Hi Tatoulia 🙂

Iced green tea "CLINK!" 🙂

How nice you had visitors, Tillie--even though the thought of having visitors strikes fear in my heart. I do remember when it didn't, and I need to get back to that place.

Working from home today. Haven't done anything around the house--had to take kitty to vet (clean bill of health, thank goodness) and have been working. Long weekend. Have some thoughts as to what I would like to accomplish.

Ice water clinks, everyone!!

Hi 🙂

I HAD COMPANY DROP IN! 😀
Nate & Mrs. Nate came by for a visit.
It was so nice. 🙂
Got all caught up on "What's Going On" in our lives.
Wandered around outside and admired my garden plants and talked about tree pruning for this next Autumn.
Yesterday in my room I made a final decision to toss a brand new pair of black Levi jeans that I did not like where they hit me on my hips,
offered them to Mrs. Nate and she was very happy to have them.
YEA!!! 😀
I love when I can pass something along to someone who will be able to appreciate/use it.
🙂

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hello everyone! Diane, you accomplish so much physical work--good job! I am glad you are getting help with your windows. Boy you have been making fantastic progress!

Tillie, loved the comment re improving your room!

Tonight I have been relaxing since getting home from work. I did resist the urge to put the stuff I was carrying in the middle of the room and instead put everything away. There's still stuff there, but I've gotten rid of about a third of it and I'm consciously not adding any new.

It's early here and yet I'm ready for bed. See you all tomorrow! Congratulations on your accomplishments today!

Hello all. Tillie must be so nice to have everything done and have a day off. Today I had no luck changing my attitude so worked in the yard, burned a bunch of stuff, then habitat carpenter showed up without warning, so happy I did maintenance yesterday. They measured windows looked at roof etc. In craft room he tripped over stuff I left in front of window that needs to be replaced. All of a sudden I am once again motivated to work on that room, although went back out in yard to work physically to work off the anxiety of having two big men in my small place, looking in every room. Now have to shower then start on craft room tonight. He also tripped while measuring the windows from the outside, and suggested I get that junk off the deck before windows are put in. They were very kind and gentle, knowing this is difficult for me. Not sure when they will be back, do know their visit was exactly what I needed to keep me going on craft room and deck. Thanks so much for being here.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Whatever you decide to plant it is always inspiring to watch it growing.

Today I cleaned up some messes and did maintenance things inside. Then I went out in the yard and worked for hours, weeded, mowed, trimmed branches, dead headed flowers, cleaned up stuff in yard. Then cleaned ashes out of wood stove, then cleaned the chimney, then cleaned up more of back yard. By 5 o'clock I was/am exhausted. Emailed my helper and said I have so much to do outside and feel stuck finishing craft room. Spring is my favorite time of year and do not want to spend nice days inside organizing craft room. Then I read your posts and thought I need to look at it differently, I have donated so much, now I need to see what I really want to keep for me, to use in the near future. I like the question, how can I make this room better. It is easy in clean living areas, not so easy when I look in craft room, but will try it tomorrow, how can I make this room just a little better today---thanks for the posts

Okay--sorry--me again. As I gathered up the last garbage bag and the two bags of recycling, I ended up vacuuming the hallway, the rug under my desk and the rug in the den (which I call 'the library'). I happy about that. It's a little late to be vacuuming but it only took a few minutes and the guy downstairs seems pretty chill. I'm flirting with putting the vacuum away.

Hey Anony-good to hear from you! Sorry the romance is over--you sound upbeat which is good! In the few times where I've broken it off, I've felt a great sense of relief after doing it. When the other person has broken it off, I'm stuck with the stark reality that that person is the victim of incorrect thinking! So either way I breathe and keep breathing. Easier said than done!

I bet the berry bushes will help you face the clutter. There's something about making a positive change that breeds the next one. I'm posting a lot these days because I need to be here. Every little thing someone says reminds me of what I need to do and what I can do.

