Well, it is getting into late afternoon. I feel so stalled and frozen but I did take my large furry dog to the self serve dog wash and washed him, which is a bigger task than it sounds like. I was there at least 2 hours. I was soaked and covered in hair when I got home. But he is clean, nearly dry, and happy.

I also washed the dog beds/covers. The innards of the beds are out on the deck airing out. I also vacuumed and cleaned the floor of his crate.

The living room is close to done.

- vacuumed most of the carpet
- dusted a bit more
- put things away

I have a dilemma pile of tv/vcr remotes, I dunno, maybe a dozen of them. They were on a shelf behind a chair. I KNOW I don't need all these. They are dusty and who knows what works with what. I started out by lining them up and taking out 3 that I know are universal/newer to save. Out of what's left I found 2 duplicates and put them in the donation bin. Now I have like 7 left. I keep thinking the minute I donate one, I will find what I needed it for. I dunno. I think I will look at the tvs in my house and just keep the remotes that match that brand.

Also I ran errands and Teen is home so I hope that goes well.

Lila, the dog sounds like enough for one day all by itself (exclamation point)

I had a good day with Bean. We cut willow starts and played and I ran a load of wash and a load of dishes.

He had fun feeding the baby chickens. And we went for a walk and played outside. Finally the weather is a little better.

I was �bad� today, but I don’t regret it.

Bean loves the little plastic animals that my kids collected when they were young. (Remember the big Daddy sheep?) they are very well made and realistic, and I got him a T-Rex (�big chomp� for Christmas. Dd took her share from her childhood home and he plays with the rest here.

Anyway, I got an email that they were having a buy two get one free sale. Then I started putting things in and out of my cart to see how close I could come to free shipping (forty-one cents over the minimum if anyone wonders) I abandoned the cart so many times they sent me a ten percent off coupon if I ordered within 48 hours. So basically, I got 43% off and free shipping. (Could not avoid the tax, but it was just state and not local) I bought a lot of animals.

I will put a couple in his Easter basket and save some for surprises here and there is his birthday and Christmas….

You were not bad, SubC. You did a good job and this will bring both you and grandson a,or if plewsure! Yay for the coupon.

I got the trash out tonight and I did two loads of laundry during the day. I just showered and the dishwasher is running. The dear little cat is hugging me.

I called my pharmacist today because some of the meds are giving me trouble. He will be straightening this out. This is the pharmacist at the hospital, not the one at the drugstore.

I have a lot to do tmr. I am not sure of what meetings I have so I’ll try to fit in a few errands during the day.

Keep up the good work, everyone. Lila, congratulations for getting rid of the remotes. Press through the feeling that you may need them some day. Work through it. It is a very good thing to change the mindset from what if I need it someday to I do not need it now. This helped me immensely. Let me know how it works for you.

Will bring you and your grandson a lot of pleasure! Not whatever I wrote

You look up your average last frost date and count back - I’m a touch early, but I have a greenhouse. When I put things in pots, they usually die.

What do you like to eat that is expensive or hard to get?

I washed some laundry and put it in the dryer.
I touched up my dad’s pot - it’s better now.
I finished cleaning off my hand building table
I emptied and started the dishwasher
I hardboiled some eggs
I started peppers, eggplant, rosemary, ground cherries, and cherry tomatoes.

Bean is going to a Super Bowl party tonight and I will pick him up tomorrow.

this is a long thread of updates now! I hope it inspires some new people to start somewhere.

Today I am working from home and not feeling well but getting things done:

- picked up all the dvds and videos that Teen knocked over. Dusted and put back together the shelf, which is now rickety and needs some nails at some point. Dusted the movies and put them on the shelf.
- chose 2 dvds to donate.
-vacuumed the area around the shelf.
- put in a load of towels to wash

I keep getting interrupted by calls and texts but will drink some coffee and try to get going again.

Puttering with the computer - I'll be glad to get these file directories streamlined. I think even the computer itself might be glad. Yesterday it gave me the Blue Screen of Death! ð?'»ð??± I hope I fixed it with the scans and updates I ran. I've been asking a lot of it with my moving things from one place to another. Not that the RAM is not up to the task, but perhaps there's some sort of confusion. Although the BSOD happened when I was on Facebook (which they have tinkered with until it's a blasted convoluted mess anymore to try and do anything on with groups or even commenting on a post anymore - but that's a rant for another day).

