Tillie and Tat----Hi, and thanks for your posts. Helper is coming tomorrow instead of today, hooray for that. I vacuumed this morning, took some stuff outside. Went to get weed sprayer, tripped, fell, decided to get all of that stuff out of walk way to donate. I called all thrift stores to have pick up, they are all booked for weeks, so guess I have to haul that junk tomorrow, helper said she will take a car load too. It finally happened, became ruthless with all the storage containers, racks, shelves. Still a bunch more but an amazing amount is outside to donate. Productive avoidance of craft room! Actually have made lots of progress in that room, no chance or having things falling on me now. Cleared some stuff off deck, 1 load of laundry, busy day. Nice weather and I am so focused on hoard, have not really had fun, try again to have fun tomorrow. I like having clean rooms. Tonight I have lots of dishes to wash, yep let them pile up, good thing I got rid of most of them, so dishes can not pile up like in the past. Tillie and Tat, I appreciate your kind words, although this evening I question if it will ever be finished. Have to focus on how wonderful most of the place is, rather than what is still left to do. Sure do appreciate this web site

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! 😀
Fantastic that you are maintaining your bedroom! 😀
Sweet dreams waiting in there for you. (((hugs)))
Once the bathroom is cleaned it only takes a little daily tidying up to keep it nice with a quick weekly deeper cleaning.
WTG! for doing the taxes and adjusting your deductions.
Yes, Diane's posts have been extremely encouraging and uplifting. 😀
Have a wonderful week.

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Diane 🙂
Wonderful thinking you are doing as you sort and make decisions! 😀
I too would have to look at what is in bins and boxes just to make sure something important didn't get stuffed in accidentally.
Fill your freezer with smoothie supplies and treat yourself with them.
They won't give you the sugar blues like the ice cream did. 😀

Another beautiful day here.
Been wearing summer dresses since Monday afternoon! 😀
Should do yard stuff but my body says "no" to that idea.
Next week I should be up to it and it won't be such back breaking work to do anyways.
Thinking about going in to town tomorrow.
All out of fresh fruit and veggies.
Today I will tidy up, sweep, vacuum, etc...
Making up a grocery list.
I hate it after grocery shopping, coming home to find that I forgot to get something important.
Then I make myself "do without" because I refuse to run back to the store just to pick up one thing.

---------------------------------

Money spent is called "Sunk Cost".
It is money gone and can not be recovered.
Many people fall into the trap of holding onto items, trying to recover the purchase price or the imagined price because they deem it a "collectable".
Many, many people have rooms filled floor to ceiling, expensive storage units, sheds and garages filled with items that they won't release until they can sell them for the price they feel the item is worth.
Unfortunately, nobody is ever willing to pay the original purchase price for anything second hand.
Items, any item, is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
The most they will ever recover is pennies on the dollars spent.
So they live with inaccessible rooms, pay dearly to store things for years and years, spending all their time and energy caring for and churning through the items
as the items get damaged from crushing, water, insects, mold, rodents and vandalism.
Also, I have witnessed many times, the hoarder then dies, leaving their family to have to dedicate months, even years to clear it all out and experience all the financial difficulties associated with it.

Diane!!! I feel alive and happy just reading your posts! Last weekend sounds wonderful! You are doing so well and you seem so happy-- your happiness is infectious-- I cannot stop smiling!

I did of my taxes last weekend. Not happy but nithing to be upset about. I changed my withholding a at work yesterday to reflect my diminishing deductions as time marches on.

Tillie I hope you are doing well -- I cleaned my bedroom last week and was so pleased ( let's not discuss the bathroom) and today I think I'll dust and vacuum bedroom so I can get back into the swing of weekly bedroom cleanings.

