So nice to wake up and have posts to read. Thank you Tatoulia and SubC for the thoughts. I am processing with the goal of decluttering.

I am trying to work through the clothing issue. It is shaped by my experiences of having gained and lost 80 pounds twice. Both times, I got rid of everything too big as I got thinner. And now I have regained weight a third time and am re-losing it again. This time, I saved some stuff, and thank goodness because each time I regained I had to go out and buy, or find, more. That's why I have nearly nothing to wear even though I bought a ton of things by mail, tried them all on and am returning almost all of it.

I know I can lose this weight again. In fact I have to, say my doctors. This morning I am down 15 pounds from when I was diagnosed. I think in 10 more pounds a huge amount of my clothing will fit, so I am forcing myself not to keep buying more in bigger sizes.

So in 3 months a lot of these clothes will fit. That's why I haven't gotten rid of more. Will I get rid of bigger clothes as I lose again? Yeah, probably, because I absolutely cannot afford (health wise) to gain it back.

When I think of the boxes and boxes of nice clothes in my current size that I donated years ago, it makes me so mad. If I had them now it would be better. Oh well.

I did get the dining room table totally cleared last night (yay!) and we had dinner together. I am going to try and keep it clear. The bar/counter is a piled up disaster but not my priority today.

Today I will sort my papers in the box next to me, run the dishwasher, clean my room a bit more.

I was invited to 3 social events today (shocking) and will drop in at each one. If I don't, I think feelings would be hurt so I will stop in. I need to pick up a graduation gift for one of them.

hello friends, I am back on my chromebook. I need to figure out what is wrong with the other one. Meanwhile I do need to post.

I too have been spending on clothes and STILL even though I returned 90% of them, marely anything I kept REALLY fits well. "Almost." In 10 pounds. I keep ordering bigger sizes and I guess I am fatter than I think. This sucks.

This morning I woke up and stared from bed at the piles and piles by my bed, all over that rocking chair, on top of every surface and the floor. I don't know why it keeps happening but it is making me depressed.

Two goals today:
1) that area. I went through the top layers, hung up 4 items of clothing in the closet. I sorted a drawer and rearranged and made room for a few of those "almost" shirts. Fact is, I could happily donate 75% of my clothing if I had, say, a thousand dollars dedicated to getting what I really need and want... about $150 for clothes that fit NOW and the rest to hold onto to buy things as I lose weight. Maybe that is the solution. Find $1,000 and allow myself $150 for now and the rest as I lose. My closet and bins would be SO empty. Alas, I live in fear that I will not have money to buy what I need, so I am scared to donate everything and be stuck with nothing to wear. I really ought to just return everything that still can be returned, and save that money. I did return a lot.

Along these lines, is there an amount of money that, if someone offered you, you would give up 75% of ALL your belongings? What is the minimum amount you would take? I have often thought, if someone would come with a giant truck and "buy" 75% of what I own, I would do it. I would take 10k for sure. Then I would save that, and ONLY buy things as I need them... not replace all this crap! A huge part of the battle for me is I do not have funds to buy what I need. If I had money in the bank I would gladly get rid of almost everything.

2) the dining room table. I have Tot and her parents coming for dinner. It is piled with stuff and dusty. Worked on it and realized stuff needs to go into the hall closet, but the hall closet is literally exploding into the hall. So... stalled.

Yay! So happy to see people here!

CM, thanks for keeping me company, and I'm glad the dolls found a new home! I think people's bodies need different things. I like plant foods. If I'm going to be honest, I like fruits better than veggies, but I like plants. I also love dairy and carbs, but I feel better when I limit those. It's a struggle.

Lila, I struggle in the opposite direction. I don't want to go. I want to have friends, but I don't want to have to leave my house to have them. I think that's one of the reasons you guys are so important to me. If I had an irl support group like this and I had to drive more than 10 minutes to get there, I would probably stop going. (It takes 10 minutes to get to the closest grocery store, so I only go there in an emergency. Otherwise I wait until I am passing a grocery store on my way home from somewhere else. "Somewhere else" is almost always work.) Also, I don't want to do any of the things.

