DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 11 Nov 24 - 01:05 PM

I have been invited to a gathering on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Hostess spent 30 minutes lecturing about gluten etc, so I guess I will have to give that kind of baking a whirl, and will have to do a dry run to see if it works. She mentioned having success with einkorn flour, which is apparently still wheat but low-gluten enough it doesn't bother them. I've used spelt in the past and liked it, but not einkorn.

For gravy, we always used cornstarch ,which is gluten free. You may know the caution about always mixing it with a little ice water, then slowly drizzling in the slurry to your hot liquid, stirring constantly til it thickens. I know it's carby but just thought I should mention it.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 11 Nov 24 - 01:50 PM

The other thing about foods thickened with cornstarch is that they don't keep. Within a certain amount of time (don't remember how much, but less than 48 hours), they tend to separate and "weep".

Tapioca (not the pearl kind) and arrowroot are effective thickeners that are also, coincidentally, gluten-free.

Pan gravy -- the reduced but otherwise unthickened juices from the roasting pan -- is also nice, and safe for your celiac friends.

Me, I don't think it fair to invite people to dinner, require them to bring a dish, and then lecture them at length about dietary restrictions. The host is responsible for ensuring that every guest will eat well, and if that means farming out only the un-challenging parts of the menu, or providing both conventional and adapted versions of particular favourites, then so be it.

Speaking as one who does her best to avoid sugar ... !

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Nov 24 - 06:22 PM

I saw my daughter today between the various scheduled meetings and appointments (I took over my 25 drawer cabinet of embroidery floss for her to pick through) and we discussed Thanksgiving. I'm making changes to my diet, but I will still have some of the traditional things they expect - mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, but I'll also see about that Cranberry duff as an addition to the fare. Meat and poultry. Slow-carb vegetables. She understands (has been hearing about this for several months) so we're good. Now to find a date.

Thanks for naming some of the possible thickening agents for gravy. Cornstarch does have its limitations. I could keep a container of the drippings in the fridge and make fresh gravy each time I need it if I went that way.

Meanwhile, this morning Dorothy wrote:

A week with my wonderful #2 son (61) has been all manner of gifts. The bottom line is that we (R, Taun and myself) are all realizing, and supportive of each other, that there is only one way out of this. I am sadly ready and hope to get off the world peacefully in the not too distant future: weeks? months?

Viewing this as the ultimate de-clutter?

Very little energy. Going back to bed.

I am verklempt. Dorothy, I love you. If you need and can get palliative care it frequently extends life. You can continue chemo (if it isn't too nasty) during that time. Being comfortable is good for you, and I'm glad you had time with your son to really talk about it. My heart is still broken to know your cancer that took so long to get diagnosed and you're having to make these decisions now. Give our love to Robin - he's going to need it to sort out everything you two have built. I'd love to buy a cup or plate or bowl or whatever you have made that is around for sale if someone could ship it. Your work is gorgeous. ❤ ❤ (lets see if either of those gets through).

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Nov 24 - 08:28 PM

Dupont:

Having eaten everything in sight - more or less, I am feeling some better. I thought of some writing I had done on wordpress about 10 years ago and managed to find it, copy it and move it into docs so I can dispense with wordpress, where I have done nothing since then. But I read it all and was impressed by my writing! I was far better back then - when I was writing regularly?

Over the last week I have been struggling, at times, with a loss of words - not remembering and having to describe what I wanted to catch the word. This malaise of the last couple weeks has been deep. I blame the Ibrance and stopped taking it. It has been over a week 'til I am, tonight, feeling better and hopeful that it has passed. There were days when I could hardly eat anything - chicken broth and a slice of bread.

Sunday/yesterday, I woke up barely breathing. We were still in bed and R felt it also - I really was barely breathing. He finally got up and went downstairs to talk to my son. I am very pragmatic about the fact that this cancer will surely kill me and would prefer not to be waiting around, also want nothing to cause me to end up being tortured in a hospital when we know nothing will help. I can feel the cancer gremlins nibbling on me, sometimes nipping me and mini pains are here and there, now and then.

