Good Evening Everyone

Good luck with your class Tatoulia.
WTG! for doing a tiny tidy on the hall shelf! ;D
So wonderful kitty is coming around to her new life.
Bet if you started talking gently to her as you entered she wouldn't hide thinking maybe you were a stranger.
Hope the scented dryer sheet removes or covers that blanket's odor. I have noticed that some dyes stink no matter how many times I wash them.
Had a lovely dark red floral patterned tea towel that stunk and never stopped.
When it comes to buying knives quality costs a bit more but hold an edge longer and overall will last a lifetime.
If you want a cheap knife go to the thrift shop, they have hundreds of them that people got rid of when they switched to quality knives. 😉
Great October goals!
Closet monsters and skeletons are perfect leading up to Halloween.

I am just so tired last few days.
Mentally and physically.
Feel like I am swimming through molasses.

I cleared off the few items on the hallway table. Thanks for the reminder, Tillie.

After work I went to make a return, then I stopped to buy a new dustpan, then I went to get knives and a peeler. Not s good selection of knives st all. I might pass by Macy's on my way home tmr night.

I'm running errands with BF now.

Okay my October goal looks like this: I must get dressed every morning. I can make my coffee and log in to my computer but by the time I'm sipping the coffee, I need to be dressed. I need to work on a closet, any closet, for 30 minutes each day. No cheating. I have to face the monsters and the skeletons in my closet.

That's the goal. I'm going to make it something I have to check off on my phone, the same that I have to check off my second set of medications every day at 10 AM.

Mom's dishes should be done by the time I get home. My goal is to be home by 9:30. I also have to deal with my garbage and my cat box. Also I'm hungry so I need to give that some thought.

I need to get ready for my class. I still haven't figured out if I can make it work in three classes or not. Might be a bit tough. I haven't timed my lectures in a while. Last time I taught it, I did it over five.

I don't have my October goals yet. Working on them.

I stopped up at mom's to change litter. As soon as I walked in, kitty ran to hide. The. She came out, came toward me, and meowed. I love her so much. So I snuggled then fed her. I picked up mom's dishes and I've loaded the dishwasher.

Her new blanket has an odor. I've washed it once at her place and I brought it home to wash it again. I put in two tide pods and I think I'll use someone's bounce sheets. I have them but they are the unscented ones. I don't like dryer sheets but have them for when I wash kitty cat's things.

My hall table has a bit of mail on it right now. Mail I am shredding, probably only two pieces left. The dish for my keys has two checks I need to deposit, in addition to me keys. My blue scarf is also there. Not bad. But not perfect, so I'll get on that.

Unless BF wants to run errands, I think I'll go buy my knife and peeler tonight. Tillie a lot of my knives were at my brother's house because I'd do the holidays there. Time to buy some knives!!!

Okay back to work. I completely forgot I'm teaching tmr.

October goals...

My main goal for October will be to do a good job winterizing the house.
Wrapping pipes and covering the old leaky windows with plastic sheeting.
Also working on the insulation strips around the improperly fitted doors to shut out more breezes.
And being vigilant to stop spiders and rodents from coming inside to get out of the cold.

So, what are your October goals? 🙂

Good Morning Everybody
"Clink!"

Hi CriticalMass
I enjoyed your rambly post. 😉

So Badger let you buy only two old Barbies.
When I was very little I was given an original Barbie, new in the box.
I hated her but had to keep it or be called an ungrateful brat.

Looking forward to when you find the UFO books.
Happy you are not in as much back/hip pain. That makes a big difference in everything.

WAY TO GO! for working on the clutter and the unhappy boxes and getting your bedroom sorted out!
(((HUG)))

Hi Tatoulia
Hard to believe that you didn't have a proper knife.
A good kitchen knife is a very necessary tool.

YEA!!! for the tables & dresser top being clear & clean.
How is that hall table doing? Such a convenient place to drop things as you come in.
Your cleaning ladies are wonderful and have some great tidying up ideas too.

So cold here.
Dark & cloudy & might rain.
Scooter insists on snuggling close to me for the warmth.
Can't wash laundry today.
Think I will bake a lemonade cake just to warm the house up a bit.
Washing the dishes will feel good on my hands when they are in the hot water.

This post may be disjointed and rambly...

Glad we have a new thread - I had a hinky thing or two with the old one. Sorry you lost that post, though, Tillie.

I got a kick out of the account of Scooter's consternation over your confiscating his fun new toy.

