BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 12:05 PM

From the post of LTS, I get the impression that "accountability" only has to do with what you eat??

I, not understanding this, believe it pertains to ALL of life. I am especially concerned about getting matters attended to in a timely manner - bills paid, snow tires (still not) on, etc. As in: Rob went off in my car this morning as his brother has the truck because HIS car (a Miata - in Quebec? in the winter?) does not start and the "garage" needs to be cleaned out so it can be repaired. "But I have been hearing that for six months!" "Yes. Well now the trailer has been put where things need to be moved to..." He had "a meeting in seven minutes" or I would not have put up with this. This is my concept in the ultimate LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY!!!!

I am prepared to wait in line, with a novel, to get the tires put on. TODAY!! More snow is expected and my car does NOT do well on snow. AND, most importantly, we want to be able to get to the Cafe, 30 miles into southern Quebec, on Friday for our weekly MUSIC FIX!

As for food: perhaps I do not try hard enough because I know experientially that I cannot lose weight when I am full of environmental toxins. I am a sponge and, currently, am having trouble de-toxing adequately. Current research is finding that environmental toxins are probably a serious cause of obesity generally - chemicals in food as well as those in the air and water.

After a major detox which returned me to optimum health, I lost weight on this diet: one slice of good bread with tahini; salad and humous; breast of chicken and lots of green veg (usually broccoli) AND THAT WAS ALL for four months - except for breakfast with friends on Sundays. After losing 25 pounds, I found I still has to stick to that diet to maintain! It gets really old.

I did pretty well until moving to Quebec. I'm afraid to look at the scale to see how much I have gained in the last 18 months. -----Alright, I did it! 160 fully clothed. Not as bad as I feared but still 20 pounds more than I would prefer. I actually feel encouraged to try harder! Thank you.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 12:41 PM

Hey, Dorothy, that's still 5lbs less than before isn't it?

The human body is genetically geared towards storing extra fat and calories during the colder months - it's what stopped us freezing or starving to death before WalMart was invented. Therefore, it becomes more difficult to shed weight when the temperatures drop. We can still eat healthily though, have home-made vegetable soups and low fat stews, bake potatoes with low fat fillings rather than have fries, watch the amount of bread, pasta and rice, leave out the dumplings and biscuits and drink herbal teas or low calorie/fat hot chocolate.

Remind me I said this in about 3 months time when I can't fit in even my stretchiest pants!

Accountability should cover all walks of life but we're taking one step at time, so actually DOING the jobs is an ongoing process with the decluttering. Occasionally a deadline will come galloping up (like me this week, I have guests on Saturday and no-where for the to sit or sleep!) and take us by surprise but mostly we're keeping it together!

Good luck with the cars!

Stilly - you'll have to explain snickerdoodles to us on this side of the pond because I just have this vision of a large nutty chocolate snack with curly hair and a pom-pom tail.....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 02:42 PM

Gee whiz, LTS,
I am already at: NO dumplings, NO gravy, NO baked potatoes, NO French fries, very little pasta and rice, maybe two slices of bread/day, herbal teas (no sweetener), no juices, distilled water...

OK, its the chocolate and ??? I'll keep working on it. I do feel more hopeful now that I was kicked into checking my weight. Last time (5-6 years ago) I was up to 170 bare naked! So this is much better. Also I came to the conclusion that 140 is as low as I am going to get at this stage of life. I ACCEPT that.

SO, this thread has already helped!

As for the declutttering- Our LR looks like a warehouse and I cannot put Rob's antique's in the tent. When he is less stressed, I will ask that he remove the three unsittable Victorian chairs to a different venue. And another time, I will suggest that the antique washing machine, broken spinning wheel, and more be removed. Then ....

On the other hand, he has been very sweet about welcoming my furniture, in the last month, into what is now OUR home. He has never shared his home with an equal partner, only with temps, children of friends who were attending University. ( After about 18 months of increasing togetherness, we brought a truck load of my stuff from the west coast of USA to Montreal in November. A fun, and exhausting, trip.)

So I am pecking away at my boxes of papers - finding neat stuff and reminders/notes to myself of things I want to write about - and had forgotten. Also throwing away papers which no longer have any meaning or value while being careful since I once did that with a vengeance - and great regret later.

Kat: Yes, I do miss the country but in thinking about that, I realized that what I really miss is autonomy. It is hard for me to be dependent on someone else - removing the excess furniture, for example. So, as soon as I get my car back, there will be, "I'm really not happy that you did not discuss it with me before taking off with..." Then tomorrow (Thursday), I will make sure I have custody of MY car, get the snow tires on AND get a small shovel to live in MY car for the duration of the winter. It was sweet of Rob to shovel out my car this morning ---so HE could use it!!

In the meantime, I will look around and see what I have the energy to declutter today.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 08:06 PM

Dorothy, sounds like there is more baggage in the house than just too much furniture. These threads work to sort out some of that, also, but I hope you don't have to make the case too often for Rob to get it!

Accountability was with the de-clutter discussion for a while, then separate, then reunited. Those of us with too much stuff in our houses are also generally trying to lose weight, so it is a way to report progress; exercise, diet, etc. Everyone has different things going, and of course, your mileage may vary. I have about 30 pounds to lose.

