Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Oct 13 - 07:36 PM

Dog transfer didn't happen today, it will tomorrow, then Susie's house will truly have lots of dogs. We'll work out a dedicated set of pooper scooper equipment and I think this will be a grandson chore.

After a short nap I'm going to create a template for my dresser hardware and get to work. Lots of great PBS viewing on Saturday nights, so it is a good evening to work in the living room and have the big TV on.

Getting ready to run a load of whites that have been soaking in an oxy bleach all day. They are napkins and such that will go in the new buffet. And I'll get out another set to soak and so do them in small batches.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 02:07 AM

I am dumbfounded. Another death at work - this time the husband of a woman who retired earlier this year. More photos to dig out.

This evening I used wood putty and filled in the holes from the former drawer pulls on that buffet I'm working on. I was going to simply drill new holes using a template, but I need to do two things - make the template more robust (cardboard isn't enough, it has to be a piece of wood) and then fill those existing holes since the new holes are very close to the old ones. I'll need to stagger them a little higher to avoid the new holes merging with the old ones. I think filling the old ones first will make the new holes easier to put in. The drill bit less likely to drift.

The kitchen is looking pretty good, it took only a few minutes to clear off the peninsula counter. Hand washables out of the way, the rest of the laundry gets washed tomorrow. I finally sold one of the eBay items that has been relisted many times. It's a bulky box, so shipping this on Monday will clear part of the bench the boxes were stacked on. Tomorrow I have to spend some time doing serious dusting. It is piling up again.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 12:12 PM

Just a note to say if you want to know what I'm up to, check the "Curmudgeon In Hospital" thread.

Laundry done and about to be dried. Dishwasher emptied. Brunch (breakfast sandwiches) made and eaten.

Now to spiffify just a little bit before friends bring over a recliner for Tom and take the old chair away. Have to remove slip cover, etc.

Yeah, this is how I'm relaxing today.

I do intend to make a rum cake later. I've very much been craving one. Bought whipped cream the other day specifically for it.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 12:14 PM

This morning I was digging into a trunk looking for more table linen items, mostly napkins or things to be used as napkins. This is full of all sorts of stuff, including things like a whole bunch of fancy antimacassars. Any of you need to visit your dictionaries for that one? Surprised I knew it? I did. They are the small and often crocheted or tatting lacy pieces of cloth that go on the arms or backs of chairs to keep them clean (the cloths themselves were regularly laundered). Meant to keep the macassar oil that was used on the hair off of the furniture or clothing.

Your bit of trivia for the day.

I thought I knew everything in this trunk, it was packed in 1984 by my friend Emma. I knew her from my years in college when I worked up in the mountains each summer. We stayed close friends and I knew she loved antiques so I flew her to Connecticut to help with my great aunt's estate. She boxed up glass, crystal, silver, and tons of textiles. This trunk is her last surprise for me - down in the bottom under the rolls of Irish linen and antimacassars were two heavy boxes, mostly silver spoons (plate) but a few old family gems brought from Ireland. I'm sure she picked these up and put them in the trunk unexamined, and now I'm finding the pieces my great aunt and her sisters and mother used and ordered (lots of Betty Crocker coupon orders of various silver plate patterns.) I visited Emma with my son in tow last summer - and found that she has Alzheimers. She remembered me, but after I introduced my grown up son it didn't register that he was the little boy she was asking me about. I'm sure my son saw my face, my realization that this friend is slipping away. This needs to become a thoughtful essay.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 01:17 PM

Okay, all the spiffification that I can do without totally collapsing is done. Chair is moved to close to the door, for easier removal.

Rufus will have to play in the cellar for awhile when they get here.

As soon as they leave, I have to take some Rxs to the pharmacy for pick up tomorrow. I have to photocopy them now, so Tom's cardiologist and PCP knows what they are when we see them this week.

I really don't feel like going out, but it will be okay.

Then I'm under-reacting again and reading. Maybe the rum cake won't get made today. That's okay, too.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Claire M
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 02:47 PM

Hiya,

Sorry, was bit stressed. Took Merlin over to visit friend who was/is ill & wanted a dog kiss.

He can be quite forthright [friend, not Merlin] ; he was asking me about moving out of where I/we live. Maybe a goal for a few yrs ahead but not now; ideas were/are very iffy [will keep you updated if this website's still up] Had to explain that what I might *want* isn't necessarily what ends up happening.

Nov approaches fast, & so does the Wintersmith Tour, & with it, my bowel-loosening horror of it being the last one. I toss & turn; I yearn to dance the Dark Morris once again.

Luv & Loads of Leaves
Time I was away..........

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 01:23 AM

This has been a day for clearing work surfaces. I put away stuff in the garage on the workbench so I could cut a plank to the right size to use as a template for my drawer pulls on the buffet. I drilled one set of holes on a narrow top drawer and it looks great - I put the drilling on pause and went back and retouched the spots where the wood putty is from the old holes. The middle drawer on top used to pull open from a finger groove on the bottom of the drawer face, but now with a cupboard below it needs a handle. So, two drawers and the cupboard knobs are in place now and I can see this will look lovely when finished. Once it is complete I can clear some of the dining table stuff into it and back out to the garage.

