Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 10:08 AM

Kat, having a phone with a card is a lifesaver.

It's so hot, I'm dripping sweat after drinking my hot tea at 9am. I have to change from my dog walking clothes and head to the office for a couple of meetings. At noon I'm picking up canning stuff if the farmer's market has them, and Susie and I will heat up the house tonight. Dress in cotton, work outside in stages, drink lots of fluids. Follow my own advice.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 10:35 AM

We filled the wading/sitting pool ydy. I had thought we would not because we're only here a few more days before departing on vacay, but tomorrow may be hot enough to sell that AC we've been holding to sell for a friend-- and it's too hot to sit in a chair to babysit it! The water may still be too cold to sit in-- but I can stick my feet in there at least!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 10:35 AM

103F in the shade at 9 am.

Basement door and windows were installed this morning. Inch by inch...

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 11:03 AM

Melted on my way to work. Central air here.
18 pounds, Tink? That's amazing. I didn't think you weighed 18 pounds.
Morgan had an excellent report? Is the pope a Catholic? I would expect nothing less. Congratulations to my young friend. I hope he will always be as generous and innocent as he is now.
Auntie SINS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 01:06 PM

45 minutes PT today
Added wave walking, step-down ham work, & squats. Learned a GREAT new stretch from Dr. Pain, as her victims like to call her affectionately.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 01:46 PM

I am feeling for all of you in the heat, I feel bad enough in the high 80s.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 03:28 PM

Picked up a flat of tomatoes and a flat of peaches. Glutton for punishment here. I also have a flat of tomatoes for Susie. I'll do some of this in the early evening and have it out of the way for the weekend. Gotta get more sugar, I'm running low if I also make the jelly I have in mind.

Another eBay package ready to go. Nickle and dime, but it sure beats sitting out in the yard for a garage sale! I'm frankly astonished to see signs for garage sales this summer. Wait until it cools down. Actually, when it cools down, have your small bills and change handy because there will be a pent up supply of stuff from those folks who are waiting till it's cooler. I've gotten some of my best garage sale purchases under those kind of circumstances.

I have a lot of things I'd like to do this weekend, but who knows how long the stamina for it will hold out. I'm a lot more accustomed to the heat than the rest of you, but I'm a lot more tired of it than the rest of you. Who knows what that adds up to as far as personal productivity.

SRS

PS I am going to go out after dark and take a hose tap water shower on the patio. That always feels so wonderful.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Tinker
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 03:37 PM

The third floor bedrooms are up to 97+ the kids are camping out on the 2nd and third floors. The wiring up there doesn't support AC..... we are heading to Massachusetts tomorrow and by Sunday the heat is supposed to break ... I'll keep my fingers crossed.

But today all the laundry will get finished... and everything packed. The kids are slowly coming up with things they "forgot" to mention so there will be one more store trip tonight.

The grass may just have to keep growing til we get back.

Kathy

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 07:52 PM

Picked up 25 pounds of sugar, and extra case of pint jars, and a good set of rubber tipped tongs meant for picking up canning jars. I have one of my Dad's that picks jars up from the side, perhaps if they've been lifted out of a regular canner in a framework of some sort, but not good for a pot. I have a couple of flimsy ones that came with convection ovens, not meant for jars, so I picked up the jar one in the canning section today. About time!

Headed to the kitchen, and I brought in the rubber mat I've had outside on my side door step for months. It's good the give my back a break with all of the standing and cooking. And I have on shoes and socks - better than open toe or sandals or anything like that with all of this work. More support, etc. When I come out the other end of this heat tunnel later tonight I may report in.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 08:22 PM

Meeting with SPCA this morning was a delight. I am now part of a "committee" of three to work on improved website for public education re urban wildlife. The web guy will do it; I will offer suggestions of good info from all my tedious researching.

Have the time spent on that 300+ emails way down - LOVE my delete button. Copy to file the useful info.

Laundered bedding this am, hung it on wonderful clothes line, remade bed. Finished chili and refrigerated. Distilled another gallon of water and brought it with me to country. Was here by 4. R may not make it as work is impinging again this week. Lots of chaos: Trying to prevent one of the oldest buildings on the Lachine Canal from being "accidentally" demolished this weekend. He wrote to newspaper reporter and Parks Canada, City of Montreal. I wonder if we need to go stand in front of it!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 09:03 PM

Jogged 2/10ths of a mile this evening. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 09:14 PM

YAY! R made it! There is now a two week construction holiday in Quebec! A reprieve. However, Lloyd's of London is refusing compensation for the machinery destroyed during the fire last month. "Sue us"

A bit cooler this evening. And we are here at the Cafe listening to The Echo Hunters.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 09:28 PM

Decluttered two items from LR-- promo matierals for a work project delivered to State College for the group that will use them, a look at lodging and meeting space for training leader/trainees, and Korean supper with hubby-- mmmm!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 11:04 PM

Hour of exercise this morning went very well, not only for me, but Morgan did the best ever on the machines he chose. He did a great job.