Liz, you know how various products will print recipes on the package, along with "serving suggestion" photos? Years ago Gold Medal flour put this cookie recipe on the package, and it caught on. I remember making them in junior high school (about age 13) and I was hooked.

Snickerdoodles

Preheat oven to 400^o

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening (or just use all butter)
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix the sugar, margarine, shortening and eggs in large bowl. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. I use a teaspoon to scoop small amounts of dough and make into a ball the size of a large marble.

In a shallow bowl, mix
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

and roll the cookie dough ball through the sugar/cinnamon mix and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. I use one of those aluminum "hollow" ones that helps avoid burnt bottoms on cookies. Because these start as balls they end up beautiful round cookies. So if you can space dough so they don't touch when they spread, they are really round and beautiful when they come out of the oven.

Bake until set, about 8-10 minutes. (These balls spread out, then swell, and you want them to bake long enough to just be on their way out of the swell stage. And they collapse when you take the pan out of the oven.) Let them cool on the pan for a couple of minutes, then cool on paper or a wire rack. If you move them too soon, they kind of crumple. Don't let them brown.

If you use a very large baking sheet, or if you have the door open too long when you put them in, then they need an extra minute or two.

The combination of butter, egg and cinnamon is what makes these cookies heavenly.

I'm making a batch of cinnamon rolls to take to work tomorrow for the library holiday meal. I'm not staying for the campus-wide meal because I have an appointment at the eye doctor. Today's appointment revealed some degradation in the right eye that might be the early stage of something like glaucoma. So I have more tests, and the good news is that if this is something developing, there are drops to treat it so it won't get any worse. But it means two days in a row that my eyes will be dilated.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 08:32 PM

Thanks, SRS. You are right. There is a variety of baggage here. Rob is worth the effort but I do not have a huge support group here in Montreal. It does help to be able to express a little frustration to non-judgmental folks.

Our biggest load of baggage is the incredible stress in his life. My general response being a quiet reminder, "Anytime you want to, you can just walk away and go paddle your canoe." Not everyone can do that. He cannot yet see his way clear to it but maybe someday. "The years befront us are not as many as the years behind." "Let's just get that van and GO!"

But not too often and not when things are REALLY BAD as they are this week!

Today I did manage to phone a friend (one whom I have asked for advice for the last 42 years! And to whom I can safely dump my aggravation once in a while.) for advice on insuring the car - in addition to the provincial plan - and, henceforth, obtained such on line without any hassle - bought and paid. Mental health insurance! A BIG THING.

And Rob just phoned to tell me where he is and "I didn't crash your car." Tomorrow we agreed to go get the tires changed first thing. Life progresses in very small increments. I washed the sheets and remade the bed and cooked a good meal. Some days only very small things get accomplished.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 10:38 PM

Every little thing counts, too, around here. Some of us have had big challenges which kept us from doing much, so we take our victories when we can get them. Main thing is, don't beat up on yourself. Anything is better than nothing.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 07:14 AM

Up very early this morning to bake. I decided to take the challenge at work today - there is a contest for the best dessert at the holiday luncheon. I'm taking my hint from a friend's reaction to dinner rolls over the weekend. He walked in just before I took them out of the oven, and said he could hover over the top inhaling the smell like a drug. So I'm making cinnamon rolls from scratch this morning and taking them in so they're still giving off that great fresh bread smell. (Is this cheating, if I aim at the visceral human love of fresh baked bread? You betcha!) ;-D

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: mouldy
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 10:03 AM

I'm drooling just reading that last post!

I am a happy bunny just now - the freezer came, and then 5 minutes later the delivery guys called and said the next job on their manifest was my dryer (which was due Monday). Shortly after that, my log man knocked and asked if I'd be in later in the afternoon, and he wasn't coming till next week either!

I can now wash and dry my goose down coat! The bedlinen can be dried!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 03:26 PM

THAT, Andrea, sounds like a superb day!!

I DO have snow tires. It took half the day from home to back home but I am SO happy. And I have an in-car shovel.

I, then, went to the library to return some books - late! I suggested a snow amnesty but .... Anyway, in the newly arrived books in English section - an amazing book!!

What I Eat: Around the World in 80 Diets by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Alusia. From the 800 calorie diet of the Maasai herder to a 12,300 C diet of a British "Snacker Mom", this is a trip around the world, peeks into the lives of an incredible variety of people, what they eat and how they live. Wonderful photos and some interesting essays, including The Pleasures of Eating by the wonderful Wendell Berry. In large format - must weigh over five pounds! - it is going to keep both of us enthralled for quite a while. While not a "dieting" book, it is full of ideas about different healthy and interesting things to eat. I was so busy looking at it, I did not stop to eat. Even that is helpful!

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: mouldy
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 03:49 PM

Just to make sure I didn't get too carried away, the last (I hope) load of snow fell off the roof this evening, right onto the front doorstep!

I am not going to touch it until tomorrow, and I hope a lot will have got dripped on and melted away by then. Trouble is, the sky's clear at the moment...

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 03:53 PM

Yea, Andrea and Dorothy!

I went to the hairdresser, this morning, and had her take three inches off, so that all the layers are gone; my hair is one length now, still long and she curled the ends, making it look so pretty.

I also went to the therapist who helped me decide on a good strategy for me to use through the holidays vis a vis certain family members.:-) It was an intense, but productive meeting.

did some walking today

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 11:14 PM

Sounds like a productive day all around!

