Hi All,
Don't worry about your messages being lost. This is why this rebuild and migration has taken so long because we DID NOT want to lose all these messages! The only messages that may be lost are ones posted in the past 12 hours. We are migrating all of these last few messages over now, so if you post anything today after this, it may be lost, but everything else we were able to save. We appreciate you all very much and love having this place for you, so saving the past was critical and non negotiable.

Thank you Cory. I am grateful every day for the gift of this place.

good morning.

Lila, I'm glad you had a day off. I hope your tomatoes perk up.

SubC, ten pots! Nice! and all that coming boys-time.

I did 20 min in the scullery last night. it was helpful.

Previously, I had done 20 min in the b.r. of doom, but it was hard to tell, lol. did some dishes, laundry. The screen needed more than 20 min so I hope to finish macgyvering it tonight.

the weather is being great. another week til solstice change, so i want to appreciate these long days.

Thank you Cory! That is reassuring. I especially love the Daily Tally thread, where I can look back thru and see all the progress we have made. It encourages me to keep going.

I have today off as well, so will continue on working on things.

My issue is that I am not keeping up with the basic housework, so am struggling to get to decluttering or deep cleaning projects. It seems to be a lot harder with no help, since Son moved out. At least he cared for the dogs and vacuumed, took trash out and mowed. Things like that.

Yesterday though, I worked all day intermittently.
I got most of the laundry done, small part of the vacuuming done, the stove cleaned off except for the part that I need to find a razor to scrape off. I watered the plants, took out the trash, picked up here and there, washed my sheets and re-made the bed.

And yet I did not even catch up on the basics. Today I will brush the dogs, finish vacuuming, try to find a razor to finish the stove top, do a load of "dog laundry", water plants.

Yet I have not even toughed the things that have not been done in weeks:
dusting
mopping
cleaning the windows
cleaning out the filthy sliding door track
cleaning spatters off the walls from kids
cleaning light fixtures
cleaning 2 bathrooms
pulling weeds
sweeping the porch
cleaning out the car (omg it is bad)

And then how do I fit in decluttering and organization? medical appointments and document management?

Is this just a time management issue? How do normal people even keep up? Am I going to spend my whole 3 weeks vacation just cleaning??

Cory if you read this, I would love to have a section on this website with time management tools, cleaning and decluttering ideas or suggested schedules, tips, encouragement...

Sorry I just talked about me, SubC and messi. I hope you are doing well.

Good evening!

Pulled weeds in the garden, threw two pots and did finishing work on 4. Rewedged my scrap clay (what I used and a bit more, not the whole thousand or so pounds that is in my barn)

Did yoga, ate fairly healthy, worked on the scullery counter and in doing so, found the thing that lets me plug my phone into the car.

Washed and dried a load of laundry, unloaded, loaded and ran the dishwasher.

So, generally, kept up plus or minus.

I'm glad I have my phone thing back.

Popping in. - did my 20 minutes. Part of the scullery counter is clear. Just a tiny part, but still something.

The twins are girls. First granddaughters for us! I'm rather glad they are twins and it is both of them. I don't know how long it will be until/if dd2 has children and there is a 50% chance of a boy each time. Everyone else says they are done. I think it might be lonely to be the only little girl with a bunch of older boy cousins.

hello. Twin girls!! very exciting!! twice the spice!!

Congrats on the 20 min in the scullery! I hope to do that later, plus 20 min in the bedroom of doom, where clothes go to lie. For now, 20 mins (!?) of trying to fix a screen for the window of the bedroom of doom. We have had rain so now we will have bugs.

My cold is not quite gone so still a few bouts of cough and fatigue. Not getting too much done. The other day my dog and I went to my brother's, an hour away, to get his help looking at my broken microwave. Before we could do that, my dog jumped his gate and got sprayed by a skunk she was chasing. The next hours were spent trying to bathe the dog. No microwave repair, but I do have a car and dog that still smell like skunk. The dog and car have had baths since, but to minimal effect. that took quite a bit of the energy.

Good morning!

Messi, how did your 20 minutes go?

Here the disruption continues.

I am leaving in an hour to pick up the boys because dsil has to go formalize his long term sub contract - which means he will start work August 10. Which means I will start picking up the boys at 7:30 45 minutes from my house on August 10. I will have Bean all week until he starts school on the 19th, and Buddy on Monday and Friday into November. (Buddy has been enrolled 3 days a week in a preschool/daycare program beginning August 11.)

My class went well last night. I have ten new pots to add to my tally from the last couple of weeks.

hi all,

I finally have another day off. I am enjoying getting things done around the house today.

