BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: maire-aine
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 08:07 PM

Got the laundry all finished & put away. I'm staying inside except to fetch in the mail. The high temp has been about 8F (-13C) for the last two days, and the streets are very icy. It's supposed to be a little better tomorrow, so I'll do some grocery shopping.

Maryanne

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

Tomorrow is supposed to be near 80 again. Maybe I can make the last push to finish that one garden. It's a staff lunch tomorrow and I'm taking some of my homemade tomato juice as my "appetizer" contribution. I'm sure that unless they make their own juice, they've never ever tasted tomato juice as good as this. What a lucky group they are!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 10:04 PM

Kat,

I'm so happy that you had a great experience with your yoga!!!!   YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Your teacher sounds like she has the same philosophy as my yoga teacher....do you know what kind of yoga she teaches? My teacher follows Kripalu and PranaKria yoga ways. Can't wait to hear more!!!

Namaste!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: mouldy
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 01:54 AM

80 degrees! I think it's going to be at least 6 months before we see anything like that! The next lot of cold(er) weather is due to start today with the airflow from the arctic. I am heading for Yorkshire this weekend, but have decided to go from Friday to Sunday, rather than up and down just on Saturday. I'm going to take quite a bit of Christmas stuff withme, just in case I get snowed in up here again later on.

I've got an aromatherapy session this morning, and I think I'll spend the rest of the day putting flat-pack together and putting more stuff out of the way.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 11:33 AM

We don't end up this warm very often in the winter, and we get some blasts out of the Arctic reaches several times a winter. This is a gift, so we'll enjoy it. (Last winter we had a snowfall like no one from here has seen in modern memory. It looked like something from my home state of Washington.)

My friend from Arizona will be in this area by late afternoon. We'll try to work out when to have the large get-together for her family and mine. I'll keep moving forward decluttering the living room. I broke down the new computer's packing box and put the inside box and styrofoam supports in the attic. That cleared up the hall!

Heading to the office holiday lunch.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: maire-aine
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 02:11 PM

Got the grocery shopping done, and one batch of Swedish Ginger Cooky dough is chilling in the refrigerator.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: maeve
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 02:26 PM

We have decluttered one burned house foundation, and are watching another being built. No special cooking or presents here. We know to be thankful for what we have. We're being careful with propane and with water, since one is costly and our source for the other is frozen.

Congratulations on your individual progress, and may you each have a peaceful time over the next few weeks. Thanks for your continued encouragement, especially the kind private messages.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 05:16 PM

YAY Maeve!!!!!

    You are absolutely right about knowing what's important!!!! I'm right there with you!

    I forgot a few key ingredients yesterday so the Wee One and I went to town today. At the moment, I have chicken bones simmering to make broth for a soup I am taking to a luncheon tomorrow and also I'm taking some for Tracy (who is now home and doing well!).

      I'm feeling kind of froggy today...think I might be coming down with a cold (BOO HISS...GO AWAY!!!)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 12:05 AM

Much gratitude here that you, maeve, and TL are here with us this year and the new foundation is coming along.

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: mouldy
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 05:09 AM

Seconded!
We all think we have the world on our shoulders from time to time, but there are many other people who are carrying much bigger planets quite cheerfully!

It's good to step back from time to time and just get a sense of perspective. It's not the amount you carry - it's how you carry it that makes it seem easy. There are welcome helping hands here.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 10:50 AM

Maeve, you have put in quite a year! The amount of work is exponential compared to what all of the rest of us have accomplished. You and LilyFestre have been way out front, setting a great example.

This year I've decided I can't inflict the holiday calories on the office, no matter how charming and traditional. I'm headed down to my feed store in a few minutes, where I will give them $40 that they will match and add to the account that they run for the Humane Society. (N. TX Humane Society is a couple of blocks down the street from there, and is where I got my sweetheart Poppy). The donation will be in the name off the library administration. I'll scan the form and email everyone this afternoon. :)

I'll still make the rest of the holiday cookies, but I'll pass them out on modest sized plates to most neighbors, so the calories aren't an assault on good health. And I can probably time it so when the smallish-herd of grandchildren arrive next door, I'll be delivering a bit larger plate.

