Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)

Subject: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 11:43 AM

Well here we are. A couple of years into the enterprise of clearing out our houses, and for some of us, the associated de-cluttering of our lives. My long-term goal is to have a nicer looking space and less stuff in it. I don't want my heirs to roll their eyes and roll up their sleeves and toss it all in a dumpster or sell it all for pennies on the dollar to an agent who handles messy estates. I'm well on my way to that goal.

From now until early autumn is a sort of triple witching hour for me. Without going into specifics, I am nearing the end of one source of income, and a few months after that, will finish paying on a loan. That results in a wash, but in the interim, there will be more programmed outflow than income, so I'm going to spend time this spring and summer bridging that gap with eBay and an austerity plan. This results in de-cluttering with a bottom line. More motivation.

I wish I hadn't pulled muscles in my back last weekend--everything I would like to do this week toward that end seems to be on hold, and I re-injured some this morning when I stupidly stretched and lifted a bag of leaves at my neighbor's house. Not very heavy, but enough to re-injure the same muscles. I need to start some basic exercises to stretch and strengthen the abdomen and lower back to avoid this again. I have an exercise tape that focuses on this in particular that I'll start using.

How is spring looking for the rest of you? Those who are moving, getting ready to sell, to rebuild, and to plant will no doubt have a lot to report, if you have the time to pause and report. I hope you will, I look forward to reading those. And for those who are moving incrementally as they continue to find balance and better health, I hope the energy of the longer and warmer days will help you in your work.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 11:44 AM

Here is the March 2010 thread.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 01:33 PM

And here, still talking to myself apparently, is my last gardening de-clutter spelled out in my blog: Garden injuries feature this time. Watch your back!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: mouldy
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 04:20 AM

I dug out a lot of rampant mint from half of a border yesterday. I'm debating whether or not to do the rest today.

Selby Game fair starts today, and I might go this morning before it gets too busy and boggy underfoot. It's a field sports/country pursuits type of thing with dogs doing flyball, birds of prey, show jumping etc. There are often nice food stands in the marquees...

I am still waiting to hear from the person I bought a table from on Ebay the other day. It's an 80 mile or so round trip to get it, and I am wanting to go pick it up!

Take care with your back, my girl!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 12:24 PM

Send us a link to the sale so we can see it!

My back is still sore--yesterday morning I reinjured it be impulsively reaching out to catch a very light bag that was falling off of my wheelbarrow. The sack was less than nothing, but here I am with a pillow jammed behind me in my computer chair, sucking down the motrin.

No luck on the schools (there is one last one to report, but since we don't have an email from them and can't get to the site to logon, I think that is a "no"), we'll be sending him to a Tier 1 state university instead. Not a bad outcome, all things considered! We did start very late and didn't have an array of test scores to choose from, etc. If he wants, he can apply to transfer to schools like that later. But on his own, if he wants. We know the ropes now, but it will be kid driven. I have retired from the field, and I even went to bed early last night to just read, not mull over the results. Part of my de-clutter this weekend will be to pack up all of that stuff and put it away in the small file we set up for it.

I'm just so bummed at this injured back. It makes everything more difficult until those muscles stop spasming any time I make an odd (or not so odd) move.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 04:58 PM

Shipped an eBay item just now, dropped off household recycling, and next I need to fold a couch-full of laundry. My son had the day off from school, but I didn't. (A woman at the post office just now remarked "I'm surprised they're open today." My answer: "This is a religious holiday, not a federal holiday. There is a big difference." So many people assume their religions should be universal. Oh, well.

I have a large item to move out next--the grizzly bear skin rug that my great uncle picked up about 100 years ago. That makes it worthless to some (those who only want fresh skins) and valuable to others (those who want to look at the way it was mounted, the carved ivory or bone teeth in the mouth, the way it was mounted and such). I need to connect with the ones who find it valuable. Selling this would make a lot of room in my sun room and free up the chair it is rolled and stacked on (from the days when I had cats and they could have damaged it by peeing or puking nearby). So many things are easier without cats, though I do stop and scratch other people's cats behind the ears when we meet.

So, I'm kind of talking to myself on this thread so far. I hope it's simply because the rest of you are so busy you haven't stopped to post, while I'm forced to take it easy for a few more days.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: maeve
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 05:20 PM

Kind of busy here, Maggie. Sorry your back is hurting. Hope you feel better soon!