The cinnamon rolls were a hit. They were still a little warm when I arrived, and the middle ones in the pan were still kind of tacky-sticky, but those seem to be the ones that go fastest!

My eye exam went well, today was baseline tests, no treatment needed. Poking and prodding wasn't pleasant, though, and I'm headed to bed with tired eyes. I got my new glasses and it is so nice to have not only a lighter pair, but to have that darned scratch gone after all of these months. I switched from plastic to polycarbonate this time.

The sad news today was that my ex-mother-in-law died this morning. She was 88 and had lived with her youngest son and daughter-in-law in Florida for many years. My kids are both taking finals this week and into next so will stay put. Their dad flew out today. We'll have to have our family get together sometime later than I originally planned (my son comes home on Monday).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 10 Dec 10 - 08:57 AM

Been a bit busy working lots of overtime recently so not been on the internet much. Lost another half sotne which is great, had another hair cut so hair is alot shorter than before. I've taken 3 days holiday from work and sping (winter) cleaned the house, decorated it with seasonal dedcorations with the kids, decorated 1 of the 4 xmas cakes. Bedroom to be wallpapered although this job keeps being put on the back burner due to not having enough time. Still keeping up with my exercise class, combat last night and RPM on Sunday morning. Paul is working out with me too at home with the weights. I'm loving my new shape, and loving Paul's new shape too as he's toning up now.

Went to Harry's first school christmas carol concert on Tuesday, it was wonderful! The school has a very good hearing impaired unit and to integrate the children with hearing difficulties all the children in the school learn to sign. I didn't know Harry was learning to sign in the nursery and to see 30, 3-4 year olds singing and sigining at the same time was wonderful.

Paul has been busy making a request from the lovely LTS and I'm about to put the wording on it tomorrow. Paul and I baked profiteroles this morning for a dinner party we are having tonight. best get the rest of the meal prepared!

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: mouldy
Date: 10 Dec 10 - 11:09 AM

Well the snow at the front obediently more or less melted off the step by the time I got up, but a load dropped into the back instead. It's staying there and can damned well thaw! I have shovelled my last for this batch of snowfall.

I went about 60 miles down Newcastle way this morning to go to Ikea and get some small storage items I needed, plus a rug for the back end of the hallway. I found a green one that tones in very well with the green/gold oriental style runner in the main part. I was glad to get away from the city area into the countryside again!

The thaw has well and truly started, but there is now a lot of lying water on the roads, and once the run-off comes from the fields, it may get a bit wet!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Dec 10 - 11:37 AM

Andrea, I hope the snow and ice give you a break for a while!

Catherine, I suspect wallpaper will stay on that back burner for a while. I have some here that I will probably take down one of these days, but I'll replace it with paint. Oh, and for those of us on this side of the pond, "profiteroles" are cream puffs. I looked them up. :)

I did a lot of shopping yesterday, finishing up the increase in food for having a hungry teenager in the house again. Lots of fruit and veggies, though. I'm not going to feed him junk if I can avoid it. This weekend I also need to make more space by finishing up some of the canning I've planned to do. I have tomatoes stashed in the freezer that I'll put in the steam juicer and I'll can the juice and the sauce. I have a lot of green ones ripening at the rate of several a day, but I'll probably blanch and freeze those. I've tossed most of the last of the peppers into the compost, I'm tired of looking at them and they're getting soft. I have tons in the freezer of various types and levels of heat.

Yesterday I found more small brass hangers that fit over the rail that runs around the top of the paneling in the living room. I'm going to hang some garland over the weekend, then put the rest of the boxes away. I hand-washed the crystal and dusted the mantle and need to add the holiday ornaments now. I'm not getting a tree, but the house will look festive.

I visited my local fabric store and picked up several lengths of cloth and notions that will go into a a few tote bags. I've been looking at the ones that LLBean sells (and they're probably reasonably priced, but I know I can make them for less). My favorite bag that my Mom picked up at the Library of Congress is getting a little long in the tooth, so I'll make a sturdy replacement, and a couple extras for gifts. One of my buys was lovely length of a soft canvas meant for upholstery that I'll hand wash to pre-shrink and then give it a try.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Dec 10 - 02:20 PM

The last three posts all but wore me out!! But I did accomplish some good things this morning - the hardest part was getting Rob to remove two useless items from the LR into storage, so we have a little more space and then I was able to rearrange the large foliage plants in the bay window, and sweep up the fallen leaves! Put the largest two on dollies so I can turn them and the others on my nice plant stands - brought in from the storage tent in the back yard. The Clivia miniata is blooming beautifully, right in center stage. So cheery!

Took the two old chairs, used for plants previously, out to the tent and managed to get the snow - about 10 inches - off half the roof. The other half proved immoveable from inside so after lunch I will put on boots - take out the compost and try to get the snow off from the outside.

The three un-sittable Victorian chairs are lined up near the door, ready for Rob's next home work - get them out of here! (He does have a storage place for them.) There is more that I feel needs to be stored but small steps seem to work better - for most of us, most of the time.

Maybe I can attack some of the mending that has piled up --- after lunch with a book. I basically have no where to hide it! But maybe...

