DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Oct 25 - 07:42 PM

Dupont:
recovering from trip back from Beaver and getting ready for visit from PA friend; Yes, her 69 yr old energy reminds me of my 88 years as I tried to muster enough energy not to be a drone. She was So helpful! I did use up energy that I still do not have back. But it was wonderful to spend a couple days with this dear person. Two days in bed recovering is fine!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Oct 25 - 11:21 AM

Sounds like you had a good trip and great visit, Dorothy!

The last few days have been a flurry of activity, such as refilling the spools for my battery-operated string trimmer (after researching string design to use one that cuts better.) Also rooting around in the front room for things packed and ready to describe and sell on eBay, especially seasonal cooking and baking items.

I did some cooking to freeze in single portions, my nacho mix so far. This time of year the freezer is already pretty full from all of the packaged or jarred garden produce. Tomatoes, eggplant, and this year I'm freezing a bunch of okra (since roasting it results in a consistency similar to having been frozen, it might not make a difference to the outcome.) In that past I usually only ate it fried, and from frozen to fried isn't a great consistency.

I fixed my office radio today, where I work while listening to one weekly AM program (from the gardening site I work for). I successfully swapped in an antenna from a different radio. I had been streaming it on the computer and that channel carries awful far right programs the rest of the time. The streaming ads are worse than the ads they broadcast on the radio, for some reason. Who knows what the Google algorithm made of that regular site.

I missed putting out tree limbs during last month's quarterly bulky waste pickup so am going to resort to taking them down one at a time, cutting into pieces, and stuffing into the trash can. We are entering the best time of year for pruning trees (when they start to shut down for winter).

All of this plus more dog walking. Fall is a great time of year.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Oct 25 - 04:56 PM

After a modest workout this afternoon the first trashcan full of trimmings is at the curb. I also disassembled the short fence posts, tomato cages, wire trellises, and a few other items that grew into the framework of support for the cucumbers.

The limbs I trashed today were from the huge Maximillian sunflowers instead of the pine tree; they've dried up so much they're pretty ratty looking (the wildlife would love it if I left it right there, but that isn't going to happen.) For now I took a lot off the sides so it isn't crowding my driveway as much and not leaning over the neighbor's yard so much. Next trash day will probably see the rest of it fit in that can.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Oct 25 - 09:48 AM

Yesterday I went to church and recce’d the choir. They’re not bad; they fell apart right where most choirs do in the Tallis motet “If ye love me”, but recombobulated on the fly and finished well. I’ll investigate further at rehearsal on Thursday. I surprised myself by singing competently in the congregation after not uttering a note for weeks. Such a relief.

Tosh the stairs guy has COVID, so I have at least one more day of lounging around and maybe unpacking a box. Not two. SIL No. 2 is performing in a story-telling show tonight, so I will attend along with the rest of the family to stiffen the crowd and clap loudly. SIL is very good; the others on the bill maybe not so much but we’ll see — and clap just as loudly.

Nephew Patrick (flute player) tells me that one of his favourite sessions is on this week, so it’s time to get out the mandolin and practise. Calluses don’t maintain themselves.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Oct 25 - 11:46 AM

Sounds like you've picked up where you left off a few short weeks ago, and now have more family partners in musical crime. Good work! (I hope you weren't exposed to the stair-guy's COVID!)

This weekend I started work on the next batch of cardboard to recycle. One of my habits is to keep the box that electronic items came in; at one time if something went wrong manufacturers (or stores) wanted you to return them in the original box. Those days are long gone; in more recent times having the original box for something you're selling on eBay gave it more cachet and the ability to ask a higher price. The boxes I'm finding now won't add value, just dust. It occurs to me that I have some boxes in the attic that can join this growing stack; I'll head up one day this week early in the morning to avoid the heat up there.

That doesn't mean all cardboard is ejected from the house, on the contrary. I ordered two more jigsaw puzzles from the Exploding Kitten (The Oatmeal) artist, and I have several boxes of worked (and complete) puzzles I may put on eBay. I had been donating them and will probably still do that with some. A friend works at a library where they keep one going on a table and anyone can stop by and work it. For me jigsaw puzzles and audiobooks go well together to distract from politics of the day and I've doubled down on that activity lately. When I pick them up in thrift stores there are some artists I see regularly (Wysocki work is attractive but his depth of field is off, making it difficult to place pieces), those featuring collections of things (books, record albums, cheeses, etc.) give the most challenge but also a chance to meditate on the subject matter. I did a great one of the Cinque Terre (alas, Cookie ate a few of the pieces off of the table) that was nice and I see a different puzzle view of the same on Amazon). Never ever Kinkade cross my threshold, I find his work nauseating.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 06 Oct 25 - 01:05 PM

