WOOHOO!!!!!!

You have done FANTASTIC!!!!
We are ALL so very, very proud of you! ;D

We cross posted 😉

Fantastic! job you have been doing Tatoulia! 😀

The kitchen things you are keeping will need to just be put aside, out of the way for right now.
You will need to arrange/rearrange where kitchen things are stored as to how you will be using the kitchen using your new nutritionally sound eating/cooking menu preparations.
Right now you just need to concentrate on clearing out long neglected spaces.
Once you have gone through all these spaces then will come the time to put the keepers all away logically according to your needs.
Hang in there! Soon, so very soon you will "be there"!
(((HUGS)))

Hi Subclinical 🙂
YEA! for a bread pan! 😀
Great plan to read the books then pass them along.

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂

In honor of Tatoulia working on that cupboard
today I went through the drawer where I keep my dish cloths, dish towels/tea towels.
Straightened them all out and decided to let go of a sweet little ancient hand embroidered towel that is looking very sad.

Ok I went back in. We're getting closer to some gross stuff. I've found some papers and receipts which I have now shredded. I've made a decision on a platter that I didn't think I'd be able to make, Ive cleared space on an upper cabinet for my bowls and I've put back in the other stuff that are keepers. I've filled a bag for goodwill and I've chosen one piece to consign. I have a sink full of things that need to be washed.

I've showered and would like a nap. I'm grateful for the fact that there is no humidity today. I will tie up my garbage so it will be ready for tomorrow. And maybe I'll head back into the cabinet tomorrow night.

Hello everyone! I took a break and went to the pharmacy and post office. It is in the 70s and dry. Tillie you really have fought for your life. There has been more than one time that I've plotted my own demise when dealing with sibling became too much for me. Anony I am sorry you are having trouble keeping the depression at bay and I'm proud of your accomplishments! SubC you do a very good job of being accountable! I like your idea of treating the books as library books!

I took a bunch of stuff to the recycling bin and I've filled a bag with donations items. I'm likely not going to finish today and I'm wondering what to do with the keepers. I truly should move other things to put my bowls and baking dishes in a handier spot but I may just clear out so there's a 3x3 area to neatly stack my things back in. I think the lack of finding anything gross has made this fairly easy.

I think I'll clear a spot to put the keepers back in. I do not want them cluttering my clean kitchen.

Tatoulia, that sounds like amazing progress!

And Anony, it sounds like you are doing really well too! May you vanquish the skunks!

Tillie, I wish I could send you rain. Our weather usually comes up from the SW and keeps moving east.

I went to check on the store where I am consigning pottery. No sales yet, which doesn't surprise me. They have a lot of disruption going on because they are moving next door into a bigger space, and June/July is not a big shopping time.

I spent a little time helping move things, and one of the owners gave me a stack of 20 books that she was using as part of display. I think they are going to be mostly "library" books - read and get rid of, so it is not so bad that I have 20.

I also popped into the thrift shop down the block. For $1.50 I got a stainless steel meat fork that dh likes, ( It replaces an old one I got rid of that couldn't go in the dishwasher) some type of nut or seafood pick that will make a good pottery tool, AND a bread pan for my spices! The tool is in the workshop, the pan is in the cupboard, and the fork is waiting to have the sticker cleaned off of it and go through the dishwasher.

WOOHOO Tatoulia! 😀
WAY TO GO!
Sounds wonderful finding all your treasures in there.
How fantastic to have lovely things that you can now put to good use as you begin your new life plan with the nutritionist.
So proud of you (((HUGS)))

Subclinical
Please send some of your excess rain to the West ;D

WAY TO GO! Anonymoniker
Keep doing all the little things you can (((HUGS)))

The reason why I declared war and reclaimed the home as a "NO CLUTTER ZONE" was because there was just "stuff" heaped everywhere so much so that I could not clean house or even have a space for me to sleep, eat or keep my clothing any more.
He refused to remove anything and became extremely nasty & violent if I tried to fix this problem.
I was so deeply depressed that I thought the only way out was to commit suicide. I had the means all figured out and ready at hand.
Then I got angry and decided to fight back, fight for my life.
He killed my cat when I moved his hoard from the livingroom area.
So then it was all out war as far as I was concerned.
Nothing was going to stop me from clearing out all that hoard from the inside of the house and the small area I had started as my garden/yard.
I didn't throw anything of his away, just put it all in his bedroom or the garage area where it all remains to this day.
I am still experiencing suicidal thoughts but am able to get past them by concentrating on the small pleasures I find in this world.

