BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering

Subject: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 06:25 PM

I posted to the March thread just now, but I'll cut and paste that here also:

It's Wednesday evening, but it has all of the feel of a Friday. I've had so many meetings and appointments to cover. I still have a couple of projects to work on, but I may take off a day just to do something about the appliances that are all turning up their toes.

I'll run a load of laundry over to the laundromat this evening, after I mow. I am feeling inspired to work on my office some more--I really do want to organize books and CDs and figure how how to store all of these wonderful new ones. I still find myself amazed that I ended up with so many high end fabulous recordings (my son's music teacher last night laughed when I told him about lugging in that box, saying "and you even got a new bin!") I drove home from work this evening listening to Glenn Gould playing the Bach's Goldberg Variations. :)

I have this feeling of connection to whomever collected all of this music, and such gratitude that I stumbled upon a way to buy them and hold the collection together. It's not like all of my Dad's music or something, not an emotional tie like that, but I can see a clear pattern of the informed listener, perhaps a teacher, in these disks. I respect that. If, on one hand, someone might suggest that he's turning in his grave because this valuable collection was donated to a garage sale and claimed for (pardon the pun) a song, I would want to deliver the message to that same unquiet grave to rest easy, they have arrived in a place where they are valued, understood, revered, and will be appreciated for years to come. Before my daughter heard about what was in it, just that I had it, she laughed and said "eBay, here I come," but this isn't something for eBay. This is something for me, something I never could have afforded, piecemeal, that are a wonderful windfall.

So shelving is near the top of my list of things to do soon.

Here's the old March 2009 thread, retired but not forgotten. I'll post this link over there, also.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 10:25 PM

It's the result of good karma, Maggie, that's all. The cosmos knew it would end up in the right place, at the right time.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 10:43 PM

Today I cleaned out a corner in the kitchen where we have been stock piling construction stuff and finished painting it!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 10:57 PM

She's right, Maggie...there'll be no turning over in the grave...someone is very happy it all went to you.

Great start to a new month's thread!

I brought clutter in...my brother gave me a gift certificate to a neat store here which carries incense, etc. I bought incense, but I also bought a beautiful black statue of Bast with gold accents in the way of one hoop earring and a scarab necklace as well as another gold neck-piece on her. She's really pretty, plus she goes with my other cat statues of various materials and poses, though I think I shall keep her on my sanctum with the candles and incense which are in my office so I will see her all day. I kept telling myself I didn't want any more dust collectors, but she is what *spoke* to me at the store.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: mouldy
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 11:56 PM

I have REALLY got to get moving on clearing all sorts next week when I'm back from the antipodes. I'm hoping what sunshine I have had here will have energised me - although the effect of about 30 hours flying, and overnight travel may take some shifting!

I have absolutely GOT to start prepping the house to go on sale in about 6 months or so's time.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 12:16 AM

Thanks for the thoughts on the music! Have any of you, when you were organizing books and such, come across a database that loads all of the information based upon the UPC code alone? I could stand to organize these a little, but the thought of typing it all into a database is daunting.

The lawn is mowed, front and back. That took a while, but it looks nice. The dogs also got a long walk (I should add this to that accountability thread, lots of exercise) and the dishes are done. No laundry after all, I'll do that in the morning.

Andrea, I predict that it will be not only nice to return home but that for a while it will be easier to "see it through someone else's eyes" and see what needs to be done. Sometimes we get so used to looking at stuff that even though it is out of place it's like it is invisible.

Where are you going to store all of those sweaters? ;-D

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: mouldy
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 04:09 AM

I'm going to get rid of some acrylic ones (that turn me into a sweaty betty), as the merino are lovely lightweight ones, ideal for layering.

This means either the charity shop or the boot fair will be visited before too long. Probably the shop with the leftovers from the bootie. I am sure I can drum up a few bits and bobs to put on a stall.
Stage one comes tomorrow when I have to pack my bag. I have a stupid 20kg allowance, so let's hope the sweaters (and shoes too) weigh about the same as the stuff I brought out! I'd hate to have to pay excess, as I have always been within my limit in the past.

Hey ho! Part of me IS looking forward to coming home.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 08:32 AM

Limpit starts her school holidays on Monday and Easter is soon upon us, so I've got 2 long weekends ahead... hopefully I'll get to finish the loft over Easter weekend and sort a bit of the garden out this weekend, unless the lovely sunny weather changes tomorrow in which case I'll swap.

Major office clearup required.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 11:10 AM

SRS, it takes time, but if you play each on into your HD and choose to save it, it should automatically come up with the relevant data and store that, too. At least, that is what happened when I "saved" all of my music CDs to my HD. The only exceptions were the ones which were not encoded.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 12:31 PM

But we're talking about somewhere in the range of 500 CDs all together. I can't imagine saving them all onto a hard drive--what a huge hard drive! I'm thinking of something that will work like EndNote, a program for creating bibliographies. I think the new versions take the ISBN and generates an entry based on Library of Congress data. All you do is enter the ISBN, you wouldn't do the equivalent of scan in the book.

Windy today, I hope it doesn't blow over my flowers. I haven't taken my annual photo of the house with the irises in full bloom yet.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 12:50 PM

Well, big news hit our house on Friday!! We have been preparing for a baby girl and SURPRISE, it's a boy!!!!! Well, umm...that's what they thought on Friday. And so Saturday we went out and shopped for baby boy clothes (the nursery is actually neutral). I came home, sorted all the baby girl clothing out according to where it needs to be returned with the receipts and just left the baby boy stuff in the bags for the rest of the weekend. So Monday rolls around and now the news is that they aren't quite sure if we have a boy or a girl!!! What the confusion is, I'm not sure. Anyway, I have spent this morning sorting out baby boy clothes according to size, fussing with the swing (yes, STILL FUSSING WITH THE SWING) and finally decided to call the store to see if they an assemble it (and if not, they can have it back). And you know what? For $5.00 they will assemble my swing. FIVE LOUSY BUCKS. LOL I think there are a few pieces missing and that there are 2 factory parts that are on the wrong sides and backwards. So...I'm going to pay my $5.00 and watch how they build it. I feel utterly stupid not being able to put this thing together (as I've assembled the crib, the changing table, the stroller, the high chair, the pack and play, etc) but my knuckles are bleeding and I've had enough!!
   Oh yeah, and I also scrubbed the hell out of our shower trying a new product to get the hard water stains out. CLR actually works. Smells to high hell and you have to wear gloves to clean with it but my shower is now white instead of orange. *HAPPY DANCE*

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 01:42 PM

Have you found a high shelf with no climbing access for all of the chemical things that might until now have resided under your sink? You life really changes once you have to start putting everything out of reach and behind baby-proof doors!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 04:15 PM

Finished weeding the raspberry patch. One of my principles of gardening is that, if something is growing where it doesn't belong, it's a weed. So, the sweet peas & lilies of the valley & violets had to go, at least out of the berry patch. Also removed some of the weaker plants & moved some in from outside the perimeter. Will weed again when I find out what survived.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 06:29 PM

I went out and trimmed (kind of late I know, but I finally got to it) the vitex. It had some oddly straight limbs growing straight up through the branches, off if the older gnarled looking ones. Looked kind of odd. Now it looks a little more uniformly gnarled. I'll have to make a point of trimming the suckers when they're still small.

Off to do laundry, drop by the post office, and this evening I'll do some sorting around here. It's time to bail more stuff out of the house.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 07:09 PM

2 bags of clothes to the Women's Center at the Community College. They ASKED me if I wanted a receipt! So I got one. With this much stuff to get rid of, it seems worthwhile, I still have tons for my friend's yard sale.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 11:25 PM

You can see some significant tax savings if you not only take the receipt but keep basic records on what you took over there. Even if you simply "price" the donated items at thrift store prices, it adds up.

My kitchen is clean and a little rearranged today. Laundry is drying.

I watched Oprah (I rarely do that) when I realized Suze Orman was on. Boy, was that depressing. And you know what? After paying off my credit cards, Suze says you should keep some balance on them, because in this market some companies will see you pay off your card and then they'll cancel them. So I guess I'll keep a little traffic on them, pay them off every month or every other month. At least this way I can choose to keep a little on there, rather than struggling to draw down a larger balance.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 12:16 AM

I saw Oprah's show too. Pretty dismal. Fortunately I keep a very low balance on my credit cards.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 01:04 AM

Morgan and I moved a couple of bins in the bedroom and moved the chair back in there which we took out a couple of weeks ago. Rog missed it for his clothes at night; I advertised it locally and didn't get one bite. I don't think folks are buying antique chairs much right now. It's okay. I wasn't really sure about getting rid of it anyway.

Tomorrow we are going to declutter the kitchen cupboards and make some winter squash/pine nut/golden raisins/with mozzarella and parmesan cheese whole wheat lasanga (only 6 points per big piece,) some chocolate chip muffins for Morgan to take home, and some WW peach cobbler (3 points!). Yum!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 05:23 AM

The weather changed.. it's clearup time for the computer room and more stuff into the loft this weekend!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 09:40 AM

It rained all night and will probably continue all day and through the weekend. Of course it's great for the garden, but keeps me in the house.

The lasagna & the cobbler both sound yummy, Kat; if you'd care to post the recipes, I'd love to try 'em.

My fed refund arrived, so I took it over to the credit union & opened an account with it. I'll use most of it for property taxes this summer.

We played last night, and had a good time, altho we were a little thin with the melody instruments. And we've got to move to a different spot in the restaurant, because the acoustic tiles above us just sucked up the sound, esp. for the vocals. Even though it is an "acoustic" show...

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 09:41 AM

I was getting nowhere with the computer room, the weather brightened up and now there is a buddliea bush 9ft shorter and a garden full of branches.

I have more seeds in my hair than a Suttons catalogue and there are some very confused looking cats wondering why they have to climb a tree to sit on the table.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 09:49 AM

The moses baskets and stands are in the attic, a big box of curtains also went up there. Our bedroom is a bedroom and no longer looks like a nursery. All the clean dry washing is put away. I can't believe how tidy the house looks....well until the kids wake up from their afternoon nap and empty toy boxes again! Over the weekend we'll be up at our forest collecting and piling up the dead wood into the wood store.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 09:49 AM

I just finished cleaning the bathroom and I must say, it's SPECTACULAR in there!!!! There is also a new door going on one of the closets in the kitchen and some trim went up this morning in the corner where I painted the other day!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 01:25 PM

I did a little garage sale browsing this morning, and came home empty handed except for a couple of cards with names and phone numbers. It's a lovely day and I met some great folks! I stopped in the village at two sales, hoping to find a set of shelves for the CDs, but no luck. However, I found a fellow piano restoration candidate (she has one of those great rectangular box pianofortes from the early 1800s, my upright grand is from 1885 and has been in my family since they bought it new) and a gardener with a yard and such a spectacular view of our little creek. He lives on the other side of the creek and up a couple of blocks. His yard, in the two years he has been here, is a work of art. You know how it is, when gardeners get talking and puttering in the yard. :)

I am taking the day off, so I'm going out in my own garden this afternoon. I will have to look over the weekend for something to organize these CDs on. Meanwhile, wheelbarrow and spade fork, here I come!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 08:51 PM

I found a jillion berry branbles which will need digging (Sunday), and cane buds on my roses -- not all of them; some may be dead. But it's nice that a couple of my favorites are alive and well.

Haven't got to the shredding yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 09:17 PM

The muffins came out really tasty even though I had to improvise...had no applesauce, so used peach juice, it worked!