BTW, thanks, Auntie Sins!

We went to the fabric store for velcro for his new shoes so he could cinch them up tight enough. He likes them snug, but needed a size and a half bigger for toe room so..anyway, it worked and he's happy with them. He and I then dropped Rog at the grocery store while we had lunch out, then went back for Papa. M helped carry in the groceries then took care of the neighbour's goat. She always wants something to eat which we give her but it was so hot this afternoon we also offered her water. I am sure they have some for her on the other side of the house, but she's been hanging out in the shade on our side, so Morgan took her a tupperware filled, three times, with water, plus we gave her our water left over from our lunch outing (in to-go cups.) She was thirsty. We will keep an eye on her and offer it regularly. I hope there may be a way we can buy her from them, eventually. She is a sweetie ol' "Nanny Girl."

Our county just joined up with a few other counties and humane societies and Crime Stoppers programs to take anonymous tips concerning suspected animal abuse, neglect, and abandonment. A private donor has given $2,000 for reward money to start. I don't have a problem talking with our neighbours if I feel the need, but I am proud of our county for joining up in the effort to help animals.

I will be sending out one book and the one ebay thing which sold, tomorrow. We're also going to change the pads on the evaporative cooler now the cottonwoods have quit spreading "cotton" all over the place. It didn't feel as though the swamp cooler was working as well as it should this afternoon, so the pads are probably gummed up with gunk.

I hope to do some cleaning and more decluttering. I've decided, I think, to either store or sell a nine drawer wooden card catalogue; it's perfect for cassette tapes, but I don't do anything with them and it's just cluttering up part of the kitchen/dining room. I will do the same with an old wooden record player stand with slots below for LPs. We aren't using any of them, either, so there's no need to keep them in here and maybe not even in storage. Anyway, it will clear out some space and help things look better.

Stay as cool as possible all of you who live where it is so goldanged hot!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jul 11 - 02:49 AM

It was a marathon cooking evening, with three batches of jelly and one flat of farmers' market tomatoes steam juiced. They don't have as strong or acid a flavor as my home grown organic tomatoes, but since my tomatoes have shut down, I have to buy a few. I've made about a gallon of juice and a quart of sauce this time. The jelly is cooling all over the kitchen, and though the juice was cloudy, the jelly is a beautiful clear purplish-ruby color, sweet-tart and wonderful.

I'm up so late getting up early tomorrow will be difficult, but I'll take a nap later. We walk the dogs at 7am and then (after she takes the dogs back home - her daughter's dog is here this week) Susie will come down and I'll show her how the setup works with the juicer and the food mill. I also have a flat of peaches to can - they looked so good and the whole flat was only $8. They're so inexpensive this year; I remember paying $15 or a bit more for this many last year.

The fridge was cleaned out to put the extra fruits in overnight, and I'll clear the shelves in the pantry for the new jars, not to mix them up with the older jars that need using first. I've spent $16 on two flats of peaches so far, and for the number of jars I'll have it is a savings over buying cans at the store. The sugar adds up, but not too bad (in the syrup). I could probably buy more canned tomato sauce for $9 than I'll get out of the ones I processed tonight, but the juice is nice and nothing will go to waste.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jul 11 - 12:45 PM

We had a kind of "Keystone Cop" operation in the kitchen this morning with juice spilled here and there as we worked, but I showed Susie how the steam juicer works. These tomatoes, for as many as you get in a flat, are mostly juice, not so much pulp, so we used the "pumpkin" setting on the food mill and she got more seeds and bits of tomato skin in a very juicy yield. She's going to cook that down into spaghetti sauce, and I suggested she freeze the gallon of juice a pint at a time and use it as stock in soups if she doesn't drink tomato juice. There were enough tomatoes left to fill one of those grocery store produce paper bags with the paper handle that she can bulk up the sauce with. Doing it this way we got rid of most of the skin and a lot of seeds and she can add in chunks. If I spot a flat of Roma tomatoes then we'll try a heftier sauce, otherwise I'm finished buying tomatoes. Next come the peaches.

I'll do peaches this evening and take a break from the hot stove for a while. Work on other things. Stay cool, Y'all.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jul 11 - 07:32 PM

Organizing paperwork, writing a description and adding a photo and valuation of items donated to Goodwill and attached to their receipts. I had two or three of those receipts around and photos I'd parked in the computer of the donations.

