BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 May 11 - 10:25 PM

3920, hip better, TBTG for Hardi's help-- loaded for 8AM departure!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 11 - 12:43 AM

I dropped hints, and for the last 4 days sent photos to facebook and twitter via my phone. I've dropped to the bottom of the thread now to say "I'm back!" I left on May 10 and drove to Tucson over two days. Stopped the night in El Paso. On May 11 in the afternoon I delivered my son his packing materials (plastic bins with attached covers, cleaning materials, and a roll of contractor-weight plastic trash bags for things that wouldn't fit anything else).

I spent the night at a friend's house, catching up (my daughter is named for her). Drove back into Tucson the next morning, picked up my son who had checked out of his dorm, and after running a couple of errands, we hit the road. Got a nice dinner at a historic Mexican restaurant in La Mesilla, NM, and after stopping the night in Van Horn, Texas, stopped at the Monahan Sandhill State Park for a quick drive through the beautiful site.

Drove in this evening, and he's headed over to his Dad's house because most of his high school friends live in that neighborhood. He'll go back and forth between the houses this summer. I hope he gets a job for spending money. He learned about a job on campus next fall, but that won't cover spending this summer.

Lots of rain here over the days I was gone so my garden has grown. I have to finish unpacking the truck tomorrow and need to do some laundry. But I have the weekend to work on stuff, so I'll be rested for work on Monday.

I'll catch up reading the thread tomorrow and pick up from there.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 May 11 - 10:37 AM

Welcome back, SRS. Maybe the kid should help unload the car?**bg**

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 11 - 11:45 AM

Kat, he did help unload a lot of the stuff in the car. What's left is things that would have taken up space in the laundry room, etc. I will do our commingled laundry then as I finish cleanging stuff or sorting, will store his things for school next fall in his bedroom. We were all tired and didn't feel any more like fooling with the pickup.

The work on the truck before I left was a good move. No gust of hot oil smell every time I parked somewhere. That, and the purchase of new bifocal Rx sunglasses made this trip very comfortable.

The dogs get their annual shots at the village fire hall this morning, so I'll walk them over and back. We can all use the exercise.

A windfall of the return trip is that my son didn't use his little Vizio 19" television much. His monitor is also a receiver, and he mostly watched NetFlix and stories via online, not television. So this little set is now mine. I've looked at where it could go and think I'll mount it on the wall to keep it off of the counter. I have my living room arranged in such a way so I can see the LR television from the kitchen, but it isn't the best arrangement. Now I can rethink the positioning of all of the furniture. I think I may end up with the dining room table over near the fireplace and the television in a more cozy arrangement on the opposite side of the room. I want a seating area for just talking and the television in its own area. Or maybe even move it into a different room.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 11 - 08:18 PM

Penny, in future, you can spray straight commercial strength (in the grocery store it is usually 3%) hydrogen peroxide on the plants with powdery mildew. It does a great job of getting rid of it. I've also used a dried potassium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to get rid of it. You might want to spray one week, wait, and go spray again, see if it helps. Also of you soak cornmeal in water and then spray the water, that's a great anti-fungal. You can also sprinkle corn meal on the ground - it acts both like an antifungal and a fertilizer.

Mildew and bugs mean the plant is in distress, it is stressed by something in the environment. Is the drainage wrong or the sunlight wrong where you've planted things? Look to the conditions and you might find why the pests have come in to clear out the dying plant.

Daughter was down for our belated mother's day lunch. We're negotiating the swapping out of devices this week - my son used my mp3 player when I was driving (his died last fall), but I ended up giving mine to my daughter this weekend. I use it for the radio, mostly, and hers (same model, smaller capacity) has been in use for at least 3 years and small and almost kaput. Her brother in the meantime has used and killed 3 of them, and wants something different next time (he's careful, but he uses them so much they wear out). Meanwhile, my son has a small 10mpx camera graduation gift that he never uses. He's giving that to his sister - we can't afford to have these things around and not use them, and she uses a camera a lot. And I have a small LCD television that he took for his dorm room but never used. It's in my kitchen.

A long dog walk is in order this evening. The girls got their annual immunizations today and were good girls for that (a shot clinic held in the village one day a year).

I'm caught up now - I'll try to keep my posts more readable.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Penny S.
Date: 14 May 11 - 09:05 PM

I definitely planted it in the wrong place. It's by the fence on the south west side of the garden, so doesn't get direct sunlight; and I put the angelica next to it, which is overshadowing it; and the neighbour has a bush which is hanging over the fence and shading it more. We've had the wrong weather for it, too, no rain. It looks as if the flower buds aren't going to open, so I might as well go for it now.