Hello to everyone-- yes Dave it's tax time!

hello
Tillie happy you are enjoying your cleaner yard
I worked all day in craft room. Even though I just took a carload to donate, I gathered up another car load last night and today. I missed the beautiful day, had a sugar hangover, ate way too much ice cream yesterday, groggy and depressed, no ice cream today. told helper we will have a very short time tomorrow, want to get outside, maybe go to river. Good news, found more polished petrified wood in craft room, did not have a memory of them, maybe because they were buried for many years, before I knew they were petrified wood. felt like my reward for working so hard. That is why it is difficult to just donate bins without looking in them first.
I told helper we will work longer next week. Donating is still going well, just want to get it done, so tell myself no, you have no interest in those projects, give them away, no day dreaming of what I could possibly create. Someone else will enjoy it. hundreds of dollars spent on this stuff, just can not think in those terms.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Diane 🙂
YIPPEEE! Ice Cream! 😀
Enjoy! You have earned it! 🙂
Your helper will know just how much you have done when she sees the receipt from the donation place. 😀

The ibuprofen has started to work miracles on my poor old crippled body.
I have begun washing some laundry, have it sorted into 3 wash loads.
Taking it easier today but having a wonderful time appreciating looking at my improved yard. 😀
Still more to do out there but it will get done, someday.

"CLINK!" to Roxie (((HUGS)))

TTYL 🙂

Hello all. Tillie I loved reading your post and thanks Dave for the add on laugh.
a time to cast off has come. This morning I finished filling the car and took to thrift store to donate got receipt for my helper.
She is coming here on Wednesday, yikes, I am just getting to the good stuff, afraid since she didn't see all I got rid of she will think we need to get rid of way more than I think. As before, I worry, get anxious, she gets here and like magic, I trust her opinions on most things, and we get way more done in 2 hours than I get done in 2 days. The wind is brutal here today.
So, since I donated a car full of craft stuff today, I went to the store and bought chocolate peanut butter and Keebler cones. I had two little ice cream cones when I got home. Such a treat, felt like a kid. In the past I was basically addicted to ice cream, so no longer have in the house, but think I will be fine with this if I don't buy more, just enjoy this tub.
Also bought several vegetables, bananas, apples, they don't look nearly as exciting as ice cream.
Hope to get 2nd wind and do more sorting tonight. Happy you had so much energy today Tillie.

Hi Dave 🙂
It was a treat watching the sunrise as I gathered up all my supplies and made my plan of attack.
As far as taxes go, we can always ask for an extension. ;D

Just now 1:00pm here, I ate lunch.
Got out there and spread fertilizer on the
trees, laurels, lilacs, honeysuckle, roses, rhubarb, and all the other plants out there.
Watered it in.
Then I raked the grass in front and the small patch under my clothes line out back.
Did some reseeding, watered the back lawn.
Will water the front later this afternoon.
Sprayed some round up, need to do lots more of that but the breeze picked up.
Can't spray weed killer when there is any kind of wind, it will travel and kill everything.
Replaced a little bit of fencing along the front by the laurels.
Was a perfect day for working out there and I was all done by 12:15 too. 😀
Soon as I rest up a bit I will get showered & shampooed.
I am physically exhausted but it is a good feeling having all that done.

😀

Walmart has battery powered lanterns (If you can't sneak one out of the garage)!

Time machine needed!
If March is over, song addendum reads:
A time to pay income tax penalties! 🙂

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Not even 5am here yet and I am wide awake and ready to do yard work.
But it's very dark out there!
Will have to wait for the sunrise. LOL 😀

Hi Diane 🙂
Nice to have your company with tree wells and other yard stuff.
Hoping my lilac buds don't get burned again from a rogue freeze.
Your Friday outing sounds just WONDERFUL, all except for that little blood sucker.
So nice that the weather is pleasant and at any time you can take a break and get outside.
You are doing such a FANTASTIC amount of decluttering the past and making room for the present.
You are not giving up on old fantasies/dreams of all the things you would have done with those donated items.
What you are doing is clearing the way for all your new dreams and plans for the person who you are now. (((hugs)))