I've been washing some of the napkins and other textiles from the old trunk - soaking in plain water for a couple of days with a few changes of the water, and then giving a few hours with oxy bleach added, and a couple of gentle washes in the washer, one of them with a little bit of chlorine bleach. I'll iron a few of them before I go to bed tonight to see how they look.

I'm about to another point to purge some things from the closet. There is a pair of jeans in particular that has been remarkably adjustable to all of my sizes from the top (they were pretty darned tight, but wearable) to now (they're too long and about to fall off).

I left for a while this afternoon and went with Susie to take the newest dog to the vet. She does have a bladder infection, and is on antibiotics for the next two weeks. These dogs are what Susie needed to set her household to as close to the old "normal" as possible, after her injuries and recovery last year. My co-worker was so ill that she couldn't care well for them in the last year. People donated dog food, and in the last few months her parents have been at the house caring for the dogs and their daughter. The dogs have been overfed and have been eating the cheapest dog food available at Walmart. Before any more vet visits for skin and gunky ears happen, they need to transition to a healthy diet and each get a thorough grooming visit. That may well be enough.

It feels like fall now. I love this cooler weather, and I've been enjoying more of my herbal teas. I pulled a bag of bulk steel cut oats out of the freezer and have filled my canister for the oatmeal season. For tomorrow morning I have my little crock pot in place.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 08:05 AM

In the city since Friday night - ICK!

Spent most of Weds and Thurs with my friend (Parkinson's) and met her morning caregiver. She was upset all afternoon at having, basically, been forced to take a shower in the morning; she felt it caused her to have more difficulty all day. Raises, again, the question of autonomy. So much has been taken away, so much she cannot do. "I used to be the one in charge," is a wistful refrain. Consulted with her husband yesterday and he has sorted that out. Caregiver thought she had to take orders from the daughter regardless of what the mom wanted. I held my tongue at the time (yay for me!)

De-tox baths on Thurs eve, Sat aft, Sun (3:30 am!), Sun aft and Mon aft. Each one involved a few hours of recoup time but have collectively helped reduce the coughing.

Fri, I went down to the mill and found the pollution due to construction too much and sat in the car reading until time to go to cafe- terrific music of Kim and Eddie Lawrence! R never made it so I phoned him so he could listen to two songs. Then I drove back to the city.

The finishing was done on the sun space and LR. Today, work is starting on the K!!!!! R went down last night. I will go down after rush hour so I can have some input. May be able to do some work in studio, she says hopefully. ---Nice thought but I just realized the cough needs another hot bath - which is now running. I'll see how I feel after that.

Yesterday, I went to the market and bought all manner of lovely fruit and veggies, made split pea soup and readied a brussel sprouts to-be-cooked mixture. Now in frig as R never came home! I bought the whole stalk of sprouts and that is going to be more meals than I considered at the time!

I managed to clean up the dirt from R working on putting a new toilet in the downstairs - one that does not need to be flushed with a bucket, a really nice thing to look forward to but a longer term project than at first thought. Dealing with an OLD house, having to go into the dirt cellar to work on water... Arghhh! Glad it is not me doing it!

Next stop - hot bath.

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 12:20 PM

Working around the house this morning, checking web sites, then an hour in the garden. If I can get the one closest to the kitchen door weeded then I will be able to put in broccoli. The potatoes will go on the other side of the driveway later, but I need to work the soil now.

Cycling through cracked and dry hands because I accidentally got into coconut last week. I asked the co-worker who bakes to put a note on the item if it has coconut or chocolate.

The ants that were around the den fireplace last week seem to be finding their way into the master bathroom this week (these rooms are separated by a wall). I'll have to spray spinosad on the countertop to convince them that there is nothing there for them. It's the time of year when so many of these things move indoors. I should have a lizard come in and police the counter for me. :)

I've sold all but two recent eBay listings. One is in a "unpaid item claim" status (I set it up to automatically run after four days. Since I only take PayPal there is no reason to wait a week for a payment, there is no check in the mail.) Another has been relisted. I have some interesting advertising circular things that I found in the trunk this week that I'll list, plus the envelopes that they arrived in. Amazing what people collect, and ephemera is one of those things that was supposed to be thrown away so is all the more interesting. I'll relist that one item soon. I suspect that brand-new eBay user who bought this item won't last long, the first time out they messed up.

I'll post photos when I finish the buffet.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 04:27 PM

Post-sale activities are puttering along. One load went to Goodwill and another is packed to load and go on my next trip thataway. That leaves a large FreeCycle listing to cover the items still on the canopy-protected table and, inside the camper, piles of fabric items. Nice ones to church thrift shop and the rest to Goodwill, but I can work on them in the rainy days ahead. The camper is sked for foldup on Monday so that's my deadline.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 08:23 PM

Took that bath instead of going to the country. Good thing as R was already back in the city having given instructions re K. I do not like not being there; wondering how it will all turn out. Kitchen is, to me, the most important room of all and I do not trust anyone to do it right - my way.

Today's bath wiped me out; I had to get out without taking a shower then go back up and shower off the salt after a period of recuperation. Then I had almost enough energy to pot - but not quite. Put heat on so it will be warm enough when I do have the energy.

R came in for late lunch, then for supper, turned off the water to work on toilet, then went off to visit a friend. ????

Coughing all day today after almost none yesterday. Used all the possible bits of my sage plant to make tea - without killing it! Then walked to grocery for a packet of fresh sage. Cannot remember what I did differently to stop the cough yesterday; nothing working today.

