Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: ragdall
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 01:20 AM

I'm looking for inspiration and advice from you master declutterers.

How do you manage to part with things you've been holding on to for many, many years? How do you decide which hobbies to give up (and all the clutter that goes with them)?

Thanks,
rags

The only time I've ever managed to get rid of something with few regrets was when my first husband left me.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 10:19 AM

Rags,

I don't. That's why I have so much stuff!!!! I do try to sort things out though. For some things that I thought I had an attachment to, I put them in a rubbermaid tote and stuck it in the closet. Guess what? I can't even remember what's in there, so how can it be that special? I'll be getting rid of some of those things next month in a yard sale. If something is special, I keep it. There's no shame in having meaningful stuff. I think the ultra clutter free business is a fad and will pass in time. I watch all those tv shows on HGTV and they show these gorgeous homes but they are empty and have no personal feel to them at all. If there's something that makes your heart happy or it came from a special someone, I say keep it!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 10:20 AM

Rags, you wag!

I know what you're talking about. In the past there have been times I decided impulsively that I was holding onto too much stuff so gave away things, then actually felt a bit of a panic attack that I'd gotten rid of something that was my mother's that my children might like, etc. One way to do it is to develop a philosophical approach - you need to move stuff out, you want to sort it according to good reasons and not just emotional ones. I found the book by Don Aslett called Clutter's Last Stand. He looks at a lot of the rational and irrational reasons people keep things, and as you work through each chapter, you'll find yourself able to identify items that fall into his categories for you. You will be able to find inexpensive copies of this, and usually my half-price bookstore has several in stock.

This morning I took a squirt bottle with orange oil, compost tea, and plant wash out to do some surgical bug control in the garden. I have learned that when I have aphids and mealy bugs that the plant is in distress. All of my okra was looking good except this one plant. I realized the soaker hose loops over itself near that plant so it's getting twice as much water as all of the others. I've reworked the hose in a couple of areas - any spot where mealy bugs were turning up - and hopefully that will take care of it. But I wore gloves and spritzed each leave and scrubbed off the aphids and mealy bugs from under the leaves.

It's Friday. How are you going to spend your weekends? We have a small chance of rain, but the tropical storm aiming at the Gulf coast seems to be on a trajectory way south of me. It'll probably be hot and humid as hell.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 05:09 PM

Spent most of Weds and Thurs in the country, making pots, getting more organized each time. Weds, took hot bath after getting home, to soothe aches. Took extra MSM/glucosamine. Thurs, stopped early and took hot bath before leaving. Today, breakfast at 7:45 at a restaurant with friends from Ontario - on their way to nova Scotia. Nice to catch up. And a phone call to 94 year old friend near Toronto )6 hour trip). Notice of a Living with Wildlife conference in Toronto on 23 September. Maybe I can visit her then. Also meet some of the online ontariowildlife folks!

Weeded some, then caught up on computer, emails to SPCA and other raccoon folk. One rehabber is going to be an hour away in NYS on weekends so we can visit! So far I have had very good luck when meeting in reality, the virtual friends I only met on line.

Broke down and watered the tomato patch profusely and it still has not rained. Looking like it might but - oh yeah, it moistened the ground! Maybe tonight, she says hopefully.

Michelle, you did enough the other day for a week! You were doue for a break.

I'll leave for country at 6. R may need to come along later. Irish music tonight.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 07:06 PM

I decided that while I need to pick up Gatorade, it's $2 a bottle at the gas convenience store and I can surely do better. I picked up a case at Sam's Club, though it isn't the flavors I prefer. The point is good health, so I bought 20 ounce bottles instead of the larger 32 oz bottles that I use for a couple of days sometimes. At this point, there appears to be no real rain in sight; the bulk of the tropical storm will stay down along the Rio Grande.