Ecclesiastes and also a song by The Byrds...
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Hello everyone, thanks for all of the posts, inspiring and thought provoking
Tillie I learned from you to make tree wells, and I joined you doing that this week, so nice having warmer weather, I agree with you, so happy you are getting yard ready. This is a first to have lilacs this early for me, with no threat of freezing, a few years with no lilacs from freeze.
Thanks Dave, I climbed my tree this week, you reminded me. I can actually see the top of Mt. Hood if I climb high enough, such fun
Friday I went on an outing with a friend to 40 acres she bought south of Paulina We found lots of nice jasper, we had sooooo much fun. It was perfect weather, no wind for a change and we took her new 4 runner off road and it was a wild ride, we toured her land as well and connecting BLM land. I felt so alive being out in nature. Yesterday was a hohum day, was worn out, did not get enough done. This morning at 4am a tic woke me up, biting the back of my neck at hairline. It was creepy and could not go back to sleep. Picked up the little fellow on Friday and he lived on me for a day and 1/2 without me knowing it, so creepy. So I got up and loaded up several bags of craft crap.
Back seat of car is full once again, and still not done in there. Now piles only lining walls, nothing in middle of room for first time in 20 years. Would be nice to just get rid of it but still going through most stuff, which is time consuming, but the switch is flipped for hours at a time, where I can let go of stuff that I "could" use and never will. Reach a point where it is too much for me and then went out in yard and really enjoyed being out, watering, washed my new rocks from outing, worked on junk on deck. I vacuumed RV again and then a couple came over and really liked it. He is a mechanic and really liked the engine Ford 460 I think he said, and only 21,800 miles, so hopefully they will figure out a way to pay for it. Yes, thanks Tillie, a canopy is just what I need to have overnighters. And yes, just have to keep unloading junk so I will be free to enjoy life. Thanks again for all of the support fellow worker bees.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
YEA! Wishing you GREAT success on the taxes! 😀

Hi Dave 🙂
March is over with for this year
but the good news is that we still have April. 😀

Finally got the grass mowed late yesterday afternoon.
Then I did the edging along the walkway.
Soon as I finish drinking my tea I plan to head outside and get busy getting my tiny garden/yard area worked on and ready for Summertime.
That's my plan for this week, doing all the necessary things like raking, fixing tree wells, fertilizing, killing some weeds and generally making it all look as pretty as I can.
It is a sharp contrast to the rest of the property and I get a lot of compliments on my tiny garden oasis. 😀
He hates it, thinks it is a waste of space where he could be dumping his stuff and I have to always be on the look out for stuff he tries to put there.
Last year it was a salad bar, a wooden bed frame and a contraption he said was a "trellis" but it really wasn't and it kept falling over.
He also strung electric wires attached to small lights. The wires were trip hazards and the lights never worked anyways plus they would always get wet when I watered or it rained.
I have outdoor garden type solar lights already.

Time to get going, another beautiful sunny day here. 😀

TTYS 🙂

Oops! Never started. It's not march anymore is it?

You got me, CM ! I sat here agape thinking what has she done.. Really so funny ! Without humor I would fall apart--many many thanks.

Hello to all. Will I actually finish the taxes I started in February? Ashamed of myself. But I will get them done before weekend is over!

LOLOLOL CriticalMass! 😀
That is a good one!
Thank you 🙂
Hope things calm down there for you real soon.
Hang in there, your plans sound really good. 🙂

Hi Karl 🙂
WAY TO GO! GREAT job you did on your room! 😀
Hope your computer issues aren't too bad and are easily fixed.
I have learned lot about computers from two guys on YouTube.
Their names are Haig Dickson and Lewis' Tech.
They might have something posted on their sites that could help.

Well, he is all nasty today.
Doesn't want to help me get the lawn mowed.
I need it mowed so I can rake it.
I need it raked before I can fertilize it.
Years ago he gave away my nice push mower and he won't let me use his ratty old gas mower, so I need his participation.
He never lets me use anything that is "his"
So, what can I do???

Another beautiful warm sunny day here in northern Nevada.
My dollar store Gladiolus are coming up.
The lilac bushes have lots of buds.
All the other stuff is starting to grow tall & leafy.

TTYS 😀

Well, guess what. Today I just decided to hire an 18-wheeler and a bunch of guys to help, and I took the entire contents of my storage unit to the dump and swept it out and I am DONE.

APRIL FOOL!

But I did take 3 boxes to the DAV, LOL!

Glad everyone's been hanging in there and making what progress we can. Diane, you are again doing well dumping the guilt, which can weigh (I'm sure you'll appreciate this metaphor) like tons of rocks!

Tillie, so sorry about the loss of your friend. It takes time to heal from something like that.