Went out in the back yard for a while (the water was on a timer for 15 minutes) to hose down some of the shrubs and trees after dumping, cleaning and refilling the dog troughs. Every so often I sprayed straight up in the air and let it rain down on me - that feels wonderful in weather like this.

I have a few things on a shopping list that I will run out for soon. I'll eat dinner before I go out and maybe stop for an ice cream cone as a treat on my way back home. And tonight - canning peaches. I needed a break from it this morning, but I've cleared everything out of the way and will make the last big canning push till fall.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Jul 11 - 08:41 PM

Jogged 4/10ths of a mile today. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Jul 11 - 09:15 PM

Kat: I love that animal abuse initiative. Hope it includes wildlife.

Threw pots this morning (hands in water helps cool me) then we went out to look for La Petite Boulangerie. A friend told me about it last night and it seemed a good idea. Their signage is not the best and we drove around a large circle and finally asked. We were in an area of huge farms and woods - very rural.

Anyway, it was an experience. Beautiful little tea room at the end of a LONG drive. Lovely woman who loves wildlife. Great attitude, good food - organic. We had a nice lunch - about 2:30! and talked and talked. Bought two loaves of bread - black bean/raisin and sunflower seed/whole wheat. Will slice it and freeze it as we use about two slices a day! Her husband is a part time potter and had pots for sale in the tea room.

Drove back to cabin by scenic route. Covered pots with plastic to keep at right moistness, read for an hour until time to go back south to the Jazz Tech cafe for last musical event at that venue. Not enough audience to feed the musicians. Tonight is open mike. The AC not working and it is hot; I am melting - careful not to drip on computer!   

SRS: Cooking???? in the heat???

Idea I had today: I am officially posting on line -All over North America raccoon rehabbers need areas where they can release year old raccoons. An area where there is water, food, not TOO many raccoons already, no farmer fields to devastate... The attitude I liked was: You have to be smarter than the raccoons - she locks up all her animals each night to keep them safe from R's and coyotes. This is her responsibility as an animal activist! Wish all farm folks felt that way. We exchanged email addresses.

Good group on now. 4 musicians, 7 audience! Reckon this is the last. Then we can go home to hot cabin but it is cooling a bit outside - supposed to go down into the 60s tonight - I hope.

You all need to behave in the heat!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jul 11 - 11:27 PM

I ended up skipping the peaches, I'll do it first thing in the morning. Yes, that is the tyranny of canning - you end up doing a lot of it in the hottest time of year.

Dorothy, here's a wildlife story that's out of your neck of the woods, but I think you'll enjoy it. You lived on Whidbey long enough to have probably seen lots of whales over the years.

This evening I have the washer set on the delayed timer so it'll start at 3am. Bed linens, clothes, and the towel I used out on the patio this evening when I took one of my lovely back yard showers. The tap water comes through warm enough that it's a wonderful seasonal experience. My yard is against a creek and woods, no neighbors look into the yard, and with the motion-detector light turned off, my shower is pleasantly private. I put a support for a shower head on one of the patio cover supports ostensibly for things like washing the dogs and for a quick shower if heat becomes overwhelming during yard work, whatever. I put the shower head (the kind on a hose that many of you probably have in your bathrooms, screwed onto the shower pipe) up and most of the time it goes unnoticed, but when it's in use it's wonderful.

Picked up a few organizing wire rack things at Bed Bath and Beyond - darn, I forgot my 20% off coupon. I will probably be back so I'll take it next time. I want to clear off some of the things that sit on the counter that don't need to, like a bowl full of scrubbers and brushes for washing dishes. I can put a small wall-mount type rack inside the cabinet door and drop those things in there, handy but out of sight.

Kat, did you get a larger O₂ tank? You don't want to run out if you can avoid it! I haven't seen that add again, but I'm watching for it. I'm pretty sure it was the Lifestyle Portable Oxygen Concentrator (I remember "Lifestyle" being in the name, and this describes what I remember the ad saying). The ad also suggests that while insurance companies will balk at paying for them, the are a prescription item and can be covered by insurance. Your mileage, as they say, may vary.

SRS

[PDF] LifeStyle Portable Oxygen Concentrator
Here's a big PDF with the info. It may try to take over your monitor, it did on mine.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 12:35 AM

SRS, now I need a box of tissues! What a wondrous rescue that was! Thanks for the link.

