It's 9:30pm.
It's still smoky here but that beautiful wind has brought in some fresh air.
What a relief to breathe new air. 😀

Hi Subclinical 🙂

When things go moldy in a plastic container the containers tend to hold mold spores microscopically and any other foods placed in them then tend to go moldy quickly.
What you do is add some vinegar to the soak water and that will kill any mold spores.

Learned that from a Tupperware dealer.

Don't want to use anything non food grade on the plastics like bleach.

Maybe the REUSE store can use the berry baskets?

Oh dear, I forgot to confess one very important item - the containers the berries were in are all in my sink, waiting to be washed so they can be reused because they don't recycle. 🙁

Anony, I took so long playing with colors, I missed your posts. Good for you! You can dance if you want to.... 🙂

Tillie, I am very glad for your wind!

Hi 🙂
I don't know how things work on your computers/phones/laptops
but on all my computers and tablet I can just open another "TAB" or "WINDOW".
This is how I remember who said what.
Because I post on one tab and reread the message board on the other tab.
Just switch/click between the two pages.

Tillie, YEA! FOR THE WIND!!! And, im guessing if its from the south, it wont bring the fire towards you?! That is great news!!! 😀

Hi Subclinical 🙂

You did great highlighting your hot spots.

WAY TO GO!!!
you sure did a lot today! 😀

Feeling physically well does make it easier to take care of the home.
Eating right and getting enough sleep are important for thinking and decision making.
Plus we all need to have play time on a regular basis.

One good reason I would not want too many things is because old age is making it harder every day to do what I could more easily do when younger.
Now I concentrate my energies more on just the basics. 😉

SubC, wow! Fantastic! You are great at coming up with creative solutions?! That is an impressive list for today!
I just found another notebook to use for posting, after that last embarrassment. Not to blame my cat, but hes usually laying on it & like a good cat lady, i hate to disturb him, so i wont have to now, since he cant lay on them both at once....ha ha. 😀

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂

That's alright. 😀
Hope your motivation continues for you! (((HUG)))
WAY TO GO!!!

All I did do today was the necessary cat related tasks and put the hose on somethings to water them.

All this time I have been reporting about all the wildfire smoke there has been NO wind or even a slight breeze here.
Right now the winds have returned!
This is what I really needed to help move the smoke out of here! 😀
They are coming from the South
High heat I can handle but the smoke is impossible. which is the direction I hoped for.
Fingers crossed that the winds last long enough to do the trick.
I am so sick and tired of feeling so sick and tired because of the smoke and high heat.

So, to sum up in a geographical tour of my day - I did not go anywhere, so I brought in no new outside items. I also did not order anything online. I did have my mom e-mail me some pictures that I will need to print out for class.

Studio - several pieces of cardboard were removed to the garden to serve as underlayment for dirty stall bedding. Also, some "used but good" bags were removed to use for freezing moldy raspberries.

Barn - stalls were cleaned and I brought in a bowl and a bin that had been carried out and left. Collected eggs and milk, which were mostly used up for ice cream and drinking (one quart net increase in milk)

House - berries are frozen and no longer tormenting me. I still have too much bread for the week for the chickens, and cardboard boxes are piling up (need to flatten and use as mulch or take to recycling) dishwasher is running again, which helps me keep up with food issues (spoilage, packaging). (Clean pots and pans etc to cook fresh food with)

I exercised, which matters because I am better able to make good choices and take care of my environment if I feel strong and healthy, and because I am more likely to work on clothes and accessories if I don't hate my body.

If I did that correctly, my "hoarding hot spots" will be highlighted red. If not, I guess there will be a lot of gibberish in my post - no edit button.

Dh should be home in half an hour.