> water and white vinegar

That sounds like the most aggressive recipe the BBC dares to use when cleaning LPs: a 50/50 mix of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water. Learn from my mistake: cleaning records with that in a confined space is distinctly contraindicated.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Oct 25 - 02:47 PM

I've put off purchasing more cleaning alcohol until I have a long enough shopping list to merit a trip. Probably tomorrow. Since I'm cleaning bars over outside windows, ventilation isn't an issue. I think the vinegar is probably also a viable option, just one that the painter didn't know about. Vinegar is used to remove rust, though these are aluminum so not a problem.

A device listed on eBay yesterday sold this morning so will leave the house tomorrow. I'll get out the next one and do the photos and description. I don't think the price was too low, I think it has to do with the trouble I take to test and clean and describe, and include a printed manual and extra equipment (since this is a VHS player I include an RCA cable and a tip sheet on how to keep them running for a long time.) The value added component.

This afternoon I stepped next door to deliver some fresh okra and they are babysitting the great grandson. We had a brief visit and though I didn't pick him up I gave him a pat on the cheek and got a sniff of his head - there is something magical about how a baby's hair smells.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 07 Oct 25 - 10:23 AM

I don't know about vinegar and rust, pipes rust more if in an acid environment. If I have to neutralize a cleaner after use, I'd rather use a different cleaner.

Spent some hours organizing the rocks and minerals. The new ones I have been washing, splitting, and examining, and ones which have been sitting out instead of stowed away. Also re-mounted a dozen micros which had come loose from their moorings, and put the micromount drawers back in order. Unfortunately one cleaned up mess seems to lead to a new one; rediscovered more things that need to be split and looked at.

Meanwhile the goatheads have established quite a beachhead in the 'back 40', enmeshed with other viny plants and an anthill, while I concentrated on higher traffic areas. So, time spent on that, and nervous that as it gets drier and drier, the goatheads are more prone to pop off the plant when it gets yanked up.

And yes it's all way behind. But I went to some online sings regardless of the chore backlog, and worked on some mending projects that got put off too long.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Oct 25 - 11:29 AM

Patty, there was quite a long and detailed discussion about goatheads and grassburs on the facebook page of the organic gardening site I moderate. Along with pulling, digging, etc., because they thrive in poor soil another thing that is liable to drive them off faster is healthier soil. Spreading organic fertilizer and compost, or in lieu of that, spraying liquid humate or spreading humate (bagged carbon leftovers from industry) will jumpstart the biology in the soil and the goatheads are less likely to germinate. (Apply these a couple of times a year and probably for multiple years to see continual improvement.) There are also tricks for dragging shag carpet through the area to snag whole bunches at a time, and one guy posted a photo of a device called Sticker Burr Roller. Way expensive, but maybe a business in the area has some for rent? Amazon even sells them (I put a link to that because I see similar less expensive products promoted on the same page.) Other people suggested that goats or donkeys and even chickens will eat them when they're green. Rent a herd of goats? I see bagged humate for sale at Walmart and online (heavy to ship). Ask your local feed store, and maybe even Tractor Supply. For liquid or solids Medina and Fertilome are good organic brands; never ever buy anything with "Scotts" or "MiracleGro" or "Ortho" on the lable. Black Kow is a good commercial compost. Don't pick up any of the biosolids (rendered from sewage treatment plants) - the PFAS problem is huge yet untreated there. I would include Milorganite in the off-bounds list.

Even as the postal carrier picked up the box from yesterday's sale, there was a bit of backslide on eBay. I have a vintage cookie press, they don't make them any more, and it had only a few of the shape discs. Looking for comparable prices I found a larger one for sale with a double set of all of the discs and a smaller frosting decorating tube with its tips. When it arrives some of these will add to the current device, the decorating tube and shapes will go as an xmas gift to my son's partner who is fond of that kind of baking activity, and the remainder will be another sale on eBay, so I'll make more than I paid. For right now I'm working on clearing out the stuff sitting right there at the table then pulling out more from the front room, and I've been looking at a box with this cookie press for ages.

