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.

Bean liked the library. I signed him up for the summer reading program. They gave him a new book with pictures of babies in it and they gave me a workbook and a calendar with preliteracy activities on every day. Which I did not need, but brought home anyway.

while we waited for his daddy he colored in the workbook and we read the "big big" books in the children's room. (The ones that are about 2-3 ft tall)

After they left I went to the city goodwill (where they have closed the dressing rooms) I took 3 pairs of shorts into the bathroom (the sign on the door says "if you are seen entering or leaving the bathroom with merchandise, you will be asked to leave." - I said a mental "deal." on my way in.) one pair fit, so I bought that and a little lidded picnic style basket.

The basket is for Bean. Yesterday I gave him a little toy sandwich set to play with and he loved it. The set was in a too big cardboard shipping box in my basement. After Bean got it out, he picked up the cardboard box from the couch and said "take care this for Grammie." Then he carried it over and set it next to the back door with the recycling. Maybe he is going to save me from myself.

Anyway, the basket is just the right size for the set. The basket was $2 and the shorts were on sale for $2.25. (Gas for the whole round trip was about $10.🙄)

I need shorts that fit right now because mine pretty much wore out the last two years.

Tatoulia, I appreciate that if you have money to spend you are spending it on durable, natural fiber clothes! "Voting with your dollars" is a real thing. We saw the effects of it during Covid. (Not that covid is over, but as a society shaping force - covid is over.)

Heat index of 106 today. I have a class tonight. Dh got up and made his own breakfast and left this morning and mostly let me sleep (he woke me a couple of times moving around) I slept until 7.

Bean liked the library. I signed him up for the summer reading program. They gave him a new book with pictures of babies in it and they gave me a workbook and a calendar with preliteracy activities on every day. Which I did not need, but brought home anyway.

while we waited for his daddy he colored in the workbook and we read the "big big" books in the children's room. (The ones that are about 2-3 ft tall)

After they left I went to the city goodwill (where they have closed the dressing rooms) I took 3 pairs of shorts into the bathroom (the sign on the door says "if you are seen entering or leaving the bathroom with merchandise, you will be asked to leave." - I said a mental "deal." on my way in.) one pair fit, so I bought that and a little lidded picnic style basket.

The basket is for Bean. Yesterday I gave him a little toy sandwich set to play with and he loved it. The set was in a too big cardboard shipping box in my basement. After Bean got it out, he picked up the cardboard box from the couch and said "take care this for Grammie." Then he carried it over and set it next to the back door with the recycling. Maybe he is going to save me from myself.

Anyway, the basket is just the right size for the set. The basket was $2 and the shorts were on sale for $2.25. (Gas for the whole round trip was about $10.🙄)

I need shorts that fit right now because mine pretty much wore out the last two years.

Tatoulia, I appreciate that if you have money to spend you are spending it on durable, natural fiber clothes! "Voting with your dollars" is a real thing. We saw the effects of it during Covid. (Not that covid is over, but as a society shaping force - covid is over.)

Heat index of 106 today. I have a class tonight. Dh got up and made his own breakfast and left this morning and mostly let me sleep (he woke me a couple of times moving around) I slept until 7.

4 responsible things I did so far today:

Added a pair of shorts to the donate pile (they are "worn out" to me, but in a way tgat is currently "fashionable"😵‍💫)

Took my vitamins (realized I had stopped doing that shortly before school ended 😮)

Made an appointment to get my car AC charged this afternoon.

Started a load of wash.

4 responsible things I did so far today:

Added a pair of shorts to the donate pile (they are "worn out" to me, but in a way tgat is currently "fashionable"😵‍💫)

Took my vitamins (realized I had stopped doing that shortly before school ended 😮)

Made an appointment to get my car AC charged this afternoon.

Started a load of wash.

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)

Mar, praying for you. There's no shame in saying, we let the house get away from us and I'm actively working on it and have a support group on line. I think that people are much more forgiving these days. I will pray for you to let it go.