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 05:44 PM

Looks like we'll be flying to Arizona next weekend (not tomorrow) to do a tour on campus for the Honors College. A lot to set up between now and then.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: mouldy
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 07:54 AM

I drove 37 miles to pick up the table... which turned out to be pine, so I refused it. I am now waiting for a refund via paypal. The table was described as oak, and it certainly looked dark enough on the photo, but I know pine when I see it. To be honest, the lad selling it was a bit clueless, or pretended to be.

So I detoured via Ikea and got a narrow extending table to use as a small desk in the study, plus a basic square table to use as a coffee table in there. I've just spent this morning putting the tables together, and now I am off to bottom out my bedroom - again!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 08:01 AM

I pulled box of upholstery remnant squares out of wardrobe. Going to make one sweet dreams doll, packed with lavender for friend and prep rest for putting on my wild woman patchwork coat.

Must get a roll of quilt batting to make it warm.

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 10:06 AM

I should be doing something, but to be honest, I'm knackered and have a cake to bake...

Enjoy the long weekend chaps... I intend spending Monday asleep, if allowed.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 08:55 PM

Busy day running around, and my back is much better. I had time and opportunity to go dig in the garden, but held myself back one more day. No need to rush it or I'll never get out there.

I need to do a little shopping this evening, and then I'll list stuff on eBay. And do laundry. And fix a healthy dinner. For those who are looking for inspiration to lose weight, even though I didn't include the accountability line in this thread, take a look at this: Jamie Oliver's TED Prize Wish: Teach Every Child About Food.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: mouldy
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 07:11 AM

Still waiting for the refund for the table. I can feel a very negative feedback coming on!

Got to empty the middle of the kitchen out today ready for the plasterer tomorrow. Gives me something to do on an Easter Day when I am not seeing my family (quick moan over). I might even do the ironing, seeing it still appears to be at a manageable level. I may also get on my knees and scrub the kitchen floor while I can get at it. A slightly futile exercise, given the work going on tomorrow, but it will get it back to the beginning again.

I was thinking of getting in the garden later, but I got so cold in church this morning that, despite changing into thermal trousers and putting my sheepskin slippers on, my feet are still frozen. It's a biting breeze out there!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 01:44 PM

Andrea,

He severely misrepresented the table. Stick to your guns on this. There are channels. And if you make it clear to him as long as he does the refund in a timely fashion then you won't post bad feedback, that should help. But be sure to "damn with faint praise" in the actual text. Under good feedback say something like "refund obtained. Table represented as oak was actually pine." Is that under 80 characters?

I have some stuff to list this weekend but I'll set it up to start running later in the week. I'm not sure exactly what days we'll be absent for this college trip.

Still have to fold laundry, change bedding, etc. It's overcast out, warm, feels like rain, but we actually didn't get the rain that was predicted a couple of days ago. A little blue. So much to do, so little money to do it with. So typical. :-/

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 03:01 PM

I posted to my help thread that Colin and Rog did some major decluttering of my caravan so he and his kitties can sleep there for a few nights. It actually was a huge boost for us as it will be so much easier to muck it out now that he has started it. Lots and lots of empty boxes plus stuff that could live in the shed. I've kind of been swamped. I am getting some stuff done and exercising a little bit, but not enough to post about. Sorry I didn't get an accountability thread done. Please feel free to start one or just post here as in previous months.

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: maire-aine
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 09:01 PM

Hi, everybody. I'm back from Ireland, but I haven't caught up on anything yet. I'm about to climb into bed; it was a long flight back.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: April 2010 De-clutter (Spring Cleaning!)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 09:02 PM

You could add "and accountability" to the thread title (assuming you can cram in more letters than we can) and that will take care of it. I did get a good walk in with the dogs yesterday.

I ready your comment about his decluttering in the other thread. And I'm glad he has a place for his cats--having pets is sometimes enough to keep you sane when you're by yourself, but if he's having difficulties having backup pet care is good.

Finished laundry and dishes, and despite good gardening weather, took another day off from hauling dirt. The back is better, but not ready yet.

Teaching son some cooking this evening. I'll do mac and cheese. Homemade is so much healthier than from a box. It'll probably be one of those 10 recipes, and we'll work on some veggie and fruit dishes as well.

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2010 De-clutter(SpringCleaning!Acct'ability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 09:29 PM

I had to get a little *creative* in adding it to the title.:-)

I played badminton with Morgan for about thirty minutes today. Not full-out running to get the birdie, but still some good movement and he loved it.

