Declutter & Fitness July 2012

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 09:49 AM

Here is the August 2012 thread.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 09:22 AM

Well, itching is way down. That's the good news. And I slept reasonably well (but had trouble getting back to sleep around 12:30 and still woke up often).

But...the rash has decidedly spread. REALLY glad I went in last night. Where the rash isn't solid red, it's spotty/blotchy -- from just below my knees up to the top of my head. My face no longer itches, but it (like all the rest of my skin) sort of tingles.

Sabine (sophisticated, needy, black lady cat) nose nuzzled me awake in the middle of the night purring like someone plowing the back forty and tickling my face (very uncomfortably) with her whiskers and fur. Eventually I held her down with a few inches between us and was able to get back to sleep.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 12 - 08:53 PM

My son is allergic to Cechlor and Augmentin - we discovered this when he looked like hamburger from the hives.

Interesting day, and resulting in a work schedule shift; in a couple of weeks my telecommuting will be down to about half-time, which is understandable, because our new dean wants to get to know the people who will be working closely in her office. Right now she's still busy getting to meet everyone on the staff and learn her way around the library management and budget.

So, to make my trips most efficient I'll be sure to make lists for myself for shopping and taking various routes home to accomplish that. The biggest impact of working at the office more is the price of gas.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 31 Jul 12 - 08:42 PM

Was planning on going in to the Wentworth-Douglass Walk-In at Lee Circle first thing tomorrow morning, but...

First of all, the itching seemed to get worse over the course of the day. Then at supper I realized the red rash was all the way up both arms and on my face...and ITCHED.

So I checked to see if I could make it before they closed and got there about 45 minutes before closing.

After reciting the saga three times, the doc decided that I'm more than likely allergic to the antibiotic. And he thought coming in tonight rather than waiting til morning was a Very Good Idea.

So I walked out of there with orders not to take either of the previous prescriptions (disposed of the antibiotic there, while I was at it) and with a prescription for prednisone and advice to take the first dosage TONIGHT and keep taking benedryl.

Went to the pharmacy next door as I didn't know how late my regular pharmacy was open and it was getting on towards 8pm. The pharmacist said it might make me jittery and have difficulty sleeping tonight. I said, Well, the benedryl will counteract that, won't it? Affirmative. And I'm much more likely to sleep well if I'm not itching.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jul 12 - 10:23 AM

Thanks, SRS.

Linn, I am surprised they didn't do a short run of prednisone. Hope it all eases up for you asap.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 31 Jul 12 - 07:42 AM

Another day, another symptom. After scratching all night, I awoke to discover a mild rash in two places -- around my left wrist and lower arm and upper chest and throat. I'm still doing antibiotics and antihistamines. Looks like more benedryl is in order, though that means I'll be getting a lot less done and probably napping more. This is truly annoying!

I've googled it and it looks as if it's nothing to get overly concerned about -- and I'm unlikely to have a reaction with my next wasp sting.

Today is trash day, so that at least will get done. And finish changing the beds (more laundry!).

Tom's physical therapist is due at 9 a.m.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 12 - 12:44 AM

Sounds like a nice summer afternoon expedition! I didn't do anything nearly so interesting. I scooped and mowed near the house, ran a sprinkler after cramming part of that brush pile into the big trash can. I dismantled a chickenwire enclosure I'd put around the old compost to see if the cantaloupe would grow - it wasn't happy back there. Dishes just about finished, laundry ready to go. Dull day, busy tomorrow.

Keep up the driving and the exercise, Kat!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jul 12 - 10:31 PM

It's a RED letter day! I drove with just Morgan with me. He and I always loved going for drives. He carried my O2 to the car and we settled and were off. Not very far, but we found some reeds which I let him pick. I showed him how to make them whistle. He loved it. I was able to turn the car key without help, but i did have to have him unhook my seat belt. We both declared the ride FUN.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jul 12 - 07:24 PM

I'll let it cool for another hour then make a run to do some shopping. All week we're supposed to be up in the 104-105 range. One load of laundry was up on the line today, and I what I hung up first was probably completely dry by the time I finished. I'll run another load during the night and hang it out tomorrow.

A bunch of limbs were cut up and stuffed in a big Rubbermaid trash can, and I then stuffed in the limbs of a huge sunflower (the whole plant is larger than a large christmas tree, volume-wise, though of course it isn't quite so woody.) I'm going to do a couple of yard things - the usual poop patrol, and I'm going haul that trash can back to stuff with a bunch of small sticks in a pile next to the compost that was raked out because they never broke down. I could do with one less pile of yard clutter back there - it'll make the view prettier, now that there is so much more light and I can actually see all the way to the back fence.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 30 Jul 12 - 06:10 PM

So I crossed a couple more things off the To-Do list, and tried to call a bunch o' relatives and friends to try to catch up on phone calls. No one home or answering. So I watched the rest of the first season of The Big Bang Theory. (And then did the last thing on the list.)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Jul 12 - 05:08 PM

SRS! I have practically "moved out" of the city. But we won't tell R. Actually, we are looking for something in the country because the cabin may become unavailable. And the place we looked at this week would suit me - with a small habitable house - no floors falling through. It would suit R with a huge Barn for all his collections of stuff and a small barn that could be his and her workshops and an upstairs for company - with a lot of work, but he really does enjoy hands on stuff. I think the happiest I have seen him was the day we built the cage.

As for "more property", he hopes to have the "saw mill" settled by mid-August. If all else fails, we can sort of live there -TEMPORARILY!-- and I can have a studio there and there is room for machinery to be ware-housed, a fantastic window manufacturer to ply his trade and a bunch of other initiatives - artisans, small agriculturally based endeavours.... And room for all the stuff he drags home. You'd love this latest: four volumes - about 10x12x 2-3 inches - entitled Great Men and Famous Women: A Series of Pen and Pencil Sketches of the Lives of More Than 200 Prominent Personages in History, published in 1894. Also includes text by a variety of authors.

We actually need a very large library - the big barn?

So I threw a bunch of pots this aft - used a total of 22kg of clay. I think that is my day's limit right now. If I can do the same tomorrow, I will have a kiln load for bisque. May be able to bisque fire with missing element. Maybe R will be able to get back to do the electrical before I need to glaze fire. I am almost out of the dark clay. I may finish up the white this week - 44 kg left and scrap. Hope the new stuff comes by Friday. Guess I cannot go anywhere until the delivery is made of the new clay and the wheel. So - potting and still need to mix new batches of glazes and test glazes and try out combinations thereof on dif clays.   

Supper break! Me first, then the critters.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jul 12 - 01:22 PM

More property, Dorothy, or would you move out of the house in town or move from the cabin you've been using?

I have friends scheduled to visit this fall, so I'm going to be working on my son's room to use it as a guest room, unless I end up loading up his bed and taking it to his house for college. My daughter's room has been the guest room but I have a lot of craft and sewing stuff in there now. My son will have to move soon so I need more information about furnishings needed and then I'll rearrange his room. I was looking through facebook photos yesterday and there is one of my son in the front yard taken by a friend who commented that he "lives in a cottage." I have cultivated that look, to try to disguise what is actually a rather ugly house (stone on front is interesting, but the brown brick on the sides and back does not match.) I am planning to redo some of the flower beds in the front, remove things that are there but struggling, so that in the fall my friends will see a house that does have a cottage look and the gardens will emphasize it.

Super hot this week - may have to hire my son to dog sit tomorrow. The garden has slowed, we're getting eggplant but everything else is just hanging on until fall when we get a big growth spurt.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Jul 12 - 12:22 PM

Linn: I too have found the more I physically do, the more I feel physically able. I actually started weeding someone's garden while waiting for R - just because it was there and I LOVE weeding. I rather miss the stretching and bending exercise! But I do wonder if you are suffering from too many antibiotics and benadryl?? Take care!

Penny: Those recipes look great! Thank you so much. I purchased a few nice fresh local beets at the market so I shall look to doing this - after I get the needed work done in the pottery.

The kiln dys-functioned on Friday so the firing I was hoping to unload Sat morn for the market - Well, the kiln had still not gotten up to temp so I just turned it off. No time to fool around. I woke at 8:10 and was loaded and at the market and 8:55! Market starts at 9 so I set up FAST. Sold enough pots to be very happy.

I have sold enough, I think to pay for last year's clay order so I can feel OK about last week's new order of clay and that portable but good quality wheel I have been considering. With the clay and wheel on sale in Toronto, the shipping charge was, in the final analysis, far preferable to a trip to Toronto. I would have loved to visit the supplier ...

My goal for this week is to produce at least one kiln load to bisque. Oh, yeah, this morning I finally took time to check WHY the kiln did not do it's thing. Top element not working. However, when I unloaded it to check, the pots on the lower shelves were quite well fired! The top two shelves will have to be re-done. R is hoping to get the newer kiln functioning in the next few days. The plug is different so it needs a different outlet. Not major but time...

Laundry is growing again and another trip to the city may be in order - after pots are made and after I ascertain whet, if any, materials I need to make up new batches of glazes, including some test batches of never-used-before glazes.

The raccoons are growing by leaps and bounds. One is getting quite feisty - very adolescent - I want to do what I want and don't mess with me! He got out this morning and R worried and worried over it. So did those still inside, esp. one I suspect is his syb. That one just paced back and forth along one wall. After half an hour or so he came over to the water bucket and let me scruff him and put him back in. These guys are not ready and they know it. SO like human kids!

R brought a new feeding system. A former piece of, we suspect, marijuana growing stuff, It is a long plastic pipe with nice round holes about every foot along the length. It has large eyes screwed into one side which fit through the cage wire and a long stick goes through on the outside to hold it in place! 6-8 feeding stations along a plywood shelf. A tall plastic juice container that was sitting around wondering what purpose it could serve, will be great for filling the holes and the guys can easily reach in for the food between holes. Great use of "trash".

Saturday afternoon, we finally got to look inside the house we have been looking at for a couple months. Very small and a bit rough but very interesting (1899 vintage). Trying to work out the logistics that would be necessary to purchase the, way too large, property. Great spot for raccoons - lots of woods and barns and a pond. No cornfields in the area!   

Oh well, lunch and then pot, pot, pot. Hot day but will be cool out in the pottery.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 30 Jul 12 - 12:12 PM

Yesterday even having the fan on gave me the chills. I took a nap with the quilt up to my ears.

I just came in from separating some of the basil plants in the planters on the deck. Had to schlep dirt around for that so I'm sweaty.

The guy from the power company just came and installed the new meter (so I did outside stuff while the power was off).

Laundry is drying, and I'm sitting here with the fan on -- it's actually a bit too much. I seem to be alternating between sweaty and too cold. The fan is definitely too much. (And now off.)

It's actually only 76°F with 64% humidity. Sun's out but it's very very damp (rained a little bit last night).

My inclination is to take a nap...has been since I woke up this morning. I've got stuff to do!!!

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 30 Jul 12 - 11:31 AM

I would be feeling like that in those conditions. Couldn't even use evaporation to cool down. Do you have air-con? It sounds as though you need somewhere cool. Could you go and saunter round the fridges in a supermarket, leaning on the trolley?

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 30 Jul 12 - 11:14 AM

I've still got a few more days left on the antibiotics. Most of the flu symptoms seem to have disappeared after my nap yesterday, but I still feel as if I've had too much benedryl and I haven't had ANY since last night (when I took my usual tab or half tab to sleep).

Also taking extra garlic tabs and ibuprophen. Just feel as if gravity is cranked up to 10 and I need another nap.

I've GOT to get some basic stuff done today -- laundry, bed change, kitchen compost out, litter boxes dumped and refilled.

Feel as if I'm pushing against very thick air...but, then again, I may be doing just that. While it's only 80-ish, it's pretty humid and everything feels damp.

But it's annoying that my doctor's nurse hasn't returned my call...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 30 Jul 12 - 06:07 AM

I'm debating with myself what to do with the star patterns on the wardrobe and the shelf over the bed area. (It's a folding bed, so won't always be down, giving me space for things that can get moved elsewhere when someone stays.)

I'm thinking of putting actual constellations over the bed and on the side of the wardrobe facing the bed. But the other idea is to warp the regular wallpaper pattern as if entering a wormhole or something. (Also, but this is probably silly, painting the back of the interior of the wardrobe with snow covered fir trees! Or Danny Boyle's Glastonbury.)

The downstairs loo, by the front door, has, for some reason, a frieze of leopards around the top of the walls. This has reminded me of a bathroom at a study centre near Pitlochry which has been painted with a Rousseau like jungle with a tiger, and I'm toying with that as an idea for that room. Or, alternatively, a Kentish woodland with silver birch and bluebells. I read a book as a child in which a little girl goes to stay with a mysterious godmother, and finds her bedroom open up into a woodland at night. (I think this was Marigold in Godmother's House, by Joyce Lankester Brisley). And now I've gone literary, I'm wondering whether I should print stars on the dark blue carpet in the spare room, like the Great Grandmother's room in the Princess and the Goblin. Somebody stop me, please.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 07:54 PM

It sounds like you have an infection or the flu. I've had stings get infected (the last time it happened was last summer, you may recall that first it was the sting then it was the spreading itching rash and an antibiotic for that, and finally, something to treat the yeast infection that the antibiotic started.)

