Enjoy your trip Tatoulia!

I would love to use public transportation. But unfortunately the only public transportation available to me is the senior bus, which I can schedule to take me to the grocery store and limited additional shopping on their schedule or medical appointments on mine after I turn 65.

I suppose Dh and I could drive about halfway into the city and then take the bus the other half, but it would extend the travel time so much. (The bus schedule is only efficient for certain limited high traffic times and locations - it would be horribly impractical for evenings) We generally just drive in, park, and walk around, or plan things in a line in and out. There is a free trolley that covers the areas where we walk. We have used it in bad weather. At one point there was talk of putting paid light rail from the trolley line out to within twenty minutes of us and I was pretty excited, but it fell through.

Bean and I got the train set up under the tree last night. He is really enjoying playing with it. It was hard to get him to bed. Today more train, making a plate for a present for his parents, maybe potting up some of my amaryllises (rescued from Dad's farm) and taking him home late afternoon because I have a work party tonight.

Plus I have to do my hoarder's advent calendar (henceforth hac) again. Mom is doing better than I am.

I bet your tree is very pretty, SubC!

I did not get everything done before leaving for my trip but I did a lot. Cats are in great hands. I took a special bus to the airport and it was under 20 minutes. And it was only $3. And the return is free but I will likely take a cab, as I will be too tired to walk the half mile home. My way of reducing waste/taking care of the environment has centered around public transportation. A big fan of it. Not everyone has access, and I understand, but I like to be part of the congestion solution.

Good morning!

Dropped towels and recycling yesterday and some old "might want to use this for/I can fix/redo this" pots tossed out. I got my check from the sale and picked up an extra sale at work yesterday, so I am down to 22 pots to clear out. The amount of available space being created is shockingly small.

I'm really happy with my sales this year though.

Bean is spending the night tonight - buddy has tests at the hospital tomorrow morning. Bean is excited to put out more Christmas decorations.

My mom is doing the "hoarders advent calendar" with me. I am now feeling a lot of pressure. I don't know if I can keep up the momentum. And it is only day 4!

Gotta go, because I am not ready for school.

Hi Tatoulia! Thanks for stopping by! I was getting lonely.

I wonder what everyone else is doing. I'm sure advent is a busy time for CM and Lila.

My tree is up and beautiful! It is the biggest one we have ever had and all the ornaments are on with room to spare. It's also the only one they had left over 7 feet, so next year 8 feet will be the maximum. Getting a tree anywhere else is not a choice. We've been cutting a tree at this local family lot since my kids were little. Bean "helped" cut it down and helped decorate. He is very proud of it.

This week is very full, but I am going to keep on doing the "advent calendar for hoarders" and posting on the thread of stuff going out. Today I drop the towels and also take the single stream recycling to the drop.

Good to hear your sake went well, SubC! Glad you had good food at your father's!

I am getting ready for my trip. Still so much to do! I had the whole weekend and did some but not all. I got my towels to the cat shelter and I bought the wreaths for my windows. I started to pack tonight.i have the foldout made with clean mattress pad and clean sheets. I've washed a comforter for the foldout and I've washed all the cat blankets. I winterized the windows in my bedroom to some extent. Ran out of the weather stripping. Got keys made for the three people staying here —one at a time.

But I look at the house and it looks a mess to me. I'll try to finish packing tmr. I have a haircut tomorrow.

A but panicked but largely I made the decision to sleep most of Thanksgiving Day (rainy and windy) and a lot of sleeping on Saturday, too.

I got rid of the final box from my car. At last. I had a lot of trash and recycling tonight. That felt good.

Okay off to bed. I miss you all and will do better once I'm back.

Good morning!

I wonder what you all have been up to while I was gone.

The trip was good/tolerable. I gained weight on my father's cooking, which is delightful, and my mil's which is full of sugar. (Her holiday sweet potato casserole is basically my sweet potato pie filling with extra sugar and no egg)

My father sold his farm right before I arrived and Dh and I helped finish the barn clean out. (The farm is a short drive from the house - he has had his garden on one side of the barn/green house and rented out the field on the other side for years. The house is on a fully wooded lot, but he has decided he is done gardening except for the beautiful woodland and house plants he grows) there is only his friend's bicycle left in the barn to be collected before closing.

