BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!

Subject: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 02:08 AM

In like a lion - and the title looks different enough to make this thread easy to pick out.

I'm still working my way through the Procrastinator's Guide to Getting things done. I'm concentrating on getting places on time, meeting deadlines, and making short, do-able lists each day to remind myself to stay on task.

I am beginning to stage the work in the garden, and everything but the eggplant and poblano peppers have started sprouting in the seed trays. Unrelated, but an African violet that I bought a few months ago has decided it's happy after all and has a beautiful bloom out today. It must be the longer days.

I am continuing to thin out the clutter around the house. Family artifacts, a lot of it. My office is a bit better organized now, but it still has room for improvement.

How is it going for the rest of you? Here is the last thread.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: mouldy
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 03:25 AM

I hereby promise to make a start on shedding the 14+lbs I need to lose. This won't be easy, but enough is enough, I say!

Eat less (crap), move more.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 09:58 AM

Calendar prompted me to open up Dog World for the season, so I would not forget in the lingering SAD thing. Now if I can keep it in the forefront of the week's stuff while I whip a swollen gland, bladder infection, and work stuff...... maybe next week, which is STILL 2 weeks earlier than it needs to be!

Garden, here I come. aND SOME ADVERTISING IS DUE... sorry caps--

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 11:53 AM

Sounds like you need some bright sunlight, Susan! I find this time of year, in the afternoons when it's bright, that I enjoy spending a few minutes in the back yard. I sit with a dog's head (Poppy) resting on my lap, and Cinnamon lying nearby and have the sun pouring down on my forehead. It's a great double-whammy with dog and light therapy!

My son will be back over his spring break, but I don't know how much time he'll spend here. I'm not doing any extra shopping for food, the freezer is full, some of it from the holidays when he was "home" but only spent four nights out of 28 here. :-/ If I run out, then I'll go shopping. His bed is made, his room is straightened and I'll dust right before he flies back.

I don't know if any of us (or our lurking readers) have smart phones, but here is a story a co-worker sent this morning: turn off the GPS on your phone photos if you don't want stalkers tracking down the subjects.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 06:45 PM

Still too snowy here for outdoor settin', SRS, but yes sun and dogs is a key warm-weather pursuit.

My particular requirements in warm weather, tho, are for filtered sun/shade, like impatiens flourish in; so Dog World has a mix of sun and shade built in. My summer settin' pond (IN DW) has a shade canopy.

All the outdoor areas I established last year will take most of March and April to revive, given my energy level, strength, and endurance; but the pieces should all be there to work with-- just need to buy us some dirt and for that, I need to get the empty water jugs outta the van first. As soon as the road to the spring is open, that's the next big thing on our list.

===

I must say that the mini-fridge as a giant crisper is SO NEAT, now that today's initial grocery-trip has begun to fill it. Eye level, well lit, glass shelves-- all set with the right humidity and temp to hold veggies for daily consumption. I set some colorful plastic trays on top to make it easy to "shop the crisper" for each evening's meal. We are blessed to serve a generous parish that bestows a ton of fresh produce on us all summer; to have a place waiting to put and keep things that used to be jammed into a nasty, dirty energy-hog (where at least half of the bounty would soon become inedible)-- it's a huge change in our eating habits too. Each night's main meal component is a freshly-made veggie specialty. Yes we also eat small amounts of protein and starch, but they are no longer the focus of our thinking or our dollars.

My hope for our garden is to grow what we can eat and not worry about canning and freezing-- just grow and eat it up, in season, eventually. I don't mind practicing with store-bought goodies while we learn more about doing it this way.

Each shelf in there has a different container for the goods-- pretty, eclectic, stuff we already had on hand. And all the shelves come out for easy washing. They may even fit in the dishwasher.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 07:00 PM

Last March 1st, I had my port put in and just about this time in the evening, my hair started falling out. Today is remarkably better.

My house is a disaster area at the moment. The only positive I can share is that the dishes are in the dishwasher and all my pots are clean (handwash only) and air drying on the counter. Our living room continues to look like Toys R Us exploded in the center of the room. Mama is getting tired of this look. I'm planning on sorting through JT's toys, moving one tub to my office and leaving the other in the living room. I'll switch tubs every week or so because seriously....how many does do we really need to have out at once?!?!?!? Besides, he currently seems to prefer to be in my lap most of the time or crawling all over me when we're on the floor. :)

Went to the doctor today after 4 days of sinus pain...sure enough, I have a severe sinus infection. Ok. I also asked to change my insulin back to what I had been taking a few years back. They keep messing with Lantus but that's just not working for me so now I have an insulin pen to try. I've been using a regular syringe all this time so it's something new and I'll be trying it out tomorrow morning. I'm hoping for much tighter control. Also, I'm down 5 pounds.

I have a mountain of paperwork to go through and organize....seems to multiply. I get a mountain done and another one appears in a day or two!

I have talked with a woman who cleans houses and she has agreed to come for a day in the spring once the mud has dried up. I'm going to have things in order and have her help me do a really deep scrub on the floors. It's next to impossible to keep them beautiful for more than 15 minutes at this time of year when the dogs are in and out as well as my husband with a buggy full of firewood and his barn boots. I sweep and mop but you get the idea.

My goal for this month is to keep the house nice, to continue tweaking the budget (I'm really enjoying that part, believe it or not...kind of excited to see how much I can save) and to eat healthy. Also, I'm going to be playing in a concert with a visiting string group...in the background for sure...but playing none-the-less. I'm really excited about this and will be working hard to perfect a new piece of music.....plus 3 of my friends are joining me...it's going to be FUN!!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 08:39 PM

The first day of March! Soon 'twil be spring - officially anyway! And some good things are happening, yes?

We have a "new" frig. It WORKS!!!! I really got the message across and then called Rob not once but twice today and had a frig before 3pm. Good thing 'cause it took 'til 5 to get it clean but now it is at the appropriate temperatures - clean on the inside and full. I'll do the outside tomorrow. I ran out of steam!

I also finished the raccoon story and sent it to a rehab friend in NYorkState who is being helpful. Still no connection with Montreal rehab and phoned again today. Will send it to a couple more folks tonight for comments. Maybe even get it into blog if I can figure that out again. I am SO happy! Hope I hear from Montreal rehab so I can pass info to reporter and get a story into newspaper before birthing season!

It was a lovely sunny, thawing day but back below freezing now. Front stoop thawed but now it is frozen again - more salt so Rob does try to fall again! There is ice again on roof of shed and it needs to thaw a lot before I can clear it. Maybe tomorrow. I don't think the sun hits there at this time of year.

Next project: clearing about 20 years of day books by checking for important dates and any other info and then heaving the lot - neatly stacked in a box just waiting for me. Could start tonight! WOW!

Tomorrow: groceries, clean outside of frig. finish day books and decide on next pile of paper to get gone.

One african violet has had every flower eaten???? They did not fall off, not a petal in sight. Just plain gone. But not the buds. The others, on a different table are doing beautifully. One of life's mysteries?

Happy March! May we attain some of our realistic goals! And forgive ourselves when we fall short.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 10:47 PM

GOGOGO DP!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 01:19 AM

Michelle, Michelle, Michelle,

Who cares if the house is a mess today, and looks like Toys-R-Us crashed through the roof? Today of all days, just enjoy it! Revel in it! You're free of cancer! You have a lovely baby boy! Do you remember where were you last year? How frightened you were? Yup, you see? Enjoy it!

It's going to look like Toys-R-Us for a while longer. Years. You'll be able to do Morgan-like things and have Jeremiah help you, and as you lose weight you might get to where the insulin isn't required. But for today - enjoy being alive, and being a Mommy!

I finished proof-reading a long thing for a co-worker. Faculty publishing and award recognition that we set up as an exhibit in the library each year. This will be the third time. It makes me want to sit down and start writing.

Ran the dishwasher tonight just to give it a cleaning with the dish detergent and keep the inside looking and smelling good. I haven't done that for a while. I rarely use it, I always drain my sink-washed dishes in it, but I don't want it to become an embarrassment.

I made a favorite casserole tonight of pork, onions, tomatoes, and eggplant. The tomatoes and eggplant came out of my freezer. The casserole is going to be many lunches this week. I also found that same Middle Eastern cookbook has a lot of information about preparing okra. Good! I plan to use a lot more this year.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 11:03 AM

SRS, we periodically run our DW with vinegar to dissolve the mineral deposits that stain things here.

===

I just got off the phone with the nice man who takes care of the roads around the spring, next county over, that we have needed to visit since snow closed the hunting-camp roads-- they are not maintained unless someone is wintering up there, and this year no one was. My funeral-director colleague over there (a friendship that began in my Red Cross days and has since been cemented with recent funerals) didn't happen to know how the particular road I was concerned about might be now that Mid-Thaw is on. This VERY manly-helpful township guy actually offered to take a ride up there in his 4WD, and call me back to let me know if our van can safely navigate the ice and/or mud and/or bad ruts on that steep hill that is the best way to get up to the spring-- so water-jug-filling can't be far off, yeeHAHHHH! (Apparently he was in the mood to he'p a lady out and take a sunny ride this afternoon.) My favorite part of the chat was when I described the exact spot in pictures and he totally knew exactly where I meant-- the shorthand between people who actually live here year 'round? As opposed to the leaf-peepers (tourists).

Another reason we stay here-- people live close to the bone and don't put on airs, and "neighbor" each other so well. I'm grateful we enrolled in the program! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 11:35 AM

The frig is now clean outside also. I had to turn the frig part down and it is at just the right temp now. After 10 months of struggling with a bad situation, I am actually tearfully happy! Sometimes we do not realize how bad things are until we get out of the swamp! This is good, because we just keep on slogging, or treading water, or whatever until ... Well, until help comes or we find the way out or..... - we'll skip the other alternative.

Robin loves my raccoon story. I am SO happy. I think writing it has helped me feel better also. I still miss my dear Frick but the pain i lessening. Yeah, I know there are people out there who think I am nuts but there are also the others!!!

Holy macaroni! I just looked up and see two more african violets have been denuded of flowers!! Only the one on a metal stand and the one on top of the wood filing cabinet have flowers left. Could the resident mouse (mice?) have done this???? JUST the flowers. Well, I'm grateful for that. Where to put them now so they can flourish again - lots of buds.

Off to do groceries! Happy to come home to new frig.

Oh, and Michelle - having kids means living with the fall out! I found raccoon kit toys when we moved things to bring in the frig! 20 years from now.... J. will be all growed up and there will be no more toys. These are precious times. The most important thing you will ever do is give J. the best of your self.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 12:04 PM

Oh don't misunderstand....Jeremiah IS the center of our lives!!! I am extremely blessed to be able to stay home with him and would not change that for the biggest paycheck in the world! Nope...we waited a long time to have a child and we are going to enjoy every second we can!!!

My comment about the living room was sort of tongue in cheek but kind of not. There are too many toys in here, too many choices. I think it's better to leave out maybe half of what he has so he isn't so overwhelmed. Anyway, like I said, he's most content right now to crawl in Mommy's lap or if I am on the floor playing with him. If I'm on the floor, he is either crawling all over me or playing very close by, often offering his toys to me.

We had a triaxle of logs delivered this morning....very nice guy who also goes by visual markings for directions....he asked me how to get to Pickle Hill from here (without having to travel all the way back into town) and I was able to do that...it really does work that way here (I live in the same area as Susan...have almost all my life). I wouldn't go so far as to say that everyone is down to earth but many are as I'm sure they are all over the world (yep...I've lived quite a few places and if you are nice to people, generally they are nice/helpful in return.). Also was able t clean out my car which wasn't really FULL of stuff but it had some things in there that just needed to be brought in and put away....stuff like egg cartons from friends who know we share our eggs, a basket that I always have in the car full of baby things (needed new sizes of diapers and spare set of clothes), 2 of my coats, etc. It took one sled load to the house and ta-da...beautiful, empty car. When it warms up, I'll take it to the carwash for the works...but for now, it's just the way I like it!!!
   The new insulin has been started...OMGOSH...I LOVE THE PEN!!!! It is so much easier, faster and less painful than a syringe..hardly feel a thing.....yep..it's a very cool device...no more mixing vials...LOVE IT...now let's just hope the doseage is right!!!! So far, I feel good (which tells me the fast acting part is not too much)...YAY!
    Laundry is going and when the wee one wakes up from his nap, we have to run some errands in town.
    It's a good day, despite day 5 of this headache....thinking it might be my pillow. My own, favorite, well loved pillow (from before college) popped a hole. I have been meaning to try and mend it but in the meantime, I've been using a travel pillow. Perhaps today will be the day the needle and thread come out!

Have a great day everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 01:34 PM

Kids love creative mess-- but not chaos-- and their mental state will usually show which is which to them, within their particular personality/brain chem/wiring. Even a daycare-full of kids appreciate orderliness in the toy department. The adult models putting things away till the kids are able to put one toy away before taking out another. And yes, boxing them up (or almost everyone loves baskets) and putting out one box per day is an oft-repeated strategy on all the home-organizing shows. (It works for adults, too.)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 02:15 PM

Yes..kid toys do not have to take over a house or living room. They confuse the kids, irritate the parents, and show too much child-centeredness if you ask me, which you actually didn't but I chime in anyway. Children should be alongside mom and dad a lot of the time learning to cook, clean, garden etc...they don't need huge numbers of toys and past a certain number, too many toys are harmful at least for some situations. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 02:26 PM

Oh, Michelle, I am aware J. is your center! You clearly would like less clutter. You can do that as the energy arises and I do agree - chaos is not good for any living creature. so i'd best go do something...

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 11:53 PM

You can see a photo of Jeremiah's playland, er, um, our living room on Facebook if we are friends! :)

Michelle

PS. It really isn't so bad.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 10:36 AM

Morgan came over yesterday as it was early release day at school. I hired him, after pitching the baseball to him for about 15 minutes, to clean up the trash and a few other things in the front yard. He did a GREAT job, even noticing the gate latch was loose, again. Nothing for it but to get the screw driver and have at it, plus every other screw he could find on the outside of the house...all tightened up, "just to be on the safe side, Mama." (Their back fence was blown down a couple of weeks ago.) I told him he didn't need to worry our house was fine, but he said, "I want to make sure it is secure." That kid!

So, our front yard is more presentable. I am feeling better every day. The cpap is really helping with sleep. I am keeping up with laundry and things which need to be picked up and put away. This Friday, we are taking our car in for recall repairs, so will be cleaning it out this afternoon.

I have lost 25 pounds, according to my records, since Feb. 13th, though the doc's records say more - her's are from earlier. That's a lot of water and more to go, but it's so nice to have ankles, again, and my ring keeps slipping round my finger.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 02:43 PM

Michelle, you've hit on the trick that is good for small children. All of the toys don't need to be out at once. It's a good idea to have a place to store 1/2 to 2/3 of them, and every few weeks exchange an equal number. They'll be like new again. That worked with my kids.

Stage two of my organic weed control took place today. I'm using the mix of 1 gallon 10% vinegar, a couple of ounces of orange oil, a tsp of detergent, and a tablespoon of molasses. Mix it so the molasses dissolves, then spray it on the turf while the lawn is still dormant and it is just the weeds growing. I used a gallon over the weekend and can see where the weeds died, so went over the gaps and then extended my spray to the next zone. And in a couple of more days, I'll do that again. If I can get those weeds out now it'll make the garden easier to keep weed free during gardening season. Fewer seeds and less spreading. No toxic bagged weedkiller that compromises the health of the soil and the garden.

I've had another brainstorm as far as how to make the house look less cluttered. I'm debating where the bulk of the objects that sit on crowded living room shelves and around the house should be stored. (This is much like the advice to Michelle - every so often put away what is out and take out some of the other items for display). I built shelves for Moonglow years ago and I want them back now. Probably for my sewing and craft stuff, because some of the glass and crystal won't fit in there. I have a cupboard in the sun room I could use for the crystal and glass, but the contents would have to be moved out. That's where the lion's share of the craft stuff lives. If I do this, I'll probably thin it out.

There's a lot of stuff in the way in the sun room before I begin such a task. So . . . my work is cut out for me.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 03:02 PM

Kat! You are doing wonderfully well! And Morgan is a gem. How nice that you have him nearby.

Years ago, I had the music part of a piano that I wanted to hang on a wall for cycling of pictures. They would sit so nicely and could be changed so easily. It never came to fruition but it is still a nice idea.

My "new" frig is SO wonderful. Such a relief! But, I started putting things on top of it and today I thought, "hmmmm, I did not clean up there." So, I got on a chair. Next project.... The rest is clean and working so well it is exciting to open a door and know things are COLD! or FROZEN!!

Still having trouble with the next part of the raccoon project. Someone, on line, suggested I take a course in rehab of wild animals. That is not on my agenda. I spent a good chunk of yesterday desperately seeking local help. Will I have to start a whole new organization? Where are these people anyway?

The LR is now MORE cluttered as I brought in a metal stand with large glass bowl for the African violets. I thought this would protect them from the mice which is what I thought must be eating the flowers. BUT this morning I found another one mostly eaten - on a brass stand. The mystery....

With my focus still on raccoons, the day books are not disappearing into the recycling bin - yet. But the laundry and dishes are up to date, the ice is off the roof of the shed - a big job yesterday and VERY important as it was droopy and starting to leak. I took a detox bath today. It seems to have helped the rash on my wrists - a new development. Another mystery.

A beautiful sunny day - around freezing/thawing mark but very damp. Cheery though! Guess I'll start on the daybooks while I hope for more raccoon help.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 03:49 PM

Thanks, Dorothy! It has been wonderful to have him so close his first seven years. I hope it continues for a long time.

I did the dishes. I did the dishes. I did the dishes!!! Can't remember when I was last able to do that, so I know I am getting better. I also got out my dulcimer, last night, for just a few minutes. That's also been a long time coming.

Dorothy, do you have a cat which could get near the African violets? Or, a pet bird? Are there any bugs on the underside of the leaves? You might try spreading talcum powder around the base of them which will repel ants or anything like that which may be getting to them. If it's a cat, it would be consistent with one of my cats. He doesn't go after the violets, but will devastate an hibiscus and several others I have. Good luck.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 04:22 PM

No cat, no bird, no bugs visible, not even a small dog or even a raccoon! And I have spent the last hour looking through AV sites. They tell me how to grow - no problem. But only address bugs when I find sites that look at problems. I emailed Dr. Optimara! We'll see. Actually, I just inspected the small cyclamen which was showing buds; some of them may have also been eaten.

Darn! I feed the mice in the kitchen. Deliberately leaving the compost - and two live traps...

There is more to life than violets, mice and raccoons, so on with the paper project.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 04:27 PM

KAT!!!! Isn't it wonderful to be able to do everyday things??? All my life I have hated doing the dishes (which always seems to be my job) but when the day came that I needed help with it, I hated that more. I will never again complain about having to the dishes because doing dishes means I feel well enough to do them!!!