~♡~Love & coffee clinks to all!~♡~
SubC, how wonderful to have a cousin that you are close to! I cant imagine having someone im related to that i was close to...especially that wouldnt berate me for not going to church! I agree that them splitting the house up, like Tillie & Steven do, would likely bring them both more peace. I watched my parents argue over that sort of thing for years.
All the panels are in piles according to size, ready for me to paint. I cleaned up a lot of the area to make room & it does look nice!
Today im going to set up the skunk-rat traps & clear the table for the cat food bowls. Also, i want to walk around with a trash bag & pick up the weird pieces of stuff that the rain has brought to the surface....im really having a hard time keeping depression at bay....the rain has been so nice, tho.....☆

Have three things in donation pile and am running dishwasher with my beautiful mixing bowls and other things I never use because too hard to find. Not too bad yet. Nothing really to throw out. I found a little card I'd made for BF back when we were first dating and he was taking care of my cat (who was a birthday gift from him to me). I'll put that to one side.

I think I can better organize my casserole pans and only keep the ones I'll use. I haven't cooked in a few years and would love to get back to cooking, especially with my new knowledge and outlook since working with nutritionist.

I'm moving forward.

Thank you SubC with the encouragement. Thank you all for helps by me. Again, I'll be better able to catch up with everyone after I've gotten myself through a bit more.

GO TATOULIA, GO TATOULIA!

Tillie, I can't imagine that weather. Stay safe and cool!

It rained here last night. The entire yard is mud. But dh finally finished burying the drain lines from the downspouts, so I can start thinking about landscaping.

Haven't read your posts. I'm working on cabinet. So far so good.

These hot dry days create thunder clouds.
The prediction for the rest of this week is for winds up to 50 mph and lightning with no accompanying rain, sparking wildfires.
Today's temp was only 101 because of the smoke from other far away wildfires.
The cats and I were very comfortable inside at 74 degrees, lots of water & watermelon & ice cream and we all took nice long naps. 😉
So glad that I don't have to go anywhere for at least the next ten days.
Plenty of things to do here that aren't work.
So many movies on the ROKU too.

Anony, yay for the panels being lighter! I believe this will happen!

People are hard and i'm Glad you get to live in a magical forest!

Tatoulia, are you getting ready? Whatever you do tomorrow will be enough. Just face that cupboard.

I sanded the wall and put another layer of mud on. At least one more layer to go, but not three more I think.

My cousin called which was wonderful. She is one of my best friends in the world and we don't get much chance to talk. She is so busy. She just had a difficult visit with her parents, and she mentioned that she has stopped going to church, which is a source of conflict with them, and I said "hey! You know I don't go to church - we can talk on Sunday mornings!" And she laughed. She said it would be like church with just the love part.

We also talked some about her dad, who is the worst hoarder in our family. The stress is taking a toll on her mom's health, and she doesn't know how to help. I wish her mom could just let go like Tillie and be happy keeping her spaces nice. They have a huge, beautiful house, and my aunt tries to keep it all clean, but there is so much in the way! If she would just say "powder room, kitchen, dining room, living room, stairs, hall, master bedroom and bath are mine" and keep them up, she could actually be able to isolate the rest of the house - there is a whole other half that could be blocked off with screens/furniture and closed doors - with it's own entrance and stairs even! but maybe that only works if you don't care about the other person? my aunt loves my uncle very much and he is very good to her, but he can't let go of the stuff. I don't think he can understand how much it hurts her.

Wow, I meant this to be a positive post. That is a problem I can't solve. But I did gave a great phone visit with my cousin, and I think it makes her feel better to know someone understands. So there is that.

Did I tell you my Dd got the job that she will be moving? She's excited.

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Do not blame yourself.
You were judging people from your heart and believed them to be kind good and honest, just as you are. (((HUGS)))

.......i just started unloading the metal panels & i am very relieved they arent as heavy as it seemed they might be...i had what might seem to be 'paranoid' possibilities going in my head, just from knowing that 'friend' and his user ways. Im glad i was wrong about that theory...it kept me awake last night. The extreme dilapidation of my home is nowhere near as awful as the process of letting go of the people in my life that have just been takers, regardless of how much id given to them & been there for them, have not been there for me. 2 of my most recent big lessons are; Being good to others in no way insures they will be good to you. And, when people continually show you who they are, believe them! I can only blame myself when i was given clues long ago, but i chose to ignore it.....its cloudy & cool so far, so i can get everything id planned done soon! ~♡~I love you all!~♡~

Good Morning Everyone 🙂
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Hope your day goes pleasantly and smoothly 😉

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Hope nobody throws up in your new moccasins HaHa
Yes, cats are weird.