Tatoulia, more and more happy about how well the new baby is settling in with your mom.

The latter part of this past week I was making random progress pulling more things out of my bedroom. I knew there was just too much stuff in there and has been for a long time. I am seeing more floor.

Realizing how jam packed the room was... it hasn't been so much denial as avoidance that's kept me from doing more about it. Well, that and sheer terror, LOL.

Several bundles of stuff in there were ones I had brought over from storage at various times thinking I was ready to go through them and enter a few things in the computer on some, and ultimately shred all - only to find myself quickly sidetracked, and the bundles forgotten till they became parts of larger messy piles.

So, I made the imperfect decision that for now, some of it's going back to storage. Over there is the Sad Box. That contains paperwork from the house foreclosure and I'm going to need some real successes under my belt to tackle it. I did get it pared down from several boxes at the time I transferred from the storage unit across town, though. And the motivational successes will come. I feel it.

The stuff I will take back, I will put in maybe a Blah Box or Lethargic Box - first I'll need a box! They're not depressing or difficult enough to qualify as Sad Box stuff.

This is all goofy, I know. But giving the boxes these dumb names is my way of declaring they ARE on their way out, just not today. And it beats just dumping them in an amorphous pile. There'll come a time I'll know I'm ready to deal with a Blah Box.

Fall temperatures are coming, hot muggy days are still around but loosening their grip. I'm doing what I can to keep my schedule free to be able to plunge into the work at storage which is so very integrated with decluttering going on at home. Two battlefronts.

There's also quilting fabric, not too much, that'll get stored, because I am behind in getting going on Quilt #2. These were fabrics that I considered for it but didn't need - but since they harmonize they can go in Quilt #3 or 4 etc.

Also have a new donate sack started and will be looking to add to it.

Here's an amusing tidbit: I've been looking for two of my UFO books (research reference for that one novel). It's like aliens abducted them! I have looked so many times here and at storage. When I find them I'll know I've really made progress, so when I post "Found my 2 UFO books!" it'll be a happy day.

Thursday evening I had my Inkscape computer class at the library. Enjoyed it. It's just the beginning - they are hoping to offer a Part 2. And I will practice on my own.

My back and hip pain have pretty much resolved themselves and I'm thinking I may know why. Since my room's got stuff on the bed I've been sleeping in the living room on the sofa. The bed mattress I realize really is hard, and a spring sometimes pokes me, and there had come to be junk in the bed AGAIN 🙁 When all that's clear, we'll see. Roommate indicated we could maybe purchase a different mattress as that one may be getting past its prime.

Yesterday we had rain here, more on the south side where I was driving. I was on my way to the doll show. The selection was different this year - fewer contemporary Barbies, hence less temptation to buy several because it can be an overwhelming variety. From the 90s on, they made so many.

I went for vintage Barbies instead. One blonde and one brunette with "bubble cut" bouffant hair like the very first ones I had as a kid, from a family owned doll shop in this state. Very reasonable price, and it was cool picking out which ones - it was like I could look at a doll and say she did or didn't resemble the one I had - over 50 years ago! This was simple and within my budget. I'll sew them period outfits.

This coming week I'll be cleaning my room more, and sitting for my homebound lady some evenings or half days.

SubC I'll continue to pray for the young man, his sister, and all family and friends.

The pottery is lovely.

All of us with weight loss goals and stressed fast paced lives must first try to find a calm center, methinks. I desire right now to eat less, and nothing too rich. Thursday at the Inkscape class I had to rush out as soon as it ended because of my tummy reacting to the fast food I had on the way. I can avoid such discomfort if I plan ahead better and eat things that are nourishing and easy to digest, in small portions.

Well, by rambling I think I've caught up, for now. Wishing everyone a good week.

I enjoyed the posts, Tillie and CM!

Tillie, thank you. I will keep track of my headaches. I'm also starting to wonder if it's a chocolate thing. That's something I've started to notice. My mother used to get migraines from chocolate and all of a sudden I think I know what she went through. I will keep a diary. My dr appt is on Veterans Day.

I noticed today that my dresser is always clear now too. Isnt that funny? I've been keeping it clean and clear, and my cleaning ladies are keeping it dusted, so I just never notice that it's clean. This is good progress as I think it means I'm shifting away from having an area clean and cleared as being an aberration and having it be the norm. If I should put something on my bedroom chair, I now notice it and take the step to put it where it belongs. My cleaners have created a Rubbermaid tote under my bed for my day to day shoes, and I use it! In fact I love it. My dining room table is forever clean and clear.