Also for the O2 one. That would work for me at 3 liters per minute, but, until I lose more weight and see the doc in Oct. he's told me he thinks it best if I keep it at 4 with activity. BUT, that will change with the exercise etc., so I will keep that in mind as it would sure free us up more for travelling. It'd be a bit too heavy for just running around town. The one I use now is only 4lbs. They will have to order the larger one, but it shouldn't weigh much more..it's only about 4" taller, same circumference. I'll see one next week and decide.

We've done nothing today except errands this morning. I had plans, but Rog pooped out after lunch and I spent most of the afternoon answering some important emails and such. I had contacted a fellow about finding a McNab border collie. Turned out we couldn't afford one of his and they're all working stock dogs, BUT he was so impressed with the essay I wrote about Merlee, he told me he'd keep his eye out for one that needs a good home (I told him rejects as work dogs were fine, sometimes they just don't take to the work)AND he'd bring it to our doorstep, himself! He also asked if he could put it on his website, which should be happening as I type, so that was pretty neat. Turns out his website person has a dau. in WY, has lived there herself, and loves the state, so they are including a link and info on my book which includes the essay. BTW, it was written on Mudcat first: Thought for the Day- 5 Feb. 2000

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 04:15 AM

I haven't been to bed yet this evening (or very early morning). I was awake so I spent time puttering in the kitchen. Because it's been so darn hot, I let things slide for a few days. It's amazing how much of a mess can happen in that short of a time! Anyway, it's all picked up now. :)

I suppose I should try and get some sleep before my guys wake up.

Sweet dreams everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 10:57 AM

You've been busy! I'm glad you were able to make sense of that information at Lifestyle, Kat. I don't know how those work or how much they deliver, so it was a shot in the dark. And I agree about the whale video - happy tears indeed as that beautiful animal shows joy at freedom! You know they have to understand that the people in that boat are helping. Michelle, on the news today they said the heat wave on the east coast is breaking up, so you should be back to better temperatures soon. It looks like it's building up here again, this afternoon is supposed to be anywhere from 103 to 106.

My kitchen is a tiny bit more organized. I screwed on a plastic-coated wire rack inside the cabinet door under my sink. I put a little plastic long narrow organizer thing in the bottom of it to keep small dish washing things from falling through the rack. That's another bowl off the counter. I also have a rack to put inside a cabinet to hold the lids to my Tupperware lids.

Describing and listing a few eBay things this morning.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 01:18 PM

Another rack is up and the Tupperware lids fit. Books listed at eBay. Now to wade into the kitchen and attack the peaches.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 06:26 PM

Great job, SRS. Yes, that whale knew they were there to help, I am sure of it.

Michelle, you are a wonder. I hope you got some rest!

We got a lot done today. Besides the usual dishes, litter boxes, and laundry, I packed up all of the cassette tapes in the card catalogue, all of the LPs in the record stand under it and Rog took them all out to storage until we decide what we want to do with them. I did keep out about ten or so LPs which I *think* may be saleable. We'll see.

We put the baker's rack where all of the above was. It's at the end of the table and now holds some things which were kept on the kitchen table; stuff which often got in the way, esp. when Morgan is over to eat with us. It looks much neater. I put all of our clothes away, too. I went looking for a basket to keep some of those things in on the baker's rack only to realise I gave away several of them last week, to reduce clutter.**bg** Morgan reminded me they went to help the animals and we made do with a smaller one.

Morgan had asked me to sew up a seam in his swimming trunks, so he got out the sewing machine, I showed him how to thread it and let him sew them up with my help. We also did the same thing to a couple of pairs of my pants, the last he did almost totally by himself. He loved it and wants to sew some more. He also wanted to crochet, again. He'd forgotten how, so I showed him, over and over. He got very frustrated to the point where I quit trying to help and went back to my work. When he calmed down, I showed him, again, and he was off to the races. I now have his first chain, made with saffron coloured cotton yarn, around my neck as a "necklace." We thought bracelets would be fun, too, so I showed him how to thread on little bells from India, with my help. I now am wearing a jingly matching bracelet!:-) He has moved on to the purple yarn, now, and is making me another necklace. I told him I knew a few "aunties" at Mudcat who might enjoy a bracelet, too.

It's about 100 degree here this afternoon. The house is at about 77, but it still feels h-o-t. I always close the shades and only leave a couple of windows ajar to keep the swamp cooler air moving, but it's just plain hot. SRS, move slowly and drinks lots of water...106??!! Too much!

kat

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 06:44 PM

Love the necklace and bracelet idea!!! Morgan is a lucky little guy to have such a great grandma to show him how to do all kinds of neat things!!! I was wondering if you'd like to come find my kitchen table top Kat? It's like a magnet for STUFF. I get it cleaned off and BAM, stuff seems to find it's way there!!!