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 08:39 PM

Another load to Goodwill and tables returned to church.

I'm going to be in a new PT mode. I had funding help for 12 aquatic PT co-pys and have progressed quickly thru 7 of these, but am still testing very weak. So instead of twice a week for 2 more weeks we are going to once weekly, for 4 weeks, and I start weekly and then oftener trips to the health club to do the same routine in cold water that I have been doing in warm PT water.

We're finding muscles that have NEVER worked before, pre-surgery. I like 'em!

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 08:40 PM

I hope you find the right combination, Dorothy, then share the recipe with us! Good work, Susan, on your sale. Did you sell most of it? Was it nice weather?

Michelle, did you get a lot of sewing done? I saw a note that you were heading into your sewing room. I've started clearing all of the odds and ends off of the sewing desk in my guest/sewing room. First I need to tackle a bunch of mending that can be done by machine, and then I have some new things to actually make. :)

I was able to shop my closet this morning and pulled out a lovely gray knit cardigan with pearl snaps that now looks good. My arms were too fat for a long time to wear it. And I am wearing a ring I haven't had on in ages. The cooler weather helps, I don't store water as much as when it's hot.

This is my late night at work and I head in early tomorrow to take a service desk shift for a coworker, so there won't be much time to do anything, though I may see about doing a couple of more drawer pulls on the buffet. What I have done looks great and I want to finish that so I can photograph it and post the before and after photos. It is a striking difference that I'm quite pleased with.

One of the lectures I set up is happening tomorrow and I'll be there to listen and take photos. Another reminder of how uninteresting things have become. That's why the successful completion of projects at the house is all the more important.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 10:17 PM

I did spend the day in my sewing room but I didn't get any sewing done at all. I don't even have my machine out. However, I did a LOT of cutting! I am going to a 3 day quilting retreat soon and would love to get there with everything all cut so I can just sew and sew and sew. :) I also did a fair amount of ironing today (fabric, not clothes...LOL..I never iron clothing).

I also made a GIANT batch of Shepherd's Pie. Several single serve containers to freeze, some for dinner and a large foil pan to deliver to someone I met by chance....a man my mom's age who has a 33 year old daughter who had an aneurysm and then a seizure....she was being moved out of ICU into a long term facility yesterday. His wife is with the daughter in another state and he is alone....he cried and cried...said it was the first time he really had done that. So he's alone and so sad....just broke my heart...had to do something so I made him lots to eat as I bet he isn't cooking for himself. I delivered it today....he met me with a HUGE smile. :)

Michelle who felt that smile for hours afterwards

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 13 - 01:02 AM

Such a nice thing to do for him! Thank you for being the sweetheart you are to see that need and filling it! I wish I could say I'd done anything even slightly as helpful as that.

Just a little time this evening to read and chill after working late. I'm headed to bed and out early tomorrow.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Oct 13 - 10:25 AM

SRS, the big-ticket items did sell (fast!) and a lot of the clutter, too.

To the PT-pool stuff above, I would add that we also have a good plan to build a simple (cheap!) home gym out on my ramp and front porch, since I love to be outside huffing and sweating in the winter. Now that the Yard Sale stuff ain't out there, I'm claiming that real estate before it re-cluts!

I have 90% of what the gym will include, already, up in the MudAttic, where I worked out after my first round of PT. Now I wanna be OUTside. A metabolism will do that for ya.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Oct 13 - 01:18 PM

I went for a walk this morning in my own neighborhood which means BIG hills. :)

More fabric cutting for me today...so far I have another baby quilt cut and ready to sew and am working on 4 table runners.

I got information to my insurance company to have a procedure pre-approved and set up meetings for the next few months for a group I'm part of.

Also, a 50 mile round trip this morning for some errands.

Later today we have a parent/teacher conference to attend! I'm excited about that!

Lots of busy little things going on. :)

Life is good!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Oct 13 - 08:16 PM

Got the last of the yard sale items listed on FreeCycle finally! Now, just the clothes and linens to sort, inside the camper, nice and dry and warm! An hour's worth of work.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 02:03 AM

I finished most of that new buffet I'm working on, converted from a nicely made but dated dresser that had distressed veneer. Now it has black high gloss enamel (I later saw something about "ebonizing" furniture - that would be interesting) and a glass top. I've been putting on the drawer and cupboard pulls, and found that one of the seven pulls was from the wrong bin at the glass shop with all of the great cabinet hardware. I'll swap it out tomorrow.

There is a grocery bag packed with several pounds of old VCR tapes. I took a bag of them to work this morning and I'll take more tomorrow. This will clear out several cubic feet of space in the bookcases.

I signed a title transfer form at work today for all of the publications and photos I turned over to the university archivist. I have an estimated 11.25 linear feet of shelf space now of my work in Special Collections. That doesn't count all of the gigabytes of stuff I turned over as well. This is prints and publications from the first 7 or 8 years of work.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 10:01 AM

The downward slope of the week toward the weekend, but a truck repair looms. The drips of oil on the driveway speak volumes, so I'll make an appointment for Saturday to take it to the dealer (I live about 3 blocks away or I wouldn't use that as my first choice for repairs). Expedience and not having to sit in a waiting room for hours makes it worthwhile.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 10:48 AM

Started to feel sort of caught up yesterday, even though it was a pretty busy day.