I hope your other computer gets fixed.

Here is what I think, your clothes are like my milk. You don't need piles of clothes you can't use. You need clothes you can use right now, and you need space. Trust that you will find the money you need for the things you really need. Start by taking back every single thing that doesn't fit right now and can be returned. Put that money aside.

Do you have a consignment shop? My suggestion would be to go through the things that don't fit and take everything they might accept there (you may keep items that you truly love that are not replaceable, but you have to truly love it) That money can also go in your clothing fund. Have you quit your fast food habit? Can you put money in your clothing fund that you save from drinking healthy smoothies instead? Would that motivate you?

Could I choose the 75%? Is it by volume or by number?

I made my clean refrigerator shelf and I have been attacking the laundry and dishes.I am down to four clean baskets to put away and one load to hang. All the beds have clean sheets. Dishes are still badly backed up.

Yay! So happy to see people here!

CM, thanks for keeping me company, and I'm glad the dolls found a new home! I think people's bodies need different things. I like plant foods. If I'm going to be honest, I like fruits better than veggies, but I like plants. I also love dairy and carbs, but I feel better when I limit those. It's a struggle.

Lila, I struggle in the opposite direction. I don't want to go. I want to have friends, but I don't want to have to leave my house to have them. I think that's one of the reasons you guys are so important to me. If I had an irl support group like this and I had to drive more than 10 minutes to get there, I would probably stop going. (It takes 10 minutes to get to the closest grocery store, so I only go there in an emergency. Otherwise I wait until I am passing a grocery store on my way home from somewhere else. "Somewhere else" is almost always work.) Also, I don't want to do any of the things.

I hope your other computer gets fixed.

Here is what I think, your clothes are like my milk. You don't need piles of clothes you can't use. You need clothes you can use right now, and you need space. Trust that you will find the money you need for the things you really need. Start by taking back every single thing that doesn't fit right now and can be returned. Put that money aside.

Do you have a consignment shop? My suggestion would be to go through the things that don't fit and take everything they might accept there (you may keep items that you truly love that are not replaceable, but you have to truly love it) That money can also go in your clothing fund. Have you quit your fast food habit? Can you put money in your clothing fund that you save from drinking healthy smoothies instead? Would that motivate you?

Could I choose the 75%? Is it by volume or by number?

I made my clean refrigerator shelf and I have been attacking the laundry and dishes.I am down to four clean baskets to put away and one load to hang. All the beds have clean sheets. Dishes are still badly backed up.

I imagine 75% by volume, SubC. I imagine taking 'before' photos of every area, then photos of the items being donated outside my house, then 'after' photos with sooo much space!! I want it so badly. I don't know why I let money stand in the way of having this. But to me it says, this is the reason I hoard: I might not HAVE what I need.

I went through an awful divorce due to abuse, and when he left, I had nothing. I mean I could not buy shoes or anything. It was a constant struggle until I got through college and had an income.

So for example, blankets. I have blankets that I don't even LIKE. But I pull them out when company comes (like when though?? 4 years ago?) and when I think about getting rod of the sheets and blankets that never get used, I remember when our power was shut off and we were so cold and needed blankets. I am afraid if I donate them, power will go out and we will be cold and I won't have money to go buy blankets.

That's how it is with most of my stuff.

Anyway, I worked on the table and just took a deep breath and shoved the stuff that goes in the hall closet, in there. It's all heaped up, but that's a project for another day. Other things got put where they belong, or throw out. Now there are only a few (less than 5) items on the table to be put away. I did one wipe of the table (dust etc) and will wash it off when I get those items put away.

I imagine 75% by volume, SubC. I imagine taking 'before' photos of every area, then photos of the items being donated outside my house, then 'after' photos with sooo much space!! I want it so badly. I don't know why I let money stand in the way of having this. But to me it says, this is the reason I hoard: I might not HAVE what I need.

I went through an awful divorce due to abuse, and when he left, I had nothing. I mean I could not buy shoes or anything. It was a constant struggle until I got through college and had an income.

