nobody wants to be squished.

I save the clear plastic peanut butter jars and take the labels off. (This is extreme, but sometimes will use goo-gone to clean off the glue area and sometimes not.) I have one of those filled with an assortment of spare bulbs for flashlights. that has been very helpful-but I think now some of those may be excess. If I spend the money for the led bulbs, I think that reduces the frequency of replacement compared to the filament bulbs and I don't quite know how to judge what I need for spares now.

I just got a little head flashlight from harbor freight. It has a very small pin type bulb. Not sure if I can come up with an led upgrade for that.

Diane, it's so good to see you back!! I've missed reading about your progress and projects! My great-grandmother had a little cottage with an outhouse and water pump. When we stayed with her in the summer she would set out a pot by the back door so we didn't have to make our way to the outhouse in the dark. I remember her telling someone once, "We'll always have a pot to piss in." 🙂 Lots of great times at her place!

Your normal friend's comment sounds right. You've made great strides in reaching out and building connections. And releasing guilt and understanding yourself is the deeper work. For people like us better late than never! 🙂

Thanks DaveI do have those lantern flashlights and it's time for those bulbs to be changed out too. I'll see if Walmart has what I need. The kind I was looking for and finally found online are for AAA mini Maglite flashlights. I still hoard flashlights. One in each vehicle, one by each bed, doorway, where Laura and I sit to watch tv, one in my purse. And several more in a hall closet that (now) can be easily reached by feeling. We lose electricity a lot.

Speaking of still hoarding, I am compelled to gather all the tiny hemlock pinecones that are now falling in the driveway. 🙁 They are so perfect, I hate to drive over them and squash them. It's like a bounty crop that shouldn't be wasted. I can always tell myself I can give them to a crafter but I really just need to leave them on the ground. (Even writing that ~ can't do it.) It's terrible for my back and Laura has refused to do it anymore. I don't pick up the ones right under the trees in the dirt. Just the poor babies in the driveway. I'm still projecting my feelings onto other things. I move worms too. Nobody wants to be squished right?

Hoarding Bathrooms? (!! 🙂 )

I've been hoarding trumpet vines. Have discovered that is probably a mistake. Found a forum post about them describing as evil sentient life form bent on world domination! I have (attempted) trumpet vine control in my future.

Hello all, great seeing your posts Dave Dianne, bitsy, love to hear what you are up to and all the good you are blessed with.
Dianne like your grandma story. Reminded me of the out house we had when I was a kid, and when we moved in town when I was in second grade, and had first indoor toilet. 5 kids, 2 parents, 1 bathroom. Now I live alone and have 2 bathrooms, talk about grateful!!!
Max is here for the weekend, my flu shot boss's dog I dog sit for, so happy to have him here. It has been a year since my dog died, and I am finally ready to start looking for my next best friend. Dog sitting has helped fill the gap, and helped me financially. Still fearful of having a dog with a medical problem, so resistant to getting a dog for that reason. Molly had Kidney disease.
Today is a rainy cold day, so happy I have started a fire in wood stove and it is warming up and that Max is here.
Dishes are making my kitchen look like a hoarder, plan to tackle them soon since max is napping. Wanted to connect with you, without group I go back to old clutter behaviors. I cleaned all floors before I picked up max yesterday after my last clinic. One more clinic in November, but feel relief not working next 2 weeks, plan to get lots caught up here with support from group.
This morning let out seams on Max's camo jacket that was too tight, made him a new toy, looked at what I am grateful for.
My favorite nurse to work with is in Seattle with her husband in the hospital. They went to seattle for funeral, he fell, to ER, then to surgery for his neck, then back to surgery for excess bleeding, one arm still paralyzed, I have lost sleep over this, worried sick. They have been happily married 48 years, golden life, then this. Can not manage his pain, neither is sleeping, makes my "problems" seem so insignificant. Grateful I dropped a few walls and became their friend past several years, and much more since being on this site. Reminds me that the joy of friendship is greater than the pain of sorrow being in friendships.
A normal friend called yesterday and said she heard hoarders find it safer to be surrounded by stuff than people, mostly because no warm human connections as a child. Was true in my case growing up in country with no neighbors and a crazy mom. So greatful I have the friends I do have and letting go of guilt of not connecting more, understanding I have come a long way from no connections at all, to friends I love and trust. Thanks for all you post on your thoughts about your situations and progress, helps me learn more about life

Walmart has regular type flashlight bulbs in several varieties.

2aa, c cell, d cell and lantern. Some of them are also available in led.

If you use any of the hand lanterns that take the 6v square battery around the "homestead", the led bulb for it is very nice. (you have to look at package labels a little bit, I think that one is labelled for 4 d cells.)

I've not gotten into mini bulbs so I don't know about them.

Bitsy, I watched part of this and will finish it today. It really hits home. Thanks for posting it. I hope you're feeling better.

if you have time try to watch some of this you tube video

From:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kypyb2Jcuc
We're Not Getting Any Younger: Clutter and Aging

Gayle Goddard

Published on Jun 27, 2014
As we age, our clutter problems get more complicated by the needs of elderly parents or loved ones, our desire to share mementos and family history, and our own physical limitations. At our June meetup, we'll explore clutter-related issues that arise with aging. We'll suggest strategies that you and your family can adopt to ease the burden of future clutter. Gayle Goddard, professional organizer and owner of The Clutter Fairy in Houston, Texas, facilitates the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group.