OK Tatoulia 🙂
Great plan to scope out that territory and pick the easy targets.
Yes, best to plan a whole day for this.
Just keep thinking how good you will feel when this is all over & done.
You CAN do this! ;D
If we don't hear from you we will send in the rescue team. ;D

Have no plans for today.
I'm all caught up but will do the cat related stuff.
It will be another 106/110 degrees in the shade day.
Think I might spend the day standing in the shower drinking ice tea. LOL ;P

~Good morning!~
Tatoulia, i am also somewhat phobic of creating new clutter monster piles, so, many times ill look through it & make the decisions first(toss, keep, move) before pulling everything out, to ensure it wont be there for long?!
Tillie, i laughed so hard at the 'cat spew in your new shoe'....ha ha...im sorry...i also recently got a new pair of Minnetonka moccasins....id love to understand cats better~♡~The thing with the drawer that sticks, is the whole thing is cheap & old, like my entire place, its falling apart & itd take all my time, effort & money to repair everything, but i just dont want to spend my life doing that. As i fix a few things, twice as many break. Its really overwhelming. I know life is that way in general, but here, i really need to choose my battles & balance it with enjoying & appreciating the real fantasy land that is my magical forest~☆~
Im kinda nervous about my handyman being able to figure out the panels & materials that were purchased already....at least i know he doesn't have anything devious up his sleeve....

Good morning!

Tatoulia, can you do the "open the cabinet, grab one thing and shut it" trick just to get started today?

I don't know how my day is going to shape up, but I have to clean stalls for a bit this morning.

If it's not too much energy, I need the cajoling. I opened the cabinet this morning. There is A LOT in there but there's also a lot of room and we can do this!!

I appreciate the effort it takes to make me do this and if you are able to, Tillie, let's kerp it up. I am working from home Wednesday, which will make it the perfect time to attack. Meanwhile I can see what's in the from portion and there is no reason that I can't start.

Many thanks! I was being accountable by admitting that I didn't do a thing. But I'm the closest I've been in 23 YEARS.

Alright!

Being mentally prepared and thinking out the best way to attack is a great plan. ;D

You requested that I nag, push & cajole
But I will back off and passively just observe if that would work better. 😉

Safe haven! Haven't gone in there yet. Thank you all for the encouragement. Hopefully I'll live up to the brave picture you all have painted of me!

I did get a bag to the car today for donations. And I scrubbed kitty box and took garbage out.

I just didn't have what it took to go into the cabinet. But I have to do it. I didn't get home from nutritionist until 630 as it was a later appt today.

I can picture how to deal with the easier bits. I just need to do it.

Ok. Let's revisit this tomorrow.

Love you all!!!

HEY TATOULIA

So, how's it going?
Have the clutter monsters pulled you into the cupboard?
Have you run away to some safe haven?
Enquiring minds want to know. (((hug)))

Happy that my plan could work for you too ! ;D

Oh Tillie! Bread pans would be perfect! Dh just gave me the green light to buy two at the thrift store since I use mine pretty regularly for bread. I can tape a list to the end and write down which ones are in each pan.

Hi Subclinical 🙂

WAY TO GO!!!
Great job doing the spices! ;D
YEA!!! for all that laundry!
In Winter there are times I have to hang the wash out two consecutive days to get it dry.
At night I usually bring it in and put it on the racks but then I don't get that nice outdoor scent and I miss that.

There have been times when I have had a lot of spices to try to store sanely.
I ended up using 2 of my aluminum bread pans.
Sorted the spices as to savory or sweets.
This way I was able to just grab whichever bread pan I needed and the spices all stayed organized and contained.
Plus I still had 2 other bread pans available for banana bread while I was putting the other 2 to good use.

Got the floors swept and carpet vacuumed and things tidied up.
Hardest part about vacuuming is crawling around picking up cat toys.

Woke up this morning and went to step into my slippers.
New black suede with crepe soles Minnetonka moccasins.
Discovered that someone had vomited into the right one.
Anyways, managed to clean & salvage my pretty new slipper. ;P

Tatoulia, that is a very brave plan for tackling that cupboard! I'm proud of you!

Anony, good job on the broken window!

I would love to be able to dry laundry so fast. I don't have my line back up yet, but here, sometimes I had to take it in at night and put it back out after the dew.

I did do two loads of laundry today and I put them away plus the two that had been sitting around in baskets.