By 10 pm, I had spent hours talking family history with Taun and we typed out a new, more tidy "will" and Taun - with his B Engineering in computerated automation - where's your printer? Well, there are two that stopped functioning and the one I bought in February (the day before my life stopped being reasonable) was still in the box, which was - still is - being used as an extra counter in the bathroom. In a few minutes it was functioning and Taun astounded R by hitting a button on the computer downstairs and informing R it was printing - upstairs!

Now I have two dead printers to get rid off - declutter!!- and one functional, and no inclination to print anything. We have a will! to put in a safe place with my body donor card. The box is still in place for the "counter". Magic Taun had somehow extricated the computer without moving the box. And he went to Philly today instead of yesterday. With his 3 dozen two day old bagels. No fuss - he just did what he felt needed to be done for us old folks. WOW!

He says he is coming back in a couple weeks with my #1 grandson -27 or so. Doubting I will make the wedding on 1 June.

One of the high points of our "family" conversations: looking on google at the neighbourhood in which I grew up, I told him that his grandfather and friends had built the house (about 1940) --- "Every time I drive on that road, a house my grandfather designed and built is just over there!" Now if I can just find the floor plan - in pencil on graph paper. It is not where I was sure it was so some searching must happen. That would be treasured by Taun as it has been by me. The house does not look as nice as it did. My grandparents nice home is beautiful. And grandfather Quantin's has been nicely improved. The memories!!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 12 Nov 24 - 09:57 AM

Dorothy, is there a Habitat for Humanity ReStore anywhere near you? The branch here in Stratford handles recycling of dead computers and their peripherals, including printers, and I’d bet money that’s something they all do. For your own sake, get someone to rid you of those non-functional printers!

Over the last four years I think I have hauled about three generations of computer parts to the ReStore. The house is much more livable without them.

I’m sorry to read that you’re feeling so frail and blue, and glad to note that food and rest perk you up considerably. Please update us on your thoughts and actions whenever you feel up to putting words together. We care.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Nov 24 - 10:21 AM

Dorothy, I need to either do something with my old Wordpress account or bail on it. Like you say, I think I wrote better then. (I felt like I had more to write about!) It's a question of adjusting that one or changing venues and subject matter. Scattershot all over a few social media isn't great communication.

I took myself off of statins this year, but I don't consider that as important as the one you took yourself off of. Maybe your doctor has a suggestion of a version of that with fewer side effects? Or sometimes there is a companion medication to help with those.

Since you looked at your hold homes, I've revisited a couple: my childhood home (the earliest one I remember) was upgraded and now appears to have a basement apartment. The house we moved to when I was finishing elementary school has had some changes (the front porch rebuilt) but the robust magnolia that we gave my mom for Mother's Day in 1968 is still at the corner of the front yard. The current street view from 2018 has a garage. The 2024 satellite view looks like they tore it off.

Good work on the printer setup, and I'm sorry Taun's bagels were a bit stale when he left.

Attacking the fence post this afternoon.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 12 Nov 24 - 11:38 AM

When Zach de ka Rocha wrote "Rage Against the Machine," I am pretty sure he was thinking of a printer.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: keberoxu
Date: 12 Nov 24 - 01:14 PM

Stilly, I hope your eye is recovering after receiving a punch from a sunflower.
Charmion, I hope your cough is clearing up at last.
ANd Dorothy, as Senoufou would say, you keep a'troshin'.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Nov 24 - 02:25 PM

Keb, thanks! Yesterday afternoon it was at its worst but by evening was barely noticeable. Today it seems to have cleared up. And yes, I also wondered about the cough - and do Charmion's cats take umbrage at the disturbance or are they sympathetic and better cuddlers?

