Good Morning 🙂

Off I go.....

I just wrote a long note and it disappeared, darn it x 2. Basically worked all day mostly in big bedroom. Has a storage area that is hoard to ceiling. Mice took Mollys food up in purses, she has been gone since November, so old food, I jumped and the hoard fell on me, only a few scratches. really sad how much crap I stuffed in there. at this moment, I never want to go in there again.
Organized some stuff on deck that re cluttered. fleeting thought, I am getting worse at clutter, just dealt with messes today, then read your posts, and feel much better and reminded me I have made lots of progress, thanks so much.

Diane, what an AMAZING amount of work you did on your car!! That is so inspiring!!

Good Morning 🙂

TTYL 🙂

Good morning. Following up on my goals from yesterday: I did eventually get them all done.

I ended up bringing home four boxes from storage to go through, and while I was at that storage place I rearranged some things to make the other boxes more readily accessible. I was able to reduce the four boxes I brought home down to one. I was able to make quick work of it once I got started. Some boxes took as little as five minutes to deal with! Most of the contents of the boxes were old papers that can now be shredded. I feel good about having finally started this project. It's been on my personal "to do" list for months.

Hearing diane talk about her car project reminded me that the inside windows of my vehicle needed attention, especially the windshield. While my supper was cooking in the microwave last night, I grabbed a paper towel and some vinegar and wiped part of my windshield (inside of driver's side). Dirt and dust had been building up there, and it had been getting harder to see out of it at certain times of the day (when the sun would hit it at a certain angle). I need to do more cleaning there later, but at least for now, I can drive a little more safely.

I'll probably post more later, but it's time for breakfast right now. I did make some fresh tea yesterday, Roxie, so . . . iced tea clinks to your coffee cup!

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WAY TO GO!!!!! 😀
I know how much you dreaded this and am doing a "Happy Dance" that you got started and found no bugs! 😀

Just because something is a "good" price/deal, even free, we must all keep in mind that having clear living space in our homes is priceless.

When I get my free things, I never know how much I should keep. Within the last couple of weeks, I got 36 8 oz containers with screw on lids and 36 6 oz containers with screw on lids. How many of each do I keep. I have already used a few. I have lots of spiral notebooks - I do use them at work, but when they were on sale, I was buying 18 at a time. I need someone to tell me a number. My helper had set a limit of 10 paper bags and that is what it is kept at. How do you set limits?

Tillie, you are so dear--growing like weeds! Was happy to hear from you, Roxie. Keep up the good work but don't push too far, too fast. Rebuilding health and strength take time.

Giant thanks to Diane and LR. I joined chat today and got started on the closet. At last. Not nearly that bad. I took out three large trash bags of essentially bags. All sorts of bags-- plastic, paper, reusable grocery bags, flannel bags that came with purses, garment bags from long defunct boutiques, boxes from stores that closed long ago, watch boxes, Christmas boxes. Okay, I've gone too far here--if you're still reading, sorry for that!

Managed two recycle bags of plastic hangers and have one large bag for goodwill. Two pretty black coats are in it--one is cashmere but I have so many coats and I'm letting it go. NO BUGS OR CREATURES ENCOUNTERERD! Yay!

Still have a lot of work to do on closet but I faced my fears and got in there! Thank you everyone! I'm hoping to find a hundred dollars So far found three, only $97 to go! Did find two bags of change, will take to bank tomorrow.

Keep up the good work!

HAPPY SEPTEMBER! 🙂

Everybody has started out this new month in beautiful style.
Keep up all this great progress. 🙂

The online chat work sessions are so great. Helps me see things differently.
Got all dishes done and put away. Mowed lawn. This morning, then got on chat and did car.