I slept WAY in today and then went to take care of a friend's cat (I'm cat sitting while she's away).

It's been a slow day here...a ride with the family, stopped for ice cream, hanging out playing, etc. A perfect Sunday.

For the first time in a VERY long time, my blood sugars are balanced nicely. It's been running high since chemo, then this past week I've had several lows (68ish) and today it's been between 100 & 140. My doctor set a goal of 140 for me for right now. He said it's been so high for so long that things in the truly *normal* range (80 to 120) will make me feel like crap. He's half right...anything under 100 and I feel weird and know that trouble isn't far behind. So...even with the ice cream today, my sugars have stayed in place. HOORAY!!!!!! Balance is GOOD!!!!

Evening run coming up as the sun sets. I'm going to shoot for half a mile today and then keep that distance for a week or two until I can do it comfortably (ok, relatively). Tonight I am running for Tracy and Cindy.

Love to all,

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 07:46 PM

Kat, several of the most interesting and talented men I know are good at sewing, crochet, cooking, etc. For so long the "womens" crafts seemed off limits to boys (and alas, shop class and power tools were off limit to girls). Now shop class has largely gone away all together.

Laundry drying, got kind of musty because I forgot it in the washer after it finish in the wee hours. Kitchen is looking good, and I'm finishing some canning this evening. I'm finished canning until I have any of my own crops to can.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: SINSULL
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 07:49 PM

Viions of Joe Namath in pantihose crocheting to relax. LOL. I claim one of those necklaces. Although I wear my bracelet all the time and will cede to another Auntie.
Just read Brett's Guam thread. More tragedy.He could use a word of support.
SINS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 08:30 PM

Saved all the house chores and van unload/reload for tonight and tmrw AM, till the heat eased off a bit. pantpantpant

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 08:48 PM

Jogged half a mile and did 1/10th of a mile walk for cool off. I hung a load of laundry on the line and started another load. It should still be light enough to hang it by the time the machine stops. We'll be having dinner soon: Grilled salmon, summer squash (from our garden) and parmesean herb rice.

New photos up on Facebook of the new pigs that joined our farm this weekend!!!

Love to all,

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jul 11 - 12:01 AM

Michelle, you're lucky the heat is subsiding - you'll have more energy for running. Mary, thanks for the heads-up. I posted a remark on Brett's thread.

Canning finished. Dishes piled in the sink but I learned my lesson - as tired as I might be, I'll wash them before heading to bed to avoid the ants invading again.

It's still 95^o out at 11pm. I can't imagine how it must have been living down here before air conditioning. Houses with "dog trots" for ventilation, along with hip roofs, were a must.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Jul 11 - 02:40 AM

SRS,

   I hope the heat subsides for you soon. The only good thing about living where you do is that most places have AC. Here in north central PA, many people and businesses do NOT have AC as we typically don't have too many days a year where we really NEED it. We are lucky as we have several AC units in the house and a large collection of fans. It's a good thing too....with all the hot flashes I have, combined with this intense heat, I'm pretty sure I could have killed somebody dead a few times over. (Just kidding but seriously, I think the heat makes people much more irritable).

   I lived in Atlanta and don't remember it ever being this hot. The good news here is that it's supposed to rain for the next 24 hours...rain that we really need....and that should cool things off a bit.

   I'm up to take the second Ambien of the evening. I am just wide awake. I'm not sick or worried or anything, I'm just awake. That's fine for the weekends when my honey is home to take care of the baby so I can sleep in but not so much during the week. Gotta catch some zzzzzs.

Night everybody!

Michelle

PS. Signed up for camp next month...a women's survivors retreat...I'm looking forward to it!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jul 11 - 09:52 AM

I "mowed" the lawn this morning - in other words, I knocked down a few weeds and took the seed heads off of some of the otherwise dormant grass. I hit a soaker hose at the corner of one garden, so I'll repair it rather than change it out. My next door neighbor was mowing and she had taken out most of the taller grass in the patch beside my raised bed on the side - a nice surprise! This way we'll have better looking dead grass for the next couple of months. :-/

I'll cook a batch of beans today, I haven't made any for a while, and keep to simple beans and rice meals for a while. Easy to reheat for quick meals.