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Dec 10 - 04:28 PM

I finally got things rearranged so I can USE my treadmill easily!!! YAY!!! It involved moving a cabinet from the living room to the kitchen. The cabinet is about 4 feet tall or so with an oak top and it's painted a deep reddish color...the door has an arch too it...reminds me of my church (which is what drew me to it in the first place). It has been tucked in an useless spot for far too long. It now holds all my diabetic stuff, baby foods and magazines that Pete will not part with. It had other magazines of mine in it too but I went through and sorted them all out to take to the House of Care next time I am in the area. Mostly yoga and kayaking magazines (go figure).
    I am contemplating putting some Christmas things up....not much this year, but some....our nativity and a small tree with lights and a few ornaments. I'm not sure how much else though.
    I finally broke down and bought a new vaccuum cleaner...one that is supposed to be for people with pets. We shall see. My Maggie sheds A LOT and her hair is long. I brush her but she still sheds a ton. Most of the house has Pergo so I can sweep or swiffer but our living room has a rug (maye 5x8ish) and I either needed to get rid of the carpet or a new vaccuum. Since the rug helps keep the floors warmer (for playing with Jeremiah...even though I have about 4 blankets under him...don't want him on the dog hairy carpet)), I bought the machine. We have carpeting upstairs but the animals are not usually in those rooms and the regular vac works fine for that. I talked to the sales people and if I get it out and it clogs up (or catches fire...which has happened in the past due to the hair getting stuck in the motor), I can take it back for a full refund. I got the mid-grade model and will spend bigger bucks for a Dyson or Oreck if I HAVE TO...but I'd rather not!!! Anyway, I'm happy about it and hope it works (will try it later tonight).

Hope everybody is staying warm!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 01:00 AM

Michelle,

I have a carpet sweeper that I used for that kind of special rug cleaning, one of the boxy things that you roll over and has the little beater bars. The vacuum then could get the rest. I haven't had to do that as much now that the cat hair is slowly going away.

Dorothy, is this your flower? They're lovely!

I picked up my keyboard adapter today. I'm not sure it works completely, I have had a key stop working a couple of times, so I'll test this for a day with the other keyboard nearby.

This weekend is when I need to finish some of my preparations for my son to come back late on Monday. Lots will end up reported, probably.

For accountability, I made a point of walking the dogs for about 30 minutes before feeding them and then dressing to go out. We even took a little side trip into the woods, now that the poison ivy is dormant for the winter. They love snuffling around over there. I need to do a lot more walking and dancing. A LOT more!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 02:16 AM

Sneezes all around today and tonight. I finally figured it out, the south wind brought the "mountain cedar" pollen into the neighborhood yesterday.

Zyrtec + Sudafed for a while. Ugg.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 11:48 AM

I have been taking vitamins for about a week now. Got most of the flat organised and clean. Learning some new songs. Bought ingredients to make my Christmas candies. Feeling a bit better.

Sorry I have been a bit of an Eyore in some of the threads. Thistle munching ended for the time being.

Love you guys.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 12:23 PM

SRS: That is indeed my flower and that picture - somewhat fuller than my current bloom group - reminds me to put on the calendar to start feeding in January. But it is still a joy to behold as I hang on for the solstice - my favourite day of the year - "NOW the days start getting longer!!!!

I do not suffer from serious SAD but I do need lots of light and in this gloomy gray weather we have been having, almost every light is on. We only have windows at the front and rear. The three along the side - that's a long story - fire next door several years ago, fire fighters broke windows, Rob's parents ended up in hospital in their 90s, he ended up taking care of them and basically abandoning this abode until we moved in last April. LOTS needs to be done. (Parents died at 95 and 97 one and two years ago.)

VT: we all feel like Eeyore some of the time. Anyway, I just love Eeyore - even have a sweat shirt with him on it.

I use chlorpheniramine maleate for allergies. Cheap and works well for me and, my brother, too.

I have a rug rake - plastic tines. Have never seen one anywhere but found it in a home I was sorting out for someone. It rakes up animal hairs like magic. I have also used the magic sponge sort of thing found in pet stores for cleaning hairs off furniture. Washable and wonderful.

Chick peas are on for tomorrow's potluck - Gingered chick peas.

International Dance Workshop at 2 pm. Shall I?

Stopped taking MSM/Glucosamine for two days and shoulders started hurting. Back to it.

Had to park six blocks away last night when we got home from our music event in the country. The streets were being cleared. Nice walk as it was warming; almost up to freezing at moment. And half of each street is clear. Maybe they will do the other half tonight.

Need to do some groceries but hate to shop on Saturday - but it only became necessary... Do it on way to workshop - warm enough to leave in car. OK. That's a plan.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 12:40 PM

"Thistle munching." Good term! Take care!

Rolled out of bed early to start work around the house. Laundry is in. I have packed up some now-dry herbs drying in the laundry room and have run the first batch of tomatoes through the steam juicer. I'd like to finish with these projects so the freezer has more space and the counter tops clear.

The rest of the work, housecleaning, is so the house looks good once my son is here and his dad is back in town and my daughter and friends of both kids come by. A friend who lives in Arizona is on her way to Fort Worth, after a stop with her son in West Texas, and she'll stay at least one night, I hope. So since several parts of the house will be in use for guests and festivities, I feel the need to clean it all and in a few places, organize the stuff in the middle of the room.

