BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 12:47 PM

We've got a new month going, Lin! Don't lose track of us!

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 09:49 AM

Liz, me too. Hope you're feeling better.

Lin

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 10:17 PM

A power nap is something that can make the day go a lot better. If you were thinking ahead to what you had to do today, maybe your brain requested nap time to sort it out. For real! If I'm writing a paper or working on something where I'm concentrating, and have a sudden urge for a nap, I don't resist it, and I usually get up 15 minutes later (with a timer) refreshed and having solved a problem.

The problem solved this evening, without a nap, was to 1) move old lumber out of the garage to the curb (trash was today, so there are three days for someone to pick it up or the city to complain) 2) rearrange the garage a bit and 3) move two cabinets with shelves out into the newly cleared space. They'll go in a garage sale soon. Cross my heart--it will happen.

The kitchen and dining area are cluttered again, from stuff that was in those cabinets, but there is open wall space, and I can see a bright light at the end of this tunnel.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, a new thread tomorrow,
As our junk is carried away.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 07:57 PM

Found some more stuff for my friend's weekly yardsale. And found some stuff for my up the hill neighbor who is doing a commercial garden this year and has a farm stand.

Since no one wanted it on Freecycle, tomorrow morning I'll put out the folding training bench at the head of the driveway with a "FREE" sign on it.

Stacked the boxes and bales of a magazine I used to sell for on the cellar steps. Next step is getting them upstairs and GONE (shredded for mulch, whatever).

Today was my day off and it started out with my 8:30 physical therapy session. Stopped by my hairstylists hoping to get a hair cut but she wasn't open (will call her tomorrow and see if she's got new summer hours -- and figure out when I CAN schedule a hair cut!). But then to the post office and got my sister's birthday present shipped off.

Tom and I are working opposite hours again this week, which is, well, strange, not to mention lonely at supper time. For the rest of the week we only see each other for a few minutes in the morning.

I just got more or less caught up on emails to friends telling them I got a job. And that, as with most things, took way more time than I'd anticipated.

Weeded the pots of parsley, strawberries, borage and sage on the deck, too, and reminded my up the hill neighbor to come get our spare Webber grill.

Oh, and this morning I took a nap. I just reached a point where I couldn't keep my eyes open, despite having a good night's sleep. (PT taking too much out of me?!?) I don't usually nap and when I do, I generally don't nap well. But this turned out to be a good nap. (Must have needed it.)

Gotta go call my mother since I haven't talked to her for two weeks.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 04:37 PM

I measured the longest of the shelves--they won't fit without fiddling with other furniture in the room, so I'm not going to do it.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 04:15 PM

Removed an unused spare printer from the wire-maze next to the computer and LO AND BEHOLD, there was an outlet strip behind it all which ran a lamp I'd thought was plugged in, elsewhere, in a totally inaccessible spot, that I've wanted to remove for a long time-- and was thus able to yank the lamp, TOO. Then I reallocated the outlet strip to hold a bunch of unwieldy transformers that had been cluttering up an extension cord and eating up a lot of UPS space, and yanked THAT, so now I have a nice small lamp with a nice down-pointing shade for the DR table, where Hardi sits to do bills, etc., and a nice long, dark-colored extension cord for it that can be run safely and invisibly to power our table; the DR is an extremely light-challenged room. It's pine-paneled, which absorbs light, and has no overhead fixture, so this lamp will join the 7 other table lamps and 5-bulbed floor lamp already in there. (I kid you not.) We only eat in there for "special" occasions, but it IS nice to see Hardi's great cooking when he treats me and gets out the silver, etc.

And TWO empty slots on the UPS.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 03:51 PM

I have a gallon jar of sun tea brewing out on the driveway and my university has just announced that next week offices going to go to a four-day work week (10 hours a day--something I do too often on my own anyway and don't get overtime for). I'm in! Three day weekends sound absolutely wonderful.

