It's been a busy weekend -- got home very late on Thursday, and then got up early on Friday, to spend all day Friday, then Saturday, then Sunday at a board game designer mini-convention. Loads of fun. I just got home, less than half an hour ago.

I've had essentially no spare time at home for the past several days, and since I'd dumped some stuff on the floor in getting stuff packed up to take to the event, my room isn't looking particularly good at the moment. Looks like there's nothing on the calendar for Monday, so I'll see if I can get all of that (and what I brought back home) back where it belongs.

Good Evening Everybody 🙂

Hi Diane 🙂
Sounds like you had an adventure!
Any adventure you return home from intact is a good adventure. ;D
Yes, sadly you are very hard on yourself 🙁
(((hugs)))
WTG! for whatever you did accomplish from your To-Do list! 😀

This morning I slept in! 😀
Then did some laundry.
Then watered EVERYTHING in the yard.
Then emptied, scrubbed, scoured and sanitized all three litter boxes and refilled them with fresh litter.
Made a big bowl of salad, ate some of it.
Tomorrow I will do a Spring Clean of the hallway and the small area by the back door.
Easy areas. 😀
He did NOTHING but play games on his computer in the garage.
AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! >:(

Today was Beautiful!
Sunny and warm, gentle breeze.
The air smells of lilacs. 😀
Planning to spend more time out there tomorrow afternoon.

Hope you all had a GREAT day today too. 🙂

Hi fellow posters.
Tillie, thanks for posting daily, almost. I went out in the hills yesterday, one scary road, thought I was lost, one dirt lane with big rocks, up down, windy, and no one else for miles. I was so happy when I finally found a paved road. Will not be doing that again by myself. Road was by a river for awhile, so serene and beautiful. I got out and climbed a hill and sat and enjoyed the view. Today I am sore from climbing hills, so just stayed home and worked in the yard all day. I did not do some tasks on my list so feel yukky about that. My helper and I make a to do list of tasks each week. I email her daily with what I accomplished, so emailed the truth, and fearful she will be frustrated with me. She is very accepting and kind, it is me that is critical and mean to myself. Have to get dishes caught up tonight so I can eat better tomorrow, yep lots of dirty dishes filled the sink when I was not looking a real "Who dunnit" mystery.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Yesterday I hung out some laundry and then decided to go into town.
Went to two thrift shops and discovered that they were both having a 50% off the entire store inventory sale.
At the first shop I spent 3.25, at the second shop I spent 7.00.
Bought some nice linens to swap out some I have that are getting rather ratty.
Now I will send the old things to the animal shelter.
Also bought some groceries & saw some friends while in town.
Planning to do a bunch of little tasks around the house today. The kind of things that tend to pile up and cause clutter until you can get to them.
Like washing up and storing a few no longer needed space heaters and the heavier blankets & such.
Beautiful weather today. The wind finally quit raging and the lilacs are now in full bloom. 😀

Wishing you all a wonderful Saturday. 🙂

GOOD MORNING EVEYBODY! 😀

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
FANTASTIC! WTG! 😀
Hope you get the rain you need.

Hi Diane 🙂
Hope you get the time this weekend to just sit outside and recuperate. (((hugs)))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Thank you for checking in (((hugs)))

Hi Roxie 🙂
"CLINK!"
Please consider all the work I have been doing as your own.
I am more than happy to do it all for you. 😀
You have been doing such a FANTASTIC! job, really, considering everything else going on.
Now is your time to sit back and drink your coffee as you enjoy your view of nature.
If I get a vote, I vote for contacting Hospice.
I have seen how they can make the time a much easier, pain free, dignified transition.
Someday I want us all to meet up there on that "Rainbow Bridge" so that I can do this

((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))

in person.

Love Always,
Tillie 🙂

Decided to read the board before going to bed. Saw your post, Roxie, and wanted to check in! Water clinks for now, as I've got to get to bed.

Haven't read everyone's posts just yet. Each of you is an inspiration and I thank you for sharing your life with me. I am enriched by your friendship, candor and support.