The box for the new computer has been flattened, and the inside box that contains the supporting styrofoam is up in the attic. I need to put the file cabinet that is in the hall in a more permanent place, and clear the front room of things set in there to get them out of the way.

I have a sewing project for over the holiday break, and I am glad that the decluttering has resulted in a well-appointed sewing room. My son agrees that swapping out the large table for the smaller comfortable office table with the keyboard tray underneath is a good move. I didn't report - we walked in and I heard "There's more room in here!" I'd taken out a set of shelves and put his big honker television (for his games) on a table I moved in, so that was just a swap, but by rearranging after the large table was out I gave him a lot of exposed floor, and that makes the room seem larger, not just less-full. The room is set now so if he has friends over, they'll have an easier time hanging out and playing games, whether on the computer or the TV. And I have more table space in the living room and kitchen for feeding them.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: maeve
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 11:07 AM

Thanks for the cheers...thank goodness it isn't a competition! :)

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 05:24 PM

"Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say let your affairs be as one, two, three and not a hundred or a thousand… We are happy in proportion to the things we can do without." – Henry David Thoreau

Perhaps a framed version would help - on the wall where it is the first thing I see in the morning.

Good things: YAYYY! found the Christmas lights - in one of the two boxes I managed to sort into better places today. And my good winter socks.

Also found a new pair of winter boots at the Sally Ann this week- bright red! And this makes Rob feel better about finding that the boots I bought - at the thrift shop - last year, when my good ones were still out west, fit him perfectly! So the ones that rubbed his heel raw on Monday are on the way out the door. Warm foot happiness prevails.

Beef stew on the stove for the next time he wanders in hungry - sometime between now and midnight. And split pea soup in the slow cooker for a change of pace. Learning to cook things that can stay on the stove for whenever.

Little by little, I am able to organize, and then accomplish these small things. Even remembering to cut open the onion bag while I had the scissors in my hand gave me a feeling that I am stealing back to my same old used to be. However, I also stand by, "I'm retired. I don't HAVE to do anything." I LOVE it!

Two houses two blocks away burned last night. Really nice Victorian era semi-detached. The one adjacent to ours has caught fire three times since '96; the most recent in September. Makes one think hard. Fire fighters stopped by this morning to check our smoke detectors.

Now to figure out how to use that cheery string of lights to let the world know we are a cheery home. Even though staying warm is challenging and I put my foot right through the kitchen floor last week! Put a piece of plywood and a throw rug over it and keep hoping the rest holds 'til spring.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 05:30 PM

Moved stuff in my office, so the scanner is right beside the desk and not behind it on one of the antique trunks. It's easy to reach from my chair now. A small television and peripheral stuff were moved to the front room, and I need to rearrange that room since I may have several guests at once for a couple of days and my good futon is in there. We're going to try for a multi-family dinner on Monday. The turkey is out of the freezer, in the sink for the moment, but I'll let it defrost in the fridge until I need it.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 06:24 PM

In a continuing effort to chase off last year's depression, I managed to talk myself into doing the dishes late this morning! There were quite a few, so it felt like quite an accomplishment, once again.

After lunch, I thought about what I could do differently to keep the momentum going. With Morgan out sick this week, I haven't even had him to perk me up. So, I called a girlfriend, the only one I really have here. We've known each other since the end of my first marriage, years and years ago. We don't see a lot of each other but we talk often. She's about twenty years older than I and has some great wisdom. Anyway, she was game for riding along to the health food store and keeping me awake. (Something which keeps me from going out too much alone, brought on by meds, partly.) We had a good time. I gave her a bag of hardback books I didn't want to put in the swap thing, so that was a bit more clutter gone.

At the health food store, I consulted with their expert and decided to try oil of oregano to treat what I suspect is candida.