Subject: RE: April 2010 De-clutter(SpringCleaning!Acct'ability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 11:01 PM

You could put "Apr '10 De-Clutter" in there as save a little space.

Badminton counts! My spell check just announced that the game isn't "badmitten" but that is what I've called it all of my life.

The macaroni and cheese was very good. Beside it was a bowl of steamed broccoli and a half each of a large chilled ripe and very good mango. Not bad for healthy choices. Homemade macaroni has to be healthier, even if it's full of carbs, than the store bought stuff.

SRS

Subject: RE: April 2010 De-clutter(SpringCleaning!Acct'ability)
From: mouldy
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 03:32 AM

I'm going to give the guy until after the Easter holiday to cough up.

Emptied the middle of the kitchen yesterday (ie table, chairs and associated pile up of junk), thoroughly scrubbed floor, and then received a call saying that the plasterer wasn't coming until at least Tuesday, as he has an outside job to finish while the weather is fine. He got delayed with it, due to a batch of lumpy raw material that had to be replaced.

However, it is somewhat rainy this morning, so I don't know how much he'll actually get done, and I am half expecting a call, unless he decides he's having a day off (it is a public holiday, after all).

Andrea

Subject: RE: April 2010 De-clutter(SpringCleaning!Acct'ability)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 04:18 AM

Is it just me or do the BS threads tend to be leaning toward end of world stuff?

Swarms of illegal aliens, legal immigrants, lemmings and carpenter ants and one lone rat.

BS section should perhaps be called Madcat.org

Subject: RE: April 2010 De-clutter(SpringCleaning!Acct'ability)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 04:18 AM

oops... I meant to say, good thing we have these declutter threads to sort things out.

Subject: RE: April 2010 De-clutter(SpringCleaning!Acct'ability)
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 09:33 AM

New light fitting fitted in our bedroom and the twins room. Paul is making the light for Harry's room as he wants an areoplane!

Last lot of fat clothes is all bagged up for the charity shop tomorrow. My wardrobe is so empty but will be filled up again next weekend after my shopping trip with my friend (after I've been to my spinning class!)

Even with the long weekend and lots of chocolate I've still done 2 spinning classes and a body pump class. Going to start regular running now the weather is starting to get better.

I've got to make room in the display cabinet for the beautiful blown osterich egg Paul engraved for me for easter instead of getting me chocolate, I'll post some pics on my facebook page in the next couple of days, it's gorgeous!

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 06:41 PM

Sounds like a nice alternative from the calories, all things considered!

De-cluttered my credit card, setting up a trip to school for my son soon. Won't post particulars online for the usual reasons. But it will be nice. We'll stay with a friend.

Picked up a cat hair in my toe this afternoon--I'm sure I'm not the only one that has happened to, get the hair at just the right angle and it can actually poke you like a splinter. I think it's finally out. This several weeks after the cat has gone. I'm sure we'll have these kinds of reminders for a while yet.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 07:01 PM

I continue to work slowly at house chores as my energy and physical pain will allow. Today I did the dishes, one load of laundry, cleaned off the kitchen table (which was covered), swept the living room and went to town for a few groceries.

Spring as hit north central PA and I'm enjoying watching the flowers come up that we planted last fall. I'm also anxious to get out and play in the dirt!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 12:21 AM

I didn't get my sleepy Monday - cleaned the front room carpet (very slowly) instead... trying to track down a musty smell which was originally blamed on the cat but turned out to be an errant piece of cheese under the sofa. Still, the carpet is done and will last another 3 months before needing to be done again. Decluttered a few things to the garbage - old soft toys that were decidedly fragrant but unwashable. I was without ruth and even threw out a dragon toy (mind you, it has bad memories associated with the giver so it was no real hardship). Made a vain attempt at sorting some threads and fabric into sensible boxes, with another for patterns/magazines until I realised it's a lost cause... still, at least some of it is organised.

Today I shall be slobbing on the sofa (after a trip to the bank) and quilting the old fashioned way... if I can find the needles from where I tidied them yesterday!

LTS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Eiseley
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 12:43 AM

What a wonderful skein---a combination of threads! I haven't read every word, but this is a great idea. I hope you don't mind my jumping in.

As a librarian I have to overcome the hoarding instinct regarding books. But lately I've been paring down and giving away as many as I can. I figure I have a whole library that feels kind of like my own collection, so if I have a book at work, it's almost like owning it. I'm trying to keep only the books I know I'll reread (Jane Austen, Loren Eiseley, etc) or my children may enjoy. I remember wandering my house as a girl and picking up an old favorite. I want my boys to do the same.

