I'm here. Not in the greatest shape but I'm here. Going to bed. Back to office tmr.

Hi Tatoulia! Still thinking about you.

I'm at my parents house.

Hi to mom and dad! Keeping it together. A young woman at work offered to sleep over here and so we are making plans. My support system (includes everyone here, of course) is really stepping up. thank you!

I pulled everything off that top shelf in the hall closet, dusted it and all the bottles, threw out 6 items and put the rest back neatly. Now that closet is totally done.

I find it very encouraging to go on the Daily Tally thread and read back all the items that have left my home. I imagine them all piled in a heap. Thinking of ALL that stuff being out of my home is very motivating!!

Good morning!

Lila, I'm so happy your closet is done!

I like seeing how many things you have let go too, but for me, it is important to not make a list. I need to let them go and forget about them.

I have a full day today, trying to get my place ready to hand over to the farm sitter, my mammogram, and dropping my load off at the thrift store. It is possible I might not go in and shop.

Yesterday Dh told me that if he retires, I might have to quit working in two years due to the ACA cliff. There is a patch that ends in 2025, and if Congress doesn't extend it (which would likely require the democrats to take both houses and the presidency) my income will put us in a category where our premium increases by more than my income.

Also yesterday a coworker contacted me to ask if we could set up a time to discuss curriculum and planning - he is taking over a class I taught last year.

I don't know which conversation caused me to dream about school again last night, but it was not a fun dream. Things were in chaos and students wouldn't listen to me.

I really like my job. I have told kids in the past that I would teach for free if I didn't have to write evaluations or ever talk to their parents (an6 parents, not specific parents). Wonder if I could negotiate that?

Ok, off to be functional. Will check back later.

Good afternoon!

Mammogram results were good. About 1/3? (Hard to tell because there was a twin bed frame) of an suv load dropped off, one pair of fat shorts purchased. That is slightly depressing, but I'm gong places now, and can't get through the next two months with two pairs of shorts and even if I start losing weight it will take that long at a healthy pace to get the other ones to fit.

The garden is ready, the barn is not. It's very hot. I'm going to start some wash (so I can pack my new shorts) and work in the basement a little before I finish getting ready for tomorrow.

Serial posting.

Should be cleaning out the barn, but it is still hot.

I opened up over a foot of shelf space by finding some books I am ready to part with. I have another section (didn't measure it) that is waiting on the last reply from the kids. My arts and crafts space in the basement is starting to take shape, as in, I can see the shape of it and have moved the shelf.

There is an open area on the floor. My next truck will be to sort out the Christmas stuff in that open area and put it away properly - becaus3 that never happened this year and after that the open area will be bigger. But after our trip.

Wow! Everyone is doing so well!

Bf packed his container today (with movers) and I found out a friend came and worked all day with him. He's now sleeping on an air mattress he purchased today. He offered to drive my car down but I'll get it this weekend.

Have to do some things here. Will put some music on and come back.

Hi Tatoulia!

((((Hugs))))

The barn is, um, cleaner? It is not clean, but it is done for now. It is better than it was when the farm sitter came in March.

I still have a lot to do - I am not at all packed yet, but I guess I will get off in the morning.

I kind of want to stay and work on my basement. The kids said I can get rid of the books I asked about. But I am looking forward to seeing my mom! And my dad.

Great work, SubC! And the kids are showing good habits by not taking the books!

I did not do anything last night after all. Such is life.

I have to get ready for work. I see my post last night was fragmented. What I meant was I found out a friend was with him yesterday and I was so glad to hear he had support. He had three or four professional movers, the container, and his friend.

I need to get ready for work. Have a good day, everyone!

Good morning!

CM, how is the energy project going?

Oh, mid July Tatoulia. He's going very soon. ((Hug)).

Lila, how great that you can now save time and money and gain space by shopping your closet instead of the store! Bins of like things are a good solution for deep shelves.