I finally got the bread pudding made that I'd started on Sunday. Also got the chowder for supper made before we left the house to get to Tom's late afternoon PCP appointment.

The chowder turned out WONDERFUL -- probably due to the smoked scallops I found at the fish market Saturday when I went to pick up some finnan haddie.

Tom's physical therapist came around noon and he was able to figure out what caused the wheelchair to collapse (seat not clicked into the lock on the front -- not set up properly when it was delivered) plus showed us all the other features of the chair. It's a really good safe and sturdy one. Would have been nice if the delivery person had given us the short course as he was supposed to.

So, the visiting nurse just left, I've got Tom's bedclothes in the washer, the wheelchair guy is coming between 10 and 2, then I can go out and pick up a couple things. And I just set up a meeting with Tom's case manager from CFI/Medicaid for Monday to maybe get me some housekeeping help/relief so I can concentrate on the other stuff. He's also put in for an emergency call button for Tom so Tuesday's experience will never be repeated.

Things under control.

So...I've invited Jeri to supper tonight ("leftover" chowder) but haven't yet heard back from her. I'm making a rum cake (which I've been craving for WEEKS) anyway no matter what I hear from her!

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 01:10 PM

I just heard that a friend who has been financially strapped for years has qualified for social security at a level much higher than he expected. It still won't cover all of the rent, but it is a huge help nonetheless. That is a relief!

Linn, sometimes a small thing like the perfect ingredient can make your whole day or week, can't it?

I can't get them to look at the truck until Monday, so I made an appointment to get myself in line for the work. The guy said this still doesn't guarantee they'll get to it - what does "appointment" mean to them, I wonder? I'll pull my "you wouldn't let your mother drive out of here without popping the hood and telling her whether it is safe or if it should be parked until it can be repaired" line. It worked like a charm the last time they suggested they might not get to it.

Exchanged my drawer pull this morning so the cabinet will be finished tonight. Yay! Now I'll poke through the antique trunk and decide what all I want to get ready to use. My goal is to have a lovely table for Thanksgiving, using all of this stuff. Cloth napkins, nice silver - I suppose I ought to start looking around for nice plates. I like estate sales for that kind of thing.

Finally, I had another feedback score on eBay the pushed out all four categories that are rated on the "detailed" feedback chart if you look at a seller's record. There were only two for the longest time, but a sale last week posted to all. She got a great price on the item because I made a mistake, leaving a remark about free shipping in the auction text, but intended to lower the price and take out free shipping, making the shipping extra. I honored the wording and took a big hit on it, but at least I didn't lose money. Note to self: don't put anything in the text about shipping, leave it in the listing details only.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 01:16 PM

Sked/energy glitch today so I replanned the whole day to start later and list a few more FC items in a few more FC groups.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 03:11 PM

Up and out early this morning....little man to school, Walmart, hair cut, highlights, groceries, picked up my little man early, home to do dishes, laundry, general pick up, empty the car, repack quilting gear and then I have a nice family dinner planned: Roasted chicken, stuffing, greenie beanies and Jeremiah is going to help me bake a cake for a special treat.

The house is cold. We are out of pellets and Pete will be building the first fire of the season when he gets home. I know how to build a fire and can start one in the wood stove but the first fire of the season requires some fiddling outside with the chimney box as a cold chimney means the fire is difficult to start. Instead, we'll do some baking until Daddy gets home and that will warm the kitchen nicely (which is where I will be working and Jeremiah will be nearby playing with his cars).

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: mg
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 08:39 PM

Oh it is so good to get rid of stuff..I live in a tiny cabin and have already gotten rid of most of my possessions but the landlords of cabin had old utensils, rugs, bedding, furniture I had to work around. They are going to sell but it probably own't sell for several months and today I got rid of almost everything of theirs...except for one totally ugly sofa/futon thing that would not fit down the stairs. I am going to advertise it as a comfortable mattress for a van or truck camping..it folds up nicely..I will have to cut it from the frame and then look at the frame and see ifthat can be disassembled. but I think the foam part itself can get through the attic cutout...I could retire soon and want to be ready to bundle up and go if I lose my job or have family emergencies etc..I am down to almost nothing and love it. Need a good dependable computer, probably laptop. I'll keep a few clothes for dressup and a few shoes..my library of two books...give away my huge costco bottles of Dove shampoo and conditioner which take my frizzy hair to a whole new level...and off I go.

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 11:33 PM

Mary, you should have one of those tiny trailers that gets pulled behind a tiny car (like this).

That sounds so cozy at your house, Michelle! I came in this evening and first thing I did was wash and pierce a sweet potato and put it in the convection oven. The house smells wonderful now, and that's part of my dinner.

This week I've taken two bags of old VCR tapes to put in the recycle bin at work, and I have another bag ready to go now. Each bag has weighed about 10 pounds and probably had a couple dozen tapes each. I still have quite a few to go through, but I can consolidate all of them into one set of shelves.

The buffet is finished, though I need to touch up the paint in places, after a few dings while I worked on it and spots I missed. I put the ironing board in front of the TV this evening and watched Elementary while I finished the cloth napkins.

Another funeral tomorrow, and an estate sale for the friend whose dogs Susie adopted. She was under water on her mortgage so there is no selling the house for the estate, the probate lawyer advise that they empty it and hand the keys back to the bank.