On the tech end of things, I've finally figured out how to answer my house cell phone using the base station/wireless (blutooth) phone, so now I can bring that handset into my office and leave the cell phone near the base in the kitchen and it's at least like having two house phones (and there is a cell phone in my pocket, with a separate number). Not the same as a wired phone in every room, but functional. I have quite a collection of unused wired and wireless phones right now.

Baking today also, another type of cookie. I may break down and get chocolate. The kids do like chocolate chip cookies, but alas, so do I, so it might be the most difficult to resist. Into the freezer. Oh, and next week, the frozen smoked salmon I made for the kids will come out of the freezer. That's their high-end gift, because smoked salmon is always such a premium purchase if you don't make it yourself.

Lots going on. I hope you're all staying warm and putting in productive days!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Alice
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 03:19 PM

Gave away some toys and a kid's snow suit... more to go soon.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 09:01 PM

I found a bag of kids clothes in the garage bagged and labeled "keep" and have to look through them soon. I have a box of telephones, but I don't think I'll give them away. Who knows, maybe in a couple of years I'll go back to a wired phone. So not everything is headed out of the house.

I was busy this afternoon. There are about 2 1/2 gallons of tomato juice out of the two full batches of steamed fruit (had been in the freezer). And there will probably be about 3 quarts of sauce. The water bath is heating right now. I'm going to freeze the juice in quart jars (I ran to the store to get another case since I ran out) and the sauce in 1/2 pints. Plenty of those around here. I'll be set with sauce for some time to come (I'm working on finishing last year's sauce and juice now).

I need to finish my holiday letter this weekend and be ready to mail it on Monday. There are people who haven't heard from me in quite a while. I'd like to surprise them with a card before christmas.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 09:03 PM

Good to see you VTam and Alice. You've been missed.

I think I have finally figured out why I just can't seem to get things listed in my online bookstore and on etsy. None of the stuff I have was bought/acquired with the thought that someday it might be worth "this much" and I shouldn't let it go unless I actually sell it. I have given treasures away and been fine with it. It's the selling which is bothering me...so, Rog and I talked it over. We are going to box up the books and some other things for giveaway. Then, I will call a local humane society which has a second-hand shop and ask them to come pick it all up. I know it will all go for an excellent cause and have good homes which is what is most important to me.

I feel a lot of relief and lifting of a burden just having finally figured that out. I've been feeling so guilty, again, for not getting them listed. I will keep my etsy shop, but probably focus more on my own jewellery and other things I make.

Once the books are out of the old office, I will be able to set up a love seat, hope to find one which folds out into a bed and that can be where Morgan can sleep when he stays over, which he wants to do every weekend. (Doesn't get to, though:-) He is almost as long as the camp cot we have for him, so really do need to get something else for him to use.

We bought the last, inexpensive (well, relatively) live, potted Spruce tree in town, today. Forty bucks at Home Depot. The garden centres wanted $150 plus unless we wanted to dig one up for $12 per foot, which wouldn't be too bad except for frozen ground and Rog's formerly broken heel, still healing. It's a pretty little tree with a good sized root ball in a huge pot. I think the top has been broken, so it may wind up branching off, but we like Charlie Brown trees anyway. Morgan will be over tomorrow to help me decorate it. It is only about five feet at the most, so he'll be able to reach all of it! It will be a beautiful addition to our yard next spring.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 11:43 PM

I FINALLY got some clean laundry put away. I had wrecked my shoulder, which made lifting, reaching, and putting into shelves impossible..... I took a shot of cortisone for it last week and only today was I able to DO anything, but TBTG and cortisone I have been able to sleep at least....

Two big administrative thingies got decluttered Friday with agreements about some projects and a higher-up's fervent go-ahead. Lays out my work in two pursuits for the next year, including a trip for a training workshop in March to be held at a dearly-loved place that has been calling and calling me.-- Sewanee. It will be great to go back there. In the meeting, I recommended a Number Two to work with me who was accepted readily; so she will be invited to come share that drive and event. We may detour to see Beaubear.

We pick out a new scooter Tuesday, then visit a class I will be resourcing, to see how they are doing and what they need. Both of these things are in the same college town-- a nice day trip with Hardi.

Then it's back to the Anti-Racism project; I met yesterday with a communications person who can get my stuff up on the diocesan website; this will be an article I already wrote plus pix from the event it describes, which another participant sent to all of us who were there to use as we see fit-- and VIOLA! Another project moving forward.

The highlight of the week was not getting these bottlenecks cleared, but ALSO having dinner with a great new friend I recently met who is wacky and inspired in all the same ways I am. Many points of mutual support and laffter were identified, so it looks to be a good long-distance email and phone thing supplemented by visits when I have to go down-diocese anyway for Stuff.

And what a relief to get the damn laundry put away. I HATE it when I cannot find what I want to wear and the baskets are surrounding me!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 11:59 PM

Ran errands this morning with my family, out to breakfast, Jeremiah had his photo taken with Santa, a friend from church stopped by and I did some tidying up.

Found out that a woman I met this summer at a consignment shop (30 miles from our home)with a baby boy the same age as Jeremiah lives just over the hill from us!!! Excellent!

We also buried one of dogs this week under a pear tree in our orchard.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 12:10 AM

Sorry to hear that about your dog, Michelle.