Maryanne, here ya go: the lasagna is my own modification to 5 points instead of 6. I used almond milk instead of fat-free evaporated milk.)

POINTS® Value: 5
Servings: 8

Preparation Time: 30 min
Cooking Time: 33 min
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Course: side dishes         This hearty, fall-inspired meal is a wonderful change of pace from lasagna with red sauce.

Ingredients
        1/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour
        2 medium garlic clove(s), minced
        1/3 cup(s) grated Parmesan cheese
        1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
        1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
        10 oz dry lasagna noodles, cooked al dente (about 12 noodles)
        10 oz cooked winter squash, thawed if frozen
        1 cup(s) part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
        3/4 cup(s) golden raisins
        2 tbsp pine nuts, chopped
        2 1/2 serving(s) Almond Breeze almond milk

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place flour in a small saucepan and very gradually whisk in milk and garlic. Warm over low heat, stirring constantly, until sauce simmers and is thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.
Spread 1/4 cup of cheese sauce over bottom of a 9 X 13-inch glass or metal pan and cover with 3 lasagna noodles; top with 1/3 of squash and 1/2 cup of cheese sauce. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of raisins. Cover with 3 more lasagna noodles and spread with 1/3 of remaining squash and 1/2 cup of cheese sauce; sprinkle with 1/4 cup of raisins. Cover with 3 more lasagna noodles and top with remaining squash and raisins; cover with last 3 lasagna noodles, pressing sheets firmly down. Top with remaining cheese sauce; sprinkle with pine nuts and remaining mozzarella cheese
Bake until lasagna bubbles around edges and is browned on top, about 30 minutes. Slice into 8 pieces and serve.

Kat here, again, the only thing that gets me about the above is a lasagna pan naturally divides into 9 even pieces.:-)

Here's the cobbler:

Was POINTS® Value: 7
Now POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 18 min
Cooking Time: 26 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Take advantage of sweet summer peaches with our delicious cobbler. It's even more flavorful when made with white-variety peaches.

Ingredients
        6 medium peach(es), peeled, pitted and sliced
        6 1/3 tbsp sugar, divided
        1 tbsp cornstarch
        1 tsp fresh lemon juice
        1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
        1 cup(s) all-purpose flour
        1 1/2 tsp baking powder
        1/2 tsp table salt
        3 tbsp reduced-calorie margarine
        1/2 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
Instructions

    * Preheat oven to 375ºF.

    * In a large saucepan, combine peaches, 1/3 cup of sugar (5 1/3 tablespoons), cornstarch, lemon juice and cinnamon; toss to coat peaches. Set pan over medium heat and bring to a boil; cook until mixture thickens, about 1 minute. Remove pan from heat; transfer mixture to an 8-inch square baking pan.

    * To make topping, combine flour, remaining tablespoon of sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Work in margarine with a fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk; stir until flour mixture is evenly moistened.

    * Drop 8 tablespoons of topping mixture over peach mixture. Bake until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbly, about 20 to 25 minutes. Cut into 8 pieces and serve.

Notes

    * You can enhance the peach flavor of this recipe by swapping 1 teaspoon of almond extract for the lemon juice. And stir 2 tablespoons of sliced almonds into the topping, if desired (does not affect POINTS value).

Kat, again. Have fun and enjoy!!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 10:39 PM

Geez. Food and Recipes. Now we're in trouble. . . ;-D

I've done yard work today, and I may have to de-clutter the yard of an ailing redbud tree. It nearly got knocked over in a wind storm about four years ago, and I got a good response from the "sick tree treatment" developed on an organic site I belong to. But it is ailing again, dead limbs and peeling bark. I may have bought some time before, but it still may not make it. I'll try some surgical trimming and see if I can get the healthy part to separate from the broken part and recover.

After a bath to wash off the yard debris I'll putter around with the book shelves and do some more organizing. I suspect this weekend will be a mix of heavy lifting outdoors and dusty moving indoors. We'll see if there is an allergy component to this work.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 11:04 PM

Thank you, Kat. They both sound delicious. I'll let you know how they turn out.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 11:48 PM

You're most welcome. I haven't tried the cobbler, yet, but the lasagna is really delicious, I think. I forgot to say I use twice the amount of frozen squash, thawed of course.:-) It fills it more and doesn't add points. The lasagna lasts forever. It's one of the make it on the weekend, eat it all week recipes they offer online.

Maggie, good luck with your redbud tree. The little one we planted last year put out tiny flower buds almost two weeks ago and keeps getting snowed on with low night temps to boot. So far, they are hanging in there. I hope it makes it and fully blooms, soon.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 11:50 PM

Oops! Sorry about that...I just figured out I mixed up my threads! Meant to put the recipes in the accountability thread, not this one!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 12:12 AM

You mentioned the dishes here to begin with, so it wasn't exactly a non sequitur. And we seem to be able to discuss food at Mudcat regardless of the thread topic!

This redbud has barely bloomed this year. The blossoms are still on the branches, but no leaves are starting yet, and it's like the last gasp. I'll watch it a while longer, but a look at the bark around the base, and the heart rot on that one big limb tells me a lot.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 01:45 AM

Trouble with having no buddliea bush in the way, I can now see how horrible the makeshift bean trellis is that next door put up. It's made from found wood, most of which appears to have been painted white, so it practically glows at you in the half light of dawn.. I want to sneak out at night and push it off my fence (it's just balanced on the top of it) but that would be mean.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 11:59 AM

Damn. Hit refresh instead of spell check and my post went away.

Liz, maybe you could surreptitiously paint the side of that trellis that faces you some neutral color.

Moonglow is coming by in a while. She and boyfriend are headed to Scarborough Fair, the local spring RenFaire, and they would like to eat here first (save money, of course!)

I have about half-finished a no-till mulch under that redbud. If it dies I'll use the space to grow veggies. I scalped the turf with the weedeater, then after wetting I put down layers of newspaper and mulch on top. I'll finish in a little while. This will give a more continuous look on the beds out there. I need to get some edging.

I moved the laptop to a desk in my bedroom for a while. I'm working on the desk where I have had it situated, it's the same one where I work on eBay stuff sometimes. I moved the computer out of harms way while I reorganize books from surrounding cases and then reorganize (and who knows, possibly move) that desk.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 03:41 PM

I took 2 bags of packing peanuts to a nearby mail store for recycling/re-use. Also did some grocery shopping, and bought 3-lbs of lean pork loin to make my own breakfast sausage. After I trim & grind the meat, all I add is onion and seasoning, so I know exactly what's in it.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 04:31 PM

Well, I did get a printer ensconced up in the new home office, and the nukerator is hooked up in its perfect spot along with the other appliances. It looks like a freaking palace up there. Now I gotta go to work, just to justify all that prep! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 04:38 PM

One more recipe then, another of their make it and eat it all week series. Dead simple to make and very tasty:

POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 6

Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 35 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Course: main meals         Have some leftover spaghetti? Then give our savory pasta pie a try.

Ingredients
        1 tsp olive oil
        1 small onion(s)
        3 medium portobello mushroom(s)
        12 oz canned tomato sauce
        6 oz firm tofu
        1 spray(s) cooking spray
        2 cup(s) cooked spaghetti
        3/4 cup(s) part-skim mozzarella cheese
Instructions

Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pepper, onion and mushroom; sauté until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce and tofu (be sure to thoroughly drain the tofu before crumbling it up and adding it to the sauce). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer mixture, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, coat a 9-inch-deep pie plate with cooking spray. Arrange spaghetti in bottom and up sides of pie plate. Pour tofu mixture over spaghetti; sprinkle with cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing into 6 pieces.
This recipe is part of our Cook Once, Eat All Week series.

Kat here. This one is really fun around Halloween as the spaghetti coming out over the edges can look like a witches hair, all wild and wooly!

Decluttered the kitchen of pasta, etc. as I made the pine nut lasagna this morning.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 05:03 PM

I used all of the mulch from yesterday so will make a run for more, and at the same time haul all of my recycling to the drop off point.

I de-cluttered two pooches of a couple of months of yard and dog smell. We're all a bit moist at the moment. I waited until it was the warmest part of a sunny day to bathe them, so none of us is chilled from this experience.

I'm always amazed at the relative size of wet dogs. The catahoula is taller and she has a thick coat, so dry, she looks to be at least equal to the pit bull. But the pit bull has a thin one-layer coat and is 58 pounds of muscle while the catahoula is all hair and when she's wet you can see that she's whippet thin by comparison and weighs about 45 pounds.

Lunch was nice. Moonglow de-cluttered my wallet a little for gas money. Hey, if it helps get her here more often to visit, it's worth it!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 06:19 PM

Sounds like a productive time, SRS.

We went to Habitat for Humanity looking for shelves of some kind for Morgan's toy corner. We came away having decided we need to get our baker's rack and collapsible bookcase back from his mom; she's not going to like it...I will make ROg call her about it!:-)

We did bring home a new fixture for the dining room which Rog calls the 'The Aboratum' as it has houseplants in it and we do not dine there. The fixture it has takes little tiny bulbs, like Christmas tree bulbs, and does nothing to illuminate. We found one which holds two regular bulbs for ten bucks which he will install. I am not crazy about it, but it will work for now.

I don't know if it is good or bad, but we did NOT come home with the very old baby grand piano which was only $200!! I asked if they would take less as it needs work, but it was already sold for the two hundred. Made me realise just how much I miss having a piano of my own and determined to get one. I have two chairs that can go to make room for one, esp. a baby grand and Morgan and I could have a blast with one. I used to use one for mental health...playing when bored, upset, etc. I really miss being able to do that. The fiddle and dulcimer just aren't the same, even though I love them.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 07:53 PM

Well, darn. Too bad you're up there. There was a nice sounding spinet for sale at a garage sale yesterday for $350. That was a good price for that instrument. It's an upright kind of piano so you don't have to necessarily get rid of chairs. Refurbishing old pianos is really expensive. I think my piano will be in the $7000 to $8000 range if I ever manage it.

I am back from errands, and I picked up a gryo and a beer at the corner gas station (for a gas station, they have great food! They cook a lot there.) Part of the beer goes in the gardener, but part of it goes in bowls in the garden for more snails.

When I pulled in at the compost spot there was a man with his car and some bags. He had gloves, but no shovel. I commented that I could help a little by giving him a piece of card board to shovel with, and I gave him a large bag (I pick up bags at our village aluminum recycle bins--they're not supposed to throw bags in, just cans, so I pull the bags out and empty the cans into the bin and reuse the bags). I also had two tools, a shovel and a Korean hook thing I use all of the time, so I loaned him my shovel. He said his wife had been talking to him when he left the house and he was distracted and forgot his shovel. (You know, my ex and any of my friends from New York City would be rolling their eyes about now--why was I talking to this stranger and how did I learn his life history?) He worked slower than I did (I was using this hand tool and filling a big bucket and dumping it in the back of my pickup bed). He was slow so I kept filling, figuring he'd eventually finish with his bags. I finally had so much (way more than I need) that I stopped and got my shovel. But before I left I handed him him that Korean hand tool to try--it really is very efficient. He was astonished--I suspect he'll be out buying one this evening. It's faster and takes a lot less space than a shovel.

Moonglow just called. They're on their way back over here. To eat again. I drank a beer so I'm not running to the store for anything, so it's whatever is in the house will go on the table. Or they can run to the store. Maybe I could mix up a batch of pizza dough and let them stop for some cheese.