The new growth is clean and not distorted, so I think it should be OK if I cut hard back the affected stuff, dig up the roots and put it where it will get the sun. The rose from my grandparents' home will have to be in a similar place, as it is susceptible - I might put them growing through each other.

Thanks for the advice about spraying - I do have a commercial one, but can't use it often.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 11 - 11:55 PM

The commercial ones can be worse than the diseases or insects they're trying to remedy. If you visit Dirt Doctor and look for the "library" link you'll be able to look up lots of problems and solutions alphabetically.

I've emptied the pickup and have a second load of laundry ready to dry. I'll put the boxes and their contents in his room and in the next few days I'll have him tell me what he actually used out of what we sent. We'll set those things aside and have them ready for the August trip.

I taught my daughter a bit about automotive diagnosis this evening. While she was here in town the Check Engine light in her friend's car came on. I showed her how to open the hood and to check the oil, the transmission fluid level, the coolant level, and what the other tanks and parts were. They'll have to get the car worked on - an oxygen sensor out of whack can be enough to trip the CE light, but putting it on the computer will help diagnose it. She got home okay.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 May 11 - 12:48 AM

Sounds like a busy, productive time for you and your kids, SRS. Good for you for showing your daughter around an engine. I learned so much from my first husband, but that was when there were carburettors...a lot different from today's cars, though, of course, checking the oil, etc. is still the same. Back then, I changed out my own starters and a generator for my sister one time.

That's neat that you can get the dogs' shots close by, too.

I've been resting my hands (index fingers, mostly) from the computer, but have been busy otherwise. On Friday, I had a great doc's visit with my PCP...we both really, really like him. He's very pleased with how I am doing, esp. with weight loss. Last time he saw me, in late March, he had to tell me I could die at any moment without getting pulmonary hypertension under control. He was very compassionate and encouraging about treatments which he thought would help so it was neat to show him things were working so well.

After that appt., we ran home for lunch, then went off for past-due eye check-ups. Both of us were pronounced to have very healthy eyes and only a slight correction needed in one eye each, otherwise things were the same.

Then, we did a bit of shopping at Target; had to pick up an on sale HP printer as mine quit working. By the time we were done there and other stores, we were both exhausted, came home and dropped. My O2 tank weighs 12 lbs when full. I packed it in and out of a lot of places that day, so got some good exercise.

OH! Thursday night we took Morgan to his First Grade concert - 4 first grades and they were all so adorable, but of course, HE was the cutest, esp. when his class danced and sang the Turkey Tango. He was out front leading the way for the line he was in. They were all so earnest and singing their hearts out.

This morning, Rog mowed and weed-whacked in the front and side yards and on the street along our dilapidated white picket fence. I pulled a few weeds, watered, and moved small stuff out of his way. I even walked the mower as far as my O2 line would reach..a couple of passes close to the front steps.

After a little rest, we went to my fav. garden center where I picked up some stocks, gorgeous HUGE purple pansies, some ruffled yellow and purple mixed pansies, Johnny Jump Ups, and orange violets. Plus we got a couple of tomato plants, the little, extra sweet kinds we love. And, Rog noticed the catnip so we picked up a couple of plants of it, too. This year, I think I will grow it in hanging pots to keep the neighbourhood cats from trying to get to it. I used to have a tin grid kind of thing wrapped around it, but it made it hard to pick any and they grabbed it through the holes anyway.

Tomorrow, Rog is going to do what he can with the huge backyard...mow a bit and weed-whack a bit, as well as make a dump pile, I hope. Morgan may come over to help. We have to get some potting soil, then I'll pot the annuals, though I also HAVE to get the house picked up. It's driving me bats. It's been so nice out, I didn't want to work inside whilst Rog was having all the "fun" outside!:-)

Oh, and Morgan's soccer team won their last game, he scored a goal and they all got trophies!

Okay, that's about it for catch-up and my fingers.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 May 11 - 11:48 AM

Kat, dilapidated fence can be very charming, especially if there are beautiful flowers growing carelessly around it.

Lovely morning here. I took time to post a link Dirt Doctor personal blog. Now I'm headed into the yard. The door is open letting fresh air in, something the house has needed after being closed for several days.

Slowly working my way through laundry and moving boxes into my son's room. I want him to still be able to move around in there, so I'll compress the stuff into one area.

Headed over to the nursery to get some replacement plants for my seedlings that have been eaten up. We had rain this week, and I wasn't here to guard my plant babies when the snails came out.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: mouldy
Date: 15 May 11 - 11:56 AM

Go Kat! You HAVE been busy!

Well, everybody has, really. Apart from shifting the dryer yesterday into the dining room/soon-to-be-kitchen, I haven't really done a lot, apart from clearing the ironing.

