Good morning!

Tatoulia, I did not explain that properly.

I have a wish list of books on that site (mostly kids books I have gotten from the library with Bean and would love to read over and over with every grandchild, or copies of much loved books I want to give Birdy because he is not here often - his mother also loves books and reads to him every day. The basement renovation they are doing is going to include 60ft of bookshelf for Birdy). I STOPPED when I got to free shipping and had used my bonus points. But I let myself order now because the bonus points would expire. My next order from them will probably be in August unless an out of print book I have been searching for comes up, or they have a new amazing deal, because in august my free book reward expires, and the next time I order I will get a new free book reward, which will then expire eventually, so I want to delay that to discourage myself from buying all the books.

Also, I would like four more of those jar covers, (4 pints each of the five flavors I make to get me through 5 months when the goats are dry - 1 pint of ice cream per week) but they did not offer me one more discounted set. Originally I was going to start with 8 because I STOPPED at free shipping. They have arrived already, and my assessment is: easy to put on, hard to take off, which should mean they will stay on in the freezer, and heavy enough to protect the jars.

I am still feeling guilty about not crafting covers from materials I already have. But maybe this is a "trading money for time" situation. I have been storing my ice cream in Ball plastic freezer containers, which break when they are dropped or fall in the freezer, and the lids have been starting to develop cracks over time with multiple uses. Also the shape is less efficient for filling the freezer. Because the broken ones are recycling, I have not been counting them as objects out.

If this was somebody else posting, I would say - ok, get rid of the yarn and sixteen plastic freezer containers. I am thinking about it. I can't do it yet. Especially the yarn. I think I will knit something else. Or do crafts with Bean.

Anyway, I am glad your house is providing you with a sanctuary from the heat!

I slept late, so I need to go do my outside work before it gets hotter!

Thanks for the clarification SubC! Was trying to protect you from overbuying! You have a good plan and I love the fantastic bookshelf for your grandson! Wowie!

Too hot to try to get outside today. It is miserable. I gave my elderly cat a quick wipe with cat safe aloe wipes. Trying to keep her cool. She won't sleep in her cooling pad so I'll hide it under her towel. I'm not sure she weighs enough to activate it but we shall see. Other cat is doing okay.

I was hoping to be able to open the windows in the AM and cool down my place but it looks like we have one more day to go. I'll be in office tmr but I'm not going to stay my usual lateness because I'll want to get home to the cats. I generally stay until at least seven.

The cleaning lady for my neighbors was around today so I dropped off my usual waters plus I had two pair of jeans I had planned to donate and I know she takes clothes to her church so she took them. She also took my neighbor's mail into his apartment. I had nearly a month's worth of his mail here.

This weekend I must get to the cat shelter with donations as well as the textile recycling. Every single bit helps.

Good morning!

Tatoulia, how are the cats? I miss Mr. Kitty. He would be lying on the cool basement floor in this weather.

I understood what you were saying about the shopping. I will only add an extra item to get free shipping if the extra item is less than the shipping. For example - the book shipping is almost $9. So I even if I had no books left on my list, I would add a random kids book to my order that cost less than that if it put me over free shipping - I can always leave it in a little free library if it is disappointing.

Vacation has seemed to give me a bad case of the wants. We took our own pillows on vacation, and when I put mine on my mother's lovely guest bed, I realized how faded and worn my pillow case looked. The brand she had on the bed is having a summer sale, and I bought 4! Sets of sheets. (For my bed and the guest beds) I now need to clean out my linens - the pillowcase was from my "nice" set. Now the company has sent me a discount on my next order - including sale items, and they also have towels on sale. Do I NEED new towels? - no. Would it be nice to have new towels? - yes. When did I last buy towels? I don't know. But I know it was two on sale to get free shipping on sheets.

The jar cover place has also sent me another discount. - do I or don't I...

I think part of it is that I am trapped in the house in this heat, and my brain is screaming at me that these are the long days of abundance when everything must be gathered and tucked away for the scarcity of winter. I went to the grocery store yesterday and bought - sugar (to make ice cream), soy sauce (for greens), Mayo and rye bread (for egg salad sandwiches), cherries (because they were gorgeous and on sale), and diet soda (because it is hot and I am addicted to caffeine). That is my grocery shopping for the week. (Plus my bulk order of almonds) I have plenty of flour, rice, lentils, and beans.