Working on the file cabinet today, organizing my work papers and notes.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Jul 11 - 10:20 AM

SRS,

   If you look at any of the new photos of Jeremiah that I put up on Facebook, you'll see a lovely little pool, a happy baby, brightly colored toys and a yellow/brown crunchy yard. It looks and feels awful. We always like to joke about people who cut their grass so short because it turns brown every year. Well, our grass still isn't golf course short but it definitely is all dead. :(
   Mother Nature is teasing us. It's cooler and there was a nice steady rain for about 5 minutes, then nothing. Now it's raining again and I hope it continues ALL DAY at the very least! Like you, we need it so very badly.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 04:03 PM

JOY! a breeze and about ten minutes of steady rain. Not near enough but hope for more? Sure better than none! Spent the morning hoping, while weeding and solar-drying a load of laundry - ALL dry and then the rain. I held off yesterday because it was "supposed to rain". This morning I hung it - "so it would rain!"

Getting a handful of tomatoes every couple days but it is escalating. R enjoys his fresh from the garden handful. The flower beds are holding up well and have continuous bloom; I feel successful!

Ah, the rain is coming again! It was wonderful to be able to work in the yard with the breeze and cooler air. I have the front and back doors open so the breeze blows through!

In the country, I worked in the studio parts of fri through Monday and have near a small kiln load drying on our wonderful "new" shelves. Got some more of studio organized as I will soon need a glazing work area. Now can work on dark clay on one wheel - I LOVE my "new" kick wheel! And on white clay on the other kick wheel. I am starting to feel really organized and I feed on it! Success breeds success!

Was going to go back today but giving bod a break; also felt need to get the yard work caught up and I am very glad I did. The fingers were complaining the other day but I took extra glucosamine/MSM and they recovered. Changing types of movements is important. The potting exercise has made it easier to do the stretching and bending of gardening. I feel more flexible already.


i wish I could send you southerners this lovely breeze!!! AND the gentle, steady rain!! It is totally delicious.

That whale video is awesome. It came to me last week via wildlifeontario (yahoo group) and I sent it to a few people who appreciated it. No doubt the whale was aware it was being rescued! If only all humans could see these things and realize how intelligent other animals really are.

I expect tomorrow to be a potting day.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 04:07 PM

Our thread fell off the page overnight. I'm sure it isn't because no one has been doing anything!

I made a batch of beans last night but they're not yet finished; I have to add a couple more things so I'll simmer them some more today (have to add the venison and some capers when the batch is cooked down enough.)

Today is overcast so it's only 101 out there now, and I have to do some spot watering in the yard. I have a pattern laid out for most of my watering now and I keep an eye on my trees, trying to keep them alive.

I have got a few things done around here, but nothing worth reporting. Getting my son ready to return to college, etc.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 09:03 PM

Chores:
2 loads of laundry: washed, hung, folded and upstairs
Swept all of downstairs
Mopped the kitchen
Vacuumed the rug
Dishes
Collected a box of books and carried up to my office
Swept upstairs hallway
Swept stairs
Made healthy meals

Jeremiah (need I say more? He is BUSY!!)   :)

Ran 1/2 mile
Walked 1/10th of a mile

Blood sugar: 106

YES!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm ready to put my feet up and have dinner!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 11:13 PM

Last night and again tonight I was on the phone helping a friend of a friend solve some computer problems. Trouble is, he's using an Apple and he's only used it for a few days. We're both PC people trying to troubleshoot the Apple. Ugg. Made a little progress, took a lot of time. Amos (Mudcat's Amos) was able to suggest a site that may be able to help with antivirus stuff.

Bread is baking - this is a welcome move, because I've been wanting some kind of bread or toast for breakfast and I was out of bread and frozen bagels.

My feet got a good warm soak this evening, with the pumice and scrubbing with a rough wash cloth. When it's so hot out and with all of the walking around I get more callouses this time of year. Anyone else notice that? Anyway, to stay comfortable I need to remember to pamper my feet, and right now they're very happy.

Bread's out and I'm off to bed. Sleep tight, all!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 12:14 AM

I have Morgan full-time from now until school starts, so...our M-W-&F include my exercise class for an hour which he is doing very well. We are all envious of his energy! Starting next week, we will add two weeks of swimming classes for him M-Thur., right after my exercise classes, then it's home for lunch and some kind of rest/decluttering/playing in the afternoon. I feel such a welcome sense of responsibility and gratitude in helping to shape this wonderful little "human bean." For more of what we did, today, please see Kendall's thread about his dear old dog, Seamus. Morgan and I had a wonderful teaching/doing session in our sanctums this afternoon, candles, incense, and all. The kid asks some very deep questions and wants answers. What a very special delight!

Oh, and yesterday, we went to the new downtown water fountains feature after exercise and he played for about an hour. Had a blast and was soaking wet when we left.

I did two loads of laundry, today. One put away, the other drying. We had rain this afternoon! Softly for about an hour, then a slight deluge for about twenty minutes, enough to water the flowers, then sun and clouds. Morgan and I spent the time out in the rain playing. He also helped me do a bt of sweeping in the kitchen.

