Good Morning Everybody 🙂
"Clink!"

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
My fingers are crossed that you can find the right replacement parts and fix your car.
About cleaning & organizing when worrying...
It truly does help when we do what we can do while worrying about the things that we can not control in our lives.
It lets us feel in control of some aspects of our lives in this chaotic world.
(((HUGS)))

It's cold here, 11 degrees this morning.
I want to wash my hair but not until we get a few more degrees. ;P
Maybe this morning I will go out and light the burn barrel.
It always gets nice and warm around the barrel as I add more random dry branches to the flames. 😀
Best to do this before hair washing because I always smell like wood & paper smoke afterwards.
My headache returned yesterday so I didn't do much of anything.
This morning I am feeling so much better. 🙂

~Greetings & green tea clinks!~ 😀
My car needs another transmission & im terrified they wont be able to find another one & ill be faced with having to buy another car. Ive had this car longer than most relationships with living beings. Its my life cartner! Plus, the expense would be difficult...making me worry about money again & whether or not i can afford any building projects, hiring help, unexpected health cost, etc, the fact remains that itd cost almost nothing to clean this disgusting place & i know that....(sigh)....as long as i dont live to be too old, i can survive on what i have...i hate being scared about money...why cant i be like other virgo risings & clean & organize when im worried? Geeeez....that is clearly what i need to do..i just need to get set up & just do it....rant over...ha ha
~♡~Love to all you lovely friends!!!~♡~

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Had so many plans for yesterday but woke up with a headache that will never go away.
It's not so bad this morning and I hope it continues to fade.
So very cold here, wish it would snow at least.
Been far too long since we had any precipitation.
I think this cold dry dusty air is the reason my nose keeps bleeding.
Time to start crocheting, bought that yarn this past summer and holding it on my lap now would feel nice. LOL ;P
Problem is the cats would like to have the yarn project to burrow into and the ball of yard to string all around the house.
And Marty insists that my lap is for him only and not for computers or any kind of projects.

So, what are you all up to?
Any plans? Any holiday stuff going on there?

Happy Afternoon! 🙂
Green tea with fresh squeezed lemon "clink!"

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
How did your puttering go? ;D

Hi Joan 🙂
Wishing you great success with this new remedy.

Been doing a bit of cooking today.
Mainly to warm up the house with the oven on.
Made brownies & butternut squash & sweet potatoes & sautéed mushrooms & sautéed zucchini with parmesan cheese.
Next few days I won't have to cook anything, just eat. 😀
Cleaned up the kitchen.
I keep up with it by washing up as I work so it doesn't all pile up.
Makes it easier.

Hi Tat!

I am happy Thanksgiving is over. With less than a handful of people that even know my name, most of them health-care providers, the holidays make me very Grinchy. As if I weren't already. For some years back in the 90s, my outgoing voice mail message was, "You have reached the home of the Grinch. The Grinch has been known to BITE those who leave messages. Leave a message at your own peril."

Today the future is looking brighter. I stumbled onto a remedy that helps with the biting a week ago Sunday. The remedy is especially effective for those who "hate people". HAH‼️

My house is really getting difficult to live in. If my improvement continues, I am hoping some of it will clean itself up. When my mind clears it happens spontaneously. If my mind doesn't clear, I do the minimum to survive. Biting makes it impossible to do anything, so if I have biting, may as well be as comfortable as I can be.

Enjoyed all the posts, Tillie, CM, SubC.

CM your long post was like a visit!!. You are certainly weathering the storm of your car damage--good for you to stay calm. I love the story of the friend staying with you. You found time!!! I hope this matter can be settled easily and swiftly. I know what it is like to be on a budget with razor thin margins! Congrats on your quilting progress!!

Tillie! You and the kitties had a Wild Kingdom moment! Wow!!!

Anony, SubC, and everyone else--I am thinking of you! Special shout-out to Joan, who is never far from ny thoughts!

Recycling is out. Going to put on some music to putter by!

