Dear sweet Marty. Great cat. Tillie if you don't have it, might I recommend Judith Viorst's book The Tenth Good Thing About Barney? Sweet book about losing a cat.

What a beautiful resting place for Marty.

Tillie, I am sorry. I know Marty will be deeply missed. He was so lucky to have found you, and I know he meant a lot to you as well. Be gentle with yourself for a while.

Renee, I live on a farm also. I have chickens and goats. Just dairy goats right now I had a couple of fiber goats for a while, and plan to get them again - i'm a beginning spinner. And also had alpacas for a bit when the kids lived at home. We had to put one down, so my thoughts are with you on a difficult day.

Your progress sounds wonderful though. Yes, so much of the progress, change, and growth, happens inside you first. Then the outside stuff starts slowly and picks up steam. It can be rough when the people around yo7 feel like "nothing is happening" and you know that the whole world is shifting around you.

I'm sorry Tillie❤️ Hugs

Thank you all for your encouragement. Today was chopped up with a trip to town. I live on a farm and a trip to town is not 20 min and home.

I raise Alpacas and sheep and use their fiber to make things and yarn. Tomorrow I have to put to sleep two animals; one is a favorite who's been here since the beginning. I've had a sad cloud over me all evening, but I have not numbed out with food...a huge success.

I can't believe how my spirit lifts up when I see my kitchen! Even though it's far from clean, I know I'm on the path finally. This is such inside work. I've had friends who've offered to come over and just ?trash everything' and be done with it! But I know I'll just start again if I don't do it this way...staying present, feeling the feelings , understanding the process, letting go thoughtfully.

Thank you for being here. You inspire and buoy me. Good night!

Tillie, so sorry.

He stayed long enough for the eclipse.

An eclipse csn hasten these transitions, providing an extra boost of energy to accomplish the move.

We are all still here and support you.

PS - I tried to post this several times, but it just wouldn't post, despite trying different things. Now I am trying a last time, with a new CAPTCHA:

cuora GARFIELD

I have something I want to share with you all.
Did not want to talk about it with anybody before because talking about it would just make me too sad.

Several months ago the veterinarian discovered a large mass upon x-ray in Marty.
What I had been doing for Marty was akin to hospice care.
We had a lot of good cuddles along the way. Last night he lay on my chest under the blanket and purred.
Watching that lunar eclipse I knew in my heart it would not be much longer.
This morning I knew that today was the day he needed to cross that Rainbow bridge.
Tomorrow we will place him in the very center of my flower & herb garden.
There is a lovely chrysanthemum there already that I will dig up and then place back after the hole is refilled.
It was the right thing to do at the right time to do it.
He will be greatly missed. 🙁

Welcome Renee! Congratulations on your hard work! 1/3 of the way to a clean kitchen! That is remarkable! Keep up the good work. Post as much as you need to--sometimes when I'm super motivated I need to check in a lot! We are here and we are excited for you!

Good work SubC on getting rid of some books. I too need a paper calendar. Helps me see the month. Gives me context.

Tillie--in my excitement over Rene's progress I've forgotten what you are doing today. Well, hope it wS a good one and tell the cats I say hello.

My garbage is out. Oh! And I never noticed how dirty and cluttered the floor of my linen closet was and I got rid of some of the stuff from there. And several dustbunnies.

Hi Renee!

Welcome!

Several of us ar3 also trying to lose weight.

Today I took four books to sell to the book store and brought home a 2018 calendar. Dh thought we didn't need a paper calendar in the kitchen anymore, but it wasn't working for me.

I am mostly better. Still tired and a little drainage, but this is the first day i've Gotten to sunset without a stuffy head.

Hello Renee 🙂
Happy you joined us!
GREAT! plan starting on the kitchen first.
Soon you will be able to make a lot of healthier meal choices.
WAY TO GO! for all you have accomplished. ;D

Hi everyone,
I'm new to this. I'm starting the purge and decluttering which is 13 years of hoard after a breakup that shattered my life. BUT, I AM GETTING MY MOJO BACK!😇

For years I have not been able to fully use my kitchen, so eating Drive thru junk, or easy to microwave stuff. Gained 90 pounds and I know my hoard is related to my weight and vice versa. For these reasons I'm starting in the kitchen so I can cook and take good care of myself. I worked 45 min at a time with 15 min break for 12 hours yesterday. It's significantly
Improved, but only about 1/3 clean. I've worked about 3 hours today. I don't want to stop but I have to go run some errands.