Much love, Tatoulia

Hi all
Just a short note. Worked into the night yesterday, and up early this morning. Helper was a great support and helper today. We did way more than I thought possible today, car is packed and ready to go. Just have to put my coat on and head out. Just started pouring so thought I would get inspired by your posts, thanks for posting. I am tired and my back hurts and feel kind of numb from packing up donations I did not think we would get to today. So many decisions in a short time makes me feel tired and numb. When she is here, it is much easier to see things much more objectively. I would not go today but I have library things that are overdue, that people are waiting for, so feel responsible. Really want to just sit.

Good morning all. :::clink::: first cup of coffee. Nurse has already been here and gone. They come next week, then that is it for home health care. I'll need to decide whether to sign up for hospice next. Many pros for it, some negatives, but mostly the negatives are psychological that I have to work through. Talk about letting go!! lol

Hello again, everyone!

I've been meaning to post for days but just preoccupied with this or that. In between my crazy April Fool's post and now, I did get another little amount out of the storage unit. I condensed two "go through" file boxes of papers to one, and tossed stuff and the older boxes which were all crunched up and yucky. And some misc. small non-paper items along with them. Not a whole lot but something.

But then when I went to put stuff back in the unit, feeling so pleased, I had two neatly organized boxes of books fall down, which was quite annoying. And one of the plastic boxes holding books cracked when it hit the floor. Argh! Still, I didn't have a big hissy fit, just a little one, which for me is progress of another sort, learning not to get worked up. But I recognized it was definitely time to stop then. I'm getting closer to the point where things like the book boxes won't be so precariously stacked that they fall easily. That will be wonderful.

The emotional side of all of this, I see we've all been dealing with one way or another here lately. So good to see all the growth happening as we reassess and reorder our relationship with our "stuff."

I can certainly relate to that part where it gets down to a bunch of tiny miscellaneous items that are trivial yet difficult to be decisive about. I dread that, but I'm telling myself I will be able to deal with it when the time comes because by then I'll have had so much practice dealing with the large and medium stuff. I hope so!

I had been going to move to a storage unit closer to where I live. But I went on their website and discovered they want $10-20 more a month for their units. There are other companies not too far; I may look into that, but for now it seems to be okay if I'm just going to the place I have and clearing out stuff. Maybe by fall I'll be in a better position to do the big move/massive cleanout push.

We're forecasted to get a good amount of rain this weekend and I hope it materializes; the gardens really need it.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂
Would really love to hear how you're doing.
We miss you (((hugs)))

Hi Diane 🙂
WAY TO GO!!!
I understand how hard this is for you, agonizing over all these decisions. (((hugs)))
Hope having your helper there today makes everything easier for you. 🙂

Moving slower today. At 10:00am will start washing living room area furniture.
Need to wash dishes too, I let them pile up this week because I was too busy.
Then I need to wash the few knickknacks that I display in the living room and dining room areas.
Except for the windows and drapes these areas will be done!
Very cold and windy day with fresh snowfall in the mountains.
Tomorrow should be a better day to hang out laundry. Other than that I plan to take Friday off to rest up for the weekend. 🙂

AFK 😉

Wow Tillie you have been a busy gal, good you are getting it done.
I sorted all day, was finally able to donate lots of buttons and old costume jewelry, and other craft items, and lots of old crocheted stuff and all kinds of things. /Stuff all over the floor still trying to get it done. Helper will be here in the morning. I warned her that stuff is all over and I really need her help with decisions and organizing, she is fine with it. looks like the bomb that went off was a mega bomb. I really dislike that room. So much junk from 20 years just crammed in there. Have accomplished so much, I can see almost all of the floor will be available after tomorrow. My reward today was finding a little box of rocks in there and several coins, mostly 1994, ok, maybe more than 20 years of junk. Nothing of any real value, just excess beads, jewelry findings, ribbons etc. I would have to live well over 130 more years to use it.
Space is more valuable than all that junk so why is it so hard to let go of? Living in past dreams, let all of it go and create new dreams, easy to think, harder to do.