I forgot all of the running around we did. Got the tree, first, then vet's for cat food, but they didn't have any, so backtrack to pet store where they have it, with prescription in hand, (hypo-allergenic...keeps the Siamese from pulling his fur out), then to the post office, grocery store, and home. Took us about 3 hours. My Rog got worried I was in the vet's so long, he came in to check on me! They were calling around town for me to find the right food. So I got a lot of walking done and had a great salad bar salad from the grocery store.

Two loads of wash done and put away.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 12:22 AM

Little Guy had cancer. :( He's resting peacefully now and is being missed.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 02:20 AM

It is hard to lose pets. It's really hard to lose pets when your children have spent their entire lives with them.

I finished a lot of stuff today, and had my quota of chocolate chip cookies this evening. They are addictive. And they're in the freezer now. Laundry is finished and folded and put away, and the tomatoes are all either frozen juice (ambrosia!) or canned and cooling overnight on the counter. I watched Rebecca while baking and folding.

I brought in a potting table from the garage, to see if I can finish organizing the gardening stuff I have in the house. Store the bird seed under it, etc. If not, back to the garage it goes. I bought it at a garage sale last summer.

As I finished projects around the house and yard. I decided I'd get at least one wheelbarrow full of rock hauled to the front for that keyhole garden. I brought enough pieces of rock to do several more feet of the wall, and I dug out a lot of Bermuda roots in the new bed. There's one small section of weeds left along the low wall, and then I need to clear out the center of it. And plant the darned thing!

Now I'm off to bed. Kitchen is clean, tomorrow the rest of the house will catch up. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 12:41 PM

Keyboard is still a bit bonkers; stops typing every so often.

It's cold out, but the dogs are going to get baths and will hang out in the house till they're dry. It's the day for their Revolution (heart worm and flea monthly treatment), and it's also a day before company comes, so it's nice if they're sweet smelling.

For accountability, I've gotten to where I switch on the rock station after my favorite gardening program ends at 11 on Sunday mornings. I dance around the house, or just move more when I'm doing things and it all adds up to more exercise than just sitting or standing.

Beans simmering and I'll bottle these up in jars to freeze the extra. I have some venison sausage in the freezer that I save for these beans - it's so good! The freezer is looking pretty well stocked. I created a couple of cubic feet of empty space when I took out all of those tomatoes, but the door rack is now full of quart canning jars of frozen juice.

If it warms up enough later this afternoon I'll work a little more on that keyhole garden, it's almost finished. I need to put a few garden trimmings in the trash (stuff that is toxic to the dogs if it is in the compost). Looking good!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 03:27 PM

Can't wait to see pix, SRS, of that garden!

Today has been a wash. I couldn't sleep last night, then, after finally falling asleep about 330a, the neighbours woke me about 4a with loud, deep bass booming music and a trying-to-be-quiet argument in their driveway. I was so distraught by the boom-boom, I went out to the LR, opened the front door and yelled to please turn it down. No one could hear me, of course, but I felt better. Then, when I went back to bed, is when they started to argue. That was it, I reached up and rapped on the window and lo and behold, they stopped. Not another peep out of them. Not being able to get back to sleep, I was up at 630a, then went back to bed at 730a and fell into a deep and dreamless sleep until the phone woke me at 903a sharp. "Hi, Mama, can I come over now? You said we'd decorate the tree and I could call you at nine o'clock." Aarrghhh...usually I can wake up fast and go, no problem. Told the puir kid he'd have to wait for us to get up and moving.

Well, he came over about 10a, showed us what a good shot he is with Roger's bow and his own plastic non-pointed arrow - crack shot! and then played around with Rog and by himself as I went back to bed! I got up about 1130a and sent him home about 1230p. He and Rog did find the decorations bin and brought it in. Morgan put the star on the top of the tree and there it sits. No decorating for me, no nothing, today. Ugh...I hate nights like last night. I don't feel up to doing anything the next day and I had high hopes for today!

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 05:40 PM

I think I've told some of you about one night in the parking lot outside our apartment in 1999, 11pm. A woman pulled into the parking lot next to my son's room then leaned on the horn, looking at a path about three buildings down. I walked over and stood beside her door. She didn't even notice me as she honked and peered to her right. I used the flat of my hand and I pounded on her hood a half dozen times.

She immediately stopped, clutched her chest, and looked shocked. I was frankly quite rude. Along the lines of "Get out of your fucking car and go knock on the door . . ." She evidently didn't die of a heart attack because I wasn't disturbed by an ambulance. :-/

I've been on my feet all afternoon. Pot of beans is simmering, tortillas made, most of them now in the freezer. Roasted a squash and some of that will thicken the beans. I'll be baking tonight - the serious family cookies come next, krumkaka (the photos look like they use a pin to roll them up on, I just use my fingers) and spritz. Our spritz are made with a press feeds a long ridged row of dough and you cut them into pieces when they come out of the oven. And other cookie press shapes are used for almond cookies and such.

The dogs are now bathed and treated. I'll do a load of laundry, and need to clean that hall bathroom to clear up the dog hair in the tub.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 05:52 PM

Well, it was too cold last night for me to do anything but stand there and yell, plus they were playing their music inside their house, but that is what I felt like doing, SRS! I cannot imagine the decibel levels they had it at!