The sunflowers are almost gone and no crops in the yard this fall. Herbs still - oregano and rosemary make it through the winter; the first freeze will kill the basil. The last of this year's acorn squash has been consumed. My daughter told me that she decided to experiment with her four chickens so carved a few holes into it and gave it to the birds. It didn't take long before they were pecking and prodding and ate about half of it the first day, thoroughly enjoying the seeds and pulp. They finished it the next day. As enrichment activities go she had two days of very happy birds.

I've started working with the dogs on cooperation with each other - there are things they are fine about, others they are jealous. If I take a nap on the couch or the recliner Cookie has been allowed to hop up and as long as she sleeps can stay. Pepper is less of a nap dog. But I've decided to give them access to the sofa if I'm sitting there, one dog on each side. Cookie is very territorial about the couch, so with a dog on each side Cookie was ready to launch herself at the offending Pepper. I did several short attempts and by the last one Cookie had settled down. I'll keep this up until they get the idea. This would have been impossible when there were three since the Lab was pretty leaky and not welcome on any furniture.

Research on diet continues, with attention now to the upcoming holidays and what to bake. Sugar is part of the chemistry of baking so taking it out is difficult. The alternatives look worse (Heathline article 1 and Healthline article 2) so I think it will end up being a combination of stevia with some added bulk (yogurt, applesauce) for volume and a smaller proportion of regular white sugar for additional volume and browning. The bottom line is that sugar is bad for you but the substitutes (erythritol et al.) are worse.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 12 Nov 24 - 05:10 PM

Watson and Isobel have co-existed with the Cough from Hell since they were 12 weeks old. They know it’s loud but harmless — at least to them. I got through choir practice last night and felt surprisingly okay this morning. Still coughing, but slightly less often and less disgusting.

The doc (consulted this afternoon) wanted to dose me with Prednisone again, but I protested — again? When I had a heavy-duty two-week course of it back in March? Hmmm, maybe I had a point. So we compromised: if I stop improving, or relapse, I’ll call in for a prescription.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Nov 24 - 06:23 PM

Good luck with that! Steroids and antibiotics are wonderful tools but they are overused. Hopefully the only thing you need now is a healthy dose of time (and do you breathe steam to soothe your respiratory system?)

The fence post is pretty securely lodged so I'll call next door and plan tomorrow to go around to their side of the fence to do some digging and pushing in the direction I want it to move (straight up - it leans into their yard at about 15^o from vertical). Meanwhile I did an esthetic project. The fence posts are all set in concrete that it is not flush with the surface so pickets at the post look taller than the rest of the fence, giving it a wavy look. I worked my way the length of that fence removing those pickets, turned them upside down, figured how much would come off the bottom and drew a line before sawing. After trimming about a dozen pickets the fence looks much better.

And in the "it's always something" department, today's work made it clear that my tool arrangement needs work. I have enough battery-operated Ryobi tools that now they are an ungainly stack in the laundry room. I need to look at the shelves on both sides of that tiny room and decide what gets moved to make space or if the tools need a new home entirely. It may be that some stuff goes to the garage and the tools get most of the lowest shelf over the washer.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Nov 24 - 10:08 PM

Dupont:

Phoned the oncology nurse this am and we agreed that she would make an appointment on Friday for R and I to talk with the Dr. and her to sort out the Ibrance problem - I vote for no more! I mentioned that I should no longer be paying for meds now that I have official health card. Then the pharmacy phoned and asked us to stop in after we see the doctor. I messaged R but no response so I just hope he can do this. (OH! I must tell Taun!)

Slightly better today. Ate well and went to store with slight trepidation. But I felt a bit better for getting out. I did. however, end up with 6 loaves of various breads which will barely get space in the freezer! My goal was the goat cheese shop but it is closed Mon and tues! Hopefully tomorrow as I am craving the lovely cheese Taun bought there; - the cause of all the breads! The cheese is expensive but I need to eat better to feel better. I did get some veggies as well!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 13 Nov 24 - 10:19 AM

Good for you, Dorothy. Focus on things and activities that give you pleasure and help you feel strong. Good food ticks those boxes.