Cm I liked hearing about your day and the different thought processes you have regarding the categories of paperwork. Good progress!

To the extent you can, avoid fast food. I haven't had it in years and years because it's a ball of salt. I know how tough it can be to plan food. I try to have a juice or a box of raisins on hand til I can get home and make something to eat. It's not easy! Never is it easy.

I bought a butternut squash yesterday and realized I just don't have the correct knife so I'll go buy a knife today. I was also using the vegetable peeler at my friend's house and I need one of those too. I'll go for a walk tonight and buy both of those things. Ive needed them for a long time and now I want to eat the squash.

In furtherance of my goal to get more done, I got dressed this AM instead of sitting around in my jammies.

Coffee clinks!! Let's have a great day!!!

Having a good feeling is a wonderful reward.

I have a good feeling when I see my kitchen counter is clear and clean.
It's a very busy counter, gets used for all sorts of things all day long.
It's where I often set things that are needed to do some task and when it's clear that means I have done the tasks and put the things all away.

Cookie baking sounds like it was a lot of fun! 😀
WTG! for a clear coffee table, walking, clean sheets, grocery shopping , errands, donations, getting up early and everything else!!!

Keep looking for those rewarding good feelings.
They don't cause clutter, they don't have calories, fat, salt or sugar, they cost nothing but are priceless.

Please keep a diary of your headaches to give to the doctor your next appointment.
Rate intensity 1 to 10, time of day, what you take and when they go away.

I enjoyed the thoughtful discussion of goals/rewards. Thank you.

Today was another productive day for me. I got up, enjoyed my coffee, walked to the grocery store (got groceries AND a walk), showered, picked up mom, and we went to my friend's house to bake cookies. Delightful. And on the way home I stopped at a store to get mom's Milk and other perishables and I put them in an insulated bag.

I brought home zero cookies. Mom took a plate and I took a plate for BF. I ate my share while I was there. Delightful in every way. I had bought mom and friend aprons from Etsy and I'd brought my own apron with me.

Now I'm home, just had dinner, and I have a headache. Oh! I didn't make change my sheets last night so I did this AM

So I feel that by getting up early and getting out of the house, I am accomplishing a lot more and feeling a lot stronger and happier.

I'd like to tie this feeling into my goal. I also need to continue to reduce, reduce, reduce. Body and possessions. Possessions and body.

I'll find a way to set this into a goal and the payoff will be this feeling.

Today I realized I have kept my coffee table free and clear for a while now. That is a very good feeling. So I'll hunt for these feelings. I may make it my goal to get up early each weekend day, get dressed, and walk.

I took a bag to car for goodwill today. That's a great feeling. Things I still like are in there. And I did it!

Good thing that your DH is in control of some of your rewards.

This all says so much about your personality type and it's great that you know yourself so well.
(((hug)))

Frigid raging winds all day yesterday ushered in a very cold dark and cloudy day today.
Did cat tasks & not much else.

I was instant gratification AND the satisfaction of achieving my goal. But denying myself something I want and could have uses up a lot of energy that could better be spent on reaching the goal. I cannot lie to myself and believe that I cannot have the thing until I achieve the goal, because that is not true - it's an artificially imposed limit, and I have no patience for those. And, if I start seeing the thing as forbidden, it becomes more desirable.

I am noticing that all of my "rewards" are the avoidance of negative consequences, which leads me to think that I should perhaps rethink my life. But I guess swimming is a positive - I swim because I know it will make me feel better and be healthier.

As I am tired today, I am "taking it easy" and only cleaned out three stalls.

Bunny is enjoying the gorgeous fall day in her bunny hopper in the shade of my front yard - where she has a breeze and I can see her out the window. Dd is not bringing her dog, so bunny can stay out until bunny bed time.

Very true
setting priorities is important.
The care and wellbeing of living creatures in our care is an important priority.
The care and wellbeing of our physical and mental selves is an important priority.

My Granma would say the dishes will still be there waiting for her to wash them.
She was right, the dishes waited patiently.

The rewards and how they are distributed is a personal choice.
Knowing that we would cheat if left up to our own on deciding when to take them is to know 'thyself".

Do we want the instant gratification of the reward or do we want the satisfaction of achieving our goal?

This is where we work on our inner strengths.
Pushing ourselves past our usual thresholds on to new and better horizons.

Tillie, that is a really good point!

I find that lately I have been focusing on "what needs to be done now." My first thought about goals was that my main goal right now is to not be tired and overwhelmed.