Great news from Michelle as well. We all seem to be in a positive way at the moment!

The archaeologist is coming on Wednesday to do his preliminary measuring, etc, but I am still waiting for the go-ahead from the planning department, who may also be waiting for his work schedule... Seriously, though, the council has to approve the stone, mortar, and use of my garden as a compound. And they are not known for their speed! The builder is just about ready to start, and the archaeologist is freeing time up too, but the beaurocratic wheels turn very slowly!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 May 11 - 01:44 PM

I have conquered the kid-returning-from-college-clutter that piled up inside the doorway from when I unloaded the truck yesterday. Lots of stuff to go to recycling, kind of amazing that he brought home a case of empty salsa jars because he didn't figure out a way to recycle them there. :)

Digging up rocks today, picking up more mortar, and preparing to mow, once some of these rocks are out of the way. I'll pick up bedding plants to fill in crop gaps in the garden.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 May 11 - 04:16 PM

Couldn't get those rocks to come out without a major struggle, so I've moved on to the next set of more easily liberated stone. Running out for bags of mortar to get some more into place this afternoon, along with bedding plants. I'll put plants in the garden, then start piling dirt behind the wall.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: LilyFestre
Date: 15 May 11 - 06:27 PM

Nursery has been vacuumed and clothes put away. I put the shirt and pants/shorts together to make an easy match in the morning with a wiggly boy in my arms.

Three days of dishes done. Laundry is going. Paid some bills.

The rest of the day we have all been napping on and off. It's a rainy Sunday...perfect for napping!

Pete says Jeremiah and I simply have run out of gas. I think he may be right!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 May 11 - 06:57 PM

Changed cell phone companies after hours of conferring. Then could not cancel the old one because I had already reengaged the new one. Had a wonderful customer service woman tell me, "Tell them I want to talk to the manager!" I still waited over an hour and gave advice about environmental poisoning and, finally the in store woman told me to go and she would hone me next week. I needed to get home to finish preps for the weekend. Ended up rushed but we got off/ Good Quaker weekend with new people and long not-seen people. My efforts appreciated. Excellent consideration of the terms: discernment, clearness committees and consideration. Looking toward writing an article for the Canadian Friend.

I drove the just over two hours there on Friday while R slept - he had worked most of the night before to be able to leave. He drove back - while HE slept! I had to keep a sharp eye out! We delivered two passengers and came home. He went to bed. I unloaded car. THAT is division of labour!

Exciting email, forwarded by raccoon rehabbers; A woman close by who has a baby raccoon; We will meet on Tuesday to share info and see if we can generate more interest, maybe form a group for Quebec. This is terrific; I am no longer the only one - that I know.

Now home in recuperation mode. Everything else can wait until tomorrow. There is ready made Indian on rice or chili when he wakes up. I did peanut butter on good whole grain bread. It feels good to be home, such as it is, it is our space with our food and our bed!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: GUEST,PattyClink
Date: 15 May 11 - 07:40 PM

I'm exhausted reading what everyone accomplished this week and the challenges people deal with. Wow.

Not as exciting around here, I'm afraid. I did do some evening decluttering, purging old writings and trying to put the good stuff in proper binders. It's rare for me to overcome evening after-work inertia to do this sort of thing, so that was great progress although it's not 'finished'. Realized several inches of the shelf was actually old stuff other people wrote, certainly don't need to archive any of that. Hopefully I can report in one day on how many inches of paper went for recycling and trash.

I actually put in 6 workouts this week: 2 walks of a mile, 2 weights workouts at the gym, 1 lap-swimming thing, and a ton of yardwork yesterday. I don't remember ever staying that consistent before, felt good to do that.

One thing I hope will help with the decluttering-- I researched where to haul things like the CRT and other ancient electronics, etc. Stuff I sort-of-knew, and stuff I didn't know, about where to parcel out the various kinds of pass-ons and trash.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 May 11 - 12:25 AM

Patty, where are you? If you look back through some of the threads you'll find a lot of references (by me) to books by Don Aslett. His most helpful one was Clutter's Last Stand and you can probably find it in a used book store. It's very helpful - he's quite a philosopher.

I spent money. I need to stop doing that. I did find a check for freelance work I did last month that I deposited, but I also spent some. I picked up a simple wall-mount for the television my son brought back from college. If he decides next fall to take a TV, this one will stay put and he'll have to get another small one, but he mostly watches NetFlix on his computer. And now I can watch this smaller set from where it is perched on the wall (out of food splash way).