I did a load of dishes today, laundry, got through that pile of paperwork, picked up the living room, let Jeremiah *feed* himself today...it was a hoot. Of course, most of the macaroni landed in his lap...it was everywhere! Immediately afterwards, he had a nice tubby time in the kitchen sink. Pete has been hinting about wanting a cake lately so I'm going to make cake in about half an hour....yellow cake with chocolate frosting.

As for me, I am LOVING the new insulin pen...what a HUGE difference. My sugar was well within range last night and this morning it was kinda low (had the shakes) but that was easily taken care of and I will adjust the night dosage accordingly....but seriously...less pain, faster and less mess!!! LOVE IT!

Also, the kitchen table has been found. It occassionally goes missig!

And SRS...I do that with knicknacks. I have several that are specialk to me but I just can't have all of them out at once. I rotate them when the urge strikes. My MIL does that with her good dishes. My mom does it seasonally.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 05:21 PM

The township dudes just called-- dang! They actually went out and plowed that road just for us, just because a neighbor needed to get up there. Humbling, SO nice.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 05:30 PM

What township is that?

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 06:16 PM

Shipped a box of chocolates to my son, his birthday is on Monday. 19!

Used up my frozen homemade tortillas to make some quesadillas for a couple of meals this week. I find that when I make things myself I don't make so many as when I buy them, and I try to use them while they're still good. Yes, it takes time, but no one is paying me for this time, so I might as well save some money with it (and the food is better).

Kat, it's good that you're up more and I'm so glad to see that Morgan is coming by again. It's time for starting plants indoors for planting out this spring - do you suppose if I sent a packet of seeds that he'd enjoy growing something? Can you get some pots and potting soil for such a project? Chard is really easy to grow and has nice big seeds for handling. I could send him some of my different colors of chard, they look so nice in the yard even if you don't eat it!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 06:50 PM

SRS....love that you are cooking and using what you make. Sometimes I make stuff and don't use it. I'm getting better about that. Tonight we are having Shepard's Pie (with lean ground beef...NO LAMB..ICK) and veggies from last summer's garden that I put up or froze. YUM. I also made that cake...it's currently cooking off in the fridge (I'd put it on the porch but we have a hungry, snooping possum) and I made the frosting from scratch.

What a great idea for Morgan too!!! Kids LOVE to watch things grow, especially when they have planted it themselves and cared for it. My first graders had fun decorating the pots and naming their plants too!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 09:58 PM

First graders? A new side to you - do tell!

I remember growing bean plants in elementary school. All it took was a long holiday to have them all dry up, as I recall. Or they'd rot from over-watering.

The sink is full of dishes and pans. This process of not using a microwave is quite a voyage of discovery - as in, how dependent we are on them.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 10:19 PM

The seeds sound like fun AND the chard sounds pretty. Thanks, SRS. Morgan and I will have a blast with them.

BTW, my mom's B-day was the 19th, too.

Michelle, weren't you a teacher?

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 10:27 PM

Yep. I was a first grade teacher...absolutely loved the kids!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 10:31 AM

LF, the township I mentioned is at the far side of our travels, where a friend has a spring we are OKd to use. We hope to drop off a pie out there a bit later. :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 10:48 AM

So nice to get up in the morning and there is LIGHT coming in the front windows!
So wonderful to go to start breakfast and the frig is behaving - like a frig!!
So nice to have a response to an email sent to a total stranger confirming that - it must be the mouse eating my African Violets!!! (Found him after searching and searching...)
Also searched and searched and have yet to find info on microwave that indicates it is a food safety issue. But I have only gotten to about page 6.
Also received a nice note from the raccoon rehabber in Ontario who had torn strips off me. I had not been clear enough and she is looking for help for me.
Also Rob has found more of the shelving for the frig; maybe I will go over later and check it out - after I get gas (ARHHHH!!!).
Now to move the mouse traps and mouse proof the violets.

So nice to come to the computer and know you guys are out there working on stuff too.
And I am still stuck at 160 lbs but, hey! I have not gained and spring might be coming - any week now!
And it is Friday and we go visit our friends in the country and listen to good music!! Even if it does snow some. Slow is better than not going at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 11:03 AM

Susan,

At first I thought you meant Torpy's Tipple but I remember you telling me which friend and where. Must be that township has much more available cash, time and workers to be able to clear a non-maintained road...sure don't have that on this side of the mountain, no matter who your friends are. All the drivers have left for employment with the gas drilling companies so road care is minimal.

The living room floor has been swept and vaccummed (laminate and carpet), all framed photos have been removed from the piano, dusted and some returned. Others will be hung on the wall as I am tired of taking them off the piano to dust! Also, at the moment, I'm liking it with less rather than more. I moved a large cut glass vase full of dark purple flowers from the kitchen desk in on top of the piano with 4 favorite photos instead of about 12. Looks nice. Clean. Dishes are done. Laundry is going. I'm in the mood to rearrange and sort today so I expect I will get a lot done.

I love how I feel in our home when things are clean. Besides, it's Friday so if I get everything done today, that will leave more free time with my honey pie this weekend. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 11:38 AM

LF, it is not a "non-maintained" road, but one they maintain when needed-- there are several people who do sometimes live up there all year 'round, some of whom have apparently not been there yet this winter but one we know who will be up there for the year in a few short (wintry) weeks. We have no special pull up there, nor does our friend (really more like a brother). The township has no additional budget there, either. Just purely nice folks helping out a neighbor when they happened to have time to take a ride to look over a local road on a sunny day (which also is a shortcut to a school up there). It's a good road. And good people typical of good people here. And a hill that has not yet been fracked up. Yet.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 11:57 AM

Our cabin is on such a road, I understand what you are saying. My point being that the guys around here are stretched to the limit, that's all...no time for extra stuff anymore. And yes, they haven't fracked over that way yet....it's going to happen though. They are everywhere and moving FAST. There was an interactive map of gas wells in PA on the NYTimes site...very interesting....well, more scary than interesting...has to do with radioactive elements being dumped back into our water supply. Torpy's is near Antrim on the opposite mountain from the dump....spring coming from the top of that mtn so it's not contaminated from the dump....although I recently read that something new is going on over there too...escapes me at the moment.

Yes, people do help one another...that's how things work both here and in life...usually. There are those who will look to others for help but rarely lend a helping hand themselves...but that's life too.

I'm contemplating going to the store...supposed to get rainy and icky this weekend so maybe I'll just go and get it over with today. I'm really working with this budget plan and watching every single penny so I'm trying to NOT shop as much as possible. However, we are out of basics...milk, eggs, butter. Reminds me of that Sesame Street episode where a young man goes to the store for his mama repeating...a loaf of bread, a jug of milk and a stick of butter. LOL. We've been eating from the freezer and the things we put up this summer. This week I will spend under $20.00 for groceries!! YAY!!!

Time for lunch! Later Gators!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 03:21 PM

We've done a lot this morning. Took our car in for recall fixes on seat belt and rear hatch latch. First time I have driven in 2-3 months at least. I did okay, but my foot hurt when I hit the brakes, so I did a big no-no and used my left foot for that. Thing is, I did it!

Then we went to the coumadin clinic - all is well, then to see my doc. She's really happy with how I am progressing, esp. pleased that my cholesterol levels are very good (as they've always been), on to the health food store, where I went in with Rog and wandered the aisles. We also got cat fishie at the pet store and Rog went in the supermarket for a few things. I did a lot more walking today than I have in ages.

Michelle, that new pen sounds great. Glad you are happy with it and congrats on the budgeting!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 06:20 PM

We were able to fetch over 50 gallons of pure mountain water thanks to Hardi's forethought in bringing a shovel and his nimbleness in scaling snowbanks, and thanks to the friend who lent jugs he wasn't using at this time of year. We should have enough to sit tight till the full Mud Season runs its course. The perfect thank-you surprise is already in the works.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 03:09 AM

I was up late watching one of my NetFlix disks that has been here way too long. It'll go in the mail tomorrow.

I cleared two of the cubbies (of 30) in Moonglow's room this evening. Books that were moved to another bookcase or to a box. I took photos of stuff on some of the shelves a while back and printed them out, with the idea of packing shelf contents and taping the photo on the outside. I'll do some of that tomorrow, if it rains. If it is nice, I'll be in the garden.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 10:00 AM

Wow, SRS, she's lucky to have a mom that will go the extra mile with her stuff.... it sounds like you have hit on a great way to save the memory of the look she would find familiar and keep her stuff findable to her-- and make it poss. for you to zoom thru the 28 remaining cubbies! Is there someone in your circle who could share the "fun" and make a day of it with you?

===

Here the task of stowing 50 bulky gallons of water is underway in a way that makes it manageable for me (I can't lift the 55-lb. jugs more than once, yet) and Hardi (who has no time to help). I have several 2-1/2 gal and smaller containers we did not have last time we fetched home so much water.... I'll have to juggle spigots (3 for 6 jugs) and space to set up a pouring-off station like last time, but I've reconfigured the space a tad since last time... the next fetch will allow porch storage and I know where THAT can be managed... I tell you what, tho-- if everyone had to personally lift all the water they drink, as some of us do, the water policies in the US would be different. I'm grateful we have the experience to know how and the water to do it with, but I leave a week from tomorrow on a trip and I do NOT want these huge jugs in Hardi's way.

===

In the main house, plans move (slowly) forward to paint the lower level sometime this year. I've just about decided to retain one wall of the weird wallpaper that IS this house to many of its past occupants, our guests, and us. It's the one wall they papered really well-- laying out the pattern so it's centered on windows and such-- that will not be substantially re-arranged post-paint. If I leave it, the fabric we got for drapes will work, I think; after 15+ years here I almost don't totally HATE the pattern as much as the overuse of it in a narrow space. If the fabric works (I have some to hang to look), leaving the one wall will actually look like it was papered on purpose to go with the room decor.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: GUEST,Bizibod
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 11:34 AM

Hey, I'm so glad that you're keeping one wall of the bird paper! I saw your photos and thought what a remarkable paper it is, but as I don't know you didn't think I had any rights to stick my oar in about what you do in your own house! Good decision !

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 11:41 AM

Wow...I was just hoping it would all be painted or removed and painted...a whole nice new fresh room. But it is your house...mg

Subject: Bird Wallpaper
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 12:33 PM

LOL, my wallpaper has Friends; I should register it on Facebook. ;~|


We rent this house from someone whose mom (still living) LOVES that paper, this house, memories of friends who lived here when they were just starting to "do" dairy... and it's taken me 15 years to uncover these details and put them together. Half the county has lived in this house at one time or another and may live here again. So on top of being a rental, it's not really "our" house exclusively, and part of what I love about living in this house is that sense of being a mere speck in its history-- learning as much from those who no longer live on the planet as I do from people still around me "in the flesh."

So-- really, others have "rights" to those sights as well, and one wall of it, at the far end of a 25 foot long room that is otherwise without it, would have been just about right-- as I am SURE the others who lived here looking at it would have eventually thought, after about 10 minutes with it. I know a little bit about the lady who had it installed-- stubborn may be the right word for her-- and I bet, much as she loved it when she chose it, was the first to realize that. I even first saw it with her drapes still up-- she did what she could to decorate around it once she had it, too! About half the peeps who have visited have exclaimed that they LOVE it. When they arrive. (By the time they leave I think they'd welcome a loaded paint-roller.)

There's some wisdom in learning to like what you live with before you change it TOO much, I think. But I can tell YOU a secret-- [whispering] .... the wall I leave papered (IF I do that) will be little enough square footage to affordably COVER WITH FABRIC, too! Cuz I MAY not like it ALL, 12 months of EACH year! :~)

~Susan-too-busy-for-HTML-italics

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 12:37 PM

PS, water mgmt: I am presently able to handle a 5-gal (40 lb) transfer horizontally (no lift), and filling 6 of 8 water jugs (1/2 gal each) in one "go." Every spring's chores are at the LEAST a tune-up for summer! This year, hopefully more than just the tune-up.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 01:44 PM

I have four of the cubbies clear now, and this is one of those de-clutter instances of the Chinese tile puzzle - clearing a space so you can move something into it, leaving a new space that something else will go into. :)

As a child I didn't have so many toys as my children did, so when I look at the objects and toys I see things that didn't hold as much individual significance for the kids. Their regard for particular toys was diffuse - toys in general were nice, and there were a few favorites. I think they haven't considered the disposition of their toys at all, it's the wrong time in their young adult lives for that, but I'm thinking about them and the space they occupy. For now, I'll compress the lot.

Cold day today, overcast. Doesn't look very inviting in the garden, but this afternoon I'll do some digging, I need to plant some beans.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 01:48 PM

A note on wall paper removal, just in case. I did not know this stuff...

After months of removing 17 layers by scraping and then using a hot cloth, a friend arrived with a sponge mop and, with boiling water, we removed the rest in short order! Later, one layer was removed from an average size room very quickly with old towels, a bucket of water and a hot iron. No chemicals needed. Thankful for friends with good ideas!

I am still stuck on raccoons. Some progress is being made. The newspaper article is changing focus. I am meeting distant rehabbers, getting support and ideas. This may get political. I may need a bi-lingual website. Found one other Quebecer willing to talk about it, so far. I have looked at so many websites and other info, my eyes are crossed.

Robin found a couple more shelf pieces for the frig yesterday so they are yet to be washed and organized. Oh joy! I went and fetched them home then went to library and, by the time I got home, the inclination to wash shelves was not available.

Oops, I went to turn on the water and nothing happens! Rob forgot his phone this am so, after lunch I will drive over and inform him of the water situation - if it has not started again. Doubt it's frozen - not cold and it worked at breakfast. Just another one of life's mysteries. Still no element for the oven - the store did not have one and has not phoned...

The frig is wonderful. There is drinking water. It's raining? Who needs to bake?

Subject: House History Pt I
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 02:35 PM

Wallpaper, aye. We, to, are not removing-- painting over. (I know) it's a HUGE no-no, except in a house where 90% of the walls ARE paint over wallpaper.

In a house of that vintage, the paper is now part of what holds the house together-- as some folks find when they start removing, in a really old house-- ca. 1850's here maybe, we know for sure ca. 1880.

In those days this would have been the first farm in this valley, which is quite visible when arriving from a higher altitude and looking down the valley as it snakes-- you can easily see what was built first, and what sprang off from what else. It COULD be designated as a historic place, but then no one could change much of anything-- and so far all the owners and residents have voted for practicality. Us too.

Whatever-- the ground water on this property has been of variable quality since long before we arrived. Folks tell of a flood one year that poisoned the aquifer, and there are still consequences unfolding. "Just our turn for bottles," I tell myself as the fracking goes on all around us. Next county over survived it, in their "gas boom," and is still known nationally as "God's Country," meaning (in tourist-speak) unsullied and wild.

ALMOST as wild as the Native Americans whose land it was then, who melted, from here, up into the more-northern woods. Still, even now, almost as wild as the Undergound Railroad passengers found and took good advantage of, in its isolation and wildness, on the way to freer Canadia (tho I have been learning about Canadia and its founding-times racism of late).


In any event, the task at hand-- I am running out of pour-off bottles (have to drink up some cran juice for more). But I have established that my spring 2011 deadlift capacity is 50 pounds, one rep. Ouchies!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 05:28 PM

Dorothy, when my mom re-papered my bedroom when I was about 14, she rented a steamer or used a steam iron, I can't remember which, and it worked a treat. It was so much fun, for me...watching the childhood kitten paper come off in strips, knowing we were going to put up a Victorian green flocked fancy paper I'd picked out...gawd knows where she got the money for it, by then two more kids were in college. Anyway, the other neat thing was, before she put up the new paper, we had to let the plastered walls dry well, so she let me take bright coloured paints and draw anything I wanted on the walls. I did, filling it with "flower power" flowers and peace signs.;-}

I have now lost 30 pounds since 2/13/11 - not all water weight, now. Also walked about 40 minutes today.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 10:58 PM

Good work, Kat!

I've been in my daughter's room tonight packing stuff. Her cubbies are mostly air, with stuff on display, so I've emptied 14 of the 30 now. I had the television on in there and the 2005 version of King Kong came on. Now this version is simply the stupidist movie I've ever seen. I got my DVD of Pride and Prejudice (with Colin Firth as Darcy and Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth) and have that playing. I took a break to come get another box to tape together and fill.

Not sure how far I'll get beyond emptying the shelves tonight, but this is a good start.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: maire-aine
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 11:15 PM

Stuck at home tonight, because we got more snow & freezing rain. I had planned to go out & listen to some friends playing nearby, but the roads are just to nasty. The snow was almost gone from the yard this afternoon, when it got cold & started to snow again.

I've got beans soaking overnight, so I'll bake them in the morning.

At least Facebook keeps me in contact with the outside world. I just learned that 2 of my pub quiz team-mates got engaged tonight-- it's her birthday. So happy for them.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 08:57 AM

The water transfer project has been going well, and I got the van back from the shop last night-- including not only my scooter in the back but the several midsize jugs that had been set there for the fetch we had planned. Because it went to the shop and had a protracted stay, we ended up fetching instead with Hardi's smaller but 4WD car... so before another boatload of snow falls on our freezing flooded yard I slickered up to grab those last empty jugs, while the gittin' was good. That gives me the total I need to pour off from a friend's borrowed jugs-- and get his back to him when he's ready, because I leave a week from today for a trip that might overlap his timeframe to get them back. So now he and Hardi will be able to handle the swap-back.

===

The next task will be to get the van road-ready while we flounder in the week's snow and ice and rain, which will be REAL fun. While I was out there in my slicker, I eyeballed the van's back end to fix firmly in my mind's eye: what will need to be removed/added before I set out? So I can use the next weather window of opportunity to do it all in one shot. I brought in the one bag that would need some re-packing-- the always-onboard toiletries bag I use whether we are gone for a month or a daytrip. (It has saved my dignity during many the IBS event!!!) I am thinking of extending the trip by a few days to see my son.

===

Made and began to implement a tough decision last night backed by discernment and certainty-- been wallowing thru shifting sands in the desert of this awful winter, with the pieces of it. The result is a well-planned, phased-in resumption of a ministry I've missed very much, with as many win/win features as possible built in for the other folks affected. I am very much at peace with the decision-- and the waiting to make it till the clarity about the details kicked in.How it will affect ongoing home improvements is that I am going to use my two autoharps, this time around, for awhile, for my own music. Sounds simple-- isn't.

===

After mud season here (and it's gonna be a bad one), I'm gonna ask Adrian to cut up the kitchen rug I despise-- into pieces to replace the rug (walk-off mat from mudville) in the dogs' corner. I have a template of the odd shape.

