RIP Recliner

I sat in the recliner, and gave a little, sideways, jerking twitch, to move it over away from the wall.      Which I have done many, many times before.     And to my surprise, the back came half way off!!

Oopsie! That’s a problem!

Thankfully, XH was here, and put it back on, but warned me to be careful.       Of course, I promised I would.

Friday, I was holding PPJr, and rocking her to sleep.     When her lights went out, I leaned to the side, and pulled up the lever, to recline.    

To my horror, and her terror, we both fell backwards, almost to the floor!

(I was too traumatized to take a pic, even later.      I just averted my eyes, from that whole corner, outta respect for the chair’s pain, and pride.)

I jumped up, as fast as I can, holding a 28 lb screaming baby, and came into my room.   I’m so grateful someone gave me this rocker, as a housewarming gift!!

1 solid piece!! No detachable parts!

Finally soothed the baby back to sleep, and put her down in bed.       I climbed in beside her, and nodded off to sleep myself.       We both slept for 2 hours.     I guess it took that long to recover from the trauma!!

And the recliner stayed there, backless.      Gaping wide open, in pain, and humiliated.  

Till Sunday night, when PopPop, (SF) came over.      I begged him to see if he could help it in any way.

Happily, he was able to put the back on again.    

All better!!

  But he warned me that I had bent the supports…..      So, I’m thinking it’s only a matter of time…..

 

Plant Play

The 8 house series:

House’s Home

Wandering Wonderings

De-Clutter, De-claim, De-cline

De-clutter, De-claim, De-cline, De-clusion

Eight Eighths

Sweeter Sweatin’

Kitchen Korner

Today: Plant Play

I took out the kitchen trash, and the box of expired canned food.        On my way back in, I stopped and thought “I really need to do something about these plants.”         The landlord told us he does the lawn, but we are responsible for the flower beds.       When we moved in, they looked great, because he had just weeded.       But then all the rain!!

DD1 had pulled this huge weed on Sat.

Another one bites the dust.

So, it inspired me to do my part.        At least a little bit of it!

I did more than she did!

It really didn’t take me long either.        The soil was still loose.

                                                                     I see dirt, people.

But, of course there is much more left to do!

No time to play, people!!      I have a plant to kill!!

Repeat x 1 million!!

 

Kitchen Korner

The 8 House series thus far:

House’s Home

Wandering Wonderings

De-Clutter, De-claim, De-cline

De-clutter, De-claim, De-cline, De-clusion

Eight Eighths

Sweeter Sweatin’

Today I’m working in the __________.          Did you guess right??               A+ for you on the pop quiz!

The kitchen korner:

Terrible tower.

This is right behind my seat at the table.         Needless to say, but of course I will anyway, I can’t ever sit properly at the table.       I have to sit sideways, or something.

So, today was the day to tear down the tower.

First, I emptied the dust canister on the vacuum stick.      It was sooo clogged!!        Then, I felt better about putting it away in the laundry room.

Next, the shopping bags were hung on a pre-existing hook, just left of the window frame.       Here’s hoping we’ll actually remember to grab them, on our way out to the store!!

The medicine went to the bathroom, where we keep it.       The Febreeze, oops, generic air spray, off to the laundry room, with the vacuum.

Then, time to tear down!!      Ah ha ha!         I became Destructo Melinda!!

First box was half keep, and half donations.

Half a box of donatables, right off the bat!      Woo hoo!

Charging full speed ahead!          Feeling pumped!

Second box was half and half, keep and donate too, just toys this time!

The keeper toys, and books.

The donation toys, to finish filling the box!

See that green frog broom??         Most annoying thing!                  When you sweep with it, it says “You missed a spot!”          I do NOT need comments on my cleaning from the tools!!                Hopefully they won’t miss it, cuz it’s gotta go!!                                       Thanks, but no thanks, Grandmama!!

Third box, a mixed bag. Nope, that would be a mixed lot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I kept the plastic, fake Tupperware- they all had lids!!       Yay!!        Kept some of the food, gave the tissues, and gloves to DD1.

2 good cans that we won’t use, bar soap, and grabbed a stuffy, all to donate.

Already expired food. 😦 I hate when I waste food like that.

Feeling wonderful!!        Put away everything I’m keeping, put donate boxes, and expired food by door, all’s well!

Then, I turned around, and saw this, by the fridge:

Why is there a basket of laundry, in the kitchen??         Even more so, why is there coffee, and teepee in the laundry basket??           And why is there a bath toy in the kitchen??         Well, that’s cuz- kids.          The laundry is all me.         But even I’m puzzled by the coffee, and tp in there!!            No matter, all put away now.