I'm going to finish my no-till bed now, before dark, and when the kids get here we'll work out dinner.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 11:06 PM

The mulch operation is finished, but I didn't plant my bedding plants yet. I still have to work some more on the other side of the garden before those go in. More tomatoes, eggplants, and some strawberries.

Beer is in the garden to catch some more snails. I went out and put it in place after dinner (cooked some flounder and veggies for Moonglow on the return trip). I'd had some of the beer, and was walking out with a bowl and the rest of the can, and slid a little on some mud on the driveway next to that bed. I told the kids that would have been hard to explain if I'd fallen, or worse, knocked myself out. There I'd be, sprawled out, probably have spilled the beer on myself, with a can and a bowl next to the garden. What would people think? Ha!

A little book organizing is underway now, and then it's early to bed. All of that lugging of mulch and digging and such wears you out. I could hardly stand myself by the time I got in the shower. Every bit of me had grit from the mulch, and it was under my watchband and in my waistband and in the crease of my elbows and between my toes. . . much more dirt and some of those plants could have taken root on me!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 11:27 PM

You've all been busy. I hope to get out to the yard tomorrow. Today was gorgeous but I was at work until 5:00; got home and weeded for maybe 20 minutes.

As I was leaving home this morning I discovered my neighbors across the street were setting up for a yard sale. At lunch I ran home and asked if they wanted to try and sell some of my stuff, for a 50/50 split. They did, so I ran and got one large box of shirts. They were packed up by the time I came home, but their sale in on for tomorrow too. It would be great if I could get more stuff out of the house NOW, although I have some causes now that will take usable stuff.

Tons of last fall's leaves that did not fit into the composter, and the leaf shredder jammed and I am not mechanical and cannot figure out what is wrong with it.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 11:50 PM

Stayed up late to watch the Final Four. Great that MSU won. Big game on Monday, and a "blizzard" expected on Monday too. And I was planning to go to Ann Arbor for a concert on Monday night, but if it's snowing, the trip is off.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Apr 09 - 10:22 AM

A few more books moved, some piled on the floor while I think about creating a new category that will completely fill a shelf.

It's pretty but chilly this morning, so I'll putter inside a little while. Or I could move the truck out of the garage and work in there out of the wind. It could use some organizing help. The sides are creeping closer to the center again, crowding the truck a little.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maeve
Date: 05 Apr 09 - 10:27 AM

I am going stir-crazy waiting to get this cast off and therapy underway so I can do my spring cleaning and resume major clearing of unwanted things.

Those of you who are still able to carry on with the clearing; consider yourselves to be enthusiastically encouraged!

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Apr 09 - 11:45 AM

I heard the sound of one hand clapping!**bg**

Thanks, maeve...your turn will come, soon.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Apr 09 - 05:17 PM

You know how you are all set to do one thing, and find yourself doing something else instead?

I started straightening out those books and soon my head was spinning with the number of subjects that are related but don't all necessarily go together. Philosophy/Environmental Philosophy/Environmental Theory/Literary Criticism and Theory/Nature Writing. Reference. Oy.

I'm rearranging back and forth across the room and trying to end up with logical groupings. But I'd better stop and go wash a couple of loads of laundry and do a little shopping. I need to finish enough so I can sit down on my office chair again. It has a pile of books and I'm perched on the edge. I think I'll be putting together a bag of books for Half Price Books soon.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 05 Apr 09 - 05:57 PM

I understand completely. That's what happened to me when I took all the books off of the shelves when I had the house painted. I took them all off in (what I thought was) a systematic way. But they ran around and hopped from box to box overnight, so they were all dis-organized again by morning.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Apr 09 - 06:49 PM

This is terrible! I have so many books on so many subjects that are so difficult to group logically in the spaces where I thought they'd fit. And this is just this room. I wonder if I should alphabetise the house. Arrrgghh.

I am looking up at a set of books I accumulated when I was thinking about writing historical fiction (stay at home mom stuff, maybe writing in the spare time. There was no spare time.) I could take most of those off the shelf and never miss them. And I have multiple books on subjects that I'll rarely or never look at. Maybe I'll just list a few of these at Amazon and see what happens. I've had some listed there for quite a while without a nibble.

Time for a search at eBay, also, I think. Maybe I could sell some of these in lots. Other stay-at-home moms thinking about writing in their spare time might buy them . . .

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Apr 09 - 07:07 PM

I went to the DIY store to buy cork boards for a choir notice board, and bought plants instead. I told myself that I was going to the store for plants and forgot about the boards... bad me. Still, if I get the old arse in gear tomorrow, I'll be planting out the lettuces I bought, with some very well rotted horse do-do.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Apr 09 - 09:59 PM

Liz, I was going to plant stuff today, but we have a freeze warning overnight. Later this week. I could put out the seeds now, but it's a cold wind out there.

I have an oversize milk crate style box filled with books for Half Price Books tomorrow. I have the laundry baskets in the hall with sorted laundry. Bread has baked, meat for dinner is thawing. I don't feel like I got a lot done--I messed it up so much in here that it isn't back quite as neat as it was when I started. But I have more space on the shelves to work with.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Apr 09 - 10:46 PM

Did several loads of laundry and boxed up two good-sized boxes of stuff for my sisters' birthdays coming up next week. It's some of their things they've had in storage for several years. We have it here, now, and I was able to find some special things I think they will be happy to see, so declutter of the caravan a tiny bit.:-)

Rog did a grand job in his area of the kitchen, cleaning up his desk and taking out a lot of electronic gear which seems to pile up wherever he goes. He did a crackjack job with all of that plus swept and mopped a few small areas and did the litter boxes. He also took me for a Sunday drive. I feel a bit spoiled, today.:-)

I boxed up a few books for later posting, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 11:24 AM

I took the box over this morning and they wanted about 2/3 of the books. Those that were remaining I couldn't see getting a lot of interest at the donation center, so I brought them home. They're history books, primarily. Maybe these would be better on eBay, where the audience is wider. But they won't stay here long. If I decide not to sell them I'll let Half Price donate them.

I swung by their clearance shelves and ended up bringing home a few recorded books. On tape, but they look like they're in good shape. I'll listen to them then list them on eBay. They're authors I'd pick up at the library and only cost a couple of bucks each.

There are now gaps in my bookshelves, but there is all sorts of stuff piled on that work desk in my office. So I haven't necessarily made any gains by all of this rearrangement. But there is potential. I do have about 15 inches of space freed by those books that Half Price wanted.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maeve
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 11:41 AM

Washed dishes, did 2 small loads of laundry in the sink, cut and repackaged 20 pounds of bargain-priced cheddar cheese. Dishes have been put away, laundry will go outside in the wind, and the cheese is tucked neatly into the freezer.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 12:02 PM

I actually got to SPEND some morning time in the new office for the first time today. It's a nice spot! Bright natural light even on this gray day. I updated some software on the laptop, tried out the new nukerator, and noticed all the stuff I had not brought upstairs so I started a list. I had taken brekky up there with me so that I could sort of settle into the day. It was great t have a practical boundary between work space and personal space-- Ahhhhhhhh......... [springs letting loose]

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 01:16 PM

Nothing constructive... decluttered bank accounts of several hundreds of pounds though...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 01:53 PM

I'd like to de-clutter my bones of several dozens of pounds. . . painlessly, of course.

Maeve, are you freezing that cheese? How does it freeze? I usually only freeze it if it is already cooked in something.

Taking a little lunch time to re-arrange office shelves. Pardon me while I sneeze from all of the dust. . . I've been moving my Dad's music books more into one space and moving some of the novels out of the middle of them. I've arranged some more general reading in the area where previously it has been scholarship. I'm not giving up scholarship, but I'm reminding myself that there are other books out there I want to read also.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maeve
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 02:13 PM

Maggie, I freeze hard and soft cheeses. The flavor stays the same, while the texture can become somewhat more crumbly, depending on how well it's wrapped and the type of cheese. I've been pleased with texture and flavour of thawed cream cheese, mozzarella balls, goat cheese, and both solid and shredded hard cheeses (cheddars, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Jack). I hope that answers your question.

Another load of laundry done in the kitchen sink with the sink plunger and hung outside to drip. I just brought all of it back in to dry on hangers in the tub area.

Four trips with the loaded log carrier, full of dead pine cut in stove lengths, and carried with my good hand. That in addition to the wood Truelove carried will help keep us warm on the upcoming cold, rainy days and nights.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 02:17 PM

Morgan helped me carry the two boxes to the car, then the post office, so I could mail them out. That's done, then!

We just ate some of my pine nut/winter squash lasagna for lunch and it was quite yummy!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 03:27 PM

One more bagful off to St. Vinnie's.

My neighbors did not have any more luck with yard sale than I did; people come by to look but do not buy anything.

Garbage can full of berry brambles dug up from backyard. Unfortunately I also accidentally got one rose killed down to the ground I hadn't meant to get rid of. It's back in; it may survive but it was already weakened.

I've still got lots of winterkill to prune off the roses. After the next trash pickup.

House beginning to look somewhat sorted out. Got through ONE drawer of the filing cabinet yesterday. It's unbelieveable how much 20 year old crap I had (Still have) in there.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 03:44 PM

It's amazing how much a file drawer can hold, isn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 03:53 PM

Amen, Stilly.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 04:58 PM

I got 15 sausage patties all shaped up and into the freezer & kept enough for 2 out for breakfast tomorrow. I had planned to go out to Ann Arbor to hear Si Kahn at the Ark, but with the snow last night (continuing this morning) & the NCAA championship going on downtown here, I decided it would be prudent to stay home. Hopefully he'll be back in town soon. All the laundry is washed & dried & put away.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 12:46 AM

The kitchen looks good but that's about it for today.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 11:40 AM

About 2 weeks ago, I called the city and asked if they could patch the pot-holes out in the middle of our street, so the guy is out there now filling them in. I cleaned the floor in the guest-room and I'm washing the sheets now.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 11:59 AM

De-cluttering pot holes. I believe that is a first in all of the months we've been running this conversation! :)

I think our freezing weather is over and now I can move forward to work in the yard more. But I also need to clear out, repot, or discard some pretty sorry looking houseplants in the window in my sun room.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 01:12 PM

Just got an unexpected day off from Morgan, today, so I am going to work on a trailer for youtube for my first book and a synopsis for Prairie Child which will be published later this year. So, I am either going to declutter or clutter my brain.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 09:03 PM

It's time to put more stuff on eBay. I've thought of some things I'd like to spend money on but I don't have enough. :) Good reason for eBay!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 07:44 AM

Decluttered the post room today... Marie and Marilyn the post room persons were most appreciative. Also got a manager to speak to someone about clearing a whole heap of busted furniture off the floor and I notice my audible protestations about crap everywhere have resulted in 4 piles reducing down to 2, waiting for the Building Services to pick them up.

Why can I not do it as efficiently at home?

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maeve
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 08:43 AM

Good work, Liz.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 08:46 AM

Another shelf has been put up and the stereo and cd's have been sorted out. I've made use of the chicken carcase and made soup this morning. Harry helped sort out the newspaper pile by spreading them all over the hall floor, they are now in the recycling pile. Washing is on the line blowing so hopefully it will dry.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 10:44 AM

I'm rushing through my workday so I can end a little early and go meet Rapaire in Dallas! He's there for a library conference. I'm not going to drive, he is at the one hotel in town I know how to find (by train or by truck) because my children go there every year for an Anime convention (A-Kon).