Susie practiced her parking today and did very well. It's quite hot out (105 today) so we finished and headed back to the AC at home. The dogs are all in for a few hours.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 04:27 PM

Today was a more or less wasted day, although I decluttered a pile o' local free papers this morning and read a bunch of articles to Tom. And I finally WD-40ed both the bathroom and bedroom doors -- no more squeeky sounds to wake Tom in the middle of the night.

But a little after noon, my neck started hurting a lot, and I noticed my whole body was achey...and I had a headache. Besides that, I was feeling very shivery and clammy, although that might just be the weather. I'd planned on getting caught up on some phone calls today, so I left a message with my sister, but then called her back to say I was taking a nap -- don't call.

Three hours later, I'm awake...wakened by my right wrist itching unbelievably -- the OTHER side of the wasp sting. Sigh. I'm still taking antibiotics and antihistimines for that, of course.

I don't think I'm going to get much else accomplished today except, perhaps, call my sister or my mother. And my great aunt tomorrow... (I was going to call her a week ago when a wasp had other ideas).

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 10:31 PM

Put all of the lawn stuff away after mowing out front. The sprinkler is up - it's mighty dry out there in places.

Taking Susie to practice parallel parking tomorrow at the course they use for the state test. That's the part of the test she didn't pass, so she'll do it a few times on her own there before she tries again. She has a license, but she wants to prove that she can pass the driving test before she actually does much driving. Good girl!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 08:14 PM

Linn, can the glassware go someplace completely different for a while? Like on top of the fireplace mantle or lining the front of bookcases? Just to give you breathing room to fix the cabinet?

I did some work around the house then moved out once the heat was subsiding, and have been trimming stuff to put on the curb Monday for trash pickup. Things like the hard stems from the huge wild sunflowers and branches that don't break down in the compost go to the curb for now. I've started trimming and have cleared a path to get started mowing. (I also scrubbed the bird baths and trimmed around one so the birds know it's there now.)

Tonight I'll label and put the jelly away, and that will clear up a kitchen counter. I still need to empty the kitchen table of all of the canning stuff. I'm tempted to start swapping out tables again one of these days and put a different one in the kitchen that is big enough I can slide it up under the window for a nice view but it's long enough that the light that hangs over it won't be a hazard for anyone over about 6'.

Still to do: shopping, laundry. I don't think there's going to be much time in there for viewing the Olympics. Good thing it lasts for a long time! I'll see some of it.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 01:19 PM

Check one thing off the list and something else falls apart.

I made the mistake yesterday (just before leaving for The Press Room) of steadying myself against the drinks cupboard (booze in the bottom; glassware on top) in the kitchen...and the level wazwood surface started separating from the sides. While holding the surface up with one hand, I started removing everything on it so it wouldn't totally collapse. Of course, there's no place to actually PUT this stuff.

Okay, so I think what I'll have to do is take everything out of it in order to repair it -- but where to put all the glassware, etc.? All the counterspace in the kitchen (limited) is filled except for the cutting board space next to the stove.

And then, to make matters worse, Rufus has developed a fondness for the top of the fridge (the first time he couldn't get down without help, but he's figured it out) even though the Cosmic Catnip is now INSIDE the fridge instead of on top. How does this relate to the hutch starting to fall apart? Well, he's knocking stuff off the top of the refrigerator. Fortunately none of it (so far) is breakable.

It's hot and muggy and I have the energy of a dead haddock.

I suppose I should just start doing one thing at a time (get the dishes out of the dishwasher, put dishes in sink INTO dishwasher, take kitchen compost out, wash the breakfast pan, put some of the stuff from the top of the fridge elsewhere, try to assess the hutch situation and figure out if I need to take everything out of it in order to fix it...).

Or maybe just go to a friend's for wine and conversation and save everything for later. Oh, but I need to put the chicken in the freezer RIGHT NOW.

Ach!
Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 12:52 PM

My legs were feeling a little achy this morning after all of that walking and measuring and cooking, but the counter covered with jelly jars this morning was a welcoming sight! And Susie walked down with little Max and we drank tea and toasted bagels for breakfast - how nice to get back to that again! The fact that she walk slowly, is still weak on the left side, and has a much smaller dog are signs of all she has been through, but all things considered, she has come a very long way fast!

Lots of stuff to do around here today, and they'll just have to be done in the heat. The kitchen is reclaimed, I boiled vinegar in the pot from canning to get the mineral crust off the bottom (I do like my big steel pots to look shiny and new!) I know the Olympics are on, but I'm not planning to watch them all day long.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 01:01 AM

That is good news, Kat, and always a surprise to lose weight. :-)

Linn, are you still taking Benedryl for the itching? Do you have to take naps because of it?

I did a marathon jelly-making event tonight while the Olympics opening ceremony played. Four batches of mustang grape jelly. My feet are a bit tired.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 08:26 PM

And the good news is by late this afternoon, I can actually feel the bones in the back of my hand. My fingers are still too swollen for my wedding rings, but the hand is no longer red and the swelling is waaay down. Not too itchy, either.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 06:35 PM

Went to our primary care doc, today. He was all smiley and surprised...asked me what I'd been doing to lose over 11 lbs since he last saw me the end of May. THAT made me feel great! Don't need to see him, again, until end of November. Yeah!!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 04:02 PM

It's difficult to work with an injury, so considering your sidelined days, you got a lot done this week, Linn! Penny, I love that art you want on the blind. Good luck managing that.

I finished staging the kitchen for jelly making this evening. I'll make grape tonight and pick up frozen strawberries for more later in the week. I want to have it ready to go for my son's move to his college apartment next month.

There will be more to report over the weekend.

I took the dogs for one of their favorite adventure in the woods walks this morning. They know how to walk on a leash when we're on the street, but when we're in this wooded area, they pull and sniff and snort at things and roll in the grass - they want to be wild dogs when they're over there. It's a great upper-body workout for me!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 01:53 PM

Ach! Been a little bit too occupied this past week to keep up with this thread.

On Monday I decluttered Tom's car. After a couple weeks of wishy-washiness from a carless friend who wanted it, she finally decided to buy her other friend's piece o' rewelded crap instead of nice, clean,
SAFE car with all the documentation, manual, etcet etcet. By that time, though, I had several (four, actually) other neighbors and acquaintances waving money. So we sold it to my up-the-hill neighbor for her daughter. She appreciates what a good buy the car is -- Tom would still be driving it if he could see well enough to drive.

Anywho, when I went to check the car I was attacked by a mess o' wasps that have set up housekeeping around the car door sometime in the past couple weeks. While waving them away from my face, one landed a stinger in my left hand just below the thumb. Went up to my neighbor's and she immediately made a baking soda paste to put on it, then we did the transaction. On my way to the credit union and other errands, I watched the slightly swollen redness spread across the back of my hand. Got home and gobbled a couple benedryl, aspirin and smeared Bactine then benedryl gel on the hand. Also took my rings off...just in case. Good thing because by Tuesday morning the hand was painfully swollen and unbelievably itchy. Called my doctor then went to the walk-in at the health center. Well, that tied up the whole morning and early afternoon -- but got (and picked up and took first dose in the parking lot) Rx for generic Claritin and an antibiotic that I'm unlikely to be allergic to. (That's all I'd need!) But Wednesday found my hand just as swollen and the itching was driving me crazy, so I called my doctor again. Found out that I could take benedryl along with the other antihisamine and THAT finally made the itching subside.

Needless to say, I didn't get a lot of decluttering done for a couple days! (And yesterday I played hooky and went with the "Ladies' Summer Outing" to the York, Maine Decorator Show House and lunch at the York Harbor Inn. A lovely day but I was absolutely exhausted when I got home, though.

But I noticed this morning that my exertions while beating the yard into submission and extricating and de-accessioning things in the house since I "retired" seems to be making me a bit more fit. In a fit of cleaning clutter on Tom's side of the bed (in anticipation of him actually being able to come upstairs sometime soon), I actually knelt not only without thinking about it, but without actually needing a kneeler. No excruciating pain in my knees AND I got back up reasonably easily by pulling myself up on the nightstand. Exercise is good, including all the to-ing and fro-ing to keep up with Tom's needs.

BTW, the project I was working on was cutting out a goodsized chunk of carpet which I'll now haul out back to smother weeds.

Decluttering this carpet is a major project and can't be done all at once. It's old Seam-Loc Golftrend -- 54" goods with a very heavy sponge (not foam) rubber backing and it's inch high wool pile that is so dense it can stand up to golf spikes. I've gotten about 35 years' worth of wear out of it, but I'm sure it has 35 years' worth of dirt stored in it -- it's too dense to efficiently vacuum. So I've been cutting out and disposing of it in sections. Later I can remove what is under furniture. Today's chunk was major and I feel very accomplished having done it.

The other accomplishment this week (actually done before the wasp sting) was decluttering Tom's email. It takes him forever, even with the screen blown up huge, but he's fiercely independent about some things. I just say, hey, let's work together -- your brain and my eyes, and we can get stuff done...and he finally accepted. Got some other PMFF business taken care of as well. (One of the email addresses that Tom takes care of is the festival's.)

Onward!
Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 11:25 AM

This is what I want on the blind.

Cosmology image

Here's the recipe, with some others.

Recipe

I made it again today, and topped each piece with a mixture of fromage frais and whipped cream and then a raspberry, for an ex-colleague's leaving do. It goes very well with raspberry. I also made a banana and walnut loaf topped with chocolate and walnut halves. Very difficult to transport to the do.

I made one alteration - I didn't think putting the hot chocolate into the egg mixture directly was sensible, so I mixed the flour in before I added the melted choc and butter. Doesn't seem to have harmed it. I also found it needed longer cooking than the recipe suggested.

Freecycle man has been in touch, and will collect the wardrobe with a trailer next week. So it's the corner wardrobe, designed with just the right measurement for the space between the wall and the bed, and the wall and the light switch in the other direction. That should get the clutter under control. I also need to get longer legs for the dressing table so that two other bits of furniture, a set of office drawers with needlework stuff in, and a small cupboard with half of the wool stash in it fit under it.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 12:59 AM

I was going to make jelly tonight, but that is pushed back till tomorrow evening. Instead, I set up for a batch of yogurt, made the Middle Eastern way - heat a pan of milk to 185, then let it cool to about 115, take 1/4 cup of the starter yogurt and mix it with 1/4 cup of the cooled milk, then pour it into a casserole or bowl that a plate can cover and wrap it in some heavy towels to keep the temperature steady. Leave it as little as 3 hours or as many as 12 for stronger flavor. Since it's late I think I'll leave it about 8 hours. :)

Picked up some jelly jars and produce this evening, and got a cucumber so I could use the last of my home grown tomatoes and some feta cheese to make another Greek salad. Mmmmm!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: GUEST,999
Date: 26 Jul 12 - 10:12 PM

Dorothy, your day at the festival was great if people being interested and at your booth is any indication. You do good work with the pottery. Sorry about remarking that the dish you dip your fingers into to keep them watered as you shape the clay was not the best soup I ever tasted--well, the young lady who overheard just didn't understand.

I know the shop you're talking about. I'm trying to convince the owner to stock jerked (smoked and subsequently dried) raccoon. It is a bit greasy, but the fat gives it a sweetish-taste that goes well with a Merlot (2006).

The grays are a pain in the tush. Rats with bushy tails. Be careful handling them. The little effers bite when they get nervous, and they are always nervous. Squirrel is good, though. If I may be so bold, use a moist cooking method. One time I ate a few open fire-cooked and they were tough as nails.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Jul 12 - 09:07 PM

Penny! Recipe for choc and beet root brownies, PLEASE!

Great move, SRS!

Have been focusing of getting pots made and now bisque fired. Glaze tomorrow for Market on Saturday. Was going to mix some more glazes today but ran out of energy. Went to see a couple friends looking for buckets for glazes; wanting to try out a few new ones. They will keep an eye out for me.

The feeding stations for the raccoons have become inadequate so I went to the nearby junk store to seek improvement. Got an idea, three much needed glaze containers and a small table, just right for the portable wheel I have decided to purchase for demos. Attracts more attention and may sell more pots, she says hopefully. The "table" was once a dressing table bench, now missing its top/cushion which I will replace with a piece of plywood. Stable and the right height. $5 for the lot. The idea was free.

Ordered wheel, on sale this week in Toronto, and 10 boxes of clay. I had a fantasy about driving to Toronto to pick it up - $70 for gas plus wear on car and self, a six hour drive each way. Shipping costs - $88 look good. With the sale price of the clay vs its cost in Montreal, I am still a bit ahead - without a 100 mile, return, trip to the north of Montreal.