Forgot to tell you all about a wonderful thing that happened this morning.
A band tailed Hawk caught a Quail right out front in full view of the living room area window and Scooter and I got a front row seat to watch her eat her breakfast.
I love my sweet silly little covey of Quail but I do not begrudge the Hawk her meat. 😉

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
Thank you for the lovely long post filling us all in on your life. 😀
What a wonderful friend to come sit with you while you waited after that accident.
Mark Twain said something like he was always expecting the worst so he could be pleasantly surprised when it didn't happen.
I too have to wear cotton clothes, I know the misery of synthetics.
It is very easy to insert a pocket into whatever dress you like that doesn't have any pockets.
Budget wise, all my dresses come from the thrift shop and at most cost me five dollars.
WAY TO GO!!!! for that quilt being done to the point of being quilted!!!
YEA!!! 😀
The new bunny is very lucky now to be in a good home.
My kitties that were starving before I got them have never gotten over needing the reassurance of a constantly filled bowl.
Even when there is still some kibble in the bowl, if they can see any part of the bottom of the bowl they start voicing their concerns very loudly. LOL ;P
Happy the cats are cold enough to still snuggle at night. Mine are too.
I too have a cataract starting. Lets both not worry about it until the ophthalmologist tells us to.
Remember to check the cost of new eye glasses at Walmart. So far it's the least expensive place I've found and my frames are sturdy and the prescription lenses always correctly made.
OH YES! you MUST make that gingerbread Tardis!!!
Please, please, please! 😀
A good way to process fears & worries is to set aside a small set time where you think only about the worry/fear.
Like meditating, but only thinking & pondering whatever is troubling you.
When the time is up you go about your daily business knowing you have dedicated enough time to senselessly worrying about things you have no control over. ((((HUGS))))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
YEA!!! WTG!!! for cleaning the bathroom and doing the laundry 100%.
Good luck with the never ending stash of recyclables. 😉

Hello everyone! This may be a long post.

It's good to be back though. Some new and some returning people - hi there KSF & Theresa! *waves*

Monday after the van incident I was pretty wiped out. It had been such a shock. And a wait for my mechanic to get to me from the opposite end of town. One of my friends came and sat to keep me company awhile; that was nice. She's busy like me and we'd been talking about finding time to get together, LOL! We didn't specify the circumstances.

Today the adjuster from the other gal's insurance came by and looked at the van. I need to call the person at the company HQ also, which I shall do upon finishing this post. It's possible they total my van, and I'm able to pay for basic repairs - cosmetic not necessary - and even have a little to keep. That's best-case scenario. In my life, I'm learning to keep my expectations low, because I don't deal well with disappointment. But we'll see. It could all work out.

I've very little money at the moment due to having to pay part of my mechanic's cost to pull the fender/bumper out from by the tire. So if I get a settlement it will make this a much better month. And he is also our repair guy so progress is finally about to happen on getting our furnace fixed - there was a part that had a recall because it was unsafe; one is coming from a different manufacturer. That was the holdup.

I did get a chance to read back through posts - Tatoulia, sorry about the mirror but glad no one was hurt and it wasn't one you treasured. And WTG on the dishes! 🙂

Tillie - sounds like a nice wardrobe of dresses you have - not too many or too few. I am a blue jeans gal and a sleeveless top/shorts in the summer type. But I have been thinking since my weight loss if I might want to get/make a few dresses or skirts. I overheat in any type of synthetic fabric, and I MUST have pockets, so I may have to sew to get what I like. We'll see what the time and budget permit.

Anony, wishing you all the best with your family. It's good to be proactive as you are doing. I've heard that with difficult families it's a good idea to have an exit plan if you go to their territory. If they come to yours, do you feel confident you'll be able to eject them if they outstay their welcome?