Also, I thought of us all when I heard an interview on NPR, today. A couple of ways to keep everything organized. Check these out, they seem pretty neat from what I can tell:

Evernote.com and HootSuite.com a "social media dashboard."

I am esp. interested in the Evernote.

later,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 07:51 PM

The Google calendar has some of those same features, when used with Google docs and the email. Finding one to stick with is the goal!

I put a lot more hay into the dogs houses this evening. They seem to keep knocking it out, but there is enough in there to last a while, I hope. I'll check every couple of days, but it's an adventure to head into their space. They're like excited pre-schoolers, they both want your attention, they want to show you everything, they want you to sit on their bed - they wag and lick any skin they can reach. Glasses also. :)

I made the cash donation to the Humane Society food fund at my feed store; not everyone responded but several did, and that's probably as much as I could expect. I feel good giving money to that group instead of adding more calories to some who don't need it and contributing to the discomfort of others who can't eat this stuff and are around it for days on end over the holidays. Some people give hand lotion or other toiletries, I gave a little good will in the community. It's all good. :)

Kat, you have my number, give me a call one of these days. If you're not on Sprint, then evenings (after 6 your time) or weekends don't count against my minutes.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 07:56 PM

Don't you guys Skype? I have unlimited long distance in US/Canada for $30/year. Call everyone from my computer. I was actually able to tell my brilliant son something he did not know so...

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 07:56 PM

Thanks, SRS, I will do that.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 11:39 PM

Right now we don't use Skype because with Sprint, all of us in our family plan can talk to each other with no draw-down on our minutes. We can talk to anyone else evenings or weekends free.

Sprint makes it very easy to stay with their plan. I pay for unlimited text, we share 1500 prime minutes talking time (Mon-Fri, 8am - 7pm) a month between us. Last time I checked, Dean used about 500 minutes (not all during the day), my son sent about 1000 texts, and my daughter and I are somewhere in between those numbers. At most we've managed to use about 750 prime minutes in a month. My house is now a cell and my cell is still a cell, and I can only talk on one at a time, so it's pretty much a wash. We haven't had to go to Skype. My friend Dean is on the plan because it is the only way I can be sure he always has a phone, and because for $10 a month, it is easy. And sometimes charity needs to begin at home.

I do pay for the convenience of all of these phones - my bill is about $130 a month. But average that out with 5 phones, and it isn't bad. I'd have to pay almost this much just for my children and me (it's $90 for the first two phones in the plan, then $10 a month for each additional phone up to the limit of 5). And paying for my children to have phones is important - they're in college, they can stay in touch with me, with their father, with friends. They can call 911 if they have to. It is a bridge back to their support system at home, it is all of the good things a phone can be in this day and age.

Pardon my waxing positive on the cell phone plan, but for us, it works very well. When they get to the point when they have jobs and houses and such, then they can take their numbers and pay for their own plans.

Made a great batch of beef vegetable soup this evening. Backed up a couple of favorite movies on DVDs. Cleaned up the kitchen. And tomorrow I'll make a big push to finish an art project and a newsletter for work.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 10:20 AM

I should get Sprint to pay me for that last little rant. :)

Cool, overcast. Nothing like the rest of you have been encountered, but we are reminded that it is winter. The trees in the region are mostly deciduous, so this is a gloomy time of year when there is no green and no snow, just grown and gray. That's why I planted several evergreens in my yard. The juniper, several pines, and an Italian cypress keep the place more cheerful this time of year.

This morning I emailed an organization that sent a donation solicitation to a former tenant at this address. The house history has the original builder living here for about 10 years, then they rented it out to several parties, the last family was here for 10 years. They tried to buy it but the owners weren't interested at the time. It was on the market for nearly 2 years when I came along, and I found a house that hadn't been updated by "investors," it was one that needed updating, and I convinced the owners that they couldn't ask the full price as if the updating had already been done. I still haven't finished the work, but I still have managed to make it look a lot different. I've had this nagging idea that one of these days I'll have a party and along with a few of the nearby long-term neighbors, invite back the old renters. Has anyone else ever done anything like that?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 01:18 PM

That party idea sounds neat!