Also went to co-op for more kitty litter since I was near and then stopped at the closest grocery store. I had never been in it as it is very small but a long chat with the owner elicited the info that he will soon be carrying meat from the two local butchers. This is a YAY! as I can now drive about 3 miles for the good local meat instead of 17. Bought a loaf of locally made molasses/oatmeal bread. Not as tasty as I hoped but OK.

The local Super C is getting two loaves of my good Dimpfilmiers sunflower seed bread each week - I think. Two weeks ago there was none by the time I got there but last week I got one. The young woman at the cash thought it looked interesting! I am hoping they will find it sells and start carrying more. It is the only bread in the store without chemicals added.

Still did not get that printing done. That type of energy has not been available - maybe tomorrow. Last night I was on computer 'til midnight, looking at glaze recipes. This morning I copied chosen ones into my notebook. I find it so easy to follow cooking recipes but with the glazes I have to use large print and check off the ingredients and the amounts and double check. And I still manage to goof sometimes!

At the Music Fest, I got rid of a bunch of rejects and much less than perfect pots - $1 or free, depending. Clear the area for the next lot! Sorted through a bunch of pottery papers, looking for recipes in vain, and managed to throw out a pile. My glaze file has not turned up since I left Whidbey Island. I fear it was left in a shed and tossed. Some I have in the notebook, one special one I managed to get from a friendly potter, but a few I would like to have are GONE! That type of "de-cluttering" I could have done without.

some more light rain today. We need all we can get and I am grateful for every bit of it. I think of those in really horrid drought conditions. Lack of water is rather scary. The planet is in bad shape.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 26 Jul 12 - 06:31 PM

Down 3 pounds this week.

Major thunderstorms and a line of tornadoes cut through my neighborhood today. A few big trees down on our property but no damage to the house or barns.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jul 12 - 11:27 AM

I suppose you could add a poster to a blind then slice the slats apart.

This month has gone by fast. Next week is August.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 26 Jul 12 - 11:22 AM

Still no response from the guy who was interested in the wardrobe. If he does want it, I'll be putting in a corner wardrobe, and covering it (since the only one I can get is melamine) with wallpaper of a colour to match the existing one, and stamping gold stars on it. If not, I'll be painting the existing one and stamping stars ditto.

But it's so frustrating, having stuff moved to enable the wardrobe to be carried out, and not knowing whether I should put it back or not.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 26 Jul 12 - 05:41 AM

The freecycler has gone silent.

The photo printing store claims never to have advertised printed blinds, so that idea is a failure.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jul 12 - 10:42 PM

I was going to work at the house today, but I got an email from the new boss asking if I'd mind moving to a new office today. She was hiring an assistant, starting tomorrow (for a while it will be a temp, but there will be an ad soon out to fill the job) and my area was right outside her door. She had said I could move to one of other cubbies (smaller) but the two in the office who made the final decision are the woman who was acting dean for months and the office manager - they knew I had way too much stuff for a cubby so put me in one of the two empty offices in the admin office. After 15 years it's nice to finally have a space with lots of shelves and a beautiful desk. No window any more, but it's a reasonable tradeoff. I'd been hinting for a while that it would be nice to get out of that open area. And I never liked working at the computer with my back to the traffic walking through - I was occasionally startled by people behind me, and it was always a distraction to be working there with everyone going to the copier and mail area nearby.

I moved everything out (it only took an hour or so because we knew this would be coming and I'd been recycling a lot of the extra back copies of newsletters for a while) and though it isn't all put away, it is all in the new space. I might be inspired to go into the office more to work there now! And it will be great to finally be able to put things so I can see where they are.

When I finished I dusted the old spot and set it up with a few pens, paper, stapler, tape, calendar (my old calendar thing that I never used). I did suggest a practical joke for when the real person arrives - conceal the computer (under the desk already) and set the one typewriter in the office in that spot. The others thought that would be very funny! :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 24 Jul 12 - 01:09 PM

Made some chocolate and beetroot brownies for a Friends lunch today, which went down very well. (Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, if you are interested. A friend and I had tea in a tea-room on Saturday, and they were on the menu, but sold out. I can tell why.)

Just as I'd worked out how to make the room work with the wardrobe, I've had an answer on freecycle. The room has wallpaper based on the ceiling of Galla Placidia's mausoleum in Ravenna - sort of - Mosaic dome, so I was going to paint it blue to match, with the eight pointed stars over it, and a painted board above to cover up the stored boxes filling the space between it and the ceiling. I think I may do that with the corner wardobe I'm getting instead anyway.

My friend, with his interest in astronomy, asked why I didn't put him in that room, which also has a border of Sun and Moon along one wall, so when I've got it sorted, he can go in there. I think I might put a medieval cosmos picture on a window blind. There's a firm which prints photos onto blinds in a nearby shopping centre. I hope I can get the right width.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jul 12 - 12:46 AM

Dishes in one sink in the kitchen, I'll wash them in the morning. I got a lot done today, I have a list of stuff to do tomorrow. Looks like a regular week progressing as normal!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Jul 12 - 09:26 PM

HAH! We were unloading the truck from the Fest on Saturday and the clanking of the metal poles for the shelter made so much noise our neighbour - 100 yards away at least! - came to make sure everything was OK. Just in time to help off load the pottery wheel! We have such a great neighbour. He had something stolen from his car while he slept in the daytime - and we are half a mile from anywhere.

The Fest was a musical and a pottery success and people enjoyed watching me throwing pots and a couple hardy souls tried it - successfully. One is a perfectionist and told me to throw it back in the bucket and she will try to come take lessons. The other I will finish and R will deliver it to his friend's tea room - which might take some pots to display. I sold enough pots that I now can consider buying more clay and have more fun.

The grand finale tribute to Woody was terrific! And the other music - which I heard without seeing - was great.

The brown sugar moisteners came out very well but not until late afternoon so I only sold a few. I gave all the stamped ones (over 60!) to the orchard folks, their logo on them, to sell at their farm markets and gift shop.

I thought I start a new cycle of throwing today but R was here until noon and then I went to the butcher as I was out of their good products. It was again too hot to breath until about 6 pm when the wind started generating wonderful negative ions and - well, it was so beautiful to listen to the storm coming and see the trees blowing that I just sat with the computer taking part of me and the storm the rest! 9:15 and still raining! Glorious! The next few days are to be "only" in the 80s. Hopefully not so humid. Tomorrow I can get started early in the pottery.

I went into the city on Weds and caught up the laundry - 5-6 loads. Went to the bank and did some groceries that are hard to get down here. Then back to the critters who are now ALL weaned!!!! No more bottles. Wobbly died on Saturday night. We think she must have had an injury to her head rather than a dread disease. Poor little tyke. We kept her as comfortable as possible but she had to be isolated and refused to let me touch her after that first night.

I brought the good printer down and plan to print out my citizenship app tomorrow and some new, revised, business cards. The revising will happen as soon as I finish here. NOW!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 23 Jul 12 - 02:32 PM

I shouldn't think a school would want it - it is old fashioned, hence the problem. And I live up a cul-de-sac, so passing trade is unlikely. So unlikely, that when, yesterday afternoon, I accidentally left my garage open, and the car hatch open (I had got distracted watering the hanging basket on my way in), nothing was taken! I didn't find out what I'd done until this morning, so it was open all night. And no-one rang my bell to let me know, either. (My neighbour had some gardening tools taken from his van the other week when a window was left undone, so I was very lucky. Also, I suspect that it's against the local rules. I am going to do that with some flower pots, though.

The room is very frustrating. At the last place, a similar room was wide enough to take a folding bed opened out across it, under the window, which made it look much more spacious. This one is JUST too narrow for that. And the wardrobe is too wide to fit along the wall with the bed. Although it really has to be the room that takes the stuff that would be in a loft, I want it to look like a bedroom. I'll just have to make do. I really don't want to break the thing up. (I can still store stuff in it. And on it, stacked up to the ceiling.) Ho hum.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Jul 12 - 01:46 PM

Penny, here we would just put it outside with a "free" sign on it and someone would take by day's end. Can you do that? Is there a school which could use it?

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 23 Jul 12 - 12:25 PM

Unfortunately, there is nowhere else. Not even the garage, which is already home to several pieces of past-it furniture holding a variety of bits and pieces. For the moment, if the second posting on freecycle fails, I shall reorganise the room round it. I can fit the bed in, but things won't be so neat and Shaker-like as I wanted.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Jul 12 - 12:13 PM

We are supposed to be getting some heavy storms later today. For me, this is motivation to get things cleaned up. I am always afraid that we won't have power for a few days and want to have everything we need clean and ready to go.

Silly, isn't it?

*Shrug* What can I say? It's just the way I am!

LOL

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jul 12 - 09:30 AM

Is there a shed or porch where you can place it and let it do the dirty work like holding boots and tools? Or can you modify it and use it elsewhere?

I've been out spraying the ants on the okra this morning and moving the hose. Something knocked down rocks in the keyhole garden. With no sweet potatoes there this year I hope the digging will cease.

Getting set to walk the dogs. I thought I might see Susie this morning, she called last night but had to hang up because the signal was weak in the store where she called from. I'm hoping we can get back to morning walks pretty soon.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 23 Jul 12 - 08:54 AM

I've a real decluttering problem in the shape of an old fashioned wardrobe/desk/chest of drawers teenager's room thing that no-one wants. A charity came collecting and turned it down. Apparently no-one wants these things. I'm trying freecycle again, after people showed interest and then dropped it without answering my emails.

I just don't want to break it up and dump it. It seems so wrong to do that.

And I can't arrange that room properly until it's gone as it doesn't fit as it did in the room at the last place, which means the single spare bed can't go in there, which means I can't put a double futon in the other room, which means I can't invite couples to stay.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 12 - 04:21 PM

I love the idea of the long vacation you get to take every year, Susan.

Taco meat mix made and in the fridge, now to mow the back and hang up laundry (mow THEN hang, to avoid throwing grass on the damp laundry.)

I am reminded by Kat's post that I did a little work in my closet yesterday, speculating on what should be kept for later and what can be donated. Mostly I was looking for a way to move some of the clothing on the shelves in there so I can put some handbags on the shelf where I see them. I would like to create a dedicated space where I can see the bags to choose from and easily empty the contents of one and move them to another.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jul 12 - 02:27 PM

We've been very busy packing for vacay, which is going well. The last of my mom's boxes have been stashed. All that is left before we pull out is to:

<> get the camper's light working, and a friend is on the way to help fix that;
<> pick up scrips at the post office.

While we wait for the friend, we're putting together a crate for the dog to ride in more quietly-- it's his first vacation trip with us.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 22 Jul 12 - 08:17 AM

Kat,

   WAY TO GO!!!!! I need to clean out our closet too. I don't have any problem doing my side (other than getting the OOMPH to do it) but I've asked Pete for a LONG time now to help me go through his stuff. It hasn't happened yet but it will one day, I just know it!

   My kitchen table is currently piled high with papers from this and that. It's time to sort that all out again and this week a deep clean of the kitchen will happen so I can begin canning!

Today: Jellyroll Challenge (Quilting). HOORAY!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 12 - 01:39 AM

A load of laundry is in and the washer will run in the wee hours when power is not in such demand. Tomorrow is supposed to be real hot again and very muggy (no way would Kat's swamp cooler work here!) Best to do laundry overnight.

The kitchen looks great, lots of food processed of various sorts. Things that needed freezing are mostly in the freezer. I found a few more tomatoes today that could have gone in the small batch of canning, but I'll eat or freeze them instead. I turned on NetFlix and let some Inspector Lewis (PBS Mystery!) episodes play while I worked.

Tomorrow I'm set to make a batch of taco filling and some fajita filling. The tortillas are in the freezer (I buy spelt tortillas when I can get them, otherwise I make them. I got lucky last week and found a bunch of fresh spelt in a bit larger size than they often make them.) So, clearing out the last of the spring/early summer produce and now to get ready for fall.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Jul 12 - 12:23 AM

Rog got up early to beat the heat on the roof as he changed out the pads in the swamp cooler. I did stuff inside, then went out and dead-headed all thirteen pots of flowers.

Took a break and had lunch, then we went into our bedroom and cleaned out our closet! Three bags of giveaway clothes and a couple of boxes of misc., plus some stuff was taken out to storage. We still need to go through the bins, but that is long term and some of it just needs to be kept, no matter. What we did, today, was a huge project compared to anything else we've done inside in ages. All of our clean clothes are put away now, too.

It's been a good day!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 06:19 PM

Enjoy the machine, Michelle! It'll bring a lot of pleasure!

I cut up a lot of peppers this afternoon and now I'm going to work on some tomatoes. I need to clear out the garden stuff in the fridge and have hand things for meals and snacking. There's not much room for it right now.