And isn't it great to have that staging table. They help so much. I'm going to be pulling clutter from my room and doing a card table in the living room sorting place to deal with it. It'll take more than one session - the room has reached (wait for it) Critical Mass! LOL! Seriously, I am tired of how it is and how long a delay I've had. More stuff piles up if I don't keep on it.

I did finish my quilt marking. Did it yesterday afternoon, alone in the basement with my music - a good way to relax and unwind after Monday's drama. The quilt stays at the church now! One less thing to keep track of at home - Woohoo!

This past week has been so full. It's a week since the bunny died. The next day I went to the eye doctor. Found out I have cataracts starting. My parents had them but I didn't expect them this soon. Not time for surgery or anything though. Got an Rx for glasses, now have to find the funds. My current glasses look they've been through the wars.

And on Saturday my roommate adopted a successor (not replacement) bunny. Her boy bunny was so forlorn without his sweetie. The new bunny had been found loose at an apartment complex. She has that food scarcity thing going on. Eating is her main goal in life. Hopefully we can help her relax and realize that we will always provide her with plenty to eat and drink.

The cats have been as judgmental as always, but lower their standards enough to sleep with us inadequate humans at night.

Well, with less money for gasoline and zero desire to get out in the holiday traffic anymore than absolutely necessary, perhaps I'll find time to do a little baking. Gingerbread - oh yeah - I just might! Saw a picture online of a gingerbread Tardis . . .

It's all gonna be okay . . . I can hear Judy Garland in my mind singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - that bittersweet song of hope through troubled times.

I echo Tillie's advice. I was well on my way before buying a few bins. I'd done massive, massive clean out and only needed five small plastic bins when it was all said and done. That's it!

I cleaned the bathroom sink, vanity and toilet today. All laundry done and put away.

My overseas friend has asked me to wait before sending her package as she has some unexpected surgery coming up. It's a small box and not in my way.

Good Morning Everyone 🙂
"Clink!"

Hi Theresa 🙂
The links are to the right of this page.

Hi Subclinical 🙂
WTG! for keeping up with things during this very busy time! 😀

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WTG! for continuing to work at clearing! 😀
Boxes! Yes empty boxes have so many possibilities.
But it's all a lie.
Even if everything is contained in boxes it is now called an organized hoard.
Steven keeps adding boxes, bins, plastic drawers, etc. to his hoard and they just become a big problem on their own.
He puts "stuff" in them and then has to dump them all out when looking for something specific.
This is why I always stress not to buy any organizing containers until you have decluttered and now know exactly what your needs are to store your keepers.

I had plans for today but I am feeling tired and weak from the grocery shopping yesterday.
So, I will put those cooking plans on hold until tomorrow or later.
Last evening did a little bit of laundry. Just stuff I could dry inside on hangers & the rack.
With a high of only 38F it was too cold to bother hanging on the line.
There are a bunch of little quick tasks I can get done today.
Also have a beading plan I want to get started on too.
But the kitchen needs some attention so I will also wash dishes and wipe down everything.
First I need to clear my counter of stuff for projects that I am planning to do by doing some of these projects.
I need to refill my kerosene lamp and put away the kerosene bottle.
Need to hot glue a thing back onto where it belongs & put away the hot glue gun.
Might go out and light the burn barrel. ?
Need to remember to eat the last few nuts and wash the jar I store them in.
Etc. etc. etc...

Good morning! Coffee clinks!

I'll try to keep everyone straight today! I read it, think about you, then start to post and forget it all.

I'm working from home today. Doing little bits of laundry then will try to finish a package for overseas and get it mailed. I need to get out all of my recycling too. I took a few things last night. It piles up so quickly. I wish I had a fireplace for the papers and cardboard. But the important thing is I've learned not to keep boxes, no matter how cute or nice.

So, what are you doing today?

Yup. Hi! How can we help?

Also, greetings KSF, I am new since you left.

CM, so sorry about your van!

Just wanted to say hi all and weigh in on the coffee side, although my mother is a tea drinker and I really enjoy a cup with her.