Dh is going to play golf this morning and Bean's family is going to go get together with friends. They will all be back around nap time. It's going to be a beautiful day, so I will try to get some things done outside. We are going to visit family soon and I want to leave the garden in good shape so the farm sitter only has to deal with the animals. There is really nothing harvest yet, so I don't want to ask her to weed! My pile of "wash this and take it to be recycled" next to the hose in the yard is down to two items. (Doesn't mean there isn't more in the barn, but this is a good start.)

I also want to work on the basement again, but not on nice days.

His movers and shipping container arrive this week. He is leaving before the 19th. Also, I went on the museum's website and I don't see the thing I thought was coming. I bet it was Tiny Treasures that just opened and I thought he'd miss. We saw it (and adored it) Friday night. If he's still here next Friday, I'll see if he wants to go back to the museum.

We are strong today. Yesterday, I took my car up to his place so I could help block off parking for the container.

I am going to shower then make breakfast yes it's 130PM. I'm a late bloomer.

Lila, your pace of deacquisition is very inspiring. You are really getting that momentum rolling. Bet it feels great to yeet those unwanted bottles of products and just have only what you know you like and will use. And SubC, I'm glad you had some willing helpers to quickly take stuff off your hands. 🙂 I'm getting a donation bag going - and it will follow my newer intention to not let donations stick around very long at all. It's not that far to a place to drop off stuff, and that place is on my way to church and other places I routinely go, so it's convenient. So I should just be dropping off more frequent smaller bunches of stuff instead of waiting and having my van so full.

Tatoulia (and anyone else who knows please chime in), do you know by any chance if Mrs. Meyers is okay for washing a Minky blanket? Mine is past due because I haven't been sure how to wash it since I got it. I've been Googling instructions about how to wash them because I don't want to mess it up - it is so pretty and snuggly and has bunnies printed on it (what else, lol?).

Some instructions say just to use baking soda and white vinegar. My roommate has an HE (high efficiency) washer now and I did find one article on The Spruce about how to use those in HE washers. And other articles say not to use scented - but do the natural scents in Mrs. Meyers count, or do you think they just mean don't use artificial chemical perfumed stuff? The Mrs. Meyers is pricey, but if I knew it would be good for my blanket I'd splurge one time. A delicate scent I think would be nice for the blanket if it's possible to get one without using the wrong kind of product. Mrs. Meyers has a honeysuckle one that sounds kind of nice, and even a Baby one that has honeysuckle and a few other ingredients. I wish they sold small sample bottles!

I am making progress in the caffeine optimization department. Although I bought the sun tea jar, we were in a hurry so I've gotten a couple of big cups of convenience store tea over the weekend, but then I'll make my oolong like tomorrow. My energy is returning. Also the clouds cleared up and the sun has been out yesterday and today. That also helped. It was almost as gloomy as winter a few days last week. And maybe it hits a person harder when she's been used to bright summer days. Although like I said before, this spring-summer season has had odd weather patterns overall.

Will be semi-busy this coming week - light bunny club writing/graphics work Tuesday afternoon, evening Inkscape class Wednesday, routine doctor appointment Friday afternoon, and birthday party for bunny club lady on Saturday. Nothing too demanding. It is going to shoot up hot, to around a hundred midweek. All this rain we've had could be lurking as humidity and make more storms, or it could just end up being hot sunny July days. We won't know until it gets here, I don't think.

Good evening.

CM, doesn't the blanket have washing instructions?

Tatoulia, can you take some time off this week?

I got the larger of the two "wash and recycle" items washed, finished making and setting up my tomato cages, and washed 5 feed bags to use for sorting out my next round of recycling. Those last two tidied up the barn a scootch.

Worked a little more in the basement also.

My donation run is Tuesday. I keep Bean tomorrow - we're going to the library and probably feed store. We picked blackberries tonight and he ate all he could hold but is still excited about blackberries for breakfast tomorrow.

Good morning, everyone!

Have a great day with Bean, SubC! I thought about taking time off and determined it's best if I work. I'll go in tomorrow and Wednesday, to keep myself occupied. BF took the lamp today, so it's out of the house.