It was a free carpet. It is NOT working in the kitchen, but it will work handily for that purpose... and then be thrown out when too nasty to use! That carpet will have had more than nine lives by the time I let it go, and my health is the priority-- not trying to wring 12 lives out of 9 in a rug worth, at most, 2! Those pieces will be ready and waiting for next year's mud season, and be swapped in as needed!!! (I might not wait till the end of mud season to do it!)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 09:23 AM

And a Happy Good Sunday Morning to you all!!!

   I love waking up to the sound of rain and the extra time to snuggle up with my honey. Most mornings are way too busy for that...but not today. :) Added to just laying in bed listening to the rain was the extra wonderful sounds of Jeremiah cooing contentedly, talking to his pal Scooter. :) Up for a nice cup of coffee by the fire and watching the little one play, going from one toy tub to the other. He is getting taller by the day....amazing, really. On Thursday, he'll be a year old!!!!
    Yesterday we delivered a load of firewood to a friend and went out to dinner at the Outback. That's a special treat for us! We had been given a gift card to go there at Christmas time but decided to save it so we used that last night...our late Valentine's Day dinner. The three of us went and it was lovely!!!
    Today, with the icky weather, I am going to be puttering all day with chores and just stuff that I want to do. I have dishes to do, laundry to put away, I'd like to get some vaccuuming done upstairs too. In between will be yummy weekend coffee, catching up on some reading, a little fiddle playing and a promise from my love to watch the baby for an hour or two so I can work in my office. I really should take photos of it..disaster central. I've been just throwing stuff in there (lots of yard sale stuff) and not being organized at all about it. That is going to change TODAY!!! YAY!!!

Enjoy the day everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: maire-aine
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 10:15 AM

Ran the snowblower, put the beans in the oven to bake, and planted the first of my Italian broccoli seeds indoors. Weather is supposed to improve as the week goes on.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 12:25 PM

I'm going to get out the old push mower to knock down some of the weeds, and will shovel the dry leaves in the curb onto the main turf and I'll run the power mower over those to mulch them.

I have all but about 4 cubbies emptied in my daughter's room and have been carrying in the plastic cases (you know, the ones that are translucent below and a blue lid with a handle). I've effectively sorted my sewing stuff from the rest of the craft stuff this way, and need to look at the craft stuff and decide how much to cull.

Laundry is up next, then out to the yard.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 02:18 PM

Rog and I got busy this morning. We folded AND put away all of our clean laundry. Are doing three more loads of sheets and blankets. Went back to the office, where he sorted out a rat's nest of power cords and cables from when the big PC was back there. I cleaned out a lot of stuff and set up the desk, again, to hold the laptop with external monitor and track ball AND re-organised all of my jewellery stuff, so I can do either without too much trouble. I also went through Morgan's bookshelf and re-organised them. Rog put up a piece of pottery my grandma made in some senior craft class in the 50s/60s? It's a very nice turquoise coloured wall vase and is perfect for holding sticks of incense, so it is now by my sanctum. We also picked up and put away a ton of stuff in the LR. These were all things waiting for me to feel well enough to get us going. It feels great even if my feet hurt and both index fingers are both sprained!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 03:24 PM

55-lb deadlift x 2 reps, multiple 17 lb. carries and lifts.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 03:34 PM

In the Procrastination rehabilitation, I am still reading. The current chapter is "Are You Disorganized?" Well, yes, in some things and some parts of the house, I am. Not all, but definitely some.

Her "shortcuts" for getting started are these:

Talk it over

Start in the middle

Picture the end product

The talk it over part is the "thinking out loud" process where hearing yourself say something will often trigger other ideas, and conversation helps formulate plans.

Starting in the middle is good when you can't get started on a project that looks too big from beginning to end. If there are intermediate parts of the task that you can start with, then finish up the other steps, you'll generate the momentum to finish the task.

Picturing the end is the visualization that is so valuable to us; seeing ourselves successfully completing the high jump or the discus throw in the Olympics works, so why not visualizing ourselves in a clean and freshly painted and decorated office or den?

Right now I'm visualizing myself in the yard. I've hung up some clothes on the line, though I put a few in the dryer that need the heat to remove the wrinkles. Time to go push some dirt around.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 01:09 AM

I emptied yardage out of the drawers in the dresser that I bought for this use. It sits in my daugter's room, but now has two drawers full of thread and notions and I'll decide what goes in the rest soon. The yardage is stacked neatly so I can see a little of the color and pattern of each in several of the cubbies. I emptied several of the plastic bins, and used others for new items. I've set aside the spools of thread that are almost empty - I'll wind the contents onto bobbins and toss the spools (I'll keep the old wooden ones for now.)

The bed is covered with things in the stages of organization, but several boxes are stacked in the closet and the point of not packing everything is that I might keep some of my daughter's stuff in a few of the lower cubbies, where she can find it when she comes in. I've gone a long way toward emptying the craft cupboard in the sun room. I had lots of batting and polyester fill and things I'd lost track of. It's good to see it there, and I can "shop" my sewing room before I head out to buy some new item for a project.

Bowls of beer in the garden but so far no snails attracted. Maybe it's because the soil is just prepared, I haven't watered it. I'm sure the moist soil is what brings out the destructive snails. I had the rest of the beer in a glass with some of my home-canned tomato juice. Very good!

I'm finished for now, with a sense of having gotten some important work started this weekend. My son comes home next Saturay and I want the house back in order for in case he has friends over, so I won't broaden the scope of my reorganizing for now.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 11:29 AM

Decluttered a few shrubs of some overgrowth and cut back an ivy this afternoon, in a violet scented and green garden. Looks like the snow/frost this year carried off my 15yr old Christmas tree and the pyrocantha that did duty as barbed wire fencing so they'll have to be cut down and grubbed out at some point... It's positively warm out there today.

Now the shrubs are neat and the paths are full of clippings (I like to leave them so the birds get the seeds, the leaves dry and drop off and I get nice dry sticks to break up and can sweep into bags - much easier than hauling half a tree through the house) so more work required in a couple of weeks time there.

Also potted up some house plants that have needed bigger pots, thrown away the china pots that got broken by the frost and am now sorting my craft paper stash into new rainbow coloured drawers (Really Useful Boxes - gotta love 'em!) that I got yesterday.

We are not going to mention the other subject of this thread.... but Tai Chi starts on Wednesday.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 12:01 PM

I made progress in my office yesterday!!! There is now a clear path through part of the room, yard sale things have been set to one side in an organized fashion, all wrapping paper and bows have been properly put away (seriously...I just kinda tossed stuff in there) and surprise, surprise...I found a bunch of clothes that I purchased at yard sales last summer for Jeremiah...all size 18 months and perfect for this time of year and for when it gets a little warmer (everything from lined Osh-Kosh denim overalls to lighterweight pants, jammies, long sleaved shirts, 3 spring jackets and a couple of really adorable flannel shirts so he can dress just like daddy (wranglers included)! Excellent! I had forgotten about that stuff!

Today I will work on getting that all washed and put away. I also have a class to prepare for tonight. I'm going to be able to head over a little early to pick up some sale items at the store and go for a walk before class (provided the walks in town have been taken care of and are not icy). Looking ahead, I've found 2 sitters so maybe I can attend the Yoga Challenge next month. I'd really like that!! Also...meeting a friend at the Y tomorrow night for Zumba...it's not going to be pretty but I bet it will be FUN!!!!! DH is encouraging me to get a membership at the pool in the next town over. I tell him it's too far away and he says, well you go there a few times a week anyway..just go earlier! Hmmm. He has a point. Both the baby and I LOVE the water...definitely something to think about. :)

Enjoy the sunshine everybody!!!!

Michelle

PS. SRS...I SO want to be out digging around in the garden and am most jealous!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 12:55 PM

I also did some office stuff today-- been too cold to use it or maintain it. But the better printer is up there, and it was a hard worker today as I surveyed the organizing tasks awaiting me up there and packed a few items for Sunday's trip.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 01:59 PM

LtS, good to hear from you. Sounds as though Spring has sprung! Sorry about your Christmas tree. We're just about ready to plant one we had this year.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 02:59 PM

Found this quote today, really liked it so I thought I'd share!

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."
— Albert Einstein


Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 03:13 PM

That's brilliant, Michelle, thanks for posting it!

I did something very important. Before I can really progress to finishing another book in the offing, and editing the one I wrote last year and final editing of the one two years before that, I have to get the final version of Prairie Child published. Today, I finally started the process at Create Space! I had some trouble with formatting, but think I will be able to figure it out using their template. Anyway, it's been hanging over me for years, so it feels great to have started the process.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 04:24 PM

I'll be working on my neighbor's computer later today. She can't get it to turn on, windows is shutting down with an error message and she doesn't know how to use "safe mode." I suspect I'll be decluttering a virus.

I like the way things are coming together in the sewing room. In my household-Chinese puzzle, I think I've finally found a way to empty a couple of tiles at once to make it easier to move the rest around. I have been slowly emptying the house, but I haven't been able to take advantage it of. This may finally let me see some of the space I've freed up.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 04:43 PM

Just did a little decluttering on facebook. And raised a little dust at the same time. Oh, well.

Off to the neighbor's house to fix her computer now. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 06:22 PM

Go SRS!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 10:39 PM

I've been at the neighbor's, trying various things. I downloaded a new (free) antivirus and ran a scan, in case her existing program missed it. Nothing. And upgraded her existing program, then deleted the new one. Uninstalled software not needed, never used. Installed WinPatrol and looked at the startup programs and got rid of a couple more. Did a search on an error message to do with an Intel driver, and found a message at Intel saying the message can occur when the HDD (Hard disk drive) is about to die. And suggested what I had done above, plus running the check disk program (chkdsk - a DOS program). It is running now, and we'll see in the morning if it has identified and repaired or isolated bad sectors.

She feels a bit embarrassed when these things take a while, but if you're into computers then it is an interesting challenge to see if you can find the problem and fix it. And she made a nice dinner for us, so it's not like there was no payment. She makes a great baked tilapia. And I'll do a little research about laptops (she figures that is all she needs) to replace this one. She doesn't need all of the bells and whistles, but there are still some decisions to be made when shopping around. I think she might enjoy one of those HP all-in-one computers, so a trip to the local electronic discount store that has both types is in order, if the old Dell passes on.

I stirred things up with the facebook thread, but it was unintentional. It looked like Emma B (I think that's her Mudcat name?) had lost control of her facebook account (a couple of different entries, in French, with gay pornographic photos in the link), so I named the account by her facebook name and said it looked like her account had been hijacked. There is no point in writing to a hijacked account, you need to get their attention so they can close it down and clear it with facebook with a new password. Somehow it went throught a lala land filter and I got a nasty note from Sorcha. Geez. Once something that was done with good intentions goes awry, if someone else steps in and gets all nasty, then the dynamic changes. And we use our names on facebook, ferchristsakes, the whole world can see who we are there. Even if you block everything, people can still tell you're out there. Reality check time, I think.

Okay, I've done my good deeds for the day. Only got my head bitten off once. Another glass of wine, and I have a movie to watch.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 11:00 PM

There were several of us who had our names, Mudcat ID photos, etc. hijacked on FB; that's why I don't post by my real name, though friends and family know who I am, obviously. It was a nasty time and I do remember Emma having trouble, too. Probably just old wounds stirred up. Too bad you bore the brunt of it, SRS.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Mar 11 - 12:54 AM

Joe Offer experienced several knockoff accounts, and not all of them were removed even after he approached the authorities about it. Primarily I just pushed back at a hot-head response.

I'm working on my usual declutter projects this week, but particular emphasis will be applied to being sure there are comfortable dining areas. I hope to have a few folks in for dinner when my son is home for spring break. I have to get my dibs in on his time early, he'll be visiting a lot of friends.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Mar 11 - 09:48 AM

SRS, I think Emma also had another previous Cat issue that intersected with this one, and some folks may have gone into over-protection mode in the lala effort to help where they are not actually in a position to help.

===

We resolved an autoharp issue here last night that ALMOST had me trading mine in for a guitar-- I had started building calluses-- that has inhibited my music/ministries since 1992!!! An item I got free for a camping need suited, instead, unexpectedly, THAT need. Hardi's ability to think in a different box than I do led to the discovery. I'm so excited by the ramifications I am not sure whether to write a paper due Saturday (for a class I may miss) or get out my arranging binder , which I printed a fat sheaf of songs for, to take on my trip Sunday.... and I had not even considered taking the 'harp so that means a whole new car-packing plan..... oy, my head hurts.

Happily, though!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Mar 11 - 05:28 PM

... and I am well on the way to a song a day, for my Lenten discipline. (Hardi doesn't preach a deprived Lent, nor do I!) I also discerned how to declutter an overbooked weekend: Hubby first = KISS.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Mar 11 - 08:07 PM

Ever feel like the Hydra is alive and well? The frig problem solved at last; still no element for oven; turned on the faucet on Saturday to do breakfast dishes - no water. Phoned someone to give Rob a message re water. Rob came home from work at 11:30 PM. In the meantime, I curled up in a ball on the sofa: could not take a detox bath - much needed, nor do dishes, nor do laundry. Time to crawl in a hole and pull the hole in after me. Worked on finding raccoon info and other internet stuff.

Sunday: no water. After Meeting, Rob went to cellar to investigate. Phoned city. They came! Frozen under the street! They brought us four gallons of bottler water and a promise of tomorrow. We phoned a friend and went out to a cheap restaurant and had a great evening.

Unfortunately, Rob left cellar door open and the house was toxic when we got home. I felt really sick.

Monday: City guys fixed water! Cellar door open all morning! Did dishes and laundry but no bath. Brain fog so bad I could not think clearly nor even understand what I was reading on line. Rob and I did go to appointment, at a coffee shop with someone from the Montreal Steiner School, which was interesting and enjoyable. Good to get out of house. Gave air cleaner time to clean!

On the way home, a crack appeared on my windshield????? IT will stay there until the next inspection time! Fortunately it is down low.

Tuesday: That's today! Yay!. Managed to fit in detox bath and feel so much better!!! Two loads of laundry. Caught up on dishes. Off to tour the school, an interesting building and neat people. Still need to get through making supper and remake bed.

Talked to SPCA: No help there for raccoons. Saw a FB page for songbird rescue; there is a possibility! My brain is functioning better. Thinking of how to do a FB page for starters. I'm excited about the possibility. Might even help find other interested persons. Someone also suggested Craigslist as a place to find volunteers.

Guess who might have to become a licensed wildlife rehabber. Feeling support from the raccoon rehabbers on line; good ideas, great web sites, lots of useful info which I can share. I am alone in Montreal but not alone, thanks to the internet. Need to detox again tomorrow, clear more toxins so I can feel "more better".

No oven element in sight. Crack in windshield. Need to develop Raccoon FB page. Communicate with two reporters, one French. Talk to songbird rehabber, develop website, investigate rehab requirements.... Check Craigslist, what else????

It was a beautiful day today and its time to make supper.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Mar 11 - 08:09 PM

DP, take heart. I wrestled that Hydra, and you will too.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Mar 11 - 10:50 PM

Busy day, not much time online. I'm sure things are a bit stirred up in the park board, but I'm pleased that the village did a good job of looking into the encroachment, and I think we can get a process started, if I can keep people interested. That's the tough part. We need a long-range plan here and regulations about who plants what when, and how to permit such activity.

I am going to look into a way to offer some computer classes here in the village. I would charge a small fee to be sure people take it seriously and to give myself a modest profit from it, but there are a lot of people here who have questions and in the right setting, they can be answered. I just spent time helping the next door neighbor, but some of this she could have done on her own if she'd known a bit about the software and hardware. Another topic is close to the heart of this thread - decluttering via eBay. I've talked to a lot of people who would like to sell there, but don't know how. Setting up a class and asking people to bring one object they think they'd like to sell - ask them to keep it smaller than a bread box, something in good working order, or a collectible with some information, and use these as examples.

Susan is right about the closing ranks on the problem from facebook. People who had no business sticking their oar in the water did just that, and in a rude way. As if they wanted a squabble. Too bad some people just automatically think of taking the negative approach first. I'm looking at an issue in the village here that could devolve into a squabble, but I want people to take the higher moral ground, and to act the way they should because they understand why the question was raised. I'll work at that here, because it's where I live. But online, sometimes you just push back.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 10:39 AM

The sun is out again, but the breeze is cool. I planted bean seeds last night directly into the yard. This is another indoors day - I have to prepare for a brief presentation at city council about my request to have an item placed on the agenda, so I'll dig around for some of my old park stuff from when I was on a different board. And may call a friend to ask for a copy of their strategic plan.

It feels like as the seasons change there is a level of crankiness in the world at large. Maybe just in this part of the world, but as I look at things in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya, and in Washington, D.C., I think it is global in nature. Everything is related - my crankiness could increase as gas prices keep going up, as the zealots of the tea party pick off the heads of charitable and public causes. It is a time to set some goals for the season in a way that doesn't let the little procrastination scripts to kick in and ignore actually meeting those goals. Instead of a long list of things to do, I need a very short list, and leave space under each item to enumerate steps along the way.

I'm still working on that book, sometimes only a page or two at a time. And I need to go back and review what I've covered every so often, to remind myself of my resolve to be more organized and on time. To be more efficient. Spring cleaning of the psyche. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 11:41 AM

I went room by room, yesterday, picking up and putting away stuff which had 'strayed." Spent about two hours and included doing the dishes. Surprised the heck outta Rog when he came home at lunchtime.

My accountant friend back East has said she can save us all sorts on our taxes this year with new regs, etc. so I am getting together the info she needs to get it done. I will be glad to turn it over to someone else for a change.

We had too many gloomy days, with no moisture save for a tiny bit of rain, yesterday, until today. The Colorado sunshine is back and it looks like ti will be a gorgeous day. Morgan will be over about 2p after early release day at school.

I am going to leave everything else alone this AM and see what I can do with some jewellery design.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 03:01 PM

There is a lovely meal on the stove awaiting the appearance of a Rob. Just as I got home from groceries, he was on the corner explaining the the mail person that,at least, two pieces of mail had been returned to sender! It's the Hydra again. With totally correct addresses, a mail slot in the door.... It was all in French. I will find out what was said when Rob comes back as he said he would. The phone bill came today? And another bill two days ago. I thought it might be a language problem - but it was one of each, the ones of which we have been told.

SRS: Those classes sound like they would be well received! A great idea!

Filled out two volunteer forms for NEFFA. Yes, I filled out Rob's; he has never done a festival in his poor deprived life. (He has been to Peru and is that a story!!) Now to find a place to stay. And a song to sing at the Cafe on Friday, an ADDA fundraiser -all open mike.

Then another detox bath - after this meal. Yesterday's made a huge difference in how I feel but another would still be helpful.