I surprised myself. Got up from a supposed nap which was just depressing, scrubbed the bathroom, put in another load of laundry and emptied the bathroom and bedroom trash bins. I think I will go fold some more laundry, now and put some of it away.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 08:39 PM

Beans are making their way into the freezer, in 12 oz jars, just enough for a meal or two. Krumkaka batter is mixed, ready to start cooking later. My feet and legs are getting rather tired, as happens when I'm walking around the kitchen for a long time.

Kat, if you need to work out your mood some more, my bathroom needs cleaning also. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 09:50 PM

LOL, lucky I got ours done. Rog has just been called out to work..something wrong with the equipment. Second time this weekend. It's like now they know he's walking it's okay to call for the most trivial of things!

Everything is going better...so I can't figure out why I don't feel happier. The therapist said it's the economy...everyone's hunkered down and not "making a joyful noise," but rather taking care of practical things and watching to see what will happen in the coming year. I expect I'll feel better once I get a decent night's sleep..let it be tonight, please!:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: mouldy
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 02:22 AM

I'm going to collapse more boxes and get them and the packing paper to the tip before the next (literally) Arctic weather arrives later this week...just in time for me to have to drive to Yorkshire for Freya's birthday! Managed to get another length of gutter and some brackets, so that can go up this week too.

Let's hope the weather settles before Christmas, when I have to go back down to Yorkshire again!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: maire-aine
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 09:00 AM

Getting ready to throw a load of laundry into the washing machine. Got back last night from 6 days in Rome (yes, Italy), and arrived to find a nasty snowstorm. It being Sunday night, there weren't many salt trucks out yet either. Thankful that my car started, I got home safely, and was able to get up my driveway and into the garage. Once I'm over the jet-lag, I'll post pics on FB.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 02:45 PM

What an adventure, Maryanne! And the chilly return probably makes Rome seem all the more appealing!

I've done dishes, baked bread, and chicken breasts are thawing for dinner. My son's favorite meal is homemade chicken strips.

Laundry is finished, the bathroom has been cleaned since the dogs left a lot of hair in there. I'm packing up the boxes still out from decorating, and I'm packed up to the eyeballs with food for the next month.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 03:58 PM

Laundry is going. Dishes mostly done (lunch dishes are still in the sink), rug vaccuumed, kitchen floor swept, the cats knocked over a potted plant in the kitchen window and broke the pot so that's cleaned up, cobwebs sucked up in the bathroom and hallway, Pack & Play first level had to be taken out as our little boy can now pull himself to standing and I'm afraid he'd tumble out...so now he's on the bottom floor of the pack and play having himself a good old time playing and singing. Baby's floor play blankets are in the washing machine, old dog beds changed out of living room to their kennels and new dog beds are being enjoyed by all our 4 legged critters. One dog bed is 30x40 and the other bed is oval, very plush with high sides...looks like a giant cat bed but our Bernese Mtn. dog loves curling up in it. I also vacuumed my chair today and Pete's with a *Power Paw*...works great! I also swept the front porch....leaves, hay...dust...pieces of bark from the firewood...all gone! :)

Roasted Chicken, Couscous (or baked potato...depends what we feel like later), carrots and squash for dinner. YUM.

Also...lots of up and down activity daily as the baby likes to play on the floor and to dance with Mommy to the Sirious Holiday Traditions channel! :) He's absolutely a music baby....so far he loves just about everything....especially the blues which he listens to and watches in the morning with Daddy (I love that!!!).

Michelle whose treadmill is now accessible but has yet to be used....I think tomorrow will be the day!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 04:50 PM

Michelle, I used to dance with the kids to old rock n' roll songs (you know how many of them are sung to "my baby") and a lot of the songs on Sesame Street. I recorded them separately and made a tape of songs we'd put on and sing and dance to. "Put Down the Duckie if you want to play the saxophone!"

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 06:29 PM

Got some good sleep, last night, so this morning was productive in that I paid more bills and balanced the checkbook. Also did a load of laundry. By lunch, I was ready for a nap, but finished up a few things before snuggling with the cats on the bed. I thought I'd wake up and go get Morgan, but I fell asleep until the phone woke me. By then it was getting late for me going, so I called my SIL, took a pass on the kid for today and read some more of the book which I'd fallen asleep reading!

Tomorrow I am supposed to be at the yoga teacher's home studio at 830a and it's about 30-40 minutes away. Rog has agreed to take me from his workplace, if I drive that far, then come pick me up after. I haven't had the chance to drive over to make sure I can find her place okay and don't want to get all nervous about finding it. I know I could do it without him, but it feels like less of a huge step this way. I like baby steps. This feels like a big step towards winning back my confidence.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 01:16 AM

Drive to the airport went well, my handsome young man was there retrieving his guitar case (his xmas present from me, purchased as needed, and I'll pay him back) as I drove past the baggage area, so I went around the loop once and he was ready. This was a great time of day for driving to Dallas and through Love Field. Very easy, not crowded at all. And I managed to get in a big hug at the curb, and a couple since.

I made a batch of his favorite breaded chicken breast strips. Moms know the way to their kids' hearts, via cooking, so of course I exploited that move. ;-D

Megadeth is playing in the corner room, and I know that tonight I'll sleep easily. I've missed having someone else in the house.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: mouldy
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 02:00 AM

Had a letter from the water company saying that as nobody had registered for the payments the water would shortly be cut off. As I rang them 5 weeks ago and (so I thought) set up the debit payments from my account, I was somewhat miffed. Even more so when there was no record of me when I called them. Anyway, it's all sorted, and they apologised.

