|
|
Post by michelle on Aug 7, 2024 22:12:04 GMT
We are a group working to declutter our spaces. Please feel free to share your goals, projects, ideas, revelations or challenges facing you as you work toward your own goals. Also feel free to copy and paste this intro, use our "CLUTTERBUSTERS" Title for the day to start the thread if you don't see it started. Good luck Clutterbusting!
|
|
|
|
Post by michelle on Aug 7, 2024 22:12:57 GMT
Z, So sorry you had a fall. Great job being OP!!!
All the regulars have been accomplished. I did some type of sewing with glue which was fun since years ago I had a sewing machine on and on. My items to get a professional absolutely streak free window washing done have arrived. Hopefully my ability will be as good as the professionals. Why not! I bought an inexpensive screen cleaner which upon trial proved that it was ineffective or that I am incompetent--either way it got decluttered. Speaking of deculttering my items for Declutter Wednesday are bagged and my few returns are ready to take back today when I go to town.
Saturday Clair and I are doing the Paws 2 Read monthly event at the library which I enjoy--not too sure about Clair I think she is just calling it as she sees it. Those preschoolers are kind of uncivilized (but very cute according to me). I started my annual reclaiming of dirt due to illegal grass project. It's surprising how much of that grass grows where it is not supposed to be. The trails and firebreaks are plant free. Buttercup and Sam know the names of two of the trails. So when they are running free I just tell them the name of the next trail and they get on it. Well, actually Sam kind of goes along side of them in the bushes--far be it for him to behave, ever.
This morning I moved some irises that had been taken over by illegal grass and read my instructions, sort of, that were with the window cleaning supplies. It's such a lovely day!
Hope you are feeling better and enjoying your trip!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by zenamidievel on Aug 8, 2024 5:58:09 GMT
Your pups are smart!!! Glad the library event went well. Yes preschoolers can be a lot to deal with!
The trip is going great, we are enjoying it. We loved Riga, Latvia!! We liked much much more than Vilnius, Lithuania. Yesterday was a long car day from Riga to Tallinn Estonia. We’re getting ready for breakfast and to head out for the day.
Creative: I’ve been seeing Latvian symbol pattern stuff, very linear geometric, and a lot of Caucasian carpet pattern etc also line geometric Persian type carpet weaving etc… I’m trying to come with a few things related for coaster designs. I’ve got two as far. Hopefully they can be executed with the software and will be fun to try color variations on them,
Z
|
|
|
|
Post by michelle on Aug 9, 2024 3:52:56 GMT
Z, Your creative sounds like it will be fun to figure out! Glad you are having a good time!!!
The last couple of days I have been so busy. It's remarkable how little things pile up. I decided to make a day for dealing with these items and am calling it Leftovers Thursday. Although I will probably have to switch days since most of my appointments, therapy events etc are that day. My list was about 30 items long and I just have two left to get done. This has turned out wonderfully because all items in the pile up are gone and by taking a day to be sure to work on them from now on I will not have anymore pile ups or the pile won't be nearly as big. Focusing on Declutter Wednesday has made such a change in the building up of clutter situation which is actually under control now. Amazing! I know that making a decision to get chores 100% done has changed things for the better for sure. I will overcome!
I did look at a Video of Riga Lativa--it seems like a very lovely walkable city with lots to do.
Hope you are having a relaxing evening!!!
Onward>>>>
|
|
|
|
Post by zenamidievel on Aug 10, 2024 10:56:22 GMT
Great approach to your leftovers list! Good job!
We ate back in Amsterdam now and I think will have a day trip to Delft tomorrow and a big art museum the next day then fly home. Not much else to say, ribs still a problem but I’m getting through. It.
Z
|
|
|
|
Post by michelle on Aug 11, 2024 4:03:30 GMT
Z, Hope you are having a wonderful time!!! Lots is getting done! Tomorrow AA will come to help me get through my rather large pile of office admin work which has grown out of proportion due to computer problems which seem to be resolved now. Clair and I went to the Library to have the children read to her. Clair was laying on her side and one little girl decided she needed to go to sleep. She sang Clair a little lullaby and gently rubbed her face between her eyes. Clair fell asleep immediately. Later the little girl brought her mother back to show her how she could get Clair to snooze instantly and she did it again! Clair was sound asleep in less that 30 seconds. It was just so cute!
