Thank you both Tillie & Tatoulia! I actually gave it a lot of deep contemplation today & decided that maybe if i could get my kitchen & screen porch cleaned & fixed up, and just draw the curtain across the livingroom, and get the lattice & berry vines outside the trailer, itd become nice enough to have guests! That is fairly feasible, without being too overwhelming?! I also text my friend about all this & she does seem to understand. The whole exchange has been a positive thing, i think?!
Tonight i got one of the curtains made & put up! It looks great! It was miraculous that my sewing machine worked ok & that i could remember how to get it all threaded & the bobbin filled, etc., after not using yet this century!(literally!)
Also, I bought a vegan long fringed vest yesterday(i thought of yours, Tillie!) that i LOVE & wearing it while sewing was so fun, till the fringes kept ridding up on the fabric as i was sewing, looking like a spider or centipede! ha ha I then had a real experience with a big spider! Its one of the things about late nights in the summer here!
I had also had another revelation. Id always loved doing projects late at night, but had since associated that with my drug days. I recently started doing projects at night again, on just one cup of coffee and it has been fantastic!
Tatoulua, im so glad the little kitty is happy & doing well! Thank you all for being in my life!!! ~☆♡☆~

PS TO ANONY--I hadn't seen that you'd replied to Tillie's suggestion when I posted--forgive me--not badgering you!!!!

Hello Friends!

A great day today--sister came visiting and I took her and mom to lunch. The visit perked all of us up! The tiny cat has been staying in a box and as soon as I cracked open a can of cat food, she emerged and ate a nice bit of food. Then while mom showered to get ready for lunch I had the kitty sit next to me and I gently petted her and talked to her. She is generally glued to mom's side but has been spending a great deal of time in a cardboard box. Mom just lets her be. I'm wondering if she can no longer get on the chair or jump on the bed. In any event, she is loving her canned food and she has plenty of cans at mom's now, dear heart.

Tillie that is a nice idea for Anony--the second set of eyes may be helpful to you, Anony. It will help to break your isolation and will help you feel more comfortable. I remember a number of years ago Diane let someone sit in her house and it did her a world of good. OF course this is just a suggestion so don't panic! But I like the idea.

Tillie on the way to vet's office there was a sidewalk sale. One of the frame shops had beautiful frames out front including a pile of nice large frames marked "free." I made it past both times. A little painful but I survived.

I had such a big lunch with family (salmon burger with coleslaw and a fried risotto cake with corn chutney) that I have no room for dinner. Will make my meatballs tomorrow.

Did the usual today. Dishes, laundry, clean sheets on bed. Running out of time for the PLUS to my indoor challenge!! (I'm just so cocky at the beginning of the month!!!)

Tillie, if the mess at my place was not mine, but a parner's, i think id feel differently. Maybe not, its hard to really know, but im embarrassed cuz its mine. Another reason i dont want anyone to see it is cuz i feel that was a factor in my ex leaving me. I think he got disgusted at my laziness & that i continued to live like this, so i cant handle the thought of anyone else being disgusted at me...except me...if i ever get it so im not disgusted at myself & place, then ill definitely have people over! I do feel like she feels i rehected her friendship on some level & it really bothers me. The other thing is she has chemical sensitivity issues with her health, which makes it all the worse! Shed run out of here gagging!
Tatoulia, i hope you & the little kitty can get some healthy meals soon! I often make meals that i share with my kitties & i recently discovered that adding dill to fish is something cats love as well as me!
Last night i went to see Alice Cooper in concert & i did not expect it to be as good as it was! Who says we have to act our age?! HA! 😀

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Hoping that "Terminally Cute" is the Kitty's only complaint. ;D
Vet visit, hair salon, grocery shopping all in one day is a LOT.
Please get busy making up some real food for yourself. (((hugs)))

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Such a tragedy that you couldn't have your friend over. (((HUGS)))
I was thinking...
maybe you should let a friend come over.
When they see what you see then they could be even better moral support for you.
Telling someone about the place is not at all the same as them actually seeing it for themselves.
I know that people just don't "get it" when I try to describe the situation here, but when they actually see it, then they understand what I have been saying.