Interesting that you planted evergreens. In the NW, I LOVED every deciduous tree - there were so few! The ubiquitous evergreens were dark and forbidding all through the long wet gloomy winter! Variety seems the key!.

We have sun today - most of the time. First time in about a week. Oh joy! It sure does help!!!

Now to get those Christmas lights up.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: mouldy
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 03:18 PM

I'm down at my daughter's. I've done the washing up and am about to make a second bowl of jelly (jello for you lot over the pond) for Freya's second birthday party tomorrow. Ruth has snuck upstairs to make a "pass the parcel" for 13.
Tomorrow Ruth and I will be taking her to Baby Ballet in the morning so that her mum can get some more prep work done. At the moment she's doing an evening's locum work, and her husband's gone to a football match. Grandma and Aunty are babysitting.

oh well...back to the kitchen!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 05:41 PM

Just a note. Looks as though exercising before breakfast may be really helpful: CLICK HERE.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 08:47 PM

Okay. Tonight is a night to clean the kitchen. It's not bad, but there is a lot of stuff going on. Things that need to be finished and put in the freezer or ground and put in containers, etc. I have people coming over on Monday and I don't want to spend the entire visit cooking, I'd like to have a lot of things out of the way already so I can visit. It's harder and harder to get this group together every year, so we need to cherish these moments by making the most of them.

I have a couple of movies to put in the player, there are a couple of interesting PBS programs on tonight, so there is plenty to go in the background. And when I get tired of that, I'll finish up some work on the computer that I've been putzing around with all day.

Busy night.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 01:31 AM

Well, the kitchen isn't clean yet, but I finished several of the projects in there. My feet are tired, my eyes are tired, and I'm finished for the day.

I have a little shopping to do, but I'll wait till Monday and go in the middle of the day, hoping to miss the industrial strength late shoppers. Hoping for a quiet weekend.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 02:06 PM

I was poking around for that Mudcat Crafters thread (can't find it) and found the first declutter thread from March of 2008. Hard to believe these have been running so long. I have made a difference, but not as much as I hoped. Still, it is forward movement.

I was looking for the crafters thread to post a photo for Kat of a necklace in an advertisement that came in the mail recently. That tangled look you were talking about, and in this catalog that necklace sells for $45. I wish there was more detail, it's cropped from a near full-length view of the model.

I do some running and I'm sure the stores will be crowded so I'll try my best to skirt the intersections around the mall. This evening I'll take some cookies around. The holiday dominates these days.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: maire-aine
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 02:45 PM

Things are not working out the way I'd planned. I was making candied pecans this morning, and I scorched them. Not so bad that it set off the smoke alarm, but too "crispy" to take to the party tonight. Now I need to figure out something else.

It's still only 21F (-6C) so I have no interest in going out, even though there is only one week left until Christmas.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 02:54 PM

My dogs would eat them. They adore pecans. Do you have a pooch? Use them for a high-brow dog snack.

Dishes out of the way, shopping list growing. Laundry needs to go in. Letter needs to be finished to mail with the holiday cards. And I should walk the dogs while it's still warm.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 03:22 PM

Andrea, I was looking for a thermostat for the garage to run the dogs' heater, and I came across this:

It's a thermostat and a roof de-icing cable.I was thinking about using something like this to use, but I went and looked at their heater and it has a thermostat. I'd just gotten into the habit of turning it on when it gets cold, but I've adjusted it so it only comes on below about 45.

I wonder if there is something comparable that you could run on your Euro power on your roof?

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: maeve
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 04:25 PM

This thread, Stilly? Mudcat Crafters

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 06:12 PM

That's it! It refused to appear in my search on that name, and I knew it had been back up to the top this year but I couldn't see it in my list. Thanks!