I am pretty tired now, so may not do any more today.
I only work one day this week so have an outfit for that. Hope to find more outfits in closet tomorrow if not tonight. Going to take a smoothie out on deck and have long break. Thanks

Happy you are getting stronger Roxie. Tat, getting rid of credit cards is a priority, and you are doing it!! LR, very balanced work load today, good for you, and thanks for the support this am. I was making up reasons not to wash car. You talking about cleaning your car and that you do not mind washing yours, really helped. I washed car, then waxed it, looks great, then decided to vacuum inside. Saw the spilled coffee and other junk with new eyes, so took everything out and I mean everything, mats, blankets,pillow, coat, tire pump, spare tire, trunk liner, vacuumed it all inside. still have to wash mats, they are gross. This was not fast, took hours. Opened hood and checked all fluids, hoses etc, all fine. Started washing inside and finally ran out of energy. I bought the car in 2006 new, and have never took everything out before. Cleaned door jams maybe twice. Never washed floor mats. Never checked spare, jack etc before today. You would not believe all the food under the seats, in trunk etc, but not one critter. I have experienced cleaning thoroughly in here, so thought I would try it out on the car. Still need to wash interior windows and some other little areas, need toothbrush to reach. It feels nice to know I will not be embarrassed when I put clinic supplies in or take workers in car. I semi cleaned last year before clinics, but hid stuff under blanket, now so much better. I wanted to do anything other than wash the car this morning, and now so happy I got on chat and talked with LR about cleaning cars. Hope all is well with you today.

Coffee clinks to all. I just woke up so the sleeping pill I took last night must have really worked!

I'm so glad to see each bit of progress in any area for each of you. Together we are strong.

I haven't posted much either but have been keeping up with everyone's posts. Good to see you even for a minute last night, LR. I have been maintaining my clean and cleared spaces and have been talking myself down from buying stuff. Today is the perfect day for me to implement the excellent suggestions re dealing with that closet. It's really the last frontier before I deal with storage space. Today no work AND it's trash night. I have all the supplies I need--gloves, mask, bug spray, trash cans and it appears I am out of excuses for ignoring it.

Getting rid of the clutter is helping me deal with my financial problems, which really started piling up in the last five years. Have now paid off two credit cards and have a plan in place for the third and final card. Very excited. I also feel I can start dealing with my weight. (Also packed on in the last 3-5 years). I am so happy to find you all. You are helping me to make positive, measurable changes in my life. You have helped me find the strength to deal with the tough stuff. How lucky am I?

Hope you are all well. I appreciate your friendship and support.

Good morning. As I mentioned at chat last night, although I haven't posted much this past week, I have been reading your posts. Great to hear from you all. Iced water clink to your coffee cup, Roxie! (I need to make some fresh tea.)

One of my goals for today is to get a couple of boxes out of storage, put them on my back patio, and at least begin to sort through them. (I'm hoping that most of what I find inside will be things I can now trash or shred.) I also plan to add to my gratitude list, get some bills paid, and spend at least fifteen minutes organizing some of my financial paperwork.

Have a good day, everyone.

Good morning 🙂

Hoping to "see" everybody in chat tonight 😀

WAY TO GO!!! Roxie 🙂

You are doing GREAT, scooped litter box and food and self care. You are doing everything that is important! 😀

Just a quick "hi" to say I'm here and reading, and enjoying the posts. I did get the litter box scooped yesterday, finally. And my friend went grocery shopping for me, so I am okay on food. Hanging in here trying to do daily personal care.

Bitsy,
interesting observation about your kids not being young anymore. Strange enough to see/feel ourselves age. Even stranger to see our children graying and creaking.

Have a great holiday weekend everyone!

