areas and a small basketball court. The basement is a walkout to a patio. There's also a very large, screened and glassed covered addition off the breakfast room which, because of the slope of the yard, is almost 2nd story height. It has lots of beautiful outdoor furniture and a raised firepit thing to sit around. That has stairs down to the patio and overlooks beautiful parkland. They want Laura and I to move in with them. I know I have to downsize from this house within 10 years. But we have a lot more land here which I dearly love, several deck areas, a patio, pool and poolhouse. This is a very large traditional house where I raised my family. I don't want to give that up. But Tat, hearing about how pleased your mom is with her place makes me want to slow the pace of my life. I think in a couple years I'd like to have my daughter kind of take the reins. I'm tired. I had hoped at some point they would move into this house but they don't want the expense of keeping up the property. I would also wait til a few more of our animals have passed away. More are in the geriatric ages now and I don't want them stressed with a new environment. Of course it also means I would need to really amp up getting rid of things. My daughter's family are clean, clean people. After allowing myself and my other daughter to live a very relaxed life to put it gently it would be a huge adjustment for us to eat regular meals, always clean up after ourselves and wear clean clothes every day. Then there's the people. They are very social and I'm not crazy about......people. I like my privacy and their house tends to be the gathering place. Even more so with all that entertainment stuff available. I don't know. That's probably why I'm awake in the middle of the night too. I don't like change. But I think I need to accept that sooner or later it's going to happen. And I should be getting ready while I can rather than wait til the bitter end and have it be forced upon me. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 11 January 2015 - 08:49 PM |
That's a good type of tired feeling, Dianne. I bet you sleep well tonight ! Cushions are great. Look really nice and mom finds them comfortable. I also bought her a tiny table to go between her two upholstered chairs. It's a piece of garbage but I wanted to get something as a placeholder til I find something nice for her. It's the right size and height, and it actually looks okay, but it's a piece of junk at heart. I changed her sheets and took her bag for goodwill. She seems very pleased and I even got her to agree to donate a few decorative boxes (which I had purchased for her several years ago to put gifts in). She's pliable right now but I'm not going to take advantage of that. I'm just going to reinforce her progress. I picked up Kleenexes she had dropped and I know it's hard for her to bend. That sort of stuff. It was so nice and not crowded and so pleasant. I am happy for her!! Wishing you all a goodnight. Would live to hear from LR and Mel and Bitsy and Roxie and Diane and everyone else! If I forgot to list you, inadvertent. Trust me, I count you all as my friends! | |
| Dianne | Posted: 11 January 2015 - 07:46 PM |
Tat, it sounds like your mom is all set. Did she like the new chair cushions? Tillie, hope you feel better. After the daily chores my daughter and I went to spend the day with my grandkids. They have a new basketball net outside and we played with some neighborhood kids. I was surprised to see we had more snow than they did although they are a good deal further north. Then dodge ball and some other roughhousing after dinner and I was almost too tired to drive home. But the nightly routine for fur babies must be taken care of. This week I have no outside obligations and a lot of plans for inside work. take care ~~ | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 11 January 2015 - 05:59 PM |
Oh Tillie I'm so sorry to hear about your health. I wish I could snap my fingers and be there to help you out! I also wish I had the right words to provide you with the type of comfort you have provided me. You are gifted and sympathetic and practical and funny and supportive and I truly appreciate you. I think of you as part of my life, and I thank you for the important role you have played in getting my eyes open to the reality of my life. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 11 January 2015 - 02:42 PM |
Hi 🙂 Been busy ever since I got up, doing "stuff". Really want to get outside and do some winter clean up in the garden area. Prune some things, rake a little. Oh Well..... | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 11 January 2015 - 11:42 AM |
I slept very late today, kitty joined me in bed which is a sure fire sleeping aid! I am reading paper and doing laundry. I took another peek in my car trunk last night and assessed what needs to be done. Looked through a box of vintage dishes that I purchased and never took home (honestly I disgust myself sometimes) and I took another bag of my brother's shreddables (from how long ago I do not know) so I can shred and dispose of them. For a long time I've been taking his mail and essentially not looking at it. In his new place we have a very good system so now I'm working on the back log. I feel good about chipping away at the car trunk--thank you Tillie for issuing the end of year challenge. It made me think about what's left to do. Will head up to mom's in a little while to being her the new cushions and to get her stuff out for goodwill. Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday! Would love to hear from you! | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 10 January 2015 - 06:48 PM |