Backsliding a little on the feedbags, but doing ok overall. Very busy right now.

Is this the online support group

Hello Everybody! 😀
Green tea with lemon "clink!"

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! for making all those decisions for everything that was/is on your table! 😀
I think the coffee vs tea conundrum is both physical and psychological.
The caffeine is addictive and coffee drinkers can suffer terrible headaches with withdrawal.
Without my tea I can not function or think clearly.
Wishing you GREAT success with renting a truck and making fantastic progress! ;D

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
So sorry that happened. (((HUGS)))
Wishing you all the best getting it all straightened out properly financially.

Hi KSF 🙂
Welcome back! 😀
Lost posts happen a lot here unfortunately.
I always copy my posts before posting them so I can just paste them and try posting again.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Bon appetite 😀

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Hi Everybody else 🙂

Went grocery shopping.
Got enough to last me for a while.
Got it all put away.
Now I can just hole up inside here and hibernate.
LOL ;P

Hey everyone! I'm sorry for the bumps and bruises but I'm so happy to see so many of us posting and working on our situations! Welcome back, KFW (hope I remembered the initials correctly). In the future trybusung the back button to see if you can rescue your post.

Leaving for dinner. Keep up the good work!

Hi all - I am back after nearly two years. And after getting it together to do my first post, it disappeared. Apologies if this turns out to be a duplicate. This past year I buried myself in my work and now I look around and see I must wrestle with the consequences. Like you said Tatoulia, I will pray to be okay with my choices. I am taking up this journey again.

Sorry this post is just about me right now

Dang it, had a fender bender in parking lot yesterday. Irony of ironies, I thought a Monday morning would be safe enough to attempt my small bit of shopping during the holiday season. More later. Oh, and there were no injuries, my van is driveable - but I sure hope I get some compensation from her insurance company - long story. Not looking for punitive damages or anything, just enough that on my tiny income I'll not have to eat the cost of repairs.

~Good Morning & green tea clinks to all!!!~
Its funny yall are talking about tea vs coffee cuz, ive been thinking about that, too?! Ive been such an emotional mess the past few weeks & decided to get back to my healthy drinks. For some reason, just even the first maybe 4 sips of coffee is enough. After that im fine with green tea or lemon water, etc. It seems just psychological?!?
I was hoping to report the staging area table was now clear, BUT, its almost clear AND the decisions are made on the remaining few items! YEA! That was the hard part, cuz the few things left i was stuck on, but i found good spots for them!
My car needs work again & im going to rent a truck again so i can take loads to the dump! That will make a huge difference! 😀
~♡~Happy Homes, Homies!!!~♡~ ;D

Good Morning Everyone 🙂
"Clink!"

Hi Anonymoniker:)
WTG! Congratulations for being such a wish non-shopper.
(((HUGS)))
Bet you will get a lot of use out of that simple black dress, so much potential there.
Hope you had wonderful success clearing the staging table. 😀
Your family plan sounds very sound and a very grown up way to handle things.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
I was taught that a nice cup of tea is required for almost any of life's problems.
Tea and sympathy doesn't fix the problems but it does help.
It's what civilized people do.
And when someone's sick or injured the tea is especially important.
Also important is what you put in the tea depending on whatever ails you. LOL 😀
It's so wonderful that you and your Mom have this beautiful close relationship. (((HUGS)))
WTG! for all you have taken to donation and for noticing that the counter needs some attention again. 😉

OK, thinking today I will go restock some food supplies.
Still early enough in the month to not have too many holiday shoppers to get through.
There will still be that annoying music to suffer through though.
The orchestral music is alright, it's the singing jingles that get on my nerves.
I am running out of fresh fruit and veg. Have only 2 pears and one lemon and one pomegranate left.
Yesterday I did the real house cleaning, not just a tidying up.
Still need to do the ceiling fan and I also noticed the dangly crystals on the dining area light are looking less sparkly & need cleaning too.
There's always something...
It's soooo cold here and won't get above 36F today. 🙁