I have a collection of "new" items to confess later, and more determination to attack this house.

On that note, someone posted an "advent calendar" for hoarders. I think it was meant to be funny, but it is not a bad idea. - every day open a cupboard or drawer and get rid of something. Anybody want to play?

Taking a quick break from packing for my trip.

A quick tally of my inventory tells me my sale exceeded my goal as far as income, and I sold 36 pots that were not part of my regular inventory (there are some pieces I can do in nearly identical versions in different colors that sell well, so I try to keep them in stock. Those also went well, so I will need to replenish. i ran out of purple again.

So, when I get back I will need to clear out 41 pieces of pottery from my studio (I actually think I messed up on my inventory, so if my check is more than I expect, I will give myself one more piece grace.)

I also have an update on my tally.

Tatoulia, I am excited for you about your trip! I bet you will come back and see your space with new eyes.

I am up, but tired and trying to push myself into action. When I went out to the studio last night I decided to finish waxing some new raku pots instead of grabbing old stock, so I was up too late. I have my restock box in the car ready to go but not priced, I'll have to price them as I put them out today.

I am super hoping that today will be even half as good as yesterday - Sunday is usually slower. If I have another really good day, there is one more thing I'm going to buy. - I always make a pre-sale list of all the things I really like and then look to see what is still there later because the list is too long. Often my list includes "everything on M's stand" so if I have a great day, I will treat myself to one on her small, beautiful objects. Maybe jewelry, maybe an ornament, maybe a little pot.

Good to hear the same is going well! I do hope you meet your goal!

I am on countdown to my overseas trip. No where near ready but the house sitter/catsitter situation has been worked out. I have to wash the heated mattress pad I bought for the foldout. I also bought new sheets for it after I said I wouldn't. I donated the old sheets earlier this year or late last year.

I have to buy a suitcase and then I need to pack. All the clothes are worked out in my mind.

I need to keep moving in the right direction. House is looking pretty good. Might reserve a car next weekend. Donate some stuff.

Good evening!

My sale is going well! I actually managed to get all of my restock pieces out by the end of the day! I do not think I will come close to selling the 87 pieces that I would have to sell to meet my "clear 100 things out of the studio by the end of the year" goal, but I am still planning to do a deep sweep to try.

There is too much old and lesser quality stock sitting around, and I have not done any of the rework I pledged to myself last year.

I am going to go out and try to refill one of my restock boxes for tomorrow though - it will be "lesser" stuff, but maybe there will be space and some of it will sell.

I also shopped, so I will post that and sone online orders on the other thread.

First day of my sale today. Dd1 came over to help me set up last night. My booth looks really good. I can't find my business card holder, but I just put the cards out flat. Maybe I'll make a new one. Or maybe I'll find it whenever I eventually clean the studio out.

Dh is driving me in and dropping me off so he can pick me up for the concert and we can just come straight home after.

Wish me luck! I need a good sale to help with my motivation to get my studio more in order and clear out old inventory. - Almost everything on my booth this time is fresh and I feel so much better about it. I have one full box of "restock" and if I put it all out today I'll take some of the older pieces tomorrow. Maybe a box of "clearance".

Ok, gotta go!

Tatoulia, I love it too!

Did my best yesterday, which will have to be enough.

I didn't finish all the work I wanted to finish, but I got a lot of new work priced and packed. I am going to focus on that and not even take most of the older inventory, I can sort through it later.

I got one pen of chickens cleaned up and moved, but somehow have to find time to do another and get the buck into the barn before we leave on Tuesday morning. I don't know how I'm going to do it with school and holiday fair set up today, sales tomorrow and Sunday (and a concert with Dh Saturday night - I'm going to be so tired on Sunday!) and Bean on Monday. and I realized last night I fired a whole batch of pigs without painting on their eyes. I don't think I will have time to fire them again before the sale is over.