Bitsy, I'm so sorry you've been sick. Dave has good advice about the electricity. I hope that works for you. I didn't realize you spent last winter in a car. Again Dave is right; a small area where you could stretch out with some warming materials under and on top of you would help.

I too miss Diane, Tillie, Roxie, LR, Barb, Karl and other friends. I hope we'll hear from them soon.

Everyone, I am so touched by the loving posts here. What a nice group of people. Bitsy, I am sorry you are not feeling well and the anxiety with the impending visit from your relative must be making things very difficult. I encourage you and support you and hope that there is a way to get you inside, even if it's just a little space.

Dave, you are just do thoughtful and gentle. How nice to read your posts. Dianne, I love the stories about reading to the animals. That must be a very sweet part of your life, watching your daughter take such care to keep the pets occupied!

Mel, you are amazing! I too through out old bras, face creams, make up removers, etc. and now, when I buy new bras, it's out with the old! If there's anything in the "gift with purchase" that I won't use, I immediately take the makeup samples to work and let my co-workers see which makeup sample they'd like. I learned a lot while cleaning my place, including that free stuff takes up as much room as stuff I paid for, so I do my best not to let it in the house in the first place!

Everyone, I so enjoyed catching up on your posts. I hope Diane and Tillie and Roxie and LR and everyone else know how much I miss them.

mel,
brooks palmer just put up a post about inheritance clutter. I think you may have already worked to these viewpoints, but I thought you might like to see it.

bitsy,
do you have some kind of recurring trash service, weekly-bimonthly-monthly?

bitsy,
in newer houses receptacles outside are on something called a ground fault circuit. I can't explain them technically, but when they quit working, there is a reset button to press. In my kitchen the circuit is based on a receptacle and the reset button is on the receptacle. The outlet in my back yard is hooked up to a special double wide breaker in the breaker box. Sometimes rainy weather will make that breaker turn off and I have to go turn it back on. (With winter coming on, it may not be wise to leave an extension cord to an outside storage building plugged in 24-7.) If you or your son can clear a path to your breaker box, you could check for tripped breakers.

I hope you are feeling better soon.

bitsy, I'm finding that as I get older I have body parts that don't work as well as they used to. I know you toughed it out in a car last year but please please try to find a way to get yourself inside for sleeping this year. I have been hoping you could come up with a way to make a soft spot for a sleeping bag (or quilts and blankets) on the perimeter of some area of clutter. I would think being able to stretch out and (even if it is cold) to have some protection from the elements would help you to be and feel healthier.

If decision making is a problem even to get you that far, please post here about the stress, decisions and challenges and let us encourage you and cheer you on.

i have been sick. i have not begun on a space inside and now the electric plug on the front porch just quit working. the electricity to the shed is plugged in there ... the printer is in the shed. maybe i won't have to use it again for a while. my grand daughter did not get much out of the shed. i can't tell where she took anything. the plug on the porch is where i usually plug in my computer to charge it. i am stressing out about the rich relative coming to visit. the temp is supposed to go down to low 40's tonite. it was raining but the sun is out now. i will try to go find some of my warmer clothes, check bank balance, find doctor's phone number, and get a birthday card ready to mail.

Dave, I guess I've always been a little too *close* with animals. After the initial splat, wiping my head with my hand, a curse word or two, I gotta laugh at the precision of nature.

Mel, you're amazing! BIG WTG!! What a wonderful holiday season you're going to have this year with a clean home, the man you love with you and successfully combining your lives!

Mel, sounds like you are doing well with the cleaning process. Good work!

by that criteria, I am definitely not an outdoors person. I do not appreciate being the victim of avian target practice! 🙂

Hi everyone, hope you're happy and well today!

Dianne, sorry that there doesn't seem to be a lot of options for your pain 🙁

When I vowed yesterday to get home during daylight so I could make more progress on my second bedroom, I clearly forgot that it's been getting dark well before I leave to go home from work. Oops. I did grab a few armloads of clothing and sorted through them and put together a full bag for donation. I completely filled my garbage bin and got rid of a ton of old stuff from my medicine cabinet (not medicine - stuff like old eye creams and whatnot). I emptied out a few old bottles and threw them in the recycling bin. I also finally threw away all the old bras and underwear from the underwear drawer in the second bedroom.

My boyfriend officially put in his 30 day notice that he will be moving out at the end of November, so the clock is ticking. We haven't really discussed the specific plans yet but he did say that he'll move his big stuff the last weekend of Nov, so that will be when the second bedroom will have to be clear enough to move his bed in. All I can do is keep working at it.

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!

Bitsy-have you figured out a spot you can start working on to get you inside?

Diamonds would be pretty sweet to find!