Hoping everyone is well. I took out two garbage bags and am about to fill another and take it out.

Hello all you wonderful posters! Ive been distracted in a world of romance that has crashed & im now back to facing my mess...i just found out that berries will grow in my area, so im going back to my gardening project...hopefully that will inspire the growth of a cleaner space inside....yeah, that is a bit of a stretch, but who knows...ha ha...music & dance is an excellent tool for positivity! It is perfect for cleaning! ~☆♡☆~

Thank goodness for everyone here.

Yesterday I fought the obstacles in my mind...I can't wrap that gift and get to post office because I need to dust the table first....I can't dust the table while the floor is a mess....I can't work on the floor because I still have my winter boots strewn about...so I'll sit here and feel miserable. I fought it yesterday and I won.

Tillie--that is a good reminder that puttering is progress. I witnessed it myself in the kitchen yhis morning. I polished all three silver trays, gave one away and have a new home for one other (also giving away) and the third one has been put to use. Today I'm doing a few loads and will hopefully get to store tonight. I like to fast on Mondays to make up for the weekend so getting to store isn't always doable--too hungry--but I'll try to get there after work to get more laundry soap.

Will write more later. Wishing everyone a wonderful day!

Ps having music on makes all the difference, Tillie. The dancing makes me happy.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Your words touched me deeply.
You mean the world to me and I cherish your friendship. (((HUGS)))
WTG!!! FANTASTIC!!!
Clear and clean counters to greet you in the morning! 😀
Your puttering around has resulted in great progress toward your goals.
We are only one person, and one person can only do just so much at a time.
You CAN do this!
Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and eventually you can walk a thousand miles.

It takes time to declutter and clean.
It did not get cluttered over night and you can't be expected to get it all sorted out over night either.
Unless you hire Cory Chalmers to do the work with his team of expert declutterers. HaHa ;D
Every little bit tossed or donated or put away where it belongs is a fantastic accomplishment toward your goal of having a home you are comfortable with.
Be proud of all your accomplishments.(((HUGS)))

Hi Diane 🙂
It means so much to me to count you among my friends (((HUGS)))
I think you are not tired of all the stuff in your craft room because you have not been able to get in there and see all you have for too many years.
Now you can see the things and now you also have the time to do the projects.
Think of this as "shopping at home" rather than sorting out for donating.
Keep all the best bits that spark your creative interests.
Put them away nicely sorted and organized.
Let go of the supplies from crafts that no longer thrill you.
The goal is to turn that craft room into a place that holds all the best supplies for the crafts that interest you right now, not maybe someday in the distant future. 😀

Well, time to get moving here and clean this dump.
Really, really don't want to but really need to.
The winds didn't get outrageous yesterday and right now today it's calm out.
There is a very thick layer of dust/dirt on everything, including me.
Days like today make me glad this house is so small and that I have very few "knickknacks" and furniture.
But I still have to clean everything and hope the winds don't trash the place again.

TTYS 🙂

Good morning. Am working from home today. Normally I do a lot of laundry but I don't have much soap left. I was glad when I got up that two of my kitchen counters were clear and clean. It was a good feeling. I have to remind myself that if I don't have room to put away all of my stuff, then I have too much stuff. I'll try to "cull the herd" today.

Diane great to hear from you! We can go this, right? Let's get a clean clear house. I have a friend who is very neat and very clean and she said that whenever she walks into a room, she asks herself, what can I do to make this room a little better. I am certainly not at that point yet--every room needs 'a lot better' but maybe I can ask myself that on a smaller scale. Like wiping the clean counters throughout the day.

I know I sound like a broken record but I have to believe I'll get there. Someday, somehow I'll make this stick.

thanks Tillie and Tat, both great writers and kind.
I have not accomplished much at all this weekend. I did bring stuff out to living room, and want to keep most of the beads and jewelry findings. Guess I am not sick and tired of the junk in craft room enough to unload it yet. Maybe I will do better tomorrow. Tat ;you did a great job of describing how great /Tillie is and how she helps us.