SubC and messi, I did put in the tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets in the back yard, and took time to show the grandkids and explain not to touch them. I put tomato cages as well, but they are not going to keep them out as they only have 3 upright posts. So we will see.. the front ones are not showing much activity, but I am faithfully watering them twice a day. I wish ddil would think to have them fix it - and I was too frustrated to do a good job showing them myself that day. Hopefully it will not recur. They are still planning to move out by fall.

Did you guys see the post from the site owner saying they are about to release a new, rebuilt website here? I am kind of afraid all our history of messages here will be gone forever, and possibly even worse, what if we can't find each other again after it is changed? Thoughts on this?

Back later.

Hi Messi, I hope your cold is better by now!

I have done a little work on the pots off and on, but I'm not keeping up with my class. I'm trying to throw a little each day - but most of what I'm is getting reclaimed, and the pieces that work are small - I don't have the strength to work with larger amounts of clay. I'm trying to quit before I have to so hopefully I won't make things worse.

My summer vacation really started this week and I've been pretty lazy the last few days. Today I hope to do better.

I am trying to work on the sculler6 counter a little each day, and it is getting better.

hi SubC and messi, and if anyone else stops by, hi and please share something about what you're up to!

I had a death in the family, a medical issue, and a family crisis all in the last 2 weeks, so have been a bit overwhelmed. All if it is managed and I am recovered for the most part. Now it is back to getting things done.

I realize I have decluttered very little recently, and my Daily Tally is pretty pathetic. I was way ahead of progress on my goals for the year, but now I think I am behind.

I am somewhat disappointed, because TotsMom was going to have a yard sale tomorrow to get rid of a LOT of their extra stuff in my garage. She had started taking totes of clothes and stuff outside and sorting it to put in the yard sale and was going to donate anything leftover. I cannot access hardly anything of mine in there, so I was super thrilled that today her sister was coming and they would be doing a major purge. I planned to join in as room became available and purge a lot of my stuff from the garage into the yard sale. Well, she got overwhelmed and cancelled the yard sale. And I went in there and she did not get much done. I can access part of one row that I could not access before, but I am deflated about the whole thing.

I also never got my tomato plants in the ground, so that is my goal for today. I had planned to put one in a big container on the deck and the rest in the yard, but my dog started eating the freaking plants so now I can't leave anything on the deck. I hope they survive my extreme neglect. I will try to do better.

I hope to pop in more frequently. I am taking 3 weeks vacation in July, and things at work will be generally slower now until fall.

post 2 today -

I cleaned the debris and dead plants from the planters and watered what is left. Took a break, and just now went out front and trimmed tree branches that are hanging too low. It filled up the green bin! Glad that is done...

I also have been putting in laundry and working on dishes etc but now I am tired and taking a break.

Lila, I am sorry you have had such a tough time. And for the loss of your family member.

Also I am sorry about the yard sale.

I a very tired. The boys and I played in the yard for two hours. Then we went to pick up a package for dh, sign up for the summer reading program at the library, get pepper plants and new Carhartts for Bean, and stop at the grocery store. Buddy fell asleep in the car the last ten minutes and so wouldn't take a nap. We had lunch (the boys ate almost nothing because the Carhartt store has free popcorn) played inside for two more hours, played outside while dh made dinner, melted down because the carrots were cooked, had baths, stories, and bedtime (Bean helped me do chores while dh gave Buddy his bath)

Then I switched over the laundry I washed earlier today and loaded and started the dishwasher. The coffee is set up and in a minute I am going to bed. I just need to sit here quietly by myself first for a few minutes!

Wow SubC, that sounds almost like my schedule when I had little ones! What a workout! But also a joy. I am glad you can just sit and chill a bit. We all need peace.

Yesterday I did go back outside, in the wind, and planted some wildflower seed embedded in little paper strips in a big pot, and basil in another pot, and put miracle grown on it all, added nice soil to the raspberries and other flowers and got it all watered and looking nice. This is the first time I have really worked on an area to make it nice. I told TotsFam to please not mess with it and told the kids as well.

I went to work this morning, came home, and it was all dug up. I am irrationally upset about it. I don't understand why the parents can just allow the kids to go dig in those pots and ruin my work. I got my hands right back in the dirt before even going inside and re-planted everything the best I could, but it is not the way I wanted it, and I am upset. I re-watered it all and went inside and told both parents NOT to allow the kids to ruin my plans. They are intentionally planted in the FRONT yard where kids cannot be unsupervised (street) but they had them out there while they cleaned their car or something. I feel like I can't have anything nice, or my own. Most of my house has become theirs, garage and back yard included, and I am just feeling like nothing is mine anymore. Anyway, hopefully it won't happen again.

I was going to get the tomato plants in the ground but now it seems pointless to pour care into them...