Today started out beautifully sunny but 24F. Now it is getting ready to dump again - another six inches or so. The city had hoped to clear the last dump (about 8 inches) by Sunday but.... Anyway, I am parked where they are NOT clearing tonight!!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 03:15 PM

I was thinking the other day that for all of the time we spend decluttering, it's the putting away after ourselves every day that makes a huge difference. I don't know if I said it, but I thought it. :)

Good work, Kat, getting back to the jewelry. It's a more gratifying project thank housekeeping, all things considered.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 04:08 PM

What do you put in your detox bath?

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 05:08 PM

About a cup or so of epsom salt. And the bath as hot as I can stand to sweat out as much as possible - of toxins, then a lukewarm shower to clean it all off - salt and toxins - and close the pores. I stay in about an hour or until the water cools too much. I don't want my body to reabsorb the toxins from the water.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 05:13 PM

Ginger baths are supposed to be good and detoxifying. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 05:49 PM

Ginger would smell wonderful!

Dorothy, I think you'd get a similar result from a sauna. Have you tried those? (I realize a bath can be had more readily than a sauna, but I'm just wondering if this would be so.)

Finished the planning stages of a project at work that is another of those things that is a good idea, I've mentioned it in passing, no one picked up on it, so I'm going ahead and doing it myself. Almost accidentally had someone take it away today, but since I'm the one who would be most active once it is in place, it's best to suggest putting several of us as owners of the project and go from there.

I always feel like if I'm doing something in the name of the library that I ought to have direction from other library folks to do it. But that doesn't often come with a resounding "yes, do it!" I poke at the topic enough and generally discover that people don't care, and finally go ahead and set it up because I need this service to be in place to do my job most efficiently. Then they care and like it. So far, so good. The risk is going through this process and setting up something that someone doesn't like, and ending up with consequences. Hopefully not bad, but it always feels a bit like going out on a limb to operate this way.

Into the shower, then off to a lecture.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 06:52 PM

mg and everyone: I am sitting here recovering from the bath. This was a very good one, much better than yesterday. I feel well pleased. I also realize a warning is in order. When it is very good - the water hot enough, the body perspires enough - it takes a lot out of me.

So I made it down to the LR, very wobbly, shaky, holding onto the railing, and set myself down in my cosy terry cloth robe and a down throw, plenty of water handy to replace what was lost, and managed to finish the novel. That was about 25 minutes ago. Now I have enough energy to write this. Just!

Detoxing is essential to my well being. My body seems to soak up toxins like a sponge. On the weekend I had reached the state of brain fog and I was very short tempered. Yesterday's bath helped a great deal but I know I needed more. Especially after I went to Canadian Tire this morning and felt terribly sick within about 5 minutes.

SRS asked about a sauna detox. That is how I got over being exceedingly ill. The sauna method as described by L. Ron Hubbard in Clear body Clear Mind has also been used for many of the people who were at ground zero. Those are the ones who are no longer sick.

It is very heavy and a little complex. I did five sessions under the care of my friend Connie and went from the very depressed couch potato I had been for almost five years to a delighted almost hyperactive person in less than three weeks. Immediately after the fifth session, I was collapsed on the sofa for 3-4 hours. Then I did not look back.

Unfortunately, the toxins are omnipresent and my body/sponge keeps absorbing them. I keep de-toxing. I do not have access to a sauna here. Living in the city, I probably need to do a bath every day or two but the time factor puts me off. I would not, however, have gone into brain fog if we had had water on Saturday! I KNEW I needed a bath.

When I lived on Whidbey Island, I would do some saunas and frequent baths. If I went into Seattle, it was automatic, even if it was 1:30 am, I walked in and turned on the bath and did it. Cities are so toxic.

Well, now I am hungry and feel up to getting a bite to eat wile I continue to relax for another hour or so. Oh, I described part of my environmental problem in a blog "Heartsick to Healthy" on wordpress, by frickthoughts.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 01:02 AM

My aunt had a sauna in her basement. We thought that was remarkable, along with the wet bar and dance floor. It turned out that the original builders were going to put in a multi story condo, until they learned that zoning wouldn't allow it. The basement was meant to be the common area. So instead, they built one fabulous floor on top of the ground floor, slapped on a flat roof, and sold it as one house. I remember some nice saunas at her house. A sauna and a good shower cleans out a lot of crud in your system.

I spent this evening on the phone helping a friend in Arizona get her laptop hooked up to the Internet. All of this time, she has tried to get her old desktop to limp along online, and her laptop has been for free-standing programs and solitaire. I told her how to unplug the data line (from her modem) out of the old desktop and plug it into the laptop. She had to restart the laptop, but now she's up to speed on her newer computer. I wish I'd called a lot sooner, she has been home for a couple of weeks now. (She has done a lot of travelling, and was able to log on in some places, like her daughters' homes, and here, because we had wireless networks, but she doesn't have a router. I'm going to take my old router with me when I visit her later in the spring and see if we can't get her set up.)

Tomorrow I'll do some research for my city council talk; I need to convince them to begin a planning process for public park land, and I need to make my case in as few words as possible. I won't have their attention for long, so I need to make the most of it. I'll do a lot of the work, but I'm afraid it means putting a few noses out of joint. I'm asking the city council to make the park board responsible for more things, and I'm asking the city council to make some of the city employees do the work that the park board thought they needed to do. It's a little nerve-wracking.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 12:04 AM

Now how did we end up nearly falling off the page?

I went to my meeting - I've told a couple of folks the details, and I'm tired of typing, but sum it up to say it went well, and the folks who thought I was going to insist their trees be torn out for no good reason understand that I recognize this as the reason we need to develop a sound park plan and to act upon it. The council told everyone that notice is served - no more trees. I still want those out (poor choice and badly placed), but I'll bide my time. They'll probably die on their own. I haven't had support for a comprehensive park plan in the past when I tried to get them to act; this time I have more time and I'm simply going to push to get what I want.

I'm a bit buzzed after the adrenalin of the meeting - that happens. I'm winding down and then tomorrow, thank goodness, is Friday. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 12:28 AM

Is there an urban forester around? They sometimes give people lists of appropriate trees..or perhaps someone in extension? mg

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 10:18 AM

Today is our 31st anniversary. we are going to run errands, go to a doc's appt and then hope to have some fun. Not much in the way of decluttering, though.:-)

I have now dumped 37 lbs.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 11:13 AM

The city of Fort Worth has had the position of city forester ever since their charter was drawn up (1860s?), it's a historic fact and is one of the reasons the city wins urban forestry awards. And yes, there is tons of information available. I worked with them for years before I was on the park board (I was the one who watered several blocks of trees in the median of our boulevard when the city wouldn't plant them without my volunteer help. They have a water truck but it was fully subscribed.) Here in my town they have the benefit of all of that work if they'll open their eyes. Last night was simply the opening salvo - if I want this to move forward I'll be going to every park and city council meeting from here on out.

Shopping with a neighbor this afternoon, to let her look at the types of computers that are out there. I have a sink full of dishes to clear out, and get ready for my son returning tomorrow. I hope he'll spend the night here, so I'll be ready with his favorite food.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 06:38 PM

Unusable CD cases finally GONE, leaving my van empty enough to pack for Sunday's boondockish trip-- if only we had not had to put in back in the shop, aaaaaaarghhh! I'll keep packing and get on the road when I can. The music's all loaded, so..... I gotta go!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 09:24 PM

We went to look, we compared, I talked my neighbor through the options, and she warmed up to the type I thought she would, the all-in-one desktops that don't need to have room for expansion, that have a trim look and these days are touch screen. Very nice! It took a while to get it set up - the instructions are incomplete for the Blutooth keyboard and mouse, but after that, it was the usual slog through updates and setting up her preferences. Once she had logged onto her Gmail and her web page and it looked the way she wanted, I opened Google Earth and showed her how to cruise the planet. :)

When the new one was set up, she wanted to look in the old computer, so I opened it, and showed her where the hard drive was. She had me take it out and the case is in the garage to go get recycled somewhere. She is finished with the 9-year-old Dell. And unless something untoward happens, I won't have to do too much troubleshooting for several years, I imagine!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 12:29 PM

Lots to do today, in the garden and in getting ready for my son's week here. His Dad needs my help with my truck to move a mattress (there are friends who will occasionally tease about my driving a pickup, but if I have to drive just one vehicle, I like it to be one that can do many things!)

I have an envelope with Swiss chard seeds ready to go to a big boy in Colorado in today's mail. I'll email the photos so you can both read the instructions.

I need to install one more program in my neighbor's computer, I forgot to do yesterday, and then she is completely set to move forward. She uses Word 2003 and I am afraid buying Word 2010 will put her into shock. The free Open Office software will be adequate for the letters she writes and the recipes she transcribes.

It's supposed to be in the 70s here all week. We could use some rain, but in the meantime, the nice temperatures are perfect during spring break!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 01:12 PM

thanks,SRS!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 04:39 PM

Bedding moved, and I realized he has a double-sized bed my son outgrew that is much newer than his sister's bed I have here at my house. So I'm going to take out her old bed and move her brother's old bed over here to use in her antique frame. The current mattress on her bed was purchased when she was three (when we were using her room as a guest room also, so she had a full-sized bed). We must have been told that very firm was good for us, but it's hard as a rock and I think everyone who visits will prefer the bed that is now in my ex's garage.

Good thing this is spring break this week. As staff I don't get the days off, but since the students and faculty aren't on campus it's pretty quiet. I'll take a few vacation days and enjoy the fine weather.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 10:02 PM

We did a lot today. Moved the Christmas tree out onto the front "stoop" for planting sometime, soon. Rearranged a few things in the LR after moving it out. Went to Habitat for Humanities ReStore to find a coffee table and/or end tables. Man, they are really pricey! The really good things, they have marked not for sale as they use them, even a piano. The nicer pieces that were for sale were prohibitive, imo. They did have a Whirlpool frig which I really wanted. Side by side with a lot of pull out organised baskets in the freezer and frig part. Much better arrangement than ours, but Rog wasn't into a major thing like that and getting our old one out. At least not for today. If they still have it next week, we'll see. It would really make things a lot easier. They wanted $200 plus $50 to deliver, though if I told them they could take ours, maybe they would halve that. Who knows. We really don't need it, but it would be nice.

Morgan came over and played, then he went through his storage part of our hall closet where he keeps a plastic bin of toys, etc. I am really proud of him. He gave away a huge bag of things and packed what was left into the closet and took a few things home with him.

Every year, but last, since we bought this house, we have hung new prayer flags from the trees and on the house. We don't take them down and burn them until they are in the last stages of tatters. Most have been in the backyard. This year, I bought a long strand of them and Rog went up the ladder, hanging them from the front of the house, across the yard, up high, to a tree which was just 12" when we moved in and is now about 30 feet tall...it's a poplar of some sort. I told him folks who might not realise they are Tibetan prayer flags will probably think we're getting ready for a party, they look so beautiful, colourful, and cheery. There's almost always a breeze, even slight, so they are in motion sending our good wishes, thanks givings, etc. aloft.

I was really thrilled after the doc's appt. It was with the kidney specialist. He said I am stable and doing good. Gave me some tips on fluid intake, protein, etc. Said, by now, it is not just water weight which I am losing. I have the skinniest ankles now! I can't remember when they looked so good, last. He was really neat, an older real gentleman, filling in on a temp. basis, though I will see him in June, again. Sodium is the main thing I have to monitor very closely. He let me go off of a med I think is making me itch (it's sulfa based and I am allergic to sulfa.) As long as I keep the sodium down and the weight doesn't go up, I don't have to take it any more! So far, so good.

I also went through a bin of cassette tapes, mostly of my brother's classical music when we were promoting it a lot back East, well as much as we could with no budget.:-) Made me realise I did a bang up, full-time job of it...pretty neat to see that, again. Being creative with no money to speak of can be challenging and fun.

Laundry and the usual also done.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 10:34 PM

My son has arrived, been here for his favorite dinner of chicken strips (swiping them off the cooling paper before they got to the table - a compliment to the chef, to be sure!) and has gone over to his Dad's house tonight. I had his Dad come over for dinner, and I suspected one way or the other he'd end up over there. Might as well save myself that drive.

We'll plan a family dinner next week when Moonglow is down here for a day or two. And I'll see about swapping out the mattress in her room for the one in her Dad's garage. I could use an extra set of hands to move the mattress part at least.

Kitchen is cleaned up, so I'm working online and around the house this evening. It was a beautiful day and a lovely evening. The dogs were thrilled to see my son, and they always enjoy visiting with his Dad, so they are happy campers. Tomorrow I'm going to probably miss most of my favorite gardening program if I don't sent my alarm (Spring Ahead with the clocks tonight!).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: maire-aine
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 12:06 AM

Today was the local St. Patrick's Day parade, so I walked with some friends. By the time I walked to the end and back to my car, it was about 2 miles. My knees will be complaining tomorrow. Haven't walked that far all at once since before Christmas.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 12:08 PM

Friends, I salute the rapid progress, but watch for the downside of that cycle. (Some of us have ridden that cycle, and will know what I mean.) Steady as she goes, aye! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 12:33 PM

Today feels wonderful - I awoke knowing that it was a day for cleaning and gardening. It helped that the kitchen sink was empty and the counter clear.

My potatoes are sprouting! Off to the yard, after I put in a load of laundry!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 03:43 PM

Taking a break - I've run a hose to set up a sprinkler in a place I'm going to try to start digging. Though I have cleaned a little more in the kitchen I have mostly been doing yard work.

Let me ask a question - my next door neighbor and I were talking about the glass top stoves - I've long hated my kitchen stove with the old spiral eyes and the smoking when stuff gets down on the elements or in the collection pan - the glass top stoves have come down in price. It might be a reasonable goal once I've settled some of the debt that must come first. This came with the house and it works, but that's the best I can say about it. My friend Dean (canning guru) and I spoke about these - there are apparently a few of the glasstop stoves that CAN be used for canning, but it isn't the best option for most of them. They don't stay hot enough or the pans are so big they cause problems for the stove surface. The old spiral eyes of my current stove do work for canning.

What kinds of stoves are each of you using, and how large is the largest pan you use? I just picked up a 12 quart "multicooker" with a deep colander and a shallow colander (great for steaming, and the deep one can hold several quart and smaller jars for water bath canning). It has a wafer bottom, flat, so it could be used on a glass top, but I think it is way too big diameter-wise. I'm planning ahead. If I did get a good new stovetop, I might end up having to get one of those turkey fryer stands with a propane tank for my canning pots. The good side of that is that the heat would stay outside in July and August.

We don't have gas plumbed to this house, or I wouldn't be having this problem.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 04:48 PM

We have a glass top and I'd never want to go back to the other kinds, ever. However, I haven't done any canning on it. The largest pot Rog uses on it is his mom's old pressure cooker which is large. I'll measure it, later, and let you know. You do have to be diligent in keeping the top clean. Rog is a sloppy cooker and I regret that at times I hadn't the energy to clean up his messes. As it is, it has some blackened spots that kind of blend in, but when I have more "elbow grease" will get scrubbed clean.

This morning, Rog and I cleaned up our bedroom, put away all of our clothes, emptied the trash, and generally cleaned up. He loaded a ton of trash into his truck and took it to the dumpster we use..so that's finally gone from the backyard.

Then we went to town to the used bookstore only to find it was closed, so we headed over to KMart where he bought a "Big Boss Grill." A tabletop grill with removable plates for grilling, sandwiches, waffles, donuts, etc. I think he's been moving towards this for some time. Now he has a bunch of one function other appliances which he will put in storage as he plays with his new "toy." It's fun to see him take such joy in trying new kitchen "aids" out. I got myself a bunch of new Tshirts for the season. It was 80 degrees in the house the other day as it was about 60 outside and I'd forgotten to open the windows when I left in the morning!

We picked Morgan up when we came home from KMart. He told me he wanted to rake my front and back yard, then wanted to vacuum and mop when he was done! I told we'd start with the front yard which is a good size. He did a masterful job with three or four huge piles to which I also added some effort. I also read some wonderful stories to him from my dad's old book, one of my very fav. called Wonder Tales of the World by Constance Armfield with illustrations by her husband, Armfield. My fav. story was Cap O'Rushes, from England. You may read the whole book at that link. Another fav. was Fitna and the Cow, from Persia. He took frequent breaks to sit with me on the steps. At one point he asked me if I was going to tell the "Mudcatters" about what he was doing for me, today. He was happy when I told him yes!

With the time change, we didn't got to sleep until the new 2a, so I am now ready for a bit of a lie down. See ya later!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 04:52 PM

I found some square yardage... ok footage of space in my bedroom and got rid of a bag of throw-out clothes, a bag of donated clothes. It's not much, but it's a step in making this place look less pathological.

I really needed to get to the gym and get away from media sources. Post-earthquake Japan, nuclear melt-downs and impending melt-downs, the middle east mess, the Wisconsin mess, the budget mess, the north-east flooding mess, and I just needed to get away from it for a while, so I went to the gym. I had a good workout and grabbed a mini Tootsie Roll on the way out, which in turn grabbed one of my crowns. So I'm off to the dentist tomorrow, and I hope he can just glue the sucker back on.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 06:41 PM

No good deed goes unpunished. . .

I made a good start on the yard. Mostly in the side where the veggie garden will grow. One of my rosemary shrubs was dead, this last winter finally took it out. It is the contents of this week's large Rubbermaid trash can down at the curb. Next week I might have another - I planted three rosemary plants way too close together, and they became this huge hedge.

Now to walk the dogs then work in the house.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: maire-aine
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 09:02 PM

SRS, I have what sounds like your stove. Electric stove from 1989 with regular coils. The largest pot I use is a 5-qt pressure cooker, sometimes with pressure, and sometimes just as an oversized pot. I also have a big stock-pot for soup/spaghetti.

I've done some canning on it. This may not be exactly to current standards, but I use an old Nesco roasting pan across 2 burners (filled with water) to boil the lids & jars beforehand, then to create the hot-water bath for the canning itself. Last time I did it, 100% sealed.

But I've also been thinking about replacing my stove-- the self-cleaning timer doesn't work. I hadn't thought about that aspect of a glass top. Let me know what you find out.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 12:42 AM

I have a very large stock pot to can quart jars that is really wide and heavy, and I know it wouldn't work on those glass top stoves. My stove has its moments when it doesn't seem to heat as well on the front burners, and it is in line to be the next appliance replaced in the house. Not urgent, but it on the radar. Even if I don't replace it right away, simply having this conversation about alternative methods for heating that much water is useful. Canning in July and August means you heat the house so much when it's already a scorcher out of doors. Better to find a way to keep all of the heat outside.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 10:24 AM

MaYBE THE NEWER ONES ARE ok, BUT THE GLASS COOKTOP PARTS THAT CAME WITH THIS HOUSE WHEN WE MOVED IN WERE ALL BADLY CRACKED-- LOOKED MORE LIKE HEAT STRESS THAN weight-breakage-- and scuffed up from cast iron sliding on it. I think the glass stovetops may have to be used with similarly magazine-pretty, brand new pots and pans to hold up. Call me crazy, but iron to iron and glass to glass, in my way of thinking.

sorry capslock

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 02:32 PM

I personally would not want a glasstop..