So for example, blankets. I have blankets that I don't even LIKE. But I pull them out when company comes (like when though?? 4 years ago?) and when I think about getting rod of the sheets and blankets that never get used, I remember when our power was shut off and we were so cold and needed blankets. I am afraid if I donate them, power will go out and we will be cold and I won't have money to go buy blankets.

That's how it is with most of my stuff.

Anyway, I worked on the table and just took a deep breath and shoved the stuff that goes in the hall closet, in there. It's all heaped up, but that's a project for another day. Other things got put where they belong, or throw out. Now there are only a few (less than 5) items on the table to be put away. I did one wipe of the table (dust etc) and will wash it off when I get those items put away.

another post...

SubC, I don't really want to go out either. In fact, for about 10 years I almost never left my house, except to take my kid to school or her events. Before she was in school I spent like 4 years in the house and only left for doctor appointments, most weeks. And I had no one over and called no one and most days saw no on but my family (kids were in school tho). I am a major introvert. I guess it started to feel like too much isolation and I started focing myself to be social. It is SO HARD for me. I always feel like people don't REALLY like me. I feel like everyone else has some inside jokes and are best friends and then there I am on the outskirts looking at my shoes, not knowing what to say. I started to get pretty depressed. I did not have a normal social life as a child. Social is hard for me. But for the last 4 years I have just forced myself, and started to pray and ask God to help me, and I just make myself. Although, any minute I feel I could revert to the black hole of complete isolation.

I did have a very close, dear friend all those years and we texted and emailed several times a day. She was the only person I talked to for most of 10 years. She died 2 years ago and now it is hard. I like posting here, like people care what I am sharing and I get to know you guys too.

another post...

SubC, I don't really want to go out either. In fact, for about 10 years I almost never left my house, except to take my kid to school or her events. Before she was in school I spent like 4 years in the house and only left for doctor appointments, most weeks. And I had no one over and called no one and most days saw no on but my family (kids were in school tho). I am a major introvert. I guess it started to feel like too much isolation and I started focing myself to be social. It is SO HARD for me. I always feel like people don't REALLY like me. I feel like everyone else has some inside jokes and are best friends and then there I am on the outskirts looking at my shoes, not knowing what to say. I started to get pretty depressed. I did not have a normal social life as a child. Social is hard for me. But for the last 4 years I have just forced myself, and started to pray and ask God to help me, and I just make myself. Although, any minute I feel I could revert to the black hole of complete isolation.

I did have a very close, dear friend all those years and we texted and emailed several times a day. She was the only person I talked to for most of 10 years. She died 2 years ago and now it is hard. I like posting here, like people care what I am sharing and I get to know you guys too.

hello friends, I am back on my chromebook. I need to figure out what is wrong with the other one. Meanwhile I do need to post.

I too have been spending on clothes and STILL even though I returned 90% of them, marely anything I kept REALLY fits well. "Almost." In 10 pounds. I keep ordering bigger sizes and I guess I am fatter than I think. This sucks.

This morning I woke up and stared from bed at the piles and piles by my bed, all over that rocking chair, on top of every surface and the floor. I don't know why it keeps happening but it is making me depressed.

Two goals today:
1) that area. I went through the top layers, hung up 4 items of clothing in the closet. I sorted a drawer and rearranged and made room for a few of those "almost" shirts. Fact is, I could happily donate 75% of my clothing if I had, say, a thousand dollars dedicated to getting what I really need and want... about $150 for clothes that fit NOW and the rest to hold onto to buy things as I lose weight. Maybe that is the solution. Find $1,000 and allow myself $150 for now and the rest as I lose. My closet and bins would be SO empty. Alas, I live in fear that I will not have money to buy what I need, so I am scared to donate everything and be stuck with nothing to wear. I really ought to just return everything that still can be returned, and save that money. I did return a lot.

Along these lines, is there an amount of money that, if someone offered you, you would give up 75% of ALL your belongings? What is the minimum amount you would take? I have often thought, if someone would come with a giant truck and "buy" 75% of what I own, I would do it. I would take 10k for sure. Then I would save that, and ONLY buy things as I need them... not replace all this crap! A huge part of the battle for me is I do not have funds to buy what I need. If I had money in the bank I would gladly get rid of almost everything.