Oh Dianne, I recall that post (not as poetically, to be sure). Tillie I feel for you and your daily struggles. I saw Mom's place today and it is beautiful and the furniture is well-arranged. I bought her pretty new seat cushions for the dining chairs. I will bring them to her tomorrow. She told me she has a big stack of clothes for goodwill. She has a large pillow I bought for her bed many years ago, a big square European pillow, and I asked her if I should take it too, and she surprised me by saying yes, she doesn't put it on her bed any longer. Interestingly, what motivated her to ask her social worker for help came from spending Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve at my brother's house and seeing how neat he keeps it. Tillie you are right; people feel free to be difficult and mean to family members, but remember their manners when dealing with outsiders. She told me the organizers felt exhausted when they were done and mom said she had to sleep it off. I will go over tomorrow to get the clothes and pillow, and to change out her chair cushions (if she likes the new ones and I hope she does). I don't know if they threw out stuff or not, there were only three boxes left in apt and no papers strewn everywhere. No idea where they went and it doesn't matter to me! | |
| Dianne | Posted: 10 January 2015 - 11:57 AM |
Good morning to you, Tillie. 🙂 Going on adventures, exploring nature and seeing wonders with your husband years ago sounds very enjoyable indeed. Is there some tiny way you could begin encouraging him to do that with you again? I remember when you posted just before Halloween that he took you for a long ride in his *new* used car for a large grocery trip I think. You described the trip to us by saying you saw the old ruins of a pony express station, a herd of mustang, some deer at a crossroad waiting for you to pass so they could use the crosswalk. You said they were close enough to almost pet their noses. Then what was really even nicer, you said he took you on a ride to see the changing colors of the trees. And how happy you were to get enough food in for the winter. I remember so many details because I am always charmed by your descriptive stories and I remember thinking how wonderful it was so hear you so happy enjoying an outing with your husband! Some time before that you mentioned he had given you an iron bird bath (?) that you had been wanting for 20 years. Would he be open to a suggestion that he take you for another ride in his *new* car? Not for a destination, just to explore? You have such a poetic soul, wouldn't it soften him to see that delightful side of you again where the two of you can bond over the wonders of nature? {{{hugs}}} | |
| Tillie | Posted: 10 January 2015 - 10:42 AM |
Good morning 🙂 Hi Tatoulia 🙂 I have no idea what I will be doing today. | |
| Dianne | Posted: 09 January 2015 - 07:11 PM |
Tat, this is wonderful news!! I am so happy for you and your mother! Looking forward to hearing how she's feeling tomorrow. Have a good rest tonight. 🙂 | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 09 January 2015 - 06:42 PM |
Hello everyone. Big news: some if you may recall that I was being rather insistent and forcing my mother to decrease her hoard. I had some success, getting rid of over 1/3 of her books and made it so she had room to eat at her table. I then dropped it because it was too difficult. She was extremely uncooperative. WELL, her social worker (mom is 85 and in assisted living) arranged for two professional organizers to come over today and the email I got from my mom said " why don't you come see me". On the phone she was pretty cagey, because she wants me to see the place. Apparently the two organizers worked as a team with the social worker and mom. And they have offered to come every week or every two weeks to maintain. They did deep cleaning although her place isn't very dirty because she has a cleaning lady once a week. But now there are more areas to clean without stuff piled everywhere! She sounded really happy. And I think the weekly maintenance is a good idea. At 85, we don't need to change her behaviors, we just need to make sure the place is livable. She has no $$ so acquiring isn't an issue. She sounds happy! And thus I am happy. I would've never realized she was a hoarder without all of you here. Very pleased! I'll let you know how she's feeling tomorrow. In the meantime, I am dead tired and going to take a shower and make some dinner. Much love, Tatoulia. | |
| Dianne | Posted: 09 January 2015 - 11:18 AM |