It's hard, though, because there's always the temptation to add more tomes. I've been trying to stay away from used book sales and bookstores because even though I know there will be treasures there, it isn't worth packing them around, unless . . .

So, the stacks slowly erode away and there is a bit more space on the shelves. How do you know when the minimum number has been achieved?

Eiseley

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 12:54 AM

Do you have room so all of your books are on the shelf, and none are stacked on top of the books on the shelf? Can you put anything else on the shelves, like collectible objects? Then you've probably reduced the collection sufficiently. But why would you want to? I kind of like the idea that when my kids need a classic or an interesting modern author, chances are good I might have it on the shelf. And can find it. (Several years ago I bought some $1 and $2 clearance copies of various Norton and Heath anthologies, so I have tons of scholarship stuff, or great doorstops, whichever is needed).

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: GUEST,Wys cookie broken
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 09:42 AM

Hi all.

I had a very productive and blessed Lent (BS-free) on so many fronts that I am not sure I even care to list them, but last night I removed the last bits of a bad LR pile that had not made sense till some other things beyond my control resolved. Then they did, and within 24 hours, POOF! Vacuum-ready.

I'll study up on all the progress the rest of y'all have made when I can, but honestly except for this thread and the Name Game/Misread threads, I didn't miss the BS section atall! And I have some new prof. responsibilities that will occupy the amount of sitting time I have been given to work with, plus the resumption of Dog World duties, and pool routines, so.... see ya in PMs!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: GUEST,Wys cookie broken
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 11:02 AM

The next DW task due is getting and cutting two 16' cattle panels to make a set of movable folding dividers that link together with snaps. A portable dog yard wherever we go, or a DW section divider for mud season, or an airlock for the smaller kennel when mud season lands them out there for several days and they need an airlock for me to get in and out and a divider to separate them at feeding time......

Shore is purdy out there tho, mud and all. Balmy breezes, gotta love it. Settin' chairs cropping up everywhichwhere, anchored in mud so they don;pt fall over in the breeze.

Heck, another year or three and I may get the hang oif this fresh-air-daily thing! I cannot WAIT to brush out all that wind=ter fur shedding, OUTSIDE, for my itchy doggies.

Mudboots rule! And to think of the many times I have almost thrown them out! These are old-- they date back 20 years to volunteer farm-mgmt days, so they have many good memories in those treads. AND altho I missed the pool for the last 3 months, I have enough lower-body muscles left to walk in the heavy farm-boots. Not too much more decrepit than when we finished the DW-shell last fall.

I bought two chiming clocks to remind me to EAT, so I gotta go! Fun needs FUEL!

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 11:32 AM

Backslide, I bought a few little containers of malted milk Easter Eggs, but only used one as a snack. The rest are for my son to inhale.

I can list eBay stuff today and throughout the week, I'd put it off so I didn't have to pay to postpone listings, and they'll be set to end after I'm back from the university visit. I want to keep that activity going. I mailed several things in the last couple of weeks and added some welcome cash to the PayPal account.

Lots to do to get ready to go. Mow the lawn, set up radios and lights on timers. I hate to think the house looks empty or untended, it makes it more vulnerable to burglars, so I have things set up to go on and off.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: maire-aine
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 12:31 PM

I've finished the laundry (last load is in now). Went to the bank yesterday & got the figures for the ATM withdrawals I made (in $ v Euros), so I could balance my checkbook. Paid all of the bills that came while I was gone. I've been getting up early, but I'm ready for bed by 9pm. Will post pictures in a few days.

I did a fair amount of walking while I was gone, but also spent a lot of time on the bus, so I doubt that I walked off much weight. Especially when you figure how much I ate. My feet were a little swollen, but that's getting better.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 01:09 PM

Looking forward to the photos! I'm debating about how much camera gear I can take with me on my next trip. And the laptop. This stuff gets heavy. I may have to pack it all in the rolling pack.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 01:47 PM

Having (sort of) de-cluttered the bookshelves the other week, book #4 out of 5 that I ordered from a second hand book site arrived today...I just like books!
It being Tuesday, and there being no plasterer in evidence (probably rain stopped play yesterday) Eleanor, Freya and I went out to East Riddlesden Hall near Keighley. It's a 17th century house. I bought yet another hand made bowl from the National Trust shop... I like bowls too!