House is a mess and I am feeling overwhelmed. Bp and weight are both up this morning. Better choices need to be made!

I love the little calendar with the goat!

Good for you to take some towels elsewhere! I will walk to the animal shelter this weekend to donate a few towels.

I am getting things out! It's pouring rain right now and I haven't been out all day. But I'm thinking of getting out anyway. I could wear a light colored jacket to be more visible.

Was proud of myself and my progress today.

Good morning.

Moving slowly today, but need to speed it up. I teach today and have a lot to do before my sale this weekend and my garden needs to be covered against frost tonight.

We got an update from my mil. Current prognosis is at least two to three years of reasonably good health with regular treatment. (Could be ten or more - she's 82) I don't know what effect this will have on her house clearing.

I got exasperated with my "cleaning towel" cupboard and asked at the studio if they can use more old towels. The answer was "always" so I will clean that out after fall break.

That's it for the news.

Oh, I wanted to share, Bean has a December calendar. He wanted to show me - He and mommy drew pictures on all the important days. There is a little goat on every day he will see me. Also the playground gate (his drop off point) for school days, a cat for play dates with his girlfriend, hard hats for the days mommy goes to work (after maternity leave), a tree on the day he is coming to help us get our Christmas tree, Candles for advent, a decorated tree for Christmas, and a sun and moon for Solstice.

Good morning!

Tatoulia, I hope you were able to fill that compost. 😉

Mine needs to go out too. And it's raining.

I thought "swooning" was supposed to be "depending" not sure how it would have made the jump though.

CM, good for you doing laundry. Rainy days are hard.

I spent yesterday with Dd and my boys. We ran out to the thrift shop so she could drop her donations and look for some new shirts (I ended up with one new smock shirt for school from the donation bag) she found two, but I didn't buy anything. While we were there, she saw a wooden hutch she loved, that had a big crack in the back and was only $25. As she was contemplating fixing the crack (no doubt she could) I commented that it looked like mine (from my great grandma) she said "I know. That's probably why I like it." I said "where would you put it?" (Her house is tiny and full) and she said "I don't know."

I found myself saying "when you figure it out, you can have mine." Mine is currently full of rarely used/seasonal glassware and pottery in my basement. It could easily and efficiently be replaced by an upright cupboard, a shelf, or less pottery and glassware (well, that last isn't easy). She wants to move before Bean starts grade 6 He's going to be in K next year. Anybody think I can finish my house by then?

I don't have a lot of faith. Which is crazy. My mom and my uncle cleaned out my grandmother's entire huge 4 story, packed to the gills house in a year. Every item. I should be able to finish this house next summer if I just FOCUS.

Instead I'll probably find myself with a giant pile of my mother in laws cast offs. Why is this so hard when I can see it coming?

Ok, much to do before school today.

Swooning is as good a word as any when it comes to confronting our stuff, lol.

I'm doing a big load of white laundry. The pile was like Mount Everest. It's been a busy month already and I'm not ready for it to get busier with the holidays but I'm trying to tell myself it'll be manageable. I don't even do much, go places or have people over, yet it still feels like a lot because I guess I absorb the busy energy around me - traffic, stores (thankfully I won't need to go in them much), pop up ads about Black Friday (yuck), etc.

The weather has been rainy and turbulent, which does somewhat impact my decluttering because some things need to be taken or done outdoors. But I'll try to do some with the indoors stuff. It's just harder being cooped up at times. Though it's not wintry winter yet, so that's something. Not liking the shortness of the days but I have my countdown to solstice numbers written in my calendar squares. That keeps me hanging on!

No idea on what Swooning was supposed to say.

I did very little yesterday but the things I did needed to be done. I used foam to plug a crack. I cleaned my earrings that I haven't worn because they were dirty I went through my teas to see what I have and to get rid of those I will.l not enjoy. Not much but something.

I need to work some more today. I need to see progress. Tonight the garbage and recycling goes out so the more the merrier.