And I would never be persuaded to cook with gas, or heat with gas if I could help it due to earthquakes etc. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 03:07 PM

We have a gas stove here with a propane conversion. I love cooking with gas...it's fast, consistent and it's off when I turn it off...no slow cool down like an electric stove. It's just my personal preference.

I have read that glass stovetops are not good for canning as they cannot sustain the weight but I've never tried to can anything on one. My mom has that kind of stove but she does not can anything.

Speaking of canning, I ordered a long awaited pressure cooker yesterday!!! We have been wanting one for some time now and have been researching and searching for months. WOOO HOOOO!!! I've never used one before but I certainly am looking forward to it! It will cut down on the amount of time I need to spend in the kitchen AND I will be able to can meat this year....think stews, chili, soup and of course just plain meat! Since we have a steer that will be going to the butcher this fall, this is a good thing! Meat in the freezer is great but not if you have just one power outage that lasts any length of time!

Things here have been busy....too much going on to list. Today I have been working on sorting out some paperwork, laundry, muddy floors, bathroom floor, scrubbed the tub, did dishes and made dinner for my honey as I will not be home when he gets here. I have to stop at the store for catfood later today and then it's on to my finance class.

I have a check up with my oncologist on Wednesday...port accessed, flushed and 8 tubes of blood plus a physical check up. I am feeling a bit nervous but I know that's normal. I've planned for it and in the event that I should get news I am not wanting to hear, I am working like crazy to have things here at home all taken care of. This way, if I need to collapse into a pile of tears, I can. The house is relatively clean, all the laundry is done, dishes are done, grocery shopping is done, meds are all layed out, bills paid, etc. Logically, I know things have been going very well. I have some concerns about something and will share that with the doctor and see what he says. There's nothing more I can do. Someone needs to tell the butterflies in my stomach to go away because they just don't get that logical stuff. I have Xanax on hand for anything that remotely feels like a panic attack....YAY for me that I remember I have this option (I usually forget).

A tree has fallen on our back barn, doesn't look like too much damage has been done but will find out for sure when we remove it this weekend. I'm taking photos for the insurance company for just in case.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: maire-aine
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 03:08 PM

I've used an electric stove my whole life, except for 3 months when I moved into this house. A gas stove came with it, but after the first few weeks, I knew I had to replace it.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 03:21 PM

We have used all types of pots and pans on our nine year old glasstop with no problems. Rog's pressure cooker gets very heavy when it is full of water and whatever he is cooking in it.

SRS, this looks like some Excellent Research/Advice> on ceramic/glass stoves and canning.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 04:22 PM

Kat, I already found that site, and sent it to Dean for evaluation as far as the stove alternatives for canning. Some of those individual electric hot plates look like they'd melt under the weight and heat of a canner. I'm not completely sold on glass top either, but it seems to be what is predominant out there now. I have a lot of cast iron pans and I am keeping that in mind - I don't want to stop with the cast iron.

Michelle, you wrote I've never used one before but I certainly am looking forward to it! It will cut down on the amount of time I need to spend in the kitchen AND I will be able to can meat this year

Is this a regular consumer pressure cooker? I asked Dean about those last summer, if mine could be used for small batches instead of using a pressure canner. He said the consumer cookers don't have high enough pressure to process canned goods. I was looking at pressure canners on Craig's List last summer, and on eBay. There are some to be had out there.

I've finished making a batch of my taco meat (with black beans) for tacos, burritos, etc. And I have a batch of tortillas almost ready to make. I'm using butter this time (it comes out wonderful - Central Market here makes them and they're delicious) because I'm tired of thinking about how bad shortening is for us. It was chilled so it is still a little lumpy in the flour in the food processor. Given a few minutes the lumps will soften and I'll do one last mix, then add warm water and roll and cook my tortillas. Since I started making them I've gotten pretty good at it, and again, when you read the label on the store tortillas, there are so many unnecessary ingredients in there. The trick to making them without smelling the whole house like burned flour is to keep a brush handy to sweep the extra flour off before putting it on the griddle. And no grease on the griddle, it's a dry process.

It's still kind of cool out today, but after I finish this I'll go work in the yard for a while. I want to plant more seeds and transplant some of the stuff I've already started in the house. I watered two areas yesterday in preparation for digging today.

Tonight I'm planning to work on my daughter's room/guest room. She may be down this week so I need to clear off of the bed.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 04:28 PM

I bought a beautiful almond glass cooktop when renovating in Pennsylvania. I hated it in no time. It was too "fragile" and got dirty too easily and needed special cleaning.   Totally not useful. Just another pretty face!

SRS: If I lived in your clime, I would find a way to do canning and the like out of doors - porch or shed. Even a cheap propane stove under a tarpaulin! Even in PA I had the crock pot and distiller on a cheap baker's rack on the back porch. And propane would not be an earthquake hazard. I much prefer cooking with gas. When it is on, it i on and when I turn it off, it is OFF! No foresight needed.

We have no water again today. It was almost up to 40 yesterday and today but I suppose the frost in the ground could have gotten it again. Rob did not have time to phone the city today. The eternal optimist, he hopes it will start again. So the faucet is open and I hope I will hear it start running - SOON! I was planning another detox bath today. Darn!

I have eaten no chocolate in four days. I am having a distressed GI system. Correlation? I know choc is good for us but not at 100-150 gms/day. Detoxing last week seems to have alleviated the craving - correlation uncertain. Actually it is not the amount of choc that concerned me; it is the calories - 400-500 extra per day. I also seem to need less food generally. The warmer weather makes salad more acceptable; find cold food in cold weather unpleasant.

Managed to reset the clocks. NOT happy about DST. As I dragged myself out of bed and off to meeting, I suspected this time change is not healthy. Sure enough, a friend posted a link to an article - more heart attacks and suicides in the month after the change. I would think that enough reason to stop this nonsense.

I went through 11 pages of google on microwave safety and have decided it is, re an article in Ontario provincial health site. I thought if I looked far enough I would find the negatives but found none - yet.

Ready to write to newspaper reporter with the hoped for approach to public education on raccoons, aiming for National Wildlife Week, 2nd week of April. Feeling very supported by the raccoon rehab subculture!

Worm composter is looking good. I found room for it and another storage box in the laundry room (from the LR!). Worked on tidying up the plants in LR and sorting it out a bit. Better place for African Violets' "safe home" - the mouse ate the flowers off another which I had forgotten to put in safe place for the night! Was able to move two boxes from middle of floor - one into "closet" and the other - books, cunningly stashed behind a big chair until I figure out whether or not to keep them - all are on writing. Have I ever really looked at them? No. So I feel as though I need them? No. But - maybe it would be a good thing to do anyway? Out of sight for now.

Found fabric to make two new pockets for a pair of Rob's work pants - a stained dinner napkin in strong fabric; will sew them later today and continue to try to get the old zipper out of other winter coat. It is well attached! And put three buttons on anothe coat and that will be three projects and a chair cleared.

Spent several hours on Fri and Sat outside: roof of shed sagging with weight of water, some of which was raining in through small holes in roof. Floor wet, several boxes wet, two frozen to ground. Cleared roof, scooping out water with a sauce pan, props on inside to maintain pitch. Saved most stuff to dry places. Box of Ceramics Monthly magazines salvaged, I think; another box dead in the water - literally. These are reference materials in which I have used post-its to mark important pages. I am still hoping to get back to potting.

Sun is pouring in the windows!!!!!! On to sewing....

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 06:32 PM

Ah, Spring Break with a seven year old. This morning, Morgan came over about 9a. We went out to work on his raking the yard but it was a tad too chilly, so we came inside. I suggested we go back to the old office and work on jewellery designs...or just play with the beads, etc. He told me to go ahead HE had something else in mind. The next thing I knew, he had the vacuum out and did the whole house. Then he did some sweeping, and, after I filled the bucket and carried it to where he needed it, he mopped everywhere, too! It's not perfect, but he did a great job and our floors look much better.

Then we went out to rake, again, but found playing ninjas much more fun. When we do this, I sit on the landing in front of the front door, give him his "assignment" having him scale mtns.(piles of leaves), dangle from a branch (swing set) and go hand-by-hand on it to cross a river until he gets behind enemy lines and steals the "plans." He always has some martial art-like fight and then makes it back to "base." Yesterday, we played cowboys going after some bank robbers for the sheriff. What fun!

We did come in and work with the beads and started a Sir Lancelot book which was mine when I was a kid.

I am just finishing up a load of laundry.

So far, I am still doing well, weight-wise, without the diuretic we stopped. The hospital doc wanted me to do 1500 calories/day. Until today, I hadn't even bothered to monitor them because I knew I had not been doing very many. I was right. Today, with a couple of small treats, I am up to 915. Dinner will probably be about 300, so I've room to spare. Yes, I know I don't want to go with too little. The kidney specialist and I talked about malnutrition. He doesn't care what I eat as long as I watch the sodium. So no hard and fast rules for me. I shall follow what I am doing and slowly introduce other choices within the sodium parameters, etc. I am feeling really good about what I eat these days and how I feel.

Oh! And, my first croci/crocuses have bravely pushed through the leaves in the flower bed and graced us with their beautiful purple with saffron blooms, plus the daffodils are almost ready to bloom. I love springtime.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 10:20 PM

Tonight was the last episode of Village on a Diet, an 11 episode series about the village of Taylor, BC. on CBCTV. The village received a group of helpers: doctor, trainer, chef, therapist - to help them loss a total of 2000 pounds. They did it over three months. Certain individuals were highlighted and followed throughout. The last episode is four months after the "end". They had lost more weight. The episodes are available:

http://www.cbc.ca/liverightnow/village/videos.html

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 10:36 PM

The garden plot is looking better and I'll plant some more tomorrow.

Evening of clearing guest room bed not necessary, Moonglow may not make it for overnight this week. Maybe I can get her down for dinner, or we might have to drive up there and take her out. (She eats out a lot, so eating at home is probably more of a treat).

Dorothy, I like chocolate, but I'm not convinced that it likes me. My eczema is less pronounced now, and I haven't eaten any in a while, but I suppose there are other things I haven't eaten for a while also. It's still a mystery.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 10:33 AM

3/13: Went for an evening walk

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 10:35 AM

Make that a 3/14 evening walk! Sorry...no coffee yet....running on 3 hours of sleep.

*YAWN* *STRETCH*

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 12:02 PM

I started sorting through all of the boxes of notions I have between my mother and myself last night. Since I grew up sewing with the same stuff that is in the boxes from her house, I think commingling is fine - it is all still usable, and will simply span generations, not separate them. I still have my great aunt's sewing kits separate because they're almost artifacts at this point. I think I'm going to have to look for some kind of dividers and stop with the odd-sized cardboard and plastic boxes - they don't fit efficiently in the drawer and I want to have a tray of zippers, a box of papers of buttons, a tray of the trim and elastic (I wonder if the elastic still is elastic, or all dried out?), etc. all in one place.

I suppose if there is enough of one thing (buttons) I could put it in a small bin instead of a drawer. Decisions, decisions. The idea is to make all of this visible and usable rather than another tangled mess tucked away in a bin in a cupboard. Useful if my daughter the costume designer comes looking for something, or if I as I create something, go looking for it. Logical to both of us.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 01:28 PM

SRS, my granddad on my mom's side was always making things of wood. I have the neatest sewing notions cabinet he made. It's kind of like a steamer trunk, though smaller, in that it stands with a handle on top and opens up like a book. It has several rows of spindles for spools of thread and two deep "pockets" on either side for tucking other notions. Not super practical in this day and age, but my mom used it a lot and I still have some of her notions in it, plus an antique lubricant can which she used as did my grandma, though grandma sewed most of her stuff by hand.

I, too, am tired of bins I cannot see through to see what is where. I am thinking of going through each closet, first, with clear bins, like LtS has touted from the UK, to consolidate and make it easier to find things. Also, so that they will stack more uniformly.

All I have accomplished today is a load of laundry and getting the socks beat off of me in several hands of UNO with Morgan.:-)

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 03:51 PM

I did my normal morning chores today, ran some errands (paying bills) and spent the rest of the afternoon playing in the park with Jeremiah. We had a nice little walk too. :)

Michelle

PS. There is the annual Yoga Challenge coming up for next month and I have been wondering how I could do this because I really want to but am in need of a sitter. And then I had an A-HA moment!!! There is a morning class from 6am to 7 am.....Daddy is home during that time...it is entirely doable...HOORAY!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 11:33 PM

I have a sewing cabinet that would stand beside a chair, perhaps - the top has hinges on both side and when it is open a tray lifts out. It can hold bulky stuff in the bottom and has compartments in the tray that lifts out. I gave that to Moonglow, though she hasn't used it so far. My sister mailed it from Seattle after our mother died.

I found some clear plastic shoe box-sized plastic bins at Office Depot today, for $2 each. I'll probably set two per drawer and put small stuff in them, and the space between the bins can hold larger notions. There is no point in keeping these things if they can't be found and used. I also found a great Ott lamp on clearance (the Office Depot I visited is closing, to relocate a few blocks south in the middle the worst traffic on this side of town. Sheer lunacy, but the corporate office seems to like traffic snarls.) From $50 down to $20, simply because they didn't want to lug it to the new location. It comes with a magnifying glass on an arm, perfect for my eBay work, so I'll probably set it up on the table where I do most of my photos and packing.

Another day off tomorrow, and I'll do more heavy work in the garden. This evening I finished weeding the raised beds I put in last year (and since they are recent they were pretty easy to dig). The harder work comes tomorrow when I push the garden into the next area of turf. I'll pick up another plank to extend to back edge of the garden, and probably have to pick up some more bagged dirt. I have most of what I need already, though. It's just the physical labor to shape the beds that is needed now.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: mouldy
Date: 16 Mar 11 - 04:20 AM

Hi folks!

I've not been on because I don't appear to have been achieving very much at the moment. We've had quite a few days of grey and drear weather, and I appear to have gone into "hunker down by the fire" mode. I have also been having some muscle problems with my right shoulder, so have been holding off from clearing the shrubbery debris from the garden. It has to be hauled out through the house, so I am not looking forward to it. I started making a rag coat for morris, but even that has subsided and is just lying around the room. I think I need a break away from home somewhere warm and foreign! I seem to have been caught up in a whirl of official house-related stuff since last August. At least I have got a large part of the front flower bed planted up, and many rose bushes put in, with lavender and Sweet Williams. As the back is going to be a building materials compound, there's not much point in doing that, although I have planted some rhubarb and some climbing roses down at the bottom.

I have to ring the planning office today and try to find out exactly what stone they want used for the building work. It isn't very clear. The architect has said mixed stone, and one of the planning letters says local sandstone, while another says it has yet to be finalised.
I just want to get on with it all! I still have to get in touch with the archaeologists and get them sorted out, but until I have final costs in, and have chosen the builder, it's a bit pointless. I suppose I could give them a "heads-up"...

Well done all on the fantastic weight losses! Kat, I am so pleased and excited for you and your progress. Michelle, you are making me miss having my babies and their mess around!

I am having a free-standing fridge delivered tomorrow, and set up in the dining room. At some point I will move the freezer up in preparation for the work which WILL start at some point in the next few months. I want it done before next winter, and it could take around 4 months. The dining room will become my kitchen, and water will be in containers. "Indoor camping"!

I am looking forward to getting the work done, but I am not looking forward to any hassles with the planners, who are known to be very awkward round here. I sometimes wonder if any of them actually have been to look at the house, as the part the extension is being built onto is most definitely NOT sandstone.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Mar 11 - 10:33 AM

Traveling, temporarily back on a puder WITH a keyboard--

As I check outta the motel and head to the nearest WalMart/CVS, I can say with certainty that there are certain "femolly" items one NEVER wants to declutter from one's toiletries' bag, whether one thinks one has passed that certain age, or not.

So the AM started with a little sewing project, with items I found that a smarter, younger me had stashed, TBTG!!! I'd forgot!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: GUEST,VaTam -exhausted
Date: 16 Mar 11 - 11:04 AM

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading through this thread. By the time I get home in the evening, I have little energy to do anything. Even reading Mudcat is a chore.

So different to read in the day time when my reserves aren't depleted.

I have nothing to report, because I am not doing much worthy of reporting. When we start the kitchen replacement, i will try to put up before, during and after pics.

Wish "dreary" weather would go away.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 11 - 12:13 PM

Today is probably the last of the vacation days I'll take (the students and faculty had the week off for spring break, but staff don't have any days off this week; sometimes we get 1 or 2 days, it varies.) I hear mowers going around the neighborhood, and mine is about to join the chorus.

This is the time of year when I'll be in better shape and my work will shift more to the out-of-doors, whether working on the garden, or working in the garage on things for the house.

Andrea, you and Liz the Squeak both have this odd situation of having to take yard waste out through the house! Is there no alley, no way to exit the back of the yard? I do remember seeing that your house is completely connected to others (it looks like what we would call a row house here in the states). Do you have a basement? A pass-through from the back to the front under the house? (Don't some UK houses have a coal delivery door at the front?)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 11 - 04:32 PM

My rosemary hedge was pretty badly damaged by the deep freeze in January so I've removed two of the three plants and a large portion of the third. I found a sprouted root section of the big plant and potted it to nurse along.

I have a bay tree that I'm going to plant where I took out the two shrubs. The root ball is soaking right now and once the dirt is loose I'll bare root the tree and plant it. I'm running a sprinkler on areas where I want to dig up the turf, but I need to let it soak before digging is practical. I also need to get out the power mower and mulch a bunch of leaves that I need to scoop out of the street at my curb. The back yard is becoming a jungle and will need to be mowed another day. In all of this you can detect my source of exercise. :)

Tonight in the house I need to transplant some of my seedlings to larger pots, and I'll work more on the sewing stuff. I made progress sorting notions last night.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Mar 11 - 05:54 PM

SRS: The eczema, or an allergy reaction is very hard to pinpoint, as we all know! There were, in the far past, times when too much chocolate gave me a migraine, as does one cup of weak black tea. The later took years to fathom as it starts 24 hours after ingestion and lasts 24 hours - set your clock by it!

Right now, I am, I think, getting over a never-before rash. On left arm up to elbow and right wrist. Since the recent episode of Robin coming home covered with toxic dust from creosote soaked wood blocks, it first got worse, then, as we each took two or three detox baths, it is healing. I finally decided the reason for the difference: I put my left arm around him in bed but my right one only gets close. I think the toxins he imports from that toxic building caused the problem - and he seems to agree. He now gets a burning throat if he is there a short time - sensitized. I hope he recognizes that bringing it home causes us both to be unwell.