I'm going to work on my office this evening. Get more of this paper out of here, either filed, shredded or recycled.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 07:23 PM

Reading along. Been very busy with Morgan, which has been fun, but not getting much done! Have my brother's b-day party to plan for tomorrow early evening. It was on Thursday, but everyone was hot and tired from work and heat, so we saved it for the weekend. Have been to exercise twice this week, the dentist for a cleaning, coumadin clinic, and hand therapist, plus the pool, yesterday. Next week starts swimming lessons, etc. Also found socks on sale, buy-one-get-one-free so M now has 12 new pairs of socks for school. I bought him some new shoes which he wore for a couple of days, then told me he was "saving them for school."

This high heat scares me. I move very slowly through it. SRS, I cannot even imagine how taxing it must be down there.

kat

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 07:28 PM

Walked about 2 miles at a local fair and then went to yoga.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 08:40 PM

I picked up a case of 20 oz bottles of Gatorade at Sam's Club. Not the flavors I like, but a lot cheaper than at the convenience store. The times I've really felt the lethargy of the heat were when I was so low on salt. Drinking a Gatorade had me feeling much better within the hour. Under "normal" circumstances you shouldn't drink this like a soft drink, though lots of people do. I am going to make of point of having a couple in the fridge and probably drinking one a day until the heat breaks, then we'll see.

Paper filing tonight, and I have that big sheet of insulation to cut down and fit into the fireplace. I also need to find some window film, though I suspect everyone who had it is probably sold out.

Zeke is coming mid-week next week to spend time here while his humans fly out for the week. My girls will be ecstatic!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 10:46 PM

The insulation sheet is cut into chunks, most of which are standing in position inside the fire place vault. I have to cut the front one into a couple of pieces to get it into place. I'll pick up a can of that window strength insulating foam and use it to roughly seal these edges together. I plan to close the fireplace door and not fool with it any more. It can be removed, but it probably won't be by me.

I've moved some paper, paid a couple of bills. Ate the cantaloupe out of a Tupperware square round (one of the old sandwich boxes). This one is better than the first. Sweeter, more flavor.

Next week I have meetings at work during the week, but we have extreme weather forecast, up to 107. I may have to take some leave to be sure the dogs are okay - they're not house dogs, I don't want to shut them in the bathroom all day. I'll see if there is someone who can come in and let them out to take care of business then come back in. Perhaps my son (I'd probably have to pay him. . . )

Back to a little more puttering before bed.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 11:28 PM

107?!?!?!?!?

I would be a puddle.

Glad to hear the Gatorade is bringing some relief and might have to pick some up for around here. It's not 107 degrees but the heat that we do have coupled with the hot flashes I have....forgettaboutit!!! I talked to my doctor about it and he said I could take estrogen if I really, really wanted to but since I've had an estrogen receptive cancer, it's not a great idea at all....but I'm glad he gave me the choice instead of just saying no. I'm going to sweat it out. There's no way in hell I'm going to do any HRT. Nope. Never. Ever. Ever.

So...I walked and did yoga today as posted earlier but holy mother of stiff muscles....my legs are TIGHT. Yoga was a lovely stretchy class but it's been some time since I've had a regular practice and man do I know it. Not that my yoga practice has ever been pretty (although my teacher tells me it's beautiful to watch), but today was rough. Whew.    As we settled into our bodies at the beginning of class, I cried. I couldn't help it. It was the first time in months that I felt like I was doing something of my old normal life. The sound of my teacher's voice, the friendly banter, the smell of my mat, the squish of it under my toes.....I had no idea how much I'd been missing it. My goal this week is to find a sitter for at least one day a week for a few hours so I can give this gift to myself. I want it. I need it. There has to be a way...there has to be!!!

I love my yoga and I suspect that will never, ever change.

Be safe in that heat SRS.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 12:14 AM

Michelle, good for you!! Giving thanks, here, that you find a sitter.

Re' "power surges"...I used tinctures of motherwort, dandelion root, and hawthorn berry, in fresh, clean water, a few times a day and didn't have very much trouble at all. I bought them at a health food store and they are available in non-alcohol based formulas. I know what you mean about HRT. I was never going to use any esp. premarin because of what they do to pregnant mares to get it, but I've recently had some "tissue" breakdown, so was able to get a synthetic, hypo-allergenic compound made up for internal and external use, sparingly only for a week or two, but it seems safe by all accounts. I found we have a new "real" old-fashioned compounding pharmacy here. Each prescription is made from scratch per individual's needs and they include tasty prescriptions for pets!