Hi 🙂

TTYL 🙂

WAY TO GO!!! Diane 😀

Pleasant dreams (((hugs)))

high hopes

Today was the big day, I attached the roof ridge cap, not great, but ok. Then I patched all the areas I could until I was exhausted and the wind started really blowing. There is one little area that I do need to finish tonight, looks like rain is blowing in, at least it is finally in low 80's and will be in 70's this weekend. Have so much more energy when it is cooler. I was so sad my dog sitting days were over then today I find out Nellie is coming here in a few weeks and Max will be here end of Oct. so happy to have that to look forward to. Short visits but comforts me to have them here.
Just realized did not start washing machine, will soon. I wanted to watch the dr Phil show today on hoarding, but forgot, rerun I have missed 2 times now. There is a big fire 70 miles from here and wind has blown smoke all that way past few days. I keep reminding myself to stick with the task I am doing, get distracted so easily, and what ever pops in my mind seems impt., roof is important, need to finish that today. Dishes are impt. so did wash those. I am so happy it is cooler, this was the hottest summer here since I have lived here and winter was the coldest winter in decades, strange weather. I love having this site to sign into and feel connected, who else could understand how difficult it is for me to stay focused and finish projects. Yesterday I left the water on in the yard for hours, totally forgot I turned water on. Checked fire ants today, still alive, just less of them. I sprayed them with poison, boiling water then some nasty poison pellets for them. They are amazing how they are able to just keep going. Reminds me of us, no matter how bad the clutter is, we keep working on it.

Good Morning Everybody 😀

Everybody take care and find something today to laugh or smile about. 🙂

Roxie, I am glad your home and doing a little better.
Meds. I only have six a day now and that seems like a lot to me. And I am hoping I don't have any new major medical for at least a couple more years. Every day my body reminds that I am old but only this last month have I realized that my children are really not young any more. Thanks for your info about professionals. The two professional companies I talked to back in June or July gave me quotes of $15,000.00+ for the NE Atlanta house. Seems a little steep. I need to check with the ones referred on this site. It won't need any deep cleaning because it will be sold as is and probably torn down (the similar brick ranch next door was torn down and a Mc Mansion was built there). or gutted and a second story added like a house across the street. It is in a very desirable location just inside the perimeter, so I hope I can get enough from the property to cover what's left on the equity loan. (It was all paid off until the bottom fell out of the economy).
Today I need to take care of some financial matters and pay some bills.

Tillie, I smiled ear to ear seeing feathers flying and thinking the cats probably thought you had gotten some birds for them to play with. Roxie, happy to know you have friends to get groceries etc. When I had hip surgery, living alone, saw an article in paper that there is an interfaith volunteer group that puts up railings for steps, which I had done. they also offered to do other things for me, but I was ashamed of hoard so said no. Wonder if there is a similar group there. Life is difficult alone when recovering, so I hope you check out sources of assistance. good you hired people to declutter.
Today was hot again so did not get much done, tomorrow hopefully will cool down. I did go visit a couple that have relatives from New Zealand visiting, it was so much fun, nice people.

Thanks Tillie, hugs to you too! The down comforter will be so cozy this fall and winter. I bet the kitties love it also. 🙂

It is so good to read all the posts. Welcome, Melody. Bitsy, I hired professional help. It took 2 days in my case at $2500.00. However, they did not include deep cleaning and that has been a problem for me to even find anyone to do. But it was worth it. I had two companies to choose from and chose the one most professional and kind in addressing me.

More later. Love you all.

Getting started is the hardest. Not being able to make decisions about where to put what I decide to keep. storage unit? Buy another storage shed? Now since son won't be working for a while we may be trying to just move to North Carolina. just indecision and confusion.

Dianne,
Thanks so much for sharing your journey process.

Good Morning 🙂

So, what adventures have you been getting up to?

Good afternoon all. Thanks Karl for suggestion. Just paid bills online and checked to make sure, and it appears bank paid bill on time, so I will call.
I worked all morning in freezer room, organized more stuff and found more to donate and toss. Nailed up a rack with holes for different sized hand tools, keep losing hammers etc. so want to know they are on rack. Amazing how fast the time went. I am happy with what I got done, but it is already 90 degrees. so zaps my energy.
A friend asked me to join her on Saturday morning for a shopping trip, I waited for several hours then said no. Did not want to disappoint her, truth is, crowds bug me and shopping just to shop is not good for me.
Glad to hear you are taking a day off Tillie, you have been through a lot.