After I finish today's 8-hour day I'm going to move a few things around in the garage in order to move those shelves from the kitchen outside. I've surveyed some of the little tables and stands around the house and am going to rearrange some of them. Hmmmm. I've just had a thought about where those kitchen shelves could go in the house--and in turn move out some different shelves in my office. . . always playing with this Chinese puzzle.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 06:18 AM

I feel the same Lin... a couple of health issues have surfaced and frankly the world can go swing in the breeze til I know what my traitor insides are doing to me.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 03:52 AM

Haven't had any energy or ambition to speak of for the last week. Nothing wrong, just that it's hot here and I'm feeling blah.

I did get another sewing project out of the way last night, so have made minor progress there.

Lin

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 11:31 PM

I cleared off enough of the dining room table so we could eat tonight, and the table is pointed in a different direction than before, but there is an amazing amount of stuff in that room that needs to come out. How could I have held on to all of that for so long? And there are so many gadgets (my own, not my father's!) that are still in boxes because I never use them. If they're a pain to clean, I never use them more than once or twice. So they have to go. Tomorrow morning I'll take a box of gadgets out to the garage, along with at least one set of wooden kitchen shelves (they don't really fit). Looks like I'm going to have to do a garage sale of my own after all. The neighbor's event last weekend was just scratching the surface. This time, I'll put it in the paper myself. And I need to get back to donations again, I've slacked off there.

Up to now, I look around here and see that this decluttering is still cherry picking. The easy stuff. It's getting out the things that are in the way that are durable and family related are what I have to work on. Next month. Real sorting and discarding, to the bone.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 08:25 PM

Thanks, Maggie. The tarps are to cover my sisters' stuff and I HOPE I won't need them for very long!:-)

MaryAnne...when you said you covered auburn with an ash colour, I thought you were going to say it turned green! That's what happened to a friend of mine years ago, something about the two, red and ash, that made green. Luckily it was near Halloween, so she was able to deal with it. (We were quite young.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 07:56 PM

Cleared out a bunch of weekly papers and inserts this morning that have been building up for a couple weeks. Gotta keep up on those (and dispose of 'em right away) or they become really intimidating.

Took a pile o' stuff over to my retired friend with the every weekend yard sale -- managed to dig out the fancy oil lamp with the blue/green globes and get it there without breaking it. And the canoe-shaped shelf unit -- nice, but I have no place for it.

But I came back from there with a bag of blouses and a lovely sweater vest. Every time I manage to get rid of cubic footage, seems I bring some home with me!

Still trying to work towards the two boxes (in different parts of the house) that have the circa 1950s magazines in them -- I'd like to call the guy who buys old magazines and convert them to cash.

Missed the Nottingham Farmer's Market, though, by about 10 minutes. Last Sunday I bought the most exquisite strawberries I've ever tasted (right up there with the ones my sister and I bought at a farmstand just south of Half Moon Bay on our way to Monterey). Knew I was going to miss the market, though, so stopped at the farm stand on the other side of Nottingham and got some. They're very good, but not quite like those from the other grower last week. Don't have to worry about bringing strawberries home, though -- they disappear almost immediately (and don't even contribute significantly to the cubic inches around my waist and hips).

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: maire-aine
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 06:27 PM

Moderate thread creep: I thought you might have use for a chuckle about now, so here's a laugh on me. I will be turning fifty-ten tomorrow, but I can't stand the word "sixty". Furthermore, my hair is almost completely white, which I also don't like. So, since I was taking a 3-day weekend, I decided to color it. Bad move! Instead of "auburn" which I expected, it came out bright orange. I wore a baseball cap all day Friday and Saturday. This morning I realized that I have a meeting on Tuesday with the guy I hope to be working for in a few month (not an interview, just a meeting), and I couldn't go in there with "Bozo the Clown" hair. So I went to the drugstore and found a nice "ash brown" color and applied that, but only for half the recommended time. The results were better than I could have hoped for-- it's still a little red-ish, but toned down nicely. I even actually like it. Anyway, no more experiments for a while. Back to de-cluttering.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 04:59 PM

Oops. Right door, not left, in the pie safe. Did I tell you I'm ambidextrous? Makes it difficult to tell them apart on the fly.