Hell of a month, this October. That's the third funeral in two weeks.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 12:01 PM

Another bag of VCR tapes deposited in the recycle bin. This clears out two shelves in the front room that used to be stacked with them. There are still a few in there that will be moved to a tall shallow bookcase in the hall as soon as I thin a few more out of there. And then I'll work on culling them just from that one location. Slow and steady gets the job done.

There was an excellent discussion on a local radio talk show about the distraction of living without the resources you need to conduct your life comfortably. The podcasts for this program (Think) stay online for a couple of weeks - if you don't have time to listen to it now, download it. http://www.kera.org/podcasts/think/ is the page, then scroll down to the 10/22/2013 program "Living Without." You can listen to it now, or, right click over the "Living Now" link and "save target as" and give it the program name (it has KERA and a series of numbers as the mp3 file name.) I downloaded it and can share it from my dropbox if you miss it (more on dropbox another time, but there are various cloud storage places like that available for free.)

I'm ordering the book by Eldar Shafir, it strikes a chord with me that I want to explore. So like the Don Aslett books (such as Clutter's Last Stand) and the book about procrastination that I discussed as I read, this is another one that I'll share with the rest of you. The gist of this is that if you are chronically worrying about some things it makes other things much more difficult. Forgetfulness, reduced critical thinking, decision making issues, are all discussed in the podcast and at greater length in the book.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 01:59 PM

While air drying my hair I almost finished indexing Tom's freelance articles of 1995. Moving right along... (Hadn't had any time to do that for over two weeks.)

Also ironed a blouse to wear to the session tonight, but had to make a mid-stream mid-thought recalculation when I discovered the lightweight sweater I'd planned to wear with it really needs to be washed first. That's okay, because I FOUND that sweater (and the one I'm now wearing) AND I got most of the clothes on the chair onto hangers. Didn't have time to get them put away in the closet, but I can do that tomorrow morning.

Unpacked Tom's new nebulizer and thought at first that a bunch of necessary stuff was missing, but finally found it packed in the other zipper compartment on the carrying case. Now all we have to do is figure out how to use it since no one at the hospital thought to -- and he wasn't using one while he was IN the hospital. Maybe I can find time to watch the DVD tomorrow, too. Oh, and Tom's Lifeline has been approved and now we're just waiting for the call for the company to come over and put in the service.

Plenty of stuff still on today's list still undone, but at least I FEEL reasonably accomplished today. Yesterday I got the boxes to put the books for the Nottingham library sale into so I can pack them up tomorrow, take them out to the car, and deliver them to the library next week. Probably can't put them in the car until Monday, though -- I'll need the back of the car for Tom's wheelchair for Sunday's PMFF board meeting at the Portsmouth Library.

Just had lunch which helped to declutter the fridge...and supper tonight after I get home from the Press Room will declutter the last of the meatloaf, mushroom gravy and potatoes. And then I might be able to find things in the fridge again.

I've still got about an hour to get something else accomplished before leaving for the session. I'll be in "being Tom" mode again tonight. He doesn't want to attempt the trek from house to car to Press Room back to car and into the house until he's had a bit more strengthening sessions with his physical therapist. Wednesday he made it to and from the doctor but couldn't make the last step into the house -- and I had to get another lift assist from the EMTs down the road. (Tom's been racking up frequent flyer miles lately...)

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 06:18 PM

At least the "lift assist" is available and nearby. I called the fire department in 2011 when I was up at Susie's house and her husband was trying to get off of the floor but couldn't get past a kneeling position. They got him up, but called the ambulance (she had been trying to take him to the ER). Her story is a lot different, because he was weak and in pain from metastatic cancer, but I was able to tell them (since it is a small local department) that we didn't want sirens blaring up the hill, we needed to get him up off the floor and perhaps out to an ambulance, if he agreed to go.

Friday evening. Heading home via Aldi to pick up some broccoli for the dogs.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 07:35 PM

Ahh! Friday eve and I am in the city. No music at the cafe tonight but a concert at the FAirgrounds to raise funds for HAbitat. I LOVE Habitat but the last year's concert at the fairigrounds put me in to hypothermia. Anyway, no heat yet at the mill living space. MAybe tomorrow. I went down on Weds with a car full of stuff to deliver and to rescue the food I had left behind on Monday. The noise of the new construction and dust, etc, was so distressing on Monday, I just put stuff in the frig and left. I had hoped to do some pottery but it was too cold - both days. Had a great visit with friends on Weds after I collected the food.

So yesterday, feeling almost my good old self, I went down, again to try to pot - to no avail; I could not get the propane heater started. But I rescued some much needed winter clothes. Found some but not others. Will do for now.

The Kitchen has been in progress all week and yesterday was at the point where Bruno and I could consult about the rest of the cabinets. Then I went away for the writers' group and when I came back he had finished it - not at all in the manner to which we had agreed! Anyway, it is a beautiful K and I am so looking forward to finally unpack and organize K stuff!!!!! There will still be no running water for a while. I need to varathane the slate tiles for the back splash and oil the birch counters.

In two weeks, B will come back and do the K and LR floors - floating bamboo. (Or so he says.) I am holding firm on maintaining the black concrete floor in the sun room - as a heat sink and also because I intend to have lots of plants = lots of wet and mess and I do not want to deal with a wood floor. I also do not believe I should have to fight for what I want but he is so incredibly into "the way things should be done" HIS WAY!