Cm I'd use any type of detergent as long as it has no softeners in it. No Downey. be careful to use only the smallest amount. Only a quarter of what you'd usually use and do not put in the dryer. If your machine has a delicate cycle, use that with an extra rinse. Cold water only and hang to dry. You won't need to buy anything new provided you have powder or liquid with zero softeners.

Lila, checking in to see how you are feeling after all that work! Mentally, emotionally, and physically.

good morning all! So nice to read all the new posts today. Re: minky - I used liquid "baby" laundry detergent, but just a little bit, and hand washed in the sink. Then hung to try. Maybe a slight tumble afterwards to soften it up... like 5 min on low.

I feel very good about the declutter. I am lower energy this morning, so drinking caffeine and thinking about doing that top shelf in the closet so it is all done.

I am supposed to be working from home but bah, don't wanna. Will make some calls soon. I had my granddaughters for a couple hours yesterday and the day before and that was so nice. But toys on every table in the living room. Thinking about a new storing solution for them aside from just toybox and coffee table. But won't buy anything new for that.

Will check back in!

Oooh that Iowa Pine sent of Mrs Meyers is like liquid gold, Lila! I'm jealous that you have a bottle.

Very satisfying day you had with help getting things out, SubC, congratulations!

Good work not buying the jackfruit when you have fruit at home, CM!

I LOVE the postcard idea, SubC! Will do. There's something coming mid July that I know he would have liked.

Okay I'm breathing.

That museum sounds very interesting. I looked up the potters. I had never heard of this before. Thank you for sharing it.

It has been a very long time since I have gone to a museum. Maybe that is something I can do.

I just finished making the dessert for tomorrow; it is after 9 pm. I wiped up the kitchen and got most of the dishes to fit in the dishwasher, which is running. I wish Son was up to help me clean a little more, since family will be coming over starting in the morning and lasting through the day... maybe with a break in the middle. One of my kids has to work in the afternoon so it complicates the timing a bit, but we will make it work.

I did not get much else done around the house. I got a trash bag and took it in my bedroom but there was nothing I could see to throw away. That's progress, right??

Tatoulia, that does look interesting.

My husband's cousin is a potter and he did a major project based on the face jugs some time ago. I tried to google it, but it appears to be buried somewhere in cyberspace now. It doesn't help that his name is the same as a professional basketball player.

Dd is having her tub refinished today, so her family will be arriving soon to stay for the weekend. They only have one bathroom.

Lila, I am very excited that there is no trash in your bedroom!

Tatoulia. There was a period seven years ago when it was a good day if I ate and took a shower. You are doing fine. Just keep breathing.

I would like to suggest a project for you while BF is gone. Go to exhibits you think he would like, buy a post card (or several) and write notes to him about the exhibit and mail them off. It will be both a distraction and a connection.

I found a few small things to donate yesterday.

Ok, must get moving. I slept late.

Happy Saturday

Am currently working on optimizing my caffeine intake. Weird weather for July - cooler and frequently rainy, overcast. Makes me sleepy and unmotivated. Went to the Asian market yesterday for the first time since pre-Covid, maybe longer. Got Oolong tea (learned that tea has caffeine levels from white through green and oolong to black). Here's a link about it:

Tea facts of interest

So today, hopefully, my energy will return a little.

Also got ginger candies - ginger is healthy in several ways, and I hadn't had any for awhile. You can of course get ginger tea but the candies are tasty and easy to pop one on the go.

It was fun looking around in there, seeing different foods that aren't in the ordinary supermarket - it is something that interests me and there are times when I get more exploratory with different things, especially fruits, in a way that as a picky eater might expand my palate in a fun, non stressful way. I'm thinking about trying ube and pandan flavored things. The colors are pretty!

Almost bought a tray of jackfruit pieces, because my Filipina former roommate introduced me to jackfruit and I like it very much. But we have watermelon still to eat up so I thought better wait. The watermelon has been blah - too early, trucked in, lacking in flavor and sweetness. But later we'll have local ones. I know that the senior center has a program for low income vouchers to the farmer's market so I may get one of those so I could get a good watermelon or cantaloupe, or peaches, etc.