Today I need to work in the pottery studio - I start a new firing class next week.

Getting inspired is the hard part, SubC, at least for me! But I keep on trying.

Today so far I
- pulled weeds
- cut back a rose plant
- watered the raspberries
- picked up some stuff in the yard
- brought the dog out with me as I did this, which took longer than doing the actual work, lol (finding a collar, finding a long line, getting her to be calm to be leashed, getting her out and tying the long line...
- unloaded part of the dishwasher (it is now Tot's job, but I took out the things I wanted put away in my room)
- put in a load of wash

I also shopped online a bit for dog food and texted a lady who invited me to lunch.

I really MUST get my master bathroom cleaned up. There is stuff all over the vanity! There is just so much to do, and now my hours at work increased which is good but I have not been using my time wisely.

Good morning!

We have been visiting with my parents and having a lovely time with too much food. I helped mom clean out a drawer. - bit like bailing a boat with a spoon.

I have been gifted two items so far. More detailed information later.

We are going to my in-laws' today bean and birdy's families arrived there last night. Dd2 hopefully arrives today. Her flights have been a logistical disaster.

Sometimes it really is like bailing a boat with a spoon! I feel that way a lot.

Yesterday I got so many little tiny things done, a lot that I have been putting off for weeks or months. For example, I changed the water filters in my pitcher and the faucet. I made an appointment for my next dental cleaning. I wrote up a work schedule that people have been waiting for me to write. I found the vitamin B12. I got out the ant bait and set it up. I bought some law balm online for my dog.

It feels like nothing got done since they are a lot of little things, but it feels got to check off so many boxes and get those things out of my head.

Today I am having a lunch meeting. I did some reading. I also loaded the dishwasher which is running and hand washed the dog bowl holder.

My main goals for today are
- walk the dog at some point, even a short walk
- clean that darned master bathroom

I looked around at the bathroom this morning thinking, why am I putting this off for so long? And it is because there are sooo many small tasks involved. Sort pills. Sort cabinets and drawers to make room for things on the vanity. Decide if any of it can go. Wash the things that are dusty. Maybe fill my pill holder, or decide it is not a helpful tool and donate it. Take down the plastic curtain and replace it. Move all the shampoos and stuff so I can clean the tub. Use a tool to clean hair of out the drains.

Only then can I actually start cleaning the bathroom! omg.

I decided it would take me about one hour to do this. So I am committing to going in there and setting a timer for one hour and not stopping til the hour is up. Even if it does not get finished, it will end up being a much easier task.

omg. I feel like I ran a marathon and the bathroom is not even done yet!!! This is why, like I said in my last post, I was putting it off. SO many steps!!

I spent 15 minutes putting all the stuff in there in a box and a bag and moving it out of the bathroom. Then another 10 sorting under the cabinets. The net result was 20 items out!

Then wiped down inside the cabinet and put a few things away. The box and bag are still full.

Then got IN the dry tub with the tool you stick down the drain to pull hair or gunk out. I have been careful not to put my hair down the drain, but it was slow, and omg the gunk that came out. Horrible! I don't even know how it got that bad. Time, I guess. So I got it all out.

Then it smelled bad in the drains so I put baking soda and vinegar down them and waited 15 minutes, rinsed with hot.

THEN I had to clean the stupid air jet tub. I never use it for baths. It was ex's idea. But I shower in there so the jets still have to be cleaned. Put hot water in with dishwasher tabs, ran jets 20 min, drained, rinsed.

THEN sprayed the tub and tile with scrubbing bubbles, waited 15 min, then scrubbed a bit and rinsed.

THEN refilled the tub a few inches of hot (because it has been a long time), and some Dawn and vinegar and it is bubbling now. I will drain, rinse, scrub again, then run the jets with clean cold water. I hate this tub!

So I did ALL of that and scrubbed inside the sink.

I still need to scrub the vanity, clean the toilet, put the plastic curtain back up, wipe down the outside of the tub, wipe the cabinets, sweep and mop the floor, sort all the stuff in the box and bag and things I put on my bed, wipe all the dusty things down, find places for everything or get rid of them. Oh and clean the mirror.

