Lol - Tatoulua, I am excited about the ferns, but I have to plant 100 ferns! I have to dig all those holes! It will take hours!

I'm afraid I'm hoarding plants now. I'm afraid I've bitten off more than I can chew - I have seedlings, strawberries coming, things to direct seed, raspberries coming, trees coming, willows in jars that need to be planted...

Chicks coming in May, pregnant goats, rabbits...

So much to do in the barn, classes to teach, pottery?!

And this house...

I did use up potting soil left over from last year and some peat pots that have been sitting around forever. That is good, right?

You did great with your bags and your pj clean out!. The shredding sounds like a good option too.

The transition indeed has begun. Like you, SubC, I hope some of the online opportunities will remain, because there are some of us for whom they work well. Down the line, I could probably bring in a bit of extra money to make ends meet more easily if I didn't have to fight my anxiety and ADHD hassles the way I did with in person jobs. I've been pondering possibilities since the early days of the pandemic. But one thing at a time.

This week my roommate and I have been getting the house and garage ready for termite inspection, aka Bug Man. The garage is not used for cars because the house was added onto making it not easily accessible, and there's a lot of gardening stuff and misc. that has to be moved away from the walls so Bug Man can look.

Anyway, the weather has been so icky, damp and chilly, and I've been having a problem lately with pain in my jaw and around it. The chill did not help. I keep asking Dr. Google about the symptoms, and last night it occurred to me that it might be nerve pain from the elastic of my mask pressing on my ear and jaw nerves. This has happened to some people, I discovered. So I may need to put a softer type of elastic or some cushioning on the earpiece.

It would also be nice if Ma Nature would say enough with the cold weather already. I'm not holding my breath on that though. We've got more to do this morning but not a lot. Wearing a soft knitted headband to keep my jaw warm helps some. I'll be glad when this task is over with.

Thank you! I had a wonderful day off today. Had to drive a bit to pick something up then stopped at a friend's house to drop off her son's birthday gift. Both parents were home so it was great to stand outside and see them.

Nearly 2 AM and I have a big day tomorrow.

That is a lot of ferns, SubC. I hadn't looked at it that way.

Garbage out, recycling out. Kitty has clean box. Dishwasher running and I'm going to try to go to bed now. I stayed up til 3:30 AM which, it turns out, was a bit of a mistake.

CM, I use a strap around my head to hold my mask on. The ear loops were too much with my glasses.

The goat didn't make it.

I am just trying to look at 2021 as "the year of starting over." I need to let go of a lot of the stuff that has come before.

My mother is going through her house and making a list of where everything is in a book for me. Apparently she has an apron that belonged to my dad's mother's grandmother. I suggested she send the apron to my dad's cousin who works in the textiles department of an American history museum.

Gotta unload feed and get ready for school.

Hello everyone, anyone!

My cleaners came today so my house is really nice.

Bf and I have to tackle his basement tomorrow night and I'm pretty excited. I have a ton of his stuff in his basement send we need to clean it up. I am so excited at the prospect of getting rid of more stuff. I know I have boxes from two jobs ago that I'll need to shred but I also have records from when I was a teen and other things that just need to go. So I'm excited.

I also have some coats to get to goodwill, I just need to open my closet and make a plan.

I started a fitness boot camp yesterday and I'm sore. It's twice a week all on line.

So that's the news. I've been loitering at the pharmacy looking for leftover shots. No luck yet but I feel good. I have Friday off and was going to go to the museum but now I think I may not. I give platelets on Saturday and let's face it, I hate that.

We got a lot of gifts from my company last week. I can't remember if I told you. One of them was a very nice throw blanket. There's a woman that works at Red Cross who always likes my other company throw blankets (I now bring my own blankets when I go) so I'm thinking about making a gift to her. I also am prepared to donate a different throw blanket to goodwill. It's starting to look ratty but still nice enough to donate. I just need to get rid of stuff. I love the feeling of getting rid of things.

Ok, it is very overcast today, so I am struggling.