I had a P.S.--the dulcimer is attracting attention, watchers, and bids. I have some cups and saucers to list soon, thanks again to the information last month from Charmion to describe them.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 04:56 PM

Absolutely, Kat! I'm also feeling that overwhelmed sensation--pull everything out to move and sort and you have a huge mess of clutter!

HOWEVER, I had one of those marvelous Aha! moments this afternoon, creeping on since yesterday. (Don't you just love those?)

This month's Martha Stewart Living had been rather disappointing, it didn't seem to provide much in the way of useful ideas. Who has the money and time and fancy patio or Long Island yard for her elaborate family picnics, after all? But something kept nagging at me. There was a photo of a distressed pie safe (they refer to it as an armoire, but you can see the hammered tin pattern inside the left open door) in this photo*. Anyway, I have a Kitchen Queen that has been filled with stuff that I don't use--but it sits next to the big dining room table. Aha! When I have company over we always pull out extra silverware, plastic picnic plates, serving stuff like platters, tins for cookies, cups and mugs, wine glasses, etc. This isn't the everyday stuff, but I am working to empty out the stuff I don't use in the KQ and put in it the extra stuff right there for big meals! I keep my cookbooks in one of the upper cabinets and some wine glasses in another. This is shaping up. I moved some of the kitchen gadgets to one cabinet of my Dad's that I am keeping in the kitchen, and I need to put other extra kitchen gadgets in a garage sale.

All of this opens a couple of other possibilities, and I thought I'd poll the group: Now that I've taken a lot of stuff out of the big L-shaped cupboard (and put some in the KQ), what ->should<- I keep under there? And as a bonus question, what do you keep in that stupid little cabinet over your fridge that you can't reach unless you're on a step stool and you empty off the top of the fridge before you can even open it? I took a couple of platters out of it for the kitchen queen, and I wonder if I should even bother to put anything back up there.

So, the house is a mess, but it is going somewhere and by this evening should be looking good. I'll post a photo if I get the KQ in order.

Kat, keep the tarp handy and if you get too bogged down, chuck stuff back under the tarp. You're in charge, don't let the clutter creep up on you!

Maryanne, my yard has characteristics a lot like yours--it needs work, and there are times I say phuck it and just go outside and dig around and get it out of my system. :)

SRS

*If it doesn't work, go to , go to the magazines tab, and look at the contents of the July 2008 Living issue. In the table of contents, look for Departments/Entertaining, and click on "Set for Summer."

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 04:30 PM

We got started on sorting the boxes in the driveway, this morning. As I look around my house, I feel a bit overwhelmed at the moment at all of the stuff I haven't yet got rid of or found places for. I am determined my kids will NOT have to sort through stuff when I am gone! At least not unimportant stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 11:31 AM

Rolls up sleeves (figuratively speaking--it's too hot around here for sleeves) and heads for the kitchen. . .

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 01:09 AM

I started it at a ridiculously low price and put some great photos up. Accurate description, not effusive, but clear as to the quality of this instrument. It has two watchers and it hasn't been listed for an hour yet--that's a good sign (I hope!)

Kitchen is still a mess. At least I washed most of the dishes. I had some carrots that needed to be used so I made some carrot salad (you know--grind them, add mayo and raisins). Very good--but I did generate more dishes. They'll wait till morning.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 10:26 PM

Guest from sanity, we're not talking about sing-song poetry on this thread. You need to try opening a new browser window and reposting your remarks on the other thread. That is necessary sometimes.

My kitchen and dining room have definitely "backslid." It's because I emptied out the Hoosier Kitchen (aka Kitchen Queen) and am deciding what goes and what stays. It's all on the dining room table and counter until then.

I'm going to move several things out of the dining room this evening (they'll sit in the living room, not an improvement, but a chance to see the dining room and kitchen looking better for a little while. The trouble is, I have too much furniture but I haven't deciding what has to go. It's so hard!

I'm ready to list a dulcimer on eBay this evening. That'll help with only a little clutter but might help with the cash flow problem!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 08:18 PM

Linn, maps and my globe were very important to me when I was growing up. I cannot believe I don't have a globe these days, but that is the sorry truth. I still have a few maps, but no wall space to display them.:-< I love both maps and globes!