Hey, looks like the sun is peeking out a little - it will get humid quickly if it sticks around.

I like your postcard idea for Tatoulia, SubC. We are so used to electronics now, but it is so fun to get a special piece of real mail!

CM, my father lived overseas when he was in the military, so when he came back, he always had interesting asian foods for me as a child. I remember him making tempura, which was a favorite. And he would go to the asian market and get wasabi peas. And he would get those sesame snack crackers, the ones that look glazed. They were so yummy! Also I recall one of his favorite snacks was dried squid. It came in a little clear pouch and I guess those were baby squids because he would eat them, with real tentacles with suction cups on them, and they were the size of a finger! I did try them, they tasted like fish jerky. So there you go if you want to really expand your palate!

We had one son and his girlfriend over this morning for a bit, with Teen and the youngest Son (the one who lives with me) and had a nice visit. Now there is a break, and the other son and his wife and Tot and Acorn will be over at 5. I am looking forward to it. The only thing I am not super excited about is Hoarder Ex is also coming by to see Teen, but he has been decent so as long as he does not start dredging through his hoard in the 'rental space' he has downstairs, I will be fine.

I think I will drink some caffeine and try to get a bit of sorting done, since I have time. I don't have that far to go to hit 500/1000 items gone and that is motivating to me! Love the Daily Tally thread!

post 2 -

I was struggling with getting anything done in my bedroom, so I turned to the hall closet. Took everything from 3 main shelves out, threw away 35+ items that are old and expired, dusted every item before putting it back in an organized manner. I moved a few items to other areas so they can be used. The closet looks SO much better and things are where we can find them now! I am proud of myself. Some of this stuff has been in there more than a decade and I was unable to get rid of it. I am making progress emotionally, I think.

Lila, that is amazing! What sort of stuff lives in the hall closet?

You are making so much progress!

Dd helped me in the basement for awhile while Bean napped today. We sorted things into piles by theme (recycle, trash, donate, holidays, baby library, art..), and then we had moments like this:

Dd "oh! This is cool! (Bean) is almost ready for this. Can I take it home?"
Me "yes!"

Dd "hey, can we borrow that kite?"
Me "yes!"

Me "I'm supposed to give this back to (heartdaughter) but I keep forgetting."
Dd (who lives 5 minutes from heartdaughter) "here, give it to me, I'll put it in my car."

Me "I don't know what to do with this. Your brother left it here."
Dd texts brother "he says donate it."

And so on.

I found ds's little firemen that I have been searching for to go with Bean's firetruck since March! Now they are in the fire truck instead of a box.

Dd also pointed out "you have a lot of empty containers. If you put all of this random stuff into the containers, the volume would be cut by almost half. Even if you don't sort it or get rid of anything. Then you would have more space to sort out one container at a time." I think she is wrong about "almost half" but yes, it would cut down a lot.

I did fill one empty canning jar box with canning jars and put them back in the cupboard in better order.

SubC! That sounds great! What a good help she is to you. Very good, it is so nice to see progress, find the lost things, send things to where they need to go, isn't it?

This hall closet is tall, narrow, and deep. I think it is meant for towels and such. We have towels on the bottom 2 shelves (which I re-folded and straightened and dusted the shelves) but things had begin to spread to those shelves as well, so to get a towel you would have to move a couple bottles of cleaners or lotions or whatnot.

The top shelf, which I need a stool for, I did not sort. It is almost all cleaners.

The other shelves have many things living in them.
Vitamins/supplements that are not in daily use
Bottles of dog shampoo, dog ear medicines, dog this and that.
Bottles of human shampoos, conditioners, lotions, bug repellants, hand creams, that kind of thing.
Toothpastes, floss, new toothbrushes all got put into a little stacking bin. Then supplements the kids use are in another little bin now, and some other ones are in the third little bin. So that is all neat now.

It was so bad that if a kid said "mom I need shampoo" I would just go buy them a bottle since I did not want to dig through dozens of bottles in the closet!