I may mow the back this evening. It really needs it. There is some rain forecast, so who knows what will happen.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 02:39 PM

I spent late last night doing dishes and some random picking up. This morning I made breakfast, am about to make lunch and I spent some time getting to be more familiar with Lucy, my Singer 221 Featherlite. :) I also sewed up an adult bib for my nana today.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jul 12 - 01:20 AM

I called my next door neighbor this evening after I put an eggplant in the convection oven to bake and told her I'd show her how to make the eggplant dip called baba ganoosh (lots of different spellings for that). I gave her some a few days ago and she loved it (they'd been kind of shy about eggplant previously). So while it was roasting I cleared up the kitchen, emptied the kitchen waste into the compost, and had it looking pretty good when she came over. I figured it was one thing to give a sample and describe it, but it would make it a much more do-able dish if she saw how easy it is to make.

There was a heavy rain this evening, very nice considering we had only a ten percent chance today. It may dictate what I do tomorrow - I have weeding that needs to be done that will be easier with the ground soft.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 10:51 AM

This was one of those mornings that began with putting stuff away. Laundry, bills into files, did some shredding, etc. I'll cut up veggies for the freezer and see about reducing the amount of stuff in the fridge. Lots of containers of stuff that should be cooked or frozen.

It's Friday - that's always welcome! Unfortunately, it is supposed to be getting hotter over the weekend so I'll have to be up and out very early if I want to do much yard work. Yesterday evening I took the electric trimmer to the front and knocked the heads off of the dallis grass that is a weed in the turf--it grows faster than everything around it. One of these days I'll have to chop it out.

I tried changing out a line from the new antenna to the computer - that line isn't as good as the one to the TV in the living room. I pulled a new line through so that there is just one line between the two, and it's still kind of broken up on some channels. I need to swap the cables on the splitter to see if that makes a difference, and if not, pull another chunk of cable. I removed the piece from the attic (that didn't reach all of the way to the splitter) to the wall plug and pulled through a long piece that I'd used in the attic (from the splitter to the piece in the wall). I'd used the long piece in the attic because I didn't have a short one handy, but that way there was an extra connection in the line. Each connection can reduce quality, so I simply used the longer piece from upstairs to remove a connection. However, if the problem is in the cable itself then I'll have to drag some more through. It takes longer to describe it than it takes to do it (you simply attach the cable and pull, you don't have to drill new holes or do anything fancy or complicated.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 08:15 PM

It's harder to lose weight if you don't give yourself permission to have snacks and treats every so often.

I've been putting off the trimming out front, but I think I'll do it right around sundown, when it's cooler. Maybe a little earlier, to avoid the bugs. In a little while, at any rate.

I picked up some chopped barbecue beef and buns today to use for sandwiches for a couple of days. I haven't had that kind of barbecue for a while so it's a treat. Since this weekend I need to get busy with some stuff around the house again if I don't have to stop to cook I may have an easier shot at finishing some things.

Good news, I think. My son's friends have found a place for the school year. He thinks. They haven't taken care of the finance end yet, so my last remark as he was trying to end the call (it wasn't long, but he was out with friends, apparently) was to be sure that they were dealing with the owner of the property. I can just see three young guys renting a place from someone who represents himself as being the owner - it's one of the scams the school off campus house folks warn about. But it would be nice to just make one trip instead of two.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 08:14 PM

More energy, today. I washed my hair...it's sorta long and I use WEN, so it's a two-step process which takes some time, plu s I haven't been able to use the sink for such in a couple of months. I don't like doing it in the shower 'cause then I go to bed with wet hair and look a fright in the morning.:-)

But, wait! There's more! I did two loads of laundry, washed, dried and folded AND, I did two weeks worth of dishes with several of Roger's "science experiments" to dispose of and scrub out the residue. I stopped short of the stove. He will have to tackle that. He cooks, which is great, but he IS messy!

I did some clean up of email and other data, then, after running to the pharmacy with Rog, at lunchtime, I had my brother over so we could work on his notes for CDBaby.

(Well shoot. Mudcat was slow, I copied this and backed out; came back to post it, and the last half is missing! I hope this one takes.

After my brother left, I had Morgan over for an hour. I'll write that bit later. It's time for Rog to get home...the cats and dogs are all looking for the "food god."

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 04:39 PM

More laundry went on the line early this morning, a 120 mile round trip, lots of important paperwork made into copies, originals in the bank, picked up a bunch of butter at $1.88 a pound (freezer material), called about a calf, scheduled pick up, making an early dinner and then off to get the new calf! YAY! I can't wait to see him!!!

Didn't do so hot this week with weight loss...gained 2.8 pounds. ARG. I know exactly why and today is a new day, so no worries. Why? We ATE all kinds of goodies at the Relay, Pete and I were given 2 cakes for our anniversary (no we didn't eat both cakes ourselves...we shared with lots of people...but I had cake none the less) and then on another day, Pete and I had a lovely anniversary dinner out, including a dessert of my own (we rarely get dessert and when we do, we share it). We had appetizers too!!! I surely enjoyed the food this week...now it's back to business!

:)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 11:12 AM

Desktop is looking better, papers filed, tossed, or shredded.

I took the dogs for a quick walk this morning and am now back at the grindstone.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 07:34 PM

Yup - that's what it's like all summer long down here! I'm contemplating mowing the front lawn tonight - knowing that as hot as it is right now, it is supposed to be worse later in the week. :-(

Laundry off the line and I put it to tumble on "air" for 10 minutes just to soften the towels and pick up any stray lint. I need to start adjusting bricks out back and sweep sand into the crevices. And I have the little hose clamps I need for the axles on my barbecue grill to keep the wheels on. Some repairs are big, others are tiny, but make as much difference as the large ones.

I'm clearing paper off of my computer desk, and I've created a couple of new files. One for school - I applied to go to the local community college to take classes in computer graphics. They also have a graphic communication program, but the difference between the two would mean taking classes I don't need (that I took years ago or things that I do all of the time now and don't need). It's way cheaper to go to the community college than it is to take classes at my own university, even with tuition at 1/2 price.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 03:49 PM

HOLY MOTHER of HOTFLASHES!!! It's over 100 degrees here, humid to the point of almost being able to float a boat in thick air and I'm having a freakin' hotflash. It's a good thing I'm home alone (well, the baby is napping) because I might be inclined to drop kick the first person who even THINKS of breathing on me!!!!!!!!!!

Oh wait. Did I say that out loud?

ROFL!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 02:15 PM

SRS,

   Yes, we know you have terrible heat all summer long which is why we live where we do!!! :p

   I hear strange tales of people actually LOVING that kind of weather. Not me. No thanks.

   I was in Las Vegas for a month in June one year with the temperatures running high 90s to 104 degrees on most days. I didn't mind it nearly as much because the air was so dry. It's odd how the ground is so dry yet the air here is so heavy with moisture that it makes is hard to breathe sometimes.

   I now have 2 loads of wash on the line, ran my errand, fed lunch to the little one, got him settled into a new naptime (hard for everybody), did some vacuuming and am now taking a break before I pick up his toys so I can finish vacuuming once he wakes up. I also have been working away at a pile of paperwork on the table. There are several bags laying about the kitchen that are going to be put away as well..leftover things (not food) from the 4th of July, a bunch of stuff from the Relay, a new phone system to put into place (anniversary gift from my mom that was needed very much and is appreciated), etc. You get the idea. Oh...and she got me an entire new set of bakeware...pottery...GORGEOUS...that has to be washed and put away too.

   Enjoy that heat Stilly!!!   XOXOX

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 11:57 AM

I know you guys up north are suffering in the heat, and I imagine you realize that heat is typical here. That we deal with it for months in Texas and other southern states. Be glad that this is only an anomaly, that you'll eventually get back to your "normal" weather. I go through the summer pacing myself for the heat, planning if I have time to take a shower and change clothes before the next activity. Putting on dressy clothes and getting to the office without sweating through on my walk up from the parking lot is always a challenge. And businesses down here keep the air conditioning so cool that you need a sweater indoors; it's terrible going into refrigerated stores in muggy weather.

Closing on the house is finally finished, now to get to the rest of the stuff on my summer list.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 10:50 AM

First half of the dishes are done (one load in the dishwasher, one full dish drainer) and the rest (pots, pans and big bowls) will be done after I run a quick errand. One load of laundry off the line, one ready to go on when I get back, provided it isn't raining. If it is, up goes the drying rack for inside. I have a full day played of other household chores and will share as I get them done.

Rough morning here but it's all going to be ok.

I just know it.

Michelle :)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 12:50 AM

I AM enjoying more energy these days!!! It's been a long time coming!!!

Today was a day of running errands for me (paying taxes, car insurance, a trip to a local farmer's stand for veggies not picked up yesterday).

I'm looking forward to a day at home tomorrow...lots of laundry to catch up on, some dishes and overall decluttering. I have several bags of things to put away from the Relay and other assorted functions.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 17 Jul 12 - 08:14 PM

Too hot to breathe, think or anything else. Accept I will not have more pots for Saturday or the brown sugar moisteners. Actually, it is the humidity. A pot of green tea did not help nor did the pot of red clover tea. But we did have some good rain most of the aft as well as yesterday and Sunday. Need a few more days of it but does not appear in the forecast.

Michelle's energy/activities are incredible!!

Sunday night we "rescued" a disoriented, wobbly, hungry young raccoon from the middle of the road about 10 pm. Gave her a bottle on my lap and put her in isolation cage in case of illness. Last night I drove up to the area about 10 pm and saw a mom and 3 kits crossing the road. So tonight I am going to take her back to the area and hope she can re-unite with mom and the sibs. HOPE! She is too young to survive alone.

Laundry has buit up so yesterday I made a list of errands for the city and drove in to do laundry and other things. Off loaded and got one load in machine before returning to car to go shop, just in time to see a Quebec Hydro (electric) worker going to house. Gee! No one had paid the bill since last July so there went the electric, the laundry, the frig, the phone, the.... And the errands. R and I went out to eat and I came back to the country where I can do things. I phoned a while ago and it might be back on. I'll call again later and try again tomorrow. So much for a well-organized life!

I thought it a good idea to go to the city because the car is air conditioned! Today would have been better but tomorrow will still be hot. I realize it is much hotter in other parts of the world but I am melting just sitting here. I did go shopping and washed the fruit I bought.

Oh yeah, the hand washing I did on Monday hs been well rinsed and is still very wet! I brought in some underwear to put near the water heater. It is in the Bathroom and I keep the door closed and the window open to keep it from heating the rest of the house.

The weekend was busy with the CD launch on Sunday a terrific event.

Not a terrifically productive week so far but hope for the laundry tomorrow and maybe make some pots in the morning before I leave.

Now to try to re-store Wobbly to her mom.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Jul 12 - 07:40 PM

Estate boxes: DONE. Big thanks to the friend who kept me company on the fone today, as I worked.

Just an inventory remains on my laptop, describing items yet to research for estate-valuation purposes AFTER vacay. In addition to that inventory/internet research, some items are still boxed and will be stored awaiting the opinions of dealers who come for the annual Oct. parish antique sale.

One of my favorite things about this was hearing Mom's voice minimizing the importance of the STUFF and emphasizing the people and relationships. A number of nice but low-value items went to the annual August thrift shop yard sale, for which items had already begun to accumulate in the parish hall.

I am very pleased with all the little pass-alongs I implemented thru this, esp. to close family and friends who helped me with the STUFF.

There were also a surprising number of items missed by the sibs who'd packed all this for me to go through, that I am pretty sure they would have wanted to keep. Those boxes also are ready to ship before we leave on vacay next week.

Thanks, Mom. I was very aware in all this of whose daughter I am.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Jul 12 - 12:13 PM

I think the three iron infusions have had a very good effect. I am noticing more energy every day.

This morning I have meditated, played ball with the dogs, did thirty minutes of qi gong with no rests in between, AND got more dusting done, though it's more like shovelling fine wafts of dirt. (We need to add more grass seed to the front yard, again, and keep after the careful watering.) I also had a blast watching the new kitten, Heyasha, teasing the dogs in the hallway. She's hilarious...the dogs are cautious.:-)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jul 12 - 10:31 AM

Took a walk with the dogs this morning after refilling a new hole Zeke dug. Pause in the walk to talk to a local plumber working on a sprinkler system - lucky he and his assistants - it's in the high 70s, not bad for this time of year. Stopped at Susie's house and took in the mail - she gets home late tonight after a couple of weeks with her sisters. We'll see what kind of pattern she settles into now that she is allowed to live alone. It has been two months since she got out of rehab and she is still weak on the left side, but she has come such a long way. Yesterday I loaded a few photos into her facebook account with the recovery information because it is part of the evidence they'll use in a lawsuit to the the driver's insurance to pay Susie's medical bills.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 17 Jul 12 - 12:43 AM

I went grocery shopping today, came home, emptied the fridge, cleaned the shelves and drawers and refilled it with all good for us foods!