Good morning everyone!

Yes I used the word "good!" I just spoke with my mother and explained I really need a day to myself. She was great and kind and thoughtful. No guilt and a deep understanding. Very sweet. Second, my toaster died. So excited. Already looked up how to dispose of it/recycle. Have shredded some papers, and started a goodwill bag. So far only some gloves but it's gloves. Have three silver trays lined up to be polished. Puttering--feels good. Thank you! I'm probably not out of the woods on feeling awful but I'll not dwell right now.

Diane, your doctor will be so touched by your letter. It broke my heart in a way, too, to see you saying goodbye to your doctor. Isn't it wonderful that we make connections with the people in our lives?

Tillie, you are such an anchor and rock and I can only hope that you know I appreciate you so much. You are an excellent writer, a good story teller and a solid presence in my life. I truly hope you know that I so appreciate your friendship and I know I take more than I give. I am deeply grateful for your commitment to helping me. You set a stellar example for making lemonade out of lemons, and I aim to be that person for others.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Hope you had a lot of fun at the party.
WAY TO GO!!! for putting away the shoes, sending scarves to the cleaners and making a final decision on the heated mattress pad. 😀
You sound like you are in a great mental place to start doing some serious decluttering.
It's when we get completely fed up and disgusted with the clutter that we can really begin to make progress getting our homes back to being a place we are happy with.
(((HUGS)))

Hi Diane 🙂
Thank you.
Any time we can bring things to sort out into a different/better location is the best way.
First, a different location can give us a better attitude about the task.
Seeing stuff away from where it has been for too many years can make it easier to make decisions about keeping it or not.
Most important is that we should always try to keep it more interesting/fun by doing these tasks in an atmosphere of positivity and an element of fun.
Try to keep decluttering from being a punishment.

Whenever I sort out my dresser drawers, I bring one drawer at a time into the living room
where I watch a video as I sort and straighten it.
This way it is a pleasant task and I do a much better job of it.

Got some watering done yesterday before the winds drove me completely insane.
Today I will finish watering the trees and bushes.
Also need to clean the kitchen today. ;P
Tomorrow I must do the usual general house cleaning. This place is a filthy mess from all the wind blown dirt in here.

TTYS 🙂

Home from the party and feeling a little better about myself. After I took off my shoes I put them back in their shoe bag and back on the shelf in my closet. I always hang up my clothes so that was less of an accomplishment. But putting the shoes away felt like progress. I also took several silk scarves to the dry cleaner today and when I changed my sheets I took off my mattress pad and decided to chuck it and I'll get a new one. This one is a heated mattress pad and I don't like to keep them beyond a few years. I think this one is probably six years old at this point. I'll get a new one in the fall.

Okay I'm going to head into bed now. I am feeling better. If I do things I'll feel better.

Diane and Tillie--thank you for your support and help--still feeling quite down on myself and will continue to receive read your words til I stop feeling this way. Leaving for a party now.

I need to act and get this done. I don't want stuff anymore. I'm making myself crazy. I want to just get rid of everything. I don't even want to start fresh. I just don't know why my house is such a cluttered pig sty. I am working hard not to call myself names. I need to act. I need to act.

Love Tatoulia.