The back of the SUV is filling with flattened cardboard and will add more all day; I plan to head over to the village bins this evening after they are emptied.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 07 Oct 25 - 10:30 PM

Thanks for the input on the weed issue. I was considering soil amendments before next season, make the soil richer, if even just with lime, to be more inhospitable for them. But I kind of hate to thwart all the other 'good' desert plants I am getting attached to. Ideally i guess I would like to acidize the young growth next year while encouraging more friendly groundcovers. I can see where certain things tend to compete and crowd out the goatheads, where other things happily coexist with it. It is a learning curve. Nice to have a research librarian with lots of answers and ideas handy!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Oct 25 - 11:49 PM

Ideally you can get the plants you want in the area started in the perimeter of the goatheads, and they will encroach into the space as the burs die out.

Cardboard is gone. A whole bunch more of the dried sunflowers are stuffed into the trash can for later this week. I have a second smaller can that I may deploy tomorrow and cut the rest down just to finish that job.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 08 Oct 25 - 02:36 PM

The moving company has disavowed all responsibility for the teetering pile of bagged packing paper and significant stack of flattened boxes in my garage. I am so done with Sheffield Moving & Storage; if I had the skills to hex them, I’d do it with glee.

My back is on strike again after I picked up the cross-cut shredder to move it upstairs on Monday. Yes, I performed a proper squat and lifted correctly; no, my efforts did not make a whit of difference, except maybe that I didn’t displace a disc. Five steps up, as I turned on the landing (box-stepping), I felt that old, familiar feeling — CLUNG! — as the web of muscle across my back at the L5-L6 level went into spasm. I put down the shredder right there and left it until Tosh turned up this morning, apparently recovered from the plague.

The furniture repair people sent a brace of real bruisers to take the four pieces damaged by the movers off to rehab. I enjoyed watching them not bang or break anything on the way down and out, working their way through Tosh’s tools and pieces of stair.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: keberoxu
Date: 08 Oct 25 - 04:21 PM

Charmion's Great Upheaval includes a physical upheaval as well.
What a shame. What a pain.
Do what you have to do to nurse yourself back to well-being.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Oct 25 - 04:54 PM

How are the stairs looking?

Interesting story: when we moved to Fort Worth in 1989 (!) the movers damaged a number of antiques. The company contracted with a father and son duo who specialize in restoring furniture and replacing bits lost in transit. They spent a couple of days working at the house, and it turned out that they were hired to do repairs when Van Cliburn moved to town and his damaged stuff needed work. The stories they told! I spent the whole time with them, not in the way, but asking questions. Meeting them was the best outcome from the entire move. (Weeks and months later they would get calls from Van, asking if they knew where some such item might have been put away. He had them on speed dial.)

The bad-back move that gets me EVERY TIME is to bend forward, reach out, and lift. Sproing! goes the back. Sounds like you have your own personal injury that steps up all of a sudden. I know how the original injury happened, a similar move from picking up a toddler while kneeling and leaning forward. I'll never forget that diaper change as long as I have that back injury to keep coming back if I move wrong. A minor emergency clinic DO doctor was able to pop things back into place, but they are always going to be weak.

Today at lunch I handed over the marvelous black silk chiffon velvet that Mom bought in Japan in about 1946 (she was a WAC who spent 18 months there after WWII). My daughter knows better than most just how precious that fabric is, and will keep all scraps. I told her I'd like a small piece at some point to turn into a something-or-other as a memento of this fabric that spanned three generations. Nothing will go to waste, they'll be bagged for other uses. One of the things that I really wish my mother had lived to see is just how talented her grandchildren are. How the utilitarian sewing that she did (making clothes for us), and that I did (I made most of my clothes in high school and into college, then making clothes for my kids) has gone from that to high art with my daughter.

Also today at lunch I asked the restaurant owner if he eats okra - and a 20 minute conversation on methods to cook it ensued. Later I mentioned eggplant, and we could have gone another 20 minutes. I'll take a bag of fresh okra down later this week since I'll be in the area doing the cat feeding. When it's gone, it's gone, but for now I'll share it with people who love it.

The eBay work is yielding results so I need to keep moving on that. The Goodwill bin in the laundry room has a bit more room before I make a run over there, but all told, I'm moving more stuff out of the house than I'm bringing in.