2) the dining room table. I have Tot and her parents coming for dinner. It is piled with stuff and dusty. Worked on it and realized stuff needs to go into the hall closet, but the hall closet is literally exploding into the hall. So... stalled.

Good morning.

Talking to myself.

Sometimes I feel very out of step - I post and post, and then all of a sudden you all post when I barely have time to read!

Heat index is still awful, but supposed to break tomorrow.

Here are the things that came into my house yesterday:
Food
Mail

I recycled my mail. Dh will take care of his mail just fine.

All the food I brought in yesterday is washed or chilled or dried or cooked and put away ready to eat or cook with as appropriate! (The onions and garlic are racked and drying)

I made popovers and a cake. My food goal for today is to get one shelf of my fridge clean and with fresh food ready to eat on it. Just one shelf. I would also like to go to bed with all the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, but that might be too much.

I'm not sure yet what else I will work in today.

I found a very encouraging YouTube channel.

Most of what I watch on YouTube is homestead vlogs, and most of the people on them are young and have at least one if not both people making their living mostly or entirely from YouTube. So, everything looks great.

I found this channel because they had a vlog titled "we can't farm like - insert vlogger I watch - (and neither can you)." They have four kids and one bitty grandkid. Their youngest looks to be early to mid teens. They have less land than I have. They weigh more than I do. They get out of breath talking and working at the same time and they move like things hurt. Their "yard" is "poverty grass" like mine, and their garden is full of weeds. Their equipment is old and cobbled together and patchwork and dirty, and their "today's project" is something like putting plywood on the back of the hoop house, cleaning the coop out, and hanging the nesting boxes. They look like they are having fun, and they make me feel better.

Hi SubC, I'll keep you company for a bit.

"Don't buy work" - spot on. I came up with the phrase "Don't buy a project" some years back. A garment that needs altering, a gizmo that needs repairs, etc. I'm not perfect at keeping that resolution when it comes to dolls, haha. However, there have been several fixer upper dolls I've let go of, and the few remaining are ones I am more committed to.

I noticed yesterday at the church a lady had a couple dolls I'd donated in her stuff she was buying. That made me happy.

The heat is here to stay awhile, I am afraid. 🥵

I can only observe in puzzlement you, my roommate, and various other people who garden and eat lots of vegetables. The vegetables I will eat, and the very exact and infrequent conditions under which I will eat them, are exacting and arcane. The only thing I really ever crave vegetable wise is stir fry type dishes from the Chinese buffet, or my own version I learned to make. Restaurant or home, the foods must still contain some meat and starch to be palatable to me.

And yet, except for the weight, I'm healthy as a horse. 🤷‍♀️

Hi SubC, I'll keep you company for a bit.

"Don't buy work" - spot on. I came up with the phrase "Don't buy a project" some years back. A garment that needs altering, a gizmo that needs repairs, etc. I'm not perfect at keeping that resolution when it comes to dolls, haha. However, there have been several fixer upper dolls I've let go of, and the few remaining are ones I am more committed to.

I noticed yesterday at the church a lady had a couple dolls I'd donated in her stuff she was buying. That made me happy.

The heat is here to stay awhile, I am afraid. 🥵

I can only observe in puzzlement you, my roommate, and various other people who garden and eat lots of vegetables. The vegetables I will eat, and the very exact and infrequent conditions under which I will eat them, are exacting and arcane. The only thing I really ever crave vegetable wise is stir fry type dishes from the Chinese buffet, or my own version I learned to make. Restaurant or home, the foods must still contain some meat and starch to be palatable to me.

And yet, except for the weight, I'm healthy as a horse. 🤷‍♀️

Tatoulia, thank you for that explanation. It makes sense. So my task to orient to today is to clear the table so we can have dinner together tonight. I will focus on putting the stuff on the table away. When that is done it's a win.