Cats & I have been up & out since early morning watering stuff.
At 10:00am he left to go to the thrift shops and any yard sales he passes on the way.
I got all the daily "usuals" around here done.
Planning to spend this afternoon doing some beading.
Will get back to sewing when the weather changes and I am stuck in the house 24/7.
So happy I have found some pretty fabrics and already know what I will be sewing. 😀

Please check in, drive by post or whatever so we can all catch up with each other. (((hugs)))

Hi all!
I just had another fried ask if she could come see my place next week while she is gonna be in my area for a doctors appointment. I had to tell her that my place is not presentable yet, and that i cant wait to get it so i can have friends over,and to please not think its that i dont want you to visit me,that its just my place is just in aweful shape..(sigh)....it really bothers me to keep putting off my life & relationships over this mess....i will have to have the new place at least started to have guests here. I plan to just get a shed/barn kit & convert it to a house.....my trailer is not repairable.......i hope i can make that day come...today im going to make the kitchen curtain....maybe that will cheer me up....

Hi everyone!

Never got thunderstorms or even a drop of rain today but the weatherman (excuse me, meteorologist,) was right about the heat and humidity. Got the tiny cat to the vet, where she weighed-in at under five pounds, poor little thing. Physical exam was excellent--no masses and teeth in fantastic shape. Will get lab results on Monday. The working diagnosis is Terminally Cute. Everyone at the office really loved her--she is especially dear. They gave her all her shots and a vitamin b12 shot but no subcutaneous fluids because she's eating and drinking just fine. I bought her more fancy feasts and some coated paper plates so mom won't have to deal with her dishes beyond water bowl and kibble bowl.

I haven't done a thing here today. After cat care, I had just enough time to get to hair dresser and from there went to grocery store, showered and napped. I am hungry but don't feel like making meatballs right now and don't really have anything else in house to eat. Not even a can of tuna.

Will figure it all out tomorrow. Goodnight everyone!

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Yes, schools should teach things that actually pertain to the real world life,
The proper term for that bit at the top of the curtain is
"curtain rod casing", or just "curtain casing". 😉

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WAY TO GO! for all that paper sorting and shredding!
Hope your walk to the Vet is peaceful and uneventful. (((hugs)))

Hi Dave 🙂
Yes, they have come up with all new ways for different things to be named now.
They make things sound so much more important than they used to be. 😀

Friday, what will I do today?
I don't know yet.
Got down into the mid 60s last night, the garden is showing changes that it's thinking about Autumn now.
Hated those extremely hot Summer days but I am sad that Summer is almost over. 🙁
Oh Well, such is life 😉

My children take pains to point out it is now called FACS. Family and Consumer Science. I think the supplemental course used to be called Shop but don't know if that is correct or if it's name has changed too.

It is necessary, however, to be a Food Scientist in order to prepare Dinner in the modern world! (Unable to provide you with comparative terminology for the wielder of the sewing machine.)

Keep up the good work, Anony! I always called that a pocket, I think. Oh, I just had another word and can't remember it. Not sleeve.

I am going to take trash out now and then get ready to go to mom's to get the kitty. It's supposed to be hot, humid and thunderstorms. Our walk is about 20+ minutes to vet. Hope it's not thundering and scaring the tiny cat and me.

Correction: not a hem, but a hem-like thingy on the top to slide the curtain rod through....6 years of Home Ec & i cant remember what its called....ha ha

I cleared the area to replace the big kitchen window curtain with the new fabric...i know i should sew a hem in it first...i have a vague recollection of the sewing machine not working.....hmmm....itll be really nice, if i get it up there....hmmm...
~☆~♡~☆♡☆~♡~☆~

Those home ec classes are exactly what I wish I'd had, Tillie.

Well ladies I forgot to tell you that I've been keeping up with the mail. I've been shredding or filing, as the case may be. That is making a big difference. No more piles.

I am going to climb into bed soon--reading on the kindle--have finished Mad Men and am not ready to start watching another show yet.

I haven't vacuumed or swept this week. The week got away from me. But my iced tea for breakfast was such a joy.

Take care, dear friends

Wow, Tillie, you really did have a lot of responsibility growing up! We never had to takecare of babies in HomeEc class, but we had cooking half the year & sewing the other half. Personally, i think learning to grow & prepare food, heal with natural remedies, basic budgetting & real life things like that, is what should be taught in school over everything else!