A sad note to end on, the big Argiope spider out at the end of the porch disappeared two days ago and no sign of her since. The web is undisturbed, so either she went walkabout after a successful season of eating, breeding, and egg sacs, or something ate her. The original Argiope on the porch corner gets really excited when I open the door, making the web bounce up and down trampoline-like. Is she trying to tell me that Timmy fell in the well and I can rescue the other spider if I look around for her? Or is she trying to chase off whatever ate her friend? Mixed metaphors there, Lassie and Charlotte's Web.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Oct 25 - 11:14 AM

This morning I spent an hour going through the Instagram account on my phone to unfollow a lot of the political types I liked and appreciate for their helpful and wise words but who are there way too much for my good health. As I also dismissed ads that the algorithm was pushing forward I saw a shift, and have now seen accounts that haven't turned up in ages. Decluttering of virtual toxicity and political urgency felt good. (If it had just been my followed accounts in the feed, it wouldn't have been so bad, but Meta amplifies everything with the algorithms). I'm going to try to push it back toward science topics and nature photos.

The last of the tall straggly sunflowers were carted off in the morning trash. Trimming and mowing await my attention. It's another week of cat stuff so many of my chores will be fragmented into "as time allows."

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: pattyClink
Date: 09 Oct 25 - 11:49 AM

Worked on mending quite a bit the last 2 days, and organizing what odd assortment of sewing supplies I have. I'm glad I have a few notions I'm not going to have to overpay for. And it's strange how my late Mom seems to live again when I am rummaging through her button collection.

Mending and little sewing projects are good for patience because they take as long as they take, time seems to go into low gear for a while.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 09 Oct 25 - 04:19 PM

Ottawa finally has a frost warning for tonight. This usually comes in mid-September -- or should I say that it used to come in mid-September? The high on Monday was 30C and stifling.

Weird weather.

Elder Brother and SIL No. 2 came over this afternoon to help me uncrate the pictures that were stacked up in the bunker. Now I have to figure out how to hang them.

My back is better, definitely benefitting from less bending and toting,

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Oct 25 - 03:59 PM

Be disciplined and don't overdo so you can enjoy the move!

While we aren't at the highs of summer, we are about 10^o above normal all of October so far. It doesn't feel like autumn so when it cools into the 60s overnight the mornings are nice.

A trip to the town where I used to work today included a stop at the thrift store that usually has a good array of jigsaw puzzles. Four for $15. I have a stack of complete (no missing pieces) completed puzzles—I'll sell some in small lots on eBay and donate others. A stop at Aldi for a few groceries and I succumbed to the point-of-purchase pots of mums; the one I picked has potential to bloom a lot but was a little wilted. I picked up a plastic bag on the ground in the parking lot and opened it to put the pot in, and there was a trash water bottle in the lot near my car that I poured over it (I took a sniff to be sure it was water). Sounds odd, but the plant perked up and will be lovely on the porch.

The cookie press ordered from eBay arrived with all of those duplicate discs, so this weekend I'll sort and list the one I had and then put part of this up in a new listing. The gift portion will be set aside.

My daughter told me she finally opened the pickled okra I gave her and was blown away "it's soooo good!", an indication that she would like some more. I'll make another batch this weekend (must get a hot pepper, I have everything else). I still have some that I intend for gifts for friends, so this is the family batch.

Cat sitting is offering up challenges; the one who is usually the feline insinkerator - he'll eat anything - is being picky, and has decided to stay under the furniture. The calico that bit me is eating ok, but since she's deaf, if she's startled she abandons her plate. When I was tucking a plate under the credenza for the now-fussy eater at noon I startled her. Tomorrow is a day of complex stuff - a chemo treatment and bi-weekly subcutaneous fluids for the little guy. (My friend included a very generous bonus and thank you note in the pay envelope this time, it seems the cat that bit me had a health thing going on that needed diagnosis to save her life.) That makes two fragile kitties and one who is being fussy. I had cats for a lot of years, none quite so complex as this. These days, dogs are easier.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 10 Oct 25 - 04:19 PM

I unpacked the last three 5-cu barrel boxes and finally found the sofa cushions, the iron, and the spirit level. And Tosh has almost finished the stairs; just quarter-round and balusters still to go.

Meanwhile, the garage is full of bundled packing paper and flattened boxes, and the deck out back is stacked with broken-down picture crates and flooring boxes. Tosh has promised to return tomorrow with a one-ton truck to take the debris to the dump, and the three leftover boxes of flooring back to Home Depot. By Monday, I might be able to get on to the next thing — finding a design-build kitchen and bathroom contractor. I would like to get kitchen cabinets and drawers that work, a bathtub deep enough to wallow in, and stowage for the toiletries and first aid supplies stashed in a box in the linen closet.