Must. Force. Myself. Out. To. Shop. There's no other option, but this time of year, I don't like the traffic. At least I'm going with a list, that should help some.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 11:38 PM

Wow, almost three years later and I am still struggling with what to do with some of the books! Arrgghh!

Morgan came over and decorated our live tree this morning. He did a pretty good job, though there is one whole side which is kind of bare.:-) We returned some shirts to kmart, a wrist rest thingie to office max, and stopped at the health food store, then went to the grocery store. I did a load of laundry, again, and Rog got the trash done, finally. It's been a low week for me with Morgan home sick, Spaw being worrisome, and getting over a bug myself. Tomorrow looks good for cleaning, though, and we have decided to spend a little bit of the extra we have from WC to have our used-to-be cleaning lady come in to do the floors, wipes the walls and get the cobwebs down, for a one-time deal. I don't know if she will have time before Christmas, but I'll call her this week and see.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 04:00 AM

I'm checking in late, turning off the computer, after cleaning and moving stuff in the living room and kitchen. I have this great Chinese bronze sculpture (cast) of Shou Xin Gong that I picked up at an estate sale a couple of years ago. It looks quite old, the patina on it is lovely, and the previous owner had a felt base put on the bottom. So as I was watching Dial M for Murder as I worked, I paused at one point to admire the apartment where almost the entire film takes place. And there is this rather large ceramic on one table and looks great. Aha! moment - I took my bronze and put it on the library table behind my couch. And balanced it with a tall brass lamp. Looks very nice!

Off to bed, and I'll see in the morning if this was inspired or insanity. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: mouldy
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 04:24 AM

At the moment the roof de-ices itself with the wasted heat, then the snow above justs skids off! The movement is towards insulation and power saving as a result. They might be useful on fragile roofs which can't take the weight of much snow, such as conservatories. A blanket of snow on a roof is seen as a good sign!

We have more of a problem with freezing temperatures at the moment. We are all together in Yorkshire at the moment, but Ruth and i are heading off in our opposite directions in a couple of hours. I'm heading to no more than -4C; Ruth's home area had -19C last night!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: maire-aine
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 09:40 AM

Got the best night's sleep in ages, helped by having put flannel sheets on the bed last night. All cozy, no cold spots when you move, and no need for a second blanket. Wish I could have stayed in bed all day.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 10:52 AM

Funny how a lot of my facebook friends from work were all kind of wired, up really late last night. I got up by my alarm this morning and will make a point of taking a midday nap.

This morning I started packaging cookies to give to neighbors. I think I'm going to go out of the cookie baking business, at least, not making so many varieties. I've been eating a few, and I find that after an autumn of a low-sugar diet that I don't like the way I feel after eating the sugar (and it seems to be hitting the flora and giving me a hint of Spaw's existence!) I'll spread these around so no one takes too big of a glycemic hit from the sugar, and I'll take some to work later in the week.

I am trying to eat less meat, more veggies. Yesterday I poked around for various recipes and then picked up some produce to make a tray of roasted root vegetables for tomorrow's dinner. I'm going to take the turkey apart so it won't take long to bake; the recipe for veggies says you can bake it several hours ahead and simply warm from room temperature before serving, so I think I can pop it back in the oven while the turkey is resting. It calls for tossing them in olive oil and rosemary, then baking in a single layer on the sheet for an hour or more. Sounds wonderful and healthy.

It's warmer today so the dogs and I will go for a walk, and I'm going to try to get out more often (in the winter I have to pick my times because the cold air makes my eyes water a lot. I end up with a chapped face.) I'm not waiting for the new year to resolve to keep up the exercise and eating healthier. Once these sweets are out of the house, I'm not letting them back in, and the dogs and I all benefit from regular walks.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 08:30 PM

Bills paid, several loads of laundry done, 2 loads of dishes done, dinner fixed (early for us), hosted company today, swept and of course all the things that Jeremiah has needed for the day (and then some!). I have an intense sinus headache and an aching spot on my abdomen...pulled something I think.