OH!
I forgot to mention the child care.
They had mothers bring in babies and toddlers and we were responsible for caring for them.
The mothers would leave their babies with us for hours.
With the teacher right there watching over us we were divided up into teams of two girls for each baby.
I already had that down pat because my mother made me responsible for my little sister when I was only three years old and my baby sister too when I was just seven.
And they both survived. ;P

My home ec classes were the good old fashioned ones.
Half the years were in the cooking class room and the other half of the years were in the sewing room.
Sewing was making place mats, aprons, clothing and how to make alterations to patterns and already made articles.
It also included proper washing and stain removal, fabric care and ironing, etc.
We had to make ourselves an outfit that perfectly fit us and was properly sewn for our grades.
Cooking class was menu planning, household budgeting, proper food handling and preparing.
How to clean everything, balanced diets & nutrition, proper table settings, including the center piece.
We had to plan a menu, shop within a budget, prepare the meal, set the table, eat, clean up the kitchen for our grades. And the food had to be edible because the teacher tasted it.
A lot of instruction about germs and diseases and how to stay healthy.
Also, first aid and home nursing, taking care of sick people at home, basic nursing skills.
I took home ec for six years because it was a class that I enjoyed. 🙂

Tatoulia, im actually feeling a sense of relief to have my life back to myself. I have periods of wishing we were still together, but i do love my Freedom. For many years i deliberately did long distant relationships for that very reason! It kept my life mine!
As far as Home Economics classes, id love to learn some real basics, like making fermented foods to store, what plants that grow outside that are edible & medicinal, natural remedies, old fashioned stuff!!!

Ladies I would love to take a home ec class right now. Old fashioned so I get the basics. Polishing silver (which I actually do a lot of), washing dishes and clothes, mending, getting stains out, etcetera. I would love that.

Oh your cooking sounds like fun, Tillie. I need to cook too. I am happier when I have my own food on hand.

Anony, there are many good fits for us out there. I have never buckled on getting my alone time. I'd be perfect for a long distant relationship, quite frankly, but as I get older I do enjoy having someone who is nearby. Just don't compromise. It hurts when a relationship is over but sometimes it's just not a good fit. I can tell you I've had probably four significant relationships in my life and despite fond memories, I wouldn't go back to the other three. I'm happy where I am, I hope it lasts my lifetime, but I do not know what my future holds other than I will be able to make it through whatever comes my way. Sometimes the only answer is Time. And with enough time, you'll be able to feel comfortable with happy memories of your ex without wishing you were still together.

Tillie, freezing nice meals ahead is a great way to avoid eating easy junk foods!
I have to laugh about Home Ec classes, cuz i took 6 years of Home Ec and my home is a mess!!! ha ha
Tatoulia, i never had a great carreer, but ive always wanted a guy that would not get insecure by my alone time....wow...a whole decade of someone that lets you be you.....(sigh)
Im a little bummed cuz the solar generator id planned to get has horrible reviews....being on my own is a real mix....
~☆♡☆~Everyone have fun today!~☆♡☆~

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
So happy that your place is looking better to you!
Sometimes it takes a while to adjust to the new surroundings (((hugs)))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
YEA! for sleeping in! 😀
Yes, I was lucky to be one of the last student classes to get the real full Home Economics classes.
I believe it truly helped me once I was on my own to know what to do and when to do it.
Do you stand in the street and toss your hat up in the air like Mary did? ;D

Time to get started on today's tasks.
I will be making pigs in a blanket and baked beans.
I make a big batch and then freeze stuff in small batches for quick easy meals for myself.
Keeps me from snacking on junk when I have some real food on hand.

Have a great day everybody, or at least try for some fun. 🙂

Good morning, Tillie & Anony!

Still in bed--yup, nearly 11 AM. just enjoying the ceiling fan and the sunshine.

I am envious of your sewing abilities, Tillie! They still taught home ec when I was in school but by that time they had added boys and it wasn't extensively sewing related. I remember only one sewing project and the rest were cooking.

Anony, relationships can be tricky. i have always needed a healthy dose of alone time. Luckily I worked full time and went to university and grad school at night, so whomever I was involved with needed to understand from the get-go that school and studies came first. I am unafraid to say when I need a night with me, myself and I. So I've never really had the issue of being smothered by a relationship. If the person needs more togetherness, then they aren't a good fit and I move on before dating becomes a relationship. i have never ever lived with anyone. I need to have my own space. Current BF and I have been together for over a decade. Who knows what the future brings. my role model growing up was Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore) and it pleases me no end that my life has pretty much turned out that way. EXCEPT, I am so jealous of her apt!!! Rhoda can drop by anytime!

Have a great day everyone. Kitty is telling me to get UP

Tatoulia, i hope the kitty is feeling better soon...and i envy your relationship situation..id love one that didnt take over my life.
Tillie, a new dress sounds fun! YEA!
My place looked much better overall to me today. Im not sure why...but im glad! 😀 ~☆♡☆~

Hi Guys 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! for putting away all that laundry! 😀

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
YEA!!! for vacation days! 😀
Wishing Mom's pale kitty feels better soon.
WAY TO GO!!! for keeping up with the "usuals".
Would love to spend a relaxing time with you drinking tea. (((hugs)))

Well, today I did some of this and some of that.
Went into town this morning, did some shopping.
At the thrift shop I found some fabric that is so beautiful and there's enough to make a dress out of it.
Then I went to the dollar store and got some stuff I needed around the house plus bubble gum.
Got the necessary watering done and the "usual" daily tasks.
Washed some laundry.
Tomorrow I need to do some food preparation then clean up the kitchen.
Monday I have a dental appointment for a cleaning, dreading that.