A load of laundry was washed at the ex's house this morning and is now drying. It is surprising how many things can be taken care of with the portable devices we carry. While I waited I was able to catch up on phone messages, plan print documents, and check in with Moonglow. Years ago it would have been 30 minutes of reading a book or the newspaper.

I miss those days, though. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Diva
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 11:32 AM

Well another bag ready for the charity shop and am hopefully getting some shelves put up on saturday...fingers crossed

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 01:40 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 04:08 PM

Nice dinner last night. I was exhausted when I got home, though. I think it's the oak pollen in the area. My eyes were so tired from being itchy all day.

At lunch today I pulled the fridge away from the wall (it's in a corner where the freezer door opens only 90 degrees, not wide enough to pull out the bins without moving the fridge forward several feet). I did pull out the bins and gave it a good going over with the hair dryer. The little motor that blows air from the freezer to the fridge was frozen and there was so much ice in the back of the freezer. I have to get this thing fixed. I think the air pass-through motor is fine, it was just stuck and not able to blow. I'm considering moving the fridge and freezer to new locations in the kitchen. Right now the freezer is in the hall.

I cleared off the desk in my office, but this stuff was stacked on the floor in the closet, so there is no gain so far. I have cleared out some of the bookshelves, though, and I'm playing the Chinese puzzle game as I move things from one location to another, trying to streamline the setup in here.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 05:53 PM

Spent some time re-arranging the kitchen cupboards. Moved 1 shelf down, so I got more into the space. Also went shopping and bought a new mattress-- a couple local furniture stores are having big sales right now. I hadn't planned to do it right now, but the price was right. Plus it was made right here in Michigan, which was a plus.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 06:04 PM

Limpit decluttered her clothes - so many things don't fit her any more.. she's starting to go in and out - in so many different places - that most of her pairs of trousers don't fit!

Still, a whole bag load of stuff for the clothing bank.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 10:42 PM

Funny how that works, isn't it?

Tomorrow is Friday, but I don't have to take my son to school, they have the day off. He is spending the night at his Dad's (he usually stays there over the weekend). I tried to get him to hang out here this evening, but he wanted to stay there because he can have more friends over. Not a lot, but more than I usually allow here. Anyway, I even threw in a favorite food as enticement. No soap. But when I spoke to his dad later, asking if they were coming over to get his guitars and such, the ex said "he wants to know what's for dinner." So they hung out for a couple of hours, and my son got his chicken strips. :) His dad took a few of those great new CDs out on loan to burn copies and copy the liner notes. I still am amazed that that bin of CDs fell into my lap. It's fun to see folks poke through them and find good versions of old favorites.

I'll do some work with the office shelves tonight. There's some spare room since I took books to Half Price and I've been re-organizing some of the contents that were loosely stacked.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 12:30 AM

Well, no shelves approached, but I cleaned up some stuff in the kitchen. Six of one, half dozen of the other sometimes. I've now soaked the tape residue off of some attractive little containers that I use for vitamins. They sit on the counter looking interesting, and have fish oil or calcium tucked neatly inside. My friend Bette (about 75 by now and a couple of inches shorter than she used to be) said on her last visit "If I knew at your age, what I know now, I'd have taken those calcium tablets every day." So I will. And fish oil helps. And they're in these lovely little containers.

Saint Saens is booming through the house. One of my new CDs. The organ appears briefly in the third movement (third symphony) but really lets loose in the fourth. The fellow who collected all of this music liked many of the music forms I like. There's one CD in there (title read out loud to me while I was fixing the chicken strips) with something like "Organ music to blow the roof off." Yes! Organs are big instruments to be used generously, and they're NOT JUST FOR CHURCH SH*T. Pardon my French. But they get such a reputation and they can be so much more. And the fellow who collected these disks knew it--for which I am very grateful!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 12:57 AM

That is so neat, Maggie. Good for you!

I think I am going to take a break from the onus I have let these threads put on me...my own fault:-)...just a week or two. I'll check in but I won't be concentrating on what to do next and see how it goes. It seems rather impossible, at the moment, to get anything done.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Cats
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 07:26 AM

I have scrubbed my house from top to bottom, every room, every wall, every ceiling, moved every single thing and washed or cleaned it. I've just washed away the last 21 years and hope I can start a new life.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maeve
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 07:47 AM

Great start there, Cats! Now to seek out what is beautiful and real to build upon.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 10:10 AM

Keep up your health, Kat, keep up your sanity, Cats. It sounds like you both have a story to tell. . . or not. Come back and be inspired when you need it, or just do some small little things and enjoy them without a peep here. Whatever works.

The area was riddled with racing prairie fires yesterday. Lots of houses and buildings damaged or destroyed, several deaths reported. The smoke hung over the area and caused itchy eyes all around. I just heard that a tornado hit Mena, Arkansas, a lovely little town we have driven through many times on our way to the Hot Springs area of Arkansas on short summer vacations. Three people died there. A wing burned on the apartment complex where we spent a couple of months when we first moved to Fort Worth (a corporate housing company maintained a furnished apartment that we stayed in while we waited for our house to close). Sixteen units destroyed, but thankfully, no injuries. The news seemed to swirl around us and be particularly topical, so I'm just glad not to actually be part of it.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 02:02 PM

I saw video of the wildfires on the new today. Didn't know you were so close. Hope you continue to stay safe.

I made a pot of baked beans this morning; they were done just in time for me to have some for lunch. Yum. The furniture guys arrived shortly after noon, so when they took the old mattress out, I vacuummed all under the bed. I have several storage boxes under there, so it's hard to clean very well.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 07:11 PM

This afternoon I went head-first into the office closet and evicted a bunch of papers I'll never use again. Notes from ancient college courses I'll never review, back copies of articles I published that I have way too many copies of. Many pounds of paper will go out in a few minutes. I'll drive over to the recycle drop off and throw it into the the bin. This is the result of some personal agitation--at work there is a shift on campus to "brand" our publications and it sounds like the PR office is going to try to muscle in and start writing library stuff. But that's what I do! My job description is "administrative assistant" because they really didn't give it much thought when they hired me 12 years ago as the first one to do this job for the library. I coordinate the publications in the library and do a lot of web design and PR stuff and now design publications. I need my job description to say that. I don't want to be dismissed by those folks in the other office. Grrrr! They've been talking about changing the title, looking at the job description, for a long time. But they need to go ahead and do it now! (I also need the pay that goes along with the title!)

So! I'm feeling antsy. Time to clear out the baggage and feel a little better, don't you think?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 10:08 AM

I have a large paper grocery bag fully crammed full of some of those back copies of magazines, of old class notes, etc. And I emptied a plastic milk crate and will use it for newspapers and cardboard and such also. I'll drive these by the recycle center this morning. It cleared up a nice chunk of shelf space. That closet has a number of things on the floor, so later on today I'll sort that stuff, put the light things up high, and see if I can empty the floor. And I'll sort out the work stuff one thing at a time. A good night's sleep makes it look a little less complicated.

Rain due today, so I'll work on the garden first. Good thing we have Bobert contributing on the gardening thread! He confirmed something a friend here told me about tomatoes, so I'll swap out the ones that got singed by cold with some fresh ones from the nursery.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 11:32 AM

Second thought on the newspapers: I have some more possible no-till areas in the yard, so I'll hold onto the regular newspaper sections. I'll get rid of the funky sized ads.

Bread is in the machine, laundry is sorted. Shopping list prepared.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 12:45 PM

I'm off to Portland for a couple of days; got one bagful of books to take to the used bookstore, and a few review copies to set out for the kids to take at work. (Not only is it unethical to sell them, but if I do I have to also claim them as income.)

State supervisor coming in May, so we have all been given the mandate to clean up our areas.

Haven't gotten back to the file cabinet; it's too daunting anytime except the weekend.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 01:05 PM

MAG, you're all set with the skills for cleaning your area at work. As a fully-engaged member of this Mudcat De-Clutter Guild, it'll be a breeze.

I just looked up my washing machine on that nifty online repair site. This is my washer (more or less--it's the inside of a GE top load washer). The transmission, from this site, costs $172.45 before the repairman's markup or labor time or service call charge. Since my machine, seven years ago, cost about $275 from the scratch and dent place, I think I'd be paying way more than the machine is worth to fix it, and could end up with a newer machine for the same output. I guess this will go the way of so many appliances, out to the curb where someone who has the parts, either from another broken GE washer, or has a parts place and doesn't pay markup, will pick it up and repair and resell it. I suppose I should stick the owners manual inside the machine when I take it out to the curb.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 04:48 PM

I did a lot of research on the models available now. My machine has a plastic tub and isn't energy star, but it has a lot of other features that don't come on the low-end machines. I took a power nap and let the gray matter do the math. A new one getting close to the features on this one would begin at $800. Then I got up and called Sears. Their options are to pay for the service call ($65) or buy the extended warranty ($219). Having seen the price of the transmission or the clutch on this thing, I figure the extended warranty is a bargain. They'll be over on Wednesday afternoon next week to work on it. I did remove the front to see how easy it is to reach the parts--easy peasy.

I should have scheduled the refridgerator at the same time. I suppose I'd end up paying an extended warranty on that also. I'll think about it. Same service call, two repairs.

Now to the rest of my chores.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 07:16 PM

Hi, folks. I'm looking for ideas on what to do with a lifetime's worth of recipes, most clipped from magazines & some received from friends. Right now, I have an accordian file (labelled by category, like "vegetables", etc.) that is about 18" deep. I also have 2 large envelopes in the kitchen (one for main dishes & one for desserts), which are more recent collections. If I started now, and cooked/baked non-stop for the rest of my life, I'd still never make everything. But I hate to throw them out, because maybe some day I'll need that very beet recipe. And this doesn't even include all of the cookbooks.... I'm paralyzed. Any suggestions???

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 07:24 PM

Throw them out; then buy yourself a CD with literally thousands of recipes, easily categorised and searched. I bought one years ago at KMart for under ten bucks. Heck, there may even be your fv. cookbook available in that format now.

If there are some favs. you've used, you could keep them organised, but the rest ought to go.:-) (Sez she who has no such thing as a recipe box.:-)


SRS...you go for that new job title and description and don't let them get away without it!!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Apr 09 - 12:59 AM

No, don't throw them out--make a special place for them!

These were some of my mother's cookbooks that I just couldn't let go of. And she had boxes of recipes. It took me a while, but I finally decided to put a bookcase (one of those baker's racks) in the kitchen for various things, including these books and files.

It turns out that they're great conversation starters. Amazing how people will spot those, open them, and start reading out loud and reminiscing about recipes their parents used to make.

They're contained, but they're still there. My recipes are in this other cupboard.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Apr 09 - 08:42 AM

If you have a scanner, then combine the two ideas. All those pieces of paper, scan them or transcribe them onto a disk. Then, if you need to use it or share, you can print out a clean copy.

I'm terrible for throwing books away - can't bear to... but my recipe shelf is so full it fell down a while ago! I find I use a couple of books more than others so if that's what you find, keep them in the kitchen and put the others somewhere else, because they're always useful to have. If I had a bigger kitchen, I'd have a bigger bookshelf because as it stands at the moment, the one shelf isn't enough... especially when I look and see I have 7 books of chocolate recipes alone....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Apr 09 - 10:48 AM

Our physical home study is coming up FAST! We have all the paperwork in, physicals are done, interview has been held, classes completed and this is the final stage of the adoption before the baby comes. They are looking for a home that is clean and safe for baby. Excellent. Our house has been painted (by me) and construction has been ongoing since January. I made new curtains for the kitchen this week and in about 10 minutes I'll be hanging the new bathroom curtains as well (to get rid of the blinds and the cords that go with them....and really, the curtains look much more homey to me!) Today we are working as a team to install baby safety devices. We will never again be able to open the cupboards, drawers and doors again!!! And want to plug in something new? Get the band-aids out people because those outlet safety plugs are a bitch to get out! Maybe it will come with practice but for now, I say, do we REALLY need to plug that in? LOL
    I will be glad when the physical study is over. It's been good for our house & for us too but the pressure brings about a decent amount of stress.
   
Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Apr 09 - 12:44 PM

Have you done the hands and knees exam? One of the things recommended when we were baby-proofing for our first was to literally get down on the floor and look up. Amazing how many sharp edges under furniture--bolts, stables, edges, things you want to smooth, file, or rearrange. Bottoms of tables, chairs, coffee tables, regular tables, they're all part of the landscape of a toddler.

We'll have to work a little harder to keep this thread from falling off of the page because Liz is headed to New Zealand for a couple of weeks. Unless she starts doing a little de-cluttering at her Mum's house. :)

It's a rainy easter here, kind of a cloudy sleepy day. There has been a little too much chocolate in the diet lately, so I need to make a point of eating healthy and I should probably check in on the accountability thread. On the de-cluttering topic, I have been sorting through old files. I don't want to toss the old work history stuff, those are interesting reminders, but I have gotten rid of a lot of early attempts at freelance writing. I'll never use those articles again, I don't need those rejection letters. It can all go in the recycle bin.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Apr 09 - 01:03 PM

When the baby is getting close to crawling age, I'll have to do that test!!! Thanks!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Apr 09 - 01:49 PM

It's a revelation, crawling around like that. To see how your furniture is built, if nothing else!

I've gotten rid of some old cardboard and postal envelopes and old non-music stuff that was in files of my Dad's, compressing two boxes of files into one. His stuff was in drawers and boxes when I found it, and when I moved it I put it in boxes that were available. I'm still not organizing by subject matter, just by size (letter or legal, etc.) but at least it is neater. The result is a free shelf in my office.

It's a sad day to be looking this over, because one of the people who was most interested in these files has died, John Ross. Now one wonders what will become of his files? Hopefully he had the foresight to park his documents at the folklore society where they are accessible to all interested parties.

I'll go compress some more boxes. You know those software boxes that if you keep them you end up getting a rebate for some odd little flap or decal they want you to trim off and send with the new receipt? I have quite a few. I think I'll dump the stuff in the boxes I never use and find a place to stash them. I don't use the CD stomper thing, for example, that came with Nero 6. I don't bother to design labels, I write on them with a sharpie. I don't generally read the books, there is a ReadMe file in the program. Why am I keeping all of this STUFF? :)

It's a rainy afternoon, no gardening, but maybe when I finish in here I'll repot a few of my African violets. They're in pretty desperate shape. I could even put a couple in this room, in bright indirect light. They might start looking a little better.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Apr 09 - 06:31 PM

The sun's out now, but I'm still working in the office. I threw out several old computer books and about 8 inches of paper files from a chapter for a textbook I wrote a few years ago. I've repacked some things. My shelves are more compact, the floor doesn't have as much (it was neatly stacked, but it was on the floor). I would love it if I could get far enough along it this this afternoon that I could really make this room shine.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: jacqui.c
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 08:27 AM

Over the past couple of weeks I have had the urge to start making sense of my crochet stuff and wardrobe.

I rearranged the craft shelves in my bedroom/workroom so that all the craft books are easier to find and have a pile of books that will, for the moment, go down to the cellar, as there may be a use for them in the next year or so. I sorted out the bins of yarn down in the cellar so that I can access the yarn I want more easily. While I was doing that I came across a couple of bins of clothes that went down there when I put on weight. Pulled them out to try on and can get into about half of them again. There were also quite a lot that I am never going to wear again.

As a result, over the past few days, I have gone through my wardrobe and drawers and pulled out stuff that was either too big or that I won't wear again and now have three large containers of clothes to get rid of. I'm checking out the local homeless shelters to see if they can use them - our local thrift stores seem to have gone a bit upmarket and pricey. I now have my wardrobe organised into winter/summer clothing and the drawers are all neat and tidy. How long that lasts? We'll see.

Now I'm looking at a chest of drawers that I call 'last resort'. All those things that I want to keep but which don't have a specified place. That may take a little longer to do.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 10:35 AM

100.

Anyway, didn't do much yesterday-- it being Easter & all-- but I did spend some time looking thru another bag of recipes that I found in the basement. I don't know where they've all come from-- maybe they breed while I'm not looking. Threw away about 20%. Some actually seem to merit keeping, & might even make some of them, esp. the veggie dishes.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 10:50 AM

Good work, Jacqui! And I applaud the idea of leaving craft books in the cellar. It gives Kendall something to do if he's in the dog house down there! ;-D

I forgot to go buy 1/2 price Cadbury mini eggs for my son. I'll make a run at lunch. I did recycle a box of "baggage"--the old papers and articles from classwork that I won't use again. The office is disarranged because I haven't figured out where everything will go yet, but it will be off of the floor and the storage shelves in the closet are more orderly.

I found a Washington State recipe book mixed in amongst the music books so I've tucked it into the shelves in the kitchen. It is old, and was a library book, the cards were still in the pocket. I suspect this was a library discard. It hadn't been checked out by anyone I knew (the last entry is the giveaway!)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 01:23 PM

The physical home study was today and we passed with flying colors!!! HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are officially approved while our wee one continues to grow!! YES!!!! YES!!!! YES!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: jacqui.c
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 01:49 PM

I just contacted a homeless shelter in Portland who would be happy to take the clothes that are going. That will be a job for tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 03:19 PM

Took a little afternoon "vacation" today, and went to visit the Conservatory on Belle Isle. Every year at Easter, they set up a big display of lilies and other spring flowers. Took along my old SLR camera and got some good (I hope) pictures. Nice thing about flowers is they'll pose for hours without complaint.

Brought along a lunch and ate by the riverside, but in the car 'cause it was a little too cold & windy to sit outside. My magnolia tree is just about ready to blossom. Eleven months out of the year, it's a nuisance, but when it blooms, it's spectacular.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maeve
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 03:25 PM

Congratulations, Michelle. You have worked hard, and with so much joy- I am happy for you.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 04:43 PM

:) Thanks Maeve!!!!!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 10:47 PM

Congrats, Michelle! The wee one will keep you very busy, but you know that.

Many blessings on you all.

I just got home from Portland, and ran around yanking some dandelions before it got dark. Gotta get 'em before the yellow turns white.

I was in Portland (OR, USA) for a sleep study. They changed the mask on my C-PAP which is supposed to help my insomnia. Here's hoping. It may help me deal with the stress at work better, and the Doc tells me that poor sleep raises blood sugar! In the years I've been getting treated for type 2 diabetes, no one has EVER mentioned this.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 10:04 AM

Congratulations, Michelle! When you drop out of sight we'll know you have the tot in hand and are fully engaged. For a while at least!

I now have three empty shelves in the book cases in my office, and about half of a long shelf on the adjacent wall, under all of my sound equipment and a lot of tapes and CDs. I'll make that a space for over-size books and binders. I've moved out stuff from the closet, and I'm trying to figure out the best way to distribute the things I use in my office so those shelves are put to good use. I found a boxed side tray in the closet with notes and a letter saying "thank you for participating in our career day" from a high school in Central Texas that my ex visited in 1988.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 10:30 PM

The washer gets fixed tomorrow afternoon. That will be a nice shift back to the normal, to have it back in operation.

Stuff is still sitting around in my office, but each time I find some logical thing to set on a shelf or arrange in a new place, the rest of it looks a little more professional, more efficient. If I can work out a way to fill in the broken tile on the floor in my desk area, I'd like to turn my computer desk around again.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maeve
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 10:35 PM

Decluttered one blue cast. Replaced it with a wrist brace and upcoming physical therapy.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 10:39 PM

Good for you, maeve!!

Looking at thing realistically, I think I will have to put a lot on the back burner until next Fall when Morgan starts kindergarten. With him here almost full time, at least several hours of each day and the small size of our house plus lack of storage, it is increasingly frustrating to try to get anything really taken care of. I am okay with this...giving myself permission to take time off has made me feel better about it.

By next week, I may change my mind...who knows? I've been battling a cold which moved into the realm of needing antibiotics, started today, so maybe it's just my not feeling the best.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 12:14 AM

Good for you, Maeve. Just don't try to do too much too soon. Kat, I hope you feel better, too.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 12:23 AM

Good for you, maeve! Now take it easy, don't overdo.

Kat, if you're catching something like a cold you need to remind yourself not to make any important decisions. It's like coming off of anesthesia--your brain isn't it's old reliable self. It seems to me that maybe you need to look around for some baby steps to tide you over for a while. Tiny, incremental improvements you can make and maintain. Better than just letting the place go. Or at least, make a compact with Morgan to keep it at least as organized as it is now around the house, to not backslide. Can you imagine something like that working?

I'm willing to move furniture in here, but I think I'd be wise to wait until morning when I'm fresh and when I won't be starting something that I have to quit and go to bed soon. I don't want to stay up all night moving books, boxes, and computer furniture, but once I get started I don't want to quit till I finish.

So, has any of the rest of you been blown away by this middle-aged Cinderella story of Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent? The song is beautiful, but you need to watch the expressions of the judges and the audience. Priceless, and inspiring.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 11:55 AM

Thanks, Maryanne and Maggie.

Maggie, yes, we will at least keep up what we've already done and maybe I will find some baby steps. Today, I rest some more, in fact the rest of this week, as Morgan is spending the rest of it at his old preschool so I don't have to worry about watching him. My dau. surprised me with that this morning when I called her to say I couldn't do today. It's a big deal that she took that step and I really appreciate it. If it's not pneumonia, for which I had a shot, it's darn close to it. Nebuliser and drugs...they do me good...sometimes!:-)

Thanks, my friends.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 02:57 PM

Thanks for the link, Maggie. I finally sat down and watched it, altho it seemed like forever to load it. What a victory for the over-forty crowd!

M

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 06:44 PM

There are any number of types of pneumonia, aren't there? Take care of yourself. I've had otherwise-healthy co-workers end up with it and miss a month of work. It's nothing to fool with.

The office has a different layout now. Not finished, but much improved space-wise. I have evicted more paper and have come across some works I need to file differently.

My washer needs to be replaced. Last week I paid for the extended warranty ($230) and it covers up to $500 in work. Today I learned the actual work and parts would come out $670, because it has two problems, the transmission has been leaking and when it got low enough it killed the clutch (on the motor, one unit, so motor and transmission need replacing.) I could pay the $170 extra and fix this, or they'll give me up to $500 on a new Sears washer, and I pay the difference if the one I want is more expensive. They'll haul this one away, donate it to a program where people fix them (they donate the parts) and the washer is given to someone who really needs it. I guess I can live with that!

I'll head over to the mall in a while and take a look.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 01:19 AM

I've now looked, there are two or three that would suit my needs and pocketbook. One is almost the same as the washer I have now, and though this one has failed, I still like the layout. There are actually two similar to mine, and one has one of the more advanced agitators, a smaller mound in the center, not the tall one. There is one that would do almost the same as my current machine and would come out about free after the 10% off of a current sale.