SubC, thanks! No new tot yet! I thought she would be here by now. Any day! My event did not get postponed, so I went because I really did WANT to be included. I struggle with feeling left out, so when get an actual invitation to a thing that is not for like 50+ people... I feel so grateful they thought of me, so I want to go, because I'm afraid if I don't , they won't invte me next time. I don't know if that is a healthy way to be, or not.

My laptop s gltchng so I will post this and try to post again after t stops.

Tatoulia, thank you for that explanation. It makes sense. So my task to orient to today is to clear the table so we can have dinner together tonight. I will focus on putting the stuff on the table away. When that is done it's a win.

SubC, thanks! No new tot yet! I thought she would be here by now. Any day! My event did not get postponed, so I went because I really did WANT to be included. I struggle with feeling left out, so when get an actual invitation to a thing that is not for like 50+ people... I feel so grateful they thought of me, so I want to go, because I'm afraid if I don't , they won't invte me next time. I don't know if that is a healthy way to be, or not.

My laptop s gltchng so I will post this and try to post again after t stops.

I got a little sidetracked.

I noticed the oregano was about to bloom (flavor is best before blooming) so I spent a lot of time this afternoon cutting tgat and filling the dehydrator (it's almost done)

Then I found a very labor intensive (washing and chopping) recipe for beet greens that used garlic, onion, and cream, so I made that for dinner - salt, sugar, spices, and accompanying rice were from the store.

I'm going to read a little bit before I go out and attack the garlic again.

I got a little sidetracked.

I noticed the oregano was about to bloom (flavor is best before blooming) so I spent a lot of time this afternoon cutting tgat and filling the dehydrator (it's almost done)

Then I found a very labor intensive (washing and chopping) recipe for beet greens that used garlic, onion, and cream, so I made that for dinner - salt, sugar, spices, and accompanying rice were from the store.

I'm going to read a little bit before I go out and attack the garlic again.

Today's thoughts, managing resources.

One thing I have been telling myself lately though is "don't buy work." Because I might have enough money for something, but I don't have enough time. So, for example, when I saw an amazing deal on fruit trees a while back, I actually thought about buying them - a whole little orchard for the cost of a few trees! I would love to have an orchard! I have the space! - screeeeech - fortunately I stopped myself by reminding myself how many HOURS it would take to plant the trees, while I lost things I already have by not taking care of them.

So today I have been working on enjoying the abundance of resources I have.

I planted 7 gift tomato plants in the garden.

I picked mint and chamomile and put them in the dehydrator for tea.

I picked snow peas from the garden.

I made mozzarella cheese from a gallon of milk, rebatched it for a little ricotta, and put the whey away for bread baking,

I baked squash that have been stored in my basement so I can bake biscuits tomorrow (and some to freeze for biscuits another day because the squash won't keep much longer)

I did a load of laundry because I don't need more dish towels, I need clean dish towels.

And I gave the chickens a gallon of milk that had soured in the back of the fridge. And here is the problem - I had money for goat feed, and time to milk, and strain the milk, and wash the milking equipment, but I did not have time to rotate the milk and use it in a timely fashion. There are two answers to this: less time spent on milk or more time spent on milk. Because I clearly am not spending the RIGHT amount of time on milk.

So, now I am going to go to the farmer's market and buy up to 4 pepper plants and no more than three jars of jam in varieties I will not make this year, and also hot mustard if the hot mustard person is there. And maybe basil plants.

Today's thoughts, managing resources.

One thing I have been telling myself lately though is "don't buy work." Because I might have enough money for something, but I don't have enough time. So, for example, when I saw an amazing deal on fruit trees a while back, I actually thought about buying them - a whole little orchard for the cost of a few trees! I would love to have an orchard! I have the space! - screeeeech - fortunately I stopped myself by reminding myself how many HOURS it would take to plant the trees, while I lost things I already have by not taking care of them.

So today I have been working on enjoying the abundance of resources I have.

I planted 7 gift tomato plants in the garden.

I picked mint and chamomile and put them in the dehydrator for tea.

I picked snow peas from the garden.