Oh, really??            What’s this in the hall, then??

Ya caught me- laundry basket hidden (I thought) in the hall.

Ok, ok, I put away the toy, tp, and coffee.         Then I just set that there in the hall, for a minute!          I was tired!          I’ll do it!!                   (When I get around to it , [sotto voce] ) I heard that!!

Fine!        [very grumpy tone]             There!            Happy now??

Empty!!

[smugly]     As a matter of fact, I am, yes!        Thank you!

Kitchen korner konquered!

Sweeter Sweatin’

The 8 house series:

House’s Home

Wandering Wonderings

De-Clutter, De-claim, De-cline

De-clutter, De-claim, De-cline, De-clusion

Eight Eighths

Sweeter Sweatin’

This is the second hand account of the second time, working in my sweatshop widdle woom.       Where the sweatin’ is always sweeter, when it directly benefits me!!

Now, if I can only cast my mind back, to remember what I did!          (More than 2 weeks have passed, and I’ve worked on other things.      Why don’t I write things in the order I do them???     Because that would be too logical??)

Before Pic, for this go round.

Filing cabinet fiasco.

As Dana, (Nony), says, some clutter is “Procrasticlutter”, delayed decisions.    The 2 black boxes, and the 2 cardboard boxes would be the illustration beside that word, in her dictionary!

The cardboard boxes are full of Verizon equipment, that I’ve been meaning to return.  Since before I left XH.      4 years ago, on July 1st.        So yeah, procrastination, at which I am a pro!        

But, I can’t just get rid of it!      I have to return it!!       Cause they already put it into collections, and its on my credit report, and everything!!        But, its been 4 years, and you haven’t done it yet.        But, I’m gonna!!         Are ya really??           Cuz I call bull hockey!

DD1 put it into perspective for me.        “Mama, you already have the ding on your credit.       Verizon has already written it off.       They don’t want back 5 year old equipment.        Dump it already!”

So I did.        Finally freedom!!      No more nagging sense of “Gotta do it”!!          Whew!   Really did give me some mental relief!!

Whittling it down to size!!

And the 2 black boxes???        They are Dish boxes, from the former owner, of my former trailer.        Yeah, I moved 2 heavy pieces of electronic clutter, that weren’t even mine.

What in the world??

Yep, so I trashed ’em without a single qualm!     Along with the sparkly purple (broken) gift bag, squooshed behind there.

So much empty space!!       Nice!!       Now to take care of the other piddlin junks up there.

The de-tangler spray and bristly brush went on top of the girls’ dresser, within easy reach of PP, for after her bath.      Returned the little white drawers to DD1’s custody.      And so on, and so on.

Ahhhh! Clean, empty space! So much easier to breathe! But, it does look kinda bare…

                                    That looks better!!

 

But, I think it still needs something…..

Aha!    That’s it!!      Perfect!

The glass jar was a birthday gift, from Cindy D.       Hey girl, hey!!

It look so gorgeous now!!      I stare at it, just to enjoy a purdy piece of calm!!

But, it takes vigilance to maintain the clean look!     I want it to stay pretty, and I’m the only one who lives in this room, and yet I’m constantly having to declutter the same little spot!      What’s up with that??        But the effort required to keep it clutter free, is so worthwhile!!

Now, if I only I could do something about this….

This makes me blue!!

I asked Sweet Friend to just cut it off.      He refused.       The nerve!        He said “I don’t know where it goes, and you’re just renting this house, in case you forgot.”

Oh, that makes a difference???         Who knew!  

Maybe I can paint it white????          Try to shove it all the way back up thru the hole in the ceiling??         Cut it off myself???          Try to ignore it???

Sigh.         There’s always something.

Anyway, the sweatin’ was all the sweeter, for the sense of serenity, and the piece of prettiness, that I ended up with.  

---

I love my daughter!!          As I was finishing writing this, she came in, and I complained about her daddy not removing it.         She promptly climbed up on a stool, and….

Voila!! Cord be gone!! (Almost)

Blue bugger banished!!

TeePee TeeHees Too

Monday morning, ladies, and gents!     Get out there, and pamper your bottom!

Melinda, you so crazy!!

More TeePee TeeHees for you too, today.       Yay!!       How charmin!       Angel’s soft wings await, to carry you away.        Scott rolls out the red carpet!       Those with Northern sense of humors, may or may not like this post.      Be sure to let me know!!