Office is still improving. Running cords in logical places, figuring out what fits where. Power strips galore in this room.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 12:59 AM

Almost fell off the page. But I don't have much to report. Still washer shopping.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 01:35 PM

We finally got some nice warm weather, so I've been out enjoying it. Nothing to report here, either.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 02:20 PM

It will be great when you do get the new washer, Maggie. It's so nice when you realise you don't have to go through so much just to get a load done.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 04:01 PM

Decluttered my bank account.... decluttered the shelf - it had a chocolate rabbit on it. burp.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 05:06 PM

This morning I went by the grocery store where the Cadbury dark chocolate eggs are on sale and bought a whole box of the little packages. I've put them in the freezer to enjoy over time. They weren't cheap, even on sale, but they are so very very good!

Thunder storms today, maybe tomorrow. Won't be much outdoors work, so I'll keep up the momentum in the office. Still waiting on Sears to let me know when I can go ahead and get the washer.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Joe_F
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 08:32 PM

Myself, I would rather make a queen sleep.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 08:41 PM

Ah, you can always tell when the weekend rolls around. This thread gets more active.

I yanked weeds for awhile when I got home, until I had a bucketful. Then my grass allergy kicked in and I'm inside.

Sunday goals: get another drawer of that #$%^& file cabinet cleared out. Dig any visible berry brambles out of the backyard. Clear off the patio to the point where I can sit and enjoy my hyacinths before they are all gone. Clean out the car in anticipation of having actual passengers.

Just making the list makes me tired.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Apr 09 - 11:11 AM

Still no word from Sears, so I'll be taking a couple of loads to the laundromat.

The office is looking better all the time. I decided to put like-things together on the shelves where all of the music is, and that is an improvement over the previous jumble of cassettes, CDs, recording devices, etc. I moved the office armchair into the hall when I started on this room. The only one use uses it is the cat, and he's complaining that he's not in here with me, so I expect I'll move it back later today.

It's a drizzly day, so garden stuff will wait. Bread is in the machine, and the dishwasher (usually used only for draining clean dishes) is washing through a cycle to clear out standing water.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Apr 09 - 02:38 PM

It's still too squishy out there to mow, but I did go scoop the dog poop and pull a bunch of tall thistles and dandelion relations. Some tall itchy composite like a thistle but with yellow flowers instead. Anyway, the pile is higher on the compost and the lawn, while it needs mowing, doesn't look quite so wild.

The dogs need a walk. They've been cooped up too much with the rain and are like a couple of cranky kids this afternoon. The bread is baking right now, so we'll wait until it's cooling. The house will smell so welcoming when we return!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 18 Apr 09 - 05:10 PM

Spent most of the day running errands. Weather couldn't be better, so I was great to be out. Also great to be able to open all the doors and windows, and let the place breathe.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 19 Apr 09 - 01:16 PM

OK, here it is Sunday, a beautiful day, and I have the whole day ahead of me.

Here I go outside; wish me luck against the weed grass, dandelions, berry brambles, etc.

Not to mention my own inclination toward indolence.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Alice
Date: 19 Apr 09 - 01:22 PM

Once a year our city has an environmentally safe collection of old electronics, mostly computers and televisions.
Yesterday, I was able to clear out 3 old dead monitors, two small b&w tvs, a non-functioning turntable and broken tape deck.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Apr 09 - 03:07 PM

Today Home Depot is giving away free light bulbs, the curly type. One per family, I think. Or per trip in? Anyway, today is the day.

I'm clearing work off of my desk, haven't been able to do much more. I've been tired the last few days, I suspect allergies are the culprit.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 20 Apr 09 - 04:21 PM

Hope you got your bulb(s), Maggie.

One bag of pants to the women's center.

Several buckets of weed stuff into the garbage.

Just after lunch and I'm out of steam.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Apr 09 - 06:08 PM

I didn't drive over just to pick up one lightbulb.

Sears called this afternoon with my code for my washer. Yes! Another trip to Sears tonight. I have 90 days to use the code. Heck, they're luck if I wait 90 minutes. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Apr 09 - 10:37 PM

The strange washer saga continues.

I called the saleswoman I spoke with before, figuring she'd appreciate the commission, and she met us at the store this evening. I narrowed it down and decided on the Kenmore Elite Oasis, #02628032. I'd already paid $230 for the warranty that was giving me a $500 credit toward a new machine. After $160 off for the sale and an extra 5% off for the energy star sale (today only, I guess it's close to Earth Day) that almost cancelled out the tax, the ringing up added about $75 for delivery and to pick up the old one. I had her drop those off--I drive a pickup, and I just put the old one at the curb. Someone will grab that overnight or in the morning.

The new one is sitting in its box in the hall kind of "resting up" from the sideways trip in the pickup (all of about 5 miles). The new one cost me an additional $117 over the cost of the warranty. Not bad--Sears never has sales that would let me buy a $800 machine for $347.

They had another good machine on sale that I could have gotten right at the $500 credit amount, but it had a porcelain tub. If this one hadn't been such a good value I'd have gotten the Kenmore 800.

I'm going to put the new washer on the other side of the relatively slim laundry room this time, so I can reach the other outlet on the wall plug if I need to. I got tired of leaning over the back of the old washer and groping around to find it. I've cleaned up several ounces of dirt, cat hair, dirt, cat litter, dirt, and oddball things like twist ties (probably used as cat toys) from under where the washer used to sit.

It is so nice to know I can finally do laundry here again. I don't know how maeve (was it you?) went for so long without a washer. They are one of the great inventions of the Western World.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 21 Apr 09 - 01:36 PM

As if 3 days of rain isn't enough, we've got snow mixing in. Alright, already! At least the buds on my magnolia tree are still tight enough that there's no harm done to the flowers. I went out to lunch with some friends from my old job. Great so see them, but tough to hear that there are still job cuts going on. Stopped at the garden center and bought some small herb plants (basil, rosemary, oregano & tarragon). It's still too cold overnight to put them outside, but I'll put them in a planter box on the front porch for a while until it's safe.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maeve
Date: 21 Apr 09 - 03:37 PM

Congratulations, Maggie. What a delight to have a new machine.

Yes, I have gone without a washer for several years. Still am, 'cause I can't do the work required to have a place for the nice one we were given at Christmas. I find a sink plunger works fairly well until I have the use of my arm back.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Apr 09 - 11:04 PM

Oy. What a challenge, maeve! How is the arm doing, anyway?

I'm looking around the house--there is a lot to do, this washer business let stuff creep up on me. I have a huge box underfoot (I'm saving it for the next door neighbors for the grandkids. They're out of town till May 4, so I'll have to stash it in the garage, I guess). I have lots of eBay stuff to address. The sun room is a mess.

Maybe we need to give ourselves a break, since it is into gardening season. I know I'm not the only one putting in beds and getting set for all of that. How about the next time around I give us a little more leeway on the time--Spring into Summer, 2009 declutter--something like that, and let it run for a couple of months at least. We can post things as we actually start and/or finish them, and not feel such pressure to perform. It will get old (probably has already) if we don't make it more interesting or less absorbing.

There is a load of stuff in washing, I'm getting the hang of how this thing works. My old washer was at the curb still around lunchtime, when I left for the office, but when I got home at 5pm it was gone. Good! Someone else is moving it along the food chain.

Though my sun room is a mess, my office is still looking much better, and I think I'll keep tweaking in here for a while. I decided to see what I could do about some uniformity--CDs all lined up on one shelf, cassettes lined up on a couple of other shelves. (Most of the CDs are in the front room, not in here.) Just giving a pleasing order to the shelves makes a world of difference in how it feels when I walk in the room.

If, in the context of busy lives, each of us had one large (but not insurmountable) project we'd like to work on over the next few weeks, what would each of you choose? For me, I think I need to go back to the sun room, and get the eBay back on a regular basis. That room also feeds into a lot of my gardening activities, but right now it's difficult to use it for much of anything.

Those who are in recovery mode, keep it simple and elegant. Something you'll use and enjoy looking at. Arrange your sock drawer, iron and arrange your hankies. Hang your t-shirts up in the closet according to color. Something that looks good and is nice to look at.

Stay well, or get well, all, and let's have a great late spring!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 11:28 AM

My big project would/will be the kitchen. It really needs a good cleaning from top to bottom. I'll keep you posted.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 11:31 AM

Right now, that sounds like a good plan, Maggie...I may feel differently when I get up and go again, but for now...I want to get my CDs alphabetised in the changer and the last of them loaded up in it.:-) It's a sit-down job, so that's good.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 01:58 PM

Plunged into the office closet, in a quickie de-clutter, to see what I would find on the floor. A plastic milk crate was full of article files, speculative stuff. Some are really old and can go, some can move to "maybe I'll write it" stack. All need to be in one place. I'll see if I can empty this crate--I have another file box started for potential articles. I seem to have a lot of these sturdy plastic milk crates coming to light. I'll have to stack them on their side and let them serve as an impromptu bookshelf or something. I'll get rid of the cheap boxes, but not these good ones! :)

I found a bunch more maps I'll add to what I donated to the library last year. If I were writing an article now I'd update all of these, so the best home for these, if not the recycle bin, is in a place where they savor the information contained on old maps!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 02:44 PM

Those old maps can be quite useful when someone is working on an historical novel, etc. I found some invaluable ones last fall when working on one set in my ancestors' time in early Colorado.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 03:08 PM

Right now these are out of date, not truly old. But being at the library means that when a historical writer gets started at some future date, they'll be handy!

It's such a lovely day outside. Such a shame to be stuck indoors working.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: GUEST,MAG
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 04:26 PM

Got rid of a small garbage can of red rock (lava rock) on Freecycle today.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 05:33 PM

That lava rock is a great soil amendment when it's ground up.

It's amazing how much old paper you can discard when you're doing anything other than try to compose an article that just won't come together. More old stuff is in the recycle bin.

The wading pool is out for the first time this spring for the dogs. The Am. Staff terrier loves to lie down in it for a couple of minutes to cool off. The catahoula will only approach it for a drink.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maeve
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 09:23 PM

The arm continues to heal thanks, Maggie. Therapy has begun and is quite effective. Every task I try using the injured arm hurts, so I'm selective about when I use it. No "heavy" tasks.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 11:20 PM

Out walking the dogs this evening I passed a neighbor, seated in a plastic chair working her way along her hedge with a pair of hand trimmers. She apparently doesn't walk well, and her husband is in the early stages of dementia. She trims and he'll come out and sweep up the leaves. I think I'll be walking up there to see if she needs any help with anything. We'll have to agree to not discuss politics--she had the McCain yard sign, I the Obama. :)

Someone will have to tell me what I did with my vases back when I was working on that cupboard. I was a little too diligent (or my new location wasn't as obvious as I thought) and now I can't find them. The dog leash snapped off a big un-bloomed iris this evening, and I thought I'd see if I could get the flowers to bloom in the house. The yard has a gazillion of them, but you hate to lose them when they're such big happy and charismatic flowers!

Today we turned on the air conditioning. It's a good thing that I have the clothes line out back, because it really does help offset the electric bill. (I say this knowing full well that Kat is probably buried still from that last snow storm. . . )

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 07:11 AM

With the home study complete, I have been taking the last few days off (even went away for a yoga retreat). I'm home now and have enjoyed puttering along at my own speed. Today my mission is to clean out this big basket and box of all our paper stuff and get is organized a bit more so I can find things quickly when I need them. To this end, I got myself a filing cabinet, hanging files, attached some wheels and I'm ready to sort, organize and toss.
    If I have any energy or desire left after that, I'm hoping to work in my office, a long rectangular room where I hope to set aside 4 or 5 feet to set up a meditation space for myself.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 10:02 AM

"box all of our paper stuff" -- that's a mouthful! What kind of paper stuff? Bills, deeds, warranties, tax returns, or clippings, coupons, magazines, etc? Some of it you have to file carefully, other types you feel (after a while) like you want to mulch it all somewhere, the heck with what goodies are in the stack. If you don't remember what it is now, you won't miss it. (I wish I could get myself to actually practice this revolutionary cleaning idea!)