Sunday - AA and I worked solidly all day long. All of the office admin was completed! Hooray!!! I was shocked that we managed to get through it all. Did my Yoga stretches tonight. I think I will take tomorrow off or most probably spend the day doing what I want to do instead of following a todo list.
Onward>>>> |
|
|
|
Post by zenamidievel on Aug 13, 2024 17:42:04 GMT
What a cute story about the library event. Very sweet! Great work on your jobs with the admin also! You deserve a day off!
We are back in the USA waiting for the last leg, short flight home. I got some more square designs done and drew a pretty good flower, like a realistic one, on the flight home. It will be fun to work some of these up on the computer.
My designs are 4” round or square right now. They can be ornaments or put into products which are called “self finishing” product accessories like a jewelry or decorative box top, round or square coaster holders. There are products I could do designs for to fit, like a pillow square or a clutch purse for example. I’m not super concerned with making things of other sizes cause I already know the 4” sizes work for several types of items already and that’s good enough for now.. cause I really need to be painting anyway. Which I am looking forward to focusing on.
Can’t wait to get home!
Z
|
|
|
|
Post by michelle on Aug 14, 2024 4:03:42 GMT
Z, Hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip! The designs sound so interesting--can't wait to see them on Etsy!! Today I worked on finding all of the items needed for next year's audit season and getting them arranged in this much smaller space. These items got somewhat disorganized when I moved to this smaller room but I really like having it all in one place. Also like that all of the difficult clients have been sent on their way to some other CPA firm. This makes my life so much easier. Last year was incredibly challenging because I also had Clair in 6 month lock down and all the PT etc that had to be done for those six months. Now we have about 50% of the amount of business so with the help that I got last year I think it might be doable. I decided to keep the watering projects to a minimum since that is what would happen if I took a week off and went somewhere. It's much cooler now so this should not be a problem. The trees can make it one week without being watered. Tomorrow I am going to continue with the organizing, moving files around etc. Declutter Wednesday was taken care of today. Left overs are starting to pile up. This is just remarkable! Right now I have grooming two dogs, four yard projects: trimming the gigantic bush, the paver project in front of the shed, finishing the work on another really big bush, illegal grass removal. Also taking the videos and photos of everything for an updated montage of all of that for insurance purposes, seven months of business bookkeeping, window washing using the products bought so that I can have a professional look to them, replacing the fence around the house, getting some items done for my evacuation plan--which will never have to happen if I keep it all 100% done. Hemming three tops, putting the laces in one pair of boots, a hose project, cutting the tree limbs back while balancing on a ladder (ugg). I will probably restart the squirrel relocation project again later this week, it had to be stopped due to insanely hot weather. I will overcome!!
Hope you are having a pleasant evening!!!
Onward>>>>
|
|
|
|
Post by michelle on Aug 15, 2024 16:03:32 GMT
Accomplished yesterday:
--Load of laundry **2 items repaired with hot glue **Blanket mended with a needle and thread **Office items such as pens etc organized (good grief!) and necessary items ordered also organized another area so these items could be spread out in more drawers --Felt bumpers put on the bottom of item that will be slid around on surface , as opposed to all the ones I have done that just stay in the same place year after year --Got all the office paper forms reorganized so that orders could be placed for necessary items like tax return covers…. --Fixed Sam’s escape route he uses to get out of the yard and into the big yard. --Mini Home Blessing complete --Worked on and completed my part of an Audit, Hooray! --Composed a series of emails that were sent to a holdover crazy client who surfaced this week to make waves in my sea of tranquility. Good that she has no point whatsoever and I used my best tact but it didn't seem to help. Trying again today. We'll see......
The asterisked ones are some of my "Languishing Leftovers".
"Today is an "All Things Dog" day. BBL with an impressive list.
One of my all time favorite songs is playing on Pandora--had to run to "Like it" so it will get played over and over. A very good omen for today being the best day ever!