I hope to get some gardening done tomorrow, but I have Freya in the morning - and, hopefully, a plasterer! Also, the table guy has been in touch and is getting ready to credit my payment back. He was waiting for mine to clear on his paypal.

Feeling a bit happier now. Determined to get the house on sale the last half of June, or thereabouts.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 04:17 PM

This thread doesn't fall off the page often, but I had to go back to the three day filter to find it. I hope it's just because we're too busy to report.

I won't be able to make much forward progress until next week, but I'll check in to see how everyone else is doing. I did go pull some weeds out in the front garden today--the iris are just opening now, and there are some clumps of grass that are easiest to pull right now.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Eiseley
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 07:02 PM

I just spent about 2 hours down the basement cleaning and taking out piles and boxes of junk. Now about 1/8 of the area is tidy.

The rest will be harder because it is all Keith's old stuff---tools and detritus and memorabilia, but mostly tools. Why have I been letting him keep his junk down there? Partly he has nowhere else to put it. But that really isn't my problem unless I let it be. So, in the spirit of accountability, I'll let HIM be accountable for it. After all, do I see a dime of child support? NO!

So, if he doesn't want it (after four years of not even touching it), maybe I'll also be posting things on E-bay. Or maybe I'll just give it away---less work, that.

Eiseley

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Apr 10 - 02:04 AM

Donate, take photos and document, and get a tax deduction. Not quite as easy as just giving away, but a lot more satisfactory at tax time.

Finished mowing the front (accountability exercise-wise), finished domestic chores, and finished cutting up a couple of big limbs out in the back yard. They're shoved down in the big Rubbermaid trashcan at the curb. I've put out that can filled with branches 3 weeks in a row now. Pacing the work means I don't end up with branches that I have to mow around until I finally get them out of the way. These came off of multi-stemmed small trees (or big shrubs) and now my mowing area will be easier. In the back in particular, now that plant looks interestingly gnarly, not just spread out all over that space. And again, mowing under it will be much easier.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Apr 10 - 02:11 AM

Eisley - you could just 'dispose of it'... I have removed many an unused item and the owner hasn't been any the wiser for it, even years after the fact (although there was one sticky moment when we stayed in a friend's house and he admired the teamaker - it used to be ours but we never used it so I gave it to the friends)!

Not much done, just a bit of re-cluttering... more fabric. I cannot resist Christmas fabrics. Oh deary me... Now I have 3 quilts at the planning stage, a gown and a waistcoat to cut, 2 quilts cut ready to sew and one quilt sewn, partially quilted. And that doesn't even touch the cross stitch pieces waiting to be finished! I could sew all day, every day from now til next Christmas and not be finished!

Recluttered the bookshelves again too with 3 new purchases.. I think I may have things a bit confused this month...

LTS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 08 Apr 10 - 04:07 AM

Got a bit of gardening done yesterday afternoon (some weeds dug, and some seeds in). Today it is blue clear sky, and I am off to get stuff from the garden centre shortly - need more potato sacks and the compost to put therein.

The ceilings were plastered yesterday. As I write, Peter is starting to hang paper in the kitchen. Tomorrow will be a painting day, and by tomorrow night, I may have my little bedroom and the kitchen both back to full action. I've decided to move Freya's travel cot into there to take some of the clutter out of the front spare room.

Spring must be in the air, because I am suddenly feeling more positive again! I just wish Peter would get on and board out some more of the loft so that I can empty more junk into it!

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: maire-aine
Date: 08 Apr 10 - 12:21 PM

I got the first group of Ireland pictures posted on Facebook. The link is Ireland 2010, part 1 , and you don't have to belong to FB to see them. But if you're already on FB, send me a friend request if you wish.

These are from the start thru Killarney. Hope you like 'em.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Apr 10 - 01:40 AM

Got a gift, was going to post about it, but I think I'll wait till I'm back in Texas to tell that story. Had a brainstorm today, is all I'll say now, and I hope it works out in an interesting way.

I picked up a new small (fits in my handbag) camera for myself in time for this trip, my other small one is old enough that I'm not able to do some of the things I require of it. And the irony of technology, the new one will cost the same and do much more, or do much more and cost much less.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 09 Apr 10 - 04:31 AM

Kitchen cleaned and tidied, kitchen floor swet and washed, washing drying on the line outside. Front room hoovered and dusted and all before 9am!!