I made mozzarella cheese from a gallon of milk, rebatched it for a little ricotta, and put the whey away for bread baking,

I baked squash that have been stored in my basement so I can bake biscuits tomorrow (and some to freeze for biscuits another day because the squash won't keep much longer)

I did a load of laundry because I don't need more dish towels, I need clean dish towels.

And I gave the chickens a gallon of milk that had soured in the back of the fridge. And here is the problem - I had money for goat feed, and time to milk, and strain the milk, and wash the milking equipment, but I did not have time to rotate the milk and use it in a timely fashion. There are two answers to this: less time spent on milk or more time spent on milk. Because I clearly am not spending the RIGHT amount of time on milk.

So, now I am going to go to the farmer's market and buy up to 4 pepper plants and no more than three jars of jam in varieties I will not make this year, and also hot mustard if the hot mustard person is there. And maybe basil plants.

Follow up from post below-

And then I brushed my hair, put a bra on, drove three miles round trip, and discovered I should have checked Facebook because they are closed this week due to the heat.

Follow up from post below-

And then I brushed my hair, put a bra on, drove three miles round trip, and discovered I should have checked Facebook because they are closed this week due to the heat.

Good morning.

Talking to myself.

Sometimes I feel very out of step - I post and post, and then all of a sudden you all post when I barely have time to read!

Heat index is still awful, but supposed to break tomorrow.

Here are the things that came into my house yesterday:
Food
Mail

I recycled my mail. Dh will take care of his mail just fine.

All the food I brought in yesterday is washed or chilled or dried or cooked and put away ready to eat or cook with as appropriate! (The onions and garlic are racked and drying)

I made popovers and a cake. My food goal for today is to get one shelf of my fridge clean and with fresh food ready to eat on it. Just one shelf. I would also like to go to bed with all the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, but that might be too much.

I'm not sure yet what else I will work in today.

I found a very encouraging YouTube channel.

Most of what I watch on YouTube is homestead vlogs, and most of the people on them are young and have at least one if not both people making their living mostly or entirely from YouTube. So, everything looks great.

I found this channel because they had a vlog titled "we can't farm like - insert vlogger I watch - (and neither can you)." They have four kids and one bitty grandkid. Their youngest looks to be early to mid teens. They have less land than I have. They weigh more than I do. They get out of breath talking and working at the same time and they move like things hurt. Their "yard" is "poverty grass" like mine, and their garden is full of weeds. Their equipment is old and cobbled together and patchwork and dirty, and their "today's project" is something like putting plywood on the back of the hoop house, cleaning the coop out, and hanging the nesting boxes. They look like they are having fun, and they make me feel better.

SubC, Bean is growing up so much, as I'm sure you already know. He sounds like a smart little guy! And definitely enjoys his Grammie time.

Tatoulia, the clothes thing sounds intriguing. I wish I could come up with a version of something like that. To me, it's depressing all the flimsy, trashy looking clothes that are sold in places like Walmart and Target and even places a bit more upscale - but so many of them made of synthetics which make me itch and sweat. I refuse to buy them. And then I go to the thrift store and see that same stuff hanging limp and sad on the racks - and I still wouldn't pay a penny for it because I hate it and would never wear it.

In my own wardrobe, I've been getting rid of anything I have ambivalent feelings about. Yet it's hard to find something basic, cotton fiber, in a super comfortable style, with decent POCKETS which for me are not optional, to build a solid wardrobe. Stuff I do feel comfortable in, I wear for decades if it holds up. So I think you're wise to find some company that can provide quality pieces that'll last and that's so cool that you can return the stuff and they'll take care of recycling it. That way, you already know what you'll do eventually, and that saves a bunch of dithering and procrastination. The setup seems "tailor made" 😉 to help eliminate the clothing limbo that engenders clutter.

Mar, I'm glad your situation worked out. We've all known that relief!

Hi Lila, Road

Weather here is stinking hot and also windy. Dust in the air making a haze. I almost wish I hadn't said I'd help with the church garage sale, just because I feel like vegging instead of being obligated to be places and do things. But it'll be over in a couple of days.