Tillie, i mis-remembered your post & knew youd talked of housework, but didnt write it down like i usually do & didnt want to lose my post to go back, tho i started to & now im super embarrassed cuz you were just referring to your housework system...ooops?! Im sorry (embarrassed emoji face)
~♡~♡~♡~

~Celebratory beer clinks!~
I finish all 3 goals & am very pleased! That area was likely the grossest area of my house! It has already made me see other gross areas as stuff i want to toss, in a new way! Im also glad that the few things i did keep, there were sound, logical reasons for, and i already washed them & put them away! I feel so happy! 😀
Tillie, you got a lot done today! YEA! 😀
Do you know how high raccoons can jump onto things? Im thinking of ways to make the cat food unaccessable, which would improve my whole situation.
I really hope that Steven gets really tired of the varmints & starts cleaning things up?
SubC, congrats on the stalls! I admit, i laughed so hard, with you, not at you, about that and #3 on your list, that i almost peed my pants!
I think maybe i dont post maintainence cuz im afraid ill feel thats doing enough & i wont do more?
I need to keep going on this. Sometimes my mind frame fades if i wait too long once i get going in a good direction.
I see several other areas id like to take on that i hadnt felt that way about before, so i am very pleased! 😀
~☆~♡~☆~

WAY TO GO!!!
Subclinical 😀

I post routine things that are at a stage where if I didn't do them that day
I would be being so negligent that I would not feel happy in my home.
Like I am alright with my few dishes rinsed thoroughly and neatly stacked beside the sink until there are a certain amount.
Then if I don't wash them it is getting out of control.
It looks bad and would take a much longer time to wash them.
And since the kitchen, dining room and living room are all just this one small room,
It makes the whole house look messy and dirty.
Steven no longer eats in the house.
He comes home from work and goes directly into the garage where he has a fridge, microwave and other ways to cook.
He eats off paper plates and leaves them where ever they fall.
He prefers living this way because I no longer annoy him by complaining about that kind of behavior in the house.
He is very unhappy with all the vermin and pestilence though in the garage. LOL ;P

I worked on stalls for an hour, so I don't have to ride the bike to keep my iPad.

Sometimes I post routine maintenance, and sometimes I don't. When I post about it, it is because:
- The area is newly accessible to cleaning
- That particular job had gotten backed up and was contributing to hoarding behavior by making spaces unpleasant or unusable or by causing me to buy things I already had because they weren't usable/accessible
- I am having a rough day and need credit for something
- I had so much routine stuff to do, I didn't have time for other stuff.

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂

Dusting and vacuuming are considered routine maintenance.
But here people are starting from all different house keeping levels.
We add on daily/weekly/monthly tasks slowly one month at a time depending on where people are at.
Like the floor challenge the last month.
We are trying to incorporate floor maintenance into a regular routine.
Right now you have other more pressing tasks to get to so dusting and floors are not your priority yet.
Adding a new regular task and practicing it for a whole month gets us into the routine of automatically knowing when we should do it again.

YES! move that file box out of the way and DANCE! ;D

~Iced cinnamon coffee clinks!~
Tillie, ive had planes do that too & i always figured its cuz of all the junk in the yard, which most is gone now, but it must have looked very noticeable & strange from up there. That may be what it is with your plane, too..but itd be nice if they were planning to steal it, like SubC said? ha ha. ;D
I have another spot picked out to clear today, like yesterday's area. Its hard to get to & disgusting. I actually have 3 projects for today: clear that new spot, vacuum yesterday's spot, and put some papers back in their file box & move that file out of my way in the living room, so i have part of my dancing area back! Im gonna finish vacuuming the living room once ive rearranged all those things first. Theres another idea im considering, but i dont have it quite figured out yet. Ok, ill be back to report once i have completed things. Im trying to be accountable, like SubC said. It does help!
I never post my regular maintenance stuff & was thinking of how i distinguish it, cuz vacuuming or dusting is a huge deal to me & that is supposed to be considered maintainence(sp?). I think its just what i procrastinate vs what i do easily & theres no rhyme or reason for why which is which?