But then I thought about all the things I am trying to do that make me tired and overwhelmed. I think I am going to brainstorm a list of goals and work on prioritizing them. Then instead if seeing that, for example, the dishes need to be washed, I can ask "which of these goals is most important right now, and what can I do to further that goal?"

Because if I have a huge stack of dirty dishes and my most important goal is a good night's sleep. I should go to bed!

If dh wants clean dishes more than sleep - he can stay up and wash them.

Today the most important thing is my barn, because a couple of the goats are sick and keeping things clean helps solve that. The two dd's and dsil are coming for dinner, but the dd's grew up in this messy house, and dh left to play golf, so clearly the mess is not that important to him. Everybody can help me clear space to cook later.

Tomorrow my priorities are eye appointment and lesson plans.

Oh, I also find that the rewards have to be tied to the work or In the control of another person. Otherwise I will focus on the reward until I just quit and let myself have it.

So - not having to give goats medicine - reward that I want that follows job.

Seeing and not getting headaches - reward for eye doctor

Classes that go smoothly and no staying up late and last minute panic - reward fir lesson plans.

"Tillie I'm trying so hard to push myself forward. I haven't been meeting any of my goals recently. What shall we strive for in October?"

We should strive to clearly define the reasons for the goals we set for ourselves.

Even if to someone else our reasons don't sound reasonable or logical, or seem to be selfish.
What other people think does not matter so don't even bother telling them.

Many people have goals that are too loosely defined so the goals are hard to achieve.
Too much "wiggle" room, not enough strictly defined structure as to how to achieve the goals.

Some people design goals that do not fit their personalities.
They should modify their goals but to do this they need to honestly know why they want to achieve whatever it is they are after.
An all or nothing approach rarely works but a compromise could very well get satisfactory results.

Plus the rewards of working toward the goal need to be established.
People do best when there are rewards of some sort.
The rewards don't need to be physical objects or food.
Something simple like now you can watch a movie on Netflix that you have been waiting for.

SubC your work is beautiful! I love the cream and black pieces. Not sure if they are raku or not. Stunning. I would have had a hard time choosing just one but would've enjoyed an urn-shaped one. Your glazed pieces are beautiful too! Such a contrast! I am not on Facebook so I was glad I could access the photos.

I'm sorry you didn't have more foot traffic.

I had my St Jude walk this AM, then I went to see the movie, Judy. Renée Zellweger did a very good job but the movie is sad. Not cry sad, just sad sad. Almost like we shouldnt be seeing that sort of unraveling. I think the closing credits, with super slow music, really left me feeling almost bored.

After the movie, I walked to Talbots, where I didn't buy anything, then I picked up a late lunch for BF and me, and we enjoyed it. I came home and slept a bit.

I am definitely up in my weight and I'm unhappy and mad at myself. I have six weeks til I see the doctor. And I can make better choices. I know how.

I'm washing my towels right now. They are in the new dryer and might be done by now.

I'm running dishwasher and considering changing my sheets. I didn't do on Wednesday because I was at work and plus I'd been in VT. I think I'll go change now and yes, it's 11 PM.

Tillie I'm trying so hard to push myself forward. I haven't been meeting any of my goals recently. What shall we strive for in October?

It worked if I cut and pasted.

Sales were abysmal today, but the community was nice. There was a big festival 30 minutes away, so our traffic was very light.

Maybe this will work:

Click on all photos and the first two with pottery are mine.

https://m.facebook.com/TheMorrowMarket/photos?__nodl&refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&ref=external%3Awww.google.com&_rdr

Hello hello!

Good luck at the sale tmr, SubC. How I would love to see your work!

I could get the video to work but didn't stay on for long because the computer voice was really tough on my ears! Cm you are truly a friend to all creatures. What a nice trait to have!

Catch me up, Cm. Weren't you going to be going somewhere where there would be dolls for sale? How did you do?

I am just getting home from work. I stayed really late but did not have the day I was hoping for. But I'm home and I'm happy.

So, all garbage and recycling out this AM. And I wiped down my kitchen counters too. I'm trying to add that to my morning routine. I want my bed made (always is) and my kitchen counters wiped down and all dishes out of the sink. I want those three things to be routine.

As I've mentioned, I've always been good about making my bed. I can't think of anything that makes me feel that I have some semblance of order quite the way a made bed does. I'm also so pleased that I now fold and put away the laundry.