It's been a crazy time still where I live. Too many things going on for me and for my roommate; we're both about to tear our hair out at times. In about a week and a half it may settle down. I sure hope so. I've had good days and bad days. I think that's a good idea to keep posting even if the day wasn't what we'd hoped for. It keeps us in touch. I've been fighting intermittent depression, and my ADD has been a pain in the butt too. I can't always find the words when I talk, I forget plans and events even an hour or two after they happen. Some of it though is just that there really is too much going on, and I am probably short on sleep.

Today, I got paid, went to pay bills including storage unit rent, and decided what the heck, I'll pull out a few things I've had in mind to get rid of from there. I brought one box with me and decided if I filled that, that was good enough. So the two extras were bonus! Plus I tossed some old ratty boxes in the dumpster on the way out.

I don't know for certain, but it could be that my plan to move to a closer storage place (eliminating lots of stuff in the process) could still work this spring. It all depends on money the most, and having helpers would be desirable as well.

Thursday was working out better, finally made it to my storage unit. I was mainly there to pick up a lamp -- I decided to grab two instead of one. I also realized that "desk chair" should have been on my list; I packed that in the car, too. I took a few more "I think I could use this" items, and I'm hoping they don't turn into clutter now. While I was there, I also went through one large box to clarify what was in it.

Housemates woke me up four hours later to say that the issue with my computer was affecting the household network, and they'd shut me off for now. I was going to go back to sleep, but I remembered that I had tools that might be useful for figuring out what's going on -- so I got up after all, did some computer maintenance -- and since I was already up, I got the floor cleared after all, and put up the sign telling the cleaners to go ahead.

Good Afternoon 🙂
April 1st already!

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Thank you (((hugs)))

Could have easily laid in bed all day.
Today is really beautiful. Low 70s, gentle breeze, no clouds.
Have three loads of laundry out drying on the clothes line.
Got the kitchen all tidied up.
Spent a lot of time outside with the cats.
Right now the cats are all inside taking naps.
So much I would like to have accomplished this weekend but as usual, I doubt he will do anything.
We shall see...

Wishing you all days as pretty as this one is. 😀

*bad feeling. (Correction to previous post)

My condolences, Tillie. Please take good care of yourself. Karl, I'm sorry your day was so frustrating. What a vadvfeelingvto have it call turn to mush.

Wishing you all a good night's sleep. Tomorrow is another day and I'll be thinking of each of you.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Karl 🙂
(((HUGS)))
Hope things improve for you real soon.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WAY TO GO!!!
10 pounds! WOW! Girl 😀
Those one or two items added to the donation bag may not be as satisfying as doing lots, but this is the best way to keep from accumulating lots & lots more over time.
Keep up the GREAT work! 😀

Hi Diane 🙂
Very happy you were out playing with the rocks 😀
Hope you didn't injure yourself too badly.
At the rate you are working, this summer you should have so much free time to just get out and play.
Want you to get that cap for the truck so you can spend lots of time out and about.
There is a place near here that is far enough to need to be an over night trip but the hills there have garnets all washing out of the dirt.
You just walk around and pick them up.
Bet there are lots of places like that close to you. ;D

Have no idea what I might do today.
It's not like there aren't a million things needing doing.
The death of my dear childhood friend has hit me harder than I thought it could.
It feels like I am trying to run under water as I go through the day.

Grief must be allowed to follow it's course.
When we try to "just walk it off" we run into problems because we have not dealt with it properly.
I have lots of beautiful memories of our times spent together and will allow them to help mend my broken heart.

(((hugs)))

Had a bad day, didn't go out, didn't do errands, didn't prepare food as planned. Hoping things will go better over the next few days.

Diane you are amazing and inspiring!!! Congratulations! Wow! Well still dirty girl in terms of bathroom BUT cleaned, dusted, vacuumed bedroom and folded most of the clean laundry. No dishes in sink as I've been keeping up better.

I do know the feeling of getting rid of truckloads of stuff and still having too much. I try to keep a bag of donations going and I try to just say goodbye to things on a whim. Today while getting a scarf out of a drawer I saw a belt that goes to a skirt I no longer wear. I couldn't find the skirt (likely already donated) so I just put the belt in the bag. This isn't as satisfying ( or exhausting) as lots and lots but it's something.

I'm so glad to have everyone here. Shout-out to Roxie--wishing you good health and tasty iced tea!