Thanksgiving is upon us up here in the suddenly chillier North, and with it the fifth anniversary of Edmund’s death. I think I’ll go to the pub for supper tonight.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Oct 25 - 05:13 PM

tomorrow afternoon I have to do some moving of stuff - my fridge died on Thursday afternoon (it's brekkie time on Saturday here) & I didn't notice when I put away some veggies, but I did at 9pm - freezer had no ice or cool - & thermometer in the fridge said 26C = 78F. So I put the floppy contents of the freezer - bread & cheese & butter into the chest freezer. New fridge will be delivered between 8 & 11 on Monday - specially fitted in cos I have a medical appointment on Monday afternoon. I was at a festival on the weekend & did a lot of knitting & my almost-mended fractured pinkie joint (knuckle) is swollen, & as always, it was uncomfortable & a friend noticed the swelling (oops)

I also froze all vegiburgers & falafels - just in their bags, I didn't separate them & freeze them properly! I checked google & decanted my yoghurt into small 1 serve pots & took my 3 (very) soft white cheeses & 2 or 3 packets of slices & 3 dips to my neighbour who fitted them into her well filled fridge, bless her little cotton socks!! Fruit & veggies were parked on the chest freezer & stove. Today I threw out the sliced beetroot & will be throwing out my Vietnamese pickled carrots and daikon (radish) (reputable sites say they can't live outside the fridge!) I only made 3 portions a few weeks ago, & I could have re-frozen my Japanese seaweed salad (sob!) All off to landfill cos they are swimming in vinegar.

The only things in the fridge are chutneys etc, cos my bench tops are full!

On Monday a new slightly bigger fridge will arrive & to get it in my door I need the remove 2 small bookcases, one on my living room wall, the other on my kitchen wall, easy enough - they could even sit in our hallway, no one will see them. Then I need to remove all magnets on my fridge & the 2 serving bowls & 6" fan on the top ... & my sewing machine topped by a collection of craft folders & a small occasional table both opposite the small bookcase ...

At least I don't need to defrost & wipe out the fridge!

ps. Nagi's site is one of our most popular recipe sites - ditto her books

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Oct 25 - 05:36 PM

Charmion, sounds like an excellent plan, and we're still offering condolences. Sandra, it sounds like you'll be rearranging the entire apartment by the time you get all of the cases and magnets moved. Good luck with the new appliance!

My knees have been a bit stiff and part of it has to do with the Prenisone. I'm 15 pounds over my ideal weight because of the steroids, and the weight makes a difference. My rheumatologist commiserates, and says it will get better as the tapering off continues. My high-protein and fat diet will take the weight off once the medication is finished.

Another eBay sale this afternoon, more Libbey glasses. I'll double check that package to be sure that every glass is armor-plated - the post office seems to have a special technique for drop-kicking parcels with padded glass that guarantees at least one doesn't survive the trip.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: keberoxu
Date: 10 Oct 25 - 06:33 PM

I remember that Sandra had injured her hand, but
somehow I didn't know about the knuckle fracture.
That is serious and painful. Take good care of it!

Charmion, I'm no good at voicing condolences,
but you certainly have mine on this date.
It is well that you are out of that Stratford house on this year.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 10 Oct 25 - 07:28 PM

Thanks for that thought, keb. And you’re right. This house is far from excellent, but it already feels easier — no baggage.

Twelve boxes of books and a garage full of clag, but no baggage.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Oct 25 - 09:06 PM

Keb, I had/have a small fracture in the lower part of my pinkie. I hadn't realised finger bones continue into the palm, I originally thought the fracture was at the top of my finger!

Charmion - Twelve boxes of books and a garage full of clag, but no baggage. nicely said!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Oct 25 - 11:05 PM

I suspect there are still plenty of mementos, if not baggage. A good balance, one hopes.

With my cat-sitting comings and goings this week I find an overlap for my now carefully managed political activity; tomorrow morning en route to the house is a protest on a highway pedestrian bridge. I'll put on a message t-shirt and get out one of my signs and stop for a while before the late morning feeding. The setup for protestors is a large sign stretched out along a pedestrian bridge over the freeway, with a bunch of people behind it waving other signs. With as much traffic as passes under there, it gets a lot of attention for a couple of hours. I could even make a new sign, I have quite a collection now.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Mary G
Date: 12 Oct 25 - 08:03 PM