Tillie, sorry the allergies are acting up, rain finally hit here, and yes the wind dried everything out here too. I had a fun day yesterday, just as I got home last night, rain started, perfect timing. I thought I would be all refreshed today from a fun day off-----well, tried to work in craft room and need to take timer in there and see if that will motivate me.
Tat it helped read about your struggle, if we have too much stuff can not have clean organized home. And Tillie thanks for saying to stop being mean to ourselves, instead use that energy to get rid of stuff. Hopefully Tat and I can get more done today.
I dropped a tear soaked goodbye letter to my doctor yesterday, felt so strange not saying goodbye in person, but no openings, cried when out in my car. Let myself feel sad for a few minutes then cheered myself up and went to library and picked up my dvd's on hold, then headed out to rock country. I must say it was nice to come home to a clean house and dishes done. Being mean to myself today, said can not watch dvd until work in craft room. After reading your posts, I am now going to bring the stu;ff out here to sort and watch dvd, military punishment is no way to live. Sure appreciate hearing what others are dealing with and ways to solve difficult situations.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Diane 🙂
Polka Dot rocks! Sounds like a really fun expedition 😀
Happy your Helper knows when to cut you some slack. (((hugs)))
I sprayed the aphids with something he had in an old mayonnaise jar he said was Diazanon? as he mixed it up with water in the sprayer.
My new red dress is not fancy, just a pretty summertime dress to wear at home. 🙂

Hi Karl 🙂
Please get all better and stay that way (((hugs)))
Great that you can now store more in the kitchen area!
I understand that it is hard to keep everything you own in one room and yet still have room for the maids to get in there to vacuum.
You are doing GREAT with organizing! 😀

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Stop it, please just stop!
(((HUGS)))
Be angry with all the excess stuff and the mess it causes but be kind to yourself.
Use the energy generated by your anger to help you to push through and tackle this clutter beast once and for all.
Remember that YOU are not the enemy, YOU are the solution to this aggravating situation.
(((HUGS)))

Day after day of raging wind has taken it's toll on my nerves.
Plus all the allergens it's stirred up have me miserable and itchy.
Not one drop of rain has graced the land. 🙁
It could be worse though. I could be a baby bird flung from the nest by the winds, being picked to death by ants. ;P
Need to get out there and water stuff. The winds have stripped all the moisture from everything.
This is typical Springtime weather up here in northern Nevada.
But honestly, there are so many other factors that make this a wonderful place to live. 😀

TTYS 🙂

Hi everyone! Sorry you've been sick, Karl.

I'm disgusted with myself today. I am sick of the mess. I have a short window to do things before having to go to brother's house to deal with his mess. Unfortunately this isn't something I can negotiate. I just have to forge ahead.

Sorry to be so negative. I'm mad at myself for owning too much stuff and being such a slob.

The Landlady has rearranged the cupboard space to give me another shelf's worth of pantry so I can offload some of what's stored in my room. I've been sick for the last couple of days, so I haven't actually done the transfer yet. Feeling better today. I cleared more of my floor space so that the maids could do their job.

hello again.
Tillie do you have a hot date to wear that red dress? Bet it is beautiful. What did you spray aphids with? Sounds like you have been busy.
Today helper came. She could see how much I accomplished this past week so did not push me too hard today, she saw how stressed I am from all that I have done and losing my doctor. Made an appointment to have air bag recall done, not until August. Sunny this afternoon so spent over 2 hours pulling mammoth weeds in back yard, they were too huge to weed whack. Was supposed to rain today, but not a drop. Supposed to rain all weekend, hope it does. Tomorrow is my fun day. The Polka Dot rock mine is open this weekend, so I get to go find some beauties to tumble. Thanks for understanding the humiliation Tillie, and sorry you have to deal with a hoarder.

Good Afternoon Everybody 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂

Hi Diane 🙂
Wonderful to "see" you! 😀
I feel humiliated too every time someone comes onto the property and sees the horrid conditions here even though the inside and garden area are nice.
Big, big (((HUGS)))
FANTASTIC!!! all you have been up to! 😀
Tire changing and sorting and donating and gifting! 😀
Sorry to hear about you losing your health care person. Hope you like the new one.