So I'm adding kitchen counters to the daily mindless tasks. No decisions required, no effort beyond spraying the cleaner on the counter and wiping with a Swedish dish towel.

I'm enjoying my routine with mom's dishes and she's starting to enjoy it. This week she bragged to her neighbors that she always has clean dishes.

Tillie believe it or not, I need more cat bowls. I like Corelli ones for the cats' water. We do not have enough between mom and myself. We really need a total of four more. So I'll get them this weekend. Since I've cut down on kitty's plates, I can tell you that we now have the perfect number of plates and the perfect number of cereal bowls. Very good feeling to have hit the correct number!

Mom and her kitty have settled into a nice little friendship. New kitty is such a gentle soul. I love her so much.

St Jude walk tmr. Need to get up and out early.

Our new dryer was delivered today. Just in time. I have exactly one clean bath towel left (resulting from my paring down bath towels to just four). Two are dirty and one is being used with my AC. Two are white (mine) and two are brown and white (for when family friend visits). So the brown and white was is the one by the AC. Helps keep the window slat in place. If it's not washable, I'll donate.

I start teaching on Tuesday. Have those two chapters to finish up and then I'll figure out what I'll be saying. I need to figure out timing for the class. The people in charge haven't done that for me. I also don't know how many attendees I can expect.

Poor mr. kitty must be so deprived. He has one cereal bowl. He drinks out of the pond. And sometimes a plastic dish. But mostly the pond.

I am up way too early. I can't sleep, but I am still tired. I have things to do to get ready for today, but everyone else is asleep. (Dd2 appeared on our porch last night. She heard her sister is coming over to shoot and for dinner tomorrow. Sil is coming too, but not to shoot.)

I started the dishwasher and made coffee.

Dh and I have dinner and a concert with friends after my sale today (Dd is going to her bffs house) we will be home late. I need to eat lightly and order coffee or I will be falling asleep in the concert. Up early tomorrow to get dh off to golf, and a short window to work on school stuff before everyone arrives.

I thought Monday would be a recovery/planning day, but Dh made me an eye appointment at ten. So he will be working from home (disruptive) and then we will leave and then my eyes will be blurry for about 4 hours. So only a few hours for planning and prep.

And then another week of school starts. This week will include a language arts meeting and parent visits. I am enjoying my classes, but I am still struggling with planning and prep.

Tatoulia - good luck to you!

My house is not good. It is not too bad because we are not home much, but I am not keeping up with things.

I added three new students in various classes last week, but none in the classes that need more people.

I have been swimming. My weight is still up. (Probably because dh has been cooking) my knees hurt all the time.

And every time I slow down, my heart hurts. The court filed a motion to revoke my friend's son's bail, but then they withdrew it. The hearing on court jurisdiction has been delayed until November. He is allowed no contact with minors or high school students except his sister. Since he is in a locked adult residential treatment facility with no phone calls or electronics allowed, this is a bit redundant. His sister ostensibly left the house to drive to school, but parked in a neighborhood and deliberately overdosed - she was found and rescued by a stranger. She spent a week inpatient and I don't know if she has been back to school.

Good luck tomorrow Subclinical!
If the foot traffic is good I'm sure you will sell out. 😉

Hummm...
video works when I click on it

?

The video won't play. I have little brown woodrats. Unfortunately I currently have them tunneling up into my barn.

Tomorrow is my new market. I have three pumpkin bowls ready to sell. Also many other things. If the market posts any pictures of my booth, I will link you.

When I say rat maybe you think about something like a Norwegian rat.
But my rats are really cute and have bushy tails.
Here is a youtube video about the pack rat species I have here.

pack rat video

Good Morning Everybody

Thank you Tatoulia for starting the new thread.
I had not lost a post in so long.

There is a brush fire nearby smoking me out this morning.
My trees leaves are turning yellow/orange/red.
My chrysanthemums are starting to bloom.

Today I plan to water the grass and garden. So easy now when I only need to water twice a week. 🙂

Good Afternoon

Washed dishes & wiped up the kitchen.
So many cat bowls and not one of the cats volunteered to help.
1:30pm now.
I will wait till 3:00pm to water the grass so the intense sunshine doesn't burn the wet leaves.
In Summertime I have to wait much later in the day but the sun gets low on the horizon early now.

Weather report is teasing that cooler & rain is predicted but I will not hold my breath.
They have been very wrong about us getting any rain lately.

Good morning!

And yes, I'm already late for work!

Trash day! I love getting the trash out!

Have a wonderful day!