well, here is an update on my move. It was brutal because property manager would not give me a move in date and i had already given notice in old apt. She gave me about 2 days notice. It would not matter if I had a week or so off, but I tutor online and I needed to set up internet etc. So I got a week in a motel in Centralia. My car, which worried me and I had just dumped money into, is going to be donated. It just does not start reliably. I had stuff all over the place. Thanks to my sister and her grandson I think most of it is moved in now. Still is a move in mess - lots of storage but ten feet high. There is a nice thrift store a few blocks away. Likewise a KFC and my church. There is a nice school a few blocks away and I hope to get either some sub jobs Monday all day and mornings other days -- don't care what I do. The less the better as I will keep tutoring in afternoons. Great dial a ride service. Have not figured out regular bus. Anyway, I like it quite a lot. I like not being by ocean where sooner or later there will be a tsunami. Nice brick apartment building in lovely neighborhood and close to downtown. unfortunately not close to food source other than KFC but can bus to safeway etc.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Oct 25 - 09:26 PM

you have been living in Interesting Times, but now you appear to have landed in a good area.

My fridge did not arrive & it needed 3 calls to the large & famous retailer to sort out. Eventually the bloke said they were running a bit late & I had told them on Saturday I had a medical appointment in the middle of the day they had checked with Delivery people who said they could deliver between 8 & 11. Each time I called I said I needed to leave at 12.30 to get to my appointment (slight exaggeration, 1 is ok & it's now 12.21 Sydney time) the 3rd bloke definitely checked & they can deliver between3 & 4. The other 2 did not call back.

Lotsa' organisations ask their customers to provide a good review - I never post reviews but I'm planning to this time. Last year they delivered my washing machine perfectly which is why I went back to them.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Oct 25 - 11:14 PM

Mary, moving into someplace you like but with a brutal property manager sounds like a crap-shoot; I hope it works out well. And though you're living frugally, there are delivery services. (I see there is a Winco grocery store in town - that is a good place to start for shopping. It's an employee-owned store, many of them are open 24-hours, and the store near me has a great bulk food section. Yours may vary. The map says it is on Yew St. south of Alder, just east of I-5. There's also an Aldi, 300 Aaron Parkway. They don't have every brand in the world, what these low-priced small stores have is good quality products in store brands or a few name brands. For big stores there is Fred Meyer and as a last resort, Walmart. Good luck with that.

Sandra, it sounds like you were also looking at a crap-shoot as far as delivery. I hope it worked out. Blocking out a four-hour chunk of time for a service call can kill the day.

My 91-year-old friend who recently moved from far west of here to not quite so far south of here called this evening - a cousin of her children died in Colorado, they're all going to the funeral, and she needs someone to stay with her. No, I won't drive down there for four days and have someone else feed my dogs, she can come here. But she has a dog who is an escape artist and there isn't time to train her to the backyard invisible fence. She's going to see if she can board the dog down there and then she spends the time here.

This means I have until next Thursday to see if I can accomplish that cleared-out-den look I described some weeks ago. I've listed and sold several of the items that were taking up space on the dining table but I still need to move the photo cube. I'm close to managing this.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Oct 25 - 06:12 PM

3-4 passed & I called again & got an helpful bloke (unlike the others.) He spoke to the delivery people & they were running behind (yes!) & said 5.30, it was nearer 6.30 when 2 blokes arrived in a 1 ton white truck & not-quite run up my stairs carrying a full-size fridge & soon had the old one out. If they had to return to the warehouse to reload, no wonder they were running late!

I measured width & depth & it was a bit wider, but still fitted, & taller. The only problem was my 1960s/70s shopping trolley which contains spare hand towels, & vacuum heads etc no longer fits, but the contents fit in the bathroom cupboard where the vacuum barrel lives. And the trolley is acceptable to donate to a charity shop, tho it is only plain brown vinyl (like this one but with a lower handle), not covered in glorious sunflowers like my first trolley was. I bought it in 1978 when I sold my car & embarked on a life of using public transport!

My magnet collection is back on the freezer & it looks at home, today I'll collect stuff in my neighbour's fridge & replace stuff I had to throw out ...

My first fridge lasted from 1976 when I moved from my parent's place to 2001, second just died, will 3rd last as long?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 25 - 07:10 PM

Sandra, will a new appliance make the others feel dated in comparison? Regardless, having a new and factory clean (one hopes!) fridge is a treat. I had to replace my upright freezer during COVID, but we managed. They had special wide straps to lift and carry. The old freezer was at least 50 years old.