In my experience, there ain’t no such thing as good cheese that is not expensive.

Yet again, I noped out of pool class at the Y after a night of broken sleep due to coughing. I have a haircut scheduled for today and a work session in the choir library tomorrow, and if I get through those without a major coughing fit, maybe I’ll be ready for pool class on Friday. The sun is bright and strong today, so a walk before lunch would be good; that’s the time of day when I feel most capable..

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Nov 24 - 12:45 PM

Ticking off the various office decluttering items that need doing, filing and shredding so far. Fall came to my computer desk via a scattering of colorful post-it notes that are slowly rounded up and acted upon - send the note, bookmark the podcast or film, save a book title in GoodReads, an appointment that is past - all into the trash when finished. A couple of films are now on my Prime watchlist and sorted the Spotify free account and a podcast added to it. The Spectrum account is closed and there is no way to see the autopay stuff but I did what I could to disable that when I made the last payment. Disturbing dust has caused some sneezing (I will dust when I finish clearing).

This morning I sent an email to WYSIWYG - Susan Hinton. I hadn't heard anything from her for a long time but stumbled upon a Facebook group where she is still modestly active. I have no information about where she's living or how much much help she's needing now.

I concur about the price of cheese - the good stuff costs money. The reason I love my local warehouse gourmet grocery is for things like high end cheese and yogurt that turn up there periodically. Last week I found some high-end havarti. Usually I buy at places like Costco (their Coastal rugged mature sharp cheddar is a favorite.) Good dining, Dorothy! I hope that doctor appointment gives you the best of both worlds - comfort and prolonged life.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Nov 24 - 08:22 PM

Dupont:

YUMMIE Cheese! My son likes any cheese but cheddar. I rarely buy anything else. So I have six different - well, five now! The small $6 piece was lunch on the special bread I bought yesterday. scrumptious and cheaper than a lunch thingy at Timmy's. A treat after supper was a dif creamy cheese.

The nice young man at the shop was very patient trying to determine what was "Charlie"- the name I read on the label from T's cheese. When I got home and took the old label out of the trash, it is Charrue! And I did bring home out a piece of that, serendipitously.

Fromagerie Ruban Bleu is a goat farm 20 minutes away so many of the cheeses are their goat cheeses. There is also a wide selection of other Quebec cheeses. Their beautiful shop is the nicest I have found in this town - for anything! They seem to be doing well; people must visit from miles around! It is a class act! This town is far from a class act!

Today: 30 min driving, time in store, 10 min home, lunch. Then I fell asleep in the chair and went up to bed. Now ready to go back to bed - but on clean sheets as I did manage a laundry.

Oh! I drove the river road, beautifully full to the brim with hundreds of geese in the shallows. Lovely!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 14 Nov 24 - 04:33 AM

> high end cheese and yogurt that turn up there periodically

(*ahem*) Do they walk there :-) ?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Mrrzy
Date: 14 Nov 24 - 10:57 AM

That sounds beautiful! And cheese doesn't walk, it runs.


Yay new drugs.

Organized my hats, finally, so there are all the berets (winter) on the big Eiffel tower, all the bucket hats (summer) in the closet, all the other hats (rain, boat, etc) sorted by type and either displayed on the antler hatrack or away in the closet. Found all the hats I'd wondered where they were, and a few I'd forgotten I owned, and even put a few in the Go to thrift store pile.

Got through the mound I'd amassed in the studio, finding art I'd forgotten I'd acquired on my travels, presents I've forgotten to give people and now that I think of it, fuck'm, they're trumpians, ha, will redistribute anyway. And bags and piles to the thrift stores, woot.

Next is the clean clothes, which did get folded but haven't been put away...

Progress!