Otherwise just a quiet Sunday. Yesterday got a bit hectic with working on stuff for the bunny club - just kept having additional graphics to make for the newsletter and such. They turned out rather cute though, announcements for upcoming events. I'm still kind of fried from the last week and a half but recovering.

Blue Screen of Death emojis, second try:

ð?'»ð??±

hi CM! Emotional stuff is hard to recover from. I am dealing with that as well. Makes it so hard to get anything done.

Like today, I force myself off the couch, I do maybe a tiny thing like just move the recliner back to where it should be and then I need a break. I also folded the electric blanket at put it away and that was the only thing I could handle in that moment. I am really struggling.

I am reheating some pizza. So many things I need to do and feel frozen to do anything. It is giving me a headache.

Lila, be kind to yourself. You are getting stuff done.

CM, something is weird here - I can’t use apostrophes or exclamation marks.

Road, how is your son?

MyLife, did you come back?

Tatoulia?

I made five new pieces (three still need work) and a mess in my studio. That is ok, it is a productive mess. I have almost finished using up the clay I bought that I don’t like. I found a new box of clay to use for my class this week. I started rehydrating some more old clay I have in buckets.

Dh made dinner and I put the leftovers away.

I started another load of laundry.

I didn’t really tell you guys about remixing the clay at school - someone gave me an industrial kitchen mixer and it was amazing (insert exclamation mark) they gave it to ME not the school, so I can bring it home this summer and get a lot of the old clay back into usable form (insert another exclamation mark)

Ok, chores to do. Still working on not staying up too late.

Quick check in. I’m maintaining here and doing a bit better. My no spend January was excellent and I’m glad.

So about a week and a half ago I looked the kitty in her eyes and I could tell it was time to say goodbye. I decided to take her back to the shelter where I met her and I left a message. I just wanted to close the loop. She was a very good cat for 18 years in my house. They called me back, using her shelter name, and they couldn’t believe that the sick stray I took in back in 2005 was still alive! and I made the appt for Friday to put her to sleep. My friend Emiko came for dinner Thursday night to say goodbye and BF spent Friday afternoon here. I worked from home on Friday. We were very sad when we took her to the clinic attached to the shelter but we were pretty good about not crying in front of her. We were wrecks and I was really wailing as we left the clinic. We came back here and had dinner. On Sunday, a week ago, we went to the shelter just to look and they had a very sweet 14 yo cat that no one wanted. She’s a tiny thing, only 6 lbs. she will live out her days here. She is affectionate and sweet. I love looking over at kitty’s chair and seeing this little fluffball sound asleep. She settled right in and is grateful to have a home after months in the shelter. I am happy to have a little soul here.

I have some clutter to deal with tmr. I’ll be so glad when I make a decision on it. I had a pretty good day today, saw mom, did a small grocery shop for her, did only one load of laundry, then went to a different grocery store for me. I got my recycling out and did other things that made me feel better.

Jeans I haven’t been able to wear fit me! Some of my pretty tops are fitting me, too!

So that’s the news. I merely skimmed everyone’s posts. What is going on with the font, dear SubC?

Hello to all. Road, I’m thinking of your dear son.

Oh no my font is crazy, too!

Oh Tatoulia, I’m so sorry about dear kitty. It sounds as though you and your new friend are caring for each other though. I hope she has many years with you. Mr. Kitty is almost 13 and still strong and healthy.

How wonderful that your clothes are fitting again (exclamation mark) - lol

hmmm, I made a post last night I think, responding to you guys and offering kitty condolences, but I don't see it now.

I also hit a milestone last night in the Daily Tally. I had made a goal to get rid of 1000 items from my home (straight-up trash not included) and yesterday I hit 100 items gone. I am proud of myself. This is motivating me to continue.

I am feeling brain fogged and need to make a list of goals for today.

1- wash dog
2- wash dog beds
3- finish living room

Maybe that is enough for now.

Thanks everyone!

Lila, great work! I’ll make a list too. I did take care of one phone call (cancelling cable for brother) so that’s done. I still have one more personal call.

I’m doing a quick load of laundry. I am behind.

Keep up the good work!

Lila, you are making progress. Progress is good.

I am having a lovely time at the retreat. The chicks are all settled in their new coop and I dumped a wheelbarrow full of bedding in the garden. I took a first try at throwing a pot my dad wants (not sure I’m pleased enough with the pot to fire it, but I’m quite pleased with myself - it’s one of the largest things I’ve ever thrown in one piece.)