I did lots of walking today, had a picnic in the park with my favorite guys and hung laundry on the line.

Tomorrow I am joining a group of new quilting friends in a sewing circle. I'm looking forward to it very much!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 11:44 PM

I can't say it wasn't the food - it was the amount. I need to cut it back, and drink more water.

I'll be printing up the map and heading out in the morning for the closing, and then I must move on to other stuff this summer. It was a quiet day today, nothing to report.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 10:19 PM

Nice surprise at the doctor's office today-- thanks to the thyroid meds I lost another 9 pounds, relatively effortlessly. Which proves what I have said since 4th grade-- it was never the food.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 11:47 AM

Kat, I know the noise of walking through a neighborhood full of dogs - the cacophony as you walk down the block past each new territory and it's resident pack. My dogs are good at ignoring them now (we also walk in the road, no sidewalks, but they are smoothly paved so no problems). The only places where the excitement builds are the couple of houses (three now, actually) where we stop and offer a friend's dog a treat. And if we didn't stop that dog would bark the neighborhood down!

Very sleepy today for some reason. Got to bed later than I planned, I need to remember that getting to sleep before midnight really does make me feel a lot more energetic the next day.

Closing on the refinance tomorrow. Finally!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 03:32 AM

I tried beer last year. No takers. It had taken me some time to find some beer that was not premium stuff from small local breweries, like Bishop's Finger or Spitfire. The cheap stuff was so cheap I was shoced it was available. But the slugs were obviously picky.

There was a news item about the effects of this year's weather on wildlife. Birds and bats badly hit. Slugs and snails doing very well. Tell me something I don't know.

Out last night I found two slugs, and a number of snails. Salted the slugs, and one snail I couldn't get a grip on, and slung the snails over the fence into the communal privet patch, where there is a lot of rotting vegetation on the ground.

When I'm on the other computer I will post the words to a song I wrote on the subject some years ago.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 12:27 AM

We never walk in our neighbourhood, SRS, no sidewalks means too much instability for me plus both dogs need a bit more work on the leash.(And, there are barking dogs at almost every house, both sides of the road.) I could not control either one of them if we had trouble whilst walking, plus Rog also carries my O2 for me (it's heavy!) We're both good trainers just haven't had the time or energy. Our yard is big, they get plenty of exercise. The other thing is Luna hates to go in the car. She lies down and refuses to budge when we invite her. We're working on that, too, just haven't had much time. She did well going to the vet on Friday, though. Maizee, on the other hand loves to go.

We've done several loads of laundry, Rog swept, did the litter boxes, and trash.

I did some stretches and qi gong.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 12:17 AM

No more brick work, and I find the bricks are squishy so until all dries and settles I won't know how much more I need to do to keep them level. I picked up sand for sweeping into the cracks when I finish.

Lots to do to get ready for tomorrow.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 07:22 PM

You only took one dog, or were you each walking a dog? You can't leave the yard with one dog leaving the other two behind. They aren't having it and will make a huge noisy fuss if you try it!

I forgot to get dog biscuits while I was out running (dodging rain storms - I love the rain, but getting wet in the parking lot means you freeze when you're in the air conditioned store). I'll give them each an egg tonight, they'll enjoy that.

Got the various bits and pieces I needed to finish some projects. The laundry is finished and needs folding. I dried in the dryer today because I could tell rain was coming - it was so muggy outside that anything on the line would take forever to dry!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 06:09 PM

I was able to walk into a store and shop a short bit without any aid, yesterday. This afternoon, Rog took me to a park and walked me with the dog,**bg**...me on a O2 "leash" and the dog, of course with her leash. But, I WALKED. Feeling stronger each day.

We've done rudimentary cleaning and I've put a few things away.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 03:34 PM

Do the slugs respond to bowls of beer the way snails do? They crawl in and drown. Put out fresh beer in the evening and by morning you'll find a bowl full. I recess the bowl in the ground a little.

Puttering today, finishing laundry and garden stuff. Tomatoes are about finished for the summer, eggplant are just starting out. I need to get some materials and make baba ghanous for myself and to take some over to the neighbors. That'll be part of my shopping run.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 11:27 AM

Better today. Picked up friend after delivering to the food bank. This is because I am angry about the country I am now living in. People are needing boxes of food because when the government changes their benefits, they can have weeks with no money. The food banks work with people who have been identified by social services, doctors and so an and given vouchers. This is the deserving poor. Though I suppose that the posh boys turn that round to be the poor deserve to be poor, they are always with us, and the Big Society will take care of them. I am angry at being forced to be that society. Charities pick and choose - I used to pay taxes so people didn't fall through the cracks of personal pickiness. In this case I have my suspicions about people being asked to take Jesus into their lives to bring them out of the desperate straits they are have been pushed into by business who will not pay reasonable wages, counting on tax credits to make up the shortfall, with their friends in the government reneging on that. Rant over.
I have ordered some new nematodes for the slugs. Funny how they all turned up just as the last lot's six weeks were over. I've had to peel the radishes. I don't relish being forced to feed the slimy things. It's expensive. Why can't they be content with the compost and the kitchen waste?
I think I may go out at night with the salt sprinkler. I shall spread the coffee over the radishes.
Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jul 12 - 11:04 PM

Good for you, Michelle! I hope tomorrow is a totally easy day to lounge and rest up.

I finished the row of bricks in an hour, but then kept going, pulled up more rows, weeded from under them, then put them back. In the process I extended the rows of bricks and used up two stacks of bricks that had been sitting on the patio for ages. I have a few more hours of work out there, but it is going to look wonderful (and Zeke will NOT be able to dig up bricks!)

I drank a gallon or so of water today and when I hopped into the shower I was glad to see that my ankles were to their old shape. With the heat if I don't drink lots of water - more than I think I need - they stay puffy. It was so hot out there that I had a liter of ice water that I kept refilling.

I need to put in a load of laundry this evening, then I'm finished.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Jul 12 - 06:44 PM

My last 48 hours:

Cutting and chopping veggies and fruit for 175 people and then clean up.

Setting up for the Relay For Life Survivors Tent

Greeting, registering and listening to many Survivors.

Walking the track for the Survivor's Lap, to see all the luminaries later and then just doing laps in general.

Hanging out, cleaning up, sleeping a little bit and more clean up efforts.

It's been a very busy 2 days and I am exhausted but it was SO worth all the work!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jul 12 - 03:36 PM

In for a cool-down from brick work. I've dug up a couple of rows of the bricks, weeded, and repositioned them. Kind of boring work. I'll feel better about it when it looks nice with all of the weeds out and the bricks level. I can put my barbecue over there then! Now that will be nice!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jul 12 - 11:49 AM

The boxes of my mom's stuff have been "resting" awaiting the next instalment of sorting.... the endgame.

Tonight I will go through the large box of "I want to keep" stuff and subdivide it further. One box for "bring home now" items that are calling to me to put them into daily use. An item she would love my using is a small travel purse that hangs on a lanyard-- it will go under the service dog's kerchief for his must-carry identification/shot record papers which I will reduce on the copier to lighten his load. One box for "no, don't need to keep, want to pass this on" and one for "might want after vacation, bring home to look thru when we get back."

At the same time the camper is readying for its 2012 vacay trip, with much purging of too-heavy items jettisoned for a hot southern vacay with a cheap AC on board required for my health. These are going into storage for next summer's cold-climate vacay where they will be needed and easily re-loaded.

Also in the sorting-mix is the Boondocker which I need to sleep in one night this week and then it will be purged enough for the vacay, which always needs thoughtful space allocation.

These are all things I will do the way my mother taught me, updated with the sort of present-time improvements I used to be able to call her to share-- we'd giggle and laugh like we never could when I was a kid.

The vacay includes time with son and DIL. DIL has been named Reigning Matriarch for obvious Alpha Female gifts and seasoned application of AF/RM skills. One of the boxes I've been sorting is going to them.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jul 12 - 11:12 AM

Sounds like a long nap today might help put things back to rights, Penny. Your body trying to tell you something. And I had a similar problem this year, but it was cutworms (no slime, they were just under the soil and attacked seedlings and small bedding plants).

Okay. Now to make myself go outside. Once I get started I'll be fine, but it's the pushing myself out the door sometimes that is the most difficult part of a job. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 14 Jul 12 - 10:44 AM

I'm feeling very sleepy today, for no apparent reason. Nothing too tiring yesterday, slept normally (with a few loo visits, quite normal). Good breakfast. (Cheat's kedgeree - supermarket egg fried rice plus loads of freezedried parsley, smoked haddock and some butter.) Too much breakfast because a small pack of rice turned out not to be small enough, and I didn't think it a good idea to keep the rice till tomorrow because of B. cereus. Set off to a friend in South London and found I needed too much concentration to drive so came home and went to bed. Still not properly awake. Bit of a nuisance, as I can't do anything much.
I did do some gardening before the kedgeree. Fixed up the forsythia which had dragged the wire which stops it falling on the periennials beneath. Resowed Chinese cabbage, swede, carrot, lettuce and parsnip, which were doing beautifully up till last night, which was very wet, and obviously got the slugs out. No slime though. Just absent seedlings. I'm going to have to send off for some more nematodes.
Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jul 12 - 10:37 AM

Arrgghhh! Zeke dug a huge hole next to my new rocks and filled the area with dirt. That boy needs a rude surprise when he's in the process, but he seems to be digging in the wee hours.

I'm getting to jelly season, if not this weekend, then very soon.

Now, to the bricks.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jul 12 - 12:28 AM

Mostly it was computer work today, and after having solved one problem at a site I moderate, that work has slowed to a trickle. The dogs and I took a walk in the woods across the road - they wanted to pull and explore rather than walk, and they just missed seeing a bunny (good thing they didn't or they might have pulled me into a thicket head-first.)

Tonight I set things up in the back next to the patio to do some work on the bricks in the morning. They are in a pattern with three at a per square, each square perpendicular to the next, but aren't cemented in. Weeds coming through the cracks have been a problem. They're also not level so water pools near the patio, and I want to extend the bricks (I still have a lot I can use that were on the property).

I have a weeding thing to pry them up and remove a couple of rows at a time, weed out roots and raise the level, then put them back. Then I'll be able to move some concrete planters from the concrete patio over onto the brick area. I have some soil ready to put in them and plant. It'll look lovely and the result will be a pretty landscaped area (and I won't have so many shin bruises from bumping into those heavy planters). I'll use vinegar to kill the weeds once the patio is back in place.

I'm expecting this to take an hour or so, something I can do before it gets too hot back there.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 06:47 PM

The concert was phenomenal. I'm glad they started at 8... or 8-ish. The open mic guys can go every Friday, but this line-up was something special. I came home with ideas about digging up some ground for a garden, although this year it will likely be annuals holding space for veggies next year. It's been so miserably hot here that I haven't moved much since I've been back home, and dizzy on occasion.

And there were brakes to get fixed before I went up (which cost $$), and the "service engine soon" light on the way home meant I got all of the original 10-year-old spark plugs replaced (more $$). THEN, my midsummer oil delivery happened on Wednesday: more $$, but not as much as winter oil.

I also saw Stormin' Norman, brother of Beer, who's working on a new CD, which sounds like it will be excellent. He has one of those Pickmaster dealies, and gave me a few credit card plectrums. I can't find them now. This leads me to conclude that, whether it was purchased legitimately, found, stolen, or gifted, it is a defining characteristic of a plectrum that it should get lost. Somebody should make little GPS chips for picks. There should be an app for that.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 05:33 PM

Forgot to mention how great it was to see Ron Bankley looking fit on Friday as well as enjoying his guitar work! And Luc's also.

SRS: the time/energy thing - sometimes I have time but no energy OR no energy for the specific task. A lot of times, I cast about looking for something for which I do have the energy so I can at least get Something Done! And getting something done can lead to...

As in: looking for something that gave me the address I needed for the citizenship app, led to decluttering the "store room" and the computer to some degree. Found it!! Almost ready to print and mail!

Glaze firing is happening! Now if only I get good stuff out of it; I did a few untried combinations of glazes. I am hoping for good surprises - late tonight or very early morning.

mg comes up with good ideas! However, the almost immovable BIG kiln needs to get to the city and be put on Kijiji. There won't be any hits a way out here. And I Really want to put the newer small kiln there. I tried really hard to figure a way to move it into a place where I could plug it in but if is slipped and I injured it!!! I can hear someone ask, "What about injuring me?" I've always been pretty good at not doing that.

I also did some more organizing in the studio before I started firings. Cannot go in there during. May have another glaze load to fire on Monday. But will try to throw some first. Hope to fill the kiln for another bisque firing before next weekend. Possible if energy holds. That is why it is good for me to have a small kiln. It is not so daunting to fill.

Made black bean salsa yesterday: it is so difficult! Put two cups of beans in slow cooker til soft, cool, throw in a quantity of salsa and put through blender.   Had it on lettuce for lunch with a bit of grated cheese. Yum.

