The question about levels was posted here recently in a thread and I gave an answer but am not good at searching out things here. I have some temp pictures of the deck being painted in a thread about that, but that doesn't show the condition of the deck about a year ago: 12 foot square, lamentably full of dog poop, hoarded junque (why did I want an old sled? I grew up in California), the half not full of dog poop, full of cut down tree branches that hubby left there temporarily (forever). Got reported by neighbors and a notice from board of health. I only have 2 dogs but was picking up after them about twice a week. Then, with my job winding down (and quitting it), I just maxxed out on all that stress and left the dog poop for well over a week. Now I clean it several times a day. Have done that unfailingly for over a year, missing only 1 day when it was solid ice out there.

I don't have a good digital camera. I didn't see any point in taking pictures of the squalor/hoarding. I don't really wish I had, though many people find it helpful all the way through. I don't think photographs are an accurate depiction of reality, anyway, though that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish. (am captivated by photography, preferring it above painting) Taking pictures now, the camera we have is very distorting and has poor depth of field. Even we have to look at pix we took for ourselves and ask each other what is that because nothing is placed at the distance where we expect to find it.

It took me 9 months to bring the house to ordinary. I am still working on paring down more clothing and possession, in general, everywhere. But it is more like what people seek to do when they want to "simplify." It took me about 5 months to be able to sleep in my bed, which was in a smallish room piled with boxes and had clothing, furniture, junk piled up to the ceiling fan. It did not take me 5 months to clear that room, but I did it as a last big project. If I could do it over again (God forbid) then I know enough now to start with clearing the bed.

My house was so crammed that I didn't have any place to put things while I worked. I had to start clearing the basement in order to use some space there to start clearing other rooms. This was long after I singlehandedly cleared away a huge bonfire-like pile in the basement where my husband had stacked things we "might need." He refused to address any of this, including the computer graveyard and I had to do it all. I moved all that equipment myself into utility shelving in the back basement room because he would not even look at it to tell me which pieces he wanted or did not want. He was "going" to do this, of course. I refused to wait any longer.

Also, since I have a husband and almost-grown son, I did an amazing amount of clearing of my own stuff before I ever moved or touched or questioned them about anything of theirs. They just got out of my way: mom's nuts! (a great dog training principle I picked up)

Hope this helps. Happy to answer any more questions you have.
email: [email protected]