Hi Subclinical 🙂

Soon as the berries freeze they will no longer impart any of their fuzziness to other foods.
So bagging and freezing is a great way to have chicken treats on hand.

What a lovely dream, to have a thief come steal away all that hoard! ;D

Sure it wasn't hot sweaty dirty tasks you accomplished today but you DID do some important things.
WAY TO GO!!! 😀

Steven never removes items from the freezer either.
He has never noticed there are veggie bins and anything in a covered container is invisible.
So, the fridge/freezer is a great place for me to hide things. LOL 😀

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂

Yeah, that's why we need a professional bunny expert like CriticalMass.

If you make one dirt bag room, a place dry comfortable, bug free and critter proof
that would be a great improvement in your life.
Your stuff could stay in the trailer until you figured out how best to proceed next.
Don't think of it as an all or nothing abode.

WTG! for waking up to a clean clear area this morning! 😀
Maybe today you could pick a less cluttered gross area and clear & clean that?
Whatever you do today I wish you happiness. (((HUG)))

Tillie, maybe the airplane is casing the joint and he's coming back with a truck to steal all of Stevens junk. (We can hope 😉 )

Sharing my rain would be lovely!

Anony, I have been thinking about the DE, but I would need to order it. I've actually been thinking about sprinkling it on the goat feed because I hate the chemical wormers. Good to know about the bunny though. I do know about the soapy water, but thank you. No good combing them off and setting them free!

I gave 1/5 of the raspberries to the chickens and they were very happy. I am thinking about sealing them in bags and freezing them so I can give them a frozen chunk on hot days - if I double ziplock them, do you think that will be safe for the other food in my freezer? I'm not worried about anyone eating them. If I wrote "there is a million dollars in this freezer!" On the lid, I still couldn't get my family to take anything out of it.

I haven't posted because I have done very little - made ice cream mix to put in the machine tonight or tomorrow a.m., watched some videos for homework for my class, sent some e-mails, and called my mom.

SubC, i just thought of something with the diatomacious earth, in case you were considering it, bunnies dont have tear ducts, so the dust from it might be more of a risk than for cats.

~♡~Hello, to all!~♡~
SubC, im glad you earned your ipad back! YEA!
I kinda figured the rasberries wouldnt make it. They go bad so fast, i eat mine the day i buy them. If you'd made that jam, itd probably not been as good?
You are certainly creative! And your kids!
What ive done when flea combing, is to have a bowl of soapy water to put the fleas into as i pull them off, even just dip the comb into it, cuz they jump off pretty quickly.
I want to do an earthbag house, but it will need to be small, so most of my things will still be in this trailer.
Tatoulia, ive never worn heels either. Twice i fell in them & it looked like i was drunk or something, once was with my Mom in a fancy place. I cant even bend my toes to fit in them anymore. Youre smart to choose comfort!
You are so wonderful & i appreciate you so much, too! All of you are so special to me! ~♡~
Tillie, we had another big storm yesterday & i kept wishing i could send it over your way? I hope you get rain soon?
Yes, i am really good about food. Im so pure about food & then my house is so gross. Its a complete contradiction.
It was nice to see that cleared corner in the kitchen this morning! Its been really hard watching things deteriate(sp?) in all this rain & heat.
Yesterday i cleaned one of the cat food areas with lemon soap cuz of flies.
I want to vacuume today & maybe pick another gross area to clear, like i did yesterday?
~♡~Thank you all for being in my life & supporting me, even when im being lazy!~♡~I love you each so much!~♡~

Good Morning Everyone 🙂
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Post all you want! ;D
WAY TO GO! Great early start on your day!
Sorry about the raspberries.
Just compost them and return them to the earth.
Wish we could rearrange the weather and even out the dry smoky dusty regions with the damp muddy rainy flooded areas.
(((hug)))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
(((HUGS)))
You mean the world to us too.

