I have not been on in a while and partly because I haven't been doing much to talk about. Today I have a rare chance of being alone at home for a good part of the day. I have big plans. I'm going to try to really focus on my house and try to (for today) push aside a lot of things that I am thinking/worring about. So here is the plan.

1. set out a piece of paper to jot down things that come to mind that need to be taken care of so I can leave the on the paper while I work

2. vaccuum main areas

3. spend at least one hour in our main living area (which is a combo living/dining/kitchen

4. spend at least one hour in the sunroom/entry

5. clean bathroom (not sure of time involved)

6. make bed and start on closet

I know I can spend days doing nothing and here is to see if I can spend a day doing something.

Hello Tillie, CM, Roxie & Jess. Good to hear from you all.

Going to bed now. Just wanted to check in. Roxie, please continue to take good care of yourself. Having a nice glass of water right now--clink.

Tillie, I love your descriptions of all the animals! Jess, laundry--great to wash, difficult to fold. CM so nice to hear from you!!

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Roxie "clink!"
Don't fret about more bills, go get your blood pressure checked out. (((HUGS)))
Sorry to read you are still having to fight to get your checks, this is ridiculous.
Yes, they do seem to start adding more to the bills time after time, hope you can get this settled without too much trouble.

Hi Critical Mass 🙂
Great to "see" you. Write when you can. 🙂

Hi Jess 🙂
Good luck with your plans!
Happy you are scaling back and starting to take better care of yourself. 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Hope you got a great nights' sleep. 😉

Today I need to water the lilac hedge.
Then I need to work on me. Last few days I've been so freakin depressed and I hate being down in this dark lonely place of desperation and hopelessness. This bottomless chasm of despair.
I know why I am here and what would help. Unfortunately, this all has to do with living surrounded by clutter, squalor, vermin and pestilence in a house that desperately needs some major repairs and a hoarder who is blind to it all.
OK, pity party over, thanks for listening. 🙂

The sun is just now coming up on a fresh new day, a fresh new start for us all. 🙂

Good Morning 🙂
Still morning here, not even 10:00am yet.
Been doing some online shopping this morning.
Getting in some crafting supplies to get me through the winter months when I will be trapped inside all day & night.
Spent 55.00 today and with what I already have on hand here I have enough now to keep my hands busy. 🙂
Winter type weather here is from October to at the earliest March.
Six months to bead, sew, watch movies and read without interruptions like gardening/yard work.
Will still get outside and make bonfires once we get some rain/snow and it's safe again to not cause more wildfires.
Have been getting my pantry slowly stocked with winter food essentials.
Have the materials on hand to winterize the doors, windows and outside faucets.
Took stock of my winter clothes and shoes and they are all in good shape.
Unless something unforeseen comes up I do believe I am now ready to face another winter here in the shadow of the Sierra Nevadas.
This inventory taking has helped lift my mood. 🙂
Sometimes we just have to stop and take a serious look at what we have and not just keep focusing on what we don't have.

Hi,

Must just say hi - went to my local monthly clutter support group and that reminded me I needed to say Hello here. Apologize for being away from the boards - I had been running software to clean my computer and it deleted my browser history so I'm just now remembering boards and tabs I had open. Plus I've been busy with a lot of projects and cat sitting. So anyway, a good day to all and I'll be back with a less boring post one of these days, I promise!

Hi everybody! I've got to do some catch up reading. I've been working like crazy. That's been going pretty well actually I just started to get a little carried away. My husband sat me down the other night and told me I was starting to look miserable and he asked me why I felt the need to work so much overtime. Took a pause, did some reflection. Scaling back now 🙂

I need to refocus on keeping up with things around the house. For this evening I will be watching some Netflix on my computer as I deal with folding and putting away all of my clean clothes. There is a LOT gathering because I keep washing and then not following through.

By the weekend I also want to clean the bathrooms.

Good luck with you tasks, everyone. Hope you're all well!

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
(((hugs))) it is a pleasure to know you and travel through this journey along side you.

I am all out of fruits & veggies so need to go get some today.
Dishes and laundry are all caught up. YEA! 🙂
Lots of bunnies here. Scurrying and jumping around.
They are fun to watch.
At night the coyotes have been coming in very close.
Every now and then they will yap and howl through the night, making the cats (who are inside sleeping in my bed) nervous.
Have a band tailed hawk hunting here in the daytime too.
Having so many quail, dove, bunnies, snakes and lizards in my yard attracts the predators, who need to eat too.
The circle of life.
OK, time to get to the grocery store. 😀

TTYL

First cup of coffee today :::clink::: to all. I am enjoying reading, but don't have much energy to share. Sorry 🙁

Yeesh.