Sweet dreams 😉

Hello. Only did the usual today--dishes, laundry, recycling.

Taking tomorrow and Friday off and have kept it quiet from the family. Going to spend some time with BF tomorrow. Friday I had planned to go to museum but mom's cat needs to get to vet and our appt is Friday. I'm getting my hair cut Friday afternoon. But still I can sleep late.

I may have mentioned all this earlier--just wanted to check in. Tillie, I wish we could laze around together on Friday. I made a great pitcher of iced tea today with delicious Irish breakfast tea. So yummy.

Hello!

No progress to report here. Keeping up with the usual but haven't yet vacuumed this week. I'm feeling so tired and I wonder if I need iron or if thyroid meds aren't absorbing properly.

Have been under some stress, which leads to poor sleep. However, I'm taking vacation days tomorrow and Friday so I'm pretty happy about that. I'm going to have to take mom's cat to the vet--kitty looking a little 'pale'.

Hope you are all well. Even a quick hello would be nice....Tess, Diane, Cm, LR, et al.

....i got to thinking about the irony of him only liking such a clean color as white and then realized i am a little fanatical about eating clean, as im maneuvering around & through the filth in my house....hmmm...
Im drinking coffee now. Im gonna stay up & work on my bedroom! Im putting away the stacked bags of clean laundry into the space in drawers & closet i made a while back! Itll make a huge difference to see improvement in that!
~Happy Home Helping to All The Happy Healing Of Hoardingers~ ha ha ;D ~☆♡☆~

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Thank you (((hugs)))
Yeah, he only likes white, I don't get it either.
His favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla too.
No imagination. 😛

Been up and running all morning.
Doing stuff at the neighbor friend's house.
Juggling cats here at home.
Taking a breather, drinking tea now.
Soon I will do some laundry and shampoo my hair.
Yesterday I did turn the hose on the car
didn't get off much of the bird poop but it did remove all the feathers. 😀
YEA! ?

LOL
TTYS 🙂

Tillie, im so sorry about the bird...i had a praying mantis on my car hood driving down the freeway today...i stopped at a park to let him off, but he jumped before we got to a good area 🙁 ...im also sorry about the encompassing hoard....i do find it very ironic he only likes white.....?!?

Thank you sooooo much Tatoulia
That really means the world to me.
((((HUGS))))

Hi Anonymoniker
Picture a square
now picture a tiny little square in the center of the square.
The house is the tiny little square.
All around is the massive hoard.
Out every window you see it, whatever angle you look, you see it.
Only way to block it from my sight is to gouge out my eyes.
He only bought his favorite color of paint, white.
Nothing with any happy color.
So very sorry you have mouth troubles.(((HUGS)))
My professional title is surgical assistant specializing in oral maxillofacial surgery.

No rain today. Darn it.
But it still looks hopeful out there.
Did some watering today and plan t go back outside in a few and water some more stuff.
Thinking of even turning the hose on the car.
Without scrubbing though it will just make the bird poop wet.
This morning a tiny green and yellow finch flew hard into the window glass.
Was dead instantly.
So sad to see that happen. 🙁

Tillie, i am so sorry. I wish i had an answer for you. You do not deserve this at all! Is there any way to put any kind of visual barricade up to block your sight of even some of his junk? Maybe im projecting what couldve been a solution to my parent's argument for most of my childhood: My Mom did not like seeing my Dad's junk stacked on the garage porch out of her kitchen window. It wouldve been very easy to make a decorative partition, especially in later years when my artist sister painted partition screens for people. I think with them, they liked the bickering. I know thats not the case with you, but if you didnt see as much of the hoard, and your view was prettier, with colorful painted fence-partitions, it might be helpful? You could even use his new paint collection?
I have 2 tooth infections that are making my whole body sore. If i lose these 2 teeth, eating will become much more difficult! Over the weekend i took my good friend to a nice dinner for his birthday & i choked on my food at the table cuz chewing is so hard...it was very embarrassing...it couldve been worse tho...and has been! The irony is that my Dad was an oral surgeon, and i have horrid teeth & cant afford dental work...
~I hope all of you are getting lots done towards having a more enjoyable home!~