Anyway....I did a lot today and am happy with my accomplishments!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 09:32 PM

Michelle, you never cease to amaze me with how much you accomplish in a day. :)

The kids are together this evening at a party at my daughter's house, an annual party she and her college roommates throw. They send out invitations, and make it clear that the party is open to invitees only (they've had people try to crash) and it is lots of food but no alcohol. They cluster together in different rooms and play a lot of different games - it really looks like a lot of fun. And of course, now my son is himself a college student and is taller than most of the group, so even more than before he fits right in.

They'll come back tomorrow and then we do our big multi-family dinner. Not sure how many will be here, and I'm thinking I need to go in the morning and get a ham to go along with the turkey, because I'm going to make bread and gravy and if people want they can have an open face hot turkey sandwich.

The house is coming along, but I still have some filing and arranging to do.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 02:25 AM

I've been hiding the evidence, aka wrapping presents, so folks who are here tomorrow won't see things intended for them. Mostly I've been to the book store - if I can't afford anything else, I can give people good words. I'm even tempted to have us read aloud from some favorite book. Make it a game somehow? Roald Dahl comes to mind - one of his short stories could be quite entertaining.

The living room is looking good. I bought two matching lamps at a garage sale 2 years ago, and I left them in the garage to air out (both had cigarette smoke scent). The one I initially brought in has a faulty switch, but tonight I tested and brought the other one in. Set up opposite my God of Long-Life it looks elegant.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: mouldy
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 02:36 AM

I have till Thursday to toddler-proof the house as much as possible. This equates to a proper putting away of stuff that I have just left lying about until I find somewhere for it....well now's the time!

It was an awful drive back yesterday afternoon once I got north of Newcastle. Almost a white-out at one point (perhaps an exaggeration, but it was bad). Then a slow drive over fresh snow for about 20 miles. I then found there was an area-wide power cut when I got back. Luckily it came back on about an hour later, but the Victorian oil lamp came into use and the camping stove was brought into use.

The Christmas run is going to be interesting. Last night the long range forecast was for much snow down the east side of the country, whereas the local forecast on the BBC website (my homepage) has rain for the end of the week...

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 02:47 AM

I can't believe it. I gout out the tree and decorations. I put up decorations. Didn't think it would happen. Flat is mostly clean too.

I am chuffed.

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 03:07 AM

Virginia, I hope the decorations bring good memories, and help lay down new traditions and memories for you. Good girl - and lean on us if you need to. I was watching a movie tonight - Love, Actually, and it brought memories of my kids in airports. Bittersweet, yes, but powerful, and in the end, good memories. (And isn't it nice when the place is "mostly clean!") Our loved ones are with us when we make the effort to honor them. I put all clear crystal on the mantle this year, with ornaments in them, but this evening I added a small goblet with ruby-red color. Years ago my husband said, as I unpacked family glassware, that this glass was the type is mother collected. She died last week. "If she had a knife, and saw this glass, she'd probably mug you for it" he joked. So Rosa, this one's for you!

Andrea, I've driven in those kind of conditions several times. It tests you, but leaves you feeling strong, doesn't it, when you manage to get home through difficult conditions.

Night night, everyone! You've earned a good night's sleep.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 10:18 AM

The butterflies of the morning of a big dinner are here. Timing the breads, veggies, turkey, and I'll pick up a ham. There's no way a 14 pound bird is enough meat for 13 - 15 people.

Oy.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: maeve
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 10:34 AM

Well done, Tam, Stilly, Andrea, Michelle, Maryanne, Dorothy, kat...you are all making a difference for yourselves and those around you. If I missed anyone: (Your names here) are included. :)

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 01:37 PM

The sun is shining. The temp is almost up to freezing. After I finish this post, having reached the probable warmest part of the day, I will go out to the shed and sort stuff, have a few things I would like to find sooner... Then upstairs to put those Christmas lights on the balcony railing and look at what needs to be done to make it habitable - imo. Have not seen nor heard from the - non-rent paying - tenant since early November. We are planning to take over he space. THEN there will be room for stuff, as well as a good bathtub!!!