All mine!!

Just had to use this one again!!      I like crazy lil yellin dude!!       And I pretend the pink shirt is actually purple!

The “old” me!! Before Slob Recovery!

Well…. she just left off the “tee” part of the word!

Bwahahahaha!!    Too true!       Toddlers, and cats!

Rude teen!       😉

From personal experience, no doubt!

Can you even imagine???? I’ve felt some that seemed close!!

Haha!         We overs always knew we were right!!

Um, people with outhouses??           Just a guess.

That’s one tough guy!!

Lol!!

I love this one!!

Hope you had lots of teepee teehees today!!         See ya tomorrow!!

 

Single Socks Seeking Solemates

(S)jen’s sad, sad story of single socks seeking “sole”mates swamping her space.      (Sorry, about spoiling your name Jen, alliteration made me do it!)    {Also, did you catch that stealthy, yet shameless self-promotion, since that post was dedicated to me??}

Suddenly a solution springs to mind skull!

This is Jen from Hidden Hoarder.     We had a thing, going back and forth about ALL her socks being single.    I joked with her, about setting up a singles sox society, to help them find their “sole” mate.    Also, I joked about wanting to meet her peg-legged child.

(Annnnd that’s as far as I’ve gotten.    No real solution sprang to mind, it was just a great sentence!!)

---

Months later:

---

We just got rid of approx. a million of our own single sox, without a single pix to prove it.  Nooooo!!       How could I have forgotten about this half written post, just hanging in limbo- waiting to be fleshed out????

Also, immediately after we got rid of all the unmatched baby sox, I saw a single socks baby quilt, on Pinterest or somewhere!       Are you kiddin me??????

http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2011/01/

 

So, then I had to go find this one, since I didn’t remember where I saw the first one.

Argh!

     www.mostlyblogging.com

Eight Eighths

Since I went to all the trouble of coming up with Eight Eighths, I might as well use it!!

The non-series-named series on the 8 house so far:

House’s Home

Wandering Wonderings

De-Clutter, De-claim, De-cline

De-clutter, De-claim, De-cline, De-clusion

Still in the 8 house, which I will be for at least a year.        Thank you lease!!

Working in my room, selfishly!!

Here’s where I started, in the first round.

 

 

(Pretty sure that 3rd pic, is not the original starting point for that corner, but ah well, not going back and searching more!)

---

And now I’m having lots of error codes, trying to upload more pix, so no more of that frustration, right now.        Argghh!!

So now that I’m all aggravated, I need to switch activities to something more aggressive, like hand shredding tree branches, or something, to shed my anger!

But, will probably settle for de-cluttering the sink room counter.  

Back in a bit.      Go ahead, and get a snack.      It might be awhile.

---

Which it was, and the sink project gave me great satisfaction!     Then I even sat down, and uploaded those pix, and wrote the aforementioned post, D,D,D, De-clusion.      Now why??     WHY did those pix load, but not the earlier ones???      Why hatest thou me, oh great technology master??

Okay, so I’m gonna try again to upload those pesky pix.       Not holding my breath!!

First box I came to was papers.     Papers that needed to have been shredded many moons ago!

  Now I’m working on it!!     Guess I finally got my Roun-tuit!!

Let’s see if I really do??

 

 

 

 

 

A bit old.

Paperwork Reduction Act????

I got my disability in 2012.

Do you see that 2nd pic??     Paperwork Reduction Act??       Dear mercy!!        How many more tons of trees gave their life BEFORE this Act???

Anyway, most of them were beginning in 2009, when I filed for my disability for the last time, ranging up to 2012, when I received it.     Way too old, and irrelevant now!   Buh, bye paper!!       And good riddance to that ream of it!

Feels good to get rid of it!!           Finally!

And yes, that is a Steak n Shake cup.               What??                       I had to keep hydrated!

Then I found some more trash, in the form of extraneous files.

5th graders were my nemesis!

My Baptism certificate, as an adult.         Old classroom pix, while I was teaching.       Those kids’ faces haunt me in my nightmares- I really don’t need the physical reminders!!

Yay!! An utility bill that was a credit!! But did I really need to keep it to remember it??

An utility bill, with a credit on it!!      Woo hoo!!!         And monthly recaps of my prescriptions, from 2 years ago.       I think it’s safe to shed them now!!

Yeah, that’s me, 30 something years, and over a hundred pounds ago. That girl’s gone.