Congratulations Anony! You are making great decisions on clothes! No need for any more closet decorations! Tillie I too love a cup of tea/just not as an AM drink (big exception--iced tea in the summertime!). You're right about the differences in coffee and tea drinkers! One thing that really struck me is how after one of those recent tragedies in London, people took to twitter to offer people shelter. Without exception, each person mentioned tea -- as in "I have a spare bedroom with two beds and will put the kettle on". I do love the civilized nature of tea and so enjoy my afternoon cuppa. Plus, if I'm cold, nothing will warm me quite like a cup of tea. But, AMs are for coffee!

Great time with mom today. We went to see some old decorations from the 1950s and had coffee and blueberry muffins. So sweet and wonderful. She's so great to be with, and I try to remind her of that. I'll never tell her enough.

I've showered (mainly just to warm up). I worked on the front hallway a bit more and I just emptied the dishwasher. Two big bags of trash out. I was too cold to take the recycling out and I have a bunch. It has piled up on me.

I am going to wrap a gift I got last week for mom (immersion blender for squash soup). And I have another gift for her that I got back in September that I keep forgetting about.

I have to go clean my kitchen counter, too, because it's looking a little sad and I have been so happy to see it clean each AM.

Did I mention that I got three bags to goodwill on Sunday? Pretty pleased about that. Need another. I may follow SubC's lead and reduce some Christmas things. It will feel good.

~Good Morning Wonderful Peeps!~
I am starting to feel better about my 'family' situation. I think if they do plan to come, i will clarify a few things by email first & then i can more easily let go of cumulated resentments better, while we are together. ~♡~
Its not bitter cold where i live, but i love to wear cozy tights under dresses in the winter! It feels like pajamas, yet is still festive & pretty!
My friend & i went to a George Harrison appreciation celebration last night & i wore a 30 year old dress that i still love. We went in the gift shop & as much as i could really use some new, practical clothes, i could see nothing in the shop fit that description. A few years ago i wouldve bought several interesting things that wouldve 'decorated my closet' for years to come, but im amazingly realistic now?! I did buy a cozy & practical black dress last week that i can do a lot with & it was inexpensive, tho from a nice department store. I guess im bragging that im really at a good place in terms of shopping now!
Today im going to finish clearing my staging area table! YEA! ~♡~Love to you all!~♡~

Good Morning Everybody 🙂
"clink!"

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Wonderful that you are finished sorting out and rehoming thanksgiving décor!
WTG!
That's the best part about Winter, we can keep foods longer in a cold storage area.
Soon I will be defrosting my deep freezer because I can now just put it all in a box outside and it won't thaw.
Happy the concert was very good 😀
YEA! for your "staging table" being a neat, pretty and functional space!

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Have a WONDERFUL time today with your Mom sightseeing all the Winter displays! 😀
Bet your home is starting to look very pretty and festive with your decorating.
Sorry about the coffee/tea conundrum.
I know how dedicated coffee drinkers suffer when they discover I only have tea to offer them.
My Grandfather made me a dedicated tea drinker when I was just a little girl.
We had some of our best heart to heart talks sitting by the kitchen table drinking tea before the sun rose, while all the rest of the house were still sleeping.
When he passed my Granma gave me his favorite tea pot and I still have it all these years later.

I still have absolutely no motivation to clean but I am determined to do so anyways.
I'm at a point where I feel "why bother?" nobody is coming to visit and the place will just return to it's present state in a week or less anyway.
But I know that kind of "stinking thinking" just exacerbates everything that's wrong.
When the house is clean I am less prone to depression and other negative feelings & thoughts.
When the house is clean I feel motivated to play and do fun projects.
OK, time to get dressed and have at it! 😀

Tea clinks! (I am out of coffee). I have today off tonsoend with mom to do a few holiday things (mainly going to see some Christmas displays--no shopping)

My wreaths are up as are my battery operated candles. I devoatated the common hallway/not yet finished. I only have one gift to buy and I am done with that nonsense.