I stopped at my friend's house and we had quite a struggle getting his new phone activated. It was a combination of factors - his doors were open, he lives by a street, and a fire truck came by, along with lots of other traffic. The woman on the other end had a quiet voice with an accent and we couldn't figure out which screen to look at on the phone. It was a comedy of errors. She finally switched me to a supervisor with an American accent (I usually don't have a problem, but I think she just wasn't speaking up.) I told him we didn't need a 12-year-old to come in and set this up for us, we just needed to become familiar with the phone and which screen to use. If you use the keyboard and they tell you to enter ## you have to use the function key. But if you use the front touch screen, it behaves properly. [slaps forehead]

I've done a lot of laundry, but I didn't finish the rock work. I did get more mortar, so I'll take some time off tomorrow and work on that. I spoke with a neighbor this evening, and it seems I'm not the only one unhappy with the 6" step down into my "den." It's a pain in the butt for moving furniture, for people tripping or stubbing toes, etc. He said people have filled them in, and he build a sub floor and then put a wood floor down over it. I would go for concrete. The room is 22" x 16". It would be wonderful to level the floor - that moves to the top of my list of expensive things to do!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 May 11 - 08:27 AM

Well. My intention of a lazy Sunday went out the window. I could only sit and nap for so long. After dinner I did more laundry, emptied the dishwasher, loaded up the dinner dishes, peeled and cut up 5 pounds of carrots for carrot and craisin salad as well as carrot coins to cook up for dinner (and for later in the week). I got potatoes cleaned up and ready to bake, table set for breakfast, breakfast food ready.

I'm up and ready to go this morning, well rested and ready to take on the day!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: mouldy
Date: 16 May 11 - 12:28 PM

I have had an email from the planners - er - it sounds like we can go ahead...
I was told to let them know when we start so that they can send a conservation officer (probably to approve the stone on-site). I have forwarded it on to the builder, so I am now awaiting a start date. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

Bought a new heavy plastic coated tablecloth this morning, so that I can use my dining table to cook on and prep food. Still waiting to hear when the guy is coming to do the work on the chimney breast. Now need to start and box up cupboard contents and get the camping toilet moved into the house, plus anything else I'll need in the camping line over the summer, before the building work stops me getting at the shed! I can see it being a summer of minimalist camping this year!

Maybe the re-boxing of the kitchen crocks and stuff might encourage me to shed some more...

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: pattyClink
Date: 16 May 11 - 04:06 PM

Hi SRS, where am I physically? Deep South, and very jealous of your recent trip around the southwest, would love to see some wide open spaces right now.   Where am I on the journey? Just getting started on undoing several years of neglect on the house due to circumstances beyond my control. My main problem is we haven't moved for a long long time and if you don't pack up and move, you have to do very serious purging after a few years.

I do have "Clutter's Last Stand", if I didn't declutter it week before last. Lots of good stuff in it.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 May 11 - 04:15 PM

Wow, Andrea. People have built whole houses in the time it has taken you to get all the permissions, etc. It is rather nice that they are picky about keeping the old houses looking - old. Our neighbour, who painted some of the beautiful stone on her facade - orange, sky blue, and black - had a visit from the keepers of old houses in Montreal. What had been beautiful grey stone is now painted grey.

Cleaning up kitchen counters this morning, I viewed it as "cleaning up mouse's feeding area". Our resident mouse is just that. I have come to accept that it will not go into the trap no matter what cheese I use! It would be nice if it were to move out for the summer but I have learned to live with it.

So K is as clean as it gets, laundry is done, took a detox bath to recover from weekend toxins, worked on catch-up on the computer and cleared water off droopier and droopier shed roof. Going to book launch tonight: Refusing to Be Enemies by Maxine ( oh darn). This is a what is her name NOW! It is about people working on peace in Israel/Palestine.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: GUEST,Bizibod
Date: 16 May 11 - 05:00 PM

Dorothy, try chocolate rather than cheese- works for our visiting marauders.We have one of those humane tip-up traps so you can safely transport the living mouse a decent distance away from your house before releasing it.I did check - it's not the same mouse coming back for more chocolate, but word may be getting around!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: GUEST,LilyFestre
Date: 16 May 11 - 05:28 PM

We have really good luck with peanut butter.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Jeri
Date: 16 May 11 - 05:42 PM

Contrary to popular opinion and years of cartoons, mice aren't that crazy about cheese. Smear a little (JUST a little) peanut butter on the far back of the trap. The mice here sometimes manage to lick it off before the door closes, but it just trains them where the food is, and eventually, I get 'em.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 May 11 - 07:06 PM

Andrea, there is nothing like camping out in your own house that makes it seem a more luxurious for years after the work is finished.

I put in a few bedding plants, filling in gaps in the garden today. I'm going to transplant some shrubs into the back yard that are in the way in the front but I don't want to discard. I'll have to position it or protect it so the dogs leave it alone until established.