I'm doing laundry today because it makes me happy. Cat sheets and I also washed two pair of my allbirds shoes.

I have some things to take care of today. It is trash night and I want to get rid of as much as possible. My friend who has never been to my house comes Wednesday night.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Mar, praying for you. There's no shame in saying, we let the house get away from us and I'm actively working on it and have a support group on line. I think that people are much more forgiving these days. I will pray for you to let it go.

I'm doing laundry today because it makes me happy. Cat sheets and I also washed two pair of my allbirds shoes.

I have some things to take care of today. It is trash night and I want to get rid of as much as possible. My friend who has never been to my house comes Wednesday night.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Hi mar, I hope things went well with your relative.

I tried to post this morning, but it got eaten.

I have had another good day with Bean. I take him back soon.

I decided not to take the third week of camp. I will be harvesting things in the garden and I don't want to give up the time with Bean.

It is super hot here. We took the compost out, gave the goats some treats, and planted six squash seeds and that was enough.

I had more plans for after Bean today, but I have changed my mind. The heat index is 101 and my car has no AC. Sil is meeting us at the library because it has AC and Bean will only have to be in my hot (driving with the windows open and he has a drink) car for 20 minutes.

Hi mar, I hope things went well with your relative.

I tried to post this morning, but it got eaten.

I have had another good day with Bean. I take him back soon.

I decided not to take the third week of camp. I will be harvesting things in the garden and I don't want to give up the time with Bean.

It is super hot here. We took the compost out, gave the goats some treats, and planted six squash seeds and that was enough.

I had more plans for after Bean today, but I have changed my mind. The heat index is 101 and my car has no AC. Sil is meeting us at the library because it has AC and Bean will only have to be in my hot (driving with the windows open and he has a drink) car for 20 minutes.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND GOOD WISHES!

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

Afraid of he seeing my house D-:

Afraid of he seeing my house D-:

Wow! I've now caught up on the posts!

Everyone is doing a lot. Very motivating for me! I way overslept today. Here it is 12 Noon and I'm having my first cup of coffee for the day!

I have to do laundry, see mom, do mom's groceries, and help BF with a project. It's amazing having more time with him.

I have a big work week ahead of me. Client-facing stuff. Baseball with business partners one night (plus dinner) and then the USOpen golf is here and I have a few days of that. I'm looking forward to the experience And we have a few suites, etc, but the unlimited food and drink concerns me with whether people will drink too much and become obnoxious. Again, I'm looking forward to the experience.

I may dip downstairs and see if anyone is using the laundry. I did two loads last night.

I have a list of things to accomplish inside the house today. I'll report back!

Wow! I've now caught up on the posts!

Everyone is doing a lot. Very motivating for me! I way overslept today. Here it is 12 Noon and I'm having my first cup of coffee for the day!

I have to do laundry, see mom, do mom's groceries, and help BF with a project. It's amazing having more time with him.

I have a big work week ahead of me. Client-facing stuff. Baseball with business partners one night (plus dinner) and then the USOpen golf is here and I have a few days of that. I'm looking forward to the experience And we have a few suites, etc, but the unlimited food and drink concerns me with whether people will drink too much and become obnoxious. Again, I'm looking forward to the experience.

I may dip downstairs and see if anyone is using the laundry. I did two loads last night.

I have a list of things to accomplish inside the house today. I'll report back!

Tatoulia, that is the sort of thing my dd1 likes. Company ball games and concerts and such. It's my worst nightmare. No, second worst, right after online school.

My work put together a happy hour for the teachers (I think it was pay your own though). At the end of the day the front desk person and I were the last people in the building and she was closing up and asked "are you coming to happy hour?" I told her "I'm not really a happy hour kind of girl." She said "come for the chips!" -lol. The beer part I'm fine with, although I prefer a mixed drink, or wine. It's all the rest of it.