G'night all. SRS, stay as cool as possible!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: ragdall
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 09:29 AM

LilyFestre and Stilly River Sage,
Thank you for your replies.
I'll look for that book at the used book store here SRS.
I'm trying to convince myself that realistically, I'm never going to be going back to some of the craft/hobby activities I did in the past and get rid of everything I've been saving to use for those things. It will feel as if I'm cutting pieces from my life and throwing them away but somehow I need to downsize drastically.

Michelle, I like your hide it in a bin approach and chuck anything forgotten. I think I'd remember what was in each bin though. I can't remember what I ate for breakfast or what someone said to me two minutes ago, but I have a mental inventory of the contents of dozens of boxes in my attic.   

Am making some progress. While I was on the phone for a couple of hours tonight, I deleted the contents of 35 floppy disks, dating back to 1996 and 1997, then reformatted the disks in preparation for throwing them away. I saved the contents of a few of the disks on my hard drive. Will make a CD from that.

rags

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 10:42 AM

Rags, it's a process before you can conclude that the box contents are excess - and to decide what pieces really are important for the story they tell or the person they remind you of. My stumbling block - some of the kids old toys that were so good, played with a lot, that would be good for grandkids. I have to decide which ones might actually get used and which will be too old for babies when we ever get to that point (my kids are college age now). And bins of crayons - don't those take you immediately to your or your children's childhood? They're probably dried out and need to go, but it isn't easy!

Other hobbies, though I've tended to neglect them for some years, I think it's because I was so busy with the kids. Now I can see which ones I want to go back to, so I'm not sorting out many of the craft items unless they're old or too obviously meant for the kids for school use and we don't need them now.

Hopefully next week will be the height of the nasty heat and after that the tropical storms that start to form this time of year might help with the drought (they will make it extremely muggy, but we need the rain and will hunker down for the humidity.)

Out to run a few errands before it gets hotter. Also, I'm drinking a bottle of Gatorade early to see if that keeps me comfortable through the afternoon, avoiding the lethargy the heat causes.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 05:28 PM

I was hoping we would have a day that didn't reach 100, but it made it again today. At least it just barely got there.

I picked up one of those roll-up stick blinds at Home Depot to put up on the side of my patio to keep the sun off of the glass door. I may pick up a second for the far end of the patio cover also. I looked at window film, but since it costs about as much as the blinds, I think the blinds are an easier answer.

Dishes are finished. It has been a very low-energy day for me so I'm glad that I can at least say my kitchen is clean. I'm going to fold laundry next, and from there, work on the fireplace (I want the clothes off of the couch before I get into the mess of the fireplace and have to move furniture out of the way.) I'm thinking about making the mantle, that sticks out from the front of the stone wall, the top of a cabinet that is built in front of the fireplace, so it looks simply like a stone wall with a wooden cabinet in front of it. Whatever I do, I intend to cover up the fireplace and keep it from sending so much hot or cold air into the house.

Funny, as I start thinking about these things my enthusiasm grows and I feel more energetic, so maybe all I needed was a plan!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 05:44 PM

Rog and I were up early this morning. Morgan called at 8a, "Hi, Mama. I have a question about Uncle Delton's birthday. What time do you want me to come over and help make the cake?"

So, we left the house at 9a, went to the vet's for food and medicine for the cats, then to the grocery store where we picked up stuff for the party: pizza, balloons, crepe paper streamers, salad makings and carrot cake mix with cream cheese frosting. Picked up Morgan after stopping at the post office and getting sodas for lunch.

M huffed and puffed and blew up seven balloons, then we all three put streamers up across the LR with balloons hanging down and M put some outside, too.

Everyone showed up about 1p. The timing was perfect. We'd made the salad and had it chilling, made the cake, frosted it with M dotting it with "sprinkles" and had just taken the pizzas out of the over when they all got here, my brother, daughter and her husband.