I put three things into the trash instead of trying to clean them for recycling while I was working on the chick pen. This is very hard for me, but I know I’m going to have to accept it. I need to spend my time elsewhere, and I will just keep working at not bringing home things that will become trash. And perhaps eventually I’ll get to a place where I can help other people reduce their trash.

Not by bringing it to my house! One example: people at work keep asking me about eggs. If I had more time and energy, I would have more chickens and be able to sell them eggs, and they could use the same egg carton week after week. And when I was selling eggs at work before, some people brought me their food scraps for my chickens because they couldn’t compost where they lived. (But now I have installed a compost bin at school.)

Tatoulia, are you ok? It is not like you to be gone so long. I am worried.

It sounds like a very good day retreating, SubC! I am glad to hear it.

I am still struggling and losing steam but not quitting. I managed to vacuum up the dust bunnies in my bedroom. And finished unloading the dishwasher.

I also dusted one shelf on the entertainment center, that's how slow going this is...

And I also took the batteries out of the baby swing, which is the first step in putting it away.

Plugging along...

I got the work thing done. It took all day but I did it. However last night and today there were some Teen rages. Had to call the crisis people to help. Teen is away getting help now. But the results are papers and stuff thrown all over the house, broken glass everywhere, many broken CDs/cases, several broken coffee mugs, a coffee maker and pot, a lamp, a water pitcher, and a tv all destroyed. I am not counting them in my daily tally because it was not by choice.

I am exhausted and cancelled my work for today and the rest of the week. I was supposed to go to a party tonight but cannot. I will get back to work on Monday. I am decompressing and listening to the silence. I will finish cleaning up the glass etc after I sit a bit. I think it might help me feel better to declutter a bit during this time off.

final update of the night. It's getting close to 9pm and I am done.

- folded the rest of the laundry and put it away
- put away Tot's books and toys in the living room
- put away random items in the living room
- had Son put the baby swing and bassinet downstairs since Acorn is too big now
- moved the recliner back to where the baby swing was
- vacuumed a lot of hair and dust bunnies from various areas
- dusted the rest of the tv stand
- got all the stuff off my bed so I can sleep
- washed a plastic basket that looked dirty, dried it and put the dog toys in it
- began to pick up the mess behind the other recliner, where Teen threw all the dvds and broke the shelf. I am done though and will have to finish this tomorrow.

And that's enough for today. I did put a towel in the donate bin. Oh, I was going to try to make it to 100 items (total tally) today and I didn't quite get there. Maybe tomorrow.

Oh Lila, I'm so very sorry.

I'm glad teen has somewhere to go for help. You do whatever best helps you. Hopefully you have a spot where you can regroup without staring at the messes.

I am working on the going to bed early plan.

Stayed after at school to remix clay and haven't really gotten much else done. - ate? Talked to Bean and dd1 on FaceTime.

Lila, you are doing well with your tally. And you are moving steadily - that’s important.

My evening fell apart last night. I’m not even sure why. And then I didn’t sleep well. I dreamed I was fighting with Dh all night. I had set an alarm so I would get up at a more consistent time (part of trying to fix my sleep) and it went off in the middle of a dream - Dh had brought his mother to help clean out my house!. I woke up groggy and mad at Dh. I decided to stay in bed until my brain reoriented and I stopped being mad.

I don’t know when Bean is coming today because his mommy wants to watch the Super Bowl. Maybe at a friend’s house. Maybe here with Bean.

I really need to start seeds today. I want to work in the studio some more, and the weather is supposed to be nice and my barn could use some work….

Tomorrow is willow day (I always cut starts on (or near) the 13th and set them in water to root.) How many actually get planted varies, and the deer eat 90% of them, but it’s fun and easy. I’ll get Bean to walk out with me to cut them.

I sat on the front porch for a long time. No messes there. Small rickety porch but sort of secluded because of the way my house is built.

SubC, are you sleeping better? Are you trying to get a certain number of hours? I have been drinking "mushroom" coffee for a month. It is 7 mushrooms in a powder form. You can drink it alone but I add it to a cup of decaf. It has Lions Mane, Cordyceps, some other ones. It has really helped my sleep but does not make me tired. Just sleep quality is better.