I also cleaned off a big piece of kitchen counter and gathered up all the spices in the house. I got rid of 21 old containers. a couple are empty and waiting to be washed because I have spices in plastic bags that I want in screwtop containers, but I made use of the compost pail,the recycling and the trash can. I put some of the spices like cinnamon in the breakfast/baking cabinet and the rest fit in the spice cabinet. It is still overcrowded and difficult to use - it is narrow and deep, so I think I need some removabletrays that I can put labels on the ends of, but it's much better. I told dh what I did and that I was done for now because I have no trays and because I want his feedback on what to keep near the front. He said I made a good start.

YEA! Tatoulia!
GO! GO! GO!!!

Good plan you have there.

Unfortunately, when we declutter one area it will almost always cause a clutter pile.
To properly declutter an area it is best to pull out everything in the way,
make decisions keep/toss/donate/sell
and make that new clutter pile shrink until it's all gone.
We have to break a few eggs in order to make an omelet. ;P

You CAN do this!!!
Those spooky clutter monsters don't stand a chance!
Once this is conquered just think of all the pleasant peaceful space you will have created in your home. (((hugs)))

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
YEA!!! for a new A/C!
It will keep you comfortable and probably cost less to operate than the old unit! ;D
Yea, wait till it's cooler before tackling those panels. (((hugs)))

About your sticky drawer...
I have had good success rubbing bar soap or a paraffin stick or just a candle along the bottom drawer runners.
If it is a structural problem some part may have become loose/fallen out and needs to be put back on.
Or sometimes something has fallen out of the drawer and gotten wedged underneath.

Watered lilacs. Soon I will vacuum and sweep.
Have the vacuum sitting out and ready to go.
But first I really need to eat, almost 11:00am and I haven't eaten yet.

No question mark-I absolutely enjoyed the laundry story. Imagine that, drying so quickly. Oh to hang clothes outside.

Great work, Anony! I enjoyed the laundry story?

Tillie and Anony, many thanks for exactly the help I need. Sometimes I feel like I'm asking too much but boy, Tillie the step by step is perfect. Tillie it is a cabinet that is extremely deep and wide. It is jammed with stuff. There is a half shelf running the width of it. The door makes it seem like the cabinet is only as wide as the door but noooooo it continues on like a terrible place filled with monsters. Plural.

Ok taking your suggestions and modifying them a bit, I will take out five objects at a time and make the decisions regarding the five. Unfortunately I have to put everything back in as I don't want a clutter pile. Wait...I KNOW, I will take out objects until there are five LEAVING. Then take a break.

Plan made. I still need trickery and cajoling, etc.

Take care, dear friends. I have nutritionist appt in a bit.

~☆♡☆~CONGRATULATIONS PORTER!!!~☆♡☆~WOW!!!~☆♡☆~Your new life sounds Fabulous!!!~I love the way you did the wedding!!!~♡~
Tatoulia, just starting one shelf or drawer is the perfect way to gather momentum & create excitement! You are doing so wonderfully with everything now, this will roll right into yet another great feeling for you!!! 😀
Yesterday i cleared the broken window & peroxided all of it. Before putting that silver stuff up, im think i may need to replace the A/C. It barely keeps the tiny bedroom cool. Its so old it has actual knobs, which i prefer, but that seems to be a thing of the past now. My handyman has agreed to install a new one. He is getting older too & not always feeling well. I really need a new handyman that is trustworthy! I have a spot for panels to be stacked & an outfit to wear thatll protect me, but that wont be so hot ill pass out in...ha ha
Tillie, your drawer sounds so nice! My main kitchen drawer is a mess right now cuz it sticks, so everything slides all over each time i open & close it...maybe i can improve it...hmmm...?
I remember in Tucson when id wash sheets & anything but jeans, after id hang the last item up to dry, the first item would already be dry, so to avoid it fading in extended sunlight, id just start folding it all back up without even going inside to wait!
~☆~♡~☆~

Alright Tatoulia!

We WILL start on that cabinet...

Lets break it down into smaller bite size pieces.
I suppose this cabinet has shelves so we will only look at one shelf at a time.

Lets start with a shelf at an easy level where you don't need a step stool or have to sit on the floor.

Pull out one item
Keep/toss/donate/sell?
Put it in the appropriate bag.

OK, we have begun

You can come back later and do it again.
Or you can find another thing to make decisions on.

Your kitchen needs to be free of all those spooky areas.
You need these spaces for things you need and want and use.

Evict the clutter monster from this cabinet!

(((hugs))) ;D