Man I hate this, I can't remember the last time I did a deep clean like this. I always wipe down and disinfect the toilet because that is just necessary to my sanity, but everything else had a layer of dust and/or soap scum on it.

Oh and the lights over the vanity are covered in dust. I need to get a stepstool and wipe them down too. Argh! Please give accolades!!

Lila, I have been reading all of your threads and I am really proud of your progress. I don't have much time to post though - we spent two days with my in-laws and the party went well. Now we are back at my parents' house relaxing. Dsil is out wandering in the woods and both moms, both babies, and my dad are taking naps while everyone else plays games.

Aww, thank you SubC for taking the time to read and answer while you are on vacation! It means a lot that you did that! I hope you are having a wonderful time.

I keep doing SO much, all the little things, and feeling I'm not making progress, but I come here to post what I have done to make me SEE I am doing things. I mean, my list of to do's is not much shorter, but, I am doing things that need to be done.

The master bathroom is still not finished. I can see where it will take me a bit to get each item wiped off and put in a place, wipe cabinets, clean the toilet, mop, etc. But I am chipping away.

Today I:
- got up early and read
- took my dog for a walk around the neighborhood
- washed the dog and conditioned her fur in the backyard with a hose (what a workout!) She is itchy so I used medicated shampoo.
- found and wiped off the things I needed in the bathroom to get ready for the day
- put the plastic curtain back up in the tub
- took a shower
- got ready for work
- took care of a few things online
- went to work for a couple hours and came home
- finished a project, call, and email at home (15 min)

Now I am making homemade mac and cheese to have with the salad greens I was given. After I eat and relax a bit, I will be working at least another hour from home.

Thanks for reading! Now I feel better, like I did have a productive day.

Good morning.

The house is a mess from the boys yesterday. I had them for ten hours and we baked and they had a play in the tub bath. Dd picked them up and stayed for dinner.

And I am awash in eggs and milk.

Lila, I am sorry about teen. But congratulations on your new family member! I too want to hear more. Breed/description, age, color, size, adorable traits...

Yes, I have parents. I am very lucky. I have both original parents who stayed married and are still living on their own. I wish I could see them more often, but I moved far away, and they don't travel far anymore.

I do talk to mom on the phone and FaceTime a lot, dad more rarely, he doesn't really "chat". Dad has slowed down a lot in the last year, which is hard to see, but his health has been bad for so long, he is actually doing really well. Mom takes good care of him.

CM, yay for clearing things out! Enjoy your toad. And your time with boy bunny. No matter how long they stay or how much they exceed expectations, and even though we know going in we will outlive them, the end is hard.

I did not do very much to get ready for the recycling drop, but I have some time this morning. Honestly, it is probably not the best use of my time, but right now I just need to feel like things are leaving my house. Even though recycling is basically maintenance.

Dd and I have a thrift store date tomorrow afternoon, so I am going to get a box ready to take for that as well, and think about what I am looking for.

We have two very large, missing pieces Playmobil pirate ships in the basement that we got in a yard sale bin when ds was small. I wanted to get rid of them, but ds asked me to save them (he has taken most of his stuff from my house, Bean is actively using most of what is left) yesterday ddil went to a yard sale and found a good, complete pirate ship for only $5.50! Now ds says I can donate the ones in the basement! Hurray!

Bean and I put three eggs under his little hen yesterday. He is excited for them to hatch. It violates my "not adding" rule, but Bean will never be almost 5 again, and he is excited about it now.

Ok, so I should do some stuff and not just post about it. Have a goid Saturday! Check back later!

hi CM! So good to "see" you! I am so sorry about your bunny. I hope he has a comfortable time left. You have obviously cared for him well.

SubC, I loved playmobile sets as a child! Just thinking about it makes me want to play with them! I have a few, very few, pieces left from my childhood (my mother got rid of EVERYTHING of mine when I was 18 out of spite because I left her church, including most of my special things, books, my violin, and my dog. It hurt so much. That is probably where part of my reluctance to let things go comes from.) Anyway I have a couple horses and people and a few little things, not even enough to fill a child's shoebox, but they remind me of how much fun I had with my sets as a child. Thanks for the happy memory!