Modeling head shot cards, no longer needed.      I did get 1 modeling gig, a TV commercial!!      It was for a V-loop, circle antenna.       It played so often on the local channel, that one of my cousins called me up, and said “I’m sick of seeing your face on my TV!”          I hadn’t even been aware it was playing yet!!      Thanks for the heads up, cuz!            And I still have the VHS somewhere, I think.        Wanna come over for a private screening, and some popcorn??          (Absolutely no etchings involved!)

Even some real physical trash:

Trash!! Woo hoo!! No, yo may not comment about the empty brownie box.

Broken bin, staple puller- that I have not used even once in the 9 years since I last taught, extra mug.       Those ink stains- who has time to clean??         My mom, apparently!       She rescued it from the trash.       Once a hoarder (better stop now, if I want to stay alive.      Sometimes Sis shows her my posts!!)

Trash!! Woo hoo!! No, you may not comment about the empty brownie box.

So, ends my first room purge, in the eighth house, of the rising sun.       Oh wait, that doesn’t sound quite right….

 

Real, Reat Reward

Of course, I mean “Real Neat Blog Award”!!

Sweet Elizabeth, from Comfortable Coop, nominated me for the Real Neat Blog Award.   Thanks, Elizabeth!!       You are a great writer, and friend!!

It’s always such a surprise, and serious thrill!! to see my name, on one of these award posts!!

             

I had to put it twice, just in case you didn’t catch it the first time!!     😉

You know the drill by now:

RULES:

This award is designed for people who have a “real neat blog!”

Those participating should ~
• Put the award logo on your blog.
• Thank the people who nominated you, linking to their blogs.
• Answer 7 questions asked by the person who nominated you.
• Nominate any number of bloggers you like, linking to their blogs.
• Let them know you nominated them (by connecting on their blog, etc.)
• Ask your nominees 7 questions.

Everybody has a real neat blog!!       So, everybody gets an award!!          Seriously, you want it, you got it!       How did Heather get people to nominate themselves??    I’ll have to go back, and take a look!!

 

These are the 7 questions from Elizabeth, for her nominees:

1. Is there something that you do that makes you really happy when you’re feeling down?

Singing!!     I might cry, but it always lifts my spirit, to sing praises to the Lord!

2. Is there someone (real or fictional) who inspires you? Who is it and why does this person inspire you?

My friend, Jan S.     She has a real bad bone disease, and breaks bones just by sneezing, sometimes.     She’s always in pain.     But she is the most loving, happy, always cheerful person you will ever meet!     You can just see the joy of the Lord in her face!

3. Do you spend a lot of time listening to, reading, or watching the news?

Nope!!      I try to avoid it as much as possible!   I have enough depression tendencies, just by myself!!      I do read the missing kids alerts, on FB.  I forward them, and pray the child will be found alive, and unharmed.

4. Are you a night owl or a morning person?

Night owl.

This is a funny question!     In my childhood, all the way up till I went back to teaching, in my 40’s, I was always a night owl!     Now, I want to be asleep with the chickens, otherwise known as grandbabies!!

5. Do you have any pets? What kind and what are their names?

No, thank goodness.      The only pet I ever had as mine, was Emily.    

I’ve never loved another animal, either before, or since.

6. Do you talk to yourself out loud?

Yes, of course!!     Doesn’t everyone need expert advice, now and again??

     7. Is Jesus your savior?

Yes!!   And I’m so excited to see this question, Elizabeth!!      Thank you!!      It is THE single most important question in all of existence!       Having Jesus as your Savior is the difference between eternity with God, in heaven, or spending eternity in hell, if He is not your Savior.

mystory.me

 

Okay, now the hard part:

Nominate people.      

Oh please, just nominate yourselves!!      And if you do, I’ll come back, and fill in your name, so your nomination will be all official, and stuff!!     Okay?  I hate playing favorites, and having to pick people for my team!!     Or worse, feeling like someone chose me last!      (Oh wait!     This part isn’t about me!      Sorry!     Can you tell I wasn’t too enthusiastic about elementary school team sports??)

I really like Elizabeth’s questions, so I’m copying them!        (Just remember Elizabeth, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!!)

 

1. Is there something that you do that makes you really happy when you’re feeling down?

2. Is there someone (real or fictional) who inspires you? Who is it and why does this person inspire you?

 

3. Do you spend a lot of time listening to, reading, or watching the news?

 

4. Are you a night owl or a morning person?

 

5. Do you have any pets? What kind and what are their names?

 

6. Do you talk to yourself out loud?

 

7. Is Jesus your Savior?

 

Okey dokey – it’s your turn- GO!!