But, I did plant about 25 little willowslip starts (of about 200?) and I caught up on the laundry a bit.

And I got super good news today that three of my kids will be eligible for shots at the end of the month and my son may be able to get one through his work in a few weeks.

Also, tomorrow I get Bean again!

I am going to try to do a quick 15 minute pick up in the living room.

SubC I am sorry about the goat. That is very sad. I am also just so sorry for the family friend. What a turbulent time in her family. I am so sorry.

I'm pleased that you are helping your mother determine some places for the treasured apron. Very good work.

Cm you are doing very well! I'm sorry about the jaw pain and that is interesting that it might be mask-related.

I'm very busy even though my promotion has yet to take effect. The announcement of promotions in my department goes out on April 5. My team is being told ahead of time. I've already been warned regarding that there might be an uncomfortable situation with one of my team members. Maybe he saw himself as the next in line? Our bonuses are paid tomorrow. I'm hoping that I can out the majority into savings, although I'm a bit tempted to oay off the remaining small loan I have. I'll have to see how much money my bonus is. I can calculate the gross amount but not the net amount.

My friend is visiting so I will say ta ta for now. She once again mentioned how I live in the cleanest house. What a treat for me.

Hi Tatoulia!

I'm a bit overwhelmed but reading and don't want you to be lonely.

Whatever you decide about blankets will be fine. I still think you are a hero fir donating platelets!

Go basement!

CM, I hope you are feeling well!

Dh got the j&j shot tonight so he will be cleared before me (my second shot is Friday)

Keep checking for extra shots!

Enjoy the day with your grandson! I am still awaiting news re my vaccine. I'll be eligible soon.

Am trying to be focused on work. I find everything's an effort right now. I have three checks to deposit and so far have only deposited one, which I did this AM. I don't now why I'm so behind. I don't feel depressed but certainly if I can't do the simplest things I must be.

Hi all

March here has been being a cranky lion 🦁 with ridiculous winds 🌬 the last few days. Today is our one decent day, then rain and T-storms ⛈🌧 over the weekend but we do need rain so okay.

The brain hangover from my migraine, fighting the wind, and other aggravations were really trying my soul. I would no sooner get out of one bad mood than boom, something else would set me off. 😠😤😡🤬💥🔥⚡💣⚠️ it got to the point where even I didn't want to be around me.

Did finally make one connection that I had been neglecting taking my vitamin supplements that help my mood, cognitive, and stress response. So I went and bought the ones I was out of and got back to taking them. Seems to be helping some. There are big things in my life that no vitamins alone will be able to fix. But at least I'll not be at such a state of depletion.

Today I'm not sure what I'll do just yet. It is the day of transition weather wise. Wind not as bad as it has been but still some wind and the beginning of the rain clouds will roll in by evening.

At some point my storage unit work may be doable without as much concern over the weather. But for now I have to take into account that winds will blow loose papers, catch the edges of lightweight items and topple them, etc. And I sure hope the management does follow through on getting that crummy guttering replaced. That has made rain more of a problem in front of my unit than others.

I may go see how it is and do a little, though. My roommate's boss went and changed their meeting from yesterday, when I would have been gone anyway, to today 😑 so they'll be yack yack yacking; I had been looking forward to getting stuff done here without having to factor that in.

SubC, I'm sure you'll get a chance to get your shot(s) soon. I'm checking every now and then, whenever the age limit drops. I'll be 59 in April. So if it's 65 and drops to 60 I'll still have a bit of a wait. But maybe not too much.

Tatoulia, I too think you're brave and kind to be donating platelets. Enjoy the decluttering party with bf. It's nice to know what things are going to be easy to pull out and where to send them.

Hi Lila, Tillie, and anyone else. 👋

Happy St. Patrick's Day ☘☘☘

They talk of March coming in and going out like a lion or a lamb. They never say much about it being like a snarly weasel in between. Too many cloudy and chilly, rainy and windy days that aren't conducive to my hopes to get back on track with the storage unit.