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 08:11 PM

My name is Linn and I'm addicted to clutter.

Sigh.

Today I sort of backslid. I stopped at a yard sale on the way to work -- and bought yet another atlas. (For two bucks -- nice one, too.)

I'm a sucker for atlases. And maps. I need another atlas like a cat needs wings. Sigh. But I just couldn't pass it up. And if I find another globe for under five bucks, I'm sure I'll end up bringing it home with me. My house is the legendary burial ground of globes of the world.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: maire-aine
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 08:10 PM

I weeded the "herb garden" this afternoon, right around 6pm when the mosquitoes are at their hungriest. Oh, well. It looks much better. Now I can actually find the herbs. I've come to the conclusion that the outside needs more work than the inside, so that'll be my priority for the next week or so.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 04:38 PM

Well...we spent two hours this morning with two truckloads, two mini-van loads, and two Blazer backend loads, emptying my sisters' storage space and dumping it all in my driveway, for the moment. I hope they can come down and go through it themselves, but it would cost about $250 in gas and they are broke, so it's not likely. I know of two schoolteachers who have said they'd love to have the over 30 years of teaching aids, books, crafts, lesson plans, BB designs, etc., which are there, so I will be calling them pronto. They were about to lose it all, so I guess under tarps here is better than not, though I don't think there is anything of much value. We brought a few things inside, including a suitcase, wind-up 78 phonograph and a parlour banjo. Rog, bless him, says he'll help me organise it when it's not so hot outside.

My inside house is not going to get much done for a few days, I think.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 02:37 PM

Poking along today on the eBay front, but after I get another item listed I'll do some furniture moving around the house. That always makes me feel good!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 01:57 AM

Okay, it took a little while, but I got another item listed on eBay.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: GUEST,WYS at Church
Date: 27 Jun 08 - 04:59 PM

Dug out puder corner today, dug out VHS corner further aND ADDED A DUST SKIRT TO KEEP 'EM FREER FROM DOG DUST, damn capslock!, did a whole lot of other mini-sorts leading to piles that soon can be taken to their destination rooms to be stowed. One chairful of "later" stuff is next. The Closet need to be sorted out before it gets too out of order....

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: maire-aine
Date: 27 Jun 08 - 01:17 PM

SRS, I also like using glass instead of plastic for storage. I have some FireKing refrigerator containers that I use often. They wash up better with soap and water, and they don't stain or keep the odor of the previous contents.

I've had a brief relapse on the diningroom table clutter, but that has been remedied now and it's clear again. Whew. Close call there.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jun 08 - 12:22 AM

My eBay stack is growing, and I'll start posting them tomorrow. This evening I've been photographing and describing. I like to start auctions so they tend to end during the week nights in early evening hours or on the weekend during the day or evening.

I did a head-first dive into the big L-shaped lower kitchen cupboard and rooted out a "Mr. Tea" brewer (like a coffeemaker for loose tea) and a Nordic Ware "Tender Cooker" (a microwave pressure cooker) to sell and some good Pyrex that I've put in an easier cupboard to reach and use. I'd rather store food in glass than plastic, now that I'm learning more about plastic.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 05:06 PM

Just listed 7 more books on Amazon AND I am sending one out to a pal at paperbackswap. Yeah, yeah, I know I will be getting two more in to that one, BUT I will add them to my shelf there, when I am done reading them, and they will go out the door, again!

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: maire-aine
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 01:19 PM

I'm taking a vacation day tomorrow, and I have a list ready to go. If it doesn't rain to much, I need to pull weeds. I have SO many tree seedlings sprouting in my yard this year... way more than usual. Anybody else notice this?

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 12:59 PM

maeve, can you post a photo of your gate? There is a Mudcat Gardeners group at Google I set up so we can put our photos in one place where they are easy to compare and discuss.