Hi 😀

The hard part is all over and done with.
Dining area walls and ceiling are all washed.
Then I washed the furnishings with Murphy's oil soap as I moved them back into place.
Just finished eating and am resting now. 3:30pm
Tomorrow I will wash all the living room furnishings.
Then wash all knickknacks, vacuum and be done.
Next week I will clean the smaller more easily done areas.
Looking forward to getting back outside even if it is to pull weeds. 😀

Hi Roxie 🙂
So true! I have learned so much from everybody here.
WAY TO GO!!
for hanging in there and getting the social security all dealt with!!! 😀
My bedroom is never a lonely place because there is always at least one cat in it. ;D
I would love to hire some help, especially for yardwork, but he won't let me spend the money. 🙁
Hope the Dr. visit went well (((HUGS)))

Hi Diane 🙂
YEA!!! WTG!!!
for doing that daily maintenance type tuff!!! 😀
I love those tiny rose bushes but have always had bad results keeping it alive.
Good luck with your sorting project tonight 😀

Well...
got the living room walls & ceiling all finished washing up.
Then I went outside with all the cats.
The lilacs are blooming and it smells heavenly.
The rain we have been getting is light showers and doesn't water deeply.
So I watered everything real good.
Some iris are putting up flower stalks.
Spent 4 & a half hours outside, I needed that. 🙂
Tomorrow I will do the dining room area.
The place is already looking much better and it smells fresh and clean now too.

You all keep me motivated and accountable.
THANK YOU!

Sweet Dreams Ya'll 😉

Hi Everyone.
Good to hear from you Roxie, miss hearing from you, happy you doing OK. Yes, any room I let get cluttered feels lonely and sad, and I want to get out of there. I worked outside all day yesterday and this morning. I did get allllll the dishes done this morning, and dusting, and a little clean up before I went outside. I weeded, then burned lots of stuff, until wind picked up. working on filling the garbage can too. After some time off, I am finally ready to face sorting some stuff from craft room, being cloudy and sprinkling out helps me to accomplish stuff in here.
Tilly you helped me get some things done by telling us all you did yesterday, thanks.
So nice a electric guy wrapped my outside wires that were sparking in wind/rain storms. My lights didn't flicker or go out when it rained last night, and today lots of wind and no flickering. Feel so lucky it did not start a fire with my procrastination on getting wires fixed.
Last week I bought a little $2.50 rose plant at grocery store, it has brought me so much joy today. I rarely buy myself flowers so am grateful I did. For so cheap, I thought it would die, but today another rose bud is opening up.
ok back to work, does anyone really need 100's of spools of old thread, or 75 spools of ribbon? Ok probably have more than that. Old doilies someone crocheted, who knows who, they have to go. Lets see how much I am able to pack up tonight

I, too, learn from Tillie, Diane and everyone else who posts. Each of us has something to offer, don't we? 🙂

Good Morning Everybody...
where ever you are 😉

Hi Diane 🙂
My Granma taught me how to Spring clean so I try to do it like she would.
Nice thing is that once you Spring clean, the rest of the year is just maintaining the house by doing little touch up jobs.

Moving a little slower today but still feeling alright.
Will start working at 9:00am, 20 minutes from now.
When I was younger I could easily do so much more each day but I can still get the job done if I break the task down into smaller sections.
Washing walls and ceilings is not an every year job, more like every two to three years.
I painted in here over ten years ago and washing the walls has helped the paint look good all these years. 🙂

Wishing you all a beautiful sunny day 🙂

Tillie, you really made some progress today, good for you. Nice you describe the process for us hoarders to learn what spring cleaning actually means!