More, tomorrow! Oh, joy!

Michelle, congrats on your blood sugar!!!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 04:47 AM

Not feeling very energetic at the moment. I've got up to the middle middle ages with my book sorting, but need a bit of a break from that. I re-arranged the bookshelves yesterday, to make a run across the whole width of a 12" shelf for the big books, but am having second thoughts about how well this is going to take the weight. I have definitely got more books than shelf. The history resources are double parked.

Had a brief migraine aura in the evening. Fortunately, I don't get the heads any more, but it's a bit irritating having the visual field all messed up for a while.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: mouldy
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 06:52 AM

Back at last! I had to drag myself away, as we actually got some warm weather at last this weekend. I left Scotland in 23C and clear skies, and arrived home to 13C and grey skies.

I have done as much laundry as I have got time for this week (one mixed load in the village laundry) and it's going through the dryer at the moment. I am going to go up to Berwick shortly and get some diesel to top me up for the 2 long hauls I've got coming up - Yorkshire tomorrow, then the south coast on Friday. On Sunday it happens in reverse.

The work on the house has stalled at the moment, due to no stone being delivered from the quarry. Apparently they are known for closing down for a couple of weeks this time of year.

I've put on several inches from my holiday. Everything is feelinbg tighter! I think a lack of exercise may have contributed! I saw a wonderful couple of exhibitions in Kirkudbright: the town hall always has an good one. It's the "Glasgow Boys" this year. Last year's was the "Glasgow Girls" (Jessie M King, etc), and I thought that was even better than this year's. However, the Tollbooth has a small expo of Glasgow School arts and crafts works. It was amazing!

Every surface in the house is cluttered at the moment. I feel like I'm in transit! I think that next week a concerted effort must be made to at least attack the living room!

Andrea

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 10:01 AM

I hope you'll resume posting photos, Andrea. This is a fascinating process. Clearly they were waiting for you to get back to document it!

Making more complicated passwords to slowly swap out in my various places. Just seems a good idea.

There's a *slight* possibility of moisture this weekend. Remember I said we need a hurricane at this point? We're looking at the next best thing, a tropical depression off of Cuba that might be headed this way.

Last night's bread was wonderful for breakfast this morning. I have two small containers of leftover jelly that weren't enough to fill jars last week. The batch I tried this morning is a softer lovely texture, the other one is a little firmer. Both taste fabulous! I'm also eating cantaloupe a lot these days (3 meals a day!), in the fridge I have part of a cut up one and a whole one and I picked another one this morning, and there are three or four more in the yard still.

I've been combatting aphids and mealy bugs on one of my okra plants, I sprayed with orange oil and plant was in water yesterday and today I went out with masking tape and simply pulled the buggers off of the backs of the leaves. I also sprinkled some organic fire ant bait in the garden in a couple of places to see if that will help remove the ants on the plants problem. I'm getting close to picking several eggplants (I could now, but I'd like them each to be right at about 12 ounces to 1 pound in size).

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 01:13 PM

I left a message in the mudcat site. Mixed feelings about the state of our nation's economy right now will, I think, trickle down to the population even more if they don't get this shit resolved before next Tuesday. The House is outnumbered- the Senate and President aren't going to go along with them. They need to stop playing chicken with the economy when the majority (57%) of Americans doesn't want them to do it to begin with.

Banana bread is baking, and after it comes out of the oven I'll make myself another open face toasted cheese sandwich. I've eaten a tub of cantaloupe and need to cut up one in the fridge so I can put one I picked in the fridge pretty soon.

Did more filing, and am cutting up templates from work for my own uses at work. Tomorrow I go into the office and I'll take in the steam juicer and food mill to drop off and clear up space on my counters.

I'm working to keep the dishes from sitting in the sink and attracting ants and I went around the house and garden outside and sprinkled my fire ant bait in places where I was seeing them or I remember getting recent bites. I need to wash a load of laundry and hang it out, but they don't want us using equipment during the day if we can avoid it. I'll have to wash it overnight and hang it before I head to the office tomorrow. It dries so fast I can sometimes start taking down what I put up first after I finish hanging all of it.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: mouldy
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 04:05 PM

The lads are going to pick some quoins (corner stones) tomorrow, but the quarry is closed for 2 weeks from tomorrow evening. Ali, the builder, said he had rung the quarry to see how things stood, and was prepared to vent his wrath, but he said the poor guy on the other end of the phone was nearly in tears with the stress! So it looks like a little more may get done in the next fortnight, but that the main activity won't be until mid August.