More baths are needed but, again we are without water - since Monday! They neglected to inform us last time that we needed to leave a tap running 24/7 until warm weather. The snow is doing its part- I am melting it on the stove to get the bucketful to flush the toilet!

I finally phoned the city myself -today- and managed to get someone who spoke English and was very nice about it. Someone came very quickly, then went away and came back with 8 gallons of bottled water and the assurance that they would come to fix it in the morning.

I was getting VERY down about it so I gave up and ate 100 gms of choc - after a good lunch -and trying to figure out what else I could do - to no avail (not to break my choc fast). Down the hatch went the choc, in short order. I am feeling better. It was five days without and that is about 2500 calories saved. Mind, I probably ate more carbs than usual. I might as well eat chocolate! We'll see.

I really needed (!) a detox bath on Monday. Rob had one on Sunday. Only enough hot water for one. Then no water - no dishes or laundry washed, no bath - no energy. Water and sun tomorrow - and bath, then I will be me again.

We are waiting for warmer weather to continue reclaiming the upstairs. I can start with washing the windows - one big one and the door to balcony. It is a lovely bright room. I am waiting for a burst of energy - to clean and move stuff. Maybe tomorrow! Supposed to be in the upper 40s and sunny!!!

Good-Oh - I went out for another bucket of snow before it gets too dark. It is raining - PROJECT for warmer weather - a gutter and downspout to collect rain water!

I received yesterday a wonderful series of pictures of a bear in a rain (half) barrel!! It was such a delight I simply sent it to "Everyone" - over 200. Good - eliminated some out of date addresses and received several good responses. Then sent responses to those from whom I had not heard in quite a while.

Also sending info and lots of support to a friend on the west coast who was in panic mode. She appeared on my doorstep two years ago, like an angel, when I really needed her - just the right person. So I do not hesitate to give her my time, energy and, if need be, a little financial assistance as possible. She is settled down for now. That, which included a good look at the situation in Japan, took a good chunk of today's time and energy. Just to remind myself that I have done some useful things today!

Guess I can go to the store now that I am no longer waiting for the city. After the rush hour.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: maire-aine
Date: 16 Mar 11 - 08:27 PM

I'm beginning to believe that spring might be coming. It got up to 56F (13C) today, and sunny. I had a meeting this afternoon, and I walked the half-mile (I got a ride home, but it's a start). The snow is almost gone from the yard, but it's still muddy. Too early to see what made it thru the winter yet.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 11 - 09:36 PM

I pushed my veggie garden boundaries into the turf this afternoon and took a wheelbarrow full of weeds to the compost. Next door the yard got the first big mow of spring and I called George, who does her mowing, to ask what he bagged. All leaves and grass (no trash thrown in the mix.) I picked up all eight bags, and though the live oak leaves break down slowly, they do break down. I tossed the contents of one bag onto the compost this afternoon, then spread my barrow of weeds over the top. The pile will grow all year, will sit undisturbed in the yard next year, and in two years it will be just fine for compost. This spring the pile I made two years ago is perfect.

I worked too long on the yard and didn't get a walk with the dogs, but I at least got a lot of exercise.

Moonglow is coming down for lunch tomorrow, and I'll have her poke around in the stuff I'm sorting in her room. Nothing is etched in stone, placement-wise, and maybe she'll have some suggestions for organizing after working in a theater costume workshop for the last couple of years.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 17 Mar 11 - 03:35 AM

sigh... this tread makes m want to cry.   Cannot believe how much I miss gardening.

Plan to get me through the next few years stuck in a first floor flat.

After the kitchen is replaced - get or build a narrow, open shelf unit to place in the floor to ceiling, near wall to wall lounge window and fill it with plants, flowers and herbs.

Problem maybe how to protect the plants from the heat of morning sun burning in through the summer. The window faces east.

I don't want to completely obscure the window and view out to the nasty half dead leylandii on the other side of back fence. There is some bird activity to watch there.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: mouldy
Date: 17 Mar 11 - 04:12 AM

I do have an access across the back, but it means hauling garden waste along the back of 3 other houses, mainly across a gravel path, before I can get to the nearest point I could bring my car to. However, it's a virtually straight line through the house! Once the shrubby bits of the garden are sorted it won't be so bad, as it's only small, and any cutting can be done in stages. I have a conifer that wants bringing down, but i am going to wait until the building work is done, as my garden is to be the materials compound.

If my shoulder wasn't trashed I'd have got rid of it all ages ago. I meant to cut it up a bit at a time and take a couple of tubs to the tip each time I went to town. I will have to make an effort soon.

Zumba tonight, but I bet I go to the fish and chip shop on the way back! Alternatively, I could sashay into WW as I pass the meeting on my way home.....

Fish and chips it probably will be!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 17 Mar 11 - 10:26 AM

A check up with the oncologist yesterday indicated that there are several good things going on in my body: Slightly elevated HDLs, great LDL, thyroid is finally balanced out, blood sugar under excellent control and best of all, no sign of recurrence. So....I've slowly tackled one thing at a time, now it's time to focus on getting in more movement in my life along with more veggies and fruit. Let the weight loss begin!

Yesterday I quickly walked the entire hospital campus between appointments.

Today I am taking Jeremiah for a walk, lunch with my church friends and then the baby and I will go swimming.

My body is tired and I was told yesterday that to expect that for up to a full a 2 years following chemo...they said, "We waged a full fledged assault on your body. We understand it's frustrating but you are not lazy, your body is recovering and it takes time. Be patient with yourself." It's hard for me to fathom that something can take THAT long to recover from....it was over in June...surely (I think) it should be gone and out of my system....but they say otherwise...so ok. I'm moving forward and doing what I can! What more can I ask from myself?

Have a great day everybody!

XOXOXOOX

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 11 - 11:20 AM

Michelle, I suspect that one day you'll notice that something you're doing feels "normal" and at that moment you'll realize you're there. From the outside, we see you've made huge strides already.

This morning my garden got over wet from the sprinkler - it seems every year I need to buy a new timer for the water. I have one that was good last year but isn't turning itself off this year (I flooded the garden this morning when I only wanted to water the peas and potatoes, not grow rice.) I am feeling a bit stiff today, after yesterday's digging, but with all of this water I won't resume digging for a couple of days at least.

I'm back at work, with a gap in the middle of the day when I need to take Poppy to the vet. Looks like she and Cinnamon had a dust up yesterday, and her front right leg is swollen and she's putting no weight on it. I can see the puncture from a bite, and I'm assuming it's dog, not another animal. I had the dogs in the house last night after observing her limp. I'll leave Cinnamon in the house while I take her over or else Cinnamon will bark the whole time we're gone.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: mouldy
Date: 17 Mar 11 - 04:54 PM

Zumba cancelled...still went and got a fish supper.

However I have filled the new fridge with low fat stuff and lots of salady things for tomorrow. Also ordered some young lavandera stoechas "tiara" plants: purple/green heads with white butterfly petals. I had some at my last house.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Mar 11 - 12:02 AM

It took about 30 minutes this evening with 4" containers, a spoon, and a couple of scoops in my home-made mix of potting soil to transplant seedlings from the starter trays with little 1" holes into the larger pots to grow larger before putting them in the yard. And I also planted another starter tray with flowers to plant around the garden.

I probably spend $25 on seeds this year, but I have so far repotted about $50 worth if I bought these bedding plants at the nursery. There are plenty of other seedlings in the starter tray that will go directly into the ground soon, so total I'll probably save myself about $75 to $100 on plants. I still have to get my tomatoes, the ones I like are hard to find as just seed.

Moonglow was down today and we looked at the sewing stuff I'm moving around, and she gave me a useful tip on thread. Since she's sewing costumes that sometimes are put under quite a bit of strain, there is no point in using old thread because it turns brittle. With an old spool of white she picked up the loose end and gave it a tug. It snapped easily. No point in keeping those old spools of my Mom's, they're past their prime. I'll do that test on the spools and toss the old ones. Who knows what I'd have used them for, but even if I was making something relatively passive like a quilt, if it snapped in the machine I'd have to keep re-threading the machine. I love it when there are these exchanges of information! It's not just parent to kid any more. :)

She needed a couple of cookbooks for paper for a food class she is taking. They have to be pre-1975. I have some really old ones, several that they talked about in her class (the Fanny Farmer books used to say they were from the Boston Cooking School, etc.) So I sent her home with one from the war years in the Puget Sound area (think of all of the items that were rationed - that tells a story right there!) and one that came with some kind of product promotion for desserts from the 1950s. We had fun looking through some of the others and I seriously think I could do a dinner party with people here just looking through some of these old books, laughing, and occasionally deciding to try making something. As long as I had a lot of the basics, or time to run to the store, I suppose we could do it!

Everyone ready for a spring weekend? March 20 is the Vernal Equinox.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Mar 11 - 12:10 AM

I forgot to mention - I put another Rubbermaid container and a big pile besides of the trimmed shrubs at the curb for trash pickup this morning. That's two batches in one week! I was out there when the truck came by to help if they needed it. I handed over a small stack of brush, then picked up the loose bits that would play havoc with the mower. This is great, to not just trim, but also get rid of the piles that sometimes sit in the back for ages before I haul them back out front. Doing it this way, they don't need to go into the back yard at all.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Mar 11 - 11:09 AM

If they are wooden spools, I hope you will save them, SRS. They are hard to find these days and can be used for so many things, including fun things for kids.

Got the seeds. Morgan was thrilled and wanted to do them right that minute! Thanks! You will be getting a proper thanks from him, too.

We're off on errands and doc appt. More later.

Merry Spring all!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 Mar 11 - 12:56 PM

Thursday: the city came early and we had water by about 9 am!! Dishes washed, then some groceries - while stores are quiet, then detox bath, then laundry and resting, reading, computering. No choc.

Now: computering - three projects on list after FB and mudcat - looking at Japan for hope to reassure friend on west coast. Rob has my car because truck would not start.

Michelle: I went through almost five years of no energy due to environmental poisoning. It was terrible. Yours will return! You seem to be doing pretty well. Remember not to "should" on yourself but accept what you have and care for yourself first so you can care for others. Sorry, that sounds like a sermon; I am having some focus trouble myself, today. Please accept in the spirit!

47F and sunny!!!!! I can see the two primrose, still with flowers! They are just barely uncovered in our 3x10 front "yard" which gets sun most of the day - when there is any!

Vernal Equinox sounds great! Sunday! And I am going to the country for our Irish afternoon at the cafe. With three sons to sing, and promised accompaniment.

Tonight the Friday cafe. So on with the projects!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 11 - 02:00 AM

Garage sales all over the neighborhood today, and one had some very nice items. Unfortunately many smelled like deeply ingrained cigarette smoke - pieces like that give me a headache. Too bad. I did pick up a very sturdy pizza pan (Wilton) and a DVD of Breakfast at Tiffany's and 4 half-pint canning jars for a dollar. Total spent today, $4. Not bad. There was a little display case that I liked that had been refinished. It has the same Queen Anne feet as a couple of other pieces I have here and would fit in. Maybe I'll go back tomorrow and if it is still there, offer a lower price.

I caught up with a friend whose husband died last week. Details are superfluous, but she is close enough, depite our physical distance, that I knew a long phone call would do a world of good. 2 1/2 hours later we hung up after she was able to unload a lot of things that people nearby would misunderstand. I'm glad to be here, to be able to absorb those things and help her sort through it all. Dying is hard work and declutter of the spirit goes on my list for this week. They say having a good friend to talk to is as useful as having a psychiatrist - we proved that this evening.

My potential list of things to do for the weekend is long, but in keeping with the procrastination book (no, I haven't finished it, but yes, I'm still reading it a page or two a night) I'll make the to-do list short and practical enough that I can actually do everything on it. I do feel quite a difference when I pace myself the way she suggests.

Full moon on March 20 - Vernal Equinox is supposed to be spectacular. It may be the official first day of spring, but the first day of garage sales already told me that spring is here!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 11 - 01:00 PM

Lovely day, and some of my beans are finally sprouting. I have a couple of quarts of beer in the fridge to run interference to keep the snails from munching them back into the ground. Beer in a shallow bowl at night and the snails die happy in the bowls of brew. I need to transplant a couple of bean plants that I started in the house. This was an old packet of seeds, but enough sprouted that if I can fight off the snails I should get a crop.

Recycling has to be dropped off at bins today, and I'll pick up free mulch from the city at the same time. I'm thinking about taking some of the scrap pieces of lumber in my garage and making some small platforms to leave in the garden for those times when I have to step onto a path after watering. If I do this I'll send photos. I saw something like this in Martha Stewart Living recently (I think that was where) and of course those were for sale for megabucks.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 11 - 10:21 PM

I was busy today, but can't really put my thumb on many things I finished. I researched a few items for a neighbor who would like me to sell them on eBay for him, but they're not worth a great deal. One had potential, does have some potentional, but as an apparent reproduction of a railroad watch, it isn't a sure thing that it will sell for very much. I puttered in the yard, and I worked with my seedlings in the house.

Tonight I'm going to move more stuff into the shelves in the guest room, and move things remaining on the sun room shelves lower and out of the way so I can start putting the glass and collectibles in there. And while that is underway, I can put in a load of laundry.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 Mar 11 - 11:39 PM

Today I did laundry, put away clean dishes, swept the hallway and bathroom floors, scrubbed the tub, vaccuumed the living room, vaccuumed the nursery, dusted, orgainzed yard sale stuff, put laundry away, stripped the crib sheets and put on a fresh set. In between, I had play time with Jeremiah. He's beginng to like being read to....and I love having him in my lap looking at a book!

Michelle

PS. I got a plant/greenhouse deal that came with pellets. I soaked the pellets and tomorrow will start tomato seeds. It's an experiement for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Mar 11 - 12:14 AM

Michelle, if you run your finger under the words as you read them, and point to the things on the page that you're describing, you'll be astonished in a fairly short time to realize how much of this he processes. When Moonglow was just 10 months old we were reading a favorite book, and I had a thought - I asked her to point to the key on the page. And she did. She pointed to everything. We used to cut out pictures from magazines and I remember some ornate invidivual letters that she would hold and look at while she was on the changing table - this was her diaper changing routine, to admire these pretty pictures. We still have some of those in a scrap book my sister in law made for her - as we found images she liked we'd get out the book and she'd put them on a page. By the time she was three she could read. It sometimes takes boys a little longer, but when words and letters are their friends, it is such a joy to them when they can crack the code and put the words together for their own entertainment.

Laundry is in, and I've moved more stuff from the craft cupboard to drawers and shelves in the guest room. I'd forgotten about some of these projects, and I did find a couple of things I made for Moonglow when she was little. Her Disney "Jasmine" Halloween costume - boy, was that a project! And her Kindergarten backpack. Great memories!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Mar 11 - 11:28 AM

I've got a little list . . .

Must wash the dogs (time for Revolution), must roast a chicken, must mow the lawn.

It's a pretty day, the garden is so inviting. Rethinking some of the sprinkler stuff, and I have to get a functioning timer. It doesn't pay to buy an expensive one, they also die after a year. I need to find a good location out of the sun, that might help.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Mar 11 - 03:20 PM

Haven't washed the dogs yet, but the other two are completed. After mowing the lawn I need a shower, so I might as well get wet washing the dogs then get the shower.

I mulched some leaves on the front, but I see more piled up in the street, as if I hadn't scooped up a whole bunch a couple of days ago. Sisyphus had it harder, so I won't complain. :)

Here, Cinnamon! Here, Poppy! Good girls! Into the bath!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Mar 11 - 07:19 PM

And the dogs are clean, the kid is at the airport and his plane is probably just lifting off the tarmac. I'm taking to myself today, but I've finished my short list, and in the process got a lot of exercise. The mower is out back where I left it to cool, so I can refuel and mow some more, or put it away and mow another day.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Mar 11 - 08:25 PM

Good for you, SRS. I had written a long post, but had issues with babelfish popups, so restarted my PC and lost the post. I"ll try again, tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Mar 11 - 11:39 PM

I finished mowing the back and even ran the trimmer around the edges. Since I mowed the entire 1/2 acre I got a very good workout. When I finish it's good the have the job behind me, but tomorrow morning when I wake and look out the window I'll see the long expanse of smooth green and my yard will look like a park. That is so nice!

I would like to walk the dogs in this lovely weather, but with her injured foot, I've taken it easy with Poppy. If she has troubles on the walk I'd have to carry home a 43 pound dog. I've done it before, but it isn't easy, and looks pretty silly. We'll give it a try tomorrow.

The song from The Mikado goes "I've got a little list," but as an English major, I know that grammatically it should read "I have a little list." It sings the same, so I'm going to go with the grammatical version after this. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 12:37 AM

Kitchen floor and hallway, mopped.
Living room floor, swept.
Dishes done, counters cleaned off and scoured.
Kitchen cupboards wiped down.
Kitchen cabinets, cleared & dusted.

It's 12:35am & I'm wide awake wondering what else I can putter on and not wake anyone.

:) Nice day here...went for a ride and saw 3 eagles, 3 loose cows, a herd of escapee goats and a pig on the run! BBQ too! YUM.

Jeremiah is cutting quite a few teeth and is clearly uncomfortably and won't eat much either as I think it hurts his mouth. Cold applesauce and bits of a bottle is about all he will even try. Advil given to reduce inflammation and (slight) temperature.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 04:14 AM

Think I am living vicariously through Maggie's detailed garden work. :~)

Yes save the wooden spools to make french knitters (girl scouts will know how to make them) and the cotton thread could be broken up into small bits and intermingled with wool for felting. Adds interest to the finished product.

If snails are a big problem, could you put in a small pond and collect some frog spawn from nearby? I understand that frogs will take care of a snail problem. Though you may have a job getting Poppy and Cinnamon to leave the frogs alone.

Michelle - Time to put big letters (at least 4 inches tall) of alphabet (upper and lower case) around walls of Jeremiah's room. Before and after every nap, walk around room and point to and call out a few letters. Big B, little b, what does b sound like? buh. buh. buh. b is for ball, buh buh .buh. b is for baby. Helps to have items or pictures you can use with the game.

I did this with mine and they knew every letter by sight by age 3 and were sounding out words even reading by age 4.

If you get hard cardboard stencils you can paint the letters and hang on walls with bluetac and use the negative of stencils to make colouring sheets for Jeremiah. That stencil set will be used as he goes through school.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: freda underhill
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 09:19 AM

12.18 am, just emptied, defrosted and cleaned the fridge!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 10:47 AM

Sesame Street capped the activities for Moonglow and my son - at 2 letters a day, it's a pleasant way to learn. Any time you want to start him watching it won't be too soon.