I am enjoying my dog. She is almost 70 pounds they said, and is a German Shepherd mix (looks like one though). She is so sweet! She is soft and black and lovely. She loves the kids and everyone she meets. She is so thankful that I rescued her from that awful kennel, that she follows me around all day wagging her tail. She doesn't know anything but sit, but I am teaching her. She is perfectly housebroken and loves to sleep in her fluffy dog bed in my room all night. I have never let a large dog sleep in my room, but she is so quiet and stays in her bed and is so happy there. I love her. She is about 2 years old.

Today I wanted to order junk food and stuff. But instead, I dragged out every item from 4 shelves in my kitchen cabinets. I have these very weird, super deep cabinets (so deep I cannot reach the back of them even with a pair of tongs!) and things get shoved in there. It is a small kitchen with few cabinets and no pantry so it gets hard to find anything and I forget what I have. So my youngest son helped me reach everything with a long spatula and his longer arms, we wiped out each shelf, I threw away some junk and expired stuff and gave a few things to dil. I have put food away on 2 of the shelves. The other 2 are waiting for me to sort and refill. The food etc is all over the counters and stove.

I did open 2 cans of food and have them for dinner: black eyes peas, and cabbage. I had them with a small square of cornbread from the freezer. I did not order or buy anything. And now that I see and know what is in there, I can use it up.

There are no cookies or cakes or chips. There is a bag of "real fruit" gummy bears but I can only eat 2 or 3 at once since they are very sweet, so they are my sweet treat plus the kids eat them. There are a few kinds of crackers. There are lots of nuts and seeds, beans, lentils, sauces, seasonings, coffee, pasta. And a lot of cans of vegetarian soups and flavored beans.

I am pleased that I got the cabinets almost done, and I will put the rest away before I got to bed.

Lila, I had pictured you with a small to medium dog this time but I'm not sure why. That sounds similar to my roommate's dog but hers is a mix of husky and shepherd.

Bunny boy has had his ups and downs but is hanging in there. He had some tummy issues but seems to be working through them. I take nothing for granted. And of course give him lots of love and sweet talk. His lady bunny is very close and attuned to him. Being with her relaxes him.

We have been having more rain these last few weeks and especially this past week. On Tuesday I was out in it, and got pretty wet. Some places in town and other parts of the state got various amounts of flooding. Our reservoir has been down 8 feet for a long time and these rains have brought it up some. But there will still be watering restrictions. Right now though we don't need to water.

I'm getting sleepy so I'm going to bring this to an arbitrary close now but I'll post more later.

Good morning!

Hi CM!

I like big dogs. 🙂

Lila, I'm sorry about your mom. Things like that are part of the reason I have a problem with organized religion. So many religions in the world claim that their basic foundation is love, and every single one makes people do things that are not loving.

It sounds like you did a great job on your kitchen.

Yesterday I kind of sogged - just puttered around and didn't really get dug in to anything. I think I needed the rest.

Dh was awesome and actually cleaned some things. That has helped me be more inspired to keep up and accomplish something today. (Chatting with all of you helps me remember how lucky I am to have him. I know CM's roommate helps with household things, and also the adults at Lila's house, but when they are mentioned, I think that it is nice that they are helping, and I tend to take Dh for granted.)

So far I have done basic chores, started two loads of laundry (one is in the dryer) put away my winter chore coat, unloaded the dishwasher and loaded in all the remaining dirty dishes from yesterday plus breakfast.

I'm going to do a little more tidying and then prepare some custard to freeze later.

I'll check back.

ohhh custard, that sounds good. I have a lot of frozen fruit from last summer. I know I can blend it up to make a smoothie or blend with bananas to make a fake ice cream that is healthier. I need to use it up - new fruit is ready at the farmer's market!

I am trying to use what I have in the freezer, which is a lot, before buying more stuff. I might have to buy a few things here or there, but I really do not need to buy convenience foods.

I put in a load of towels and am spending time with my doggie. I have ants that suddenly appeared in my master bathroom out of the blue. I don't have any food in there. I sprayed them with lysol because that is what I had on hand and now I need to get in there and clean up the vanity, which has become counter of doom #2!