When we only had 4 cats who were indoor/outdoor and I was working a lot Laura did her Dr. Dolittle thing and befriended a couple she named William Michael and Michael William. I came home one night and she was watching tv while giving crumbs to a little rascal sitting on the sofa next to her. Another time one followed her up the stairs (she says she could tell them apart, I couldn't) and he was willing to be near her but watched me from a distance. I was not amused at first but got used to it. We have better mousing cats now. 🙂

Good evening all, I hope your days were better today. LR, I hope things go well with the carpet people tomorrow! Diane, it must have been scary repairing your roof while it was still so windy, glad you're ok! Dianne, hope your back keeps getting better and you're feeling brighter - is physical therapy an option for you?

I had a pretty unproductive weekend and a relatively productive day today.

My boyfriend has a family member unexpectedly staying with him for a few weeks, and since his place is pretty small, he will be coming to me for our usual visit times. This means that I have to not only work on cleaning, I also need to finish the job instead of leaving half-sorted boxes all over the place. When he came over on Friday he told me he could see the progress I've been making and even commented a couple of times on areas that he went into (hey, you cleaned the bathroom too!) so that made me feel good. We discussed the types of clutter that bother him and he said his biggest issue is with knick knacks (basically anything that's there for decoration and requires dusting). Of course I have a ton of knick knacks but I'm willing to part with a lot of them. He said it took 14 years to get my house to its current state so I can't expect to finish it quickly. He left on Sunday around 3:30 but my allergies had been bothering me and I took benadryl that kicked in around 4 and i took a nap instead of cleaning 🙂

Today I didn't get home until after dark, and there's no easily accessible working lamp in my second bedroom, so I just grabbed a few boxes to sort through. I fully sorted through about 5 boxes, so that was good. I am hoping tomorrow I can get home before dark and finish sorting through the clothes in that room. As of right now my garbage can and recycling bins are both about 75% full. I should be able to fit two or three more bags of garbage in before garbage pickup on Wednesday morning.

I'm still dealing with the damned mice. This morning when I was getting ready, I saw a well-fed black mouse running around under my coffee table. I moved two of my traps over to near where I saw it but no capture yet.

Also, I LOVE the idea of a creeping clutter movie poster!

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

I saw a site today about book buddies, young children reading to cats at an animal shelter in berks county PA. Made me think of Laura and Jack.

Hidden rocks to return for. Diamonds?

Thanks, LR! I hope your stress levels start going down soon. Decision making seems to amp up stress for hoarders in all areas. 🙁 I'm glad the carpet people will be in soon to help with the flood mess. That will make you feel much better!

Tat, good for you to wrestle down that clutter creep today. 🙂

Tat. Fun to make a movie with posters, maybe next Halloween. Karl mentioned making a board game for creeping clutter, months ago. Only we know how scary it can be!! This week in honor of Halloween, I will join you Tat, tackling creeping clutter.
Today I plan to do dishes, shower, wash hair, clean bathroom first.

Special shout-out to Tillie! Missing you!

Good morning everyone! Happy to read your posts! Going to sweep up today and also wipe down the kitchen. CLUTTER CREEP--it's everywhere! If I were an artist I'd make the movie posters. I can visualize them but unable to put on paper. (Don't Open The Door!)

Have a wonderful day, everyone! Diane, congratulations on keeping the roof in perspective--hard to do, especially when tired and worn out!

Thanks LR for your post, especially the Creeping Clutter halloween movie!!!! Still smiling. Stress is a challenge, I felt sick at the clinic Friday, due to being worn out from so much work past couple of weeks, and difficulty sleeping. Wind blew a little of my roof off yesterday, huge storm, patched it while wind still blowing, pretty exciting. Many people here had trees blown over on their house, so a little missing roof was nothing.
Today had fun digging up more hidden rocks. previous owners were rock collectors and buried rocks when they moved thinking they would come back and get them, found a new stash today under a ledge. It was cold, but I love the acquiring even if it is just rocks!!! Hope everyone got more house work done than I did.

Happy Sunday! Great to hear from you, Barb, and I'm glad to know that you're loving your job. Diane, best wishes with all your latest projects; I like trying to envision all these improvements (painting, etc.) that you keep on making. Bitsy, yea for being able to print out those things for your son. Dave, I wish I could send you some of the unusually hot weather we are still having here; it has been in the upper 80's this weekend! (Think we could can this heat for the wintertime??) Dianne, it is so encouraging to read about all the progress you've made over time; it helps me so much to know that the changes that so many of us desire really can happen! Tatoulia, thanks as always for the encouragement you give on here.

Creeping Clutter: sounds like a good name for an October 31 movie flick.

I'm not feeling well this weekend. Some is because of allergies, and some is related to stress because of a lot of things that are going on with me and lots of decisions I'm needing to make. I do feel well enough to get some work done here at home, though. Have carpet people coming on Tuesday to deal with the aftermath of flooding from last weekend. (Yeah, I know . . . same song, 50th verse for me. More flooding.) I'm trying to clear as much living room floor space as possible in the hopes that they will do a little extra carpet cleaning while they are here (i.e. will clean more than just the flooded area).

Lots of hugs.

Yay Bitsy! Mailbox and printer both up and running! Cold weather is not my friend either. Like you and Dave the countdown for spring has begun. 🙂