We have lots of toads in the area, there are probably frogs in the creek, but if I built a pond I'd be fighting the mosquitoes also. So far the snails are regrouping. I found a lot of empty shells after the winter, they had huddled under things and died there. Fingers crossed a big snail kill-off was one benefit of that very cold weather.

Freda, it's like having a new fridge to clean and defrost, isn't it!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 11:39 AM

Grogs eat mosquitoes and tadpoles eat the larvae. Rats eat snails too, but that is a bit extreme. How will you keep the doggies from drinking the beer? :~0

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 12:57 PM

The garden is not in the back where the dogs are, it is along the side of the driveway and in the front yard.

I compressed the contents of the cupboard in the sun room - didn't take long - in order to completely clear the top shelves. So I have two shelves, about 10' long, open. The stuff I moved down wasn't put in any order, and there is enough space to probably empty another shelf also. I did this to day so I could look at the progress I've made (though I have to clear a wider path to the cupboard, so all is not orderly yet).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 08:36 PM

Red letter day! We have found two raccoon rehab places in Quebec!!!!! It has taken weeks and very tired eyes and word of mouth/computer/phone and two languages. So fortunate that Robin's French is up to snuff. Mine is almost nil. We want to visit each of these: an hour and a half and two or more hours away but we have a mission. Well, I do and R is supportive. And the reporter is ready to do an article in April. And a rehabber I met on line just told me she also has reporter friends in Montreal! YAY!!

Household is up to snuff - as good as it gets. On computer all afternoon: a trusted lawyer friend in Vancouver was able to recommend possible lawyers for friends here. Gathering together in one file, info for pub ed on raccoons in the city. Sharing good sites on FB with others and finding good ones others have shared, including a list of animal advocacy sites, also shared with raccoon rehab group. Fulfilling my need to be helpful to others as well as getting help/support.

The weekend was busy: saw The King's Speech - excellent!!! and Barney's Version - very heavy for me. Robin, of course, had to interpret for me as I missed a great deal from not being able to process most of the speech.

I spent most of Saturday afternoon reading in the car while Robin was reading much needed material in the library. I had to leave the building due to toxic air.

Sunday was Irish at the Cafe. I sang my three songs but left out some verses when my knees started shaking! Adrien (Beer) said I did great. He is so sweet and supportive. Robin said I changed keys in mid song when I was not accompanied. Need to practice more. But my effort was well received by the audience. Anyway, it was a good afternoon and then we explored the area with a local friend, and had supper in a small town before returning to the city. It was wonderful to be out in the country most of the day.

The resident mouse managed to get at the rest of the African violets and part of an 80% choc bar. We hope it gave it a headache! It is escalating and the live traps are well avoided!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 10:07 PM

I bit the bullet in the sun room and cleared up a lot of stuff that had sought the lowest level (floor) that could in fact be tossed, repositioned, or moved to the appropriate area (shipping boxes on top of the hutch, packing materials into the big trash bag under the table, and three boxes of papers that need sorting and tossing or filing are now outside my office. I seem to have several of these accumulations lately.) It doesn't look less cluttered, but there is a larger path down the middle of the room.

This afternoon I spent with a co-worker doing our assigned section of inventory on a long section of books in the library. We'll finish it tomorrow. Tedious work, reading out each call number to make sure it appears on the computerized list, and if it isn't on the shelf, mark it as "not found." If there are books on the shelf that aren't on the computer list, we turn them down to be noticed and processed by the folks who are running the inventory. And along the way, we are doing a lot of re-shelving of sections before we inventory them. It has been a while since we did a full-fledged "shelf-reading," when we go through and make sure they're simply in the right order by call number. I'll take more Sudafed tomorrow to finish the task. I felt like I had to sneeze for about half of the time we were doing this. :-/ (Our library has somewhat more than 1.2 million books, so it is taking a while and we all take turns doing this.) After all of this, I should go through my own books and organize them a little better.

I have to finish a couple of things this evening, so I'd better get to them.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: mouldy
Date: 22 Mar 11 - 10:31 AM

Yesterday morning I took one car load of the massed debris from the shrubs I attacked earlier in the year to the dump. I then moved all the rest of it up closer to the house, onto the concrete bit, so that I see it every time I look out of the back windows. Second load went today. There'll only be another 2 or 3, and this from a garden the size of a postage stamp!

I have been in touch with the planning officer about exactly what stone the new build should be in, and he's sending a conservation officer out. Don't know when. I let both builders know what's happening, and the one I have already got a quote from has just taken me out to see some of the work he's recently done in the stone they were suggesting. The only problem he knows with using the recycled sandstone is that you only get the sort they have been demolishing recently, and you don't know what it will be like till you get it delivered! If they say it has to bein the local whin stone (a form of granite, I think) it will cost a lot more because it's harder work to lay it, and it comes in irregular shapes.

I have also manage to vac up most of the debris from dragging old branches through the house!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Mar 11 - 11:40 AM

Dishes and pans finally out of the sink, sink scrubbed to a high white polish with cleanser. I washed while I waited for the kettle to boil for my tea.

Working my way through my short list for work (this Mudcat visit is a little break, not a long side trip). I am still reading my Procrastination book, and I have continued for several weeks to work from a short prioritized list of things that does make it easier to finish projects in a shorter period of time.

This afternoon I head over to campus again and on my way I'll swing by the recycle bins and unload plastic and glass. My weekly trash is so small, sometimes only a couple of small plastic grocery bags a week when I do all of the recycling. I really think we should have recycling pickup and trash pickup, but I'm sure getting it started in this tiny village would be a huge challenge.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 12:18 AM

Decluttered myself of a moving tick this evening - yuck! I walked the dogs in the woods across the road, and we were under the trees a bit. I felt a tickle on my back and found it. I suppose it must have climbed up my jeans and under my shirt or it would have lodged at my waist and already sunk it. This was flat, and it's now history. I think it dropped into the trash can, so after I undressed and checked and combed my hair, I tied up the bag and then vacuumed the office.

I have a couple of things ready to list on eBay this week. Some of it bulky enough that it will be nice to get out of the house.

I'm decluttering the garden of snails. They've attacked my bean sprouts again - so I've put out beer and I sprinkled a light amount of salt around the sprouts - any snail is going to melt on contact, but it isn't enough to harm the plants. I just stepped out to take a look with a flashlight, and picked up a couple dozen snails and dropped them in the beer bowls. Flashlight at night is sometimes the best way to protect your garden.

I have strawberries that are green, but by next week I ought to be getting a few ripe ones a week. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 03:36 AM

Kitchen replacement is now planned - IKEA

Fella who did our bathroom is happy to do our kitchen. This is good on several levels.

We love what he did with our bathroom and it presented lots of difficult problems to work out.
He is good at solving problems and making plans work.
He works fast.
He does everything, carpentry, plastering, tiling, plumbing and electric.
We can give him the key, go to work and know he will get on with it.
He will shift around his other jobs in favor of us, because we have small flat and no where to store incoming kitchen.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: freda underhill
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 08:26 AM

Back to the fridge, yes, it feels very new, and there is now twice as much room in the freezer! Tonight I made a big lentil and veggie soup, which I'll store in several containers in the freezer, for quickie meals when needed.

We have frogs in the back yard, but they don't manage to keep the mossies under control. They sound like someone's playing ping pong out the back!

We also have strawberries (and tomatoes + rhubabrb) growing in a built up garden, tenny strawberries but very sweet.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 01:07 PM

Yesterday, I climbed around in the snow, decluttering the roof of the shed of snow and water which had been dripping through the now numerous holes in the roof. For $500, it would have been nice if it had lasted through one winter.

Once the snow is gone, I will make a place in that dark back corner of the yard and stack all the plastic containers with a tarp over them. The rest will be able to be moved into the house - somewhere! And the pottery equipment can go to a commercial building R owns where I may even be able to set up a workspace. Then I can declutter the yard of this 12x20 eyesore so we can see the garden areas. I am anxious to see what survived the winter.

I also went to the dentist and got a long list of what needs to be done (five years since last time) complete with costs and a next appt. Could be worse. Then paid a bill at the bank, picked up ordered cal/mag at a shop, stopped in at the food coop to find out how to order tomato plants without going through their land-mined website. I will do that along with suggestions for reducing the land mines. I've lost the list twice at the "checkout". Each time I get better at making a new list! But I was livid! Two hours wasted.

Then I stopped at the farm market for a good loaf of bread, marked-down cheeses (yummy), organic milk, and some good veggies - not organic, they are just too expensive here.

Got home and found that something had shifted during the day and I was, and am, no longer feeling wobbly and depressed - as I had for two weeks. Getting past the dentist? Or what? I had eaten very differently for two days. Very little other than two cups of miso soup each day and some choc. (not a lot) Had rice and a packaged (east) Indian meal for supper yesterday but nothing the day before. Sometimes my body really tells me. Always if I am listening. Going to find more of that miso cup of soup. I had had the package for two years and not used any. But it sure is good. Hour on phone with sister in law catching up on family and her excitement over losing 16 and a half pounds on WW; getting into jeans she has not worn in years!! Determined woman; hope she maintains.

Cold weather again - around or below freezing for about a week is predicted. But the front is clear again -after another snow/rain session. The primrose are perky and I bought another one yesterday for in-house colour (yellow). This replaces the eaten violets. I found a big glass bowl in the china cupboard and put the pot in it to keep the mouse out! The indoor foliage plants are burgeoning; the Clivia has two babies! Spring may be here but it is not in our backyard. May be another couple weeks before the snow clears

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 01:32 PM

Found a good pot in someone's curbside trash last night, so I poured out their potting soil (mostly compost), stomped it into their lawn, and took the pot. I watered the garden this morning, timer broke. They never seem to last more than one year, no matter how much or little I spend on them.

The garden needs a lot of attention now as I plant it, but in the house I need to do some work, in particular, to attack the paper around here. It seems to be piling up everywhere. File, shred, recycle, something! Maybe compost it. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Mar 11 - 12:59 AM

Went to hear Bill Nye speak tonight. He makes such a good point about how percarious our planetary system is and how important it is to take back our atmosphere.

Tracking backwards from his lecture points, I researched solar tubes a few years ago, but forgot about it, but I am inspired to look into a couple now. They are a form of skylight that are efficient and provide great light in rooms without windows. I could put them in three places, for sure. My hall bathroom, if I had to choose just one place. He had a slide of his solar panels on his roof and included a veiw of a solar tube with a "Fresnel" lens (the "s" is silent). It can capture the sun so efficiently that if you check them out on YouTube, you'll see this lens put the old magnifying-lens-starts-a-fire example to shame, it is so fast. This place has those lenses on their solar tubes. Obviously I don't want to start fires with the thing, but I want one to capture the light with a small surface area. I read about one of these tubes that has a separate channel for airflow, if you want to run a vent (like from a bathroom). Something more to look into.

That's it for me. I poked around some of the papers this evening that I complained about earlier. There is some work to do, to organize, sort, trash, or file all of it. It needs to move up on my list of things to do.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: mouldy
Date: 24 Mar 11 - 03:48 AM

Having taken another load of prunings to the tip in Wooler, I decided to visit the garden centre. There I found a bird bath which was just what I wanted: not too tall, square, and covered in celtic knotwork motifs. I have still to clear the corner I want it in, but as they said that was the last one they would be stocking, I bought it. Two women managed to lift it into the back of my station wagon, and I was convinced I would be able to move the pedestal myself, as I wouldn't be bound by health and safety rules.....wrong! I can hardly move it, and there is no way I can get it down onto my little barrow, even though it's a flat-bed tailgate.

Where's a man when you need one???!!!

Anyway, complete with bird bath pedestal, I took another last load of prunings to the tip at Berwick later on. So now I just have the old pile of prunings and leaves that are dumped in the back corner of the garden to shift. I might get that all sorted today or tomorrow. Re the concrete in my car, I think I will take a walk to the village store and hope I meet somebody I can drop hints to! Not holding out much hope. I think I will have to look out for my elusive next door neighbour Steve!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Mar 11 - 06:02 PM

I have a small and sturdy rake that I used at lunch today to level a couple of beds in the garden. I'd already dug them, added compost, etc. I'm going to transplant more stuff outside today, and I have devised a way to get the soaker hose to spread over a broader area. I'll send photos if my plan works.

Tonight I'm going to start listing a few things on eBay. Gotta clear out some of that stuff. Along with the papers.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: GUEST,Lilyfestre
Date: 24 Mar 11 - 06:59 PM

I did some major organizing of papers today...can't wait for DH to see it...I've been wanting to get this done for some time. Well...I'm not DONE DONE but I spent hours making a damn good start!!!! Everything, in case of something horrible happening, is easily found...labeled, in order, dates and amounts highlighted. I still want to organize the medical papers a bit more (a little more specific...even though they are in a binder, all highlighted and in order).

Ah yes. This feels good. My house is a wreck but my papers are in order!

Laundry is going, dishes are almost done, Toys R Us has exploded yet again in the living room...but I don't really care too much about that! Jeremiah has another ear infection so it's just nice to see him giggle and play! :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: maire-aine
Date: 24 Mar 11 - 10:56 PM

Got my water heater fixed today (new temp switch), so I don't have to keep it all they way up at super-hot. He also drained and flushed it, to get rid of the mineral buildup. I hope to be able to get a couple more years out of it. Too cold & wet to do anything outside, but I have been tidying up the kitchen a little better-- finding places for some of the stuff that's cluttering up the counter tops. Planning to make yellow split-pea soup tomorrow.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: mouldy
Date: 25 Mar 11 - 04:28 AM

Got the pile of stuff in the corner of the garden cleared yesterday. Apart from a dog toy, a few candy wrappers and a couple of plastic garden chair legs, it was all twiggy stuff and prunings. There is some cracking compost under there too! I havent dug too deeply into it, as I want to keep the slight bank into the corner as a surround for the bird bath....when I can find somebody to help me with it! Just got to take the last couple of tubs to the tip.

Even mowed the lawn yesterday, although it didn't really need it.

Still waiting for the conservation officer. One of the builders has taken me out to show me some of the work he has recently done in secondhand sandstone. I like it, even if it isn't exactly the same as the main house. However, the side wall appears to be a mixture of sandstone and whin stone. It'll be quicker and cheaper if they will definitely allow the sandstone, but I need to be sure before I go ahead. Planners can make you take down and rebuild if they don't like what you've done, which is why they need samples of stone as well first.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Mar 11 - 01:27 PM

Mudcat was down last night when I tried to post this:

Michelle, several years ago I decided to organize my papers so that the most current year of many things are in a plastic file that holds hanging folders. Things that are older are archived in a metal filing cabinet that also holds hanging folders. The two-drawer cabinet is so I have some history to look back on. I decided to do it this way on the premise that if I had to leave in a hurry I could grab the plastic file box and everything in there is up to date. If the house were to burn down, my insurance, my bills, they're all in there. You know, grab the baby, grab the purse, grap the file, in the order in which you have time. :)

I've finished photographing the copier I am going to list on eBay. I'll work on the photos and ad this evening, and weigh it and work out the shipping details tomorrow. And then it goes out the door, hopefully! The better the photos and description, the more likely it is to sell. This will clear out a couple of square feet of space (small, yes, but every little bit helps!)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Mar 11 - 01:35 PM

I been cooking today. Jello, cookies, bread, stuffing, pork chops. The cookies are going to a Relay For Life fundraiser this evening and the rest is for here. I haven't decided whether I want the pork chops and stuffing for dinner or if I want to make egg salad and just have soup and sandwiches. It's bitter cold here today (9 degrees fahrenheit) this morning so maybe the pork chops, stuffing and veggies is a better choice. We'll see. Depends how late the fundraiser goes I suppose!

I had things in a filing cabinet but hated filing it so I made a system that I'm more likely to keep up with. All important up to date papers are in one binder and also photographed to put in the bank box (marriage license, birth certificates, deeds, titles, etc). Well, actually, the copies of some of THOSE are going to go in the bank and I'll have copies in the binder. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 25 Mar 11 - 05:21 PM

Those rolling filing cabinets are great for filing current stuff.

Also, don't hesitate to hire or barter for filing stuff. if you get a professional secretary, retired perhaps, and have her either follow your instructions or show you a simple system..make sure you don't one to OCD...he or she will probably do it quickly and painlessly..just get it done so you can retrieve stuff.

And it doesn't have to be file cabinets either. Colored plastic file boxes can just have loose papers in them by subject..medical, home, student etc. It doesn't matter if you spend an hour finding a piece of paper..it matters if you spent 20 and have a nervous breakdown doing it. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Mar 11 - 06:07 PM

I have a 12-pocket expansion folder that I put each month's receipts and bills in. Some bills go in the plastic file, others don't need to be kept (I keep the ones I think I might have to provide documentation on later); the difference between the two places is that I use the folder most, and transfer things to the files as necessary. I used to have the file in the kitchen area where I tend to do my bills, but it was just so crowded looking with it in there.

The wheels under the file were welded together on a frame by a friend who made it for himself, then found it was the wrong size for the file he built it for. It is too long for my file, but it doesn't matter (he had a tight space to roll it into so was going to have a tripping hazard if he used it.) My luck, I love it.

Ran errands, went shopping, mailed a cable to a friend who is setting up her old printer to her new laptop (needs a USB cord). I have extras, might as well mail it, and I told her how to set it up. I'm taking some photos tonight at a meeting, and tomorrow at a meeting, and then it looks like gardening and housecleaning for the rest of the weekend.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Mar 11 - 06:35 PM

Not much here but sleepless nights due to hacking my head off ala a cold caught from the redheaded seven year old, BUT tomorrow is also his first soccer game, so we will be going to that, regardless. Met our new primary care physician...from Berlin...was there when the wall came down. Really neat guy; we were both impressed and relieved. Got the final okay from the orthopaedist on my ankle which is good. Did get my final recording sent in for the Mudcat CD pending seeing what Barrie thinks. Will finish up a circa 15 second song by Morgan this weekend and get it sent in, too. He has been sick, too, along with his parents, though he finally made it to his first two soccer practices. He's excited.

We hope to get the christmas tree planted this weekend, finally. Daffs are still blooming along with a beautiful crocus of some fancy sort, near as I can tell. All perennials are coming in strong in the flowerbed, too.