I feel so lazy all the time and have no energy. Today I was thinking about how a couple years ago my thyroid doctor prescribed me phentermine for weight loss. (Not fen phen which was dangerous). She said it was one of the oldest, most effective and least side effects medicines for it. I was on it for like a year and lost a lot of weight, and then stayed on a half dose for maintenance, because for me, it acted like an anti-depressant. I felt "normal" on it. I never felt hyper or extra-energetic, I just felt normal and more happy and able to get normal amount of things done. Now as I was remembering that I think I will try to go back on it again. My dr is no longer there, as she retired, but my primary wrote me a script a few months ago and I pretty much forgot about it. It is in my cabinet so I am going to start it tomorrow at a half dose and see if it helps me feel more normal again.

It is good - it's what I mean when I say "ice cream" the ice cream I make is technically frozen custard because it has eggs and is cooked.

I tried making the chocolate with less sugar and cream today. We'll see how it turns out.

Today more left the house than came in.
I kept up with laundry and dishes.
I cleaned up after myself.

I did not use/consume as many eggs or as much milk as I collected, and I am getting further and further behind there (also on the garden and barn as the weeds and poop continue daily)

But it is something.

Tomorrow I have the boys. When we were at the thrift store, Dd found some shelves she wanted. We bought them, but dsil has to pick them up tomorrow. He is going to bring the boys here and borrow our truck. Then he is going to go get the shelves and take them home. Dd is going home from work, help him unload the shelves, and then come here in our truck to get her boys in t8me to take them home and put them to bed. She may be bringing me the shelves that are being replaced at her house. It will be a full day.

I hope your full day went well yesterday, SubC!

It is hot here. I worked yesterday and have some work to do from home today. So far today I did a few things that have been nagging at me:

Took out the bathroom trash which had diapers in it but no one else took it out
Pulled some weeds along the front sidewalk
Found the branch clippers and trimmed off the random small branches that were coming off my younger maple tree
Cut my nails (sheesh, that I have to make time for this!)
Washed my new dog, again, but this time with medicated anti-itch shampoo. This was no easy task so I am recovering now.

I want to get her nails trimmed as well. I was able to do 5 nails on her back feet last night as she was laying with me on the couch with her back feet near me. After 5 clips, she was done with it and left. I will try and do another few today. She is not really a fan.

I took out some frozen pasta sauce with "meat"balls (plant based) and it is thawing in the fridge for either tonight or tomorrow.

I am going to wash the dog's blanket, and hopefully clean my master bathroom today.

What are you all up to?

It was a very good day Lila, thanks.

When the kids picked up their kids - lol! They brought me an idea shelf they were getting rid of to make room for DD's new shelves. (They offered me several other pieces of furniture as well, including a pressboard bookshelf, but those went to st Vincent's.)

I have removed the falling off the wall, coated with years of sticky candle and cigarette grime from the previous home owner that never came all the way off, metal wire shelf that was in Bean's here-room closet (the bar was previously removed) and I have put the ikea shelf in the closet. It is going to be so much better for holding toys and games, plus most of the shelves are in his reach.

I had to stop myself from doing a deep dive into the whole closet and room because none of that has to be done before our trip. I am trying to make good choices on using my time.

I froze the custard. I also froze the rest of the cake Bean and I made yesterday, because Dh has half a key lime pie in the fridge.

I did some work in the garden and the dishwasher is running. I picked greens from the garden and ate them.

There are only nine things I "have to" do before we go, but all of them have multiple parts.

I'm working on them.

You are getting lots done SubC.

I managed to clean out the veg drawer and make a salad. Then I got work related calls and had to do some of that stuff. Washed the dog's blanket. Cleaned out the toaster oven. But have not gotten to my master bathroom yet. The grandkids keep coming up and it is harder to stay focused and get things done. But it was nice spending time with them.

I have to work tomorrow morning and I have really got to get more organized and less lazy.

Good morning!

Grandchildren are more important than housework or decluttering!

Today is another garden/farm day. With laundry and packing thrown on top.

I'm thinking about my trip from the accumulating perspective - I know my mil has at least one small item tucked in a drawer for me, and there is a good chance I will end up bringing things home from my mom. Most of these are "upstream" items though - things that I will have to deal with eventually (and "eventually" is starting to feel far too soon!)