Good Morning everybody 🙂

September 15th. already.
Where does the time go?
Doing some laundry today.
Have my list of 10 tasks that I want to accomplish by the end of this month right here.
I allow myself to pick and choose which ones, if any, to do each day.
This way the only pressure on me to do them is the goal of having them all completed by the end of the month.
It's all Seasonal type stuff dealing with the change from Summer to Autumn.

Keep up all the FANTASTIC progress you all have been making! 😀

Thank you, dear Tillie. Thank you so much for your unwavering support. Greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hello everyone,

I didn't pay close enoug attn and my post here from earlier today didn't show up. I Hodp you are feeling okay Tillie--it sounded like the wedding was a lot of fun! Good catching up on all of the posts. You are doing great, Anony! Keep it up!

I got rid of two large bags of stuff today--took a third pass at my hardcover books and in less than 10 minutes got a big bag together. Already went to goodwill with it. Have also hung some beautiful artwork I just inherited. Have gone through costume jewelry and donated. I am forging ahead. Making room.

Bought one thing this weekend--but it's a g fit for my BF. I like to buy the stuff when I see it so that Christmas doesn't take it out of my hide,

Thanks for the reminder that it is the new year! Seems early this year -- Life starts anew when it gets crisp in the fall.

I'm on a roll! Working in the shelves in my dining room closet. I can't believe how much I've cleared out. I'm really happy right now.

One thing that has worked for me is that I no longer keep stuff that maybe so-and-so would like. I just donate it. If it's a family item I run by my sister and if she says no, then I donate. My ability to let go of things has been to re-wire my thinking. I no longer think in terms of gifts for someone, I don't buy multiples, I don't keep things I used to love (I've decided I've given the object enough love and time to move on--if I still love it I keep it, I don't keep past loves), and I don't decide to keep things that some other person could use or might like. That has made a huge difference for me. And it's in full force tonight.

So thrilled. Thanks for all of your support and encouragement. This is a group effort, to be sure,

WAY TO GO!!!!!
Tatoulia! 😀
FANTASTIC!!!!
YOU"VE GOT IT!!! 😀

The really upsetting pictures were of animals not cared for...but the really extreme hoards definitely pushed buttons for me, too!

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

It is overcast and very lightly sprinkling this morning.
My covey of Quail must have become very scattered fleeing the hunters.
Last night they all managed to gather all back together and there are still about 80 of them.
Was good to see that the majority survived the hunt. 😀
Even thought today I am extremely depressed due to situations yesterday, my plan is to clean the house this morning.
Sweep floors & porches
clean the bathroom
generally wipe off surfaces & stuff
vacuum the carpet
Maybe being depressed in a clean house will help lift my mood better than moping in a dirty house.
Today is Rosh Hashanah, so Happy New Year! 😀

....I was gonna pop in to just say I'd thrown out this stupid thing hanging in the kitchen and how nice it looks now, but I accident my clicked into the website and saw some really disturbing pictures......?!!?

WAY TO GO! tossing that thing! 😀

So, what pictures did you see?
The terribly filthy clutter ones or the crime scene clean up ones?

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂

That is the best kind of help!
Someone there with you who you trust, to help you see things through fresh eyes.
Wish everyone had that kind of help.
Have a WONDERFUL time visiting your friend, relax and renew and come home to your clean house with a fresh new perspective.
Great big (((HUGS))) to the Stepson for all he has been doing. 🙂

Thank you, Tillie!! 😀
His allergies from all the cats and dust are really bothering him! I feel so bad, but he insists he goes thru this a lot. He's gonna start wearing my good mask for chemicals. It is kind of a reality jolt for me to have him wearing that thing in here cuz it's so filthy!

Hi all! I hope everyone is getting lots done!
Tillie, the wedding sounds like it was wonderful! What a nice celebration for you and everyone!
I am really breaking thru some barriers lately, with my stepson here! I think seeing things thru his eyes,especially seeing how well he's handling letting go of old things that no longer work, and embracing new, positive things, has really helped me to do the same! He is practicing for his road trip by setting up his camp in my woods and it's beautiful! He made this gorgeous winding path to his tent and it shows me how possible nice change is! He's gonna help me to thus some areas of my house and just him standing there will likely help me let good more junk! Then next weekend I'm taking a trip to visit my good friend in CA while he cares for my cats and does just straight cleaning! I really think it'll be a good shift for me, and I love how much this is all helping my stepson, too!
I'm also knowing that I'll come back with a fresh perspective and very likely be more ready to change old attachments at my place, and break thru some stuck-ness!
I hope you all get goals met and breakthroughs in some stuck-ness, as well!!! 😀

Correction: this auto-correct is frustrating. He is gonna help me to thru some areas of my house and get rid of some stuff.

Correction again: just him standing there will very likely help me get rid of more stuff. Then later he can straight clean! (That was an important part, so I wanted to get it typed right!)