I don't meditate, per say, but I'm a writer, so I've perfected the "stare out of the window" approach to clearing my mind and trying to get on with what it is I'm suppose to be doing. ;-D

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 03:14 PM

Sounds like your neighbour could use one of these, Maggie. I've been thinking about getting one.

Oh, and no snow here...we're in the Banana Belt of Colorado...hardly ever get snow and almost never when they have it on the eastern slope.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 05:15 PM

I cleaned the stovetop today, and picked up a lot of stuff that was laying around the livingroom floor. At least the place looks a little tidier.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 08:20 PM

Well the person who said she wanted the red rock has not picked it up yet.

Someone else wants the 2-part bird bath which my cats keep knocking over. (not fair to attract birds anymore.)

I don't have any way to crush the red rock; when I first moved in I raked it out of a bed the previous owner had rocked over. not that it slowed down the weeds any. Now that plot doesn't get any sun, due to the growth of the neighbor's tree (not the tree hater); maybe I should rerock it over.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 10:40 AM

I wonder if you put a layer of rock down on the drive (is it concrete?), covered it with some cardboard, and drive over that spot. A few comings and goings to work, the grocery, whatever, and you might have some great lavasand for the flower beds!

I've started the spring cleaning that occurs when the air conditioner gets turned on. I have some blankets to wash, line dry, and pack away (I may fluff in the dryer also), and while I'm at it, it's a good time to mend the few with loose blanket binding. There are also some small rugs needing washing. I keep a small door-mat rug on a loveseat near the back door because the dogs occasionally hop up on the loveseat with wet feet. Last time that happened was when the old washer was on the fritz. The old trick of turning over the mat didn't work--I found muddy prints on the underside also! I'd already turned it once. :) The new machine isn't getting the elegant stuff to start out with, it's just picking up where the old one died.

I work late today, so I'll mow before I head over. It's nice to wake up on Saturday morning and have part of that heavy work for the weekend already finished. I'm going to a wildflower event in the afternoon, and I'll probably spend the morning digging and planting. The weather and the work week have conspired against me the last couple of weeks.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 12:26 PM

I went through the house this morning with a trash bag and picked up detritus from the past two weeks of no housework, blowing noses, using paper plates, etc. At least that looks a little better. I also broke down and asked our dau. to come over this weekend to help Rog with all of the cleaning we've neither one been able to do...dishes, floors, general scrubbing AND she said yes!:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 02:36 PM

Wow, Kat! That is impressive (that she said yes!)

Lawn is mowed and I disturbed a lot of fire ants and a few grasshoppers. Dogs didn't get any katydids yet, it's a little early in the season. The birds follow me as I mow, picking up bugs, and later on the dogs will watch the birds and chase them off when they start seeing katydids--apparently very tasty. To birds and dogs.

I love it--mowing the lawn, bringing in laundry from the line. It's the time of year when we can live outdoors a lot more.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 03:54 PM

Fire ants; ick. I still have scars on my legs from an encounter 20 years ago. They are NASTY.

My sympathy.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 11:51 PM

Unfortunately, we're all too used to them. Around here there are the fire ants--if you accidentally stand on a bed, it only takes a few seconds until they nail you. If you walk through tall grass the chiggers work more slowly, taking a few hours to appear as bright red welts (itch like hell) and if you're really unlucky you come into contact with the poison ivy. Three days later you're in itching hell with that stuff. And the slower it takes effect, the longer it torments you.

I have all three on the property. I'm careful out there.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 09 - 08:16 PM

Time to get some picking up done around here. I was outside all day. The garage could use some help, but so could the house. I think the house wins this evening. Time to pull the truck into the garage and call it a day on the gardening. It's really windy out, so after a while I was wearing a hat to keep my hair out of my face and had the chap stick out. No need for such preparation for house work!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 25 Apr 09 - 08:24 PM

OK, it's the start of my weekend and I need to do the ol' list, whether I follow it or not.

More bramble starts, natch.

I keep finding more quackgrass, and it is starting to go to seed already. (in addition to spreading underground. Hate the stuff.)

We need rain badly, and I'm going to have to water if it doesn't rain tonight; it does look promising. Water is going up again, natch, and although I try to plant mstly indigenous drough resistant stuff, I still have flowers and trees that need water.

More 2x clothing to bag up and give away.

More crap in the spare room to go through.

@#$%^ file cabinet still not gone through.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 09 - 09:26 PM

Okay. Reality check time. The Saturday night CBS mysteries are on. CSI: Miami has a murder in a big rich house. In this house there is not a speck of dust, and there is a pen on the floor. Clearly a clue.

Flash forward to a house in Fort Worth. A pen on the floor? Certainly. Probably several, if you poke around under things. Lots of other stuff also.

The thing about these programs that isn't real isn't the surreal photography and the swifty DNA and microscopic detecting, it's the clean houses.

Ha! Busted!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 12:10 AM

Hahaha! I like that!

Morgan came over for the first since Easter. SO, after a game or two of UNO, he helped me empty some trash; picked up a few things in the LR; and played on my computer while I went through a few pieces of paper on my desk. After two hours I had to send him home as I got fatigued easily, but it is a start. Tomorrow his mom will come help Rog with the floors and I may be well enough to do the dishes. I also did a load of wash this morning. I rode along to the grocery store, but wisely waited out in the car while Rog shopped. It was good to get out. Oh, and Morgan watered outside for me. I sure did miss him...he brings so much life to our home.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 12:13 AM

Cleared up the loveseat (again!) and have more clothes for the Goodwill and listing as IRS donations. I'll drop them off tomorrow. I've also moved a table from the window that will clear the view out to the patio and yard.

Harry Potter movies have been playing on the network television channel on the weekends, but I hate to wait for the commercials to finish, so I've put on the DVD. Chamber of Secrets this evening. I can fold a lot of laundry and pick up a lot of clutter during the duration of one of those movies! The laptop is in the livingroom and I can watch and browse between tidying inspirations.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 02:20 AM

Cross-posted with Kat. I'm sure Morgan loves those visits as much as you do.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 09:45 AM

Took 2 bags of books to the library used book sale. We had rain all afternoon & overnight, with lots of thunder & lightening. I'm just glad we still have power. Since I was pretty much stuck at home, I did manage to get the diningroom table cleared off and the laundry is caught up.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 02:14 PM

It looks like it will rain this afternoon, but so far it feels pretty good working out there. The clouds keep me from burning or getting too warm. I'm putting in this veggie bed in stages, and when I get to the end of this segment I'll shift gears and work on the garage some. It needs it. Then I can clear some of the sun room stuff out to the garage. It's that giant Chinese puzzle, still on display! One good thing I can do is sweep up the hay from the dogs' area and put it down as mulch in the new garden.

Meanwhile, bread is rising and I've pulled a few things out of the freezer for dinner. I have to draw it down steadily for two reasons: I want to have room for the garden stuff this year, and I want it empty enough that I can completely clear it out and defrost it before another season.

Oh, and I need to make that Goodwill run.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 05:18 PM

As the arrival date of our Wee One gets closer and closer, I keep emptying boxes of baby stuff. Today we assembled the stroller and installed the car seat! The Dr. says that baby will be here within 2 weeks if not sooner!!!! *HAPPY DANCE* :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 10:17 PM

Back on the air again!

Michelle, That time will drag and fly at the same time, I suspect!

My neighbors 2 doors up the street deserve kudos for the work they're doing on their back yard. There is a rather dysfunctional son (in and out of jail) who is a packrat extraordinaire. His mother has been making inroads every time he's out of the picture. There's a big pile of stuff bagged and boxed out at the curb for tomorrow's trash. The view of the back of their yard was so bad that the neighbors beyond them put up a sold fence to block the view. Prior to this we could see quite a way up along the creek. I'd love the view to look like something other than a junk yard. At one time it was very pretty and park-like.

The kitchen is cleaned up here and I put the big box for the neighbors is in the pickup camper shell, until they get home next weekend. It's in the way in the house (we'll cut a door and windows for the grandkids before I take it over).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 12:28 AM

[sigh] Editing and proof reading are always best done at the same time. :)

Life is so much easier with a washer back in the picture!

Dishes are finished, laundry is finished, dry, folded, put away.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 03:33 AM

Have helped my sister declutter some of her workboxes... don't tell Manitas but the results of the declutter are going to be in the post to us at home tomorrow!

Ssshhhhhhhhhh!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Penny S.
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 04:26 AM

Last week I intended to go to Dad's place to continue there, but had to deal with a bees' nest in the bathroom wall. I wish they wouldn't do that - it really goes against the grain to eradicate a threatened species, but I can't be doing with not using the loo.

Today, I had booked my time to go down again, but last night a small dark thing scuttled out of my bedroom and across the landing, and disappeared. I'm having to devote the day to checking all of upstairs, and then down, and getting humane traps and one of those electronic gizmos to ensure the little thing goes somewhere else. I can't work out where it has gone, nor yet where it has been - no droppings, no shredded materials, except a tiny quantity in the seat of a folding stool in the spare bedroom. I'm getting everything off the floor, all the boxes ready for moving and so on, and those full of cans and pouches of food ready for when I don't go out... a bit of a panic purchaser I've been over the weekend. And I was running down all the food stocks for ease of moving.

I know that mice can squeeze through anywhere a pencil can go, but this one squeezed through nowhere - I blocked all the holes in the plasterwork last time, when I found bite marks in the soap in the airing cupboard, and droppings in the linens. That one got in through the loft - though how it got up to the third storey I don't know. And I really don't want to have to get into the loft, in case there are still bees up there!

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 12:38 PM

Penny,

The way we visualize houses and the way mice experience them are vastly different. Cavities for insulation, spaces between studs, all of those are wide open corridors to small creatures.

Rain rain rain today. I delayed turning on the computer because right after getting home from dropping my son at school the heavens opened with a very noisy thunderstorm. My work in the yard will be curtailed this week, we're due wet weather much of the next few days.

Guess that means I need to get moving in the house. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 02:15 PM

day off; one more bucketful of weeds in between errands.

We may actually get rain this afternoon, so that may be it outside for me, today, also.

Oh; one more bag of charity stuff done; not dropped off yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 02:23 PM

Ah-Ha! There is another place online where people are talking de-cluttering. I found a reference to it in the first in a series on DIY house cleaning in the local paper (here). Someone called the Fly Lady. It's a bit odd, kind of all over the place, but I've posted the link so you can take a look.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 03:04 PM

Ha! I was going to put in a link, but the Search isn't working. I'd forgotten about the Fly Lady. Spaw and Karenspaw discovered her several years ago and were faithfully trying to follow her email suggestions. I tried it for a few weeks but gave up...it just wasn't doable at the time. I remember him being really excited about things like how to really get a stainless steel sink clean and other neat tips ideas. Not sure it lasted too long for them, either, but I do seem to remember they thought there were some good ideas, etc.

Daughter never showed up, yesterday. By the time they were done with their own house and grocery shopping, etc. I could tell she wasn't enthused and she's miserable to be around then, so I told her we'd pass. Rog and I got all of the laundry put away and I went to bed feeling as though we'd started our reclamation project.:-)

This morning I did the dishes immediately after eating breakfast, when I knew I'd have the energy. I took it slow and got them done. Feels good.