When we get home I definitely need to dig into the house again. I have a lot of projects on pause. Hopefully I will also be inspired to do it. Usually after spending time in my mil and mother's homes, mine feels a lot more manageable. Theirs are clean and orderly, but far more full. And much bigger.

Ok, I've been lazy long enough this morning!

Good morning!
Quiet here.
I slept in a bit this morning - got up just in time to make Dh breakfast. I'm still tired.

I snuck in a few minutes to do an evaluation yesterday, so I have 11 today and then I'm done. I'm already feeling overwhelmed by the idea of getting ready for our trip in 9 days.

I want very much to see my parents and my kids and my other grandson, and I want to go in the ocean (I miss the ocean! - I grew up there) but I don't want to leave my house. The older I get, the harder it becomes.

Two more books arrived yesterday. One is going to Birdy in July, so I won't count it, and I just realized that one I already counted in is also going, so no additions to that thread.

If I accomplish anything today, I'll let you know.

This morning I did four evaluations and spent time with Mr Kitty. He left us quietly just before noon - two raspy sighs. I was petting him.

I'm just going to try to finish the last seven evaluations. That's it for goals today.

God bless Mr Kitty. You gave him a beautiful home.

Thanks Tatoulia.

A friend already offered me a new cat. I think we will be catless for a while. It will be strange because I have only been catless for short periods of time in my life. And not since dd2 was a baby.

I miss him the morning. He sat with me while I drank my coffee.

There is a community recycling drop on Saturday not too far from here. They don't take everything, but they take almost all of the plastic. So if I work on the heap in my basement today, I can reduce that on Saturday.

Today is my first summer vacation day with no evaluations and no boys. But I gave class tonight and the boys tomorrow.

SubC, I am so sorry about Mr. Kitty. It is so hard losing our furry friends. You did everything you could. Take whatever time you need.

Also, good job in working on the stuff and putting things on the floor to sort! DH is not the one working on it so you know best what method works. Any progress towards your goals is good! It's like when we open a box to sort and the stuff goes everywhere at first. Eventually it gets sorted and there is less stuff. It can just be messy in the process.

I like the idea of you going in the ocean! And funny, when I read that part I was like, you have parents?!? lol... I mean, we all have parents but I was thinking How cool that you still have parents to visit! That makes me happy for you. I think you have mentioned them before, but it hit me differently today.

Hi Tatoulia! I hope you are well.

I had a rough week, crying a lot and starting to feel like I don't want to be here. I mean, I don't want to DIE, I just want a different life or something. This week was 3 months since I lost my last doggie. It has been so awful, and Teen made a terrible choice and ended up with her dad calling 911 and the ambulance taking her to the ER. She is okay now but not really, if you know what I mean. It is sad.

Well then a couple days ago I took the last foster back and was walking dogs and came home and cried and cried, and then went back and after volunteering all day, decided to adopt her. So my new princess is in the house, living a spoiled life after roaming the streets for who knows how long and being in the stray shelter for weeks. I washed her twice she was so filthy. Now she is soft and clean and shiny and fluffy! It has given me a good deal of relief from my pain.

However I have not been cleaning or decluttering, but need to get started on that.

SubC, I would love to cheer each other on in the Decluttering your waistline thread! I will weigh myself in the morning and start posting daily (that will be my goal).

Thank you all for the friendship and support. I miss hearing more from CM, and also wonder about Road, and the other people who came and posted once or twice and never came back. I hope they will think of us and come give an update!

Hi Lila, and SubC and Tatoulia and anybody else. I'm kind of caught up in a lot. Sounds like pets are a common theme here. SubC, my condolences on Mr Kitty. You made his last days comfortable and not lonely.

My boy bunny, we don't know how much longer he has. What at first seemed to be an infection on his foot is now more looking to be a tumor and it is increasing in size. He is 12 years 9 months old which for a bunny especially of his breed is like Methuselah in the Bible. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around. He has medicine for comfort care.

Lila, I know you were really wanting a new dog so that should give you something happy to be occupied with and help take your mind off the sad things at least somewhat. What kind of dog is she?

I have one new pet, a toad. Found her under the wheel of my vehicle unharmed and I had been wishing I had a toad again.

I have gotten a few things to the thrift store, some books, that tool box, and miscellaneous. Couple of cubic feet worth.