Seven and a half pints of pickled okra processed this evening, and now to resume cat feeding activities. I had to see it through to removing hot jars from the canner. There was quite a bit of okra that wasn't perfect for pickling that I took to the neighbor because she'd have had a fit if I'd tossed it in the compost. It is usable, but there may be bits that need trimming (you use only "perfect" produce when canning or pickling.)

eBay tells me that I have averaged sales totals of $100 a month in the last three months. Must pick up the pace.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 14 Oct 25 - 09:06 AM

I moved some furniture around yesterday without hurting myself. Hurrah for me!

Tosh the carpenter promised to come on Saturday, but I saw neither hide nor hair of him all weekend. He does lively work, but I would not describe him as reliable. Marc Durocher (the other carpenter) called him “a bit strange”, and now I know what that means.

New appliances are always a bit of a crapshoot. On the one hand, they actually work, as in perform their intended function, but, on the other hand, everything around them must be adjusted in a dozen small ways. My dishwasher was never properly anchored in its space, so it rocks forward alarmingly when I pull out the racks. The refrigerator is much too big, occupying what feels like half the kitchen. The range hood is a disaster waiting to happen. But somehow I’m getting used to all this dysfunction, much as I hate it, because I dread the renewed upheaval that would come with the renovation that kitchen desperately needs.

When something — probably the dishwasher — breaks, my hand will be forced. But I’d like to get the books unpacked and solve the garage problem first!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Oct 25 - 12:04 PM

The oldest built-in appliance in this house is the dishwasher, purchased by the former long-term renters (I met them and discussed the history of the house before I made my low-ball offer). They had the cost deducted from their rent, and I doubt it is particularly high-end but it is durable. I didn't use it for a long time except for draining clean dishes. Now I use it several times a week, and expect it will be the next to go (as I also keep my eye on the 23-year-old water heater). The microwave oven also has standing as a venerable and vulnerable appliance; it came from my Dad's house after he died in 1997. At the bottom of the back inside it is a bit rusty for some reason, it was that way when I carried it home from his kitchen and it hasn't gotten any worse. It was in storage for a while so it hasn't had constant use for 30+ years. The only repair was to change the lightbulb (that involved taking the cabinet cover off).

Cleaning the windows in the SUV again, and with the new chamois I'm learning that it isn't just a matter to wipe with it, that piece of leather needs particular care to work properly. I've brought it into the house to give a first wash and let hang dry, apparently leaving a little bit of the soap in it with each wash. Odd. Moisten it to get the supple texture back before cleaning the glass. Learning something new with this ancient technology.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Oct 25 - 05:18 PM

I've just checked my envelope of booklets -
Chest freezer - 2024
washing machine - 2024
electric stove - 2021
vacuum - 2020
water heater - 2013 (replaced 1999 heater)
microwave - 2020

my 2015 clothes drier died a couple of years ago but I kept it as it is my bathroom bench! The booklet lives on the top so my executor knows it's condition. I wash twice a week, open the window wide & put stuff on the airer or the lines above the bath & use my 18" fan to help them dry. In summer they are usually dry before I go to bed, on colder days the fan goes all day & night. According to my engineer friend it uses less electricity than a dryer would.

My 4 windows are locked open about 6" as my bit of Sydney is close to the harbour & doesn't get very cold, so I've never had a heater - track pants over my winter tights & thermal tops & woolly cardigans keep me warm in our version of winter.

wikipedia Climate of Sydney - The lowest recorded minimum at Observatory Hill (ie Sydney Harbour) was 2.1 °C (35.8 °F) on 22 June 1932, while the coldest in the Sydney metropolitan area was -8 °C (18 °F), in Richmond. (ie. western suburbs) The lowest recorded maximum temperature at Observatory Hill was 7.7 °C (45.9 °F).

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Oct 25 - 08:12 PM

I almost posted about considering a wood (or bamboo) clothes drying rack. I don't have clotheslines in the bathroom, like you, but this could live in the hall bathroom and be set up periodically in the bathtub. Since my dogs consider that tub theirs (during thunderstorms) I wouldn't leave it there permanently. And I'm reminded that I have a couple of pop-up mesh screens that I use for drying sweaters that would also work for the chamois (or many other hand-wash things), so maybe this isn't needed at all.

On Oct. 8 I mentioned our lunch and talking to the restaurant owner about okra and eggplant. Since then my daughter expressed her love for pickled okra so I used almost a gallon of it to make a batch for her, then gave the okra rejects to the next door neighbor (ecstatic to get that much, and she'll trim off any sub-standard bits). I had only about a pound fresh today so I bagged those and picked three of the eggplants, along with a wonderful cookbook that I've bought hardcover used copies of and given to friends and family over the years. I keep a couple of spare copies on hand in case an occasion arises to share the book, and this was such an occasion.