Although we have bitter cold here the sun on the snow is brilliant and very much picks up spirits. I made it to the dump today with no problem. The dogs are rotating in and out with their coats. (The winter coats I put on them.) It's making a bit of a mess in the laundry room so I'll wait until later to wipe that down. Most of the dailies have been done. Washed tile floors, cleaned litter boxes, 2 loads laundry finished. I'll be cleaning 2 bathrooms this afternoon while my daughter goes thru some paperwork to toss or file. If we get all our tasks checked off for today we'll reward ourselves with a pizza tonight. 🙂 | |
| Tillie | Posted: 09 January 2015 - 10:55 AM |
Good morning 🙂 Hi Diane 🙂 YEA!!!!! Tatoulia for not clicking to buy!!!! 😀 I have been "doing stuff" this morning. All of you who are getting snow | |
| Dianne | Posted: 08 January 2015 - 08:37 PM |
Diane, I would love to experience frozen fog some time. It sounds mystical and beautiful. How did the party go? I'm so glad you have decided to accept the shy dog again. Ten days will be a nice, long time to get to know each other. You definitely have a way with dogs. His owners must be so happy to have found you! Tat, WOW!! Good for you deleting the full carts!! I am so proud of you! You are definitely getting the acquiring bug under control. I like the idea of shopping but not buying. 🙂 I got a decent amount done today with maintaining and laundry. When I go to bed soon it will be with that good, tired feeling. Although I made a dump run before the snow the trash bags are piling up in the garage. Tomorrow I'll load them in the truck and hope the tires aren't iced in. I didn't do any shoveling this time. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 08 January 2015 - 08:04 PM |
Hello everyone! Bitterly cold. Shredded some papers today. Bigger new/confession is this: Two nights ago got on Etsy and started to look for something. Before I knew it, I had about fifteen small, inexpensive things in my basket. Decided to pare down, so I did, then afterward I said, well it's good to know these things exist in the world and I deleted my entire cart without buying anything. Last night was on Lord and Taylor's site for something specific and next thing I knew I'd added two different makeup kits in my cart: one for me because I wanted it and one that I thought I could give as a gift. While there added something that was way marked down and then filled the cart with other great stuff at great prices. Unbelievable. And then I deleted the cart. So I have done some shopping, but have bought nothing. Close calls, though. I will tell you that this is the first Christmas that I didn't load up on a bunch of stuff for me, me, me. And I continue to tell myself no. For the most part not even having urges but did come close the last two days. Glad to hear from everyone. Great to read your posts. | |
| Diane | Posted: 08 January 2015 - 07:06 PM |
So great signing on and having my computer long enough to read your posts and hear all the support we all get here. | |
| Dianne | Posted: 08 January 2015 - 11:05 AM |
Tillie, deep thinking is always a rejuvenating, mind clearing process. The actions we take today, in awareness not just moving from one day to the next, determines our futures. Each day is new and fresh and gives us the opportunity to find joy in small pleasures and to gratefully use every resource at our disposal to make better lives for ourselves and those we come into contact with. Lifting all of you today in good thoughts!! 🙂 | |
| Tillie | Posted: 08 January 2015 - 10:29 AM |
WAY TO GO!!!!! Smaug 😀 At sunup today I hung a load of linens out on the clothes line to freeze dry. Cats have been fed and I have given them fresh water too. Been doing a lot of deep thinking, again. The time is today. | |
| Dianne | Posted: 07 January 2015 - 04:35 PM |
Smaug, excellent work on your bedroom! Being able to sleep in your bed will be such a reward at the end of a day and will give you the good night's sleep you need to continue your work the next day. Keep up the great work!! | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 07 January 2015 - 03:35 PM |
Smaug that is great that you are working on your bedroom! Sleeping in your bed will be wonderful! Keep plugging away--it took me several weeks of hard work to clean out my house and I'm still working on it. I honestly found it easier and easier as I went on. I hope you find the same feeling if freedom that I did. There were times when I felt the terrible weight and burden of my struggle with possessions. I know you will be relieved to be back in your bed. You are doing great work. Just pace yourself and eat right and drink fluids. You need to take care of you during this process!!! | |
| Like Smaug on Treasures | Posted: 07 January 2015 - 02:29 PM |
Tillie, thanks for the well wishes to all, I can use them. I hope that my bedroom soon becomes a clutter free zone at least to the point I can sleep in my bed. I'm planning on working on it tonight. I've done some today. Today I've moved the products I've recently brought into their spot in my stockpile in the garage. I can now step up to my closet. That's one step closer to being able to use my bedroom. I have not had a massive clean away day like you see on the show. | |
| Dianne | Posted: 07 January 2015 - 02:08 PM |