Put the gutter up yesterday. It's slightly smaller than the previous one, which was quite old and more than likely an obsolete size, but it's working. Also got 8 collapsed boxes and about 12 sacks of paper to the recycling centre. Only about another 25 boxes to go, once they are collapsed, paper bagged up, and the rest unpacked!

Today I am going to try and get my jig-saw unpacked and get the battens out of that fireplace so I can clean it up a bit. I will also go and see Ernie at the stove shop down the road, and see about getting a stove sorted out for the living room. He sells ones like I had in my last house. I would think it would be some time next month before anything could be done, as the flue has to be swept and lined as well. I've got fed up with having to re-light the fire every day, and deal with half-burnt coal left in the grate, due to the awful quality of most coal these days.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 11:31 AM

That is so Charles Dickens! Burning coal in the fireplace? I didn't think people still did that. It's usually wood or wood by-products here. Also, I Googled "batten" to see how you were using it (we usually hear "batten down the hatches" and I hadn't even thought that a batten was a thing, I thought it was an act, to fasten the covers, etc. Now I get it!)

We learn so much here some days!

I had a letter from the electric company saying our year contract is about up, so I can choose to go with them again, or find a new company. I'll do a little shopping to see how the rates look. This year has been a lot more affordable since I dropped the default local company.

Fighting an annoying canker (sp?) sore. The sweets and nuts of holiday baking can make it worse, another reason to avoid the calories. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: mouldy
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 12:42 PM

I cut twice into one side of the battens, and the whole lot wrenched out! I have washed down the cast iron insert and now have to deal with the soot and crap in the beige carpet...silly girl forgot to sheet up..... (looks nice with the candles arranged on it, even though they aren't exactly right for it).

I've sprayed half a can of carpet foam onto it, and I'll give it a good vacuuming tomorrow.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 03:25 PM

I just finished compiling some obscure facts about myself for a game at the office holiday party luncheon tomorrow. They may be so obscure they'll automatically guess it's me. Who knows?

Mom's taxi is back in business, taking son to friends house for a while.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 03:37 PM

BIG step, today. I woke worried and asking Rog if he could just drive me all the way to the yoga consult, then bring me home. He didn't outright refuse, bless his heart. I felt better after breakfast and decided I would follow him to work and he could take me from there. As soon as I got in the car and started driving, I knew I had to do this for myself, by myself. I called him on his cell and told him thanks, but I was going to do it. The directions were great, I'd typed them out so they were readable and I got there early!:-) The teacher is great...she teaches what she calls "Functional Wisdom" and is all about each individual listening to their bodies and learning the ways to move so that everything is connected and in unison. It's a bit difficult to describe but she did two simple things with me, very subtle, which quickly demonstrated how efficacious this program will be for me. I am optimistic. We will probably have a couple more private lessons, then I will probably take a class she is doing for women which starts in January.

Anyway, I did it!!

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: mouldy
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 05:16 PM

Yay! Well done Kat! So glad you had a good class.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 05:44 PM

Congrats, Kat! We can often do so much more than we think.

Functional Wisdom! It reminds me of Robert Wolff's wonderful book, Original Wisdom. Short and FULL. Also thinking of The Gift of Fear in which the author exhorts us to pay attention to ourselves - our "intuition", our vague feelings of discomfort, etc. I feel it needs to be read by every young person, and any older one who might need it. Most of us? I realized long ago that I did not pay enough attention to my body. Do somewhat better now.

I succumbed to the weather. My great plan on Saturday to go shopping and dancing did not come to fruition as I sat here feeling as though there was a mountain sitting on top of me. The air was so heavy with unexpressed precipitation, my body refused to move, even for dancing. I chose to go with the feeling without regret at missing one of my favourite activities.

Sunday was a quiet day at home. It snowed and that helped clear the air. Rob read most of What I Eat, totally enthralled by it while I read my novel and provided food breaks. Good to take a whole day off! It snowed lightly all day for a few inches accumulation. We did, however, not heed the snow removal sirens. His truck was towed and it took an hour of a friend driving him up and down streets to find it on Monday! And they did not even clear the street so we had to wary again on Monday night!

I was delighted on Monday to have my energy back and did all manner of errands and even defrosted the frig. By evening it was nasty again. As I drove back into the city from the burbs, the rain turned to sleet and then snow - in minutes. The temp dropped 8 degrees in about 2 hours. So I chose not to go out on the streets to go to dancing.

I deal better with bad roads in the country where there are fewer drivers and more room to maneuver. That is: no problem going 30 miles into the country Friday for our music/social event even though it snowed the whole time - but lightly. But two miles in the city... Only if I must. I am concerned for how others drive!

I bought another basket of fresh cranberries at the Market. She is the only outdoor booth left, except for the trees, and expect she will soon be gone. She does dried cranberries also so I bought a packet of those for nibbles. She gave me a small maple leaf of maple sugar, which they also do, and syrup. I would like to work on a recipe booklet for the "cranberry woman" - for next year. I would need someone to collaborate: a booklet in English and one in French also. Guess I have a project of trying out recipes this winter; I have a bunch from Nova Scotia in my file.

One more week to the solstice!