Moving around more indoors today, as it continues to stay hot out. At noon I'll make a run over to a couple of places for eBay boxes and some sand for the yard. I have a project for my son to work on (we're going to take up some bricks I put down several years ago and redo that area, hoping to make a more level platform for this extension of the patio.) I have lots of rocks and bricks around that are leftover from other things and were here when we moved in. I really should organize them, and I'd like to build a couple of well-drained rocky mounds for the back yard, down where we don't water, so I could grow a natural-looking patch of agave. This is recycling yard stuff, not de-cluttering, but hopefully the outcome will be pleasing to the eye. The sand and rocks are early morning projects.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 11:45 AM

Our new gate makes me smile.

THERE's a diagnostic tool for us all-- when you look at your does it make you smile, or does it make you growl? (or whatever)

:~)

Maeve, I'm going to the post office today. :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: maeve
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 11:43 AM

Susan- I'm delighted that you have more of the information you needed. Thanks for coming to us.

I've cleared out a pile of magazines for recycling, taken care of some greenhouse items, and washed our temporarily-house-chicken.

All the jobs we'd planned for today must wait, so I'm clearing a little bit here, a little bit there, while keeping a close eye on our little hen, drying in her pen outside the window.

I've got to reclaim the kitchen, and cook some rhubarb sauce to can.

Our new gate makes me smile.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: maire-aine
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 10:58 AM

Hi, folks. Did anybody see the article in today's New York Times? You might have to register to read it, but it's free now. "The Tyranny of the Heirloom" really strikes home-- that's the way I sometimes feel about my diningroom set. But now I feel better about getting rid of (donating) my sofabed out of the livingroom. I don't need it, now that I have a real guestroom.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 10:23 AM

Just a note of thanks for the opportunity for anonymous discussion of my health issues up to this point, as I awaited some details about it that made anonymity desirable. Now that I have those details I'm "ready" to talk more openly.

~S~ (Doin' fine)

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 09:27 AM

200 :)

I plan to make a big eBay push today.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 01:04 AM

It arrived, thank you! I've used Kovel's books over the years and found it very useful not only to determine value but for the basic act of identifying objects.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 11:02 PM

I think their new book just came out. I'll forward you the latest email "Kovels' Komments." I just got it, so haven't really been able to evaluate it. I had tried a sample subscription to their hard copy newsletter, but it's too involved for me right now.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 10:51 PM

One of radio programs I listen to played that bit yesterday. It is perfect for this little group of un-stuffers, isn't it?

What is the Kovel's email letter like? Is it helpful? Do you use a subscription web site for pricing, or do they still put out a book?

I've been treading water lately, going into the garden more so doing small de-clutter things, but I need to move some eBay merchandise. Kovel's would probably be a help.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 10:20 PM

Kovel's sent this out in their email letter, today. It's a George Carlin quote:

"That's all you need in life, a little place for your stuff. That's all your house is: a place to keep your stuff. If you didn't have so much stuff, you wouldn't need a house. A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it. That's what your house is, it's a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff. Sometimes you gotta move, gotta get a bigger house. Why? No room for your stuff anymore. You've gotta move all your stuff, and maybe put some of your stuff in storage. Imagine that there's a whole industry based on keeping an eye on your stuff."

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 04:30 PM

Brushes off hands and leans back in computer chair at the university library

I think the foundation of this building might be creaking tonight when they haul the recycling out of our office. I got rid of (I'm guessing) at least a couple of hundred pounds of paper. I had boxes from the print shop of old versions of publications, and I finally pulled them out from under my desk and along the wall and gave them the heave-ho. I also cleared out old files in my desk drawer (since I telecommute I haven't referenced those files in literally years.) I shredded a lot of stuff as well, from back when they had us use the SS# for id.

Feels good, to get this place a bit cleared out also!

I did this to kill time, my office computer is scanning and downloading some humongous update. If I don't let this finish now, it'll be even slower next time I come in.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 04:24 PM

Your gate sounds lovely, maeve!