I was bent over my front flowerbed this afternoon, dead-heading the roses and yanking a few weeds out, when my backside got beeped by one of the labourers (Geordie) passing by in his van.

I'll put some pics up on FB soon.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 04:31 PM

I had some sheets listed on eBay, ending soon, but cancelled the auction because it just wasn't moving or getting the views I'd hoped for. Funny, but raising the starting price and putting a "Buy It Now" price on the new listing got a very early bid and there earlier watchers the second time around.

Filing, sorting, shredding, getting my work files straightened out, ready for the new year and to finish summer projects. This has needed doing for a while!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 08:50 PM

I've shifted a lot of paper. Some of it is in the file drawer, some of it has three holes punched and is in the notebook for keeping track of my Internet sites. A bunch of it is in the recycle bin, and there is still a bunch that doesn't have a home. Soon.

Headed out for a little shopping and I'll take the recycling with me and drop it behind City Hall.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jul 11 - 09:27 AM

I went to Home Depot yesterday for a couple of items. I now have another of those 15' hose segments to run into the garden to the Y thing that my soaker hoses are attached to. It used to be easy to reach but everything is so overgrown now it's an adventure to hook a hose to it. So now this extension runs out of the garden to the driveway and I'll put the garden hose onto this to use the soakers in the veggie garden.

I also picked up a big (and very light weight) sheet of closed cell foam insulation (kind of a huge sheet of Styrofoam, but it's a different plastic and it's pink.) It was too long for the bed of the pickup so I pulled the back window down over it (I have a camper shell) and used a bungee to hold it shut, hooking it over the end of the pink plank to keep it in the truck. No way I'm going on the freeway or this could go airborne, so I took the frontage road. At the point where I crossed through a low-water crossing on the road the thing was jostled enough that the bungee came loose and when I went back for it (I was near home so delivered the plank first) I saw it in the middle of a large busy intersection. I pulled through, parked, walked back and pushed the pedestrian crosswalk button and was able to walk into the road and get it. Whew! Big expensive bungee adventure! If it had been one of the little cheap ones I might not have gone back for it.

The insulation will be used to form a vault kind of box that fits into my fireplace. I'm tired of the heat and cold that comes in despite the flue being closed.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Jul 11 - 06:10 PM

Not much going on here at the moment. I'm finding myself really tired lately. I walked a few miles yesterday.

I do still run when it's not raining (driveway gets slippery). We need the rain so I'm not complaining one bit.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 28 Jul 11 - 06:39 PM

Appetite all to pieces yesterday, and migraine type sickness in the afternoon . Woke in the night with non-migraine head, so today all messed about as well.

Yesterday morning I did go on the local authority's "Health Walk" with some interesting people. Not a particularly interesting walk, as the leader was a bit under the weather, as well. We did discover where a dog walker lets the dog foul the middle of a rape (canola?) field. Just the one dog, on many occasions. Out of sight of everywhere, just making walking the path a hazardous business. I'm not at all sure about why the local authority does this. Tuesday at the neighbouring village, Wednesday at ours. No information about where we go, just walking - not at any athletic pace. Leader at the front, who takes a register so that they know who they've got in case of accidents. Person at the back with first aid equipment, which they are not allowed to use, just make available to us to use on ourselves if necessary!

Today I cleaned out the salad drawer in the fridge, necessary because of the appetite loss. There is some very expensive compost forming in the bin, which I have watered heavily to suggest moving to the ants. I need to do some weeding of the kneeling down variety. Somehow, some nettles have arrived, and they must have come from my compost, since there aren't any around here to seed into the garden. The top of the garden is becoming jungly. The potatoes in their bags are growing to my shoulder height, and some of the tomatoes are tall, too. Not looking too healthy, though. I got a Chinese meal for supper, to save cooking (and it will do lunch tomorrow as well), though earlier I made some bread and then a ginger cake in the machine, and cooked beetroot in the pressure cooker, to be chopped and frozen in portions tomorrow.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jul 11 - 07:33 PM

We all sound hot and cranky this week. I need a nap - someone wake me up in October, please!

The high was 103 today but it felt a lot hotter because there is more humidity in the air.

I need to keep pushing the paper filing. What is filed is useful, but I need it to be organized and maintain that organization.

This afternoon I picked up some shredded beef, buns, and sausage at my favorite barbecue place. I'll make sandwiches with reheated meat over the weekend, saving heating up the house. All of that canning exhausted my patience with heating the kitchen.

I'll get something done this evening, if only laundry (there is a load stacked in the washer, I need to set the timer to wash again overnight.) Every so often you need a day off. Looks like this is it!

SRS