And in a couple of days I hope to get a swim in, which will be so refreshing and one good thing about the hot weather. Cringe at the gasoline it takes to drive to the water park, though. 😬 Alternate plan would be to go to the Y that is closer but the pool is indoors. We'll see what seems best at the time.

I did get my quilt top all assembled, which feels great. I think it will need to have a border around it, but that's simple, except for the need to go elsewhere with more room to do the bigger pieces cutting and sewing, yet again. I did the final sewing together of large sections at the church yesterday. Had been doing medium sections even at the house here, on the kitchen table, I wanted so much to get this thing done. The kitchen table is in the traffic path though, being the inside of the corner of the L between kitchen and living room. But sometimes I can manage, until I can clear the workspace I used to use in the back room.

SubC, Bean is growing up so much, as I'm sure you already know. He sounds like a smart little guy! And definitely enjoys his Grammie time.

Tatoulia, the clothes thing sounds intriguing. I wish I could come up with a version of something like that. To me, it's depressing all the flimsy, trashy looking clothes that are sold in places like Walmart and Target and even places a bit more upscale - but so many of them made of synthetics which make me itch and sweat. I refuse to buy them. And then I go to the thrift store and see that same stuff hanging limp and sad on the racks - and I still wouldn't pay a penny for it because I hate it and would never wear it.

In my own wardrobe, I've been getting rid of anything I have ambivalent feelings about. Yet it's hard to find something basic, cotton fiber, in a super comfortable style, with decent POCKETS which for me are not optional, to build a solid wardrobe. Stuff I do feel comfortable in, I wear for decades if it holds up. So I think you're wise to find some company that can provide quality pieces that'll last and that's so cool that you can return the stuff and they'll take care of recycling it. That way, you already know what you'll do eventually, and that saves a bunch of dithering and procrastination. The setup seems "tailor made" 😉 to help eliminate the clothing limbo that engenders clutter.

Mar, I'm glad your situation worked out. We've all known that relief!

Hi Lila, Road

Weather here is stinking hot and also windy. Dust in the air making a haze. I almost wish I hadn't said I'd help with the church garage sale, just because I feel like vegging instead of being obligated to be places and do things. But it'll be over in a couple of days.

And in a couple of days I hope to get a swim in, which will be so refreshing and one good thing about the hot weather. Cringe at the gasoline it takes to drive to the water park, though. 😬 Alternate plan would be to go to the Y that is closer but the pool is indoors. We'll see what seems best at the time.

I did get my quilt top all assembled, which feels great. I think it will need to have a border around it, but that's simple, except for the need to go elsewhere with more room to do the bigger pieces cutting and sewing, yet again. I did the final sewing together of large sections at the church yesterday. Had been doing medium sections even at the house here, on the kitchen table, I wanted so much to get this thing done. The kitchen table is in the traffic path though, being the inside of the corner of the L between kitchen and living room. But sometimes I can manage, until I can clear the workspace I used to use in the back room.

We're a team! Lol! Obviously I think Bean is amazing.

CM, good job clearing out the things you don't wear. I need to get more serious about that.

Usually when I buy new clothes I shop online in the 1950s. Seriously, I found an online store that carries xs to 5x the 1950s are the right cut for my body and they usually come in 100% cotton with pockets. When they have sales things run as low as $25. They have mostly dresses and separates, not too much casual.

I am excited about the quilt!

Here is a question for you related to the garage sale - I have been reading a book on taking back your time, and one of the questions she suggests asking (rather than "can ) is "will it be worth to them what it will take out of me?"

I have decided that the next few days are going to be harvest focused. This morning I lifted the garlic, picked some onions, a few radishes, the first snow peas, and a lot of beets and pulled weeds. Then I had lunch and a shower and I am having a rest. This afternoon I will work on washing/putting up/prepping the things I brought in, and this evening I'll go shake the hopefully dried dirt off the garlic and bring it in to finish curing.

I'm trying to run some dishes too.

We're a team! Lol! Obviously I think Bean is amazing.

CM, good job clearing out the things you don't wear. I need to get more serious about that.