Micro-de-cluttering today: to heck with ebay for selling books! I ahve just taken teh plunge and listed 8 books on Amazon, for starters. I have a whole library cart/truck filled with ones which will go on there as I have time to list them. If they don't sell on there, at least it won't have cost me anything. I found a couple which I may still try out on ebay as they are rare, but that hasn't seemed to mean anything on there, so who knows!**bg**

Also shredded some old papers of my mom's which were duplicates.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 10:22 AM

P. Allen somebody on PBS does "garden rooms" (I don't catch his program very often). It's a cute idea. I'm considering how to break up the space in my back yard while not confining the dogs too much, but more on that if I come up with an answer.

Must burn some gas today, heading to the office and a couple of appointments there in town. I can swing by the recycle place on my way and unload what has become a fair buildup of plastic, glass, and cardboard.

Poking through the eBay table area last night I found several things I've done some research on but never got around to listing. It's time to tidy that table by finishing those descriptions and listing them, and I think also tidy my eBay computer files. If it is long gone, I can dump the descriptions and photos.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: maeve
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 06:29 AM

I did de-clutter the greenhouse yesterday, potting up divided perennials that have been waiting patiently, potting on seedlings, and then got labels on everything before moving 'em out to farm stand and recovery/holding benches. The big veggie garden is orderly as well, with row upon row of tomato and potato plants in shades of green and blue-green, numerous corn transplants, lettuce, peas, and the rest. Roses are coming into bloom in the various gardens and the shrub hedge by the road. Such beautiful blossoms- one is a named rugosa from my dad's garden, with flowers of an impossibly tender, translucent, pink- and such fragrance, and again the greens and blue-greens of the foliage.

I painted the new gate (metal full size headboard with rising sun design) periwinkle blue with the sun a warm yellow. We'll mount a sturdy post beside the opening for the hardware for latching the gate.

The stand is open today, so I'll plant beans and start moving the old compost pile to make way for the grapes to go in. I can stay close to the stand while getting those tasks underway.

Maybe if I look at the rooms inside as a series of gardens...Hmmm.

Have a fruitful day!

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: freda underhill
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 05:42 AM

no srs, thanks for asking - it's been good until a week ago - since then it's been accumulating washing (need to fold and put away) magazines (gave away yesterday and other randome objects. aaaaggghh! but you've given me a good reason to tackle it!

freda

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 11:34 PM

I've asked Rog to put in a clothesline for me this summer. I love the way things smell when they've dried outside and it does save on utilities.

I started out with good intentions this morning, but was waylaid. So, this evening, I finally got to putting some stuff away which was on my desk, then opened a bin with my mom's stuff in it. Managed to put a few things away in the filing cabinet, scanned some old photos and articles, and emailed same to family members. Once I get them all scanned in, I'll probably put all of the paper in the filing cabinet, then store the photos or send them out to the original posers.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 06:17 PM

I have concluded that I need a clothes line. There are any number of places where I can put one, but I have to decide the anchor points. It's silly to be running the dryer in all of this heat!

I'm closer to eBay operations again. I cleared off some of the table where I work, and I have a good dark blue sheet that is a great background for many of my items. A friend has decided that if he lists just one eBay item a day he'll generate a steady amount to help pay a bill or two. I could use that--everything is going up around here EXCEPT my salary.

Michelle, I did something similar recently and now wear only a small fanny pack when I go out, but it isn't perfect. I may have to make my own to get exactly the size and style I want. (Then I could make extras and sell them on eBay. . . )

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 11:46 AM

freda, is your living room still looking fresh and uncluttered, as you described in the last couple of months?

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: freda underhill
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 06:43 AM

gave away a pair of walking shoes and took 12 books to the second hand bookshop on the weekend, came away with three children's books.

freda

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering - June - part 3
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 11:41 PM

I'm looking at musical instruments. We have quite a few that no one plays, no one knows how to play, and are occupying space. Sacrilege, I know, at Mudcat, but it is time to move along at least one mountain dulcimer and maybe the hammered (student) dulcimer. I've written to a friend for information about the maker of the two mountain dulcimers my Dad bought years ago. He always got good instruments. I have a daughter in college, struggling to pay for the next semester, so it seems silly to leave these collecting dust on top of the piano (which is staying but needs extensive restoration).

SRS