Today I managed to get Sam the Collie and Clair brushed. It just took one solid hour nonstop to get Sam into wonderful shape. Also fixed their veggie packs and their food rations. Managed to get all the tax return supplies ordered. I was busy in a relaxed manner most of the day.
Hope you are having a pleasant evening!!!
Onward>>>>
|
|
|
|
Post by michelle on Aug 16, 2024 16:33:10 GMT
Off to a good start today. I managed to get the big deck cleaned, replenished toiletries in a bath, first dog walk done. My affirmation for today is: Dwell in Possibility. BBL
I worked in the K and FR cleaning, did the weekly dusting, got some items that had been put in the garage and got them stored properly in the house. Played cars & 30 with Clair and Buttercup, also hide and seek but they were not fooled.
Tomorrow Clair and I are going to a shot clinic for the young school age children to see if Clair is interested in working with them. She has warmed up to the Paws2Love reading program children but still prefers college students and adults. Hopefully we will both be OK with crying kids, apparently a lot of this goes on. The directions as to where we are supposed to be and what our mission in that area is remains a mystery so we will wing it. Hopefully there will be someone to boss us around. I know one thing we are not going into the room where the actual innoculations take place. According to the directions things get very out of hand in there. DD has an extremely low tolerance for pain so this was not fun for her. Big tears rolled down her face every time. I felt so sorry for her.
Onward>>>> |
|
|
|
Post by zenamidievel on Aug 16, 2024 21:52:39 GMT
You are a dynamo!!!!
I have walked two days in a row with neighbor. Ribs are feeling a bit better day by day. DD came home sort of unexpectedly, there's stuff all over the place from this. Somehow I got off schedule with when she is to depart for her intensive study abroad experience and it is this coming week, Wednesday. So there's a lot that will be going on in regard to that, as well as all the things till she goes back to school and moves into her living situation for next year. Conversation in general is not smooth sailing if it involves me, so I've been communicating to DH what I think should happen, timeline, etc. so that he can manage things. I will have to just see what occurs, try to get this going and the carp management in the right direction. It' probably good I can't lift/carry right now as I would end up doing more than I should in regard to this.
Creative: I did three geometric, one floral, one Old Town Square type designs and got all listed. The floral and old town square could also be converted to a round so I did that too and now I will not be designing anything new for a while because I need to focus on other things.
I did get grocery shop done and that's about it.
Z.
Update: Well...I ended up doing about 4-5 more flowers and fixed an old flower so I think I'm about flowered out right now. I did the hand wash on the kitchen stuff, swept kitchen and am running the DW. I'm feeling a bit better each day, it will be another full week at least, probably fourth week I'll be about good like last time.
|
|
|
|
Post by michelle on Aug 18, 2024 17:05:06 GMT
Z, The additions to Etsy are wonderful!! You made me laugh about being flowered out. Yesterday I Dwelled in Possibility about taking Clair to the shot clinic for children. Our main job was to go into a Nurse room with the family and interact in some way with the children to defuse their terror and the aftermath of the pain of the shots. The nurses just love to have us in the rooms since the dogs make such a difference in a positive way. Almost all of the families that came are non English speaking. There is an interpreter to help when needed. However I am able to hodge podge a conversation due to having had extensive experiences communicating with non English speaking adults as a child trying successfully with them. This has come in handy since I can get my point across to any foreign person who speaks any language. For instance the Japanese people we found lost in the mountains one time. Anyway this was handy and actually the entire thing was enjoyable, fun and a surprising amount of my kid Spanish came back to me in a hurry. One little girl and I spent time on the floor together while her older sisters were going through all of this. She and I decorated Clair's head with stickers that she got from the Nurses station. Clair looked so incredibly cute and all of the personnel that saw her got such a kick out of it--taking pics of her etc.
While there I was able to get some information from a board member about the therapy dog work done in the elementary schools. Sort of disappointing since they will not assign a school for us to go to on a regular basis. Instead they cycle through members to assign them which means that no familiarity with one therapy dog can be established at a school so no loyalty relationship can be established which when dealing with hyper unruly kids is what is needed for them to behave around the dog. Establishing this relationship with the school as a whole is the most successful way. These dogs even appear the their yearbooks etc. (all a very big deal!) I follow the School Therapy Dog facebook page which is how I got a lot of information about what works and what doesn't. This policy makes Clair and I going to these schools very iffy for the most part since I won't tolerate misbehavior around my dog. There is still the option to do some high school events. Like every organization there is a certain amount of politics involved which seems to come up when I have one of these types of in depth conversations. It's best to stay at the enjoyment of therapy work level with my dog rather than get involved in all of that. We'll see.....