My next gingerbread house will be constructed on Sunday with two girlfriends. One of them I met in gingerbread school and I see her only once a year, when we have brunch and work on our houses. Should be fun. This is traditionally the house that I give to BF.

I love tea but honestly in the AMs I just want coffee.

<clink>

I love jeans and wear them all the time. I love pretty dresses too - the fancier the better, but rarely get to go anywhere I can wear them. (The concert was very good. I also like to stand at the balcony rail during intermission and look at everyone else's pretty dresses, but it was so cold most people were in pants this time. Dissapointing.)

I heard back from my son, so I can box his thanksgiving items up for him and put the rest in the goodwill box.

Then I will put the Christmas centerpiece on the "staging table" and just use it for gifts or eating.

I go back to the food bank today. The bread from last week isn't gone, but it isn't moldy either. It's been in the very cold garage.

LOL Tatoulia 🙂
Now you are sounding like my Granma, always saying
"we will go have fun just as soon as I wash these dishes, promise."
The wreathes on your bedroom windows sounds so lovely.
Happy you have them this year. 🙂
I have 4 skirts now but I so seldom wear them. Used to have more than that but could no longer justify keeping around things that I probably would never wear.

Just been puttering around in here today.
The sun is shining but it's very windy and bitterly cold out there.
Have put all my house cleaning supplies/things together in a small bucket.
Out where I will see it all day today.
Hoping that this will give me the motivation to clean tomorrow.
I will clean anyways but I want to want to. ;P

Your dresses sound so nice, Tillie. It's good to have a solid collection. I rarely wear pants and hate jeans (although I own one pair). I have skirts and suits, too, but only because they are good for work and when teaching or making presentations.

I am sitting in car right now while brother is in grocery store. I just don't have what it would take to go in today. Even though I need stuff, I'd rather go without.

We just bought my wreaths. I haven't had any the last two years due to $$ issues and I can't go a third year without them. They look so pretty on my bedroom windows.

Yesterday I uttered words Im not sure I've ever said before--BF was calling to see when I'd be stopping by and I said, "as soon as I finish the dishes". Yup, I'm keeping up with my dishes!!!

Wishing you peace and love.

Good Morning Everyone 🙂
Tea "clink!"

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
YEA! for working on clearing your staging area table! 😀
Follow your heart with family matters.
But we are allowed to request they treat us civilly and respectfully.

Hi Subclinical 🙂
YEA! for a lovely, no mall shopping day! 😀
WTG! for continuing to find things you can donate.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Thank you.
Wishing you a good day today.
Good luck with your plans for later tonight. 😉

Today, what am I doing?
Thinking about tomorrow and doing some badly needed house cleaning.
He has had way too many days off from work and he is so messy that the housework falls far behind.
And I refuse to follow him around all day cleaning up after him.
But today I have no idea what I will do...
Went through all my dresses yesterday.
Checked them for condition, no mending required.
Ironed some that could use a bit of ironing.
There are 24 dresses. Some fancy go to weddings/parties in, some nice go to town or other gatherings in, some for hanging out around the house in and some that I wear when cleaning or gardening.
None are ratty, thread bare or rags.
Decided that since I always wear dresses except in the bitterly cold Winter that 24 dresses is not too many. ;D

Good morning!

I was home last night (BF working) and I did all of my laundry. Everything's folded and put away. I am seeing brother today so I'm having a cup of coffee before setting out.

I would like to do some cleaning tonight and finish getting my box for overseas packed.

Glad the pj excursion was cancelled. How was the concert, SubC?

so what are you doing today?

Anony, hurray for your staging table! I hope you find a solution to your family that brings you peace.

I was spared the shopping yesterday because dh tummy wasn't feeling well. He rallied for our date though, so it was a good day!

I hung some lights and surprised myself by finding a string I can donate. My box is getting full and will be dropped off soon.