Now: See if kiln is done, feed animals, start another gallon of water in the distiller. And go hear the Steve Barry Blues Band! Come home and load car for tomorrow - farmers market and check the kiln, hopefully.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 11:44 AM

I hope the experimenting is over!

We didn't walk this morning, I'm tied up with stuff, but we'll take a long walk tonight, I think it'll be another nice evening.

One of the jars of tomatoes didn't seal, but it's in the fridge and I'll use it soon. I think I remember the lid - it didn't want to stay put like they usually do. I should have taken that as a clue and gotten another one.

Getting dressed this morning I found the waistband of my favorite summer trousers had dropped some stitches that encased the elastic, so I did a quick repair. Every time I go into that room and sit down to sew a quick "something" I find myself wishing I had more time for it. Of course it's up to me to make that time.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 11:06 AM

managed meditation and qi gong the past two days. also noticed i have lost nine pounds, a lot of it water weight, since the end of May when i started recovering from the meds "experiment."

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 02:17 AM

What a juxtaposition of anniversaries! And be sure to drink some Gatorade and take some aspirin at bedtime or your back and legs won't let you sleep! Every time I can (which I did again this evening) I have to make sure to take something at bedtime or the muscles complain. (I did 10 more pints of diced tomatoes tonight.)

Took an evening walk with the dogs, it isn't usually as nice as this evening was, probably mid-80s or 90, but not 100 or worse, so we walked up to Susie's house and Zeke played in her pool for a while. The girls aren't great fans of the pool but they wanted to go tear up the fence where two or three little dogs bark at them from the other side, so they weren't allowed off leash. Zeke has been digging dirt into my new rock area, and now started digging in the rocks. Driving me nuts, and I even dug up a new spot in the back of the yard hoping he'd go dig back there. I need to cover the area for a while.

I've wound down from the canning, so I'm headed to bed. Have a great event, Michelle! Don't let the paid staff get you down!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 01:43 AM

I spent all day working in the kitchen helping to prepare food for about 175 people at the Relay For Life event. I worked my tail off and I'm pretty sure I lost about 5 pounds in pure sweat.

Relay begins in less than 10 hours......

What could be better than that? Celebrating our 20th anniversary.

:) :) :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 05:43 PM

Good idea! Just don't advertise it as a "dryer." :)

Went for a great walk with the dogs this morning, switching them out on the leashes gives them a different view of the world or different companion for a little variety.

Very quiet day on the gardening site since we managed to block the Chinese spammers. We'll see how long it takes them to find a work-around. It has also been interesting to answer questions about tomatoes and share recipes.

We're excited about our new Dean arriving on Monday, and I'll be over there much of next week, I expect, figuring out what way the wind will begin blowing. We have a Library reception on Monday.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 05:13 PM

I bet you could swap the old kiln for a washer of some sort. mg

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Jul 12 - 09:14 PM

It was nice to see Jeri on Friday as she trekked to Ormstown for Bruce evening at the cafe - a special event for those of us who could be there. He will be at the Apple Hollow Music Fest on 21 July. This wonderful event was the catalyst that got me back in Quebec 3 years ago.

I started filling out the app for citizenship and of course ran into - What was my address that year? and other things. Need high energy level to do these bureaucratic things. This week it went to pot - literally!

A loaded kiln is warming to make sure pots are VERY DRY before firing tomorrow. It could be a tich more full but I did what I could and want some new pots for the market on Saturday. So Friday will be very busy glazing - which always take longer than expected. I will try to get prepared tomorrow so it goes smoothly without - OOPS, need to sieve that glaze and Where is the...? Cannot do much in the studio once the firing is fuming.

Would love to be able to use my newer kiln for the glaze firing but it is still sitting on top of a cupboard where I put it in December when I brought it home. Getting it out of the car alone was challenging. Getting it down to floor level alone is not an option. That darn big kiln I never wanted is CLUTTER of the worst kind. It is taking up the space for the nice small one.

My cookie cutters arrived on Monday and I have tried them out, getting an idea of how dry the clay needs to be for clean cuts. The stamps are at my friend's in NYS and I am hoping we can zip down on Saturday to get them. Then I can do a bunch of brown sugar moisteners for Apple Hollow. I did a half dozen for this weekend, maple leaves and "sugar apples".

I decluttered a few hundred emails, finally realizing they are available elsewhere. And set up a tool chest in a cupboard with shallow drawers - lined it with carpet underlay, so things do not move when the drawers are opened, and put all the small hand tools in it, thereby clearing some space on the workbench. Sorted unfinished pots, washed the unglazed ones that have been sitting since December, ready to glaze tomorrow.

Met the bread manager, Carol, and the dog food area manager, Tara, at Super C today. Both are competent women. Carol showed me where she has set up a section for "my bread"! It is labeled and ready for tomorrow's delivery. I was wondering if the delivery would be on going! I am ready for more good bread. I mentioned my dream of her setting up a bigger section for this brand of bread and advertising it as a "new product". We'll see.

Tara told me it is best to talk to the persons "with blue shirts" as the man who told me the larger bag of puppy food would be in "tomorrow" two weeks ago, was not a blue shirt. She showed me her list of products; she cannot order a bigger bag. But suggested a couple nearby stores which might have what I need. However, I then realized the small bags of the brand I want is only a few cents more than a big bag of the Purina I want to boycott - because they sponsor killing competitions of wild animals - like raccoons.

Still looking for a clothes washer as the pile builds. Maybe R will bring one that works this week!

And Sunday is a CD launch party up the road for the Durham County Poets, a terrific group!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jul 12 - 11:03 PM

The dishes have piled up, but I think I'll give them another day before I run the dishwasher. The thumb is still sore. Silly how one little spot can spoil your plans. I have to put a bunch of peppers in the fridge so they don't get too soft.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jul 12 - 12:15 PM

Amazing how a small injury can impact your plans: I nicked the corner of my left thumb with the cheese slicer. Just enough that it kind of smarts still (I have a neosporin ointment and a bandaid on it for now). I'll be doing everything in gloves for a while.

There was a long talk on the Diane Rehm show today, second hour, about positive aspects of procrastination. I understood - there are some things that take time to consider and then you have an "ah ha!" moment when it all falls into place. Then there is the chronic variety with all of the little scripts in your head in place. I've been fighting that one for ages, and have made progress, but it's time to reread the Procrastinator's Guide to Getting Things Done book again.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jul 12 - 01:06 AM

We had a little rain this evening. Not much, but since it was forecast and sometimes we get hail with these storms, I cleared the hay off the floor and opened the garage door to pull the truck in. I told Zeke to "stay!" in the stall at the back of the garage, but when the truck started he pushed through and ran out the big door - our compromise was that I opened the truck door and let him ride into the garage in the back seat. He's such a silly dope! He needs to be trained on the Invisible Fence collar to keep him in the yard in front, but in the meantime, I'll continue to not open that door often unless he's already in the truck or in the kennel.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 03:37 PM

Kat, it sounds like you've got a great "pack" of dogs there! And a new cat? How is that working for everyone?

Photoshop decluttering today, mostly. I did the dishes last night so the kitchen was welcoming today. The dogs got a walk before breakfast and we headed up to the little undeveloped park.

I probably need to can more tomatoes this evening. Usually it's necessary when I get to about a gallon and a half stored in the fridge (I have these big clear Rubbermaid containers that came from my Dad's house - I always wondered why he had so many but I held onto this stuff and now when I'm canning it all comes out. He used to can strawberries, so I think we're following parallel tracks here.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 12:01 PM

rags, great news on the tile!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 11:51 AM

Hard to tell who had the most fun. After the dogs were bathed they got to stay out and play a lot longer then usual in order to dry out, so they were happy campers, too. Morgan did have a blast though.:-)

I don't remember how long it's been, now, but I finally started my day with meditation, full 30 minutes of qi gong, and have been out with the dogs, throwing the ball for them. Don't feel like doing much else...cerebral work beckons, but I don't think I have the capacity for it just yet.

kat

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 12:26 AM

Laundry finished, but I need to fill the dishwasher and run it, the counters overflow with dishes. It would be nice to start the morning with the kitchen clean, if my tonight-self can get motivated to clear up a bit.

Busy week ahead, new boss arrives in a week so we're all trying to finish up stuff and be ready to hit the ground running when she gets here.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jul 12 - 04:45 PM

I bet Morgan had more fun than the dogs, but it is so nice to nuzzle a freshly bathed pooch!

Nine more jars of tomatoes last night, and much of the weekend spent as a moderator decluttering tons of spam at my favorite gardening site. Now to work on some stuff around the house.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 10:16 PM

We've done a good bit of stuff, but I don't want to list it all. Main thing is, today, thanks to Morgan and Rog, the dogs had their first ever baths...outside with Papa holding each on a leash (done separately, of course,) wetting them with the hose, then Morgan working shampoo in and all over. He got soaked, laughed his head off and did a good job. They look so nice and clean..Luna looks so fluffy she's cute.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 07:54 PM

Just me this weekend I guess!

I'm canning tomatoes tonight after doing some shopping this afternoon. It was one of those expensive trips to buy meat then package and freeze it. It's the meat for several weeks that I bought today. I also picked up a couple of cases of pint jars, that's what I'll be doing tonight. And I might start on the jelly. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 04:46 PM

I've been reworking old soaker hoses to use them in the yard in shorter segments that I can move around. In addition, lots of general puttering today, but this evening I need to get started on the chandelier for eBay. Didn't do tomatoes yet, but I may this evening.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 12:08 AM

Looks like more diced tomato canning in the morning. I opened a box of old canning jars my next door neighbor sent over last year and found a few pint jars to wash out to round out the few jars left of the last of the cases I bought a couple of weeks ago. I have enough for one more round of diced tomatoes.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 11:26 AM

Let's hope this road trip is much less eventful or fraught with health problems as that trip a year or more ago!

This weekend coming up has a list of chores, as usual. Laundry, mowing the back, putting on my weed-stompers and working on the garden some more. I have some steel edging that I pulled out of one bed that can at the edge of another. And indoors, I have all of the chandelier bits and bobs, so I need to assemble it, photograph it, then dismantle, pack, and list it.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: ragdall
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 04:20 AM

SRS,
Good job on the spam removal! That's a lot of clutter!

The shower was re-tiled, re-using old tiles and new on the walls. New tiles on the floor. No plumbers or carpenters were required. I'm crossing my fingers that the tiles will still be on the walls after the winter freezing and thawing on the outside walls.

We're on the road with our visitors. I won't be able to be online much until the end of July.

rags

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 02:20 AM

I figured out how to short-circuit the spam accounts that post to a gardening forum where I am active and this evening I decluttered over 200 accounts set up (mostly from China) for posting spam to our site. They have to establish it before they can post. They've been hammering us lately, perhaps thinking that with an American holiday we wouldn't be there watching for their Louis Vuitton and NFL jersey postings.

For a "fitness" entry, earlier this evening I loaded the dogs in the truck and we drove over to a park to walk around. They love the variety and walking on pavement isn't great in the evening. Morning walks are fine when we can get them.

That's about it, a little exercise and computer cleanup this evening. The kitchen has a few dishes that will wait till morning. Today felt like Monday all day after taking several days off, the wonderful thing is that tomorrow is Friday! :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 08:45 PM

Happy news that Banjo is enough better to move around on his own - wobbly - and has left his solitary spot for being next to mom again. The swollen foot is mostly OK but his thigh is still tender and swollen. He is taking an interest in life and moved around the kitchen for a while before requesting that I put him up next to me. He is so wise about what he needs and wants.

Sorted the stuff from the "trash": a med sized box for the thrift shop, a smaller box for the workshop, and a few interesting baking dishes, cutlery and other items for the kitchen. Some may be found redundant and leave later. A nifty glass "apple" dish with relief of leaves and stem goes to the pottery for possible usefulness.

I just ordered a variety of maple leaf cookie cutters and an apple one. (Could not find the ones I used before. Will cut a bunch of clay pieces for putting in brown sugar to keep it moist. I sell a couple each time. But I also ordered custom stamps: one is the logo of the Orchard where the Music Fest is held and one of my own logo - to stamp the sugar moisteners and maybe other things as well. The orchard can then have a bunch in their shop through the fall. It is a nothing project to roll out the clay, cut and stamp it but I am actually looking forward to doing it.

The ordering took two days of frustration, mostly due to flickering internet and two phone calls to each company to figure out the process. Super nice customer service people at each site!

I plugged in the washing machine R brought out from the city but no go. Too bad we did not do it before he took it off the truck! Need to keep an eye out for one that works.

I just phoned R and he is in Quebec City - without me! Darn! Business and spur of the moment. I asked him to check out a pottery wheel there if he can; an excellent wheel at a reasonable price. I had given up on it because it is a 6 hour round trip but if he is there.... This is in the category of a lighter wheel to take places for demo.