Bean is napping. The rain held off, so we managed to get out in the garden and plant pumpkins, edemame, and beets. I pulled some lettuce (replaced it with the beets)

I baked some squash so we can make biscuits later and he ate a little with his lunch (along with rice, "crunchy" (dried) tomatoes, raisins, and applesauce.) the rice and raisins came from the grocery store. Grammie ate "leaves like a goat" (also in my salad: hard boiled egg, walnuts, crunchy tomatoes, radishes, purslane, and raisins)

Oops, gotta run out and give baby goat her eye drops before he wakes up!

Tatoulia, that is the sort of thing my dd1 likes. Company ball games and concerts and such. It's my worst nightmare. No, second worst, right after online school.

My work put together a happy hour for the teachers (I think it was pay your own though). At the end of the day the front desk person and I were the last people in the building and she was closing up and asked "are you coming to happy hour?" I told her "I'm not really a happy hour kind of girl." She said "come for the chips!" -lol. The beer part I'm fine with, although I prefer a mixed drink, or wine. It's all the rest of it.

Bean is napping. The rain held off, so we managed to get out in the garden and plant pumpkins, edemame, and beets. I pulled some lettuce (replaced it with the beets)

I baked some squash so we can make biscuits later and he ate a little with his lunch (along with rice, "crunchy" (dried) tomatoes, raisins, and applesauce.) the rice and raisins came from the grocery store. Grammie ate "leaves like a goat" (also in my salad: hard boiled egg, walnuts, crunchy tomatoes, radishes, purslane, and raisins)

Oops, gotta run out and give baby goat her eye drops before he wakes up!

SubC, I am very good at these types of events. I'm outgoing and have that gracious hostess thing going for me. It's a lot of work and a lot of energy. I'm usually exhausted afterward. So much effort.

Soujnds like you had a good day with Bean!

I made a list today and did a lot of the things. Not all. I got mom a few groceries. I need to see her tmr. I only saw her for a few minutes all weekend.

I'm going to water the flowers in my window boxes and go to bed. I'm sure the work piled up while I had Friday off.

Bf did not go to work today. He's trying to phase out going to the old business. I know he's struggling with it.

SubC, I am very good at these types of events. I'm outgoing and have that gracious hostess thing going for me. It's a lot of work and a lot of energy. I'm usually exhausted afterward. So much effort.

Soujnds like you had a good day with Bean!

I made a list today and did a lot of the things. Not all. I got mom a few groceries. I need to see her tmr. I only saw her for a few minutes all weekend.

I'm going to water the flowers in my window boxes and go to bed. I'm sure the work piled up while I had Friday off.

Bf did not go to work today. He's trying to phase out going to the old business. I know he's struggling with it.

Hi Tatoulia, SubC, CM, Lila, Road!

I'm getting anxious. A relative wants to come to visit us tomorrow. We don't receive guests because of the pandemic but also because of the mess. We will receive him at the garage, but I'm afraid

PLEASE, PRAY FOR US FOR EVERYTHING BEING OK!!

I hope I will catch up on your posts soon

Hi Tatoulia, SubC, CM, Lila, Road!

I'm getting anxious. A relative wants to come to visit us tomorrow. We don't receive guests because of the pandemic but also because of the mess. We will receive him at the garage, but I'm afraid

PLEASE, PRAY FOR US FOR EVERYTHING BEING OK!!

I hope I will catch up on your posts soon

post 2, what I got accomplished:

- unloaded dishwasher and loaded again
- cut up veggies and put in a marinade for tomorrow
- ate a frozen vegan dinner and a small mango
- made an oatmilk latte
- played with the dog, he was happy!
- this one is bigger: I have not cleaned out the drawer under my stove in years and years. I know, gross. Oh well. Lot of gross going on over here... so as I was going to put away clean pots in there, I saw there was only 1 pan and a lid in there. So I took them out, sprayed some natural cleaner in the drawer, and wiped it out with paper towels... 3 times. It was so bad. But now it is clean and I feel better about myself.

I also have asked teen to take out the compost and husband to take out the very full trash, but no one has done it yet so I guess if it is not done soon, it will be me.