Been rather draggy. Jet lag from the time change. My laptop is in the shop, after I was furious with it Monday because the keyboard decided not to recognize typing. And some error message with the windows updates. I tried lots of geeky things to no avail.

I hope they can fix it without a big hassle. It may be time to start a fund for a new one. This one is 10 years old, albeit refurbished but I don't know if refurbished really adds more years to them. I don't need an annoying money pit computer. We'll see.

Next week is the spring break for the schools so my roommate will be off and we'll need to prepare for the termite man to inspect. The weather doesn't look that great then, just tolerable. The week after is Holy Week and hopefully sunnier too. Hard to believe it will be Easter that soon. Time is still weird because of the pandemic and other craziness.

Just need to compile ideas that will help the work go efficiently when I do get to it. I may also be finishing up the vine and weed pulling since the rain has made the ground soft.

Hello ladies! Thank you for the kind words! Glad to hear that your husband received his vaccine SubC.

Tonight we start on the basement. I keep having dreams about decluttering.

I'm eating much better. Lots of salads and vegetables. It's in the 70s here so windows are open. I'm washing cat blankets and bed. Her blankets can go away for the season. If she's cold we can share the throw. I will leave her clean bed out for a bit longer.

Okay back to work. My stomach hurts. May be from today's boot camp.

Update: Got my laptop back. Everything okay. Problem likely caused by cat jumping on keyboard, which changed a setting. I think I actually fixed the same problem myself a month or so ago but this time just couldn't recall the specifics nor locate the information on Google.

The perpetrator is curled up on my bed with me. 🐈

Checking in! CM I am so proud of your efforts in the storage space! You are doing great!

I have the day off and I'm excited. At BF's request we didn't tackle his basement last night. Instead we went to Macy's and I bought sneakers. I am thinking about walking to the lunch place where I would get lunch when I was still at work. That would give me about three miles of walking in, round trip. Maybe closer to four.

BF got four of my basement boxes out for me and put them next to an empty trash can. So I can work in those later.

Good morning!

CM,

I'm glad you solved your "cat"astrophy.

Tatoulia, I think the time change is hard on everyone.

I have reached the middle of spring break "I'm not going to get anything done" panic. My body is sore, my house is a mess, and my sleep schedule is in tatters.

My oldest is doing better - the vaccine on her horizon is giving her hope, but my youngest is a train wreck right now. Her relationship ended, she is living alone again, and she has a lot of job uncertainty.

It's going to rain all day today. My yard is flooded. Dh has created a little nest in the wingback chair near his desk for me to collapse into when I am ready. He says I have to bring a book or an undemanding task. He knows that otherwise he will come downstairs and find me sitting on the couch, glazed over, doomscrolling and eating ice cream out of the container without having turned the lights on. And he says "we don't want that to happen."

Picked up my delicious lunch then brought it home to eat it. So tasty.

Beautiful day here. In the 60s. Going up to boyfriend's basement to get my stuff organized. Hopefully nothing worth keeping.

Goid morning again.

My coffee is all gone.

I managed to make it through yesterday pretty well without needing my nest. It was good to know it was there though. Mr. kitty enjoyed it for part of the day.

I did melt down at dinner time.

But I managed to start seeds, transplant peppers, set sweet potatoes for slips, plant a few willows, run a load of dishes, and bake a cake.

Today is sunny, but very cold.

More housework in the morning - outside in the afternoon.

I have been watching homesteading stories on YouTube for inspiration. Some of them basically just talk to the camera, so I gave set a goal to work on the scullery while listening to three of those this morning.

This evening Dh and I might go into the city to a gallery reception for the opening of his cousin's show - or we might go into the city, look at the crowd, wave to his cousin from the doorway and leave.....

Ok I went through four boxes at BF's and emptied one. Have a bag for goodwill in the car. A bag for me to take home. The other three are going to require shredding. I will take my shredder to BF's tmr and I will let the games begin. So much to shred I think the shredder only works a half hour at a time.