Ps am keeping up with diet--slowly but surely--10 lbs down now. Realistically, 30-40 to go. I bet cleaning the bathroom would burn some calories!!

Hi to all. Tat you are so funny. Yes Tillie I do work too many hours. It is finally sunny so I set up my new to me, high speed rock sander and played with it this afternoon until I banged/smashed my finger. Glad I had safety glasses and gloves on. I worked from 7am-noon in craft room. finally got all cloth out of back closet and vacuumed then put a book case in there on one side and put the wool felting stuff I am keeping in there plus other supplies for that as well as some fleece I plan to sew. Even though I got rid of truck loads, there is still too much stuff. For now it is tucked in there and later I will start on other stuff in there. I have been out in the sun watering for the first time this year. Washed my lava bombs off that I organized last week in upper yard, just love them. I put big petrified wood next to steps that I sit on in morning for coffee, washed all of those off too. The things that bring me joy are changing for sure, or maybe with less stuff I can see what brings me joy. Thanks Tillie for your continued support over the years, it is finally happening. Tat, hope you are no longer a dirty girl by the end of the day. (kidding) ok, clean homle

Good Morning 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Good Luck with your cleaning tasks today! 😀
1996? that seems like just last week. LOL ;D
Just where does all the time go?

Hi Diane 🙂
You sure have been working hard (((HUGS)))
I know exactly what a 20 year old man type stuff hoard looks like, an almost impossible task to untangle.
WAY TO GO!!! for getting those piles cut down to being shorter than you! 😀
Worrying about you pushing yourself and burning out.
REMEMBER to take enough breaks, get out and away from it all to refresh yourself.
When tired, REST.
I know you want it all done yesterday and will push until you can't any more.
Treat it like a part time job, 6 hours a day is more than enough.
(((HUGS)))

"CLINK!" for Roxie (((HUGS)))

Another cold overcast day.
Late afternoon into evening it snowed a little then it rained a little off and on.
House isn't really clean but I have just been "spot cleaning" the worst things.
Have some bags of fertilizer that I plan to spread in my garden in April.
Supposed to warm up here again soon but I have seen it snow on mother's day and the 4th of July here.
LOL 😀

Great work, Diane! Carl--I bet having a better lighting situation at home will be wonderful. I need good lighting in my house Tillie--as ever--you are the vision of cheerfulness and industry.

My house is filthy. It's like my eyes were opened this am. Going to start on bathroom. Will report more later.

Hello and much love to all!!

PS DIANE--it's been 20 years since 1996? That was a revelation--when I read your post, I thought, papers ftom 1996? Just a few years ago. Ugh. No wonder my body doesn't look the same.

Reread my post and sounded like I was trying to finish craft room tomorrow. I am just trying to get all cloth, fabric, yarn etc out this week. Still have tons of beads, jewelry, buttons, and all kinds of things that are filling the room. At least no piles are taller than I am, anymore.

Hi everyone. Tat, nice reminder that space is a real thing, yes the final frontier at my home for sure.
Yesterday a full pickup load and then some went bye bye, 2 different friends visited, then I bagged more craft stuff last night and today. Car is full once again for tomorrow another drop off. I am really tired of the grey skies and severe winds. No snow like you Tillie , just a little a few days ago. Friday is supposed to be 72 degrees here, so really want to get closet of craft room empty and vacuumed tomorrow. Discovered papers in there were mostly from 1996, do you realize how a hoard 20 years old looks? Caulking fell out of window, but I never knew because was never back in there. Tonight I vacuumed a little of the floor that was empty. When I got up this morning I did not want to do anything, but started in there and actually got a bunch done. The grey skies got to me and had a tough afternoon, then decided to sort some old buttons and jewelry for donations, I actually got a few gallons of donations on top of all the bags.
of crafts.

Hey Peeps, wassup? 😉

Hi Karl 🙂
Great plan you have there! 😀
Nice that you have a car for a few days.
Enjoy your brighter illumination. 🙂

Well, not actively snowing here today
but
cloudy, windy and bone chilling cold.
Wondering how my lilac buds and other foliage is holding up. :/
I ate too much today and feel stuffed & uncomfortable but the stuff was tasty.

Till later taters 😉