I have a thing to go to tonight, that I DO want to go to, but don't... so am kind of hoping they cancel it for rainy weather, because this is a thing I really do want to go to, but not tonight. So if they have it I am going. Does that make any sense???

post 2, what I got accomplished:

- unloaded dishwasher and loaded again
- cut up veggies and put in a marinade for tomorrow
- ate a frozen vegan dinner and a small mango
- made an oatmilk latte
- played with the dog, he was happy!
- this one is bigger: I have not cleaned out the drawer under my stove in years and years. I know, gross. Oh well. Lot of gross going on over here... so as I was going to put away clean pots in there, I saw there was only 1 pan and a lid in there. So I took them out, sprayed some natural cleaner in the drawer, and wiped it out with paper towels... 3 times. It was so bad. But now it is clean and I feel better about myself.

I also have asked teen to take out the compost and husband to take out the very full trash, but no one has done it yet so I guess if it is not done soon, it will be me.

I have a thing to go to tonight, that I DO want to go to, but don't... so am kind of hoping they cancel it for rainy weather, because this is a thing I really do want to go to, but not tonight. So if they have it I am going. Does that make any sense???

Hi Lila, very good news on the staging of the cancer. I'm so grateful for that. I have not read all of the posts because I wanted to answer your question.

Orient to the task, not the result. I'll do my best to explain it. I first heard it many years ago when a prosecutor was giving a lecture and she was describing about working with witnesses, esp child witnesses. And she didn't want her witnesses and victims to be worried about the outcome of their testimony. She wanted them to testify, truthfully, and work on getting their testimony out in a clear, honest, credible fashion. She did not want her witnesses to try to figure out where the questioner was going with the questions (no match for a trained professional) or what impact the answer could have on the outcome. The witness or victim doesn't need to carry the extra burden of the whole case, just the burden of testifying.

So I think about that a lot. If your task is to clean a box or get one bag of clothing done, that's what you should orient to. Did I accomplish that task? If you are orienting to the result, the interior monologue will go more along the lines of, this is useless, one bag didn't make a dent, I still live in a pigsty, etc. so orient to the task, and you gain victory and strength. Orient to the result, and there you are, carrying a double burden that you don't need to. It may even prevent you from doing the task.

Another way to look at it is the old saying, save your pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.

So that's what I meant. Move forward. Start a task. FINISH a task. Go on to the next task. Yes you really can get rid of 20 bags of stuff and still have too much stuff. But, you've gotten rid of 20 bags of stuff, and that's fantastic.

Hi Lila, very good news on the staging of the cancer. I'm so grateful for that. I have not read all of the posts because I wanted to answer your question.

Orient to the task, not the result. I'll do my best to explain it. I first heard it many years ago when a prosecutor was giving a lecture and she was describing about working with witnesses, esp child witnesses. And she didn't want her witnesses and victims to be worried about the outcome of their testimony. She wanted them to testify, truthfully, and work on getting their testimony out in a clear, honest, credible fashion. She did not want her witnesses to try to figure out where the questioner was going with the questions (no match for a trained professional) or what impact the answer could have on the outcome. The witness or victim doesn't need to carry the extra burden of the whole case, just the burden of testifying.

So I think about that a lot. If your task is to clean a box or get one bag of clothing done, that's what you should orient to. Did I accomplish that task? If you are orienting to the result, the interior monologue will go more along the lines of, this is useless, one bag didn't make a dent, I still live in a pigsty, etc. so orient to the task, and you gain victory and strength. Orient to the result, and there you are, carrying a double burden that you don't need to. It may even prevent you from doing the task.

Another way to look at it is the old saying, save your pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.

So that's what I meant. Move forward. Start a task. FINISH a task. Go on to the next task. Yes you really can get rid of 20 bags of stuff and still have too much stuff. But, you've gotten rid of 20 bags of stuff, and that's fantastic.