Hi Diane 🙂
I can see all the struggles people face when they have hoarding tendencies and I would not wish that on anybody. (((HUGS)))
Hope you find a good way to do sorting outside where I know you would always rather be. 😀

Well...
Got more than half of the living room walls and ceiling all washed and rinsed!
Done for today. 2:00pm
Sitting here looking at the contrast between the clean areas and dirty area is sure motivation to finish this ASAP!
The dining area is smaller and can be finished in one day, same with the kitchen.
The area by the back door, the hallway and bathroom are all easy areas too.
Will get to them after the main room is done.
Then I will go back through and use Murphy's oil soap, vacuum and generally wash everything.
The windows will wait till these lovely April showers are over with.
Now, time for a shower & shampoo. 🙂

Hi Tillie,
How is it going today? Back holding up ok? Will be nice to have a fresh living area,
I spent 2 hours resorting stuff this morning, then started hating it, so went for a long walk and really enjoyed all the flowers and trees blooming. Got home went back in there and hated it, so outside since then. After reading your post, I agree with sorting outside. I was going to do that today then thought it is supposed to rain tomorrow so said no. Now I am rethinking it, I hate being in here. I can put donations in vehicle and put tarp over the rest or things I can decide on I can put away, just really sick of it. Every room I have hated the last part deciding on smaller stuff, just want to put it in a box and hide it in the garage, garage too full, and will still have to deal with it. How about donating it all, feel a total lack of control when I think of just getting rid of the rest. Hoarding at its finest!!! Tillie so happy you don't hoard, it is a terrible thing to be stuck in, or live with as you well know.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Diane 🙂
Enjoy the nicer weather and all the fresh growing plants. 🙂
How about taking a load of stuff to sort outside and sit out there while you sort it?
Could put a whole new perspective on the task. 🙂

O.K. Today's the day....
Have a hard back breaking task to undertake.
Since the living room, dining area and kitchen are just one combined room,
cooking, candle and incense burning along with living in a very dusty desert really take their toll on the walls and ceiling.
Soooo
today I will start washing walls and ceiling.
Planning to take my time, do it in sections, as much as my back will tolerate each day until it's all done.
Once I have done this I will be much happier and a whole lot less depressed about the condition of my home. 😀
Looks like another overcast rainy day outside so I am stuck indoors anyway.

Wish me luck 🙂

Great to hear from you Roxie, I was thinking about you today, so was a treat to see your post. Yes very difficult things to deal with, wonderful you have a loving brother, so happy he has been there for you.
Tillie you are so wise and yes emotions are difficult for me. I have done nothing in craft room again today. I have been outside all day. I moved the rocks I had scattered all over to one area, messed up yard while washing rocks. For the first time I said, I have too many rocks, no more rock hounding for me. Yes it is so nice to have rooms that have no clutter, thanks for all of your support and advice. I told helper I would work 1 hour in morning on fabrics and in the evening while watching tv would sort buttons for donations. Well none have been done. Seems I either spend 12 hours straight or none at all, and thus the melt downs. That is why she suggested 1 hour daily. Just like when I studied for tests, I would wait until the last day and study all night. Thank goodness she comes weekly it is like I have to prepare for test weekly, not every 20 years. Started taking plastic off windows. My lilacs are really trying to open today. I gave them extra water yesterday to nudge them. Took a walk this morning, think lack of exercise gives me the blues. Plus giving away my stuff--------.
So happy we have this board and each other.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Roxie 😀
"CLINK!"
(((HUGS))) Those are very difficult things to finalize/legalize but I have found peace of mind after they were done.
Enjoy all the nature and animals and the morning coffees, try not to fret about the house since it is truly out of your hands to do much about it anyways.
WAY TO GO!!! for bill paying and making and keeping Dr. appointments! 😀
(((HUGS)))

Hi Diane 🙂
In town yesterday I noticed all the lilacs were in full bloom.
Here where I live the lilacs are just now thinking about blooming.
When it comes to changing from a person who tends toward hoarding to a person who doesn't have an over abundance of stuff
it's really not about the stuff,
it's about the emotions and thought processes of the person.
That emotional rollercoaster you've been riding is to be expected.
Be kind to yourself, feel the emotions, work through them.
Keep looking at all you have accomplished and always keep the vision of the final results in front of you.
You are doing GREAT! 😀 (((HUGS)))

At the dollar store yesterday I bought some cleaning supplies.
My plan for this coming week is to start Spring Cleaning.
Last year dealing with his stupid leg and months of hospital & home nurses & physical therapists kept me from doing any kind of real cleaning, the way I like to do Spring Cleaning.
Planning to take my time, do a section a day.
So happy my house is so small. 😀

Last night it rained very nicely here, so it's too wet to do anything outside.
Think today I will enjoy some beading. 🙂

Drive-by toast :::clink::: to all. I've been reading but have had too much keyboard trouble to post. Traded for a different keyboard, and it's working.

