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Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012
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Subject: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Apr 12 - 11:48 AM Last month I had intended to clear out a cabinet with some antique china I don't use, but lost ground to the cold and sinus infection - just didn't feel like fooling with it. So this month it will get listed and hopefully shipped. I have a use for that space once it is cleared. I'm tackling the yard now, but the new little electric trimmer overheated and smoked a bit yesterday, second time I used it, so I may have to exchange it for one with a more powerful motor or a better ventilated machine. Trouble with this is that in the short setup (I hadn't telescoped the pole) you can accidentally hit yourself with it. If you're holding it with your right hand alone the default setting is "on" with the lever inside the handle. Let me just say that it hurts and I'll be very careful not to do that again. It left a mark, even through the pants leg. :-( What all are each of you doing for spring cleaning, and have you added in any extra fitness activity? Here's the last thread. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 01 Apr 12 - 12:49 PM What all are each of you doing for spring cleaning, and have you added in any extra fitness activity? Spring cleaning here takes place in the fall, except for neatening up the sitting porches. A friend is coming next weekend to help me finalize some home-office sorting that was let go during PT, which was about 7 months of heaven I truly enjoyed as a HUGE learning opportunity TBTG. The parts of the house for which I am responsible will get back onto a regular cleaning schedule as the new thyroid meds permit the enrgy level to keep up with the new PT muscles. Till then it and the rest of the house are in science-experiment mode and I do have HEPA masks for anyone who cares to come in and face reality because I no longer have paid-help funds (or other household members' or any bartered help) at my disposal! This is the year I stop helping other people pretend that we do not live in a 3-family house. The dishwasher that tried to retire gracefully about 8 years ago and got a "temp" fix of pull-out "racks" we made ourselves is now truly on its way out as soon as I can fund a replacement. New fitness-- yes, new vid resources to plumb: I need to SEE new ways of doing the same exercises I did in PT with their expensive machinery. I assembled a set of resistance bands with cuffs this AM to use for leg extensions, and experimented with where I will anchor from to use these-- there are several options. I found a site with printable line-art cards for individual exercises just like PT used. I'm looking (FC) for photo pages with 9-12 clear pockets per page to slip them into, so I can reduce the number of pinholes on the wall. If they do not turn up soon, I will cover cardboard with fabric on hand for a pinboard, but I kinda didn't want to change that wall too much as it is also a MudDorm wall of memories. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Apr 12 - 02:24 PM It seems that every one of my pump hand sprayers for applying my organic soaps and sprays has gone to the great rubber gasket heaven. And the replacement parts really only work on name-brand pumps. I've searched and Tractor Supply has some pumps and they also have replacement parts for said pumps. I'm headed over there in a couple of minutes. The yard is looking nice, and I trimmed all around the greenhouse so getting in and out is without having to kick tall grass out of the doorway. I moved the gas string trimmer out of there and cleaned up a spot where the fuel mixture had dribbled onto the floor and made it smell like a gas station. The trimmer will go for repair tomorrow or Tuesday (the repair guy's phone recording says he's out of town for a week.) I need to pick up some bedding plants today, but they won't get planted until the nematodes are out (I was too lazy this morning, so I'll do that this evening) and I need to pick up some spare parts for working on the hoses in the garden. I'm going to run a series of short hose segments along the driveway, just under a layer of mulch to keep them from the sun damage, and will have Siamese (Y) fittings along the way to regulate various sections of soaker hose that run from each. Having to soak the entire garden isn't always practical, but since we can still only use sprinklers two days a week, that doesn't work for a growing veggie garden. I water deeply and infrequently, but "infrequently" doesn't always land on a Wednesday or Saturday. The kitchen island is looking nice, and I put my new piece of art glass in the middle of it for the time being. The kitchen table is clear for tax preparation this evening. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 01 Apr 12 - 04:13 PM Today begins the April Yoga Challenge. Thirty days of yoga for $30.00 and depending on the day, there are 2 or 3 classes per day. There are times each day that I can go since Daddy will be home for the early morning classes or whenever on the weekends. I am excited and a little nervous. I'm heading back after a 2 year break. My body is larger and much more stiff than it used to be....no matter. I have to start somewhere and my body has ALWAYS loved yoga...I fully expect that to be the same. I just have to be gentle and forgiving of my post chemo body and abilities. I am all dressed and ready to go...class begins in just a little bit!!! I have joined the YMCA and that will work it's way into tomorrow's schedule. In addition, I rejoined WW. I had some disturbing news regarding the frequency of ovarian cancer recurrence rates and since the professionals don't really have an answer to the question of what can I do to prevent a recurrence, I'm taking charge. If I should ever have a recurrence, I want to go in as strong as possible and that is my current goal. Strength. Endurance. Nutritional powerhouse. I'm all over it. I boo-hooed about it and now I feel like a car at the beginning of a race through the countryside....revving my engine and all excited to get started. I've been researching things to help my energy levels as well...so far so good. :) Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 01 Apr 12 - 05:18 PM Rog bought me a huge bag of potting soil yesterday. I won't need all of it for pots, so am hiring Morgan to put recycled and/or shredded paper in my perennial garden, then we'll put the soil on top. Those plants all need some feeding and this stuff has food in it as well as other good things. I had hoped to get fertilizer, grass seed, and hay for the front yard, but it will have to wait due to lack of oomph on both our parts.:-) Rog has also been working on our car. I am SO ready to start driving again, but some small computer sensor or something is out. I think we are going to have to take it in. Friday and Saturday felt brutal. We did a lot, but the weather was hot, windy, dusty, no A/C in his truck and we both got out of sorts. Today has been better. We stripped the bed; sheets are in the dryer, comforter in the wash. All of the laundry is put away. Morgan and I planted the pansies my brother gave me, yesterday. They look really pretty as does my redbud tree. It is just putting out its flowers and is such a beautiful colour. I'll try to get pix. My baskets of gold and columbine are both full of buds, too. Still hot, windy, and dusty, but at least we're inside, mostly, though every surface reminds me I need to dust. The dogs also need baths, but I think we'll have to take Luna to someone. She gets very recalcitrant near any body of water except puddles.:-) I think Maizee (formerly known as Ceilidh) will be okay for us to wash if we ever get the time and energy. Oh, and, after three weeks of asking, Rog was able to sweep the whole house, today. Small victories/steps. I also cleared one side of my desk for a cat blankie for Trystan who is kind of frail at the moment. Tomorrow I will do the rest of the desk drawers, I hope. I really hope we get some rain, soon. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 01 Apr 12 - 07:04 PM Lots of chores and puttering today. Yoga: 45 minutes of sweating, shivering muscles and eye opening Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Apr 12 - 07:43 PM I seem to have organized so well that I've put things where I can't find them. My hose-end sprayers (I have two) are both missing. I am beginning to wonder if people walked into the garage when no one was looking during the garage sale last fall. I can't figure where things that always lived in one place have now gone away. One way or another I'll get the beneficial nematodes into the garden this evening. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Apr 12 - 09:52 PM Well, darn. I did find one of the sprayers, but when I opened the little jar I found the contents had frozen on the top shelf of the little fridge. The bottle says clearly not to freeze or keep over 85o. I mixed it with water and poured it into my watering can and spread it around just in case a few of them survived, but I'll have to pick up more this week and keep them in the big fridge till I use them. Dogs got a walk, and they did so well - we ignored TWO cats who were in plain sight along the way. Usually they go ballistic, but I realized that was because I tensed in anticipation of their fuss. If I don't tense and transmit a message regarding cats, they do better. I aim to get up early tomorrow and do some gardening before work. I have plants to put into some of the pots beside the door. Beggars can't be choosers - the only thing I liked at the big box store was a tray of marigolds. Way too many impatiens and they just don't do well in direct sun. I have a batch of pizza dough going, made with a mix of flours that I had handy. White and whole wheat and spelt. I'll make small crusts, bake them a little, then freeze them to use for various small pizzas. Personal size. :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 02 Apr 12 - 08:32 AM At yoga, I found myself amazed at how much strength I have lost as well as how much my joints protest at bending in ways that never was a problem. Obviously these two things are a result of the chemo. Hm. So I emailed my oncologist and asked him about PT. There is a local place that is very good and they take my insurance. I sincerely hope this is something I can do. We shall see. I expected to start at the beginning but whoa. I decided before I went that I wouldn't beat myself for not being able to do as much and I'm not. What I am doing is observing a huge deficit in my body that is screamingly apparent. Gotta scoot. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Apr 12 - 05:36 PM There may be a mobility deficit, but Michelle, you're alive, and we count that as a huge plus!!! We're on the edge of storms this afternoon, but I suspect we won't get any rain. I'm tied to the desk today, but at 5:01 I plan to go work in the yard some. If storms do hit here, I'd expect them later in the evening, after I finish my planting and mulching. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 02 Apr 12 - 07:16 PM Michelle, I am glad you are not beating yourself up over the slow return. I'm coming up on the seventh anniversary of heart valve replacement and just in the past 2.5 months FINALLY feel as though ALL of the changes I needed to make have come about and I am really on the road to full recovery. There are a gazillion reasons why it has taken so long and it has not been easy, but I got here and if I can, anyone can!*bg* Goodonya for taking steps to regain your strength and flexibility. And, don't forget, you've been a "little" busy with being a new mommy amongst all of the other stuff!:-) I had a delicious, long, dream-producing nap with chilly, rainy air coming in the window this afternoon. I feel more human, now, than earlier today. Haven't done anything but make my juice, though. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 02 Apr 12 - 10:53 PM I did a LOT of walking today! I also emailed my oncologist about a referral for PT...specifically for my legs, arms and core. He's all for it! :) Just have to wait and see what the next step is. I did some shopping today too...picked up some things that I like to snack on that are decent for me. I always seem to get what Pete likes and what the baby likes and then not for me...I just pick at whatever is around. Not good. Today I spent some cash on me and things that I really like (and the boys will like too). We went out to dinner. Pete picked a Chinese buffet. Ok. Not a great place for someone who is wanting to dive back into good nutrition but I did alright. I had egg drop soup, shrimp, white rice (maybe half a cup), broccoli from the chicken and broccoli and pineapple. YUM and satisfying. There were things there calling my name but I ignored them and enjoyed the meal with my family. Jeremiah loves broccoli. :) That makes me happy! I cleaned out my car too. It was getting ridiculous! It's early for me to go to bed but everybody is sleeping and I'm cold. That absolutely wonderful electric blanket is calling my name. Sweet dreams everybody! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 03 Apr 12 - 11:23 AM Half an hour on the treadmill. :) Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 03 Apr 12 - 12:03 PM Today I have spent an hour laying carpet tiles - not many, but cutting to fit around the doorway and along one edge of the room. In the garden, I have planted out the chitted Desiree potatoes given me by my neighbour in bags in the filing cabinet planter, between the bramble and the raised bed. I have used two of the boxes the tiles came in to start a lasagna bed the other side of the raised bed.. Cardboard on the ground, dug up weeds (the advice says you can leave them in the soil, but I have doubts), more cardboard, compost from the bin, more cardboard, soaked with the hose, still permitted. Then it rained - but not enough. Next will be kitchen waste, more cardboard, more compost and topsoil, and then planting. Beans, I think. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Apr 12 - 08:25 PM Back online after an exciting afternoon of tornados racing through the area. Missed me by *that* much. Tornados thread through areas and leave a path of messed up and destroyed houses amongst others with less or no damage. I think overnight and tomorrow a lot of people will be deciding how to spend the next few months, if they took a direct hit. Over on my side of town we got an excellent rain out of it. It has cleared up enough now that I'll probably walk the dogs before dark. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Apr 12 - 10:13 PM Well, the rain stopped a while back but we can still hear the noise of thunder in the area, so I didn't walk. When thunder and lightning are underway, it's best to not expose yourself to it. The upside of the weather is that friends and family have emailed and called to check. As far as they can tell from the weather maps, we're ground zero. The fact that the storm hit us from the trailing edge meant all the difference - in front of the storm and under the middle of it you get hit by the high winds. We just got a lot of rain. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 04 Apr 12 - 12:28 AM That is so good to hear, SRS! meditation and qi gong this morning I made a huge, three day batch of juice and am drinking it whenever I feel throughout the day, more than I have been. I also called the car insurance company, found out we could have the car towed to the repair shop for free and then called the shop. They're working on our daughter's truck, also, and will call tomorrow morning to give us an estimate. I turned a corner. Just not content to sit at home without being able to drive. Now that I can turn the key etc., I will finally be able to take Morgan on countryside rides. He and I both miss them. I was pre-empted by a fun math game, tonight.:-)I was watching the American Masters program from last night on Margaret Mitchell (fascinating and very emotional for me)and lost track of time. He called me to ask why I hadn't called. When I told him, he said to go ahead and watch it that he was having fun with third grade math! He did ask for the Word of the Day - Effort and said he would remember to give thanks when he went to bed. G'night all and thanks for being here! |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 04 Apr 12 - 10:14 AM Today is a day at home, possibly out for a walk later. Dishes are done, laundry is going, Jeremiah and I did up some sprout seeds in a jar and will soon plant some lettuce in a container that can come in and out, depending on the temperatures. :) Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: ranger1 Date: 04 Apr 12 - 12:40 PM After spending a week trying to find someplace local that recycles old VHS tapes, I gave up and put them out on the curb for the garbage truck. I did recycle the cardboard covers, though. Took the dog for walk at 6:30 this morning, too. Pulled a bunch of the pre-recorded VHS movies out of their temporary home and put them in the box going to charity, with a couple of favorite little kid movies set aside for the neighbor's grand-daughters. Also culled a bunch of dog toys that Bandit doesn't recognize as toys for J-boy's brother's dog. This afternoon, I'll be culling books. That one is going to be hard... |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: ranger1 Date: 04 Apr 12 - 02:02 PM One box of books packed up and in back of station wagon to go to FCS. Granted, it's a smallish box, but it's a start. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 04 Apr 12 - 02:11 PM Tub scrubbed, dinner is in the oven and I'm taking a break. The baby is napping and in a few mintues, I'll actually have time to take a shower before my husband gets home! YES!!!! PS. KABOOM works really, REALLY well in the tub on hard water stains, calcified ick on the faucet and on soap scum too. Bonus? You don't choke to death when scrubbing the tub! Love it! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 04 Apr 12 - 02:59 PM Despite my mom's passing Sunday, I've kept up with a lot more stuff than I might have felt I could. The house is not the first priority right now, but exercise is up there on the list and so is nutrition. Grief burns a LOT of B's and C's, not to mention water. I had a kind of all-angels day Monday as I did what Mom would have done-- went to get groceries that were needed. TBTG I left at exactly the right moment to run into a person in the parking lot (not literally) who I had been trying to re-connect with for quite some time. We had a real long visit (including a complete thyroid patient-ed module which was so timely), and then the angel faces kept popping up from there. I think I was in there 3 lazy hours; I went thru 2 scooters' full charges-- especially after I realized that I really should get myself an Easter bonnet craft project to make a hat she'd have loved, in which to greet the parishioners who will be so kind Sunday morning that I will need to use a few of my own ministry hankies. (My spot is up in the Sunday School so I may speak about resurrection, it being Easter and all. "Death" just does not have to be as scary as our culture makes it!) There was a renewal of ordination vows yesterday at the Cathedral, and I found out in a hurry what it is like to be outnumbered by condolers, especially when they are not able to rock and roll with the positive view our faith could keep foremost in our thoughts. I think that hat will offer some possible alternative conversation! :~) They say thyroid mes can cause short term hair loss too so I splurged and bought a few caps as well. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 04 Apr 12 - 05:19 PM Gift received today for my little gymette which has been named the Pink Hurt Locker: http://www.amazon.com/Stamina-55-1610-InMotion-Elliptical-Trainer/product-reviews/B000VICRO8 Plan: add base stability with plumbing pipe sleeves at the back end; wear solid shoes for support; hold hands with Hardi (facing me) who loves to aerobic dance for added safe support and FUN while we run R&B-paced music. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 04 Apr 12 - 06:13 PM I'm sorry to learn about your mother, Susan. It's never easy, no matter your age, to lose your Mom. You'll have conversations with her the rest of your life, but it was always better when she was there to answer back. When my kids do great things I still have that thought "I wish I could tell Mom about this." Bright sunny day today, you wouldn't know the place was such a turbulent mess 24 hours ago. I didn't pass any of the disaster on the route I took for appointments today, but I suspect tomorrow I'll pass through quite a bit of it. I picked up beneficial nematodes and I'll put them out in the yard today. Yesterdays rain was prefect timing for spraying this evening (hose end sprayer). I also picked up a few more veggies. The tomatoes that have been in the ground a little while have started to grow faster. They didn't do anything for a while, but it is so warm this spring that they will grow well. I hope to get a few tomatoes before the heat of the summer hits. If it's like last year, I'll be lucky to keep the plants alive until fall when they produce again. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 04 Apr 12 - 07:05 PM I forgot to mention-- a LOT of home exercise equipment shows up at the SallyAnn's, and it's wonderful to be able to try them out there with no commission-driven salesperson breathing down your neck. For a LONG time, for example, I THOUGHT I wanted a gazelle-- "Looks like aquajogging with no pool!" I responded when I saw the ads on TV. But ON it--- yyyyychh, not MY cuppa! Our practice is to try a freebie via FreeCycle before laying out ANY bucks when possible, THEN try a SallyAnn version, and THEN if it is being used we MIGHT go for retail; but our view is that good gear needs to be earned by using up its lower-level version, first. And the gifted item of the day came from someone with a similar philosophy, TBTG. Thanks, T! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 04 Apr 12 - 10:35 PM Susan, I'm sorry to hear about your mom. :( Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 04 Apr 12 - 11:59 PM I've decided to take off Friday to work in the yard. I don't know how many more good rainstorms I'll have before the heat sets in, and there are still weeds to pull. They're getting big fast and if the soil is hard as a brick there's no pulling them out. I'll spend a long day in the yard on Friday and will end up with something I will be happy to look at during the summer. Who else is gardening this spring/summer? Kat, are you growing more Achillia millefolia? I saw some seeds for various colors at the feed store today, but didn't pick them up. I don't have a place for them to grow right now. I was going to take out the Louisiana iris but they've spread so far and look so good that now I'm having second thoughts. (The ants clobber them every year - climbing the stems and crawling over the flowers.) Maryanne, Andrea, Alice? What do you have in store for your gardens? Mary Garvey, do you have a garden? SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 05 Apr 12 - 12:16 AM At the rate we are going, I don't know that we will grow anything but keep the perennials and trees going and maybe some grass/wildflowers to cut down the dusty front yard. This year we have had to buy a new hot water heater, have to get a furnace before next winter, and just got the estimate on the car which will be done, tomorrow, $605. We will be getting some taxes back, but it looks as though the car and house are demanding their due.:-) I will probably try some pot tomatoes, but they've never done very well. meditation and 1/2 of qi gong (I kept falling asleep in the chair! His voice is very soothing.) I did make a necklace for one sister and a bracelet for another, plus a pair of earrings for a friend, all three of whom have b-days this month. I need to put together one more piece of something for my other sis. It's been a tough week for Rog..he's been very grouchy/stressed giving our dau. a ride to work and last night bringing her home. Their truck won't be ready until Monday. Mon dieu!:-) So, it's been tough on her and her husband, too. Our son has had some troubles, too, but it seems to be turning round. Me, I just want peace between us all. Morgan and I are good, no matter.:-) Can't wait to get the car and take him for a ride! kat |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 05 Apr 12 - 12:39 AM I hope you'll post photos of the jewelry in your facebook page, or your usual places. Posting photos these days is a risky business, but wherever you're comfortable. I think for Roger the prescription is a nice surprise when he gets home at the end of the day, a reward for the extra mileage. A special dish for dinner, or maybe a favorite desert? A cold beer when he walks in the door? A favorite song playing on the CD player? Good luck on all of those repairs being finished on schedule! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 05 Apr 12 - 01:16 AM We are having a garden this year. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 05 Apr 12 - 10:35 AM Nice try, SRS. **BG** Rog does most of the cooking, we don't eat the same things, he doesn't eat desert and he brings home one cold beer each evening on his way home. BUT, we usually do try to watch something good/funny/etc. on Netflix for an hour or so which gets his mind off things. This morning he was in the best mood I've seen in ages. He's not going in to work at the regular job, but doing some *easy* (to him) radio station work on the side. His mood was almost buoyant, so it is plain to me we really need to find some solutions to his need to retire, fully, and still have affordable health care. *Sigh*:-) I am off to make a new piece of jewellery. I took pix, but haven't looked at them, yet. I didn't make anything fancy, but will post them if they turned out okay, thanks for asking. My hands were sore after..it's good to use those muscles more. kat |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 05 Apr 12 - 10:49 AM Back when we were still married I realized that there were times when the ex would be in a sustained grumpy mood. I had a small list of improvements I needed around the house and when he got into one of those rather caustic moods I laid out the plan for the work I wanted done. He was always so much happier when he had a project like that. I had him build some shallow shelves on the wall over the counter next to the stove (using 1x4s, edged with oak veneer and sealed because of the kitchen grease) that I used to put small jars of tea and other little kitchen things on. Those shelves have stayed all of these years (he has that house now) and I still miss them. I had him put in shelves under the kitchen sink and under the bathroom cabinets, and at one point he built big shelves in the garage. He built large bookshelves in our office, and put up an exhaust fan on the kitchen wall and ran an exhaust hose out through the ceiling over the laundry room and out the soffit. It didn't keep us married, but it helped keep it going longer than it might have otherwise. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 05 Apr 12 - 12:34 PM That sounds great! Rog hasn't the energy but for just keeping up with the essentials, for now, though. We do try to get one small project done on the weekends, but that's gone by the wayside, recently, because of increased work and freelance work pressures. For his type and his job, the best thing I can do for him at night is leave him be. Spending time at his fav. websites engages his mind, stopping all the crap from work. Since he's essentially "on" 24/7 365 days per year, he needs that respite. He's always been "married" to his job because of its nature, but it's gotten worse with age. My apologies for going on with this crap. Today really hasn't been bad, so far.:-) |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 05 Apr 12 - 05:13 PM Susan, I'm sorry to hear about your mother. I hope the hat project is successful. I only propped up the potato box with a brick so it looked neater today. I need to order some nematodes for the slugs - they made several meals of carrots last year. What they used to eat before I cannot imagine. Today I drove to a telescope shop to get a gadget to connect mine to my camera. The guy spent ages fiddling to get it working, and I came away with an adapter. Unfortunately, during the fiddling, a vital connecting bit became firmly screwed into another part I'm now unlikely to use for astronomy, so I still can't get crisp detailed Moon piccies. I've had to order another one. Then I drove to a friend's to try and help his mother buy a new TV because the transmissions are changing to digital, b ut we couldn't find the right size with the right features, so that was a bit of a waste. Took some decent piccies of the Moon, with the ordinary telephoto lens, though I need to practice wiht the settings to get them really good. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 05 Apr 12 - 07:37 PM I drove, today, all by myself from the repair shop to home! The qi gong paid off..my arms were strong and felt comfortable instead of shaky. I was able to turn the key using an assist from my left hand. I thought at first I couldn't unlatch the seat belt, but I have lost enough weight around the middle to reach across and undo it with my left hand! I am good to go after so long! It will be so good not to have to call on Rog to take me everywhere and to say goodbye to bouts of cabin fever! I've done four loads of laundry and made another necklace. The pix didn't turn out well. My camera is old and needs resetting or something. The quality just isn't as good as what is avail. these days. I have a new Smart phone coming so hope it will give me good quality photos at least for sharing with friends and family. I did post a couple of new pix of the dogs and my boy on my FB wall. I am glad this week is almost done. kat |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 06 Apr 12 - 02:01 AM I tried adding some chocolate into the diet and my hands are smarting. But I think the shampoo is as much a culprit as chocolate, so I'll do more research. This evening I moved some of my home-blended potting soil into four of the pretty ceramic pots near the side door and potted some of the marigolds. I'll keep some for the garden, in amongst the tomatoes--I bought a flat of them last weekend. Nothing much else was left when I was shopping (I think imaptiens are pretty but they're too delicate for the heat around here, but that's mostly what they had left.) Weeding tomorrow - I wish I hadn't eaten the chocolate, my hands will be a bit stiff from the irritated skin. Gloves and lotion galore. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 06 Apr 12 - 06:04 AM Loads of grocery shopping yesterday. It's been awhile since I've done that but now our fridge is full of healthy stuff and our cupboards are getting full. It's a beautiful sight! I spent yesterday with my mom and nana, picked up the wee one late in the afternoon and we hit 4 different grocery stores. He was a good boy...behaving very well. His newest thing is to say *Hi* to just about every single person we pass. HI. Hi. HI. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihi. LOL You get the idea. I have pulled something in the bottom of my left foot (I think I did it during yoga) so I'm walking but it's slow going for now. Today might be a day of rest. We shall see. If it's nice, it also might be a good day to visit the state park for a little picnic and playground time or walk in the woods. :) It's just too early for me to decide! Have a great day everybody! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 06 Apr 12 - 07:03 AM To the bakers' this morning for the traditional buns, which I only eat on Good Friday and the Saturday. (Despite their being availble now all year round.) When I was growing up, the bakers' was the only shop open on Good Friday for selling buns in time for breakfast, warm from the oven, so genuinely hot. I've laid some more tiles, involving moving a bookcase - forgot to mention tile laying yesterday. I have a suspicion I have under-ordered for the two rooms, not accounting for them needing to be laid with the pile the same way across the room, but won't know for certain for a while. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 06 Apr 12 - 09:05 AM Forgot to mention, when I was in the bathroom this morning I finally lost patience with the peeling wallpaper, and started tearing it off. Much easier than I thought when squirted with water, though it looks as they used a different glue to try and fix the edges. I haven't even used a scraper yet, just fingers and nails! While doing it, I lifted a wall heater that is fixed behind the door off its nails to see how it was fitted, and couldn't, at first, get it back! One of the nails had retreated into the wall, where it had not had a plastic plug. And the top of it was filthy, coated with compacted dust. Sorted that out, though. I forgot I'd done it and gave myself a turn when I went in again! I don't know what to wash the wall with before painting with a wedgewood blue, but I dare say the builder's merchants will be able to advise me. I'm not sure how well the blue will go with the pinky beige of the tiling, but it matches my towels and curtains and the carpet tiles - I am gradually turning it into my room, but the tiling will be major, and go along with a new suite in white. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 06 Apr 12 - 03:37 PM I spent time this morning out spraying the beneficial nematodes on all of the beds and on as much of the lawn in the back to help prevent some of the ant and other pests that bother the dogs. Had a lovely lunch, and I'll be headed back out into the yard in a few minutes. Weeding for a while, then assessing what else I want to do. Move some things that are too crowded, and put down mulch, I think. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 06 Apr 12 - 05:44 PM Today I took a break from all active stuff. The arch in my left foot was really bothering yesterday and at the moment, it is MUCH better. I think a rest is what I needed. I puttered around the house with the normal stuff...floors swept, carpet vacuumed, laundry going and maybe I'll get to the dishes in a bit and of course playing with my most favorite wee one! I didn't even have to walk down the driveway (1/10th of a mile long) to get the mail as the mail carrier had something for me to sign for today. And I got the sweetest package today..... :) Tomorrow I have my WW weigh in and then swimming lessons with the baby. I love playing in the water with him!!! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 06 Apr 12 - 06:29 PM Yesterday I threw away a pair of shoes that had me nearly crippled last winter. The right one had some kind of a lump under the inner sole that was causing a bruise in the middle of my foot. I limped more and more and finally figured out it was the shoes. I haven't limped in ages, haven't even thought about it - so when I saw those shoes I trashed them. I've been weeding. Out front this afternoon, and making way to dig out some stuff that I want to move. I have to dig a new bed for some of it. I also trimmed the pines a bit - didn't remove the entire whorl, but the down-hanging branches secondary branches from the limbs that I run into when I'm mowing. I'll mow when it's cooler. Sent a few photos to facebook. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 07 Apr 12 - 07:43 AM I've been waiting in for redelivered post, which has not yet come, and I don't know whether it is going to. Meanwhile I have stripped two more lengths of wallpaper, and almost finished the main spare room carpet. The only bits left are at the built in wardrobe, which I am leaving until I have done the other room, in case there aren't enough tiles. That will involve a lot of moving things about to other rooms as the wardrobe is full of stuff, and has suitcases full of stuff on top. Not an odd moments in the morning job. Still no post, and I have to go off to a friends' house. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 07 Apr 12 - 10:27 AM Down 6.8 pounds this week. I did some major adjusting. Can you tell? :) Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 07 Apr 12 - 02:10 PM Wow, Michelle! Don't make yourself sick, but congratulations on moving in the right direction! I've made a shift this week and am seriously working on taking off the pounds now. This morning I decided to start my chores and declutter right there when I got up - pulled the sheets, folded a basket of laundry, remade the bed, put away the stack of lap rugs the I place in various chairs and couches around the house during the winter. Put away towels, various things I'd left stacked around, and have done a couple of loads of laundry. The quilt is going back on the shelf, so it's being laundered first, and I WILL finish the duvet for the down comforter before it gets put up on the shelf. The lawn has dried so I'll mow - that will be a good workout right there, but I have been walking the dogs every day also. There are some power-walking things you can do to increase the effectiveness of a walk (if you stand straight, walk briskly and hold in your gut you're getting a kind of a sit-ups effect for your tummy.) I have more pots to fill with potting soil and plant (some seeds this time) and I have more digging to do for moving some plants in the garden. I have some pink amaryllis that spread and had to be taken out. I'm putting them in places where they can spread to their heart's content. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 07 Apr 12 - 07:37 PM We found a seed and feed store we'd never heard of before, went there this morning and bough enough slow-growing fescue grass seed and Rocky Mtn wildflower seed mix to cover our whole front yard for under $12. Really nice people and a neat half-McNab dog named "Katy!" Morgan came over this afternoon and dyed eggs, then helped Rog spread teh seed, then had a blast tearing open a bale of straw, taking a couple of flakes and kicking them up into the air, spreading it all over the new seeds and himself. Rog laid down a soaker hose, but I don't think it's going to give the coverage we need, so will probably add a sprinkler. He surprised me and also got a timer for it! So, phase one of getting the front yard back into decent shape has started! |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 07 Apr 12 - 10:19 PM Apropos of legal news here and not any thread comments: O M G. But my ministry intern and I had a great day on a collective 5 hours of sleep rockin' the office re-org. ~Falls Over |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 07 Apr 12 - 10:35 PM Not sure what you meant, Susan, but I hope it worked out. Kat, keep the seed watered enough for a while so that the grass can take hold and put down good roots. If I'd known you needed to spread a bale of hay I could have sent the dogs over to help - they love that kind of thing. :) I think I did four loads of laundry; not full, but based upon how they sorted and needed to be washed. The last one finished drying a little while ago. As I was watering the garden I heard a ruckus on the air and saw six or seven crows chasing a huge owl. They were striking at it as it flew, and they all went into the woods across the road. I heard the crows continue to make a fuss and then I began to hear different bird cries. I think the crows killed that owl. It was so large and beautiful. I put on a hat and grabbed a camera and found the general area where they had been, but it was full of poison ivy so I had to go around it. I undressed and dropped everything in the washer as soon as I returned to the house. I imagine I could take a walk in a couple of days and see if I smell anything dead over there. The odd thing is, we never used to have crows here. I would hear a woodpecker in the woods and see a flicker every so often, I'd see lots of bluebirds and blue jays and cardinals. I'm not seeing the same birds this year. We always had lots of grackles. I don't see them around now, but the crows are here and in numbers. Our birds of prey must be a bit confused by the migratory population. (I'm going to post that same couple of paragraphs on my facebook page also.) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: ranger1 Date: 07 Apr 12 - 10:46 PM J-boy and I pulled out about eighteen VHS movies to keep, and the others are going in a box my next day off |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 08 Apr 12 - 12:30 AM Good for you and J-boy! SRS, thanks, but I think our dogs would have loved to, too, BUT they are the reason we have no grass, so they are banned from the FY for awhile, at least. It will be getting plenty of water, thanks.:-) It was a blast watching Morgan. Besides kicking the flakes, he would take one in each hand, stretch his arms out and spin around as it flung out from his hands, laughing his head off. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 08 Apr 12 - 01:49 AM So you ground in that grass seed as well as put hay to cover it. :) |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 08 Apr 12 - 11:59 AM More yard work today. All of that digging yesterday left me feeling my age by bedtime - and needed motrin to deal with some of the sore spots. But I'm back to it today. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 08 Apr 12 - 12:46 PM It started raining when I was set to go out and put some more layers on the lasagna - not anything helpful, though, just a scatter of drops. When it stopped I went out for a walk, saw some bluebells, not a carpet yet, but there. Some of them are definitely spanish hybrids, which the village is trying to eradicate. They are much more robust looking than the native, less blue, and outgrow them, while having no scent. Most are still native, though. The Spanish came in as a garden plant, and has escaped. The village is offering swaps with people who have the spanish variety in their gardens. I don't, fortunately. I have the native, from the woods where Mum's ashes were scattered - the owner of the woods were she played as a child became a friend, and gave us permission for the scattering, and the bulbs, so they are quite legal. Stripped some more paper this morning, but am generally feeling a bit listless. Dead headed a sad jasmine my neighbour left on my doorstep yesterday. Currently getting a late lunch/early dinner of lamb fillet, roast potatoes, suet pudding (a Sussex addition with roast sheep, in the place of Yorkshire pudding with beef) cauliflower and mint sauce. Followed by bottled plums and custard. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 08 Apr 12 - 02:14 PM Oh yeah, the grass and wildflower seeds were well "grounded." LOL Morgan woke us this morning. After letting the dogs out and feeding the cats, he and his parents came over for him to hunt eggs, I fooled hm, again, this year, His mom and dad had to help him and I had to help find the last one. My daughter said I am still really good at hiding eggs! It was a lot of fun, we're now at Rog's freelance job, set up on their wifi while he works. It's a beautiful day. kat |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 08 Apr 12 - 04:56 PM I was going to do yard work, but I didn't realize rain was as prominent in the forecast as it is. Thunder and lightning are giving us a full-throated concert. I didn't get the lawn mowed and now I'll have to wait a couple of days. It will soak the ground enough to make digging easy later in the week, so I can finish that bed out front. I'm stiff and sore today from digging, now I'll recover a bit before the next session. So, it's in the house work today. Writing, taxes, web work. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 09 Apr 12 - 02:19 PM Looks like more rain in the forecast - no complaining - we can still use it, but it means I will shift my outdoor plans. Of course since I put away the cool weather stuff it was a close thing last night as to whether I was going to get out another cover for the bed, but it wasn't needed. This is a slight version of what others have commented on - warm then cool again. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 09 Apr 12 - 04:02 PM I am trying out a new schedule. After reading tips on bookbrewer about successful authors blogging, tweeting, FBking consistently I decided I'd better get in gear. This morning after breakfast and meditation, I turned my phone to vibrate, did a little research and posted a new blog entry, then tweeted it and put a link on the FB page for WindWords. And, after soaking them three different times over the last week or two, I finally got the dishes done. I quit using Tylenol two nights ago and everything hurts, but moving and doing stuff seems to help, up to a point, so I'm motivated.:-) Last night, I folded and put away all of the weekend laundry and have a new load in the dryer, today. Time to bring the grrrls in and take a short nap. It's getting to the 70s today, hotter tomorrow. I wish it would stay in the 60s all the time! |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 09 Apr 12 - 09:40 PM Not sure what I have been doing, except my eyes get tired and I just give out on the computer stuff. My legs are happier when I am walking. We did a lovely walk at a nature preserve, a wetland, on Saturday. No nasty bugs and hardly any people. We found it as we explored another part of the area. We are concerned about the temporary aspect of renting and looking for something cheap enough to buy - small, in the woods, no neighbours, ----apparently this is a lot to ask. We've spent a few days looking around - first on the computer and then driving. The most interesting places are another half hour from Montreal - an hour and a half is a lot worse than 50 minutes. Now I am focussed on preparing for the trip to San Diego next week - to see my great grand daughter and her parents - and hopefully a couple virtual friends and the sights of SD. I found a place to stay through airbnb.com - in a home and the man has been wonderful about dealing with my environmental sensitivity. Also offered to pick us up at the airport - only five minutes away. I am sure we will be exhausted after a four hour drive and 7 hour flight, and the couple hours at the airport... I have been having - WHY am I doing this???? thoughts so the offer to pick us up and the kindness of our host is a great relief. Two weeks ago I performed the "most insane raccoon rescue", driving almost 600 miles and away from home just 13 hours, including extricating the poor little guy from the shed where his primary rescuer had him. He was hit by car and had a broken leg. I took him to a rehabber - 3 hours away - and she, wonderful woman, put him in a safe, dark, cosy enclosure with food and water. As we turned to leave, he was purring/humming - a lovely raccoon sound. But in the morning she phoned: he had distemper and anemia as well so he had to be euthanized. I take heart that he died in loving hands rather than at the side of the road, alone and scared. A couple other good things came out of this: I found I could do that long a drive, so I feel I can visit friends, whom I would love to see, 5 hours drive away. Meeting this rehabber was a joy and, the next day, someone from Montreal phoned her about helping animals and she gave her my email. So now I have 4 animal advocates and this fourth one has other connections, and energy! It took me a couple days to recover, however, then I took my pottery to a local farmers' market and sold enough to feel I will be able to make more and do the market a few times in the summer. After all I cannot keep making if some does not leave! And the weather will soon be warm enough not to have to heat the studio. Nothing much is going to get done - except the income tax! - until I return from CA. It is good to see what everyone else is up to. Michelle - losing 6 pounds! WOW! Wedgewood blue paint sounds great. Gardening! Mowing the lawn? Not up here! Exercise! I hope to get some in CA, and sit by the ocean. Take care all! |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 09 Apr 12 - 10:11 PM We went for a long walk around the neighborhood this afternoon, before dusk and mosquitoes set in. That's about it for exercise, but I got out an old VCR and some of the old exercise tapes and set them in the kitchen near the TV on the wall. Maybe I can do some exercises in the kitchen while I'm working in the general area. Around the rest of the house I have to move things but the kitchen is open. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 10 Apr 12 - 12:27 AM Part of my new schedule is doing qi gong in the early evening just before Rog comes home. It made things feel better this evening when I did it. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 11 Apr 12 - 12:13 AM Long day at work today, and then I went to see Susie. We loaded her into the truck (I hope there wasn't a camera pointed our direction, we were quite inept in our first couple of attempts to get her up onto the seat in a pickup from a wheelchair). We drove back to our neighborhood, FINALLY got our gyros (the last two times we went in together they had run out of lamb - the last time was the night before she was hit). We picked up our sandwiches, then went to my house and I rolled her up to the kitchen table and we sat and ate and then fed the dogs and had Zeke do a few tricks and everyone got some scratches and tickles. Nice everyday stuff that has become special. We went to the grocery store and by then we were pretty tired from getting in and out of the pickup again so I went in and picked up her purchases and then we went back to the rehab, where we got her out one more time, up to her room, and a trip to the loo then into bed. Poor dear wast tuckered out and had a headache, but we had a good evening, and I got quite a workout! I'm bushed, so this is also being posted on her facebook recovery page, rather than retype the message. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 11 Apr 12 - 02:16 AM How wonderful of you and for Susie, SRS. I am sure it means the world to and to her family. I posted after midnight Mudcat time for Monday and here I am, again, posting as if it is for Wed., but it's really for Tuesday. Hope that makes sense. Here 'tis: meditation and qi gong I also did a lot of research on a certain natural medication for which I filled out some papers. Found out my driver's licence expired on my b-day, but, luckily, was able to renew it online, swearing I had been to an eye doctor in the past three years!??! (I have, so it's okay.:-) My brother came over with a four foot stick and planted it for me. A "gift" magnolia from him. It should bud out in 2-3 weeks. We had a nice time, played nice and everything! He got it, and several other trees and shrubs from SummerStone Nursery. They come bare root, but with his skill and their refrigeration and fast shipping, he's been quite successful with them. He's already had a little star magnolia, planted last Fall, bloom. He used to teach horticulture and is so busy and happy to finally have a home of his own. His place is going to be a show-place by the end of the summer. It's really been good for him. He was esp. pleased in that they send free plants with each order over a certain amt. The more you order, the more free ones are sent. Our new grass continues to be watered, well, the redbud tree is still in bloom, and we've decided to put some grass seed out back, at least close to the house. Irrigation water is back on so that helps with the watering. Now, I just need to get the house dusted! Roger's brother will be here in a couple of weeks! First time we've seen any of his family in about twenty years! |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 11 Apr 12 - 04:44 AM Been decluttering head mostly and burying other people's mother-- THERE's a trip... real trip to Rochester with the boondocker as lodging, Thursday, after a vol appreciation lunch (or maybe its a tea) this aftn. Hope to sleep first. Hain't been in my Pink Hurt Locker since last talk with Mom the day before she died-- hope to get back in there this afternoon but prepping boondocker is priority exercise. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 11 Apr 12 - 11:18 AM SRS, What a wonderful thing for you to do!!! I bet Susie really, REALLY loved getting out and about even if just for a little bit! We do that with my Nana. She loves the soup at Pizza Hut so we go there at least once every other week. She also loves to just go for a ride....the fresh air and new scenery do her good. :) I've been busy with this and that but today it's time to get the house back in working order. It's amazing how 4 days of no laundry or dishes or sweeping can add up! I've also got a very large crock pot of chili going on the counter. One of my friends lost her dad this past week and we've made a chain of people to keep her family in food for a solid 2 weeks. I've got cornbread to make in a bit too. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 11 Apr 12 - 11:49 AM meditation and qi gong this morning, the latter outside, facing east, after watering the new grass and garden...absolutely lovely... |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 11 Apr 12 - 12:13 PM Kat, We have snow today! I'm staying IN! Ok...it's not a LOT of snow...barely anything, really but I've been running so much that it's time for a day at home!!! I love that you do it facing east. Pete and I were married under a maple tree facing east. :) XOXOXO Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 11 Apr 12 - 12:24 PM That is neat, Michelle! Was it in the spring or fall when the leaves are such gorgeous colours? I only do it facing east if I get going early enough so there's a bit of shade. In the LR where I usually do it, facing east would make me squint the sun is so bright, out of doors and I would get sunburnt too easily. It's usually on my right shoulder in the LR, if I do it in the morning.:-) If it were snowing here, I'd stay in, too! |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 11 Apr 12 - 12:28 PM This morning before really getting up, ie still in pyjamas, I did the last carpet tile in the main spare room, the one with the difficult cut-out into the built in wardrobe - visualise jigsaw piece with right angled corners on the cut-out part. Then, the back of the wardrobe floor could be done with offcuts regardless of the direction of the pile. All done. In that wardrobe is a phone plug, and I went on to fix an extension cable around the edge of the skirting board and poke all the spare into the next door room. The wardrobe backs on to the one in my room. Yesterday I managed to get the cable through, despite the two inch void in between the two walls. My first attempt was to tape the new cable to what was left of the old one and tug it gently, and push it gently to get it through into the other room. Not gently enough, as I lost the end of the old one in the void, and couldn't get it out again. Fortunatly, with it out, I could see through the paired holes, and managed to pull the new cable through with a tunisian crochet hook. This morning, I fixed the cable on its path through the wardrobe, but have left the rest of the job. It will need moving a free standing wardrobe, a large chest, and a chest of drawers, one by one, to get it to its destination. I have also, I hope, waterproofed the old cold water tank, (no longer in pyjamas, as it is an outside job) hacksawing through the old brass fitting wt the base, the one which leaked and caused its replacement. Then I inserted a plastic stop piece, with a washer, from the inside, and wound self amalgamating tape around the outside of the hole to seal it off. The last step will be to add a layer of a strongly sticky variant of gaffer tape the previous owner of the house left in the garage, because it was stuck in the metal filing cabinet and had to be sawed loose. At the moment, with the car in the garage, I can't get at it. Before I did the job, we had a heavy rainfall. Since I did it, threatening clouds, heavy with the possibility of rain, have passed over, with only a brief spatter of drops. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 11 Apr 12 - 02:19 PM Kat, We were married in July at 1:00. It was the kind of day where you wondered if it was going to rain or not. Thankfully it wasn't too hot and it didn't rain! We were married under 2 very old maple trees facing east (the direction of new beginnings) and our wedding was attended by our immediate family and all of the students (75 learning disabled teenagers and the staff) who lived at the school where I was working (we were married right on the campus). They were so excited and so loving..it was amazing!! They even made our cake!!! :) This year, our 20th wedding anniversary falls on the day of our local Relay For Life. We have planned to renew our wedding vows at the Relay. :) Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 11 Apr 12 - 04:44 PM The yard is lovely today and I was out pulling some weeds this morning, though I'm mostly filing reports and meeting deadlines. This evening looks like a good one for mowing and for a dog walk. That's about it for now! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 11 Apr 12 - 05:04 PM Michelle, that is so neat. How lovely and special. Thanks for sharing it with us. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 11 Apr 12 - 05:06 PM Goal # 1 for today: income tax - I now have two hours before we need to go back to the country for another meeting - keeping an eye on the regional govt and wind turbines. As much house work is done as needs to be - both here and there. More could be done but ... Spending time looking for and at properties for sale -Cheap. Cabin may become unavailable in the future and we do not want to put time and energy into organizing more. Looked at wonderful piece of land and needs a lot of work house on Saturday. Owner would like the woods to go to the Nature Conservancy and to sell house and 1.2 A. separately. I spent time today talking with project manager at the N C and we could work out plan if the owner is willing. We would still be able to enjoy the very beautiful 50 A. woods without owning it. It is a possibility. Going to look at another one yesterday, I encountered a very sick raccoon in the middle of a country road. Managed to get it into a container and put it in back f ca, driving around with it while finding name of owner of property, and trying to figure out what to do with the critter. He needed to be euthanized ASAP - prob distemper. Finally got to the vet but they would not have anything to do with it but called the Regie for me. Then I had to hang out in town cause the cell only works in some places. Visited at the cafe and when the call finally came, called "help" as the caller's English was not up to it. A lovely woman fielded the call for me. The tech would come in 24-48 hours and pick it up. I hated to think of it suffering that long. Left it on the screened porch - still breathing but that's all - and came back to the city. Happily the tech phoned this morning to check out the location and he ws very kind and said he would get it and euthanize it within the hour. They will check it for rabies - unlikely as there has been none here, even near the border, since 2009. The Quebec govt drops rabies bait along the border so we do not get it coming up from the USA. OK, now I will try to get to that goal. ARGGHHHHH! |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 12 Apr 12 - 11:12 AM I already know who my friends are, but my mom's passing has now also revealed who has been sharing the ministry loads I "shoulder." Some decluttering will result from THAT knowledge! Today TBTG I depart in the boondocker for JUST the right weather to sleep in tonight. I thought it might all come together-- and it did, as did also the ministry loads referenced. I LIKE this universe! :~) ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 12 Apr 12 - 11:14 AM It's amazing who pops out of the woodwork when someone is very sick or if there is a death. It's also amazing who does not. Or who says they did something. Really opens your eyes. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 12 Apr 12 - 11:23 AM qi gong and meditation this morning |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 12 Apr 12 - 12:18 PM I'm going to be flinging a barf covered carseat at the UPS chick for a special delivery to a medical company. That counts as exercise, yes? *Blank Look* Michelle *Evil laughter in the background* |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 12 Apr 12 - 01:55 PM I LIKE this universe! Continuing on that theme, THAT universe also included news in time to discover that I did not need to drive 2 hours to go to that meeting today, because.... it's actually NEXT week! ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 12 Apr 12 - 02:06 PM Darn, I missed the UPS lady but I can think of other places to fling the barf. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 12 Apr 12 - 06:05 PM We were so late for the mtng last night that our friends were coming out when we arrived so we conferred, then went to the cabin. Neighbour stopped in and we re-conferred as he had missed it also. Several business matters on way back to city this morning and we finally got to the house in time for lunch. I ate while R rushed off and came back much later for his. OK, now we had time to talk and he informed me the income tax is not due until 30 April!!!! By then we will be back from CA and I will have time to decipher the incredibly incomprehensible Quebec form - and have enough money to pay it. I did complete the federal yesterday. Seem to be having a bad brain time as I simply could not figure out any of the Quebec form. Have clothes sorted out for trip, even found bathing suits. And printed new auto insurance card to replace the one stolen from car a couple weeks ago. Already replaced my stolen registration back then - two hours for my number to come up! Trying to change address for "pensions" is a nightmare - phone line has been busy for two years and there is no way to email. I actually thought it would happen automatically when I did income tax, three years ago, and never noticed as it is direct deposit but I did not get income tax slips this year. Guess I will have to visit a Service Canada office and see if they can manage this. I went about something else recently and was assured someone would phone me - still waiting. I am really tired of all this. There is a dreadful deterioration of being able to reach a human being to help. Is it the same everywhere? I am doing the bare essentials, dealing with stress of leaving home for this long journey. R is excited; I am apprehensive of almost 8 hours on the through flight which seemed such a good idea when I made the reservations. So thankful that our airbnb host is meeting us at the airport so I shall only have to fall into the car and then bed. The kindness of our host is buoying me up. He is taking my environmental sensitivity as a project. Great music at the cafe tomorrow night! |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Apr 12 - 10:53 AM Michelle, I suspect there is quite a story behind wanting to fling a barfed-upon child seat at anyone. . . I hesitate to ask. Susan, good thing you learned about not having to make a 2 hour drive - that would have spoiled your day to find no meeting at the end of it. Dorothy, as much as I dislike having to do it, on occasion a heavy rock has been the way to end suffering, rather than waiting for someone with needles and a chemical. The dogs have mangled a couple of critters that needed putting out of their misery, and I have on occasion found injured animals at the road side that simply weren't going to last much longer. My tables are fully loaded today - the dining table has the playbills, the kitchen table has the taxes, the forms, the paperwork. My evening is scheduled, and I'll mail the forms this year. Lawn got mowed in back yesterday, dogs got walked, and Susie took her first steps with a walker and using the parallel bars! What constitutes "work" can involve a lot of walking, or very little. Yesterday we marked the beginning of the fourth month since her injuries. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 13 Apr 12 - 02:06 PM SRS: I did not even think of that. I guess if the pain were obvious and severe, I might... I am really going to find a way to obtain the appropriate material to do it a gentler way. Also need to find vets who will care for wild animals. After San Diego. Getting ready is my only focus now - dishes are done, laundry too. CAfe tonight, mtng about wind turbines tomorrow. What to take, what is permitted on planes these days and finding a couple books engrossing enough to keep my mind off of how uncomfortable I am. 8 hours is beyond the limit of reading on line. Oh yeah, and eating all the food in the fridge that would spoil in a week!! |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Apr 12 - 06:01 PM It's never pleasant, but rocks are fast and available - you simply have to have to use the force of your conviction that you're sparing more suffering and make the first blow the only one. What a range of topics this month! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 14 Apr 12 - 06:40 AM Susan, good thing you learned about not having to make a 2 hour drive - that would have spoiled your day to find no meeting at the end of it. Oh no-- I never waste ANY opportunity. Loads of other neat stuff to be done there if time is on my hands! :~) Plus napping space as needed?!?!? No worries there! :~) Did I mention the mtg leader ALSO thought it was for that night? Other calendars prevailed but she "had to" get an agenda prepped, but by next week she will have thought of another, even better one. (She never wastes an opportunity, either.) Another bonus for me tho is that I get more time to set up the 'docker JUST the way I want for next week-- improve that cot one more time by tightening up the lacing for an even better sleep-- and in warm sunshine with Hardi nearby instead of alone in cold, cloudy wind. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 14 Apr 12 - 10:44 AM Down .2. Not bad for a week with 2 holidays! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Apr 12 - 11:02 AM All of the papers are on the table, I found my previous year's with examples of some paperwork I have to include, and this is Tax Day. I'll mail it this afternoon. We have heavy weather headed this way but the taxes must be finished before it is quite the last minute. And then I can stop this procrastinating (out the window went all of my good intentions from last summer with the looming tax forms). I need to get out that book and reread it. Dishes are out of the sink, I'll put in a load of laundry, and then sit down and calculate. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Apr 12 - 05:28 PM Back and forth to the computer - when I downloaded the forms I also downloaded the instructions, so I'm going through each form and consulting the instructions on the computer. I only print the specific page for the bit I'm working on - it saves a lot of paper this way. This may be the old fashioned tax method, with paper and pencil, but it's more reassuring having a hard copy as I work. A computer glitch and - poof! - hard work gone. I'll transfer it to the computer forms later and either print and mail or save and send. I suspect the e-file end of things is a bit congested right now. I've turned off the radio and loaded the CD player with discs. First set of 5 was blues songs and old rock; this time it is symphonic works. The first set was scrambled, this set is continuous (or it would sound strange, with a movement of this then a movement of that!) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 14 Apr 12 - 05:45 PM The last time I was up in the Pink Hurt Locker, I spoke with my mom about my thyroid, and then with my sister about Mom's own thyroid med dosing. The next day, Mom died, and the daily sched sis had gotten her onto, and had just briefed me on including times good for me to phone her, became obsolete. It's been appropriately nuts with fam planning here since, and I didn't get back up there till today. I was concerned that I was losing ground, so we did something about it. I have lost just a little ground in the 2 week layoff from exercise up there, but not as much as I feared. Hardi and I wrote down the numbers for the restart as I pick up my regular schedule this week. Needless to say I appreciated Hardi and Faulkner being up there with me; Faulkner likes his service dog harness and even sleeps in it comfortably-- I got him a real soft one. We also do our finances up there, so we'll be back up there one evening soon just for that, but the spell of sadness up there has been broken open so in a weird way I am looking forward to using that space to continue the wellness Mom was so pleased to have heard about. She was a great one for being tough about priorities. Basically I am at the same strength/weights to lift as when I left PT but stamina is down, except for one exercise that was the last one added for the least strength I had-- I had just gone from zero weight to 1 lb to 2 lb to 5, and I'm back at square on this with no weight but the weight of the arm. Oh well. It will come back quickly I know from experience! Mom was worth the hiatus, too! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Rapparee Date: 14 Apr 12 - 09:32 PM We delivered eleven (11) large trash bags and a suitcase full of clothes to St. Vinny this morning. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 14 Apr 12 - 11:23 PM I'm doing a good job of tracking what I eat and staying within my points and I'm very happy about that. Tracking seems to be something I struggle with but it really does make a difference. I haven't exercised much this week. For reasons I don't need to go into, I haven't had my insulin for 11 days. I was able to start taking it again on Thursday but my body is soooo out of whack from that. My morning readings are very high...today, for example, was 500. I've been in contact with the hospital and they've walked me through via phone, what to do. Today it has come down some but still is quite high despite the extra insulin. Needless to say, I have been exhausted lately. I went to my meeting this morning and then came home and to bed. I slept most of the day which I really, REALLY needed. Hopefully my body will decide that oh..yeah...we have insulin and start responding to it. I have 3 appointments at the hospital on Monday so if it's still an issue I'll be talking to someone about it. In the back of my mind, I can't help but wonder that horrible what if question.... Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 14 Apr 12 - 11:47 PM Michelle, I know you know this, but maybe a gentle reminder? Sometimes it is said facing the fear, talking about it, etc. and getting it out of the back of your head, can be helpful in letting go of it. I found it kind of hard to do when I was in the thick of things and I do have a bit of fear come up every now and then, but I have found replacing the scary thought with something entirely different helps to re-route my mind. Our minds are so powerful in imaging stuff we just don't need, most of it fear, esp. the "Future!" I hope your insulin kicks in and you are well-recovered by Monday and able to let your mind relax in "Wellville" which is where you have been and created this past year or so. Much love to you. Not a lot to report here. I've done a lot, but mostly on the computer and phone all week. SRS, e-file is FAST this year. My girlfriend/accountant filed ours for us just a few days ago and we had both by yesterday. She said, today, that it seems to be going very smoothly and fast this year esp. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 15 Apr 12 - 12:23 AM Well Kat, You know it's not in the back of my head at all, right? I don't think about having a recurrence all the time but when I have days where I just don't feel well, it does cross my mind. My oncologist recently told me that most women with ovarian cancer will have a recurrence....something I didn't know and didn't particularly want in my head. Upon further research I found that women who were diagnosed at a higher stage frequently have recurrences. However, I recently met a woman who is a 45 year survivor...FORTY FIVE YEARS!! She is my inspiration and I plan to follow in her footsteps! But that voice...the one that says what if...can't help but wonder why on earth my sugar is running so high? And why isn't it coming down to somewhat normal levels. I don't know. I'm gonna go check my sugar levels and go to bed. Michelle PS. It's 166....Just about PERFECT!!! ***HAPPY DANCE**** *sigh of relief* |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 15 Apr 12 - 12:54 AM Yipee!! 166 + 45 years = great news and example! (Yeah, I know you don't run around with it there, but docs do have a way of planting stuff we just don't need. I know they are bound to give all the pros and cons, etc., I just prefer it when they are very careful in how they put it.) You are such an inspiration yourself, girlfriend!! Since I am only *39*, I hope I am here when you pass the 45 year survivor mark, too! G'night, sleep well. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Apr 12 - 01:13 AM I had an easy cancer to deal with, all things considered, but when I hear about recurrences, it makes me wonder if I'm more vulnerable. I was going through an incredibly stressful time when it hit, and I try to set it aside as a thing of the past. Every so often something happens to make me think "what if" and I end up leaving notes around - how much food the dogs get, where important papers and other things are, etc. I think we all do some of this "summing up" as we get older, but with health issues, it can be more pressing. Mike, where did you get all of those items you donated? Did you clean a few closets, or were they left from someone's estate? I gave away a lot of boxes of clothes and shoes to the St. Vincent De Paul after my Dad died - I got receipts and kept notes, and that was what kept his estate from owing taxes that year. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Apr 12 - 04:16 PM I started setting out my semi-vitreous antique china to photograph for eBay, and some of them are noticeably stained. Semi-vitreous was not a good idea for china, but a few people still collect it. I'll post photos to a photobucket page and send the link to the people who asked about buying it. Then I'll list pieces on eBay (they'll still have to bid, but I'll list the pieces they are most interested in first). I decided to try an experiment - I took one of my little terrycloth kitchen wash cloths (I buy a pack of 60 at Sam's Club for about $10) and a mix of half water and half bleach and poured the mix over the cloth on a stained saucer. Cleared up the stain under the crazing nicely. I may make a mix in the dishpan and just set them in it. I suspect my great aunt or whichever family member used these probably soaked the dinner plates that way on occasion, they're need it less. I'll reshoot some of these photos after I clear up the plates. I've made it clear in my auction text that these aren't great to eat on because they do stain, but some people still want to complete their sets, so they've been warned and I think that's as much as I need do. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 15 Apr 12 - 06:15 PM That's a clever way to get the stain out, SRS. We are trying to get the house in shape for Roger's brother's visit a little more than a week from now. So this morning, we started at about 830a and didn't really stop until about 330p and I still have two loads of wash to finish drying and folding. The whole place has had a terrible layer of dusty dirt for weeks. It's been driving me bats. So, while Rog did a great job sweeping AND vacuuming the whole house, I took everything off of the surfaces in the kitchen and dining room, and wiped ALL of the dusty dirt off. Went through about six rags and then some! We reorganised the cat feeding table as it looks as though little Miss Maizee Grace has been standing on her tippy-toes and helping herself. Scrubbed out the pets' watering and feeding containers and Rog even took the litter box out and gave it a good hose down. Morgan was away overnight, but came over when they got back about lunchtime. He was all eager to help. I gave him a container of cleaning wipes and let him have at it. HE spotted how dirty the wall was by the frig, stove, and trash and did a great job. He also wiped down some things in the LR. We still need to mop (next weekend, after another sweeping) OR, I may call our former cleaner and see if she can come in just before his brother gets here. AND, I need to finish cleaning off the dust and dirt in the LR, bedroom, and bathroom knick-knacks. I did sweep down the cobwebs in there, today, too. Reading has finally taken off for Morgan. He was bragging about taking four books on the two hours each way trip they took so he could read the "whole" time. And, *drum roll, please* they just finished up standardised testing in his school. He came out with the highest scores of his class in math and reading! He is like a happy, proud rooster, complete with his red hair/comb sticking up. (He had bedhead!LOL) |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Apr 12 - 06:27 PM Congratulations, Morgan! I notice the dust is easier to keep up with when the dogs aren't in the house at night. The hair was building up like snowbanks in halls and corners. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Rapparee Date: 15 Apr 12 - 10:41 PM Stuff we'd accumulated over the years and no longer needed/wanted. Decent stuff, with use left in it, but.... Also, we hadn't made a donation in about three years and it was getting to the avalanche size. My wife had thyroid cancer at 17; she was operated on in 1959, no recurrence. Breast cancer surgery last February and things look good but you never know. No, the cancers were not related; one was due to radiation (x-ray) overexposure and the other to HRT that went on way, way, too long. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 15 Apr 12 - 11:14 PM Today Pete helped me clean out the car. I gave our cocker spaniel a haircut...or at least a haircut as much he'd let me cut and did a bunch of laundry. Yippee. I also cut my hair. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Apr 12 - 01:15 AM I'm still on HRT because of the risk of osteoporosis - Mom and her sister (Scandihoovians) had it. Started it because the surgery was "too early for menopause" but at some point I have to decide how much is enough. An avalanche, eh? It also helps on the taxes. This year I didn't have any children on my taxes, was barely a head of household, but I had donated the max (without an appraisal) and that along with everything else helped me itemize deductions. I'd taken money out of my IRA and paid half the penalty last summer (I knew the market was going to nose dive and decided to pay some bills before the GOP let it tank). I had to send a check for taxes I owed - $17 and change. Cut it pretty close. Won't give exact amount, that's a challenge question if you have a query about your taxes. :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: freda underhill Date: 16 Apr 12 - 09:20 AM I went to our national folk festival at the beginning of the month - and have just finished the accumulated washing and tidying away on return. Summer is over here and I've been putting away summer clothes and bringing out warmer ones and washing them. Like you Lilyfestre I've got into a bad habit with my diabetes meds - having been taking them in the morning but not the evening - your post is a reminder to take some now. freda |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 16 Apr 12 - 09:34 AM This morning I've sanded the next bit of the bathroom wall, shampooed some more carpet tiles and hoover'd the dry ones from yesterday. I tried to stick the bitumen tape in the water tank, but it wasn't sticking - I think it needs heating. It's currently in the sun, but I might have to resort to the remoska. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 16 Apr 12 - 12:47 PM ..................? Not sure what to post.... Last night's emergency pastoral care run downstate had elements of declut in it, not least of which was being able to do some work with the new fone that prev. would have taken a bagful of stuff to carry-- and the decluttered van had the charger and cord I needed, right where I thought it would be. Two sleepless people also netted a surprise lawn goose, who shall be known as Ramona, which I will unload as I head out on the next leg of mom-estate-meetings du jour, with the fone on for the unfolding needs of last night's pastoral call. Then I gonna fall off the map for a few hours to declut the head some more. BY the time I get back dear Hardi will have carved (and maybe even bagged and frozen) the Thanksgiving turkey we cooked this AM-- that's not T'giving 2011 but prob. 2010. It warn't half bad breakfast neither. I takin' some good gospel tunes offa dat map with me, on dat fone. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 16 Apr 12 - 02:13 PM Remoska'd the bitumen tape, which worked, and it has covered the inner access to the old hole in the tank. I have added water to cover the opening, and wait to see if it leaks. Pulled up yards of mint roots from the herb bed and put them to drown before composting. Didn't quite finish, but will do the rest tomorrow. Mattocked in the hole a bit, and am leaving the clay to dry a bit before moving it. I think the solution there will be to use butyl liner and make it into a pond, though only a sump for rain this year. The tank will manage where it is by the compost bins. Tonight we have heavy rain forecast, with strong winds. I think I may put a stone in each bucket and bowl to avoid loose things flying about and spilling the water. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Apr 12 - 03:10 PM My kitchen table is covered with the rather attractive but functionally useless set of antique china. I posted the photos and sent a couple of messages through eBay to see if either of those people who contacted me before have any interest - I suspect they'd love the charismatic pieces on the cheap, can't say that's going to happen, but we will see what the market bears. My dining room table is covered with playbills. I've been eating at a corner of the kitchen island counter where I have a tall stool. I hope to remedy this soon (or get out another small table for meals for the time-being.) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 16 Apr 12 - 10:24 PM Exhausting day here. Port accessed & flushed. Good blood return. Initial lab reports: Very low white blood cell count, lymphs high Oncologist: Referral for PT, conversation about recurrences Mammogram: Sebaceous cyst, initial report great, have to wait for the official word Stressful for me. I'm off to bed. Tumor marker results should be in tomorrow. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: freda underhill Date: 17 Apr 12 - 05:28 AM Good luck Michelle. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 17 Apr 12 - 07:02 AM :) Thanks! |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 17 Apr 12 - 11:14 AM You are in my thoughts and thanks givings, Michelle. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 17 Apr 12 - 04:49 PM Michelle, you've been fighting a cold and infections for a while. I think you have to take that into account with blood work at this point in time, don't you? I've heard back from the eBay shoppers - one is interested in plates and bowls, the other is interested in large items (tureens, lidded dishes) and cups and saucers. This could work out. I set out the cups and saucers and took photos today, using a small table set up beside the kitchen table. I'll post them on my Photobucket account and let them see how many, the sizes. This is an old-fashioned china, the pieces aren't exactly identical because porcelain shrinks as it dries/bakes and while they are more-or-less close and can be categorized as dinner, lunch, salad, etc, there aren't just 3 identical sizes of plates. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 17 Apr 12 - 04:57 PM That's good, SRS! I managed to clear off my desk a bit, filed some papers, and filled out scads of papers for a new doctor I will be seeing on the 30th. I am switching to a different, highly recommended nephrologist. I also went online, last night, and ordered some things I've been wanting to get. Running around looking for them takes up too much of our time and energy and they are all lightweight, so shipping isn't any more than gas. I also mailed off a book. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 18 Apr 12 - 02:16 PM I think for a lot of online shoppers the shipping charges have almost become invisible. They see them, try to mitigate them by shopping around, but it's part of the transaction that gets less resistance now. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 18 Apr 12 - 11:39 PM The dogs and I went for an hour walk this evening, with about five - ten minutes of it pausing to speak to people. We got to the top of a hill and my pit bull started pulling in the direction opposite where I was walking, and I thought "what the heck, she wants to see something new," so we headed around a very large block (adds up to about a mile all of the way around.) This in addition to our regular walk. I did some shopping today online, but only so far as choosing a couple of items to look at. I'll put them in the "wish list" at Amazon and revisit them later. Mowing tomorrow. SRS |
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Subject: Lumbar Spine From: wysiwyg Date: 19 Apr 12 - 09:36 AM Well I had a FABOO appt ydy at the doc's office. He was out, so staff and I "played." We plowed thru my big ole file to find some stuff that the quickie-appointments had not quite covered well, and added a boatload of thyroid tests (he will OK them) to the bloodwork that got left hanging in the rush of funeral planning for my mom. Just the day before she died, I had spoken with her local caregivers about the need to recheck her meds' dosing schedule and get new bloodwork for her own thyroid meds.... and I know she would want me to be taking care of myself right now. So I will be getting the "full flip" bloodwork my thyroid book's author only dreams most thyroid patients will get, because I requested them-- and because I went about THAT in the smartest way possible. I also discovered that ole strokebrain here had forgotten that in 2006 I not only had KNEE x-rays for a baseline, but SPINE. And THAT is the place that has not done well even with PT. It had been nagging at me for months to check the report from the knee films, on another matter... maybe it was strokebrain trying to nudge me about the spine too. Whatever-- with the time we could devote to this yesterday, we found the old report and deciphered it. And why THAT is good news indeed is that because it is not a newly-found condition-- it qualifies me for some treatment that I KNOW works well... that I can HAVE... that will let me WALK MORE. Then we booked two followup appts with doc, one for each issue, at a time of day/week when he does not need to fit me into a quickie appt. Great doc. GREAT STAFF! WINWINWIN! (And no co-pay because technically it was not an office visit!) ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 19 Apr 12 - 05:08 PM qi gong this morning as well as dishes (a week's worth!), threw the ball a few times for the dogs and did more paperwork (got my renewed driver's license in the mail, today.) |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 19 Apr 12 - 09:44 PM Good day here. Had a little walk, picked out fabric for a new quilt project, chatted it up with the woman who owns the local fabric shop and heard a lovely story about my nana (who has been gone for far too long). :) I love living in a place where people know your history...not just a few years worth but your real history and recognize how wonderful you family has been for years. :) Made a nice dinner, had a shower and am now relaxing with my men. :) Michelle PS. Tumor markers dropped and mammogram came back clear! Thyroid doing great and getting the blood sugars under control. White blood cell count seriously and dangerously low. Still waiting for info about that. In the meantime, it's good to know that there's a reason why I am so soooooooooooo tired all day, every day. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 19 Apr 12 - 09:44 PM PSS. Meeting with PT people tomorrow. YAY! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 19 Apr 12 - 11:52 PM Michelle, that's good news! Have fun tomorrow. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 20 Apr 12 - 01:52 AM It was a busy day here today, fighting the good fight to reach Friday. The dishes have been in the sink more lately, but at this time of year I keep a bucket in the sink to catch water used casually - hand washing, a quick rinse, etc. and that goes into the garden several times a day. So I have half the amount of empty sink as usual. I've about finished several things for work, that I'll turn in tomorrow, and enjoy the full weekend because next weekend I have things that will take time away from gardening and dogs. BTW: we've gotten in the habit of a dog treat at the back door when I'm ready to lock up. Tonight they all were in the "down" position and I put their treats on the ground in front of them, so they wait till I tell them "okay!" to eat. And I did it a couple of times by putting the treat on the dogs' foot. Poppy won't stay still for that one, but Zeke and Cinnamon enjoy the challenge. :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 20 Apr 12 - 05:33 AM My cold water tank is about a third full, and will be fuller when I have gathered up yesterday's collection - we had very heavy stuff where I was in London, with deeply dark skies and hail (only about 1/4 inch), and clearly quite a lot at home. Weight down again. Each morning I have been vacuuming yesterday's shampooed carpet tiles, and shampooing a new set, and had got very low on shampoo - a type sold through demonstrators in markets and - I don't know what you call people who call round with little catalogues, and the company names would probably mean nothing over the pond. I was a bit worried about where I was going to get enough to finish the job, when, scanning through the TV briefly, what should I find but a shopping channel offering four bottles of the stuff, plus applicator, P&P free for a special promotion. So now I wait for the delivery before carrying on. I love this sort of silly synchronicity. Yesterday we went to Greenwich for the commemoration of the martyrdom of St Alfege, Archbishop of Canterbury, exactly 1000 years ago. Various church dignitories were there, including the current Archbish, and a number of re-enactors from regia anglorum, a group which has a serious dedication to accuracy in what they do. There was a woman who made her own stringed instruments and played them, and talked about how she tuned them and played, and various other skilled craftspeople. The depth of study is impressive. St Alfege had been captured by Vikings and had insisted that no-one pay a ransom for him. A bunch of them got peeved and drunk, and threw animal bones at him until he died. The reaction to this from their own side was as bad as from the English, and caused conversions. Penny |
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Subject: Sandy! From: wysiwyg Date: 20 Apr 12 - 07:20 AM BTW: we've gotten in the habit of a dog treat at the back door when I'm ready to lock up. Our (newish) treat habit with Faulkner is the "good doggeh ate meds" treat he gets-- if he finishes those meds-soaked-with-kibble AM and PM. This is served upstairs in my home office, just down the hall from his own personal bedroom (sorry Dick and Susan, I gave him yours!). He is so sure this treat will be forthcoming (tho it gets smaller each time) that he thought he'd just start on up the stairs, on his own, the other night. Now, that would be OK except that it violates his firm Service Dog rule, which is "no big doggeh on the stairs at the same time as a hoomin-- unless invited." What I did not realize was that he had also learned to look over his shoulder to read the hoomin face for a quick OK-- and he got, instead, a spontaneous frown of curious surprise? I never spoke. Yet this stopped him in his tracks; he turned around and came back down the 2 steps and turn/landing he'd gone ahead by. We then played a fun face game, while I reinforced the OK-face and the Nuh-uh face with him. Then I pointed up and around the turn and flight of stairs (still no words), and up he went, good doggeh! He is so good. The flight up to the attic is much narrower and steeper, and that one also usually requires him to sit at bottom and let hoomin go up safely first. But I wanted to teach him something with a special harness-lead we got him, so the other day I sent him up ahead, and followed so close (short lead) that he thought he was violating that rule again, once we got to the very-crowded, narrow top landing where I could open a gate to let him thru. Good DOGGEH! He just really notices face, and is so happy when he guesses right. And then wants to do it all over again and again. === I did get to boondock a few hours sleep up in Rochester last night, and the setup (first this season) was purty good. But a ministry call on my cell just before I turned in sent me back south after just a nap, for something sensitive I need to talk with Hardi about (poor man, it's his day off, too) as soon as he is conscious. This ole river otter did jump out of the fishbowl for a few precious hours, tho, and I'll get to do that all over again in 4 weeks. Lovely news I was able to take with me on the road (as I steamed north to a regional leadership development support group and its local contact network), involved Hardi's great word that a LOCAL lay-ministry leadership development seed had also just "fruited." It came a tad before we expected, but much as we had envisioned.... we had stuck to the positive and simply watched God's will prevail in the midst of very-human reactivity. (God's timing is perfect!) Another kind of declutter in progress. === I am really liking the thyroid meds, and looking forward to the likely dosage increase in a few weeks. This amount of sustained and renewable energy over a sustained period of time-- I have not known this as "normal" for me since..... 1989? TBTG THAT timing worked for this chile. I may move to a natural form of the meds soon, if it is also as much cheaper than the synthetic as my book says it ought to be. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 20 Apr 12 - 05:05 PM Rain overnight and again this morning, not a lot, but enough to put off mowing until tomorrow. I may do some weeding in a little while. This year the yard has more flies - I need to pick up all of the dog droppings, that will help, but I also would like to find a fly spray that isn't toxic to the dog. I've seen some that are for horses or dogs, but I think they have pyrethrum in them. That isn't good (yes, it comes from chrysanthemums, but it is a neurotoxin, something you don't want to put on an animal. I went out and sprinkled granulated garlic, and after I mow tomorrow I will poop scoop thoroughly. Tonight, it's eBay stuff. I have to clear off my kitchen table of all of this china. Also, the cabinet it used to live in is available for new contents - I have to figure out what will best go there. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 20 Apr 12 - 07:47 PM THIS may work well for flies, SRS. I found a link for it on THIS SITE. Check this out, recommended on that site: In a 20 gallon hose end sprayer mix 1 can of beer, 1/2 cup molasses , 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup liquid dish soap and 1/2 liquid lawn food or fertilizer. The beer will help to de-thatch, the molasses will attract smaller non-annoying insects which will help to aerate your lawn, the ammonia and dish soap will help to clean off pollution so that your landscaping plants can breathe and accept the fertilizer more easily. I use this mix every 3 weeks or so, about a day or two after the lawn has been mowed so that it has a full few days to really sink in. Interesting! I walked a lot today as we ran errands. A good 45 minutes in one store. Have been doing the regular housework throughout the week. More to do this weekend to get ready for my brother-in-law's visit. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Apr 12 - 11:25 AM Thanks for the link - I'll research that product. In the recipe the ammonia is the killer ingredient. Not an organic solution - that'll kill everything in the yard, but I'll look into a modification of that recipe. Perhaps using neem instead. Rugs in the washer today. It's one of those days for moving stuff around, sweeping, scrubbing. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 21 Apr 12 - 11:54 AM Another schedule declut-- I proof-listen audiobooks. It's a great alternative to TV chairtime for those times when the arthritis ion my spine needs a sitting break. Other chair, service dog Faulkner in harness in case I get stuck and need a pull, lumbar pillow already there discarded from another chair-pillow-making project, cat-needs-petted for spring allergies van get on it and on me there, and speakers just reach my ears. WIN.WIN.WIN.WIN.WIN.WIN.WIN.WIN! Also can do same on fone now, with multi-layered passwords all set to quick-enter the editing screens involved. YAY! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Apr 12 - 03:25 PM Started pruning in the back, taking out shoots of trees planted by squirrels, getting set to trim the edge then mow. The greenhouse is a great place for working on equipment, parking my big drink of water, and letting the radio play while I'm working (easier than wearing earbuds and snagging the cord on obstacles.) Oh, BTW - I never post as a guest these days. Makes it real obvious if it's really me or not. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 21 Apr 12 - 04:06 PM We worked in the front yard, put an old rug down on some weeds in the perennial garden, then covered that with some good topsoil. Rog also pulled a lot of grass, which was already going to seed, in the same bed! We loaded the wheelbarrow with debris, old stuff we no longer need out front. He will take it to the back later, today. I pulled a few weeds, too. Also put a set of weights, 2lbs and 5lbs out front with a free sign. Hope someone takes them. We went to a garden center and bought some beautiful annuals for my front stoop pots: verbena in 2 colours, purple & deep coral; bidens which I loved last year;a bodacious, large, trailing PINK petunia and some purple ones, too; and, some wishbone plants. I went out after lunch to plant them and got snuffled up by so much cotton from the cottonwood trees, I had to come in to stop coughing. My nose is not happy and I am sneezing. Rog said, "Oh, it's snowing!" And, indeed, that is what it looks like, though most of it is aloft, going up, long before it settles unlike snow. I'd forgotten how much it apparently bothers me! So, inside now. Put some boxes of stuff away in the office and generally neatened it up. Trying to get stuff off the floors as we have a gal coming in on Monday to clean them. Yeah! Lots of walking at the garden center and here at home. Morgan is away for the day on a real treasure hunt nearby in Utah. They left at 5a this morning. Talk about excited! |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 21 Apr 12 - 05:42 PM I spent the day outside at an Earth Day event. Pete gave fly casting lessons and I played with the baby. He was back and forth, back and forth across the field....running, giggling, having fun. There were vendors along the edges of the field and across from us was a family with 2 baby goats (kids). Jeremiah loved them. He'd hold his hand up to the cage for the goats to kiss and then we'd run back to our table across the field. Then he'd yell, "Mommy! Goats!!" And we'd run back over to see the goats. He was sooo cute. Met a couple of old friends and made 2 new ones! :) One of the people I ran into was someone I used to do yoga with. She was on the mat next to me at the first day of the yoga challenge this year. She asked me if I had been to any of the other classes and I said no...that while I really wanted to do it, it's too much for me right now. She said, "Yeah, I could see that it really wasn't working for you on the first day." That made me feel like crap. I miss my yoga but even more, I miss how my body used to move. Pete tells me to give myself a break. And I know....I know...but that comment just cut through me. Here's hoping PT is going to help. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Apr 12 - 07:37 PM In for a bit of a cool down and a snack. I have some meat thawing and later on I'll grill several pieces to use during the week. I have decided that turning on the grill to cook one steak is as silly as getting in the pickup to drive one place and back home. And I love the flavor of the grilled meat in the things I make with it later in the week. I've about finished around the edges of the yard, I have decided it is time to retire my 10-year-old pruning saw, I just couldn't get it sharpened today. I did sharpen my loppers okay (there's a photo of it on Twitter/Facebook). When I first moved in here we built the garage behind the house and converted the existing garage in the house into rooms. I wanted the garage to look like it had been here for a while and I needed a workbench, so I took apart a dilapidated redwood picnic table the previous owners had left behind and used the planks for the legs and table top for the bench. I had a large piece of plywood that I picked up along the road somewhere that my contractor used part of and I used the rest for the top of the bench. My vise is one I bought at a garage sale for $10 and it is bolted on. Every time I work out there it is nice to know that no only do I have the space and the equipment, but that I built it. :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Apr 12 - 09:55 PM Whosh! I went around the back with the weed whacker (electric, so I had to drag a really long cord out also), I used the loppers to cut up a couple of dead limbs (from last year's drought, no doubt), and then I went around with the mower. It finally looks pretty good out there. I start on the front tomorrow. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 21 Apr 12 - 10:43 PM I had nervous energy this evening...anticipating our company. So, instead of just sitting at the PC, with Rog's help, I made a new batch of juice, then washed what dishes there were. Rog took down the knicknacks from the bathroom so I could wash them, too, REALLY dusty, then I washed a few things hanging around the kitchen sink, Gives me a headstart on tomorrow's work. Sounds like you did a lot, too, SRS. Hang in there, Michelle. I'll bet the PT will help a lot. luvyakat |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Apr 12 - 12:12 AM I meant to comment on the Yoga class observation earlier. I hope that was simply a poorly stated remark from someone who could pick up on your energy level and wishes you well. We all say things that, as soon as they're out of our mouths, we realize didn't come across the way we intended. And there is no taking them back. I grilled a small steak and a couple of pounds of chicken breast this evening. The steak was for dinner (along with a small potato, cauliflower, and zucchini squash). The chicken will be pulled apart for fajitas or cut up for other dishes. It isn't quite completely cooked so it's still moist. When I use it in another dish it will finish cooking but have the grilled flavor. Mmmmm! Laundry dry, dishes finished, I made a quick trip to the post office, checked Susie's mail, and now I'll fold laundry and call it an evening. All of that yard work wore me out. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 22 Apr 12 - 01:44 AM Here's hoping we get anything done, tomorrow. Rog got called out at 930p and isn't going to be home 'til almost midnight. We'll probably get to bed about 1a. I hope Morgan doesn't call too early! Puir Rog had to go up the mtn. to the transmitter to fix something, thank goodness it didn't take too long once he got there. I dislike him going there alone at night. It's a very twisty paved road, then several miles of rough dirt, very isolated about 4,000 feet above the valley which is around 4,500. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 22 Apr 12 - 07:06 AM Another Boondocker trip to Harrisburg today, this time to attend the ordinations of people with whom I have worked as they prepared to put on the collar. I had planned a napping stop since the 'docker is still set up from Thursday's trip, but now we have learned that Bad Weather is expected. Monday mid-day, Hardi and I are due to meet with our accountant to discuss the tax implications to us of my mother's estate-- apparently the laws in the state where she died move settlement on in an inexorably-quick fashion; anyway that's what our financial planners and friends urged us to understand. So it will be very, very weird. But the plan NOW is that on my way back from the ord's, I may Boondock overnight to keep from over-tired driving ALL the way back, and to save having to pop back down over that slippery mountain again Monday for the accountant appt. (Hardi can meet me there.) The post-PT boondock stop Thursday evening was kewl-- to be able to move around in the tight space more effectively, tho so many pounds heavier? It's a new planet! Then add the thyroid meds starting to kick in? I am dealing with unknown forces. It's been so long since I HAD energy that I am not convinced yet that a collapse is not inevitable, tho I also know that even a hi-energy person (as I once was) WILL need to rest and not overdo having too much fun. I think I will take Faulker in Service Dog mode for this trip. Not sure why-- instinct on my part I think-- but he will also enjoy it so why the heck not? Faulkner at the Cathedral.... maybe. If not he can happily sleep on my cot till I roll into it! :~) ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Apr 12 - 11:49 AM Dogs love sleeping on their people's beds. Either way he'll have a great trip! ;) I have a bamboo screen (rolls up) that I first hung on the side of the patio cover last year and it helped keep a lot of the bright sun and heat out of the house in the late afternoon. Last fall it was rolled and packed away in the garage. I pulled it out yesterday and when I went up I saw an odd pattern on it - seems the strings running through it held moisture and it had a pattern of mildew. I gave it a light spray with orange oil then hosed it off and am leaving it in the open down position for a day or two to let the sunshine clobber the mildew. I roll it up at sunset usually. This made a big difference in the temperature of the house last summer, and since then I've put in the insulation and closed off the fireplace so the house ought to be a lot easier to keep cool and keep the electric bill down this year. That fireplace was like leaving a window open year round. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 22 Apr 12 - 12:40 PM Dogs love sleeping on their people's beds. AND be the delightful Original Bed Warmer! (Pack his fud) ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Apr 12 - 06:12 PM My dogs took up some of this afternoon - we seem to have had an explosion of biting flies after rain in the last couple of weeks. I know it is my fault - the grass got tall because it was wet to mow and I didn't try to find the poop to scoop in the tall wet grass. Flies are the result. I mowed yesterday and sprayed some orange oil, but it didn't slow these nasty buggers and this afternoon when I rubbed my hand on the pit bull's head and it came back with blood on her ear. Poor girl! I gave them all a bath (on the theory that maybe they're not as attractive when they're clean) but it only helped a little. I ran over to the feed store and picked up some fly traps and fly paper. The paper has worked better, but when I swatted one on the wall it left a red spot and I realized it's like mosquitoes, going to rest after a blood meal. When the dogs are dry I'll let them in for a while and let the flies discover just the traps and not the dogs. I've policed the grounds and there isn't more breeding material out there. I'll be very careful to keep that under control. (The instructions in the traps say to practice good "manure management.") Now back to the other stuff I was planning for today. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Apr 12 - 10:18 PM Further note on flies - I did more research and will probably be picking up something with Spinosad in it to spray around the back. I have to be careful to spray it just on the lawn and not near any flowering plants (none back there right now) because it can harm honeybees. DirtDoctor site - fly and lice on cattle page. It works on backyard dogs as well. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 23 Apr 12 - 12:09 AM Surprisingly enough, we got a lot done, today. Went for a Sunday morning drive up in the orchards on the palisades, then picked up a few groceries. Before that, before breakfast even, I'd folded and put away one load of clothes, and had one in the wash and one in the dryer before we left the house. Rog cleaned up the stuff from the front yard in the wheelbarrow, while Morgan and I potted a few annuals. He wasn't much into it, wanted to play on his swing set and it got too hot for me. He did lay some recycled paper around the sweet peas outside the fence, then Rog emptied last year's annuals' pots of soil on them. Morgan had a blast breaking that up and spreading it over the paper. He also put a few river stones around the plant. Then it was inside to the swamp cooler! About an hour later I sent him home as I was really feeling tired from our late night. Rog stayed in for awhile. Next thing I knew, I was up talking on the phone and heard a chainsaw. I looked out the window thinking it was our neighbours, but it was Rog taking down about a twenty foot elm tree by our storage shed! In the West where it is dry, we never cut down trees except for extreme cases. I hollered at him. He said it was hitting the power lines, so, it is now gone. The goat next door will have extra treats this week! He also raked a huge part of the backyard, near the door, out by his grapevine, to the willow tree, and took all of that debris back to the old, big garden area which is an informal mulching place, sort of. Anyway, I am really proud of him. After last night's work, getting up fairly earlier and usually just vegging out on a Sunday afternoon, he really went to town! Yea, Rog! I have to finish dusting and scrub the bathroom, tomorrow. Floor cleaner is coming at 2p. Oh, and we found out why Maizee has been coming in with a muddy face and paws. She was digging at the little apricot tree we planted last Fall which Rog has been watering, the brat! He put a small decorative wire fence around it which seems to have stopped her. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Apr 12 - 12:46 AM The thing about getting out to do something that involves exercise when you're tired is that it gives you more energy. Another thing I've noticed about my energy level is that as I lose weight I have more energy. Getting back to my old "normal" is my goal for this summer, because I want to be back to my old energy level. Roger was perhaps illustrating that point for all of us. :) Laundry folded, dishes washed. I have some in the sink because I'm going to run them in the dishwasher tomorrow. I haven't used it for a while and I need to get the stagnant water out of the bottom of it (from slowly filling as clean dishes drain in it.) Tomorrow I have to mow the front. More energizing exercise! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 23 Apr 12 - 03:27 PM The curtain is now fitted in my study, and I have been able to sgtart work on sorting the room again. But I've found another holdup - I need to connect Dad's drill to a new lead, and I found that I've bought triple core cable rather than double core. Local shops don't have the right stuff, so I've had to leave things till tomorrow. On Saturday, I had the replacement wardrobe doors fitted. Nice, but no match for the originals. It's a real shame that the boy had ruined the old ones with his knife throwing. The grain on that was close as the wood had been cut from a large trunk, but the new is a veneer that has been cut with the grain, so the pattern is far apart. The joiner, who is next door's partner, did a lovely job of fitting them so that they hang well and close neatly. I next need to lift them off the hinges and varnish them. Not today, though. I've been sleeping quite a lot today, and I don't know why. I was a bit late yesterday. And I walked to the builder's suppliers, but it isn't far. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Apr 12 - 04:06 PM I've picked up a lot of gardening supplies yesterday and today. Mostly right now I'm trying to get the biting flies under control - they are clobbering the dogs. I meant to pick up some spinosad but I forgot, so I'll make another trip back later. The pile of papers on my desk and kitchen counter are getting big. I must recycling, shred, or file soon. Penny, could you have used a wood filler and smoothed over the knife-damaged door? Or rehung them on the hinges and turn them both around, so the side with gashes is inside the closet? SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 23 Apr 12 - 07:06 PM The thing about getting out to do something that involves exercise when you're tired is that it gives you more energy. Unless you have a medical condition that makes it work the other way around. If it does work the other way around, that is often a clue to get a new Dx. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 23 Apr 12 - 07:14 PM SRS, that was the case with Rog...he had more energy from not vegging out all afternoon. I hope he keeps it up, within reason. Working as many hours as he does, I make allowances.:-) I cleaned all morning, washing, dusting, scrubbing, putting stuff away, etc. LOTS done, more still to do, but my friend is here doing the floors now and it smells so clean! Rog and I both have a couple of small things to do then we'll be all ready. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 23 Apr 12 - 07:45 PM The weather here is crazy. Two days ago it was 80 degrees and this morning we woke up to a foot of snow and it's still snowing. Trees and limbs are down all over the place. Several people around us have lost power but so far, knock on wood, we have not. However, I have been busy both last night and today getting laundry all done, cooking, vacuuming and other stuff that requires electricity because it's very likely that the power will end up going out here too. It's not so much a big deal as we can cook without the electricity being on and we can also heat the house but it's nice to make it as easy as possible. Pete has the wood stove all ready to fire up (we had it all shut down for the season)and we have plenty of firewood to keep us warm. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 24 Apr 12 - 04:14 PM 45 Minutes at the YMCA this morning. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Apr 12 - 06:23 PM With the warm days we've been having it's difficult to imagine such a swath of cold air this time of year. I hope Jeremiah got one last chance to play in the snow before you get out his swimming suit and wading pool! Dentist checkup and ran a couple of errands today. Must run out one more time, but I'll be back soon enough to take the dogs for a walk. I've been tired after mowing the last couple of days and didn't take them. (Despite the remark about having energy after using energy, there is a point when you want to sit down and take off the socks full of dirt and grass burrs!) Dishes in the sink need to be tackled. That's tonight. Finishing some work that I didn't get done when I was at the dentist this morning also. Nothing very exciting. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: freda underhill Date: 25 Apr 12 - 07:46 AM Glad to read the good news on this thread. Yoga. Once, a few decades ago, I was a rubber bodied yogini. Now, many years later and larger, my exercise is walk, walk, walk. I hope to get back to yoga at some point, and have also been on the receiving end of a discouraging comment from a fellow yoga attender late last year when I was going to classes. at present I'm walking with friends. Today I walked to Redfern with a neighbour and went to a ceremony for Indigenous war veterens. It was a moving afternoon, music, poetry, prayer. Afterwards we walked home, and I did a bit of organising before friends (including catter Hilda Fish) popped by for pumpkin soup. Now it's washing up with Kate Wolf! |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 25 Apr 12 - 09:28 AM Today I walked to Redfern with a neighbour and went to a ceremony for Indigenous war veterens. WOW!!! (Thanks for link) THYROID MEDS!!! I am a lot busier all of a sudden-- energy to DO what I am committed to DOING! A Band rehearsal yesterday, where founder Ed and I incorporated a new member who is HOT to PLAY-- so cool that we have all those resources on hand to feed his need, TBTG! This included Service Dog Faulkner, who enjoyed lying quietly under the table supporting my 'harp. We then went to a friend's apartment (F's Fairy Godmother), for training tips/eval, and a snack/doggeh-manners-meet bite with her dog Coco. Then ole F had a good ole nap in the car (in my cot), while I went to the pool, and TBTG a good friend of ours is now back on staff there. The place is under construction, and the dressing rooms are closed-- but TBTG and thyroid meds, I HAD A METABOLISM to be just warm enough despite no heat in the changing cubicle they temped into place, because the hot tub was closed for repairs! So-- lots of walking (spine ouchies), and 1-1/2 hours of mixed pool stuff, then Hardi and I made dinner and relaxed all evening after he got back from choir practice. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Apr 12 - 12:01 PM I've been listening to programs on organic gardening/living and one on NPR called The People's Pharmacy as they talk about probiotics. Susie needed some recently because all of the antibiotics they give her in the hospital and rehab trash her flora and give her the trots. She has taken probiotics before, so I picked up some for her, what I could find that evening when she asked (at the local drugstore). I did some online research and went by the Vitamin Shoppe (a chain around the US I believe) and picked up on of their mid-range products (with more than just acidophilous in it, but not the high-end super-charged $$ stuff either). I'll give it a try myself also, to see how I feel after a few weeks. I'm not to the point of trying leeches or pin worms for my dermatitis, but I'm comfortable this far. ;-) The kitchen is coming back under my control, gradually, but there is still a lot of escaped paper around the place. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 25 Apr 12 - 12:34 PM Seems my now 3.5 month change of eating with the juice extract and whole-food plant-based meals is having a profound effect on my blood pressure. I scared my girlfriend osteopath, yesterday, when I went to a manipulation. It was too low, so she kept me there for a bit to get it up, then told me hold all meds until I talked to my PCP. I have spoken with his NA who will get back to me, but it looks as though I may not have to take two meds from now on, or at least will definitely have to cut back on them! I haven't had any this morning and it's still low-normal. Whoo-hoo! (One of the things documented in "Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead," was the fact that people who went on the fast were able to get off all meds, eventually. And, I haven't even gone that extreme. I still have my meals.) Just about ready for our company...in late this afternoon. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Apr 12 - 12:47 PM That's an evolving good outcome, Kat! Congratulations! The Blood Sugar Solution is a People's Pharmacy interview from last weekend that I think I referred to earlier. And it fits in precisely with what you're doing. SRS |
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Subject: Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 "Toxic People"? From: wysiwyg Date: 25 Apr 12 - 01:43 PM Well.... Post-PT home/pool workout time unfortunately got eaten up by a parochial crisis ministry situation that blossomed... while I was also entangled in a toxic family response to my mother's passing... as well as the reasonable Calif. arrangements we needed to cover for her from here... plus estate matters with our professional advisors.... Well..... Anyhoo. We determined Tuesday that I had gone from a 4.5 out of 5 upon PT discharge, on the PT's strength test, to a mere 3 (tops). Since I cannot afford to lose ground (less than 3 is in ADL-trouble according to the PT), I picked the least toxic-to-me family member (we were in mid-reconciliation when Mom passed) with whom to keep in communication, and put the other on the blocked-senders list while remaining open to phone calls as I had originally requested. This cleared sufficient space that I got my scheduled workouts in-- not only Tuesday but also yesterday and today. So both Tuesday and today it was the full course of post-PT prescribed exercises, tho at weights a ad lower than at discharge, but I now from past rehab stuff how quickly the muscles will come back and due to the thyroid meds I also have the energy to go OUT and so some chores pending in the Boondocker, and Faulkner is all harnessed to help/hang out/advise. I have been reflecting about "Toxic People" (the topic) quite a bit of late, especially remembering that day I decided to hang out with a "better class of a**holes." That is exactly how I thought it, at the time. Back then, it was a move away from needy people surrounding me, towards people who could give. So for most of my 20's and 30's I WAS the needy person in the dynamics open to me, and I was blessed to find a good number of angels to "grow me up" some more. Then later I got to where I could resource other people some, and pay that angel-help forward, but in the midst of it I also learned how to EXCHANGE support. That exchange is what I look for now, except in clearly-defined or specifically-negotiated ministries and relationship agreements. And those are all resourced from above, spiritually and/or in practical terms including chains of command and support systems designed for the practitioners' longevity and sanity-- without which no one ion a helping role can survive long, be it Red Cross, ministry... or the funeral industry I wonder if Hardi and I may be easing towards, professionally, as we think about his eventual retirement. And what I have been thinking this week is that there is no such thing as a Toxic Person (I have posted about this before), but simply people who are at various stages of various journeys. Thanks to the exchanged-listening model that has been so helpful to me, I believe thru experience (not just theory) that ALL people CAN move forward, and do WANT to move forward, and that given the right conditions they DO move forward, upward-- just like plants in the sunshine. It's in our DNA! Thus I think that what is toxic for one person might just be health-producing for someone else, if that is where they are drawn at some given point in time; Free Will (as adults wield it) is what really matters-- just like the ECUSA Baptismal Covenant delineates boundaries so very well. Anyway that's what this gray-hair has learned form the Gray-Hairs that have gone before and been kind enough to sjow me where they walked and what they came to see. So I choose to follow my priest's guidance, who started her own journey toward personal wellbeing about the same time I did, and from the same HS, but along a different path and with different family dysfunctions in her mix than I had in mine. She says a couple of wise things: 1. move away from the stress(or) and towards the peace(maker); 2. pray and tie your camel (i.e. pray for people of course but also take action you know you need to take). Thanks, Mo. Pegster! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Apr 12 - 02:23 PM Thus I think that what is toxic for one person might just be health-producing for someone else, if that is where they are drawn at some given point in time; Free Will (as adults wield it) is what really matters . . . I think you nailed it, Susan. We all have a few toxic folks in our lives - they rub us the wrong way or if we can't mitigate their influence, can make us sick. Am working my way down a short list of things I need to do this month. Bills to pay that are outside the regular routine (like the annual post office box charge and another batch of heartworm Rx meds for the dogs). SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Apr 12 - 02:52 PM Oh- I meant to post this - A depressing look at poverty in conjunction with (in a few) going to a high school prom. The common denominator in these homes seems to be clutter. The question is, is all of this stuff here because of hoarding, because they don't have enough storage, because they need it all, or because of holding on to everything because they might need it and replacement is costly. Or none of the above? Mostly food for thought. Is there a measurable difference between clutter and poverty and clutter and middle-class homes where poverty is less an issue? SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Apr 12 - 06:31 PM Finished a big writing project at work - my own job description. Fifteen years ago it was a very skimpy description of writing newsletters and doing press releases. The job does so much more now and needs 1) and new title and 2) way more pay. The first step was to write a draft of what I think needs to go into it. There may be too much, but the personnel officer will look it over and suggest how it needs to read for personnel purposes. One day they will resume the audits of positions on campus and I should be at the front of that line since they stopped right when my turn was up. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 25 Apr 12 - 06:53 PM Lots of walking today, feels good. I got myself a new pair of sneakers last week and I think that really helps. I also did a lot of grocery shopping today and my feet didn't complain one bit. Come to think of it, nothing was complaining. I'm looking forward to having some more time at the Y tomorrow. :) Maybe a walk outside in the morning if the weather stays as nice as it is today. About those toxic people, I simply refuse to interact with them. Life is just too short. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 25 Apr 12 - 07:43 PM I just had a box of Whoppers for dinner. Why? I have no idea. I very rarely eat chocolate or candy but I was craving it big time. *shrug* Good thing I earned all those activity points this week! So now the craving is gone. I'm glad I gave in instead of eating my way through everything which would have racked up far more calories in the end. YUM. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 26 Apr 12 - 11:10 AM Still getting back into the groove... No grooves around here! Skip that. What next...??? OK, back from our phenomenal trip to San Diego during which I got in LOTS OF WALKING so now I am having trouble sitting. NEED to find someplace to walk in the city without breathing fumes. Think I may drive to a large park to walk. It hurts to sit. My body is rebelling. We had supper with Amos and his wife and a friend: lots of good conversation and, intermittently, he would pick up his guitar and sing a song or two. Great evening. We visited another, formerly virtual, friend at his avocado grove up in the hills and learned about avocados and cycads, and saw his wonderful raccoon enclosures; he and his wife rehab 50-80 a year. Went to the marvellous Marine Museum, drove through the mountains to the desert, went to Earth Day with grand and great granddaughters and visited Old Town with them as well. It was huge! Bought 17 bumper stickers at the Peace Resource Center booth - some to replace ones that are worn out and some on reserve for later. "Peace through Music" is one of our favs. Discovered an adult granddaughter who is a wonderful mom and terrific person, and her husband a wonderful dad. Such a joy! I see you all have been busy but I have already worn out my eyes trying to catch up with emails, so I hope all is going well and progress is being made! I now need to finish income tax - after I find it, work on our wind turbine project, apply for a few weeks at the farm market to peddle pots and GO for a walk somewhere. NOT in that order. I am already ancy to go OUT and DO something! |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 26 Apr 12 - 06:59 PM Today was a self-test at the pool to see where I am in relation to the pool workouts I was given when I started PT. I was very pleased, overall: === SET ONE was 45 minutes, after the scheduled mini-meal. <> At 152 BPM I determined that a lap of the X-pattern I do (in the 25 X 25 ft deep end) clocks at one minute-- good to know for planning upcoming sets by number of laps when I do not have a clock at my disposal. <> On step-climbing I was easily able to do 5 reps of 2-stepped reciprocals, with good weight-shifting as learned and only minor hip-wobble (about where we left off in PT). <> In BackHab walking I focused on core, 5 minutes, no back pain even in that arthritic lumbar spine. <> On Kicks, which is a set of 5 leg exercises done in various planes, I easily did 3 sets of 10 reps on each of the 5 exercises-- no added resistance (but snap-style). On the March kicks, I wanted to do more (so I added them as hi-knee aquajogging later). Minor lumbar pain on the Side Extension kicks and Back Extension kicks-- pelvic rocking stretches relieved it. <> I determined that I could have done all 5 kicks with 2-5 lb weights added, and I have a set of ankle weights I can happily contribute to the pool for all to use there (another person's old set wore out). (The other 2 Kicks are Heel Raises and Ham Curls.) <> The hot tub and pool steps-- newly resurfaced making new height variations-- were OK, no issues except the persistently wobbly hip on the left side. === Hot tub stretches and mini-meal two. === SET TWO was aerobic followed by Ai Chi for stretching. <> Aerobic: 152-176 BPM, 30 minutes. The last 6 minutes was a real nice throat burn (at the upper edge of the safe range). But also Mr. Charley Horse showed up, so I concluded I had under-hydrated and stopped the fast work. Legs felt great otherwise, and were asking for more. Great balance/alignment/stability at all speeds. <> AiChi: About ten minutes with great balance/alignment/stability in all postures. Wonderful stretch and great ROM. A little lumbar pain near the end, so pelvic rocks. <> Side-stepping along the wall was still good flow and weight-shifting, as taught, in both directions and with good core strength. === And OUT, hungry, with plenty of energy to change/walk to van/get some heavy stuff loaded that I no longer need to keep at the pool. I also found a spot for Service Dog Faulkner to hang out where he can help if needed and not bother anyone. (He visits next week for a leash visit, to walk thru and meet the staff.) === Two 45-minute sets, roughly. Overall, Core had held up the best since PT and my mom's passing, and Stamina was far better than I expected-- the house chores with better energy are paying off more than I estimated, tho I have lost a little extremity strength. Two 45-minute sets, roughly. This after a Band rehearsal where I toted ALL my own gear in, and out. A VERY good day! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 Apr 12 - 07:30 PM Sounds like a lot of catching up going on here in the end of April. Dorothy, I read a little about your trip on a post where Amos mentioned it, so I'm glad you filled in more details. Susan, I'm glad you're back to the pool. It seems to be a good environment to work out in. I took one of my dogs in for a heart worm test and checkup (annual) to get the Rx to order Revolution online. We had to wait quite a while; it seems the last 2 1/2 weeks have seen a huge outbreak of parvo in puppies. Lots of sick pups wrapped in towels came through the office even as we watched. I picked up a veterinary topical ointment for the dogs' ears that will kill flies. There is no way around it - all of these things have pyrethrins in them. Since the dogs aren't supposed to ingest it and the pit bull does all of the kissing and licking back there, the best way to get rid of flies was to point the ointment only on her, she won't lick her own ears. She's the one who is most attacked by the flies. I'll see if this happens. I put it on wearing acrylic gloves and I'll do that periodically. Looks like it might rain later - that would be a good thing! I'll putter now on things that are harder to do when the garden is soggy. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 26 Apr 12 - 07:59 PM I spent most of today helping a friend who is working on cleaning out her house. She is working very hard to declutter her house. She has hip issues so the things that require sitting on the floor to sort out things or to reach things (think piles of stuff)is my job. We got a LOT done today and had a good time while we were at it. Then it was home to clean up some of my own mess in the kitchen/kitchen table, etc. It's just about time to start cooking dinner and to start up the washing machine. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 26 Apr 12 - 08:25 PM meditation and qi gong...about all I could manage, today. I am missing Morgan's spring concert, a musical!:-< |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 Apr 12 - 11:03 PM It's always easier to sort out someone else's mess than your own, isn't it? As a kid I remember helping out at friends' houses do things around the house and garden I never wanted to do at home. The news on Susie's facebook recovery page is that though her "bone flap" surgery (to put back the piece of skull removed on Jan 12) was delayed a week, she is scheduled to be released and sent home on May 2. It will be a huge transition at that point, and her sister will spend several weeks with her. I'll offer to serve as back up to give her sister a breather every few days (at least). What a year this has been so far! I'm managing to spend 30 to 45 minutes an evening in the garden and tonight I dug up a bed in front that I'm going to add compost to and plant peppers in, to see if it is true that they are okay in partial shade. I moved some daffodils and irises while I was at it. Tomorrow and this weekend I'll work on The Berm (and plant sweet potato slips). I want everything that is now in a little pot planted by the end of the weekend. Yesterday I used the rest of the bag of corn gluten meal that I'd had for a while. Spread it over the various garden beds around the yard. This weekend I need to repair a couple of soaker hoses and lay them out and have them up and running. And I need to put up some fence posts and chicken wire where I want the protection and/or support for plants in the garden. Mainly so the hose doesn't knock down or drag against tender plants. I have various access points into the garden and I need to remember how far I can walk in before I'm laying low something behind me with a hose. There is a reason for big rocks and such at strategic places in the yard! I have a set of dish photos ready to post for an eBay shopper. I'll have to work on the packaging for those this weekend, I'd like to sell and mail them next week. SRS P.S. I'm sorry you're missing Morgan's concert, but I bet if you ask, he'll do a "command performance." And that isn't a bad concept to understand! If it works for the Queen of England, it should work for you! |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 27 Apr 12 - 09:22 AM Woke to STELLAR back spasms-- the spinal rotation yesterday probably. Faulkner is all over me to help-- he knows when I'm being lazy, and when I really hurt. Would that more people were as discerning. I may have to drug up for the long trip to the accountant meeting today for estate tax discussions, but I do have that bunk in back I can stretch out on so I will pack the meds, and see if I can manage without. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 Apr 12 - 02:48 PM Ouch! Took care of a big stinky job this morning, emptied one of the 18-gallon bins I use for compost. In my effort to get rid of possible fly-breeding sites, the compost gelatinous mess has to go. I usually put food waste in there and every so often bury it in the big compost pile in the yard. I will now combine kitchen waste with poop-scooping every day or two and hopefully the combination will keep the dogs out of the compost. The house is still an explosion of paper. I'll have to address it this weekend. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 Apr 12 - 05:02 PM I turned in a request with my bank to look at a refinance on the house. I did one a few years ago and dropped the loan by a couple of percent, and it looks like I can do that again - down to 3.5%. They have a streamlined loan process, and I'll look carefully at the botom line - how much cost that adds to the principal. He said even if I decided to move and the process was underway, I'd have a three day period after signing to drop it. I told him I'm not going anywhere now, my garden is planted! ;-D SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Apr 12 - 12:22 PM Had the wiring harness for one of the driving lights replaced this morning. Took the dogs with me to drop it off and we walked home over new territory for them. Lots of wagging and sniffing. Now headed back (sans dogs) to pick it up. And run errands. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Apr 12 - 01:26 PM It used to be that Poppy or Cinnamon would struggle against being left behind if I was taking one dog to the vet or some other thing where only one dog was called for. Now I have to put Poppy in the house so she doesn't bark down the neighborhood and struggle to keep Zeke from shooting through the gate if I take Cinnamon (I walked back to get the truck). They are a pack of three at this point, he now struggles to stay with the pack, he isn't just a visitor watching the pack antics. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 28 Apr 12 - 05:52 PM Well the trip back from the accountant's yesterday was especially enjoyable-- my back had stretched nicely into no-spasm mode AND I rode all the way back supinely curled up ANYWAY (just to see how it might improve long trips for us to take turns) back in the Boondocker-bunk. OMG it was HEAVENLY to get the feet up, drain the puffed ankles, etc. And it felt/looked, thru the window, alternately like a train ride or an airplane ride-- hm-- the gorgeous rural/mountain scenery or looking up at the clouds' bottoms like a little kid but yakking on the cell with my MIL? ...and Hardi getting a break from Yak-Wife up front (poor man). TRES LUXE, never mind the rust on the body-- mine AND the van's! The other day, I installed a hunter's "nightstand" on the bunk-- it's a prefab unit bought back when I got the cot. It's a strip of nylon canvas velcro'd onto the side, which hangs down all along one side of it, with pockets of various sorts to hold (securely) all the carp most of us keep in our nightstand. Next to do with the 'docker is see if that cot will fold up halfway with the nightstand still attached, and if that works we can reload the scooter for the next scootering excursion. Another new item will be the 'tween-seats storage locker-- a small but tall square ballot box will get a new padded flip-top that covers the trash can also 'tween seats, and a skinny soft bag on the front that I already had, to hold files, map, homework for the return trip's followup, and a nifty insulated bag (Sallie's) shaped like a small bike-messenger bag but strapped like a purse. It slides nicely into the soft bag for road fud, or can be packed into my work rolling-tote for the assorted healthy mini-meals for workshops or all-day consults. And I already had all the pieces to assemble into this-- just had to envision it and sleep on it, and then as soon as I got into my amazing home office there were just the sizes and shapes I needed for that narrow stowage spot. WINWINWINWIN! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Apr 12 - 06:06 PM Digging up more compost, moving around dirt, getting set to plant a few things, the usual. I have to process photos, pack some china, and do some math. I have two buyers on the china - one wants to offer lowball starting prices on auctions, the other wants to offer the average price of these items as they appear at Replacement.com. You can see who will get all of the pieces she wants. I'll write a note to the other guy listing my prices, and see if he is still interested. I'm not going to be unfair, and I'm not going to ask as much as the Replacements folks, but I'm not going to go for a low-ball offer either. Off to Home Depot to pick up a few things and kill time till I can set up the sprinkler in the front. I need to soak the berm to weed it and plant it with sweet potatoes. I'll drop off recycling on the way. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 29 Apr 12 - 05:53 AM Rain, more rain, it's too wet to do anything in the garden. Though I do go out briefly every now and then to pump water from the hole into a container from which it will not drain. The water collection is doing very well. I couldn't get a butt - they've all been sold, but I have two dustbins, one of which is collecting from the gutter I have balanced under the drips from the tiles, the other is getting the rain from all the bowls etc which are standing about. I did think about rehanging the doors, but the insides were pocked with drawing pin (thumb tack?) holes and other damage. Filling the gouges would have lost the grain anyway. and the proper joiner work has meant that these doors open and shut with no bother. (I need to work on the others.) And after looking at them for so long, I thought "why should I have to put up with a second grade hashing up to cover up the mess, when I can get new ones?" (I do remember how decorators used to do painted grain on doors. I wonder if I could do that. White paint, stained varnish, combing, final varnish layer, as I recall.) Mind you, I'm now watching a presentation on a brilliant tool which would have made making the hinge rebates a doddle. Maybe I should have bought one of those. Still, I'm going to have the smartest raised veggie bed ever. I've dug over last year's raised bed, which had bought compost and kitchen waste in for the beans, and it's beautiful, easy to work compared with the natural clay with flints (I did remove any of those last year). I had to dig it because I've moved it a bit. This has meant that my lasagna raised bed is now in the wrong place, but I can't move that. I'll put some of the top soil from the hole, flints removed, in the space, and add a new narrow lasagna stack. That will be for this year's courgette (zucchini). I'm going to need a huge amount of bought in topsoil to build up the raised beds and the beds in the lower part of the garden, but I'm not entirely keen on getting the big builder's sack of a tonne in. The nearby garden centre example, though large flints were screened out, had a lot of river pebbles in it. I haven't checked what the mushroom farm is selling, but if it's similar, I won't want it. The DIY store has a nice mix of loam and some sand, which would improve the clay texture, but it is more expensive because in smaller bags. 4 for 3 on offer at the moment. My weight is stuck at the moment, has been for a week, which is irritating. Running up and down stairs (I exaggerate - going, not running) and digging don't seem to shift anything. I suspect the scales of being wrong - when you have a gadget that is capable of measuring 10ths of a pound, and it doesn't shift, day to day, by a decimal point, that seems a bit weird. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 Apr 12 - 11:57 AM I've been reworking a bed out front that get's about 1/2 shade, and on the side with more light I'm putting peppers, and I'm transplanting herbs from the side of the house out front. I'd like to have more functionality beside the house but the herbs (oregano and thyme) have spread out like groundcover. So I'll let them to be groundcover in front and pick them there when I want herbs. Lots of boxes out for packing plates this evening. I have some freelance work this afternoon but I can print out the list of items and have everything ready to pack when I get back home. This is my "sell clutter through eBay" program. I still haven't put anything in the cupboards that this china came out of - but I have some bulky things in the Kitchen Queen (almost the same, but mine was painted white decades ago by my great aunts) that aren't in the best place. I decided a few years ago to use that as my storage for party stuff, plastic plates, the extra silverware, platters, but I also have some folded placemats and table clothes that are bulky and don't stack well. I can see what would move over to near the now empty cupboards near the big dining room table, and table cloths sound logical. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 29 Apr 12 - 06:32 PM I have bought the gadget, and, finding they were selling individual fruit trees (usually a mix of fiev varieties for which I have no room), bought a dwarf Victoria plum as well. Then I realised that the DIY store had a 15% off offer today, so bought 8 bags of topsoil. My new car has a fuel usage meter - and the difference lugging that weight home made to consumption was scarey! I've stacked them in the garage, and put some things that were in the floor in the metal office type cabinet there, where I had removed bowls and watering cans. I have written the contents on the cabinet doors with CD labelling pens, so I can find things. Not the tidiest way, but effective. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 Apr 12 - 01:48 AM I suspect your CD labeling pen is much like my old pal, the Sharpie. I have them around the house, I usually have a couple in my bag. They are the weapon of choice for those of us who aren't so much into graffiti as we are grammar-Nazis into correcting signs. I have made editorial corrections on plastic, acrylic, paper, and cardboard with my Sharpies. :) (I have some CD Sharpies so that hopefully the discs I write on won't deteriorate due to the chemistry of the ink). I made a lot of progress in weeding the berm. I'm going to cover that sucker with sweet potatoes, it will be a sight to behold. Whether I get any potatoes out of it is neither here nor there. They would be nice, but frankly, since I got a whole bunch of slips for $5 I'm going to plant them over the whole thing and let the neighborhood enjoy a summer of the beauty of these dark green leaves. They're much prettier than the "ornamental" version that was developed for landscaping. And if I get some potatoes out of it, more power to me. :) This evening I got out a bunch of library cardboard book mailers that test out to be perfect for mailing china plates. I'll be doing some of this packing tomorrow and would love to send these on their way by mid-week. I moved around some of the kitchen queen items - there is a little wire rack inside the door that doesn't let my Depression glass cake plates fit, so I'll try something else tomorrow. (I have two of the "sunflower" green plates like the plate at the bottom of the photo). Martha Stewart Living had a wonderful article about cake stands, and they had a clear version of mine in a magazine several years ago. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 30 Apr 12 - 03:38 AM That's the sort of thing. Guerrilla grammar correction eh? I wouldn't dare. Though I'd need a Tippex pen rather than black ink, to eliminate the greengrocers' apostrophes. And the s in fascia when referring to a plastic facing panel. Today it is sunny. I'm putting topsoil from the hole, de-flinted, as a base for the lasagna extension. I heard on our gardening radio programme that adding 5% organic matter such as paper to soil increases water retention by 50%, provided it's wet enough to start with, so the cardboard and shreddings are going to be very useful. Every now and then, one of the flints looks suspiciously worked along the edges, and fits well in the hand, so I put it aside, and will at some time take the haul to the museum. Early scraper type of thing, nothing like a nice obvious arrow head. Most of them are irregular native lumps, or frost-shattered by glaciation, though. Big and nuisancy. I think I'll bury them under the rockery as they aren't useful for anything else, being so lumpy. Can't use them for paths, for example. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 30 Apr 12 - 02:31 PM Lasagna is done. Only needs some top soil on top before planting. Then I started taking leaves off the peach tree, which has developed peach leaf curl. Drat. A good number were not affected, fortunately. Didn't finish, because it started to rain. Shampooed some more carpet tiles, and put to dry on A-frame driers. Am trying to work out what I spent £4.58 in cash on in the last few days, without getting a receipt for. Not a huge amount, but irritating. Weight's started to go down again. Dropped 1 lb during the morning! Penny |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 30 Apr 12 - 07:42 PM The other day I followed a tip I got in email for labeling those pesky computer cords, that seem to breed every time a cat crosses the keyboard. Those squarish plastic tags that close the bread bags? Perfect, and room to write which cord it is, at each end. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 30 Apr 12 - 09:08 PM Went to the country early Friday afternoon but could not get in! Had to phone the landlord's son who used brute force to turn the key and open the door. Still trying to figure out the cause but I am not locking the door until I do. It was cold and damp! Several walks down into the woods on Sat. The spring wild flowers are burgeoning!! There is a dicentra which I have never seen in the wild, never seen at all. White flower. Red trillium, dog tooth violet/trout lily, spring beauty and violets - white. Being in "waiting for Robin" mode, I merely read and computered. Could have vacuumed, and more... He arrived at midnight! Sunday we went to New York State and helped my raccoon rehab friend and her husband, down at their Adirondack cabin. finish a cage, ready for the seven to be released in a couple weeks. Then supper at their home and home tired from lots of cool fresh air and riding through beaver flooded roads in an ancient jeep! Wonderful day! I really need to stop falling into that trance and get some useful things done. I just hate to start something and be interrupted. .... Looks as though Weds will start some warm weather and I can start going to the country during the days and start potting again! Going to sign up for the Farmers' Market a few Sat morns this summer June- August but not every week. Will do the pottery thing at Apple Hollow Music Fest in July - demo and have clay for kids and adults who want to play. Rain for tomorrow - good time to arrange for oil change, farm market and order supplements. See if the upstairs plants have survived, neglected since before our trip! Finished income tax today and had to go to the bank to pay it as I have misplaced both check books - carefully put somewhere before trip.... I hope the where comes to me in a flash of light in the next couple days - time to pay bills!! Then I walked to the library and schlepped home half a dozen books. The nice Russian-Canadian staffperson informed me of an overdue, would I like her to renew it? Oh yes please. Robin wanted to read it but has not had time. Mighty Be Our Powers, memoir by Leymah Gbowee - a marvellous page turner! Hope he can manage in the next 3 weeks. She also offered to go see if there were more English books "in the back" but I assured her I would find enough. And I did. It occured to me if I only took a couple at a time, I would have to walk there more often, but I cannot resist whatever is there in the "new' section - that looks interesting. I often sit and read some of each to be sure it is worth carrying down the steps ... Sometimes I realize I read "this one" a couple weeks ago! My new chair is much more useful; a platform rocker, I, at least, get the exercise of rocking it! It is more comfortable and easier to get out of and I cannot just sink into it in a stupor! Every little bit helps, she says hopefully. |
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Subject: RE: Spring Declutter & Exercise - April 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 May 12 - 01:22 AM Here is the May 2012 thread. |
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