Had Morgan for a couple of hours this a.m., then he went off to school. Now for some rest.:-)

Michelle, you must be so excited!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 05:30 PM

I am SO excited!!!! Today I returned all the pink things I had purchased 2 months ago as this baby is definitely a boy!!! Our adoption agent had told us to hold onto both the boy and girl items until we had a definitive answer. It's nice to have that stuff out of the nursery!!!!! I was very proud of myself for staying organized and on top of all this as I had receipts for everything (excluding gifts) which means I got cash back instead of gift cards. YAY!! Also, the diaper bag is packed and in the car as are a list of phone numbers of people to call, etc. Toiletries are in the car too for an overnight or more if needed. Tonight...if it cools off, I'll be packing a few outfits for us too. Man. Excited isn't even the word!!!! The birth mother has asked me to be in the delivery room with her. I am beyond honored.

Michelle who jumps every time the phone rings!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 05:38 PM

OK, all you Gurus of De clutter....HOW do you get a MAN to sort his clothes and get RID of stuff? He has so many clothes that it won't all fit in his closet and dresser.

He has BAGS of stuff that he never wears, can't wear, etc.....Yes, I'm 'tempted' to do it myself...but that could cause WAR......HELP!

I'm TIRED of his dressing table, kitchen table, every flat surface in the house covered with HIS CLOTHES!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 06:21 PM

Sorch,

Do you do his laundry? I have asked RidgePlucker to go through his socks many times...some have holes and just need to go. The thing is, he works a lot and is busy. So as the offending socks come up in the wash, I just toss them. If he has noticed, he hasn't said a word. I've done the same thing with t-shirts.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 07:20 PM

On the pretense that you're going to paint the room and the closet, make him empty out EVERYTHING. While it's out, organize it and make him try it all on before it goes back. What do you want to bet he'll get real tired of looking at it after a while and keep just the best stuff?

My sunburn has settled into a real uncomfortable singe on the back of my neck. I used some Noxema and that helped for a while, but I have to remember from now on to get out my bandanna to wear draped behind my ballcap. I thought my broad brim would be enough the other day when I was in the park, but it wasn't. Anyway, this has been just annoying enough that I've been out of sorts today.

Meanwhile, I just distracted myself big time. All it takes is something like news of new mummies found in Egypt (this link to Google News) and a current version of Google Earth and you can be off to the deserts of Egypt in the click of a mouse. Finding the different ancient pyramids in the Fayoum Oasis area (several spellings) and ancient cities--oy! One can easily get lost there. AT LEAST I didn't bring home any souvenirs to have to find someplace to store! To find this one, you need to ask Google Earth to take you to Illahun, Egypt. Fayoum (the city) is to the west of this spot.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 08:31 PM

LOLOLOL....not that they aren't GOOD suggestions...but they won't work for ME. He doesn't mind piles,He keeps them everywhere!!!

HE does the painting....and I already DO that with socks and t shirts...it's the old 'dress' clothes, 'Western style' shirts in 2 sizes to small, 'leisure suits'...(remember those?) 'suits' that are too small....I can and DO get rid of the uniform stuff he can't wear anymore...but Leisure Suits?????

Size 32 shirts when he now wears size 40???? Aaarrggghhh. I may just end up doing it myself. And he has about a million t shirts that still fit....if I get rid of the wrong ones....SAVE ME!


And DON'T talk to me about the garage....which I'm forbidden to touch!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 09:00 PM

Okay. There's nothing else for it, Sorcha.

Compost them.

:)

I dropped off a couple of containers of recycling this evening, so I can get into the sun room a little more easily. We picked up gyros on the way home because I didn't feel like cooking, but I have dishes from today to do. No swine flu here, just "to-much-to-do" flu.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: MAG
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 09:03 PM

Well, actually, I am wearing stuff I packed awway 10 years ago ...

Maybe Ridgeplucker has intentions of using those again someday ...

We can all dream ...

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maire-aine
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 09:26 PM

Sorry, Sorcha, I've never had to deal with that much of a clothes overflow. If he's grown out of them, maybe he's just very sensitive to the extra weight, and he doesn't want to acknowledge the fact. Nothing will make him give them up, because it will be like admitting his weakness. Maybe you could box them up by size, and if he's able to lose weight and get back into any of them, you could get rid of the larger sizes as he shrinks. I didn't take control of my weight until the doctor accused me of being diabetic. I guess this is a thread creep from "accountability", but it's a theory.

In the meanwhile, I dug lilies of the valley out of my raspberry patch. Don't get me wrong-- I love lily of the valley-- but not with my berries. The berry plants are around the edge, so I planted some sunflower seeds in the center. There is a metal trellis overhead that I can tie them up.

Some months ago, I won a door prize at an antique show, which was a $50 gift certificate to a very nice Italian restaurant nearby. So tonight, my friend and I went out for dinner. Delicious, and I won't need to eat for the rest of the week.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Penny S.
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 05:25 AM

SRS, I had that eyeopener last time, suddenly realising how hollow the house was. But where this one disappeared was a brick wall, not plasterboard. I have spent £60 ish on one gizmo that generates a current variation round the cables into the cavities - it said I needed two, but it's in the kitchen, and the rest of the rooms and the landing each have a sonic ultrasound generator to repel them. I can't set traps at the moment because of going away.

Still no droppings.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: maeve
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 08:02 AM

Joy to you, Michelle.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 10:47 AM

Sticker shock this morning on my mortgage payment for next year--it went up significantly, primarily because last fall the county valued my house as going way up in value. Like I could actually get that much if I sold it today? Ha! Trouble is, much of this financial meltdown has happened after those statements went out and I wasn't paying attention to how much it would go up. Too late to protest now. Looks like Wells Fargo and the county have decided to absorb that latest "incentive" on their own, I didn't have to lift a finger to spend it.

I'm reaching a point again where I'm tired of stuff that is around that needs to be filed; it was too difficult to reach in and grab the file and papers I needed for this latest search. Other stuff was in the way. Old records need to be moved to the lower drawer (different mortgage company--I refinanced a couple of years ago), etc. Nearly killed myself tripping on an old pair of shoes in the way, plus other annoyances. I think it's mostly I'm irritated at myself for getting so sunburned over the weekend and my allergies are acting up, so I don't feel good and everything else seems set in place just to make things more difficult. Bleh!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 11:29 AM

I was going to say out here even when it's cloudy we have to be very careful about sunburn, but I thought maybe since you're at a lower altitude it wouldn't have been as much of a problem and also that you knew better.:-) (Sorry...I know it's not pleasant. Hope you have some aloe gel handy. It really does help, esp. if it's kept cooled in the frig.) Maybe your bod just wants you to rest for awhile?

MAG, that must feel so great...wearing clothes you'd packed away ten years ago! Congrats!

I have been able to do more housework today, including laundry. I think it is helping to stay ahead of the terrible munchies brought on by temporary meds. So far, my weight has stayed the same, at least. We'll see when I go to the doc tomorrow, but i am going to do a bit more today to compensate for eating. At least some of the cravings are for healthy things like carrots and strawberries. can't get enough of either one!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 09 - 12:29 PM

I was wearing a broad brimmed hat, that hot afternoon, but it was an accumulation from a couple of days that seems to have gotten me. Typically I wear a scarf over the back of my neck and this first major outing of the season it just didn't occur to me. My bad!

Easter nailed us in the chocolate category to push the weight issue over the top for me, but it has been a more sedentary winter in general. I've been making a point to eat healthier, and hope the gardening does it's usual weight-loss thing.

Typing today. Not particularly energetic, but necessary for the bottom line!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 06:30 PM

I visited a friend's house today and was thrilled to see the progress he has made in clearing out clutter and in general cleaning since his roommates moved out. This 50s bungalow looks like it has Frank Lloyd Wright touches. When I commented about that recently he said there are three or four houses in town of this type by this architect who had worked for Wright. His story is long and involved, but he is pushing his way through clutter, not all of his own making, to a light at the end of the tunnel. The kitchen and the front room looked wonderful. He has a great bar in the corner of the living room and is weeding out extra stuff, so I inherited a beautiful set of four Italian beer glasses. I love beer, but have only a couple of tall beer glasses, so these are a welcome addition. If not the same style, they serve the same purpose.

In my work here I know that when I bring in something new I need to DO SOMETHING WITH IT soon or it becomes more of the problem. So, as any de-clutterer knows, sometimes you have to start in another room to get a run at the task you want to work on. In this case, I'm moving some books to the shelves over my computer desk after removing some of the little standing around things (office supplies) that don't need to take up valuable shelf real estate. With books up there and removed to another partially empty shelf, I will be emptying a small wooden book case under my window to move into the kitchen. I have an idea for moving my cookbooks out of the kitchen queen (mine is white but is very similar in doors and drawers) so they're all in plain sight. The rest of my glassware is in the kitchen queen, the reason I'm making this move. After re-positioning a few pieces in the room I might make this bookcase work, and I might possibly finally move the upright freezer in there (it would make cooking much easier if the freezer was closer by).

All of this inspired by four beer glasses. But heck, whatever it takes to get things moving again!

Looks like rain so I'll walk the dogs and get them back before the heavens open. Another bit of de-cluttering I did today was to take the extra Cadbury dark chocolate easter egg packets to school for the students. If I eat all of those I won't be able to fit into my jeans. They were good, but they are too tempting, so they're out of here. That's one less container in the freezer (where else to you put chocolate when you hope it will be around for a while and eaten only occasionally, but you actually find yourself visiting it several times a day?)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 07:54 PM

Sounds like good plans, Maggie.

I have been doing a good job the past few days in keeping things picked up...paper plates left over from supper, mail which needs to be sorted and put away, laundry not just washed and dried, but also put away. All usual, smallish things, but keeping up with them helps the place to look neater even with all of the extra decluttering we need to do. Over the past two weeks it had all piled up.

I decluttered my mind a bit, today. Wrote a synopsis of my novel to send out to agents. Been thinking about it, writing it in my head, so it feels good to get it down on paper, so to speak.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 11:02 PM

Do you find that your best "writing" occurs in the shower, where you don't have pen and paper handy? That's always difficult--do you get out and write it down, or simply hope to remember. . .

The beer glasses fit in the cupboard without all of the moving, but I've been thinking about moving this freezer, so I've been shifting things and just took some measurements. Right now where it is in the kitchen it doesn't look great, but it is next to a plug and there is space. One of the casters has tilted, so I stuck a piece of wood under that corner to level it. The good thing is that with the freezer and an old video game (in a big MDF case) are out of the hall. When I first set up my pantry shelves they were in that spot, and I moved them back to that position--it is slim compared to the freezer, and the hall looks much better.

Meanwhile--I suspect that Fort Worth will be big news in the news tomorrow. The entire school district is shutting down for about 10 days because of the swine flu. We've had rain off and on for several days, a lot has been falling this evening. It kind of feels like a "when it rains, it pours" sort of news night. We live in the FWISD, but my son goes to the Crowley ISD, and they haven't had and instances of the flu. The Fort Worth schools that actually have the illness are on our side of town, so who knows what will happen.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 12:23 AM

"any" instances, not "and" instances, on that last paragraph.

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 12:38 AM

Yikes, keep the hands washed!

Subject: RE: BS: Clean-sweep April 2009 de-cluttering
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 01:42 AM

I started a new thread for the summer. Let's see how we do (and no swine flu!)

SRS