Today my mind is a blank about chores which is a good indication that I need a rest day. Headed outside to site and read my book for a while.
Hope you are having a pleasant day!!!
Onward>>>>>
|
|
|
|
Post by zenamidievel on Aug 18, 2024 19:36:12 GMT
Good Afternoon,
You do a good job at researching these therapy dog opportunities and figuring out what suits you and Clair best. I love reading the recap on these events!
Jet lag still in effect, ribs still a problem. I'm a bit of a wreck today, I need to get it together!
TaDas:
-emptied DW, reloaded it
-washed the hand items, dried and put away
-took the kitchen trash out
-made a big bowl of pasta salad for food and boiled some eggs
Now I must focus on unpacking, running laundry and getting myself together. I will speak with DH about getting DD going on clearing of the entryway of the stack of carp. I did address a problem in conversing with DD by asking a good question about what was transpiring between us, as if I was confused...which I was not. This seemed to stop what was going on. I will figure out my own stuff for now.
Z.
|
|
|
|
Post by michelle on Aug 19, 2024 0:50:43 GMT
Today I managed to discuss the fencing with DH. We got through quite a lot that we could agree on. Then I made drawings about the two projects. Tomorrow we will go to the fencing showrooms and am pretty sure the first one will be the one we go with anyway since they can also replace our farm gates that the cars drive through. There are two enclosures in that area that will be replaced also. I am excited to think that I will make my deadline of the end of August to get this extremely long languishing project started by having a signed contract. Hooray!
Otherwise today has been a vegging out day for me. I did get one top shortened and am almost done with another one. Clair's leg is bothering her so walks are out. This is the second time it has happened so now we will go through the much dreaded vet process about it. I am thinking I will take her to PT to get a better idea of explaining what the problem might be since to be perfectly honest the Vet is very young and mostly parrots back what I already know. However, they do have a good surgeon there. Hopefully this leg will not require another operation. It's all so frustrating..... I am working very hard to stay positive!
Hope you are having a relaxing evening!!!
Onward>>>>
|
|
|
|
Post by zenamidievel on Aug 19, 2024 23:49:46 GMT
I hope the fence shopping outing goes smoothly and you can agree on a product. Ooooh noo in regard to Clair's leg. I'm so sorry to hear this might still be a problem for you both! You have done everything you could do to ensure a good outcome with the injury! Fingers crossed, keep me posted.
Well....I guess I was not flowered out, because one type of flower, which is a six petal daisy....or rosette, ended up being an eight petal flower. Much like the four petal flower was initially supposed to be a 5 petal Tudor Rose. So...this 6 petal thing is a favorite of mine though honestly the 8 petal looks "better"....they are just different. So I worked on this today and it time consuming to get these things symmetrically "good" as the angles get weird with the grid depending on the number of petals. So I did it, it's up, and I'm glad. Then I took one of my barns and applied a checked pattern to the wheat part instead of looking like realistic wheat and put that up. I did do a holiday colored square coaster pattern, but I did not put that up as I didn't want to detract from the other holiday colored flower I did of the 8 petal daisy, which is actually I think the most favorite 8 petal daisy thing I did. (this makes three Christmas color schemes done in flowers) I looked back through my sketches from vacation and this leaves about 3-4 unexecuted ideas. But I'm unsure about them. I'm not venturing downstairs to paint because it is NOT good down there due to DD activity, or non activity, both actually. So I'm just not going down there till she leaves.
I got a walk in with the neighbor this morning, laundry is running x2, two loaves of zuchini bread are baking in oven and I showered, and the DW is running. I'm making tacos for dinner which I already have the stuff for but I will make that after a break. Ribs are the same.
Hope your day has gone well. Thinking a lot about your pup!
Z.
|
|