I was amazed at how they are all just papers and old calendars. None can be just tossed due to nature. Ugh. Why why why. Why did I bring these from a job that I worked at from 1996 to 2005. Why didn't I just leave them. What did I think I'd need them for? Clearly I didn't need them.

There were various things that I used to use to decorate my office and they are in lovely condition and boxed up nicely for goodwill.

Hello everyone! Sorry to be absent recently.

CM I know that cat trick. I lose the ability to type or everything's aligned weirdly. I can only turn off then back in again to resolve. Sounds like your cat is more advanced, and was able to make a more permanent change!

SubC I am sorry your youngest is going through a break up. Never easy. I am grateful that your husband made you a nest! So sweet!

We continued to work in the basement to get ready for the shredding company. We also moved the date to April 2 as we felt we could get more done with more time. Most of my things are ready to go but I am going to look through my house and see if there are any piles of stuff I can take to BFs basement for the shredding truck. We got a lot accomplished this week. I have another box of old children's books to send on their way.

I also slept a lot. I was tired and just slept.

My friend is coming here next week so I have scheduled my cleaners for Monday instead of Wednesday. My friend will have completed her two week quarantine from Japan and then will be staying here. I don't know how long she'll be here. And I don't think her cat will be here but time will tell.

I got my promotion! I don't have the details other than I had an email late yesterday with the subject line of Congratulations, [new title]. She also said in the body of the email that there's a decent pay boost. Her words, decent pay boost! I'll get the details next week. Only told BF and then one very close friend at work. My close friend was so happy for me, and she said she was as happy for me as I was when she received a promotion a year or so ago (she had also given me the inside scoop). I am thrilled.

Okay I am doing a load of laundry and as soon as I put into dryer, I will take my shower and get ready to get outside. It's sunny and fairly mild out.

Great work, CM!

I hear you in the books and children; in the other hand, they are kids. When getting rid of my children's books, I saw how many of them I'd written my name in and colored and used crayons and pencils and I liked seeing those happy moments. So while I see your point, writing in them or coloring them didn't alter the course of my feelings towards books. I love my books and was able to donate all of the children's books after one last look.

They are your books and you can give them to whomever you want but please remember to be gentle with yourself and if possible pull yourself away from the next life the books will have. I know I waited a long time to get rid of my dollhouse furniture and I'm grateful for where it went but it's now out of my hands. They will use or not use as they see fit. I have seen the current iteration of the dollhouse and I can see a few of my pieces in there. What ever happens beyond now is not my burden. The burden left me when I got rid of them.

Please know how gently I am saying this to you and to me. Once given, you will feel lighter. So find the right place and let go. When you are ready. I'll be standing by your side

I will be getting my garbage out tonight. I took the recycling to the bin yesterday. I walked for three hours with a friend yesterday and it was great. We walked to the office and then other places and then back.

I'm doing a few loads of laundry right now. My furry friend got sick on the blanket we were sharing. She drinks too much water than spits up like a baby,

That is great news about the vaccines! I cannot wait to get mine.

I have started a bag to goodwill. I need to get it filled and get it out of my house. I have a few days off next week for my birthday but in truth, I wish I had this Friday off, too. Mentally I need a break.

Well it's 330 and I haven't eaten, so I'll go make myself some lunch.

Really tired tonight, but glad to hear the updates.

Tatoulia, do you have colored paint?

Don't forget to check the rest of the board. We can't let Tillie's standards down.

❤️

Ok, fresh new thread.

Newcomers jump in!

Old timers welcome back any time, and we will always keep a chair for Tillie!

Tatoulia, that is a long walk. 3:30! I feel like you live on west coast time even though your body is on the east coast.

Most of March is going to be about the farm, but right at the end - when my shot is working and good lord willing daily cases are in the single digits/100,000 here - I'm going to do a bunch of drops, so I do need to dedicate a little time to optimizing those.

Today I prepared a strawberry bed. The first two years I had strawberries, and then I lost control of a lot of things and the strawberry beds got overgrown and I never got around to prepping them until after the berry plants arrived and they never made it and I let the beds grow over.