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
YEA!! WAY TO GO!!! Stepson! 😀
Hope his next new camping/hiking/road trip adventure is a GREAT one!
The best revenge really is living well. ;p

Going to putter around here this morning then get ready and go to the wedding this afternoon.
I post appointments and dates on the refrigerator so they are right there visible reminders.
Now that I have taken down the wedding invitation there are no more important dates to remember till November.
Nice! 😀

TTYL 🙂

The wedding was so much fun!!! 😀
Got to see a lot of people I haven't seen in a very long time and got to see other people that I have seen more recently but always enjoy seeing.
The food was GREAT and there was so much that that I was forced to bring home a bunch.
Right now I am on a sugar high from eating cake, drinking Coke and eating M&Ms.
It was outdoors under canopies, with a DJ.
I think what I liked the best of all was hugging and being hugged by so many people I love. 😀
(((HUGS)))

Good Morning 🙂

Hi Roxie 🙂
"clink!"
WAY TO GO! for jumping through all those hoops and getting over the hurdles that the bank has thrown in front of you. They really have set up way too much red tape in the way of issuing you your checks.
True, all companies really should have ways we can pay them online in this computer age.

Hi Karl 🙂
We have that same feature through our credit union.

Since the onset of Quail hunting season my covey has been nervous and tend to try sneaking around.
Until last evening they were good at avoiding the hunters.
They were scattered all around and over night managed to group back up but their numbers have been greatly reduced.
There is a new batch of baby cottontail bunnies that come out of hiding in the evenings and scurry about. 🙂
The air is thick with wildfire smoke making me and the cats miserable.
The "Burning Man" festival that is held nearby is always a fun time to go into town and see the participants as they travel through the area.
They come from all over the world and are very interesting people to talk to. 🙂
Tomorrow there is a wedding I need to attend. Will be nice seeing everybody there. 🙂
The "Cantaloupe Festival" what we call our county fair, will be happening soon.
Today my plan is to putter round doing "this and that".

So, what's happening in your neck of the woods?

Good Morning 🙂

Hi Roxie 🙂
"clink!"
WAY TO GO! for jumping through all those hoops and getting over the hurdles that the bank has thrown in front of you. They really have set up way too much red tape in the way of issuing you your checks.
True, all companies really should have ways we can pay them online in this computer age.

Hi Karl 🙂
We have that same feature through our credit union.

Since the onset of Quail hunting season my covey has been nervous and tend to try sneaking around.
Until last evening they were good at avoiding the hunters.
They were scattered all around and over night managed to group back up but their numbers have been greatly reduced.
There is a new batch of baby cottontail bunnies that come out of hiding in the evenings and scurry about. 🙂
The air is thick with wildfire smoke making me and the cats miserable.
The "Burning Man" festival that is held nearby is always a fun time to go into town and see the participants as they travel through the area.
They come from all over the world and are very interesting people to talk to. 🙂
Tomorrow there is a wedding I need to attend. Will be nice seeing everybody there. 🙂
The "Cantaloupe Festival" what we call our county fair, will be happening soon.
Today my plan is to putter round doing "this and that".

So, what's happening in your neck of the woods?

Hey there, recovering clutterers!
Yesterday I can home to a much cleaner house! My stepson cleared and cleaned the deck to paint, but it rained, so he did cleaning inside instead! It's better! It seems more hopeful for sure! His allergies did flare up, so I feel like he shouldn't be doing it, but I'm paying him for the help so he can go on a new adventure road trip soon! He's collecting camping equipment and is excited about it!
Roxie-Yes, he's doing great with moving towards new positive experiences, instead of revenge or bitterness. Congratulations on getting your financial papers squared away! YIPEE!
Tillie- I love your Gramma story! It's funny how thats what I'm doing, too! I looked up the psychology of turquoise and it was just what I need now!
The new shelf sounds nice! I can certainly understand how wanting something dumpster dived would seem like justification for it all, but at least it can be beneficial?!
Tatoulia- Its awesome that you are keeping your non-shopping commitment! You could shift like me and turn sour from it naturally after getting away from it? I hope so!
Happy De-hoarding to all!!!

Hello, all. Enjoying my first cup of coffee, so yes, I slept until mid afternoon. I've been taking the sleeping pills but they haven't been working. I talked to the pharmacist yesterday, and determined what adjustments I can make and will now try that.

Hello, all. Enjoying my first cup of coffee, so yes, I slept until mid afternoon. I've been taking the sleeping pills but they haven't been working. I talked to the pharmacist yesterday, and determined what adjustments I can make and will now try that.

Using my bank's Bill Pay feature, I can have them send a check to any address on my behalf, so I don't need to deal with writing it myself and finding an envelope and a stamp. The only time I ever have to send mail myself is when I'm returning a paper form of some kind.