I have been busy here.
Went out early this morning to spray some aphids before the winds picked up.
Made a beautiful red dress.
Been doing yard work off & on all week.
Hoping we get some rain, it's predicted, windy and cloudy.
Every night this week a kitty has been coming up on my front porch and singing.
When I open the door to place a bowl of cat food out for him he runs away.
After I get back inside and shut the door he returns to eat the food and ceases his singing. 😀

Hello all. Tillie I loved reading your post demand resistance, right where I have been. I am sick of clutter busting. Wanted to cancel helper tomorrow, she is coming anyway. When I read your post I realized part of the reason I want to quit, is I don't want to finish craft room, afraid after all these months I will fail, and re clutter, as I have always done in the past. I have never ever had clutter free living, so am afraid if I finish that room, I will start messing up again.
Electric meter reader came to day and saw the hoard in front of meter, I felt so humiliated and hated myself, forgetting, that if he would have seen inside my house, he would have seen how nice it is in here. I took another car load to thrift store today, went to bank, filled car with gas. Supposed to rain all weekend so tomorrow I will go pick up some dvd's at library that I ordered. Just love having library, can order movies and tv series online, then they say when they arrive, and I have 7 days to watch them. I watched Season 1 of House of Cards and just notified, season 2 is waiting for me. Watched season 1&2 of Orange is new black, great entertainment while sorting buttons, jewelry etc. I gave a large bag of old metal jewelry to an artist that works at library, she actually makes upcycled jewelry out of old stuff, the very reason I bought this, but never used. She was so happy and she actually mailed me a thank you note, sweet. I have to vacuum tonight, do some dishes and tackle some papers that have not been filed since I cleaned out all the old stuff. It was easy to get rid of all the old stuff, difficult to know how to file to be able to find it when I need it. I think I reported that I actually sold RV, got canopy on pickup, only after being pushed by helper, or should I say shoved. So happy when I do things, just so hard to do it. I procrastinated making a doctors appt., only to find she is moving to east coast and I had received notification letter, that I had in the to do pile, so was unaware she was leaving. December is first appointment for "new Pt." at the clinic for medicare pt. even though I have been a patient there for many years. When things like this happen, it knocks me off my feet, feel devastated that I procrastinate, and have to deal with consequences. Still do not have skills to take disappointments in stride. I took pickup in to have summer tires put on, tire company could not do it because summer tires do not have pressure sensors in them. Cost $44 per tire plus $22 to program, and these are already on rims. I agonized for a week then decided to change them my self. Visualize an old 67 yo under a pickup trying how to figure out how to use jack. Had to jump on wrench to loosen nuts, they were on so tight. I was so exhausted but happy I now know how to change a tire if I get a flat out in the boonies. Enough rambling

Me again--haven't shredded any papers but I did get winter coats to dry cleaner for cleaning and storage. Also picked up some cold beverages and dropped off at mom's house. Going to make some peppermint tea and fold some laundry. Folding and putting away is key. Hard habit to learn but I'm working on it, with your help.

Hello everyone! Coffee clinks!

Going to keep working on papers today. Just going to plow through them. Thanks to everyone here, i use much better judgment as to which papers really need to be kept. Am working today but can fit in some breaks here and there to make my life less cluttered. I'll check in soon--hope you are all well.

Anony--re Internet--when I was in grad school, one of my professors said "tv is a thief" and said that once you turn it on, you have just committed a minimum of half an hour of your precious time. Now I'm seeing that I waste so much time on the Internet. The Internet is a thief, too.

Tatouli, dancing is an awesome way to go!!! I use to do more of it till my internet adiction took hold of me....

Good Evening Everybody 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WAY TO GO! on getting so much done! 😀
Honest, some day the backlog of papers needing shredding will be done.
Then it's just a matter of shredding them on a regular basis to keep them from piling up again.
Happy you had such a lovely weekend. 😀
Have fun dancing around tonight as you switch things up and get them done! 😀

Got up about 5am today,
went outside and did lots of garden stuff,
was finished by 9am.
Then took a shower and did two loads of laundry.
After lunch I took a nap.
Winds have picked up, blowing in big dark rain clouds.
Hope, hope, hope we get some rain!

Really missing all you MIAs (((HUGS)))