Welcome Visitor! Good to have you here! Tat, WTG getting that security system straightened out!! Years ago mine was all wacky and I went thru periods where *the little man* as I called him just would not be quiet. Every 30 seconds he would shout "INTRUDER, INTRUDER!" Professional fixes worked for a short time then he'd be warning of some major mishap. Finally I ripped them all out of the wall leaving wires hanging. I figured the dogs were security enough. 🙂 You did the best thing to bond with your kitty when you first got her. Mama love. 🙂 Aw Diane, that poor baby was lucky to stay with you. You have a quiet, calm household and he probably cannot bear the noise in a regular kennel. Did his owners bring any comfort items like one of their dirty t-shirts for him to sleep with? Or his own bed? It's great that he let you rub his ears. Ask his owners if he has any special *itchy spots*; places that he absolutely loves to have rubbed. If they go away often maybe they could bring him by your place for visits periodically so he gets more familiar with it. You are doing so well with the social party interaction! Keep your smile on, people love you! 🙂 And yay for getting Max for 10 days he is such a good companion for you! Tillie, continue to have fun with your sewing projects. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 07 January 2015 - 01:06 PM |
Hello everyone and welcome visitor! Diane I have zero experience with dogs but it sounds like you are doing a great job. I think the party will go well for you and I'm happy about Max coming over! Right now my cat is playing with a cotton ball and it is really cute. She was very skittish and afraid when I first got her, so I'd hold her up to my chest so she could feel my heart beating. It seemed to calm both of us. Tillie, you never fail to bring a smile to my face. | |
| Visitor | Posted: 07 January 2015 - 12:50 PM |
Diane - have you tried Wee Pads? They're for dogs being housetrained, or for incontinent dogs. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 07 January 2015 - 10:37 AM |
WAY TO GO!!!! 😀 Tatoulia My cats absolutely hate it when I do that too. 😀 LOL YEA!!!! for Max coming over! Diane 😀 Sounds to me you did exactly the right things with the pooper dog. Have a GREAT time at the party.;) I had a lot of fun yesterday playing with my sewing. TTYL 🙂 | |
| Diane | Posted: 07 January 2015 - 09:58 AM |
good job Tat, better safe than sorry | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 07 January 2015 - 08:40 AM |
Good morning everyone! Last night I changed all the batteries in my security system and it was very satisfying. I was nervous during it because all the beeps and chirps were driving kitty crazy. A few months ago I had to change the battery in one of the sensors and then this week one of the motion detectors started to beep and yesterday the giant back up battery lost its mojo. I decided to change all the batteries except the one I changed a few months ago. That one will be my "canary" and when it starts to chirp, I'll know to change out all of them. Felt good to have a solid plan and my scaredy cat has finally recovered from all the unpredictable signals. Hope everyone is well and enjoying their mornings. Bitterly cold here and am glad to be home. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 06 January 2015 - 12:39 PM |
Good morning 🙂 Still morning here, 10:30am. Oh Well..... Wishing you all the same freedoms some day soon from stuff and decluttering and long cleaning sessions that I enjoy here in my "No Clutter Zones". | |
| Dianne | Posted: 06 January 2015 - 06:29 AM |
Diane, you may stall about doing something you think you may do wrong but you always go ahead with it. That's courage and it shows the great strength of a willingness to make mistakes and learn from them. WTG!! Mel, good to hear from you! How did the clean-out of the 2nd bedroom go? Not as bad as you thought it might be, I hope. Are you feeling more at home with the kitties? | |
| Mel99 | Posted: 05 January 2015 - 04:32 PM |
Hi everyone, so nice to see all the good thoughts, comments and advice! I laughed so hard at the difference in vision. It's SO true. I experienced it when my brother and sister in law saw my house on Halloween. Tillie, great advice on clutter creep. I was noticing yesterday that things were starting to pile up near the front door. My boyfriend, bless his heart, hasn't said anything about it but I feel terrible like I'm undoing all of his hard work. Some stuff was stuff that needed to go to the car, so I took it out to the car. I have a box of presents I need to deliver. Some is being distributed this weekend and I'll be down to 2. Tatoulia, I hope your brother is still doing well. Very kind of you to help with his shredding. All rooms except our bedroom have been cleared out (on a basic level- there's still drawers and closets to sort through). I have about half a dozen boxes to sort through and we have about 3 boxes of paperwork to shred. My goal is to throw out or donate at least half of the stuff in the boxes. So I want to get at least 3 boxes of stuff out of the house. Weather is supposed to be rough this evening (very cold and snowy) so I'm hoping I can start on it this evening. Hope everyone is having a productive Monday! | |