Operation Help Yourself........

Hi,

Thinking of you this fine wet Halloween morning.......how are you?

Yesterday I made some old school rice crispy marshmallow treats.  Made 'em with real butter and real vanilla......took them out of the frig --- they are waiting to be cut into treats.  Plan to rest them on a bed of cute little Reese's pieces on a big round glass platter --- take them to Sam & Crew later on.

Meanwhile Stella cleaned the house this week & finished up a special project in care of Sparrow Cottage.  She painted the rails and posts on the front porch.  Looks mighty fine too!  All that's left to do now is some touch up painting around the garage door.  Not sure if I can manage it or how that will work out.  So pleased to have the porch looking so nice again!  She even repaired a loose rail with wood glue and big nails to make it even stronger.  Talk about GIRL POWER!  Yay Stella!

In exchange for her hard work we agreed on a cash amount plus an antique desk as payment.  She's happy.....I'm happy!

She noticed a new piece of artwork in the bathroom & said this should be over your fireplace........so that made lots of things spin....she moved artwork, then plants and blammo, a new way of seeing the living room emerged.  At first I felt a little anxious about letting go and letting her take this over.  But she has a keen eye for color and design, why not let someone show me something new?  Fresh.......fun?  And enjoyable, she did and it is......wonderful!  Like anybody would I continued to make little tweaks after she left......but I am really liking this new simple take on my living room.  Feels new and exciting again!

So what is Operation Help Yourself?  It's my way of finding a solution to house clutter.  I don't know about you but things seem to gather to excess in every nook and cranny.  If there's a drawer, cupboard or closet I will tuck it in until it feels like the house is about to burst wide open.  It really bugs me.......gets on my last nerve despite illness, despite the feeling that this could very well be an impossible challenge. 

So I'm trying to break it into manageable moments.  Wonder how long this will last?  Can I sustain this project to completion?  Hmmmm, time will tell.

The other day I opened up the bedroom armoire - tossed the stacks of nightgowns and pj's on the bed & got busy.  Sorted out the decade old cotton from the newer pieces.  Gave up 50%.  Felt good.  Loaded it into a bag and put it in the trunk.  Added some misc pieces to the trunk donations.....had to finally replace the kitchen drainer, but it's still got some good wear in it for somebody else maybe.  Added a little of this and a little of that. 

This morning while I fixed breakfastI rounded up all the magazines - put them on the kitchen table.  Then I sorted them out.....donating 50% of those as well.  I carry a few in my car for the just in case.......while waiting for any reason I pick one up and read.  I like Guideposts & Reader's Digest because not only are they a small convenient size that tucks into a purse, they are upbeat, uplifting.....share trials & triumphs - ways to overcome over time.  Need that every day..........otherwise I feel bogged down in failure if I don't keep my eye on a more positive outlook.

Now the breakfast dishes are calling my name......where is a minion when you need one?  Need my imaginary butler Jeeves to show up along with Mademoiselle Gigi to tidy and straighten.  Have a bag of trash that needs to go to the curb cause the guys are coming today.....my little brain says quit yer whining, just go to the curb.  or....in the time you sit and complain you could have done it already.......mixed in with my muscles hurt.  Where is the off switch for pain?  Shouldn't that on/off switch me in an convenient easy to reach place?

Yesterday I was so tired from mostly just watching Stella that I slept until 4 in the afternoon.  Not doing much can be a lot on a sick body. I was walking like a little duck .....wonky and off kilter, then I'd land on a chair and feel dazed for a while.  Doesn't take much to stir up those pain sensors.  Last night I woke up with sharp pain in my upper arm muscles on both sides  What the heck?  This has been the year of Fanny Fibro and Arthur Ritis doing battle daily. 

In other news the other day I noticed a small hole in one of the window panels on the garage door.  Looks like a bb hole......man.  Bummer......I covered it with a small piece of painters tape and boy does that look stupid!  Redneck as all heck......need a clear solution, not this blue tape! 

An even bigger surprise......I opened the front door and there lying on the sidewalk lay a long long black snake.  Just over three feet of skinny scaring me snake.  I quickly shut the door and then opened it again slowly ....peering out like a total coward wanting a better look.  Something seemed off about that snake.....every few inches I realized the snakes body had kinks in it.  Odd kinks......can a snake have arthritis.....?  I'm kidding but also half wondering what could have caused this odd situation for this snake?  He really looked as though he had swollen joints through out the length of his creep crawly snake self.  Gives me the heebie jeebies........I told him he could still live here but to please hide again so I wouldn't be so freaked out.  It occurs to me that he must think the same thing whenever he sees me outside.......walking weird like I do so often.......maybe this was a sympathy visit from Sir Snake?  He would tell me of his trials and tribulations and I could share mine.......cept it really was freaking me out.  I wanted him to disappear and fast!

Maybe today I can go through either the bathroom vanity or the shoe collection and so some more sorting.  Trying to take it in little batches of effort. When the car trunk is full I'll take the items to the little thrift store in Winder.  They can use an influx of items to sell.  All their volunteers live in Potter House.  Potter's House helps individuals with substance abuse problems transition back to daily living.  They work at the store, then stay in housing that gives them counselling and guidelines to be successful with all the challenges they have.  It's not easy to overcome these problems......it takes a lot of hard work every minute of every day to face off with the desire to drink or do drugs.  So hard........trying to remember what I got there the other day......oh yeah, I remember. 

I got a new car coat for winter and added a sort of expensive scarf as well.  Then when I got home I realized that scarf was one of those hand wash, squeeze gently lie flat to dry dealios, not my life style, so I took it back and headed to Potter's thrift.  The price of the scarf I returned?  $17........found three soft pretty winter scarves for $7.99.  One is a soft reddish purple, the next one is a fall plaid (gold/black/red etc) and the third one was from the Gap, still had the tags on it.  It's really long, soft, primarily white with some darker jewel tones on it......all three will look nice with my new black coat.  Yay..........I haven't had a new coat in over ten or longer years.  My main coat still has life in it, but it's super long......it has a removable liner but the ankle length coat is more of a hazard than a help at this juncture.  This car coat length to just above my knees is so much easier & safer to manage. 

Usually I've just added a sweater and kept a puffy vest in the car, but that's not warm enough either even for the milder southern winters.......then again I might be getting older and that's why I need more coat for added warmth.  That getting older thing is probably just a rumor......right?  Nothing like a happy fool she wrote this very day........I polished some silver and once I do the dishes I can take a nap.

hugs and felicitations to all!