Continued Cat Cackles

Continued cat cackles for today.     You’re welcome, Dolly!!

This one is for Elizabeth, and her duck feathers, too!!

Doesn’t he look evil?

 

 

Smart kitteh!

Me too, sometimes, kitteh!

NO!!! Not the plug!!

Big brother teaching little bro the ropes.

Awww, poor kitteh!

This is too funny!

Says the brown faced kitty!

I hope you enjoyed your daily Monday dose of funny!

 

De-Clutter, De-claim, De-cline, De-clusion

Alrightey then.

In De-clutter, De-claim, De-cline, I pretended to work in the sink room.  In D,D,D,De-clusion, I really AM gonna work in there!  Promise!!

The other 8 house posts:

House’s Home !

Wandering Wonderings

De-clutter, De-claim, De-cline

Now we’re in the conclusion of D,D,D- the De-clusion.   (At least I assume it’s the conclusion!     But you know what happens when ya assume!!!)

Alrightey, let’s refresh your memory of the sink room counter:

I know, I know!     The hamper is NOT on the counter!       But, it’s significant, so must be included!

First, I found this hamper, as we were unpacking:

Purple hamper!! Plastic purple hamper.

And I filled it with toys, and toiletries that needed to come to the bath sink room.      You know me, gotta save those steps!       I realized, it would be so much more practical, in the flood sink room, when it rains.       So, that was first on the agenda.

There, much better, drier.       Also, the plastic will not attract bugs, in the same way the woven grass would!

And we already had a pre-existing palmetto bug problem, no need to add fodder to the fire!

Palmetto bug, in its final death throes. I chose not to video it. You’re welcome!

These bugs are huge!!    (Those are 1 inch tiles.    JK!!     But they are huge!!   The bugs, not the tiles.)

As I was moving the woven basket, to replace it, all kinds of roaches scurried out and away.   Yuck!!       Thankfully, DD1 had just walked in, so she was able to help me with La Cucaracha dance!

Good move (ha!) on replacing that hamper, Melinda!!            Thanks!!       Sometimes I DO use my brain well!!

Woven roach motel gone!

So, 1 major space taker, in the donate pile right off the bat!      Yeah!!

Gorgeous purple, woven hamper, I love ya!      But I gotta let ya go.      I love my new, clean, roach-less room better!         Adios!

Toys, and more toys.      Since they haven’t noticed them missing till now, I think I’ll be safe in donating them.       Yay!!        Gonna fill up that rejected hamper!!

Do the girls really need a wardrobe of toothbrush choices?? Apparently, yes.

Sometimes their teeth might not feel like being brushed with a red brush.       They’re sensitive, and need to be pampered!         Teeth have feelings too!!

Oh yes, the classic, “3 band-aids left in the box.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We like to be prepared for any rash emergency. Or are we just too lazy to finish squeezing out all the remainder??

Since “remainder” is a math term, I’ll let you decide!

2 of these things don’t belong…

Since they don’t belong in the sink room, they got banished to the laundry dungeon!

A butter knife?? To cut the medication dose in half, or what??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the donation box basket, with you!!

Yada, yada, yada, more junk.

Look, Ma- drawers!!    

Who needs combs, and brushes in this house??? Oh yeah, the girls…. Don’t worry, I do NOT use that nasty wire brush on them!!

All done!                 

Ahem!! Not by a long shot, are you done!

Okay, since it’s only 1 box, it’s only a short shot, then.

AND!!      You haven’t cleaned yet, either!

Dirty sink. In the sink room. Imagine that.

You’ve read all the same slob blogs I have.       De-cluttering comes first!!        So cleaning comes easier!!

There ya go! All nice and tucked away!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, I’m done done!

So nice and clean!!         Ahem!!         Oh uh, I mean de-cluttered!!        I can’t do it ALL in one day!!        That’s just crazy talk!

The rocks are from PP’s carefully curated collection.      Yes, we meant to leave them there.

Don’t these just say “calm, and serenity now” to you??

(Have I mentioned how much I HATE this black , faux leather, contact paper, that is on every flat surface in this house??       ARGH!!)

Oh yes, yes, “Calm, and serenity now.”

Take a well deserved break, Melinda!       The sink room counter is lovely!       And the black highlights the rough, natural texture of the rocks.

 

ARGH!!!!!