I woke up to the quietest house. Teen still away. Son asleep. Company left to stay with friends because they were so upset by Teen's behavior. Well, I can't say I hate having some time to myself.

So far, and it is not even 9am yet, I:

- took out some trash, bins are by the road
- put my wash into the dryer
- put sheets and blankets, odds and ends of Teen's into the wash, piled up the dirty towels
- spent some time with the cat
- read the Bible
- made coffee
- brought up some ground beef out of the freezer and it's in the sink to thaw (will make taco meat for son)
- brought up frozen roll dough from the freezer and put them in a pan to thaw to bake
- got a frozen little lasagna out and brought it up for my dinner or lunch

Not bad for early morning. I am waiting for the coffee to brew and will grab a cup. My goals for today are to get my bedroom decluttered some, and to clean up my kitchen table, bar/counter that is a landfill, and living room because with all the trauma in my life it is possible someone might drop by to check on me and I don't need to be embarrassed.

What are you all doing today?

Good morning SubC. How do you know when to start planting things? Maybe I can plant something this year. My ex used to plant things. Things I plant seem to die. Maybe I can do some herbs or something in a pot. What's an easy thing to grow in a big pot outside? And maybe in a small pot in a windowsill?

I was kind of sick last night so up from about 3 to 6 running to the bathroom. I still have rumbles in my guts and have to work this morning; I already told them I am working from home today.

I hope to get the living room finished today.

Update for accountability:

- folded my laundry
- put blankets and sheets in dryer and towels in washer
- sorted food, threw some stuff out, found 2 things to donate
- baked rolls, ate one with breakfast
- brought up a box of produce and am about to post some for free online, I have too much

I will keep updating and hope someone else comes and posts too!

still working...

- put together a large box of extra produce and legumes and gave them away online
- talked to Teen for an hour, not sure how productive this was

I want to clean my room and the counter/bar, but I need to make a few calls first. Feeling a bit pressed.

Lila, you got a lot done today!

I was at school. Brought more home than I took, but it's mostly borrowed. A few things that are mine that I was using as examples.

Tired now and thinking about dinner.

Oh, I forgot to respond to the sleep thing - people keep trying to help me. Once I lay down in bed, I am asleep in less than ten minutes, I do not wake up unless:
My alarm goes off in the morning
Dh gets up and makes a bunch of noise or turns on a light
The cat knocks something over with a resounding crash
The power comes back on (after not bothering me by going off) and causes the fire alarm to beep
Major thunderstorm.

The tornado siren seems very loud when I am awake but doesn't wake me up.

My problem is I will be really tired, but keep surfing online because I am "too tired" to drag my butt upstairs to bed, or I will be really tired but have to do things (or sometimes need a few minutes to let my brain unwind after doing things - which if I'm not careful turns into "too tired to drag my butt to bed".)

6:30 and already I'm sagging.

oh I see. I have done that SubC. Sitting on the couch surfing because I am too tired to get up and go to bed. Glad you are attempting to fix this habit!

I did get a lot done today and need to give myself credit. This is why I am glad I share here. Otherwise I think, "I got nothing done!" I forget so easily.

I made soup for lunch.
I sorted my tub of papers and got out the things that are most urgent to get done.
I gave away a second box of produce.

I think Tot and Acorn and their mom are coming over and I will make some tacos. Very informal tacos.

I am VERY glad I took tomorrow off, too. I did not fully relax today with people asking me about my stressful things and Teen getting a ride from a friend and coming here which makes me anxious more things could be broken. But hopefully having friend here will prevent that. They are supposed to be going to friend's house for the night. And then going back to the other place.

I hope to get a few more things done after they leave and before my grandkids come.

another post for accountability.

- made tacos for dil and grandkids for dinner
- looked around downstairs, gathered some of ex's stuff and put it in a tub already in his room
- put one more item in the donate bin
- folded sheets and blankets from the dryer and put them away

I am trying really hard but I am tired.

Lila, you got an amazing amount of stuff done yesterday and you were dealing with a big emotional load! Of course you are tired!

Dorothy Parker said "it's not the tragedies that kill us, it's the messes."

I'm trying to have sort of a "retreat" today where I ignore my house and just focus on the barn and my studio. Studio first (after chores) because it's cold outside.

I went to bed at a reasonable hour and got up this morning only a bit later than usual. Lately I've been still asleep at this hour on saturdays if I didn't have to go somewhere.