Now, there are just a few shampoos/conditioners, a body was, and a lotion. All lined up neatly so you can see them. All the rest got tossed. All the dog related things are in one corner, easy to see (some got tossed). Any vitamins/supplements that did not get tossed are now lined up in rows where I can see them. Band aids and q tips on a little rack in there.

It is profoundly better, looks nice, AND we can find what we need and it won't be so old and gross that it has separated into clumps! I threw those out.

I feel so good about this! I have family on their way for dinner, but after that, I might even do a little more sorting of cleaners. I already found 2 of those nice scented Mrs Meyers cleaners, one in peony and one in pine. I feel happy 🙂

Ok, I'm feeling pretty crummy. Sore arm, headache, nausea.

Not sure how much of this I did to myself though, since I picked berries and peas. I have been drinking a lot of water. Hopefully if I sit for a little while I'll feel better.

Tatoulia, I think you should give it the ten minutes!

Currently my goals have been reduced to "drink, eat, shower." Possibly not in that order.

Well, it is 6:15. I just got out of the shower. I ate lunch at 5.

My sheets are in the washing machine and I have turned the 4 cups of blackberries and one cup of black raspberries I picked into 2 and 3/4 jelly jars of jam.

The dishwasher is running, but about half the jam mess didn't fit.

My head still hurts, my arm still hurts, the nausea came back after I ate, and I'm feeling very tired. Whine, whine.

I did also put away most of the groceries I bought yesterday and pick and wash some lettuce that is in the fridge ready to use (had some in my sandwich for "lunch")

Good morning!

My headache appears to be gone, my arm is less sore, and my stomach is open to negotiations, so today should be better.

Dh and I are going to do yoga shortly when he gets up.

I did finish all but one thing on my list yesterday, but that was only because I made a very short list.

Today's list is longer because I am not keeping up.

How is everyone else doing?

Good morning all.

SubC, glad you are feeling better. Tatoulia, I hope you are having an okay day. Depression is so hard. It is immobilizing at times. I hope you find comfort in today.

I am off today. I have been in a sour mood because of some upcoming uncertainty around my kids and grands. And Ex the Hoarder came around to visit Teen, and I don't like the reminder of what a d*ck he is. And someone I really like was condescending to me the other day and I came home and cried a little and am just in a grouchy mood about all of this. But I am trying to make things better.

Today already, before 9 am I have:
- taken 2 bags of trash out for the trash collection today
- decluttered 8 unopened covid tests that were in my bedroom and spare room (counted on the Daily Tally)
- loaded the dishwasher
- had coffee and read on the deck
- fed the dogs

I need to make a special dessert today for our family dinner tomorrow. I need to run to the store to get one last ingredient I need, plus a few other items. I need to stop at the pharmacy to pick up Son's med.

I feel so irritable. How can I turn this around? I don't want to be a grouch all day.

Well Lila, it is afternoon now, so I hope you found a way to save your day.

I was going to say maybe a change of scenery or some exercise (walk the dog?) or a break to do something fun by yourself for at least fifteen minutes..

Maybe call a friend?

I am having a pretty good day. I scheduled my mammogram (a year late) for Tuesday. It is halfway to the thrift store I prefer for donating and also like to shop at. So, my reward will be shopping, but I am also going to try to use the trip to motivate me to do some more clearing out so I can drop things as well. I have a pile started and it will be good to get it out of the house.

Thanks, SubC. Yes, I managed to feel a good bit better. I was feeling so icky that I needed a change of scenery (good idea!) and went to run my errands. I got the ingredients I need, some clearance toys for the grands who have birthdays coming up, a few other things needed.

The best thing I got is new toilet brushes! I got the cheap $5 ones in holders for each bathroom and threw out the old nasty ones. I feel better about my bathrooms now.

I also went by the donation place and gave them all the stuff that I have been putting in the back of my car to donate. Love it when it's really gone!

Just had some Coke and cheese. Might do a little more decluttering, we'll see. Still in sort of a mood but not angry anymore.