Oh Lila, that is so unfair! Were the parents sorry? I can't imagine that happening here. Dd would make the boys help her fix everything.

Are they still moving soon?

The boys went home early afternoon today and I have been resting, puttering around straightening up, and trying to get some pots made, but my hand hurts so much! I took a break and ate, but I am going back out. I am stubborn.

Hi there. I'm still suffering through the end of this cold - better but not gone. So I'm still not getting much done. Did a compost drop-off.

Lila, I'm sorry about the garden. How frustrating. I hope some of it is showing a little recovery. (and that you decided to put the tomatoes in?)

SubC, I hope your hand is feeling better. Were you able to work on pots?

Going to walk dogs. Have good evenings...

Hello. I have a cold this evening. They have been passing it around at work. I think it's been a few years since I've had a cold. I'd just as soon it be a few more years. So, I'm a little foggy and froggy and not getting much done. I'll say hello and shuffle off.

SubC, thank you for sharing your news! It is Big news. It is Wonderful. Life-changing and anxiety provoking. Thank you for being there.

I am going to take some vitamins and crash.

Good morning!

Messi, I hope your cold is better.

Now that it is summer and my schedule is more relaxed, I am trying to leave each space I spend time in a little better. Since I got home I have succeeded in every space except the laundry room, so I need to put the clean laundry away and then that will be better too.

I have two more evaluations to finish and I hope to get the great room company ready by tonight (we are not having company, I would just like its default condition to be "comfortable inviting someone in and offering them a beverage")

I spent 45 minutes on the Great Wall of unsorted recycling/delayed decisions/not rinsed off after use on the scullery counter. I know it is better now, but not better enough that dh could notice.

My first two life changing habits of the summer are going to be:
If I leave the house, trash leaves with me.
A minimum of 20 minutes uninterrupted cleaning the scullery every day until I run out of things to do in there (probably never)

Alright, I'm going to put the laundry away, start a new load, and finish the last two evaluations.

I'll check back later.

Good evening!

The evaluations are done and turned in. I put away the laundry, but then I did more laundry, so the laundry room is still messy.

The great room is picked up enough for company (vacuuming wouldn't hurt.) I made pasta for dinner. I cleaned up the dishes after dinner and started the dishwasher.

I did not do any of the pottery or gardening I want to do because my hand hurts a lot - I wrenched it on a goat collar last night. Maybe tomorrow morning.

Also, I have to confess that I bought another doll for my collection. I watched her for a long time and the price kept dropping... she is set up on a shelf, but the shelf is crowded. And I suppose I need to claim the two baby blankets ddil sent back. My step grandmother made them for my kids and I think they are staying here. Ddil had too many blankets made by people she actually knows.

Tomorrow is a going places day, with a trash and recycling stop.

good evening!

Subc - congratulations on finishing the evalutions! and on all the other improvements you achieved! Good luck and travel safely tomorrow.

I had an evening event (outdoor) that went on too long and I am still toast with this cold - so I did not get anything done and somewhat shortchanged the dogs on walks. I am going to crash again and hope for better times in the morning.

Good morning.

Slow start today because I woke up with a migraine.

It was nice to have a clear room to come down to to make breakfast.

I was thinking about trying to add a thing a day in June, and then I realized that if each thing took ten minutes, at 30 days that would be 5 hours. So maybe not. I am going to try to do yoga this morning, so 20 minutes in the scullery and yoga every day is about 45 minutes and that will do for this week.

Still hoping to knock out some of my long list before class tonight.

I have my grandsons tomorrow and they are going to spend the night. We need to go sign up for the library summer reading program.

Good morning!!

Just checking in.

Off to visit Birdy for the weekend.

it is late. water is the best drink on the planet, and i am so lucky to have some! lots! i just had some and can have some more.

i am so very lucky in so many ways. i would like to be a better steward of my good fortune. i would like to feel not as bad so as to be a better steward. tomorrow i hope to get the lawn mowed, put more plants in the ground, get the compost to collection, meet a friend, do dishes and laundry. i hope to get beyond those things.

I hope you are having a good visit with Birdy, SubC.
Lila, i hope you are having good days!

Good morning!

How did your day go Messi?

We have had a great visit with Birdy! Today we have to head home, I am up early to make coffee for my Ds before he leaves for work. We will stay with Birdy while his mom has an appointment, and then off we go.

It is so hard, leaving and leaving and leaving. I haven't seen my other boys for two weeks.

I am ready to get my summer in order when I get home. I sleep really well here.

Good morning!

Apparently I eat really well at Birdy's house too. And by "really well" I don't mean healthy. I mean, a lot. I got on the scale today. Ug!