So last year I ordered berries again, and prepped a bed after the berries arrived and I planted late and I got no berries - but I weeded today and six of the 24 plants are alive despite being abandoned. And I prepped a whole new bed and the berries aren't here yet. I am going to wait two weeks and then pull anything that has sprouted and cover the bed until the berry plants come. Ideally, I will do 4.

I used some of the saved cardboard.

My hours have always been crazy, SubC. In high school I couldn't take early classes because I'd watch the news, then Johnny Carson, then David Letterman, then Tom Snyder (was his show called The Tomorrow Show?) then reruns of Dinis Day. I'd be up til the wee hours of the morning. I haven't found a time zone that works for me! And this is when there was one tv in the house, so I'd have to listen to it very quietly.

Trash is out and kitty has clean litter box. I cleared off my desk yesterday and it looks so nice.

Wow! You have some surviving strawberry plants!

It is very windy here and supposed to get cold tonight. BF and I went for a walk. We are planning my birthday, mainly how I want to bake my cake, and how he wants to get me one. We are going to the museum that day, too.

Okay everyone's I'm running the dishwasher and thinking about going to bed, which is code for, I have at least four to five hours before that happens.

Committing to remove 4 bags today.

Hi Lee!

Let us know how it goes.

Tatoulia,

That's what I love about this place, out in my physical space, people would be saying "you let three quarters of the strawberries die of neglect. Maybe you should give up on strawberries." But you are all "Yay you! You aren't starting from scratch this year! Progress! Keep going! You can do it!"

Good job on the trash and the litter box and your desk! Nice fresh start for today!

I laugh that you say "planning my birthday" I would say "arguing about my birthday cake". Personally, I think it's your birthday, you should get to do what you want. But then, I have already sent my kids the schedule for Mother's Day weekend. They will be hauling mulch.

Lots going on today, have to go to school earlier than usual on Tuesdays, so I will check in later....

Great idea, Lee! Let us know how it goes!

SubC I plan my birthday staying in January/February. It's a relentless process. I can't tell if BF is teasing me by saying he's getting me a cake or if he doesn't want me to bake or just what. I think he just wants to get me a cake. He threw me a surprise birthday for my 50th and I brought my own cake since I didn't want anyone else to get my cake. Lo and behold, I go to cut the cake and I got the wrong cake. We howled.

And as the waiter served the cake to each person, I made him tell everyone that I got the wrong cake.

And yes, I knew about the surprise party and had essentially nothing to do with the guest list, invitations, music, decorations, etc. BF hired staff to bartender and serve the meal so that was good. The following year we had make-your-own sundaes and people teased me that we didn't have any staff and that they had to our their own toppings on. That was a fun birthday. I can't remember what we had for dinner or who got stuck serving it,

Oh the pre pandemic times. We had no idea how lucky we were. My birthday last year was canceled ? had private night out with BF but the party was the following week and was canceled. I remember canceling the catering but still keeping then canceling the cakes. Yes two as one of the attendees had her birthday so I was getting her her own cake to take back to her roommates.

Hi everyone, I saw you had started a new thread.

Weather has been SO much better than it was those awful days in February. I'll be gearing up for the big push at my storage unit. Taking a few partial days around other activities to pull vines out of one of roommate's flower beds. They are ones she is allergic to and has wanted gone because of that and also because they're too aggressive.

The strawberries here have been delicious and plentiful some years but tricky to get before birds steal them. I hope you have good luck with yours, SubC. And Tatoulia I hope you enjoy your birthday.

Hello to newbies and always thinking about Tillie.

Hello Cm! That's great you can help your roommate by removing the vines. I'm psyched that the weather is changing in your favor!

I'm a little restless tonight but it's still really cold. The wind has died down some. There is trash all over the sidewalks and the streets. I picked up some of it then visited with BF.

Tomorrow is supposed to be beautiful!

I must commit to getting one bag out of here. I just have to fill it and let it go.