Today when I went to the reptile store looking at toad stuff it is right by the Guitar Center and I dropped off an old Midi cable I wasn't using that they might know someone who can use. Got that out of my vehicle as well. I know I shouldn't do that for most things, carry it around so long, but it was a specialty item. Well, I should've dropped it off a lot sooner anyway, haha.

Hopefully I don't have odd items like that again. I think I've gotten rid of most by now. For example, I had a doodad for repairing old wall telephone cords and that just went to the thrift store because it's not that specialized a thing. Most of my old tech is gone, I believe. Unless I find a forgotten stash. Hope not. Bnb

Good afternoon!

It is 3:00. I have been awake for 9 hours.

I have completed today's group of evaluations. The last load of laundry is in the dryer, almost all of the small tasks I have to do today are done. I am going to rest in the quiet for a short time and then go work in my garden.

Good morning!

I planted out a dozen tomato plants yesterday. And the muffin pans are in the dishwasher.

There are no evaluations on my task list today, but I have managed to put together another overwhelming day anyway. It includes all of the daily cat care, barn chores, milking, yoga, fixing dh breakfast, and then various unloading and loading of the car so that I can leave here by noon, run errands, stop at school for more loading and unloading and kiln firing (there are tiles to fire that go on my walls), down to the studio to glaze my pots for class tonight, back to Bean's house to babysit, and then to class in time to pop the pots into the kiln for firing. Home late for cat care and chores, and so to bed.

If I have any free time this morning, I want to work in my home pottery studio, because next week is the last time I will be able to go to class, and I currently have nothing prepared.

And so I should get moving..

Wow SubC, that is a lot to get done! I don't know how you do it. I am perpetually exhausted. I have come to the conclusion that I really must lose weight, if for nothing else, for the dogs, because I am too tired to do more for them (walk them more at the shelter, do more fostering etc). I gained about 6 pounds eating loads of junk trying to cram my feelings down lately. I need to reverse that.

I sorted my teas (wrote about it on the daily tally thread) and today I sorted one cabinet in my bathroom. I walked dogs. I am an emotional wreck thinking someone nefarious might adopt one of the dogs I care so much about. There are actually gang members who have adopted from the shelter because the fees are low, and used dogs for bad things. I keep rethinking maybe I should go back and adopt them... ugh, I really can't, I am trying to trust that a good person or family will adopt them. My anxiety is way too much right now.

Good advise about leaving the crate so I don't fill the empty space with stuff!! Very wise. Thanks.

oh - also - I sorted my stack of gift cards and picked out the oldest ones. I took two of them to a store that might be shutting down. I had like $50 in gift cards to there, so I figured I am better off getting something I need than losing that money. (I have lost hundreds of dollars losing gift cards or putting off using them and then the store goes bankrupt).

So I was careful and wise. It is a clothing store but of course I don't need to be buying clothes and the grandkids all have more than enough. What I got:

2 packs of socks, which I DO need. I have maybe 4 pairs of socks left without holes.

a new purse, which I do need, because the one I have has a broken zipper which leaves the purse gaping open and I hate it but I have kept using it for months. The new one is cheap but cute. I will throw away the one with the broken zipper.

Ginger chews - I like these for indigestion

And something I didn't need, but will share, some cookies and some gummy bears. I will give most of these to my kids and grandkids.

Good morning.

Good choices Lila!

I am also perpetually exhausted. I used to think that someday I would get enough rest, but now I realize that I cannot do everything I want to do in life and so I will always be tired. Exhaustion is the only thing that stops me.

I try to convince myself I could actually get more done if I got more sleep, but my brain wakes me up in the morning and starts the list, and I stay up too late either pushing to finish things or too tired to go to bed. (I am really trying to work on the second one.)

So far this morning I have spent an hour shopping for shoes (my everyday shoes are worn through the lining in the back) I bought some on poshmark. Since it would take me thirty minutes to get to the nearest thrift store - where they are unlikely to have my shoes - I consider it an hour well spent.

My class went well last night. I got everything but a few small tasks done yesterday. I am learn8ng to make more manageable lists. Today is a "try to leave the house cleaner than it was when I woke up, evaluations, pottery" day. It's supposed to rain until evening.

My weight has been creeping up again too.