I will need to take everything out of the one pantry cupboard we have been using - well it needs to go elsewhere anyway - so we can cut an inch off the bottom! There is an archway in front of it and with the insulation and plywood on the floor, the top doors now hit the frame of the arch. I have a beautiful curved cupboard, with curved glass in the one door - Don't break it!!! - where I can put the Limoges tea set we bought at an auction in September. Honest! I could not resist it and am really looking forward to putting it into the perfect cabinet. And having friends over for tea! I promised this to a wonderful couple who gave us a lovely window which will go in my studio.

Back in the city, the laundry has been getting done - warmer here! Dishes are washed, but pots still not getting made in the upstairs "studio." I took curtains down from one window and washed them but need a hand to get them back up. They are several shades lighter!

Oh, and we have a very young raccoon as of today. Someone at the SPCA phoned in desperation this afternoon, although i am not legal, it was me or death for this fellow. She had phoned all over Quebec and eastern Ontario trying to place him. He is too small to survive outdoors, even if he had not lived with humans since a baby. I have no idea how we are going to cope. He will have to be housed in the mill in a way that he will not be coyote supper. For now, he is in the bathroom, with food, water and stuffed animals.

My long term malady has abated a great deal. I feel almost my self but the cough lingers as the system still clears the particulate. Two nights of NO coughing but coughing a great deal of every day. Nice to sleep! But also good that particulate is clearing - lots of Pau d'Arco, sage tea, red clover tea and mugs of fresh apple juice with cinnamon, and vit C.   Who knows what helps! Oh, yeah - staying away from polluted air, wearing my new mask in toxic places. You think I might miss coughing when it finally stops. Hope it happens!

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 09:02 PM

I'm glad to read that you're feeling better, Dorothy, and that you are finally having some functional rooms in that mill of yours.

I've rounded up another bag of tapes and will put all of the rest of them around the front room into the one case this evening. And I'll tackle some piles of paper that I'm tired of looking at. Tomorrow I'll be doing some baking and stuff around the neighborhood, but I'll also set up that chandelier and finally photograph it then pack it for listing on eBay. It's about time!

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 11:28 PM

Tonight I've been in my home office working through boxes of papers and shredding occasional sheets. I opened a file drawer and realized that much of what was in there that had been related to my busy job before is not only no longer germane, but no one else needs it. They're going to have to recreate that wheel on their own. Lots is going into the recycling bag and many hanging file folders now have blank labels ready for new projects. Also in the process I found some topics that really interested me but I haven't had time to research or write about. Now I might.

Dinner was a large helping of stir-fry broccoli. This is a modified fasting day, and now that I've eliminated the alcohol from my diet altogether and am trying to seriously lose the last 15 or so pounds, I'm trying to do more interesting things with vegetables so I can eat good-sized meals with relatively low calories.

Tomorrow morning I'll make a run to the recycle bins with some of the paper bagged this evening along with some stuff that has been in the back of the pickup for a while that I forget to drop off. I think I've reached a point where I'm ready to toss a lot more stuff, to see more floor space or counter tops or book shelves without extra layers on top or in front of books. Fall cleaning as I get ready to spend more days indoors with the arrival of winter, hoping to not trip over everything in the house. Trying to dispose of stuff properly, not just all into the trash. Recycle, reuse, sell.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Oct 13 - 12:34 PM

Bread machine set up soon for a batch of dinner rolls, and then a quick trip to recycle and drop off VCR tapes at the Goodwill, and pick up a baby gift. I think perhaps a gift card wrapped in a lovely box. Must polish a couple of silver cake stands I'm taking up for the shower.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 26 Oct 13 - 03:52 PM

Arghhhhh!!!!

In between everything else, I've just attempted to put the nebulizer together. I'm just unclear enough about where to put the meds, how to make sure the tubing has no moisture in it after Tom's done with it, etc. that I'll HAVE to make time RIGHT NOW to watch the DVD.

I truly wish they'd explained a little more at the hospital where it was prescribed. All they did was hand me the prescriptions when Tom was released. Didn't spend as much time going over prescriptions (actually I don't think they really did except to say that the metoprolol was time release (thus different from what Tom had been taking) and there was one completely new prescription and a Rx for spironolactone which Tom's cardiologist had taken him off of last March. No other information at all (and damned little in the printed material). Checked with Tom's cardiologist about the spironolactone the other day and he said take it at least until Tom sees him in a week and a half from now. Tom's PCP went over the meds list when we saw him Wednesday, but I hadn't been able to pick up the nebulizer last Monday because they needed Tom's Medicare card rather than his other insurance information and I couldn't get back in to pick it up until Thursday.

And, of course, he didn't use anything like it IN the hospital...

So here I am trying to figure it out with with a thick manual with not the best of illustrations. When in doubt, find time to watch the DVD... And then, if I need more help, maybe the visiting nurse can answer any questions on Tuesday.

Going to try to get another load of laundry in before I watch the instructional DVD. Then try (it gets complicated) to change my bed (first, I have to move all the books, papers, phone, binders, etcet etcet that take up the other side of the bed -- actually changing the sheets is the easy part).