Did a shopping trip expecting to get that large bag of puppy food - not in yet - and looking for a larger bag of kitty litter. We are going through a box about every five days. Ended up driving a few miles in a different direction to a coop and did get a big bag. Now I know, I can make that a trip for other things as well, rather than going in two opposite directions.

Well, just had a long Skype call with S-in-L with internet flickering. We reconnected about a dozen times. That's all she is going to write.

The feeding and cleaning took the morning, shopping took the afternoon, feeding took early eve and now I have quit for the day. Unless I get the energy to vacuum and mop the floor.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 04:43 PM

Busy on campus today, checking in quickly to see what's up. I mowed the front lawn before I left because I realized it was too tall and might invite a burglar looking for a house where it appeared that no one is home. It'll look inviting when I get home today!

I delivered some produce today, to my hair cutter and to a couple of friends in the library and delivered a jar of my salsa to Dean, my canning guru, when we had lunch. It's interesting to hear him talk about being a grandfather - he and his late partner (who used to cut my hair) had a foster son for a number of years, who has had ups and downs but seems finally to be in a pretty stable position and is married and has a child and step child. So Dean is in the grandparent role and is enjoying it, and I find it interesting, discussing child-rearing tips with him. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 03:50 PM

I HAVE A NEW DOCTOR!!!

I prepared carefully for the solution to the "What Happened to Susan" mystery: I printed a flipbook of pictures ranging from birth (pre-birth PTSD) thru childhood (scary-skinny & more PTSD) to 4th grade (more PTSD and suddenly fat), and on thru other PTSD events into present time-- with gradual and continuous weight gain despite eating less and moving more.

I also combed thru the labs and various medical info I have been accumulating to have an answer for every question, neatly in tabs, right at my fingertips.

Then I swapped (about ten minutes each) peptalk-- with a good friend on the phone. Showered. Dressed. Started to leave...

Then I realized Hardi had not put my keys away the night before, called for a ride, and phoned another friend (who had referred me to this doc), for prayer.

And I had the best husband in the world with me, in quiet support (he drove).

And it worked! It turns out she is a hypothyroid patient, TOO. The office staff ROCK.


So-- I walked out with meds (free samples!!!), at the right dose, to get me to and thru vacation, with a plan for further labs and diagnostics when I get back, YAY!!!

And she can do the Paps my current doc could not, and she is fine with me keeping him in the Team for spine issues.

TBTG!!!

Now I can really SLEEP.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 03:25 PM

DP,

   You get to see Bruce Murdoch??? Give him a BIG HUG & KISS from me please!!!!!!!

I love my Brucie!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 10:21 AM

Dorothy, I made guacamole then heap it into ice cube tray sections and freeze it. The little bricks go into a ziplock bag in the freezer. I'm freezing so much stuff these days, cherry tomatoes, peppers (of various sorts), and herbs.

Fireworks drive Poppy up the wall so the dogs spent a fair amount of time indoors yesterday - and of course, anything I do, they follow along. It was a bit festive, I made a batch of popcorn. Zeke doesn't seem familiar with it but Cinnamon and Poppy were at attention when they smelled it and Zeke caught on -- it's all flavor, no bulk to speak of. ;)

Prior to that I cleared in the kitchen, got out another case of pint canning jars, and canned 8 pints and 1 half-pint of my diced tomatoes. It seems the best use of them - they're so juicy I don't get much sauce. I'll have to plant a couple of Roma tomatoes for a fall sauce crop.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 11:37 PM

Took a dozen books to the library for their book sale ...

Banjo was chittering at me and I got the message, "I need to poop, mom!" So I quickly took him outside and he immediately did the job! What a good smart little guy! Mind, he is still chittering? He already peed on the big beach towel over thick newspaper on the sofa. I missed that. Not paying enough attention. ... May be chittering himself to sleep? Ah! Drink of water, Mom! Now quiet. This guy communicates; I just need to understand raccoon! I hope his leg heals before he is totally spoiled! I am handmaiden to a very small raccoon. He cannot support himself to poop; needs a hand under his tummy.

So, also took a pile of stuff to the thrift shop only to come back and have R unload a bunch of stuff from the truck - that he found in the trash. Some nice dishes and cutlery and a large stainless pot ....

Would you believe --- I had put him on the floor but, no, not right! Well, how bout back in your hiding place? No. I had to find a plastic to put on the sofa and another towel for his cosiness and NOW, his highness is sleeping! Can't help but love the wee thing!

Anyway, bunch of stuff some interesting, some already in a box for the thrift shop. Will continue tomorrow.

And picked out some books at library to bring home and R also got a card and five books - the limit.

Came back and the squirrel women were here, installing a couple more squirrels to get acclimated before release. The previous three were released last week and have made themselves a home in a large maple tree. We talked for a while. one is trying to get me vaccines for the raccoons and they gave me the name of a rehabber in Quebec, something I have been trying to find for 3 years.

Banjo must be feeling better to be so fussy! But I want him really healed before he goes back out. No more nights sitting up with a screaming-in-pain infant! One of the worst nights of my life. That was Monday night - 2 am - 4 am, holding ice cubes on his foot and leg as he screamed an ear piercing, heart rending scream. What a feeling of helplessness. Finally eased when I petted the top of his foot constantly for about half an hour.

We both went to sleep in the bed. His grand finale was pooping on the fresh bottom sheet. I was so tired I wiped it up and put a heavy towel over it and crawled in. Woke up with him on my pillow. So I hand washed sheet, mattress pad, pillow cases and a couple big towels.

Life is mostly feed the animals, change the water and litter - a couple hours/day. Vacumming was done a couple days ago and is needed again tomorrow. The leaves come in on our shoes; some of us do not wipe our feet on the door mats. Keep dishes washed. Eat carefully. Scale is at 165. May be accurate. May have lost a couple pounds for all my effort. I will believe it when scale reads 160. Motivation grows with success.

I am keeping up with the laundry by hand washing the essentials in the bath tub. A washing machine sits by the ouside faucet but we need to be sure it functions before putting the effort into moving a very heavy old Maytag into the Bathroom! Maybe this weekend, she says hopefully.

Then the things that were on the line were well rinsed by last night's storm and things that needed a pre-rinse got that in tonight's storm.

SRS: glad to hear that guacamole can be frozen. The question has been on my mind a few weeks.

Bruce Murdoch at the Cafe this Friday! Will we see Jeri?

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 10:25 PM

I spent all day yesterday cooking for a picnic today for family and friends. We had a great time...it was a long, hot, buggy day, but we had fun anyway! I have the leftovers put away but the rest of the stuff is in bags all over the kitchen. It can wait until tomorrow. I am happily exhausted.

Happy 4th of July Everybody!

XOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 10:18 PM

Dogs are snoring on the floor behind me as the thump and sputter of fireworks plays out. Poppy gets really panicked buy them - there must have been some last night because she was a real pest at the door. I threw a cup of water on her (she hates that) so she'd go into the garage and go to bed, but I knew it would be worse tonight. I guess last night's water made such an impression on Cinnamon that she was ready to head to the garage when I went to the back door tonight - I think it hurt her feelings. :-( Anyway, they're all happily asleep on my office floor, ignoring the noise.

I canned eight pints of tomatoes this evening. There is space in the fridge again. I figured I wouldn't get to them until the weekend if I didn't do it today, and some were at their absolute peak. I still have plenty and will deliver fresh fruit to a couple of friends tomorrow.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll finally get a call with a time and place for closing on the house. I've had to put off so many things, waiting for them to finish up.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 08:02 PM

Boxes: One more session next week ought to do it! So tired. End in sight. So neat to see all the little ways I was like her and did not even know it. Clue: a diaper pin in every purse.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 06:33 PM

When this morning's local Independence Day festivities down at Demmon's Old Country Store were more or less rained out, I made a weekend breakfast of scrambled eggs with cream cheese and toasted English muffin for Tom and me.

Then I went upstairs to see if I could declutter a pile o' papers.

Did rather well, though there's lots more to go. Read and threw out a bunch of articles and sorted some of the rest. Actually got the clippings, etc. filed where they were supposed to be (and could actually be found again).

Also de-accessioned three books on making garden accessories and projects. Just don't need them -- my neighbor will get some use out of them.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 11:44 AM

While dog walking this morning I shouted a greeting to a neighbor, told him his grill smell wonderful (he was loading it with something as I walked past). "You're welcome to join us!" he said - I'm tempted. I don't know when they eat, but probably for lunch. I could take up a few tomatoes as an offering. It's nice to be asked!

I'll probably stay here though, hang out with the dogs and do some more puttering. I've enjoyed these days off.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 05:55 AM

Another push today on Mom's stuff-- the last of the weird "what do I do with THIS?" items and doing a valuation of the items deemed of cash value.... reboxing the one med. large box of keepers into the smaller boxes they came here in, which I can actually carry. TBTG for my good friend Lauri+ who is coming with her partner (on the 4th of July!!) to spend a few hours with me doing this part.

I will probably make final dispositions from the boxfuls I have (around the 21st), and then ship the items that go to certain individuals as we pull out of town for vacay.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jul 12 - 05:23 PM

It's the day the dogs all get their Revolution (heartworm, flea, and tick control) so I gave each of them a good brush. At least, Zeke donated a lot of hair to the bag where I put it (or it drifts everywhere!) and Poppy was generous with her fluffy soft hair, and poor Cinnamon, not wanting to be left out, I let her in and ran the brush over her and scratched and tickled she with the simple terrier coat. No undercoat, little shedding.

Emptied a couple of boxes of stuff that were in the hall - I have to run an errand in a little while so I'll load the recycling and do that on the same trip.

Eating a lot of fruit these days, tons of stuff from the garden. The rest is going into the canning or freezer. I did another gallon or so of cherry tomatoes this morning (froze on a tray then rolled them like marbles into a gallon ziplock bag).

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jul 12 - 02:59 PM

Jeri, the appliances and vehicles are in league together - have cash set aside for something you want to do and the hot water tank bursts or the air conditioner dies.

I finally tackled the kitchen today so it looks much better, and I'm going to make a run over to the recycling bins to get rid of paper in boxes that I have sitting in the hall. Some of it can go in files, the rest in the bin.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 09:25 PM

All 8 boxes opened and initial-sorted. Will finish Wednesday.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 07:05 PM

Our pets and car and house all did that to us, Jeri, a couple of months ago. I think they all missed the memo about paying it forward or something.:-)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 06:39 PM

Oh, did some laundry, too, and got it folded and back upstairs. Not exactly put away, but at least it's upstairs...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Jeri
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 06:36 PM

I have no energy. Well, I say that, but I manage to do some work without problems so it may just be heat related. It was hot in May, then cooled off enough to use a down comforter at night, then went straight into sheets only and fan. I suppose if I had anything to do, I'd get it done, but if I'm not moving, my body seems to think I should take a nap.

I took my car in for a "funny noise" when I braked.    The mech, Kevin, thought the rotors were poo, but the brake pads were ok. When he got in there, he found the brake pads were de-laminating, probably because of heat. ("What 'heat'" sez I, and K sez "probably the 100 to 0 MPH stops." Sez I, "but I only did that once!") I love this garage. They're a bunch of very knowledgeable smart-asses. New rotors, new brake pads, new brake fluid, AND a throttle plate cleaning that means the stupid gas pedal won't stick when I try to accelerate. Car's in good shape, but why is it when you work for a while and make some money, the fates seem to know, and arrange for you to not end up with a surplus?

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 06:26 PM

I puttered today. Little things, but got a lot accomplished on many fronts. Finished a book. Did Tom's leg and took his blood pressure. Took compost out to compost pile. Moved and consolidated rocks to put back in place around the lower side of the turnaround (they were plowed out of place two winters ago). Moved some chunks of birch. Pulled some weeds (but didn't touch the thorn bushes). Got the pile of white lawnchairs out the cellar door -- closer to getting them to my up-the-hill-neighbor. Put another stack of optical magazines into the car. Organized some stuff in the cellar (in other words, I walked stuff to the proper pile) and found some more stuff for Goodwill. Thought about pulling nails out of the shelves so I could put them back into place. Consolidated some stuff outside and in the cellar to take to the head of the driveway as soon as I make a "FREE" sign. Found the rake. Oh, and in the process, decluttered and swept the deck so I can get Tom out there to enjoy the weather. Found a birthday card for my sister; found a sympathy card to send to a friend. Started reading another book. And now I'm in the middle of making dinner -- Moroccan chicken stew with onions, lemons, and green olives.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 05:12 PM

Decluttering even at the grocery store! Actually, it's a good thing to know that the bulletins you're reading are "fresh."