The latter two have got the declutter bug! I am so pleased to hear this as their house was controlled chaos with the four dogs, two ferrets, one cat and no storage to speak of. They have been devoting a half day per weekend on chosen projects and are making great headway!

My bro was pleased with the food, the visit with us all, esp. my daughter as she grew up with him living with us (and still loves him!**bg**) and was pleased to get a gift certificate to the local garden center.

I did all of the dishes this morning, cleaned off the table, made the cake and salad with M's help, doctored up the pizzas with fresh veggies, and just generally cleaned up. Rog is now sacked out in the recliner, they've all gone home, the leftovers are in the frig, and I am about to go put my feet up and try to cool off a bit back in our bedroom. It faces east and is at the north end with a shade tree from the neighbours, so afternoons are a good time to be back there. It is 96 outside, but it feels hotter.

SRS, I am glad to hear there may be respite for you, soon.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 01:20 AM

I've fit more pieces of insulation into the fireplace cavity and used the foam insulation to close it up a bit more. It won't be air tight. I still have to figure out how to get the front in (I may have to remove the glass doors then put them back in place).

Dishes finished, laundry finished, but then I took out the gallon of tomato juice and found containers to freeze it in so now I have that and a few other things in the sink. I'll do them before heading to bed. Starting Monday it will be hell on earth here, that's all I can imagine. The high for the week is now forecast as 108. Who knows what they'll be predicting by mid-week. (My daughter was born in late August after we'd had a stretch of hot weather like this. She arrived a couple of days after a cool front came through, and I told her years later that I thought she waited for the cool before deciding to come out.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 01:45 AM

Surely they will exempt folks from going out to work in that kind of heat, SRS? There were places where the pavement melted, recently, north of you. I'd think it would be just too dangerous for many folks to even be out on such days. Move slowly and be careful.:-)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 01:37 PM

Kat - certainly anyone with an outdoor job should be given access to work indoors for health and safety reasons.

Yesterday afternoon I put up a six-foot wide, six foot long blind, one of the indoor/outdoor ones that rolls up. I placed it on the side of the patio cover to block the sun that heats the glass doors. I should have done this a couple of months ago, but it did finally occur to me that this would be easier than cleaning the doors and cutting the film to fit. I didn't think of putting up the shade in this fashion until yesterday, but I have procrastinated in addressing the afternoon sun issue.

I've cleaned the fridge and made a shopping list. Baked a pan of bread pudding this morning; it heats up nicely for breakfast.

I have whittled down the papers on my computer desk (I can see some wood), filing and shredding my way through stacks. A couple of sets of notes from ongoing projects are going to have to find somewhere to live, and then be discarded when the projects are finished - that is a big problem, knowing when something is finished and moving on.

Gotta change water in the dog pools, then run a few errands. I hope one of these days I'll have a photo of Morgan in the water splash park as my screen saver!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 07:15 PM

Took more recycling over to the bin, took 2 paper grocery bags of newspapers over to the Humane Society, took canning supplies back to Dean, and picked up some lava sand to spread around in the garden. I'll use it like mulch and it will help hold the water for some of the plants this week.

Looked for earphones for my mp3 player, decided to try the type my son likes, but they feel odd. Sturdy, and the sound is good, but odd. I'll try again another time and my has son inherited a spare set of earphones.

I came in this afternoon to find that it is so much cooler over by the back door! The shade hung up on the porch really does work. 105 today. Ugg. I'll work indoors some more and maybe outside a little at sunset. I want to get started with the sand.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 08:13 PM

We stayed up 'til past midnight and I couldn't sleep. Finally drifted off about 230a, then woke up around 6a. Argghh! So, this morning was slow going, but I finally built-up a head of "coolish" steam:-) and Rog helped me clean out and reorganise the linen closet. I found a cat shelter which advertises the need for old blankets, linens, and such, so I filled a bin for them. The closet looks great.