I feel like I'm READY. I know I found this group for a reason. And this is the first time I've had peer support. But in the past, I'd make a tiny bit of progress, I'd get interrupted and lose momentum. Then I'd get Re-buried.

All this to say, thank you for being here. And listening.

More later, so I don't lose momentum. THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT! 😇

Hello Everybody 🙂

Hi Joan 🙂
I have every bit of faith that you will have a wonderful serendipitous experience in much less than a couple of centuries (((hugs)))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! 😀
Hope you are having/have had a lovey evening.
Yes, a set limit on how many hours you work at the office would improve the balance.
Help you keep work time separate from not work time.

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Oh, darn those clouds... :/
How are you feeling? All better I hope. 🙂

Puttered around all day today.
Worked (played) on the doll house.
Straightened my sock drawer.
Pruned the Mountain Laurels.
Clipped 2 rose bushes.
Removed the dried flower pods from a little bit of the Lilac hedge, will do some more whenever.
Did some beading.
Did cat related chores but didn't do any other kinds of chores.
It was a good day. 🙂

Oh Tillie! I was hoping you were sitting with the moon!

I went for a walk in the moonlight, but it dropped below the cloud line before the eclipse started.

Way to clean tatoulia!

Hi Joan!

Quick drive by (have theatre tickets)

Bathroom sink and vanity clean. Ditto toilet.

Need to wash up and meet up for dinner before theatre.

Want to do floor and tub. Very soon.

Am trying to go into office three days a week. I don't like it but I think I get a better work/life balance as I don't feel obligated to stay late on the days I go in.

Special shout out to Joan.

Tillie, you deserve a gift from the universe.

I'm happy for you, but just a little bit jealous.

Maybe my turn will come in the next few hundred years!

Oh Tillie I bet that was fantastic! And from the comfort of your chair!

Good Morning Everyone 🙂
"Clink!"

Hope everybody is doing well today (((HUGS)))

The super rare total lunar eclipse was fantastic!
Last time there was one like this was 250 years ago.
I got to see the whole thing, not a single cloud in the sky.
I did not plan to watch or even set an alarm clock, I just woke up right before it began.
It was fully viewable from the comfort of a chair in front of the livingroom window, so I didn't even have to go outside.
;D

I am watching the lunar eclipse right now! 😀

Tatoulia
What a scary time!
(((((HUGS)))))

Very good that you have masks. 😉

Thank you SubC. Hope you are feeling better and better with each day.

Mom discharged at 2:45 AM. Not a blood clot. Heading to office.

Thank you for supporting me.

Oh tatoulia,
That is scared! I hope your mom is ok!

Wasn't feeling very well.

Numbness in leg.

Honestly autocorrect.

Mom called me an hour or two ago and she wasn't feeling working well so BF and I took her to hospital. I brought my own mask to wear (and one for mom). Hospital was overflowing with flu people. Mom had numbness and weakness in keg and suspects a blood clot. ER full up bit theh put her in hallway and got ready to order an ultrasound.

I washed my face as soon as I got home. I have mtgs at work tmr. I'll go in for my 11 o'clock then head back home to work.

Going to bed now. Trash & recycling out.

Hello Everybody 🙂
Green tea with lemon "CLINK!"

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WAY TO GO! for the two clear counters 😀
Sounds like you need a break from Monday (((HUGS)))
You don't have to clean the whole bathroom all at the same time.
Pick one little thing to wipe a bit, something that will make you feel better about things.

Well, today I cleaned the house.
Got it nice and sanitary.
Didn't dust the wood furniture but wiped everything else that I could with my bucket of wash water & rag.
Really wanted to quit all the time but kept talking myself through it all.
Days like today make me so grateful that this house is so small.
Now I will take a shower & wash my hair.
Going to check the weather forecast to see if tomorrow will be a good day to hang out laundry.
Going to sleep on clean sheets & pillow cases tonight in a clean house (except for Steven's bedroom).
Only 1:30pm now so I will have the rest of the day to rest up and write out my grocery list.

Good morning! Coffee clinks!

I wish I could get motivated to clean my bathroom. I have two kitchen counters clean right now and I'm being way to slow on picking away at the third one.