Still puttering, on one of my vacation days this week. Baked a chicken for meals this week, made a batch if guacamole and put it in ice cube trays in the freezer. I have a lot of things to do, but I'm thinking that clearing my dining room table of all of those playbills might be a good idea. Or moving that cabinet from the sun room and finally turning it into the buffet that I envision it becoming.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 04:41 PM

Dorothy, it is understood by all who use the bulletin board at the IGA that the board is cleared of all paper, posters and messages at the end of each and every month, and that is also clearly stated just beside the bulletin board. It's been that way for years. So, if you go put another poster up for whatever, it will be taken down at the end of July or August 1. FYI.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 04:06 PM

We have been chugging away. Did all of the usual weekend chores. I was able to do more than I have been. Big thing was drove us home from the grocery store! I still had to have Rog to unhook the seat belt, but I can now turn the key (well, on Sat. I could. Too much trackball & playing UNO on cellphone, has caused a huge flare-up in my hand.)

The therapist and I set some goals to alleviate my feeling like a caged bird. They include driving and dusting the house in small bits at a time.

On the 4th, we plan to shampoo the dogs.:-) Oh, and the Siamese was still there on payday. She is here now, settling in quite well. She's very sweet, bold, beautiful, funny, and the other critters are getting used to her. I'll post a picture on FB. Nt sure what to name her...nothing is popping out at me. It will come. Originally it was going to be Suki. Morgan wants "C.C." for Curious Cat, but I told him it probably not as there are negative connotations with CC for me.

Another hot afternoon...resting, reading, staying coolish.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 03:37 PM

Penny, have you tried hanging dead CDs over the garden?

My life came to a screeching halt yesterday when Banjo came in sick. As I went out to do the animal chores, he had somehow escaped and was coming to the backdoor - to find Mom. I took him inside and left him to go get the two babies and give bottles. But when I returned Banjo had barely moved. He refused his bottle and I went into a blue funk. Oh yeah, over one tiny sick raccoon!

He took up residence on the sofa and I sat with him - after the chores which HAD to be done - and read and worked on computer. Then I phoned R (on Skype), other "mom". B perked up when he heard R's voice! So I perked up and washed some clothes, by hand, and the dishes. But did little else. I have been giving him Pau d'Arco (he hates it) and syringes of water and this morning he guzzled his bottle and later was looking for a place to do his business. I took him outside and he used the grass. That was a relief because it is hard to leave him on the sofa unattended for fear of an "accident". In the process, I find he is not using one rear leg and it hurts if I touch it so I am hoping he is "just"suffering a sore leg and not some dreaded disease.

As he continues to ensconce himself on "my" end of the sofa, I moved to the love seat for the light and ----Arghhhh!!!! The arm is grey!!! R usually sits here and I keep telling him his clothes are dirty and it will.... But it is worse and so I am sitting here getting inspired to figure out how to get it some clean. NOT washable says the label. I think I may try Dr. Bronner's anyway. IT cleans R! MAybe corn starch? Suggestions welcome. I have never needed to clean upholstered furniture.

Almost time for animal chores again. I did go shopping and raised the roof at IGA at the gross stupidity (I did not say that) of clearing the entire bulletin board with no consideration for the posters of events in the future. Furious, I consider the possibility of never shopping there again. Unrealistic. I put up a new poster for Apple Hollow, my last large one.

Ordered a 16 kg bag of puppy food at Super C. It took four staff to deal with my concerns: One spoke some English, one was an anglophone, the manager was from France and the animal food person was a francophone! No, there is nowhere to put a public bulletin board other than back in the corner where no one goes. The bread issue: not a single loaf of bread in the store I would put in my mouth or even give to an animal. I got the name of the bakery manager and a phone number - will she understand English? The dog food will be there tomorrow! One out of three....

Hope R gets back tonight to help me give the guys their second shots, now two days overdue. He has been gone since Saturday with work in the city. So much for our long weekend. Now, the animals...

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 01:32 PM

I have added some sealant to the shower where I removed the previous occupants' efforts. Mine is much neater and takes up less space, but I haven't tested it yet.

On Saturday, I cleared last year's celery bed and planted out some bought cabbage plants.

On Sunday, between 12.30 and 3.30, a pigeon ate most of the leaves and started on the peas. I used the pyracantha twigs I had trimmed from the neighbour's bush hanging over the fence to build a defence of the rest of the cabbage, and made a thicket of pea sticks around the pea plants.

This morning, the fat ****** pulled out the pyracantha and finished off the cabbage leaves. I took down the anti-cat trellis from the fence and built an arch over what was left in case it could recover.

I have been out to the garden centre and come back with more trellis, netting and spikes to hold it down, and some more plants.

This is war.

I am going to make a falcon silhouette and fly it from a string between my upstairs window and the back fence. When I can work out how to laminate it without a laminator. I think I have a roll of sticky backed plastic somewhere.

Our cherry farm is in a bad way. They can only employ a third of the usual pickers, and have had to get rid of the Portaloo, while putting up the price of the fruit to almost match the supermarkets Turkish and Spanish imports. And they can't be open every day, and pack up half way through. All down to the weather. And I have to guess when they are open.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 12:07 PM

That does sound lovely, Michelle, and choosing your favorite salads sounds like a good idea. Rags, the bathroom looks lovely - were you able to put all of that tile back without the plumber or carpenter tearing it up?

I slept in today - very nice - but now to get moving. I had calls from the insurance and the mortgage people, the refinance is slower than planned (the bank guy took a vacation and didn't pass it off to someone else to work on) but hopefully is this week.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 10:05 AM

In just a little bit I am taking the baby to a state park to swim in the lake! Or maybe a different park for a swim in the pool. Either way, we are going for a little picnic and swimming.

Later I'll get started on getting things ready for our 4th of July picnic which we have decided to scale down considerably! Instead of making umpteen salads, I picked one I love, Pete picked one he loved, we are providing the meat and everyone coming will bring something to share. Pain free and easy!

I woke up to a mason jar full of freshly picked daisies and black-eyed susans. My husband is just plain old SWEET!!!!

Fresh flowers, fresh coffee, a sweet, handsome man who I love and the cutest little boy in the world is what I started my day with. I'm pretty sure it can't possibly get any better!

Enjoy your day!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: ragdall
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 05:39 AM

It took all night, but I managed to get enough done on my shower repair project that the shower was sealed and caulked, ready to be used, a few minutes before we began the 500 mile drive to pick up our visitors. We had to turn back because a mudslide had closed the highway. This allowed me to get a couple of hours of much-needed sleep before we tried again and were able to get through.

Here's how the shower looks now: http://www.flickr.com/photos/diffuse/7485745418/ Any further work on it will have to wait a few weeks until our visitors have returned home.

I think that the feeling is slowly coming back in my right hand.

rags

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 12:19 AM

My kitchen is certainly rearranged this evening, though it isn't completely put back together again. I processed the zucchini bread and butter pickles (there are seven pint jars) that smelled wonderful, and I have a few in a jar in the fridge for now. I rearranged all of the tomatoes in the fridge (probably time to dice and can another batch) and cleaned out the bottom veggie drawer. I might as well stop using it because anything I put in there I promptly forget until it's a science project and ready to walk out of the fridge on it's own.

My shopping list is going to include Certo, sugar, and canning lids.

It has been a well-spent weekend as far as taking care of things on my list of things to do. I need to do sometime as a treat - I'll look at the movies playing tomorrow and head over to a matinee.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 09:52 PM

45 minutes CC pool waltzing with Hardi.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 08:47 PM

Just got in from a lovely evening walk.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 07:42 PM

The grapes are juiced - it is about 7 quarts out of those buckets. Now that I have the grapes out of the way I can take my pickles out of the fridge and do them. The fridge will then have room for the tomato tub and the jars of grape juice. I'll have to pick up some pectin for jelly later in the week. I told my son I'd make him a fresh batch for his apartment this year. He'd also like some strawberry jelly, but I don't need to make those right now.

I dumped all of the seeds and skins from the grapes in the compost and then policed the grounds to pick up dog droppings to dump on top. I had used some of it this morning to make dog dropping tea that I poured on the ground near yesterday's landscaping to keep Zeke from digging that soft dirt and sending it everywhere. So far it is working. Good thing I have a regular supply of that tea making material to keep them out of there! (When you pour liquid without the solids the dog can smell it very well but it doesn't smell up the lawn or dirt for mere human noses.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 03:16 PM

I'm in for a cooldown, and since I had over-ripe bananas here I made a large banana strawberry yogurt smoothie for lunch. I was over picking our wild Mustang grapes - I'm glad I walked the dogs over there this morning to check - it's usually around July 4 that the good picking begins, but today they were at their prime already. Two buckets so I'll make juice for jelly, some for the fridge, some for the freezer.

Laundry is going in spurts - I decided to do the bedding today and not just the sheets so the mattress pad will go out on the line and smell so fresh (if there is was only one thing I could hang on the line, it would be sheets and bedding - it smells so nice to sleep on when it is line dried!)

I guess I'd better steam juice the grapes first, there is no room in the fridge for the buckets, and then make the pickles. I'm in for a hot afternoon.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 01:44 PM

It's a new month and I'm going to resume something I started late last summer and did until it got too cold outside. I had been jogging up and down my driveway. I'm going to start with walking for now as it's just too hot to breathe, let alone run.

I have the fridge packed with cold, cleaned fruit so it's easy to grab and cool off. I also did some major grocery shopping yesterday so the house is full of healthy food. :) It will make things easier. I seem to be of the mindset that there should be some treats in the house but honestly, none of the adults here need them. Fruit is sweet, it is a treat and we love it, so why not have it here and ready?

I saw my endocrinologist last week and my A1C has dropped 3 points and is almost in the normal range. She was very pleased and I was plain old ecstatic! I've been working very hard to bring those numbers down...both in what I've been eating and in keeping up with a RIDICULOUS 9 needle sticks a day....4 finger sticks and 5 insulin shots. It's alot but my body is responding FINALLY!!! It's all good and it's getting to be habit. I found a cute little quilted purse for under $20.00 that has several pockets, some of them big enough to accommodate my blood glucose monitor and my bag of insulin/needles, etc. I tend to forget to do my monitoring and shot when I'm out. Bad...but I'm working on it. :)

I have another yard sale coming up next weekend. I have not yet started boxing things up but that will start later today.

We're having a family picnic on the 4th and I have planned some healthy foods. What is everyone here doing?

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 01:26 PM

SRS, thanks and thanks.

FIRST DRAFT of scattering Mom's ashes at sea, June 2012.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 11:05 AM

Now there's some decluttering! Good luck with that hard emotional work.

Cooler today, I'll take the dogs for a walk in a few minutes (after I drink my cup of tea). We have odd/even watering so I'm technically watering on the wrong day for my house, but on Sunday morning I doubt the code enforcement folks are out and our drought resolved itself this winter and spring. Spot watering, not broadcast, and the sprinkler is small and non-descript so hopefully is not particularly noticeable. I need to mow later today, probably in the evening.

I'll head by Home Depot and pick up another cedar 2x4 to lay out the next area in the back, and figure how many rocks I need. When I figure that out I'll do any digging.

This morning I need to make the pickles (they finally were sliced and prepared and have been in the fridge since late last night). This is a big step, I've never made pickles before, but it's also a big move because it will clear an entire shelf in the fridge. :)

SRS

Subject: Anyclone help req-- delete dupe post just prev
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 10:41 AM

July 2012, TBTG, begins with grief on so many levels flowing, amid smiles of healing and an occasional deep gurgle of relaxed, belly-deep delight. It begins with the task (this week intensely) of sorting my mother's effects, with friends who love me, who would have loved her and who would easily see her in me, and with no toxic-to-me-right-now interference. It begins with some of the PT 2011-12 muscles left, and much more strength than I have started many a July/August vacay with, in our dear little pop-up camper. It begins with people who hold me when I weep and scream towards wholeness, and who celebrate, with me, every step forward-- and who wait patiently for my monthly visits to share this mutually with them in their struggles towards their wholeness.

It begins with a trip later this week to a new doc who may solve the "what happened to you before 4th grade to make you so fat and unhealthy now" mystery-- that so far only our Lord and I have shown any sign of caring to solve.

Wish me lots of luck! :~)

~Susan

Subject: Declutter & Fitness July 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 01:44 AM

Thought I'd change the title just a little since the fitness that some are working on requires more than just exercise.

Here is the June thread.

This seems to be my week for not keeping up with the dishes - again I'll leave a sink full to wash tomorrow; I don't want to run the dishwasher because the top is now full of clean pint jars that I'll use tomorrow for pickles. Once they're in position I'll clean the rest.

I worked on the back yard patio area today, putting in concrete blocks and pebbles; the dogs have already started digging in the pebbles to see what is there so I need to put in the next batch tomorrow or the next day so they don't end up in the dirt. I'll put in the next batch in the "V" I made today (I'll post a photo later) and I'll draw the line at the spot where there is grass growing so it has a look planned look and not like it's just filling space where no grass will grow (even if that is exactly what it is doing). :)

Here's hoping for a productive July despite the anticipated heat. Take it in small stages and keep moving forward!

SRS