Had a terrible hour-log dust-up with what is now a former friend last night. Very toxic and judgemental, healthwise. It was weird and not conducive to sleep. Other friends and family members reassured me she was "out to lunch' and to let go her bullying. It's been a strange night and day in working on doing so. I am glad I have Mudcat to come to. Thanks for being here.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Mar 11 - 12:22 AM

Kat, when you plant that tree, make sure of two things - that you don't put it too deep in the ground (it's better too high than too deep) and soak it for maybe an hour in a big bucket of water, and knock as much of the pot dirt off - get as close to bare root as you can get. Find some little sticks, twigs, whatever, and set the tree in a wide but not particularly deep hole and stretch the roots out (the ones that were all wrapped up on themselves in the pot) and "stake" them in place with the twigs as you slowly fill in the dirt from digging the hole. Don't add a lot of fertilizer and fancy dirt, the tree needs to get accustomed to the native dirt. This procedure will let this tree get established faster and send roots out, not continue wrapping and binding itself too tight (as it was in the pot).

I did that last week when I planted my bay tree. The roots were all growing in on themselves, and were stretched out as I planted it. And the "too deep" thing has to do with how nurseries often scoop extra dirt into pots before shipping them, so the tree is under a couple of extra inches already. You should be able to see the root flare above ground when you plant a tree. (All of this comes from Howard Garrett, the Dirt Doctor, and after having several trees die because I just planted them the old fashioned way, the trees I've planted this way are all doing very well.)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Mar 11 - 03:50 PM

Solar tubes: My one son has two and they are wonderful! Like having a light on, especially nice of cloudy days.

Spent most of yesterday looking at properties for sale. The one I thought was best was a dump, also too close to road and no trees. But at the cafe, we talked with friends who live in the area. Agreed: word of mouth is only way to find cheap. So we now have a "committee". We ran out of time and did not get to the animal rehabber. So we are going again tomorrow. Nice to be out of the city!

Connecting more and more with people concerned with animal advocacy. And developing a network of people and a fund of information. Time consuming and rewarding.

Also looking for cheap van to save on motel costs as well as problem of finding a motel that is environmentally safe. Went to look at one this morning and found a musician who is learning gypsy jazz violin! Put him onto my son's site. Not even 6 degrees of separation. From the W. coast, he knows of our friends' music store in Van. and some of the folks with whom Troy plays. "Keep in touch."

For now, the house is as good as it is going to get. All necessary chores under control.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 26 Mar 11 - 09:41 PM

((((((((((((((((Kat))))))))))))))))

There are people I know like that. My life, and yours too, is far too precious to spend it on people like that.

LoveYaLily   :)

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Mar 11 - 09:46 PM

Thanks, Lil!:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Mar 11 - 11:48 PM

Kat, I was totally distracted by the tree and missed the last paragraph about the problem ex-friend.

I've had that happen a couple of times with people I thought I knew fairly well. They seemed gripped with some impulse to suddenly reject the friendship, and do it in a way that was as insulting and embarrassing as they could manage. The only thing I could figure was that they were drinking, or that there was a sudden change in brain chemistry, because I didn't feel like I'd done anything to bring it on. On the contrary, this was a reaction to kindness in a difficult time -- when they evidently had some kind of breakdown and rejected friendship suddenly.

Once burned, twice shy. One of these people has made overtures to be friends again, but I'd be a fool to let her back into my confidence. It just hurts too damned much when someone does that to you. Be a grownup, write it off in the categories of "this person has a problem" and "I wish them well."

Tonight I had plans to get a few things done here, but the Roy Orbison biography came on PBS and I was a goner - his songs are just so compelling, his story so interesting and sad. I'll get some laundry in, and some folded, but mostly I sat and enjoyed watching television!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Mar 11 - 11:42 AM

Cold and overcast here with a little chance of rain today. It's looking better later in the week. I've been planting slowly, but today I'll work on some of the garden stuff that I need to pull together. I need to inventory all of my fittings, nozzles, sprinklers, hoses, etc.

Yesterday I passed by signs for an estate sale and couldn't resist. And it turned out to be the home of an antique dealer. It was full to the gills with wonderful things I couldn't touch (financially) but I enjoyed looking, and made a few modest purchases. I now have a utilitarian yet lovely cake stand (I have some low footed ones, but I've wanted one with a pedestal). I'd be a fool if I didn't take the message from that house that it is way-cluttered. Of course, this is where he conducted his business (lots of tools there) and there were a couple of those things I wish I had picked up, so if I'm on that side of town later today, I'll swing past to see if they're still there.

Laundry is in, kitchen is clean, and since I have to water the garden I'm testing a sprinkler (from the estate) to see how it works. It's one of those that is supposed to do a square - and it seems to! $2.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Mar 11 - 06:22 PM

The estate sale items were half-price today, and I picked up the tile cutter, a lovely French brass trivet with swivel wheels, and the real coup was the storage box (a large plastic one, maybe 14" tall and 24" long) that was full of dyed ostrich feathers. Got it for $2.50 after calling Moonglow to ask if she could use them. She has a hat-making class this semester, so there is a good chance. When I got home, I looked more at the contents - many of them are still in plastic wrappers from the craft store and were originally $10 to $15 for each small bundle. This is a great find for someone in a costume design course.

Did laundry, and other shopping today. I ate some chocolates yesterday and my hands that were a bit dry are now cracked - not sure if it is chocolate or sugar, but one of the two gets me. I have work to do around the house but I'll wear gloves to spare my hands the contact.

Last week was hectic, this week coming up is a little less structured. Good - I still have plenty to do, but I don't need to be out driving around all week to do it.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 01:06 AM

Seems to be only me here again today.

This evening I finished processing photos for an eBay listing that I'll describe and post tomorrow. I need to get the ball rolling and clear out some of this stuff.

It was quite chilly today, but I planted my squash and zucchini in the yard in a couple of spots. More to go in the garden tomorrow, to move these seedlings out of the house.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: mouldy
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 10:22 AM

All that craft stuff sounds a real bargain!

The conservation officer has been and approved the sandstone, which is good news from a practical and financial point of view. Just got to get the last quote in now, contact archaeologista, get a few more biys in writing, and then get a date set for a start. Probably won't be until late spring/early summer, at a guess.

Got another couple of boxes unpacked in the annexe yesterday, and this morning I attacked the pampas grass, and slung neat weedkiller into the cut ends of the stems. Should do the job. I doubt anything will be planted there for many months yet.

I seem to be having an allergic reaction to either the eyebrow pencil I used on Saturday, the eye makeup remover, or the Chinese meal I had on Saturday evening (I wore the make up all day, and the itching started in my brows later in the evening). I now have a few red weals on my face, slightly puffy eyes (although they aren't so bad now, amd arent irritating me) and my face is itchy. I thought I had been bitten in the garden first off! Anyway, I'm firing the antihistamines in, and I'll see how it goes. Last time I had a mystery itch/weals like this, and on my chest and shoulder, it turned out to be shingles! No sign of blisters, though. The headache isn't helping either.

Time for another pill, methinks.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 06:05 PM

I've been working on the kitchen again, and packed the copier for estimating the eBay shipping. That sucker will get listed tonight, along with a couple of things for the neighbor. Depressing to step (fully clothed, but still . . . ) on the scale to weigh the box.

Weeding the garden didn't burn many calories, but I'll walk the dogs before I feed them - we're getting out a lot more now, and for all that you'd think they'd be more excited about eating, when I go to the back door they will get excited about their dishes if I rattle them but they get really excited if I rattle the leashes.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 06:34 PM

Andrea: Really picky about the house! I don't think the bunch here in Montreal are that bad but they do check on things but only the facade in our case and that will not change, though some paint would help. Neighbours painted the lovely gray stones in a variety of ugly colours and spent a holiday weekend repainted them gray - or else. We were glad.

Kat: We really need to be mindful of drawing positive people into our lives and letting go of the negatives. Life is short.

Found a perfect place in the country, near our fav cafe, to rent on Sunday. Considering it seriously. Need to give an answer very soon. Today would be good. Small but very adequate living space and a solid, insulated two story shed big enough for pottery studio and some storage. It would require more commuting, maintaining two places. But provide out-in-the- wilds time for healing of body, mind and spirit.

Met with a wildlife rehabber on Sunday and it was excellent. The last piece of the puzzle before proceeding with PR for raccoons. Now to write...

Went to the cafe for supper. Several friends there, including the owners. Jannicke thinks she is related to the wife of the rehabber - somehow. This is a small community. I love it. A musician friend is delighting in a new CD - maybe by 12 April!!! People giving each other support.

Things in the house are as up to the moment as it gets. I'll make the bed before bedtime. Clean sheets are so nice.

Need to decide about the country. There is still about 18 inches of snow in this back yard. Won't be able to get at stuff in the shed unless we bring it through the house. Having highs in the 40s later this week but today is a high of 32. Hope for decision tonight but no moving until Friday - when we go down there anyway.

If we do this, it will be fun trying to keep it uncluttered! Both the house and life. I will have options: making pottery, giving lessons, walking out the door into the bush/woods, possibly helping rehabber, visiting our orchard friends, visiting the cafe - each about 10 minutes away.... Lots of stuff nearby , many people we have met and enjoy. In the city, all I do is shop and stay home. Sounds good. Need to look closely at financial consideration. Selling pots is a probable option.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 07:34 PM

It sounds great if you can afford, especially with brother situation..you can escape...

would pots bring in enough to cover it? mg

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 09:47 PM

Great long roundabout walk with the dogs this evening. I have a piece of flounder thawing on the counter and will eventually eat. I do eat too late, but whatever.

I cleaned up in the sun room, swept up dirt on the potting table, checked the status of the plants in there, and started a couple of more beans in pots. I don't think any of the ones planted so far are going to make it. Yesterday I picked up a "card" (size of stamp, really) of trichogramma wasps. I stapled it to a post and put it in the garden - they help head off a lot of the caterpillars and such in the garden. I should also pick up some beneficial nematodes, but I'll wait until we've had some rain before I put them out.

Back to household stuff this evening. eBay, here I come!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Mar 11 - 12:36 AM

Alright! Got the copier listed. It weighs about 33 pounds and was a job to pack for shipping, but it is photographed, described, and listed. What it has going for it is that there is a cartridge in it, and is probably worth more than the copier itself. More for tomorrow, and I'll wait to list it during regular U.S. awake hours. You can pay a little extra to hold it to start at the right time, but I'll just wait and list this stuff tomorrow anyway.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Mar 11 - 05:52 PM

It's a glorious day....cold, but beautiful sunshine and bright blue skies with just a few fluffy white clouds.

My daily chores have piled up for the last few days so today I've been working on that (laundry, dishes, floors). While the baby napped, I spent some time in my office (dusting and moving stuff around) and came to the conclusion that I don't need about 75% of what is in there. I cannot wait for yard sale season to come and all that stuff can BE GONE!!!

I have plans to paint the walls in there...something neutral....a latte-ish color maybe. The floor has Berber carpet (which I hate...if the money ship comes in, I may have it recarpeted too).

*Happy Sigh* Daydreaming away and enjoying the day!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: maire-aine
Date: 29 Mar 11 - 06:41 PM

Got 4 loads of laundry done today. Made a batch of apple-carrot-etc muffins this morning; put half in the freezer.

Got the results of my check-up/blood tests: weight & bp up a little (dr will adjust meds), but blood sugar/A1C and cholesterol are both down! Yeah!

Can't wait for it to warm up. We're still running about 10-15F below normal.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: mouldy
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 03:05 AM

The weals under my eyes have just left dry skin, and my eyelids have gone down. Still a little itchy at times, but it's on its way out.

One of the builders left a small piece of sandstone on my doorstep early yesterday morning, as a sample. I still have to contact the archaeologists, but will get round to it. The build isn't likely to take place much before the summer. The demolition will take a while, before they even get into digging any footings.
I woke up at 2am to hear the drip of water - looks like the roof may have a leak now. A local builder will be going up there in the near future, to lay some insulation, so I'll get him to have a look. There's probably a crack in the cement flashings, which is allowing the water to seep through, and drip. It seems to be towards the wall.

I moved a bit of lawn to make a path to my new bird bath. I'm using some of the rest that I am lifting to piece into a part where shrubs overhanging had killed the grtass off.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 05:12 PM

We've stepped back into winter for a few days this week. Not the ice house, but it is comfortable to have a couple of layers on when going out.

Having a friend over for dinner on Friday. She is my children's age, and when I read her facebook page, it's a little grim. So I'm another interested adult who may be here to help. And if she's amenable, I'll teach her about organic gardening. I could use a helper here occasionally during the summer.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 12:52 AM

We're at the end of March - I didn't get a lot done, but I didn't backslide too badly. I'm moving forward in the book, a couple of pages at a time, and I think I can conclude that "perfectionist" is part of the problem - if I can't do it right, why struggle to finish at all? I have a view in mind how I want the house to look, but getting there - whew! There is clearly stuff to get over or work through. And I need to reward or congratulate myself for all of the work I've done so far.

I ate chocolate over the weekend and my hands are broken out, rather painfully--very dry and with cracks that bleed. I have managed to eat sugar and not have this happen. The final tally is in and chocolate is the culprit. [so sad] I will cycle out of this and just have to avoid chocolate. I think the Evening Primrose oil has helped in keeping some of the other general eczema/dermatitis at bay.

I was over near the university today to have my hair done, and on the way home stopped at the Asian market I like. It changed owners and was rearranged, so they didn't have all of the housewares I like, but they have an entire row just of sauces and oils that I just love. I realized my sesame oil is way-old, so I replaced that and picked up a couple of other fresh bottles of things. I'm going to be doing more stir frying as spring advances and I have stuff coming in from the garden.

Tonight the dishwasher is emptied, tea brewed (chamomile), and I'm ready to put in a load of laundry. On the exercise front, the dogs and I went for a brisk walk up and down a few streets in the neighborhood.

Tonight after that walk I drove up the street and picked up several things I'd seen during our walk - bags of lawn clippings for my compost and also a bunch of chunks of 1/2" plywood. Most of them about 16" x 24" - the ends of larger planks used in some kind of home improvement project. I plan to use them in the attic - I can screw them down in places between the joists in my attic, overlapping to add strength (I don't want to step on a 1/2" piece of plywood, but a 1" thickness would be okay). I don't have a floor up there, the attic wouldn't support it, but I have slowly added boards in the places where I need to regularly go as far as wiring, maintenance, etc. so I don't have to creep along on the main joists all of the time. This way I can follow a few set paths to reach parts of the attic I need to. Better to pick up free lumber for that than to go buy it!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 10:58 AM

Just digging out from a rahter complex road trip.

Let me preface this next entry: We have experienced a housefire (in 2000) and are well cognizant of fire risks.


The corner where my only presently-working puder sits, from which a lot of good work is done on a daily basis, is several degrees colder than the already-cold LR where it sits. I keep thinking of our dear (late) Giac, and how her pudering so unfortunately was also limited by cold and finance.... what would SHE have done if she'd had the means? So for the last 3 days the oil-filled rad that has sat in my LR this winter (and occasionally been used) is now ensconced underneath my puder desk with alert-lights to remind Hardi and I not to leave the room without turning it off.

And I'm WARM as I address the day's work, for the first time all this bitter winter! Yep! It's not spring here! March came in like a lion and went out like an angry elephant.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 03:43 PM

At some seasons, a heating pad or hot water bottle to keep feet warm under a desk suffices.

We have rented a little country house and garage/pottery studio-to-be! About 10 minutes from both our fav cafe and the raccoon rehabber whom we visited on Sunday. We have a number of friends in the area and look forward to spending some time in the woods. So I am spending some time sorting out things to take this Friday - towels, bedding, an air mattress, a couple chairs. Rain predicted for tomorrow so it will be what fits in my car, which I will load tomorrow morning.

This will, gradually, help clear out the backyard shed so I can take it down, hopefully by May. There is still about a foot of snow in the backyard and we cannot open the gate to the street so only moving things which can easily come through the house.

Also made a gallon of chili yesterday, froze three qts. It has become a staple.

Today I talked on phone with a good friend at a distance for over 30 minutes and then, a long conversation, with my son who will by 48 tomorrow. (He says 28! Is this a stage some people go through!) He is in process of cataloging, on computer, "about 7000 photos". If I bring him the albums, he will scan and catalogue them also!!!!!

Also had long talks with a couple other distant friends this week.

I understand that the reason 1 April is April Fool's Day is because it used to be the first day of the year under the old calendar. Those who insisted on continuing to view it as such were "fools". To me, it makes more sense as the New Year's Day; the world is finally reviving from the long winter! We have mostly above freezing weather this week. Maybe the backyard will melt and I will start to see signs of all the planting I did last year. The tiny, very sunny, front is starting to look alive.

See you next month!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 04:11 PM

Guess I needed to look more closely at what came before;

mg: Selling pots will not pay the rent because I do not intend to work my buns off! But I will do it to the extent that I enjoy it and will sell whatever is salable and - every little bit helps!

SRS: A pity about the chocolate. My 84 year old friend has had to stop due to it being very bad for her gall bladder. If I live that long, I might be ready to say, "phooey, life is short. Eat chocolate." But not with your reaction to it.

Kat: I hope you get on here. I hope you are doing OK and recovering from the shock of that dire diagnosis.

It's interesting. Because each of my parents had bad things happen at 58, as I reached that age, I rather thought I was coming near the end. Now I am 74 and am going to explain to the new dentist the reason why I just did not bother with my teeth. I never dreamed I would be here this long. And healthier than most 60 year olds. Guess I still have work to do on this plane.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 05:27 PM

I'm with Dorothy, Kat. I hope you check in soon. Between you and Dan (Old Dude), I'm a Mudcat worrier!

I have a friend coming over tomorrow with her daughter who is just a few months older than Jeremiah. I've been busy picking up and putting things away...general tidying up along with some serious attention to the floors. The weather here makes it hard to keep up....warm and mud...snow and wet...warm and mud...snow and wet. I do what I can!!!

Also, tomorrow begins the annual Yoga Challenge. I am signed up. They have an early morning class so Pete will still be home and can look after the baby...otherwise I would need a sitter for the afternoon classes which quite frankly is not in the budget (income tax and property tax time here). I am EXCITED. It's been far too long since I've had a consistant yoga practice and I'm READY (ok...maybe my body isn't quite ready...but hey...gotta restart somewhere, right?!?!?!?)

Love to all!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 06:31 PM

A heating pad was the plan for the office feet and that space will need to be insulated before MY feet go in there. That room will be almost warm enough for the pad to work, in June..... but the wireless router's on the first.

Downstairs, no matter how many layers I put onto various parts of my body, incl hat, nothing was warm enough-- till I put the oil rad in there. The whole corner is frigid, then the feet moreso.

RE: Kat. The LAST thing she would appreciate anyone doing on her behalf would be worrying. ALL POSITIVE thoughts for her, folks.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 08:14 PM

I'm a worrier. It's my nature. And of course I am worried about her. And of course I am thinking all good things for her. Geez.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 12:04 AM

April is about here - time for a new thread. No "fool" postings please - life is percarious enough for some folks that added shocks might not help. Unless it is something like what Alice Furlaud got away with a few years ago on NPR. It was a corker!

Here is the next thread.

SRS