Wow, SubC, that is a lot of company. I'm panicking over the number of cat sitters I'll have when I'm on holiday. Swooning on what I find today, I may need to schedule a car for next weekend as well to get to goodwill.

Last night I realized that for several days during Winter break, I am going to have ten adults and three children under 5 in my house at once to celebrate the holidays. This will include 4 generations and one SO we have not met yet. I now have the Eagles Hotel California looping in my head "I was thinking to myself, this could be heaven or this could be hell."

Also, I am freaking out about my house. I have this urge to run to target and buy thirty bins and just pack up stuff and stash it in the basement so the rest of the house looks "normal". I will not do that. I will just try to make it better than it is now.

I love hearing about your happy memories, SubC. Christmas at our house was very lovely growing uo.

I felt lighter for getting rid of the stuff. It felt so good.

Now I will reassess tomorrow to see if there are things I can throw out. I also have some towels and other linens to take to the cat shelter.

Bf and I talked before I went and we talked about the phenomenon where if you thought you didn't have something or even forgot about it entirely, you are find. But then if you find it you can't let it go. So I tried to invoke that today.

I'm taking a good hard look at my linen closet tomorrow. There's stuff in there that I can get rid of. Like a 10 year old bottle of aloe Vera. I haven't even used it once so I don't know why I'm hanging onto it. Plus, it wasn't mine to start with. So that was a toss. I have a few more things like that, old makeup brushes, etc.

Tatoulia, you are doing so well!

I think my mil is going to end up taking silver plate to the thrift store as well. I know that will be really hard for her, but no one in the family wants it. The younger generations are just not into the same kind of entertaining. Some of it is very sad, because I look at it and remember all the years she used it on her holiday table, but also the memories of those visits are about how everything was so beautiful but the actual experience was so stressful, difficult, and exhausting. My husband's childhood is so much better in pictures than it was in real life..

It makes me especially sad because mine was the opposite. The pictures just don't do it justice. For example, one Christmas my cousin got a tape recorder. There is one picture of me sitting next to her while she opens it and looks confused, because she doesn't understand what it is yet. There are no pictures of the two hours afterwards when we pretended to have a radio show and ran around doing interviews with all of the relatives and singing silly songs onto the tape, and reported on everything that was happening, including ranking the cookie selections. There is also no tape, because she recorded over it later. We were 8 and 9, what did we care.. And it doesn't matter. While it would be fun to hear my aunt describing the virtues of whatever her favorite gift was that year, what is more important is remembering that she stopped what she was doing to fully join in our game, and so did every adult there. And nobody brushed us off or told us they had to do something else, because like every holiday of our childhoods, we were the most important thing. I can't remember the dishes. We might have used paper plates.

I've been working on finishing raku pieces in the studio. I have 25 items waxed and waiting to be polished when the wax cures, twenty five items washed on the drying rack to be waxed when they are dry, and 11 pieces washed and next to my sink in the scullery (some of those need wax and some don't) all will need pricing later.

I also have 12 pigs glazed and ready to fire, and twelve waiting for glaze, along with a few other pieces waiting for glaze.

I am hoping it is a really good sale, because I am committed to this 100 piece cull. So far I have 87 to go.

Dh and I have a concert to go to tonight, so I need to go get ready.

I did it! And I felt lighter as I left goodwill. I also through in two skirts that I loved but even if I could fit into them, they were a younger woman's game. I also packed up a duffle bag I bought in anticipation of my trip to Asheville which was cancelled due to the hurricane. I never returned it and even though it still has the tags on it, I filled it up and took it to Goodwill. Could I use it for a weekend at someone's house? Of course! Do I go to people's houses for the weekend? No.

So I did it. Would like to repeat this exercise one more time before I go on holiday in December.

Okay I'm doing it and it's hard. Just packaged up all my Madame Alexander dolls for goodwill. I do not have what it takes to sell them plus someone at goodwill is going to find a treasure trove. They are in various states, none mint condition, but still someone somewhere will be happy.