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Oct 13 - 05:47 PM

Another big bag for thrift shop and a box of silk blouses,a beautiful leather briefcase and a beautiful pendleton blazer off to dress for success..I had those clothes and was not particularly successful so good luck to someone else.

With every item I get gone..and I thought I was down to almost nothing anyway, it feels better and better in my tiny cabin.

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 26 Oct 13 - 07:28 PM

Today was probably the closest I'm going to come to a "pajama day" in the foreseeable future. No appointments today and no one was scheduled to come over. I didn't have to go out at all for any reason.

Did this mean I have the day off? Well, noooo...

Today I attempted to get caught up on the stuff around the house that I haven't been able to get done for about three weeks. I indexed ALL of Tom's freelance articles from 1995-1999 (I'd already done 1994) and I'm partway to getting the information into Word files.

I also got several loads of laundry done (including hand washing), dried some laundry, and ran the dishes through. (Not all at the same time.) I'd hoped to get my bed changed, but that didn't happen. I DID get the kitchen compost taken out, the rollator out of the car (and outside the cellar door, but I didn't get down cellar to bring it in) and Tom's old wheelchair put into the car to use tomorrow. Got the kitchen compost taken out, too, but didn't get a chance to REALLY clean out the fridge and swab down the shelves.

But then I made the mistake of trying to set up the nebulizer -- without any information from the hospital or prior use by Tom. Makes my brain hurt. I'll watch the DVD tutorial tomorrow, perhaps. With the manual in front of me. Or maybe the visiting nurse on Tuesday can help.

Went over the agenda with Tom in prep for tomorrow's PMFF board meeting and made notes. The meeting will probably be a long one -- Tom will be there in a wheelchair. But I think we've agreed to postpone the annual dinner until April. That will make life a lot simpler for me (and Tom) as I hope he'll be out of the wheelchair again by then so that getting into the Press Room will be easier.

Monday it starts in again -- Emergency Response people coming at 10:30 to set up Tom's emergency button, Tom's physical therapist at noon, and Tom's CFI caseworker around 3-ish. I'll have to check my calendar for Tuesday (but I'm pretty sure the visiting nurse will be here), and Wednesday Tom has an appointment at the wound clinic.

Supper was leftover smoked scallop chowder (which decluttered the fridge a bit more) and dessert (maybe after a bit more digestion...maybe tomorrow...) will be the last pieces of the rum cake.

I'm exhausted, but feel a bit more in control of life again, for what it's worth.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 12:42 AM

That doesn't sound at all like a pajama day to me - it sounds like a jeans, sweatshirt and grubby sneakers day.

I have paper off of the floor in my office for now, but there are now new smaller stacks on a couple of desk surfaces that need to be transcribed into a notebook then tossed, or filed. The sorting yesterday yielding some more eBay items. Now that I can see the floor I need to go through here with a vacuum and dust cloth tomorrow - I need to go through the whole house with them.

Dishes washed this evening, kitchen pretty clean. I spent the afternoon at Susie's where they did a baby shower and birthday party in one. Her son as 1 son from his first marriage and is expecting a second from his second marriage. Lots of food, a nice sized group, and most of them a bit skeptical about all of the new dogs, yet all in agreement that they are mellow and well-behaved.

Before heading to the party I made a round trip to the restaurant supply to get the vinyl gloves I use in the kitchen, then over to Sam's Club for a pack of 2-dozen washcloths (blue for a boy) for the shower. I know it isn't a cute little outfit that will be outgrown in 3 months, it is a stack of nice wash cloths that will be handy in the kitchen or wherever when she needs something to wipe up baby and then toss in the laundry. I went through a couple dozen a week when my kids were little and they are very handy and a much better option than paper towels. They're great as napkins at a meal and if you have a plastic table cloth you can put a moist washcloth at each place.

After Sam's I dropped off VCRs at the Goodwill and a bag of paper and cardboard at the village recycle bin. The tapes to Goodwill are the ones we discussed earlier that Betty suggested selling. So I'll let the Goodwill sell them. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 01:41 PM

Dusting and vacuuming today, though I made a detour in here to look at the online TV listings. Nothing to speak of so I'll play a movie or stream something while I work.

Laundry is underway, kitchen is clean. After all of the dusting and vacuuming I may go ahead and mop. The house won't know what hit it.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 03:52 PM

OUTIES:

The outdoor-stored yard sale items I FreeCycled have all been picked up, except for one smallish bag still sitting out there awaiting pickup.

The items no one claimed are in a box in the van awaiting the next trip into town to drop off at Goodwill. If the bag awaiting pickupo doesn't go by morning, it goes in that box too.

Gone are a number of items that had become clutter, as well as some with bad memories attached.

The rest of the yard sale items are fabric stuffs sitting in the camper. The sun each day bakes them dry. On the warmest day this week I'll sit in there and sort them and bag/box 'em up for the parish thrift shop and Goodwill.


INNIES:

At a fave Salvation Army that had relocated, I grabbed a pile of cushy but disposable long sleeved tops for winter wear as I continue to shrink. This means that, as I do laundry this week, an equal number of items will be added to the Go-to-Goodwill pile. I also found several pairs of tennies, now that I can bend over enough to tie a shoe. I got 3 distinct styles so I can see what I like; eventually I'll decide what kind of new tennies I want to buy, retail.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 08:21 PM

Susie and her grandson came down to watch some online training for Windows 8, and the introduction was fine for him but too much for her. I've reset her computer and we'll go through the training slowly. Some of the things people have done to her computer make it hard to use the way intended, so we'll start from scratch.