Sun is trying to come out. There have been squirrels, rabbits and Robins in the yard. Yeah

Thanks so much Tillie, feel much better after reading your reply, I was feeling guilty, lost, sad, lethargic, so many things, went for a walk and read what you wrote, now feel calm. Thanks for telling me about your day, so happy you can get out and about now, so much better for you.
Showed RV tonight to a neighbor, he really wants it but it is small for a family of 4, I am pretty sure his wife will say no when she gets back from trip. Lilacs are about to bloom, yippee.

Hi Diane 🙂

(((HUGS)))
It is important that you take the time to process.
Different types of items will always take longer than another, easier category of items.
Craft stuff is always a hard one for most everybody because we have so much emotion/dreams/fantasies invested in it.
You have been doing such a FANTASTIC! job with all you have sorted through and made those million keep/donate decisions about.
This little rebellion of yours is in no way a set back or a failure, you just needed a little more time, and that is totally understandable. (((HUGS)))

Sprinkling a little off & on today.
Decided to go to the "Dollar Tree" dollar store around noon.
Then since I was out & about, decided to stop by other places and chat with friends.
Didn't do any chores today, maybe tomorrow.
8:00pm here now and I think I will get to bed early tonight to make up for all last night's excitement. 🙂

I miss you Tillie, was so good to get online and see your posts.
I had a meltdown when helper wanted to get rid of stuff I had sorted in keep pile. First time I was so rebellious. She said she was there to work, and I said lets just load car, pickup and your SUV, that will be enough. I had already donated 2 car fulls since she was last here. We are talking crafts here-----now that I have settled down, I see the importance of getting rid of much of what we were disagreeing about. I was terrified she would give up on me, but she will be back on Wednesday. I have done nothing since then, other than processing the dramatic changes in my life. I need the support of this group to make all of these changes

Scooter (the cat) and I got woke up last night about 1:30 by my big orange boy cat growling and hissing in the dining room area.
Found he had caught and killed a mouse and the albino girl kitty was trying to steal it from him. She wanted to eat it.
This was his first "kill" ever.
After I gave him lots & lots of "GOOD BOY"s and "WAY TO GO"s he was ready to leave the mouse where it lay and eat some cat treats.
Scooter was all excited because he never had a real mouse to play with before.
I allowed him to bat it all around until I had settled down enough to go back to sleep.
He had the most wonderful time. 😀
Then I tossed the creature out the front door and washed my hands.

Checked all around for entryways but they are all still secure.
Thinking it may have come in through the door since I had it open yesterday while I was outside.
I have had snakes and lizards enter the house through the open door before.

Hi Everybody 🙂

Got up early this morning and went out and did some yard stuff.
Then did a load of laundry and a little bit of ironing.
Then I did some cooking and veggie prepping.
Cleaned the kitchen.
Then went out hunting for nesting wasps and sprayed them.
Was a busy and fun day. 😀

Tomorrow I plan to do some early morning yard stuff and then some straightening of my gardening things stored in the pump house.
Then Take the whole afternoon off. 😀

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Good Morning Diane 🙂

Good Morning Tatoulia 🙂

Diane, you need to schedule in some fun.
Write on a slip of paper
"FUN"
and stick to it!
FANTASTIC! that you have done so much to make your home a safer and healthier place by removing so many trip hazards!
WTG!!! 😀
(((HUGS)))

We all need to try keeping a proper balance between work, rest, and play to continue to function at our best.
(((HUGS)))

Getting ready to go into town, have my shopping list all written up.
There is a whole herd of tiny brown wrens, sparrows and green finches in my yard...
they are eating all the grass seeds that I so carefully planted on Monday. 🙁
Evil little birds. LOL ;D

Words to live by "I like having clean rooms". Diane and Tillie, you are precious friends.