I've been working on the wall out front; stopped when my ex came over to pick up a table for our son to use over at his house for his computer. Looks like he plans to move in there over the summer (no easy rides anywhere from me, and not the same home cooking, but it does give my electric and water bill a sigh of relief. I'll have him come over for dinner at least once a week.) Back to the wall in a few minutes.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 May 11 - 07:14 PM

That last post sat on the screen for a while so I didn't see the mouse trap discussion. I've had luck with peanut butter, but even better luck with salami or pepperoni - you sometimes have to wedge it into the tongue of the trap with the end of a toothpick so they're sure to give it a tug to pick it up.

The Wilderness Rangers in the Forest Service years ago used to use a bucket full to within a couple inches of the top of water, and the bail was propped in the upright position. They had taken a small can and pierced a hole in the center of the lid on either end and slid it over the bail so it would roll and tied something around the bail on either side so the can stayed in the zenith position on the bail. The whole thing was propped so it would stay up. The can was smeared with peanut butter and a stick (like a paint stick) was propped from the edge of the bucket to the bail. Any mouse that stepped onto the can was rolled off and into the water. When the water was so full of dead mice that the new ones could escape on the bodies of their companions, someone got up and emptied the bucket of mice. Yup. Major problem in some of those wilderness cabins. I've seen this thing, that's why I can describe it. It works.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 May 11 - 10:27 PM

Well, after the mouse got into a partly opened jar of tahini,I put that in the trap- to no avail. Much as I hate to sacrifice a morsel of chocolate.... I did discover the twerp had gotten into my carry bag and eaten the choc in there. OK, next try choc. It is a good trap. There were two but I cannot remember where I put the other one. But we only caught one mouse. One I caught by the tail and was concerned it was sick so I flushed it. And two succumbed under the cushions of the love seat, we found when we moved it to the country. Poor things. I guess we sat on them.

The book launch was excellent. I did not realize I had been there two hours until I got back in the car. I did end up buying the book so Maxine could autograph it. (I've known her about 35 years.) R will read it. I don't feel the need after her good lecture! Must email her and tell her.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: LilyFestre
Date: 17 May 11 - 12:09 AM

Drove a friend to and from the doctor (180 miles round trip) and then attended a Relay For Life Team Meeting that proved to be very productive (I love productive meetings). It's about 16 hours since my day has started and I'm tuckered but happy. YAY.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: mouldy
Date: 17 May 11 - 03:34 AM

The builder is now wondering if he should go ahead and order the stone anyway... the conservation officer suggested grey and yellow, and the quarry people have suggested mixing a little of the local red sandstone in as well. I think I had better ask the planning officer if we would be ok to order it!

I think if anyone actually dared to paint the stone on a listed building, and it got damaged, they might find themselves hauled into court. Especially here in Northumberland, who have one of the stricted planning departments in the country, from what I can gather! Mind you, the council is strapped for cash, so can't always afford to prosecute.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 May 11 - 11:17 AM

Clearly a week for discussing stone work! I have to note here that the Procrastinator's book (yes, I'm still reading it, but took time off during my drive last week) was a help. I made a short mental list of the things I would need to do to take advantage of the dirt that the neighbors sent my way last month. It has been a number of stages, but it is moving along.

Berm (tires, dirt, compost, weeds). This photo was taken last year.

Wall, incomplete, I've begun filling dirt behind the lower stage.

Stone wall and stone house front for comparison I'm trying to put this together to mimic the pattern on the house.

The back three walls of the house is brick, and when I have the money I'll seal the brick and paint it a light neutral color that emphasizes the limestone front.

This morning I went out and shoveled some of the pile of dirt that came from the next door back yard with their new patio construction. This was what propelled me to do the job - I needed the dirt, but didn't want another pile of dirt in the front.

I'm going to put another row of rock on at least, after stepping and tamping down the dirt in back. The wall isn't meant to be self supporting, though I am building it to stand on its own. I want it to be able to slow down a vehicle if it comes flying down the street that intersects with my yard at this point. I'm not making this taller than about 3 feet, and I plan to build a level top so I can sit or put pots on it.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: LilyFestre
Date: 17 May 11 - 04:49 PM

I recently listed one of my kayaks for sale on Facebook and Craigslist. I'm happy to say that within the hour I had someone interested. There have been 5 other inquiries too. That little kayak went home with it's new owners about an hour ago.

:)

Kitchen floor mopped this morning, laundry and dishes going, car cleaned out, table cleared and I picked up some space bags today to store a mountain of blankets in. I love blankets but have far too many and can't bear to part with them. They take up soo much space so maybe this will help and keep them clean too!