Then (drum roll, please) Rog and I, after lunch, went to the humane society. I'd felt a few days ago that it truly was time to look, seriously, for another dog. We were there almost two hours and have come with a beautiful, 3 year old mini-Aussie Shepherd named "Fiona" for the moment. She is spending the night with us to see how the cats, etc. do with her. So far, so good with the grandkid, she's shy of the cats, they don't hate me, thank goodness, AND she quiet and obedient. Really a sweet dog. I'll post a picture by end of tomorrow.

kat

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: GUEST,Tinker
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 09:59 PM

kat.... congrats on the dog.... she sounds like a sweetie....waiting for the photos

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 10:11 PM

Kat, I looked at the dogs also at the Humane Society today, though I didn't bring anyone home. But there were more who looked like what I had in mind - 2 to 3 years old, full grown, healthy, well-proportioned and healthy looking. I'm still thinking the pooch I took down might come out the other end one of these days. Some of these animals spend several weeks getting healthy before they're put in the adoption area.

My friend Dean is probably going to lose his house because the bank messed up with some insurance activity a year ago. It has caused a cascade of expenses that have him up against the wall. I'm going to clear space and put up shelves (I have the supports and boards, just haven't used them yet) so he can store household things in my garage so they're out of the way when that move happens. I told him I won't start working out there until this heat breaks, and we do have time. But it is so heartbreaking to see how the poor choices made by various people resulted in this.

I'm going to move some furniture in my office this evening to make the scanner a little easier to reach and remove a little table. And soon it is time to start transferring the contents of the VCR tapes and burning them to DVD. Moving things will make it easier to attach the machine and play the tapes into the computer.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 11:35 PM

That's terribly sad about Dean's house, SRS. Is there even a chance he may not lose it? Good friend, you are. (I'm channelling Yoda, apparently!:-)

Thanks, Tink and SRS. I will get pix up, as I am sure we will be keeping her. She is really well-behaved and so quiet. Content to lie down or sit wherever we are and well-housebroken, too. I think she will get a new name, though. I had told Morgan is I got a Siamese female, again, someday, we would call her StellaLuna after a fav. storybook of his about a daft bat. We both just love the way it rolls off the tongue and IF we name her that, her nickname would be L-o-o-n-a-h, as we both like to draw it out a bit, sort of singing(ly). It has the same ending as her name, now,so I don't think it would be too confusing for her. Besides she has shown a lot of intelligence, already.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: ragdall
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 01:51 AM

Kat, congratulations on your new family member. She sounds like a wonderful little girl. What do the cats think about her?

SRS, That's terrible about Dean's house! If the bank made the mistakes shouldn't they be making it right for him?

Any toys that are sturdy and intact are good to keep. You'll be amazed at how fast the time passes before grandchildren arrive. It seems to us there will be an endless supply of little ones. Our first grandchild arrived over 22 years ago, the most recent is two months old. The eldest already has a four year old and a two month old baby of her own so the cycle continues. They all enjoy playing with my children's toys when they visit us.

Last night I worked on my sewing machine, catching up some mending and projects. I've been using pieces of fabric from items in the rag box to make "pockets" inside my husband's pant legs to hold the two collection bags he has fastened to tubes in his body because of his kidney problem. The bags are meant to be held up with elastic strips around the leg. The elastic doesn't hold well enough and also tends to increase the swelling in a leg. So far, the pockets seem to work well.

I'm using thrift store sheets to give some worn comforters new life, recovering an entire worn surface. It was easy to sew the sheet along the edges of the first one. I'm hoping that I'll be able to feed the thicker parts of the comforter through my machine to follow the quilting lines and fasten the sheet in place.

Today I spent a couple of hours in the five foot by 20 foot long space between my deck and the fence along my neighbours' driveway, pulling up seedling trees and cutting out small trees. My hands are not very happy. I also pruned a lilac back away from the fence line. There are Green Ash, Mountain Ash, Cottonwood, and Choke Cherry seedlings everywhere in my yard. If I ever am unable to clean out that space or mow the lawn, in less than ten years my house will be surrounded by a dense forest. The Green Ash are the worst, they'll grow at least four feet in height in a year.

rags

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 09:49 AM

Here's a new thread for August 2011.

SRS