Beauty

[DrKelli]

Good morning, all!  I cannot believe it is almost the middle of August already!  I spent part of the weekend cleaning off surfaces.  I still need to finish up the dining room table, but I did make some progress.

In my quest to dress a little chicer for work, I went to Kohls to see if I could find some tops for cooler weather, but it was so hot, I kind of lost interest haha. I did purchase 2 pairs of jeans (dark wash) to replace some that have faded and K-cups since my mom will be here and we go through more when she is here.

So now for something completely off topic--when I first moved into my townhouse 10 years ago, I had a mouse problem.  The unit was vacant for 2 years and is on a green belt.  It took several years until I was mouse free in the house.  They were still in the garage, but not in the house.  At this point, I should tell you that I am deathly afraid of mice. Everyone has a deal like this--spiders, snakes etc, mine is mice.  About a week ago, I noticed mouse droppings in my kitchen and then I stumbled on the dead mouse upstairs.  The exterminator I used quit the big T and was doing pest control on the side since he maintained his license.  I called him in a panic and he could get out to my house on Saturday.  I will also add that they have been digging up a lot of things around me, so they have disturbed the habitat.

Anyway, Saturday, I got up at 4:50 am to feed the dogs and make sure Lexi (my little one) went outside so she didn't have an accident.  I put her food down and I have to wait for her to eat it to make sure the other dog, Ed, doesn't.  I decided I had to p** and went into the bathroom downstairs.  I was sitting there doing my business and a little mouse peeked its head out from behind the trash can.  As I was occupied, I couldn't do anything except sit there and pray it went back behind the trash can. Which it did.

I finished and was standing in the kitchen and it peeked out from under the bathroom door.  I'm praying again that it stays there for 2 reasons--Lexi is a mouse killer and I didn't want to see that and 2) I was trapped in the kitchen if it came at me.  Well, across the floor it came and I made the split second decision that I was a ninja and I tried to parkour spread eagle between the wall on one side and the dishwasher/sink/cabinet on the other.  In that split second, my left foot slipped, my right hand slipped and down I went, smacking my head, elbow and hip. Never mind about my already messed up shoulder.  I am sporting bruises on my elbow and hip and have a scraped elbow and bump on my head.  I have no idea where I got the idea that I was 20 years old and nimble and could perform such a trick.

The mouse guy said that the infestation was worse than when I first moved in, but he thinks he got the hole where they were coming in plugged up.  He also thinks he found the source of entry in the garage, but didn't have enough material to plug it. Seems the dry wall doesn't meet the foundation and there is enough of a gap to get his hand up.  So I ordered the material from Home Depot and let's hope it gets here quickly.

I will post more on simplification later since this post is so long.

Hope you all have a great week!

[PAlady]

Dr. Kelli - Sorry about the mouse problem, but I did laugh about the ninja thing.  Hope you did not get hurt too bad.  Years ago we had a problem because of developement in our area, we went around and filled any holes in our house that they may have come in, and it did take care of the problem.  I do hope you can get rid of the mice.

[queendiva]

Dr. Kelli,

Ugh! Your mouse issues. Really sorry for you and hope they are all gone- today!

I have kind of put decluttering on the back burner for the summer so I can enjoy the beautiful weather. That needs to change starting this week. DS#2, who helps me with the heavy lifting was away for all of June and July and is going back to school next week, so I need to get back to the basement for at least a few hours. Bigger project has just come up. I have to move/ purge everything that's in the guest room, which is largely my off season clothes. The room must be stripped of everything except a bed and chair. Just found out last Tuesday that GF of DS#1 got a job near us and is relocating here from another state. They will both be living here until they can save up enough $ to buy a house and get married. Love her and very happy for both of them, but I must make room. Good thing DS#2 is leaving on the 20th and she will be here on the 30th. I can (and will!) use his room as temp storage/staging area.

Taking a box to Goodwill today. I have been keeping up pretty well with purging all year. I have been good about limiting spending and new purchasaes. Not buying food and clothing ahead of my needs to use them. Cleaning the house today. Will continue tomorrow, as much needed rain is expected all day.

Have a good and productive week!

[Jolexi]

Well, looks like we may all be getting back into some form of simplification again once the Fall hits.  

DrKelli, I sure hope that mouse problem gets fixed.  Once it gets cooler, they start coming indoors more often to get out of the elements and could cause more of an issue.  I'm with you on the yuk feeling in regards to mice.  I used to be deathly afraid of them until I got divorced and had to learn how to wrestle my cat for them when he'd go mousing.  Luckily, with Dindi (my cat, whose a big mouser) in the house, we have had an incredible reduction from when I first moved into my apartment.  I rarely see them, but when I do, it's usually lying in the dark, pounced to it's last breath, and I happen to step on it on my carpeted floor.  Courtesy of Dindi.  I know he's just showing me what a good job he's done, but honestly, it's all I can take at 4 am when I'm off to work on a winter's day....

I've gotten a lot done around the house, but it's mostly just the normal upkeep.  After the past few weeks of clearing up items, I think I'm good for now until after perhaps Columbus Day weekend, when I'll do my seasonal clothing rotation.  I may end up getting rid of stuff on both ends of the spectrum (warm vs. cold weather clothing), but that remains to be seen.  The other day I was browsing in a neighborhood shop and saw there were some new fall sweaters, and lightweight jackets, and was really admiring some of the newer choices and colors for the season.  I didn't buy anything, but it spurred me to go into my closet and take account of my own sweaters and what I had left, just as a reminder.  I don't need any new ones, and the ones I have are all neutral, classic colors that will continue to be useful in fall/winter.  Sometimes it's good to remind myself.  

I also wanted to say thanks to Anniecamp, who gave a good idea for visualizing my debt reduction in last week's post.  That is a great idea and I will make sure to implement it, if not a similar tactic, to guide me in my quest to being debt free by mid year 2016, if not before.  

I hope everyone has a great week, and that we meet all of our goals for the next few days!