I seem to have a floater in my right eye. It's kind of twitching around as I move my eye. I'll call the eye doctor tomorrow, but I don't think there is anything to be done about them. Getting older is a bitch.

Back to cleaning, laundry, vacuuming.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 09:46 PM

Wow! I don't know how you do so much or where you get your energy! I'm exhausted just think about all you've done.

Hope you get the nebulizer up and running in two more shakes of a lamb's tail.

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 12:32 AM

I made real progress today in the living room. I feel a session of moving furniture all over the room coming on. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 08:46 AM

Energy? Just barely enough to do what needs to be done.

Thought I was somewhat recovering (despite no real down time -- just little snatches here and there), but I've snapped at both the cats and at Tom this morning and I've only been downstairs for 30 minutes. Sigh.

Tom didn't here the impatience in my voice (or so he says) -- I was in the middle of two "business" emails when he whistled for help getting out of bed.

Tom's got coffee and things are under control here at the computer (PMFF board meeting yesterday required some followup emails). Gotta go get dressed and see if I can make this place look a little less of a disaster area before the emergency button people come at 10:30. Then Tom's physical therapist comes at noon, and his case manager for CFI at 3:00.

In between I've got a bunch of more or less little things that all involve schlepping up and down stairs multiple times. I guess that's MY physical therapy!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 09:01 AM

Oh...no...I still haven't figured out the nebulizer. Hope to find time to watch the DVD sometime today in between stuff. But I also have to pick up some meds for Tom at the pharmacy -- maybe THEY can help me...

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 09:37 AM

Today begins the sorting of post-yard sale clothes and linens.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 09:53 AM

Today I will unpack all my gear from the AWESOME quilting retreat and do some more sorting out of things in my office. I found someone with a new granddaughter and will pass on some of Jeremiah's things so she will have goodies at her house for when the granddaughter comes to visit. :)

I have dishes to do, laundry is already in the works and just some general picking up to do today.

Not feeling so hot...sore throat, earache, exhaustion ick....so I have hot tea brewing and some local honey all ready to go for my throat. Later today I have some medical stuff to tend to and will be staying at the hospital overnight, all will be well.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 11:34 AM

Sounds like it was a good weekend, but not so great to pick up a bug while you were there!

I left the house early this morning with Zeke and drove over to the Chevy dealer a few blocks from here. The truck started leaking oil recently. Maybe it's a loose oil filter but in case it is something more serious I want to know and know my options. I hope to get it back in the early afternoon. Zeke and I walked home then I took all of the dogs for a long walk around the neighborhood.

This morning I tried on one of my "normal" size rings and it fits well. This is a half-size larger than the rings that I also want to wear, and those don't quite slip on yet. I wondered if I'd ever get to where I could wear my regular rings again. The weight is again slowly sliding off, now that I've made a couple of changes in my diet and am doing a better job of keeping the limited fast day to just 500 calories.

Yard work at noon today, a good source of exercise.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 11:47 AM

Three bagfuls of fabrics cleared from the camper-- one fat one for Goodwill (items the parish thrift shop does not sell), and one bag of nicer things for the parish thrift shop. That leaves a box of games to pack for Goodwill and then we can clean and fold up the camper for winter storage.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 03:25 PM

At lunchtime I went out and did the weed whacker trimming on the street edge, the one that the code enforcement guys study for any stray blade leaning over the curb. My lawn needs mowing, I'll do that after 5pm out front and maybe get to the back in the next day or two. Will try to finish the yard before a big cold-weather event arrives on Wednesday evening.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 04:22 PM

Still haven't had time to watch the nebulizer DVD and figure out exactly (the diagrams in the manual are pretty unclear) how the ampule of med is put into the where on the nebulizer.

The last person of the day just left and, for the first time today, I have some breathing space. So I'm going upstairs to under-react before I have to make dinner. (And NOT watch the DVD; sorry, I really need some just plain down time!)

But the day was productive, I guess...

Tom now has an emergency button to wear (and we've worked out a signal for accidental pushing -- they're pretty sensitive -- so that if Tom is home alone and the button is accidently depressed if he blows the whistle when they start asking questions -- they can't hear his quiet voice -- they'll know it was an accident; if they hear nothing, it's an emergency) and got everything all plugged in right and all the paperwork done. She was still here and hour and a half later when Tom's physical therapist came.

After Tom's workout with the therapist, I had time enough to make lunch and go out to pick up a prescription and gas up the car before his case manager came out to see what CFI might actually do to help us. And that would be to have a service come out once a week and run a vacuum over the place, dust, and spiffify the kitchen and bathroom. You. Have. No. Idea. How much that would help me!!! I think then I could get a bit more accomplished with the de-cluttering.

But there WEREN'T any free spaces today in between people coming out -- didn't get to schlep some stuff to the cellar or get much else accomplished. (Well, I did get some of the books for the library sale into boxes to take to the library tomorrow...and I swept the room where the computer is and the kitchen.) And snuck in a couple phone calls to get a bill straightened out and verify an appointment.)

And now I have a date with a novel and reclining pose (and a cat) for a couple hours before I have to make supper.

Linn