We walked in with a bag and the owner greeted us - "what's in the bag?" - "Stuff." Ah! I handed over okra and eggplants, and then pulled out the book. My daughter had suggested that "they have a lot of recipes already, they're a restaurant," but I said I'd use it to point out the recipes I like and if there was interest, I'd give them the book. He glommed onto the book and it was interesting from there. We placed our lunch order, and a few minutes later I looked over to the counter to see the owner seated reading through the cookbook. A few minutes later he had his phone out and had sent a photo and was discussing it. And then he was holding it up to show and talking through the passthrough window in Turkish to the guy who is cooking today. And more reading. It seems there are a number of recipes in there that they are developing, and the book serves as much for ideas as for actual recipes. And - lunch was on the house. :)

For October 14, it doesn't feel at all like fall. The leaves are starting to drop and turn, they aren't fooled by the warmth, but it's till quite warm for a lot of otherwise pleasant autumn outdoor activities. We have rain forecast on Saturday, not good since that is the date of the huge No Kings march; maybe it will hold off till later in the day or overnight.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Charmion
Date: 14 Oct 25 - 10:00 PM

Today I made a truly excellent mushroom soup and bought an oxtail against the (inevitable) wintry day when oxtail is just what the doctor would order, if one had a doctor.

Nowadays, oxtail costs serious money. The man loading the next cooler over blamed “those foodies” for driving up the price of what used to be poor people’s fare. The packets he was setting out contained honeycomb tripe — again, stupidly expensive by the standards of one who used to eat tripe because it was the cheapest non-mackerel animal protein to be had. (You know you have achieved serious capability as a cook when you can make an appetising meal of tripe and onions.)

Tosh finished the stairs today, and they are, indeed, a thing of beauty and a joy to behold. Now that sawdust has ceased to be a component of the indoor environment, I can get the rugs cleaned and start hanging pictures.

I bought three folding bookcases from Amazon and, much to my delight, they fit in the bunker! Each one has three hinged shelves, and they stack. So I ordered six more (at no small cost), and therefore can plan the unpacking of those twelve boxes of books cluttering up the dining room.

Again, still, it’s weirdly warm in Ottawa. The trees should be all red and orange by now, but no — nothing doing. The middle of October and no killing frost in sight.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Oct 25 - 11:21 PM

I think I know the bookshelves you mean; I bought one a few years ago to fit a specific area in my office and I have several others (three shelves) and a couple of taller four-shelf baker's racks (that wouldn't stack).

I don't think you could pay me enough to try tripe, and there are a number of other sweetmeats and gland foods that are not on my menu. (Means there's more for people who like them.) I remember oxtail from years ago, it was good in soup or stew, but I've never cooked with that bony meat myself.

Recently I made the executive decision to stop buying whole chickens because it's difficult to cook them evenly even when spatchcocked. Back in the day when whole chickens were all you could buy (without a premium price) it was a matter of taking it home and cutting it up, but that hasn't been necessary for decades. I go with the parts, and for comfort food pieces can bake or stew or whatever just as well as the entire bird. Now having the entire bird means some kind of operation to cook it intact.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - '25-26
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Oct 25 - 11:45 PM

I gave up cooking chickens a long time ago when cleaning the oven became too much! Then I used an electric frypan for some years, finally just bought supermarket cooked chickens & eventually took the frypan to a charity shop.

I love reading all the lovely things you cooks, gardeners & canners create, but I'm the daughter of a bad cook, plus I'm lazy & would rather read or do crafty stuff than slave over a hot kitchen! I had a collection of cooking books from my younger days, but they eventually went to charity shops as they were taking up space & collecting dust.

I only kept my 1960's edition of the famous Commonsence cookery book, 1st ed 1914 it must be a family heirloom!

If I have a cooked evening meal it's soupy-stew - fill saucepan with yummy veggies, start them boiling & look in chest freezer for protein. Sometimes I have a plan, other times I just forage & bring out what takes my attention - crumbed fish, pieces of supermarket chicken, chicken schnitzel, lamb (yum!), vegiburgers ... Microwave the protein & serve beside or in the soup - yum! Soup is flavoured with a commercial sauce or chutney/pickles made by friends!

Sometime I just have my normal "dessert" - plain yohurt & fruit if I've had a big salad & sandwiches for lunch.

sandra