Usually when I buy new clothes I shop online in the 1950s. Seriously, I found an online store that carries xs to 5x the 1950s are the right cut for my body and they usually come in 100% cotton with pockets. When they have sales things run as low as $25. They have mostly dresses and separates, not too much casual.

I am excited about the quilt!

Here is a question for you related to the garage sale - I have been reading a book on taking back your time, and one of the questions she suggests asking (rather than "can ) is "will it be worth to them what it will take out of me?"

I have decided that the next few days are going to be harvest focused. This morning I lifted the garlic, picked some onions, a few radishes, the first snow peas, and a lot of beets and pulled weeds. Then I had lunch and a shower and I am having a rest. This afternoon I will work on washing/putting up/prepping the things I brought in, and this evening I'll go shake the hopefully dried dirt off the garlic and bring it in to finish curing.

I'm trying to run some dishes too.

Sorted through all my pants/shorts. Now have fewer pants than before the jeans purchase.

Dropped all the "donation pile" stuff since before Christmas at my preferred thrift store. (Added five baskets and three pairs of shoes besides the pants and shorts)

Bought one more pair of shorts. Cut the fraying hems off another pair so they are now "fashionable". I'm probably ok now.

Got AC charged. (Ouch!$$)

Got a few groceries - fruit, nuts, fancy bread, cereal, paper towels (using them to clean the goat's face and the roll that has been in the vet box for years is almost gone)

Ate lunch, SECOND load of wash is in the dryer.

Now to give the baby goat her eye drops, reload the car with trash and recycling, drop that, possibly stop by my classroom to empty shelves, and go to pottery class. (With my new friend/former student)

Dropped the trash and recycling.

Emptied one shelf in my classroom and discovered that removing them is going to be easy but underneath them is horrible and disgusting.

Had a great time at class.

My brakes are seizing up in the heat, so planning to stay home as much as possible or drive the truck the rest of the week. Hopefully Dh can fix the brakes this weekend.

Horrible heat index - I'm struggling because I need to get out in the garden in the mornings and I also need more sleep.

Dropped the trash and recycling.

Emptied one shelf in my classroom and discovered that removing them is going to be easy but underneath them is horrible and disgusting.

Had a great time at class.

My brakes are seizing up in the heat, so planning to stay home as much as possible or drive the truck the rest of the week. Hopefully Dh can fix the brakes this weekend.

Horrible heat index - I'm struggling because I need to get out in the garden in the mornings and I also need more sleep.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND GOOD WISHES!

All went ok. There was no need to enter the house. Now I can breathe, hehe.

Congratulations, Mar! Keep up the good work!

BF went with me to mom's tonight. We brought her an ice cream sandwich. She seemed pretty happy. She was glad BF came with me. She's seeing more of him these days because he's working less but she doesn't know about the sale of the one business. No need to tell her.

Afterward he walked me home and we sat outside and it was fun. He was taking pictures of the buildings across the street and we were laughing and having fun. It is nice getting relaxed time in with him.

Turns out we are in the super swanky seats at the ball game tmr night. Air conditioned, great food, private bathroom. It will all be great.

I have to admit that I'm spending thousands on clothes right now. I need clothes that fit. I hate the way they all look on me but they are quality clothes and ethically made. I hate them because I am fat. I have the money this isn't debt. It's a bit of giving up on myself but in other ways it isn't. Eileen Fisher's clothes are extremely wearable, made to last, they repair them, and they take them back and recycle when you're done. So I like the message with the clothes that they are built to last. The skirts will easily be modified once I get serious about losing weight. I've also picked up some pieces from a few other stores. I'm concentrating on linen and cotton. I just need clothes that make me feel good, even if I don't like myself right now. Linen just feels so nice.

So that's my confession for now. I need to finish folding and putting away my laundry so I can start tmr off on the right foot.

I am so grateful to you all. I need to keep reducing my things and you are helping me more than you know. You've gotten me so far and now I'm realizing the remaining areas to work on. It's clear.

I've gotten rid of clothes I'm not going to wear again, at any weight. I'm getting older and am less about wearing navy right now. I used to have a wardrobe of all navy. I love navy. But neutrals are having a moment in my house right now.