The star wars figures are now in a small shoebox sized plastic bin for my brother to make his choices.

Some of mom's silver plated serving pieces are also going to goodwill. And at least one art piece that I bought many years ago in a different time and place. Oh and some Christmas dish towels I got at crate & barrel last year and the quality was terrible. They anger me so I might as well donate them. No need for angry stuff in my peaceful home.

Trying to see if I can tackle anything else. My winter coats are going to a woman who cleans others apartments in the building. She doesn't clean mine but she takes clothes to her church. So I'll wash the parkas this weekend so she can grab them during the week.

Wow, Lila, you got a lot done! Congratulations!

SubC, that is sweet to hear about the shy student talking about their dog.

You will need to do your best on the lack of storage. I don't know how to be strong in that situation. Shoring you up

I did not make decisions for the goodwill run so I am doing that now. Tough but it is the price for space.

The best part of dog day is when the shy, not so confident kid stands up in front of the class and gives a presentation - because they have their dog.

Glad you got some peace and quiet Lila. It sounds like you did a good job on the playroom.

I bought two puzzles and a rolling toy at the rummage sale. I sent them home with Bean when I returned him to Dd (since the rummage sale was between school and his house, I just picked him up today.)

Mil is still working on clearing out her house. She has started offering nicer things. Today I got my first "will you store." request from one of my kids. This is going to get rough. I am not running a self storage. I want to have the thing I want in my house.

hey all. I have one day off so here I am. It is a 40+ hour week but ten or so of that is considered volunteering, although it is nearly the same work. It has been a good week.

When my kids were little, they were allowed to bring their dog for show and tell. ONE per week. If your Dog Day gets to be too much, my suggestion is to find a local Therapy Dog group (not service dogs) and invite them to come. These dogs are well trained, calm, good with kids, and the people are also trained to follow rules and respect people and such. The one I worked with is called Love on a Leash, but there are many organizations. Coming to schools is something they regularly do, and the dogs also are trained to lay down and let kids read to them. You might see them at a library sometime.

I got a quiet day today and the grandkids are off playing at their mom's friend's house. I enjoyed the peace and low stimulation day.

I also:
- loaded and ran the dishwasher
- washed and dried and folded two loads of clothes
- took trash out
- picked up branches in the front yard
- started picking up the play room and other general areas

The play room has not been picked up in a long time, so it is a lot of pieces everywhere. Also dirty clothes and some trash and broken things. I just have not had time, and that is where the kids play sometimes when I am at work all day. I have been sorting pieces of various toy kits into bins and throwing out broken things and making a pile of clothes for dil. I need to vacuum as well. I have no thoughts that it will stay neat for long, but, I can put some of the kits away to be brought out, used, and picked up rather than just all dumped in one room.

I am happy to have this day off.

It's so hard not to buy things at fairs and festival!

I am working on my pile for goodwill. I just need to close my eyes and do it. I dont have a choice and the car is expensive so I cannot squandered my time with it.

The dog day at school sounds like fun but I enjoy even more your illustration of how it goes!

Good morning

Tatoulia, good luck with your goodwill trip tomorrow.

I spent time in the studio yesterday. Blew up a pot in the test kiln - aggravating, but that's why it was in the test kiln. Finished embellishing two pots that probably won't be done in time for my sale, and got all but the last glaze coat done on a dozen pigs. 17 more pigs to do. Probably won't finish those either.

Went to the post office to send off a return of Christmas gifts that weren't what I expected. I won't order from them again. Their shipping is high and I almost never need to return items! Ran two loads of laundry and the house is becoming a mess again.

I really need to work on my time management.

I'm going to my favorite semi-annual rummage sale today after school. I will try to make good choices. Including not spending too much time at the rummage sale.

I've now gotten caught up on everyone's posts. Now to see what I remember!

Glad to hear that all babies are doing well. I cannot imagine the worry of an infant with health problems.

I thank you all for discussing how you are looking at things. I'm scheduled for a fairly decent trip to goodwill on Saturday. Not easy to do but I will.

Need to push myself more.