I'm contemplating doing something with my hair which has come in very thick and curly. It's getting to have a life of it's own. If I had a pick, I bet I could make a nice afro. Crazy chemo curls. Love 'em!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 May 11 - 08:15 PM

Working hard, moving a lot. Staying now with a friend with only one loo-- upstairs!

Had a 4200 day yesterday, not wearing ped each day, not sure whaty evg has been.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 May 11 - 11:50 PM

Michelle, I've heard others comment on the different texture of their hair growing back after chemo. I suspect it will relax after a little while.

Library inventory a couple of days this week - we fought our way through a couple of those shelves this afternoon that were out of order and required reading before we could proceed. I'm working with an accountant, who, upon seeing a

PN 1252
D595

come before a

PN 1252
D6

asks if this is right. She has to be told "yes," and "they're not real numbers." Then she's okay. :)

I'm going to take off Friday and have a 4-day weekend next week. In the meantime, I'm struggling to get yard work done in cooler weather and after recent rains, so the soil is still moist. I may take a long weekend this week also, to finish that wall and shoveling dirt.

More work on the wall tomorrow. Meanwhile, dishes are done in the kitchen, but the livingroom needs liberation from laundry that needs folding.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: mouldy
Date: 18 May 11 - 04:10 AM

My mother in law used to say that her hair grew back the same as it was when she was a girl - but grey, due to her age. I remember it being soft and wavy.

I contacted the planning officer, who said to order the stone. The builder contacted me and said that the architect had forgotten to put the dimensions of the windows on the plans, so I guess we'll need that in order to work out the area of stone needed.
Archaeologist's first visit this afternoon. It's all getting real now! I bet we start work by the start of June (I hope so anyway).

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 11 - 09:58 AM

Andrea, you seem to thrive on these building projects. You went through all of this in the last house, then sold it. I see a future for you . . .

Overcast today, but good for working out doors. I'm going to put in a morning on library work then spend a couple of hours on the wall, then finish library work this evening. This is the beauty of flex time.

I've been rearranging some of the cupboard contents in the kitchen, and am aiming at completely clearing stuff from the kitchen island. It always looks so good when it's down to just a few items.

My neighbors have been out of town for a week, and in the meantime the new patio cover that is reminiscent of a woodland lodge has nearly finished. I'm going to print up a sign to put on their front door "Welcome to Lost Grizzly Lodge" or something like that. It's a gorgeous structure to look at from the driveway side of my house. It inspires me to clear out over there and maybe tidy the fence a bit.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 May 11 - 10:18 AM

All furniture skooched out of the living room. New 8 x 12 rug put down. Furniture skooched back. Ah yes. This is MUCH better. It looks great and will be easier to keep clean (love my vacuum) making a better space for the baby to play. Softer on bare feet too. Dogs will go in and out of the mudroom entrance and stay there until they are dry before coming out into the main house. Mud season will end. It will. I have complete faith that it will end....sometime!!!

Busy day ahead with regular chores, a little grocery shopping, prepping food for a luncheon tomorrow and then a meeting this evening.

Add Jeremiah who is active (guess who took his first steps last night?!?!?!) and teething. He's a moving, chewing, drooling, uncomfortable baby boy. Per doctor's suggestion, he's taking Advil and I've been swabbing orajel on his gums as needed. He's finally agreeable to cold teethers. He also seems to really love chewing on his little Fisher Price dump truck. If it helps him, I'm all for it!!!

Gonna go play with my baby!!! :) The other stuff can wait until nap time!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 11 - 01:04 PM

First steps - what fun! (Now watch how fast he goes from zero to sixty!)

I need to make myself a list, I'm drifting this morning.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 11 - 03:16 PM

A note for others who use eBay: I've noticed in the last couple of transactions that while eBay calculates the postage they don't add in the cost of the compulsory tracking fee (not a bad option, and it's only 19 cents, but still, it isn't included). I'm going to start adding a handling fee to my eBay sales to cover some of the tape, box, and confirmation fees. The old postal calculation used to leave a little extra over that I applied to those costs.

My de-clutter via eBay is started up again. Two boxes out of the house this week. I have a couple of more things to list and will slowly and surely push some of this out and hopefully build up my PayPal account. I sold a toner cartridge, donated the copier, and I've sold a couple of non-working mp3 players for repair or parts. And there's a lot more where that came from.

I've been looking around this morning - it looks like it's time to wash the windows--definitely need to declutter some dirt. Ugg.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 May 11 - 03:37 PM

This week has been busy. I've been trying out different allergy pills, finally found one that seems to work, Allegra. Went to exercise on Monday, watered the garden and trees, did the dishes and started writing a letter to the hospital. It's been cooking in my brain for awhile. There were a lot of mistakes made, potentially life-threatening. I called and asked for a sit-down mtg., but after one call, they've never called back, so on to the next stage.