No change in the weather conditions.
No reason for me to clean house or do laundry until the smoke clears out.
Stupid little airplane kept buzzing very low over my house and woke me up at 6am.
I don't know what or why he was doing that. Not a crop duster.
Kept circling around and around for an hour.
So low that I could see the pilot, jerk.
Oh well, going to put the hose/sprinkler on in the garden but think I should get dressed first. ;P

Tatoulia, thank you for the positive message.

I think I am going to post a lot today. I'm sorry if it becomes annoying. I need the accountability and done reinforcement if anybody can.

So far, I made dh breakfast, packed his lunch, drank the remaining coffee, dressed, finished morning chores, unloaded and loaded the dishwasher and started it, and cleared off the cart island in the kitchen. I am now taking a break for my breakfast of bread pudding and tea - it's going to be a high caffeine day.

I'm trying to identify small areas where I can succeed today - like the island cart.

I am also reminding myself that when things were really bad in June, there was one day when I didn't finish morning chores until 3 in the afternoon. So, this is much better!

Good morning, everyone. Quick hello before I finish getting ready for work.

I treasure my friendships with you. Tillie, you are exactly perfect to us and we are so glad you have built a positive life for yourself and in turn, for us. SubC the raspberries were well past their prime when you got them. You weren't going to win the battle against nature this time. Not your fault at all. I hope little bunny gives you some affirmation today. I'm sure bunny knows that you are wonderful. We certainly know that you are. Anony, I'm proud of you for doing what you can to reclaim your space. It's a big job and you are doing it! You are creative and loved by us.

I just want you to know that you are important in this world, on this forum, and in my life.

Shout out to Joan, CM, LR, Diane, Dianne. Roxie, Porter, Bitsy, Sharon

My raspberries all went fuzzy overnight. I am feeling horrible about not getting them sorted out yesterday.

Also it is pouring rain and will continue all day. My yard is a series of puddles and rivulets.

Today is going to be difficult. Dh tried to get me to commit to some actions before he left for work, but I am feeling at most half-interested in them.

Hi Subclinical 🙂

I did not think you were too harsh in the other thread.
You were being honest and sometimes there is no way to sugar coat the honest truth.
If you had tried, the real meaning of your words would have become muddled. (((HUG)))
Your dinner sounds lovely.
I have eaten some peanut butter crackers and watermelon today. 🙂
Light and easy on the stomach.
A flea comb should help. Have you seen many fleas on her?
Plus being away from the flea ridden house with the infested kittens will really help.
WAY TO GO! for bike riding! ;D

When I was a young impressionable girl I was given a lowlife Barbie doll.
Looking at the way that hussy was all painted up, ratted hair and her hideously deformed feet from the shoes she wore made me promise myself that I would never wear heels higher than 2 inches.
Also vowed to never rat or dye/bleach my hair.
My very negative feelings toward the doll were because Barbie was just like my immoral muther who had given me the doll in the hopes I would want to grow up to be just like Barbie. ;P

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
OK good it's just random stuff you were holding onto and not outdated food. (((HUG)))
Steven has a LOT of old spooky food he holds onto.
When asked about it he says "I was planning to eat that" so he never tosses any out.
I sympathize with your feelings about the condition of your home.
Lets just hope it provides you shelter until some solution can be found. (((HUGS)))

I washed dishes.
Almost 8pm and I am looking forward to calling it a day. 😉

Anony, good work on the cleaning!
have you given up on your earthbag house?

I so want you to have a nice, safe cozy place to live. With no skunks!

I understand about the money thing. Knowing I can go buy exactly what I want very cheaply at the reuse store helps me get rid of some of my craft supplies, but there was a time when even $3 would have been too much and I felt like I had to hold on to everything just in case I needed it to improvise. I sewed a lot of my kid's toys, party favors, and gifts for their friends and teachers out of old, worn out clothes. Dd once made a fantastic Halloween costume out of an old t-shirt and juice can lids (she was a knight)

Tillie, did you find some food? I made a nice Mediterranean salad for dinner tonight (except I subbed kale, which I had, for fresh basil, which I didn't, and threw in some dry basil) it was yummy, but now we are safe from vampires for sure!