I am having a restful start with my coffee. Dh will want breakfast in about half an hour and leave for work. Then I will spring into action - lol!

I have yet another too long list for today. It includes evaluations because I got a note from the guidance counselor reminding me that they were due on the 4th, not last Friday as originally stated. So I put a bunch of them off to focus on pottery for my class and getting ready to go to Birdy's house. I did some in the car while Dh was driving, but I still have 1/4 to go.

There is more space in my basement because of things that went to Birdy's house, but they are not outs, because they were baby things that rotate through.

Here is my thing. Ddil says I can talk about it now. Ddil is having twins. They are due in December, but Birdy was a month early and twins usually come early. They have asked me to be open to come for weeks, so I will need a long term sub and I will not get paid. Also I can't afford my farm sitter for weeks. I haven't figured out what to do about my animals. Also, it will be right before Christmas. Maybe including Christmas. I don't know what we are going to do about Christmas this year! And Dh can't stay for weeks. He will have to leave me and come back. He doesn't do animals.

I can't count on anything after October.

And my Tuesday/Thursday classes might get cancelled for low enrollment. And Dh is planning to go to part time (instead of retiring) in January.

The twins are a complete surprise and ddil cried. They don't own a car that will hold 3 car seats. The twins will arrive before Birdy turns 3. It's a lot.

We went to her areas annual yard sales on the weekend and bought a bookshelf, fall clothes, and a new dresser for Birdy. We also bought more sleep sacks for the twins and a small box of nice toys. Ddil had already found a cheap toddler bed and we cleared out their "office" and set up that room for Birdy to move into (he still wants to sleep in his crib though) Birdy's old room is larger and the changing table dresser will stay in there for the twins. They need a second crib.

We purged Birdy's toys and books a little bit. We also celebrated his 2.5 birthday (a month early) and I gave him his birthday presents. He is going to celebrate half birthdays because his bday is so close to Christmas. Maybe the twins will also.

Good afternoon.

The boys are not here because Buddy has a fever. 🙁

I have finished doing evaluations for half of my classes, but that is not half of my evaluations because I included the two smallest classes of the 8 and put off the two largest.

I have been working in my barn. I am accepting that some th8ngs are trash, and I have added a few to the scrap metal pile. I worked for an hour and came in because I was dripping sweat.

If I had a dumpster right now, I would be throwing things into it. (If you told my Dh that he would move heaven and earth to get a dumpster,). I don't think the energy would last long enough to fill the dumpster though.

The last couple of days it has been pouring rain and dark. The effect on my energy level was really bad. I've been resting a lot and puttering with my Legos because it makes me feel better and resets my brain. Dh has been cooking me healthy dinners. He is really good to me. I think he can see I am wiped out.

I can't really believe that school is over for the year. I can hear a clock ticking in the back of my head to get ready for the changes that are coming in the fall.

Hi!

just a quick note to say hello.
SubC - good work on plugging away at those evaluations! It's a lot of work to end the school year. Congrats for working on the barn. I'm sorry you are so wiped out. Take good care to honor yourself and honor getting rest.

Good morning!

It's looking beautiful here and will get to summer temperature today. I have to walk dogs early and late when temperatures are cooler.

It's busy end-of-school year stuff for kids I know, and summer holiday. It's birding season here, warbler migration. They are so beautiful. i can't really ID them, but they are beautiful and sound wonderful.

I have a full day - dogs, meeting friends, then the boys have a piano recital and then a housewarming potluck. I was hoping to sneak in laundry, bills, lawns, dishes and other piles of stuff but I think these things will not happen til tomorrow and I have to not be overwhelmed by that. I just appreciate how wonderful today will be.

SubC - how did your graduation speech go? Congratulations to you! These ends-of-schoolyears are such a mixture of feelings.

Lila - great work with the sorting and getting rid of things. I hope I can do a little of that tomorrow. I will keep you in mind, thanks.

Have good days!

Good evening.

My speech went well. Dh asked me to go to a work friends event with him last night. I spent most of today recovering my energy and my house (neither fully). It was hot here.

Messi, are "the boys" your friend's boys? Are they chosen family? I don't know what your family looks like.

Grandsons tomorrow. Last week of school, then the dreaded evaluations, and then I go see Birdy.

Today is my last day with my Wednesday kids. Several of my favorites will be scattering to other schools next year. A lot of them for financial reasons, which makes me sad. We're a tuition based nonprofit, and between the economy and our state's private school tuition vouchers - which we don't qualify to accept - it's a struggle.

Yesterday I planted out four tomato plants, cleaned the house up a little bit and played with my Legos. My brain needed more of a rest.

I've been waiting for the rain to stop this morn8ng to do chores. Now I need to get going so I'm not late for my last Wednesday!