I have 79 more pages of PC to copy-edit. Went to exercise today and had a great hour-long session. Today is early release day, so Morgan is coming over about 2p. It is very chilly, windy, and rainy so I think I'll talk him into a game of canasta or Monopoly. What fun!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 11 - 04:30 PM

My mother had us play 500 rummy, and we counted face value, didn't do the rounding to 5 and 10 like some players do. It was a great trick for getting us to add and subtract. If it's just the two of you, gin rummy gives the same math opportunity. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: mouldy
Date: 18 May 11 - 07:30 PM

The archaeologist is a great laugh - he's warned me he has a nasty habit of unearthing skeletons! In actual fact he is doubtful anything mediaeval will turn up, as he thinks the groundworks won't go deep enough. However, we spent a few hours this afternoon trying to unravel the puzzle that is this house. He's going to try and get a look at old maps of the village to see what buildings are marked pre-1820, if possible. He agrees with me that it looks like there may be an older, smaller building incorporated into the 19th century structure.

Yes, I did get some sort of masochistic pleasure from the last building project. I think if I had the available cash I'd like to take on buildings that nobody else wanted to do up, and bring them back to life. However, unless you are a builder and have endless spare time, you need endless cash instead! Once this build's done, I will have to see what's left for the other jobs that need doing!
I've started to empty the kitchen cupboards and box the food up.

Talk about deja vu!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 May 11 - 10:53 PM

Neglected to mention that, although Friday night and Saturday morning went well and my concepts were well-received, Saturday afternoon was a total loss. I thought I was just going to read for a while but - the windows in the lodge had been closed due to cool weather and the toxins must have gotten me as I felt drugged and could not even get up at 4 for the business meeting. Spent the evening in front of a partially open window - no one sat near me!

On internet all day - raccoon sites, FB conversations, connecting with some new people, writing emails, and looking for a good copy of the Peace Testimony - caused Word to freeze up so I shall have to restart computer to get back on track. Also did some laundry - need to remake bed SOON!

Oh and this week's trip to dentist - more fillings, no drugs, no problem. Then some groceries and returned four books to library. After spending the morning making sure rain cleared the roof of shed. Hope we can clear the shed soon. It is almost falling down - propped up with boards.

And the mouse has not gone for chocolate either. Have not seen it today though. It usually wanders through the LR sometime during the evening - just to thumb its nose at me?

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 May 11 - 11:43 PM

He beat me hands down at Canasta, going out with two canastas. We only played one round as he was anxious to get to the Monopoly. He made me go bankrupt as I landed on a property with a hotel...the rent was $1000 and I had about $500 in cash. Could've mortgage my deeds, but I was ready to send him home and take a short nap, so I let him chortle all the way about beating the socks off "mama" AND, he read all of the Chance and Community Chest cards by himself, as well being a wiz at math with the dice. I haven't played gin rummy since I was probably 13. Will have to look into that. Thanks!

I read Rog the hospital letter tonight. He reminded me of the timeline; I was in such a daze and so ill, I'd forgotten a couple of things. So I will finish it tomorrow morning. I also have an anklet I need to make for a friend who sent me the stones she picked out, rose quartz, very good energy.

P.S. Forgot to say he was also the banker and did a great job of making change, paying out, and collecting monies!

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 May 11 - 11:31 AM

No inventory today, I got a call saying that we'd all made so much progress that the folks working this morning would probably finish the shelves we'd been assigned. So I'm scanning instead.

This morning I'll go shovel some more dirt behind the wall, though I think I'll also dig out one spot and sink a supporting rock with mortar - learn as I go on this.

Overcast with a chance of rain today. Lovely for working outside because it's comfortable, not too warm.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: mouldy
Date: 19 May 11 - 12:03 PM

Found the local day centre for the elderly is having a table-top sale on Saturday morning, so I've booked a table. Trouble is, I'm finding it very hard to sort anything out. I'm going to put a few bits of my salt dough on too, and perhaps thin that out a bit...

I must have done a damn good sort out before, and just after the move! I think I offloaded most of my surplus stuff into the local charity shop when I first came here.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: GUEST,wys-away
Date: 19 May 11 - 01:44 PM

Steps remain in the hi 3000's and lo 4's. HIP SO MUCH BETTER-- SLEEPING EARLY AND LATE AND CATnapping in between. Restorative sleep all of it. (No TV here.) Trashy novels, yay!

damn capslock!