I've got a lot of work to do today and will try to fit in housework along the way. All I want to do is sleep but if I took a good look at things, I'm probably not even tired.

Hello Everybody 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂
WTG! for being picky about the handouts! 😀
Hope today you are able to get some good rest.

Hi CF 🙂
So true, all change begins in our thoughts.
Before any action ever takes place there is a lot of thinking being done. ;D

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
I so understand about things being salty.
I never use any salt when I'm cooking either.
WTG! for kitchen clean up! 😀

This morning I woke up feeling so much better!
I do believe this virus is finally over and now my asthma is even easing up.
Just waiting for my appetite to return now.
I cleaned up the kitchen, finally...
Tomorrow I am planning to really clean the house, not just kinda sorta wipe/swipe at things.
I will start with the bathroom and see how much I can get done with the rest of the place.
If nothing else, at least the bathroom will be done.
Then if all goes well I think I will go grocery shopping on Tuesday.
Then maybe on Wednesday Scooter and I can go outside and play together in the yard.
;D

I'm glad you are here too, CF!

I have baked the brownies, just made the frosting and frosted them. I didn't have butter so I used margarine. The duo sting tastes salty to me but because I don't cook with salt, even raisins taste salty to me.

I'm going to restore kitchen to cleanliness (you read that right) and then finish getting ready to go. Just need to put on makeup.

Good Morning all.
My inspiration for myself today:
"Remember: Change starts in your thoughts."
Next time I find myself kicking my own butt for not doing enough, which happens often, I will try to focus on this message and do some "internal work" if I am not able to be doing the external work.
Thanks everyone for posting, I am glad I found this group.

CM, i'm Sorry you are still having such a rough time.

Tatoulia - yay for your mom!

I picked up my last six pieces of pottery from my fall class when I went to the workshop.they also gave me a new tool. And I made three pieces that will be fired for me. And brought home some handouts. I was picky about the handouts though. I didn't just collect everything, only specific ones I wanted.

I remembered to take my own mug, but i forgot my fork, so I ended up eating from a paper plate with a plastic fork. I threw the paper plate away and brought the fork home to wash.

I was pretty wiped out by the end. I think I would have skipped out on the last class, but my son in law had signed up for the program too, and we were in class together.

Hi Everybody 🙂

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
Sorry about those winds there. 🙁
One Spring we had constant wind every day, all day & night for three months straight and I swear the wind can drive you insane.
So scary what your van did! Hope the fix isn't too painful. (((HUGS)))
You aren't weird, I drink iced tea all year round. ;D
My fingers are crossed that within a week it will all be smooth sailing for you and yours.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WTG! for all you have gotten done!
Your dinner last night sounds like a lot of fun. 😀
Have a wonderful time tomorrow with your friends!

Didn't do diddly squat today.
Just so tired, no energy but not sleepy all day.
Got enough sleep last night.
Was actually hungry today and asked Steven to fetch me home a hamburger and he did. 😀
So good after just toast and maltomeal all week.

Cm! Thanks for stopping by! I am sorry about your van troubles. That is upsetting. I hope you and your roommate and boy bunny continue on the road to recovery.

I am home tonight. Harrowing time with brother today. Then went to see mom and got her (and her goodwill bags) out of the house I'm fasting and feel a bit grumpy. I am on third load of laundry. I do my light and dark unmentionables in separate loads. A lot of dark things this time of year due to wearing tights with my skirts. . Have music on and am puttering. Cleared out a bedroom closet drawer and added to my donation bag.

Kitty is all snuggled in. She doesn't exactly snuggle with me but her bed is next to me on the couch. And she is so cute all rolled in a little sleeping ball.

I have a lot to do tomorrow including I need to go to office to get my computer, I need to fill out and send brother's food stamp renewal, I need to bake brownies, etc. we are going to have an early dinner with some friends who live about an hour from here. We are bringing appetizers and dessert, and they will make a salad with chicken on it. My BF hasn't seen their daughter since she was an infant and she is just so cute. Their little boy is growing up fast too.

Last night I had dinner with three women friends from work. One is an actual friend, the other two are lovely women who happen to live near me, so I impromptu invited them to join my one friend and I for dinner. We had a great time/ate at a local bar with very delicious homemade food.

I'm going to continue to putter here-- making progress.