If I manage the above, and even if I don't, I will read for awhile. Yesterday I finished Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt, a memoir of the 16 months after his daughter died suddenly at 38. On receiving the phone call from son in law, he and wife threw some things in the car and drove from Long Island to Maryland and moved in. Grandma took over the mothering and Boppo the Great enjoyed the three kids under 6. In the ordinariness of everyday life, the grieving process progressed. Only 166 pp of a good read.

SRS: Love those rosemary potatoes! We wrap scarves around our faces until the only thing showing is enough eyes to see where we are going! Winter in Montreal! - There were times in the 70s when two pairs of mitts, two hats and, even, two winter coats...
Roof de-icing: my problem was a heated space and an unheated space. Insufficient insulation meant the snow melted and ran down onto the unheated space and froze - as much as 6 inches before I figured it out. Wire on the unheated would have solved the problem but I had no electric!
Much is said about sinus headaches. my two cents: I used to get them from heavy weather until someone suggested drinking green tea. Have not had one in last 20 years. I also get them from a weak cup of black tea. It took years to figure this out as the headache starts 24 hours after I drink the tea, then lasts 24 hours. Set the clock by it! Very sneaky these causes for headaches!
Mention of a coal oil lamp: I had fever, chills, sore throat and headache off and on for 7 months in 1986. Moved to the city and had no problem. Moved back to the country and - the first day after the first night that I read by coal oil lamp .... I switched to candles. Petroleum products are my worst sensitivity.

Now -to it!!

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: mouldy
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 04:41 PM

Well I sorted out some of Freya's toys and drum/percussion bits, and hung some of the pictures that have been lying around. I then went and got 2 new front tyres on the car, as they were on the limit of legality.

I am starting with some sort of virus/sore throat, so I haven't been firing on all cylinders. Right now I am sipping my way through a lowland malt that has a honey taste. Most comforting.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 07:00 PM

Found on FB a few minutes ago:

"Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials."
-- Lin Yutang

"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak." -- Hans Hofmann

I particularly fancy that bit about leaving things undone!

The Christmas lights, however, got done and while not artistic are still pretty and cheerful and Done!

I found not one but three boxes of food in the shed! Trying to figure out how to integrate them into the already crowded Kitchen. That too will happen. Found other neat stuff too, a real treasure hunt into things packed away almost two years ago. Life improves by small increments.

Rob just spent a happy hour figuring out how a mouse was getting into the frig. As the frig does not work anyway, I would not spend 5 minutes on it. On the other hand, maybe he will also convince it to work. THAT would be exciting!

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 12:18 AM

Sitting down for a few minutes to finish my glass of wine and check my email, etc. Feet are tired, appliances were a bit dodgy this afternoon, seeming to not heat much. I had to leave the meat in longer, but in the end, it was okay. A lot of leftovers mean no serious cooking for a few days.

The house looked good. We ate, visited, exchanged gifts, talked about playing a game, then ended up watching part of the Judy Garland version of A Star Is Born. This came about as a demonstration of how nice it is to stream NetFlix through the BluRay player (mine is wired, but you can set them up as wireless) on the new television.

Everyone left a little while ago. Several of them are setting alarms in order to get up to look at tonight's lunar eclipse. We realized we'd set our dinner on, or just about on, the solstice, which was fine with all of us. A nice coincidence. And an eclipse. :)

Off to bed. I probably won't get up, but who knows. Maybe my dogs will bay at the moon and wake me.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 01:26 AM

We've got freaky clouds in "sunny" Colorado..no eclipse visible, dang it!

Subject: RE: BS: Dec-2010 Declutter & Accountability YES!
From: mouldy
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 05:54 AM

I've got hills in the way, but saw some coverage on TV.

Andrea