On to next stop later today. A lot of long drives between now and home. Richmond, VA sidetrip, not looking fwd to drive or mtg. Oh well!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 May 11 - 03:31 PM

Threatened rain held off until just after lunch, today, so I was able to get a few more annuals potted up, outside. Poor things were practically drowned from the past few days of rain and chilly weather. Just as I was getting ready to do the last 3 six-plants-per-packets, here came the promised rain. Typical Colorado, it's pouring buckets, here, while the sun shines over other parts of the valley. Also pulled a few weeds around my sweetpeas outside the picket fence by the front gate.

Have six more books to list on paperbackswap.com and one to send to my sister and two to my niece.

Also worked on the Letter more this morning; emptied the trash bins in the house; and, did a load of laundry.

Just got the third book in a series, so the afternoon is perfect for curling up with it and the kitties.

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 May 11 - 01:27 AM

I put a few more rocks on the wall out front, and as I was looking through photos from New Mexico last week, I saw how they finish the tops of their walls to make them level - they mortar the top. So easy, and it looks good. I may just do that. Or use concrete to make it a bit harder. They're about the same, I'll do a little research first.

I worked on filling the keyhole garden soil up to the level I want. I'm going to plant it this weekend and I hope to have a wondrous and prolific garden out there this summer.

On Nate Berkus yesterday the guy who comes on to give organizing tips was a guest, and he talked about how much time we spend looking for things when we have cluttered houses. One entire year of our lives spent looking for things. I need to accelerate this de-clutter process! I want to, one of these days, walk in and just enjoy the house without the feeling that I have to keep working on the stuff piled up somewhere. A goal for the top of my list!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Penny S.
Date: 20 May 11 - 04:03 AM

As I go through things, I write lists of what is in cupboards on labels on the inside of the doors. In the garage, I wrote directly on the door of the old filing cabinet the vendor left. I also have an inventory spreadsheet on the computer in the study. I have found that leaving time between sessions is fatal for remembering the tidy place I have filed things! And I have had to leave time because of other obligations.

In the garden, I have built a structure of stacked flags, two towers nine and seven flags high, with steps on each of two half flags, as a wall beside the steps up to the veggie part, on which I have placed the pits with strawberries.

I have removed most of the vinca, which, it turns out, may be an invader from next door. The last will have to wait until I have fixed the bramble stems to the fence - my arms are scratched! I have borrowed a friend's mattock to trench the plot for beans and peas and discovered that what I thought was Flints-with-Clay subsoil is actually builders' rubble - the brick was a bit of a give-away. I'm using a Cornish mine/quarry technique (on a very small scale!) to help with the bricklike clay, washing (or "hushing") the flint out, and allowing the clay to loosen up with the soaking before digging it the next day.

I have very low germination with the peas and beans, so I've bought in some dwarf runner bean plants.

I have to pot up some bedding plant bulbs and corms my friend's mother has given me, and scatter some seed which is supposed to cover 15 sq yards - which I haven't got. I wish people would ask before choosing garden gifts!

My potted dwarf peach is putting on lots of leaves, but the flowers that bloomed early in the season don't seem to have set fruit - no trace that flowers were ever there!

The angelica doesn't seem to fit expectations - though the bees like it. There doesn't seem anything attractive about it, contrary to web descriptions of pleasant aromatics throughout the plant. The flowers smell of pee, the leaves of non-descript greenstuff, and the stems of generic umbellifers, like cow-parsley. I've checked descriptions, and physically it looks like angelica, rather than, for example, giant hogweed. I'm wondering if it would have developed more aromatic compounds if in more sun. Bluetits found whatever it was that was eating lower leaves, so it's been good for wildlife, if not for bottling in syrup and cooking with rhubarb.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 May 11 - 01:42 PM

I formally planted something in the keyhole garden this morning, four slips of sweet potato. I've never grown it before, so this is an experiment.

A pot of beans is simmering and a loaf of bread is baking. The house smells wonderful. Rain is predicted for the evening and maybe tomorrow, so I'll do what I can outside then move to indoor decluttering.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
From: mouldy
Date: 20 May 11 - 02:49 PM

Still struggling to fill my table. However, I dropped by with 4 of my applehead dolls just to show Nell in the Belford Craft Gallery what I'd been talking about, and she insisted on putting them up for sale! She thinks she'll have no trouble selling them because, for the UK, they are unusual. I've a few more in a box, but nowhere to make any more until the kitchen, and subsequently my work room, are sorted. I had put them on my stall before, but I had never thought they were of a sufficient standard for a proper shop. Just as well I didn't take any salt dough...

I had an email from the archaeologist, who says he's going to try and get hold of the old tithe maps and see what that turns up as regards dwellings on this site.

My Egyptian/Walking/Tree/Society Onion bulbs came today. I have set them in a pot to get them going.

Andrea