Good morning! Bean is sleeping. I'm going to try to sneak off and do the milking without him this morning because he's been timid lately and wants to be in my lap while I milk. Dh can get up if Bean does.

I promised him we would plant pumpkins today, but it's supposed to rain. 🙁 we'll see. We can always bake.

Lila, I forgot to say that I am excited for you about the new tot!

I hope your thing last night got postponed. I understand exactly. It is like when I am exhausted and hoping for a snow day - I need a day off. I could take a day off, but I don't want to miss school, so I want us to all have a day off.

Good job on the cleaning!

CM, congrats on the yard sale. Make sure you unload ALL the things fir the next one. No second guessing!

Road, you are doing a good job too. Little things add up.

Hi Tatoulia!

Good morning! Bean is sleeping. I'm going to try to sneak off and do the milking without him this morning because he's been timid lately and wants to be in my lap while I milk. Dh can get up if Bean does.

I promised him we would plant pumpkins today, but it's supposed to rain. 🙁 we'll see. We can always bake.

Lila, I forgot to say that I am excited for you about the new tot!

I hope your thing last night got postponed. I understand exactly. It is like when I am exhausted and hoping for a snow day - I need a day off. I could take a day off, but I don't want to miss school, so I want us to all have a day off.

Good job on the cleaning!

CM, congrats on the yard sale. Make sure you unload ALL the things fir the next one. No second guessing!

Road, you are doing a good job too. Little things add up.

Hi Tatoulia!

Lila, I'm glad things are looking hopeful for you.

Sounds like everybody has their ups and downs and challenges and I'm rooting for you.

We did get the bunny rescue fundraiser garage sale done today, which is at least one thing to tick off the list. We'd been having a lot of rain these past couple of weeks. Now it has shifted to summer heat, and the humidity makes it draining, and it's supposed to crack 100 and then some tomorrow.

Church garage sale is next week so they will get some of the leftovers from today. My van is stuffed pretty full but the things will be gone by tomorrow evening.

My quilt is getting closer to being done. That is one happy thing.

I'll check and see if I got any nibbles on the creative clutter thread.

Lila, I'm glad things are looking hopeful for you.

Sounds like everybody has their ups and downs and challenges and I'm rooting for you.

We did get the bunny rescue fundraiser garage sale done today, which is at least one thing to tick off the list. We'd been having a lot of rain these past couple of weeks. Now it has shifted to summer heat, and the humidity makes it draining, and it's supposed to crack 100 and then some tomorrow.

Church garage sale is next week so they will get some of the leftovers from today. My van is stuffed pretty full but the things will be gone by tomorrow evening.

My quilt is getting closer to being done. That is one happy thing.

I'll check and see if I got any nibbles on the creative clutter thread.

Lila, Great news about the stage 1. Big relief.

Cm, good idea about the creative clutter. That's certainly a major category for me and I know it is for many people.

I'm forgetting other things...

Today so far I've worked on some genealogy stuff and then looked up some recipes and started prepping stuff for dinner. I am an intuitive cook and don't like following recipes, but now that I am dealing with some restrictions I find I have to try a lot of new recipes so I feel like I'm not deprived - especially of Thai/Vietnamese since it's typically at9mic levels of sodium. I'm trying lemongrass tofu. So far I've pressed the tofu and chopped up the shallot, lemongrass, garlic, ginger, bell pepper and cilantro... watched a few different videos on YouTube. Mine will be kind of a hybrid. Leave it to me to unnecessarily complicate things. Haha

The H took my son to his bro's to swim in their pool today so I'm sure he's having a blast. One of his cousins on that side has been in the hospital for more than two weeks with eating disorder stuff. I know the mom has been staying there and has gotten a crash course so I hope they will be able to take care of her when she does come home. Sounds like she's going to an inpatient program next. She hasn't been able to eat/drink enough to get the feeding tube removed so it's a very serious situation.

I'm looking around my room right now trying to figure out what I can do... maybe I'll start with bringing up the laundry...

Lila, please do "serial post." It helps me, too.

Over and out,