The only veggies today were some very bad cucumbers that went right to the chickens, but I have two flats of raspberries that are going bad. I am going to pick through them and make jam in the morning. I think I can save about half.

I hope I wasn't too blunt in that other thread.

Tatoulia, yay for good shoe choices! I almost never wear heels. My grandmother started wearing them every day at 15 and her tendons shortened so that when she was older, she had to have wedges even on her slippers or it was painful to walk.

I did finally ride the bike - so I have my iPad.

Lots of running out today though - food bank, animal supply store, and groceries. Bunny is doing well. I got a flea comb and am consulting with a friend on what to do next. Or CM?! (Shout out)

~Beer clinks!~
Tillie, thats interesting youre related to Richard Henry Dana! :D. My Mom's side has all sorts of famous relatives; Jefferson Davis, Albert Einstein, Abner Doubleday. Its nice to feel connected to history!
I dont keep outdated food, what i meant was that the money im saving from the new food bank makes me feel like i can afford to toss gross, old broken things more easily, since i could better afford to replace them, if needed.
Its funny watching The Waltons since going through the poverty like they have. It has a different perspective to me now. The last episode i watched was about how things, tho sentimental, are just things, and not that person.
I think the skunk today could be the one that escaped the old trap a while ago. Ive never had this much trouble with trapping them! Years ago, i got frustrated with a full sized one & finally, with my welding gloves on, just grabbed it & stuffed into the live trap for relocation. Doing that just scares the begeezes out of me now?!
Looking around today has got me overwhelmed at how bad off this place is...i could easily spend the rest of my life just trying to improve this place & end up with a disgusting mushy big box that is nearly a half century old....part of me wishes itd just all get ruined, so id be free....

Hello 😉

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
WAY TO GO! for cleaning that area! 😀
Happy to hear you are now willing to toss undesirable and outdated foods.
Poverty is scary but we are all fortunate that there are generous people who will provide us with fresh wholesome foods should the need arise.
I believe that it's not the bait you are using in the traps but the traps themselves.
Once they learn about traps they will never go in one.
Cats too learn, except Marty. He would happily go into the cat trap, eat the bait/treat and wait patiently for me to come release him.
Interesting fact that you are related to the Waltons.
I am a direct descendant of Richard Henry Dana which allows me to join "The Daughters Of The American Revolution".

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
I'm very happy to know you are a sensible woman who doesn't try to damage her feet & happiness by always wearing heels everywhere.
When Granma and I would shop the stores in downtown Detroit she would always wear comfortable flats.
Bet you will miss seeing Tigger around the house. 😉

Took a shower and shampooed my hair.
Have the kitchen sink all scoured and ready for dish washing.
Know I should eat something but really have no appetite right now.
Nothing sounds tempting.
All closed up inside, the cooler is doing a great job keeping us cool.
Watching Netflix.
I know there is a lot of housework I need to do but I am giving myself amnesty until the weather is better.
But Cats have clean litter boxes and fresh water and food.
The floor was swept, the trash taken out.
The cats are taking it easy too, no playing, just all stretched out napping around the house.

Well, im happy to say that i got all that disgusting stuff out from under there & it only took me a half hour! Im gonna vacuum it in a bit. The sweat in my eye didnt sting, so im gonna finish the living room, too!
I know this seems like an excuse, and i constantly try to check myself on how much it is, but under all this stuff is basically a rotted cardboard box. Its not like a nice house will be here if i fix it up....its just so depressing. It did feel really good to clean that out & once its vacuumed im sure ill be glad!
As i was sorting, i only saved a few things & this new food bank is saving me money enough that i felt more comfortable throwing away stuff. I really, really want to head in that direction more. The poverty is a big factor for me.....wow, that did feel good, tho! 😀