I'm doing well at maintaining my weight and haven't put anything on or lost anything now for 3 weeks despite the chocolate! Tomorrow is spinning class in the morning and then a girlie day with Alison shopping for new thin person clothes! Sunday is another spinning class and I might go for a run in the evening if the weather is still nice.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: maeve
Date: 09 Apr 10 - 06:44 AM

I sorted through a mound of clothing and household linen pulled from the cinders. Most went to the rubbish due to extensive fire damage. A few have been washed and await a final judgment as to their condition. Most are too large or have some damage so I'll need to find time to take them in/repair the burned/torn places.

As Jacqui can verify, there's no end of the soot and cinders that travel in with fire treasure.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 09 Apr 10 - 11:10 AM

Just finished another bout of digging. It turned out not to be as hard as I had anticipated. Decided to leave the rose bushes in, and just do mixed veg/flowers around them. So now there are brussels sprouts next to the newly planted delphiniums!

Back a bit stiff now.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 09 Apr 10 - 05:57 PM

owwww! Caravan cushions almost done with new covers. Hands are hurting from all the hand sewing.

4 loads of wash and hung outside on beautiful sunny day

Dishes done twice with lick and promise to counter tops, but I did bleach the sink to remove tea stains.

Some junk taken to recycle centre.

BT tech came and fixed the phone line. The fault was in box across the road so we paid nothing. YAY!

My back is killing me now but it is due to the work I did today and not the kidney pain I had yesterday. Am on antibiotic for cystitis but seems to be working really quickly as is the copious glasses of cranberry drink. Using and ice pack is helping.

Just had a shower and will crawling (very soon) between clean sheets dried on line in the sun today. Yummy fresh smelling 300 thread count cotton sheets. Must take codydramol first.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Apr 10 - 12:12 AM

Whoa, now you're hopping on the thread, just as I'm ready to scram for a few days. I'll check in, I'll have the laptop with me.

Bags are almost ready, gotta get the son set and then to bed. We head out early. I've finished some baking and using up stuff I didn't want to leave in the fridge (made a huge batch of guacamole).

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 10 Apr 10 - 04:07 PM

Veggie patch in the garden was weeded and some seedlings transplanted as they were getting too big for the pots in the greenhouse.

I had an excellent day shopping (I never thought I would hear myself actually say that!) for new clothes. It's much more pleasant going to regular clothes shops and knowing my size is on the pegs. The tax rebate has been spent but it was all worth it.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Apr 10 - 11:08 AM

We're in Tucson for a couple of days, no de-cluttering, just trying not to clutter our luggage so it is difficult to pack and return home. I have a few things to deliver, so if I can avoid loading much here, that is a good thing. Today will visit the Desert Museum, and tomorrow is the big day, the tour and orientation on campus. I think we'll get a verdict after that. He has a full scholarship, something that is highly prized. But he also has free will. We will see how it goes.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Apr 10 - 11:35 AM

Yesterday I went for a hike in the woods, went to yoga class and walked a mile. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 11 Apr 10 - 02:33 PM

The caravan for folk festival

cushions covered and now in the van. they look pretty good even if roughly done. sleeping bags and pillows also there.

2 side window curtains are just now finished except adding the heading tape for the hooks. need to make the big back window curtain.

we managed to disengage the little (between the benches built in) chest of drawers. it is now in the spare room to get several coats of white paint before being returned.

floor measured for buying new carpet tiles.

leisure battery arrives this week, will soon shop for solar trickle charger, some cooking gear (saucepans, frying pan, and such) some towels, toilet chemical, full calor propane bottle.


had a relapse of chills and UTI related pain yesterday. I hadn't had enough fluid, bit better today but back still hurts from the work.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Apr 10 - 10:27 AM

Okay, we've done a little shopping. So we have to figure out how to cram our stuff into our existing luggage, or have one more carryon (we're allowed 2 each and we only brought 3). My son raided the Dove easter bunnies at Target yesterday and now wants to bring probably melted chocolate home with him. Still a kid in many ways. . .

I bought a large broad brimmed hat at the museum. Not one to be crushed and stuffed. I may leave it here, but it won't fit my host, so we'll see.

Stay healthy, everyone!

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 12 Apr 10 - 10:30 AM

Morning work out helped along with the kids. Bread baked this morning, washing on line drying and a lovely few hours catching up with Liz and Phoebe.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Apr 10 - 11:29 AM

I guess I've been saving up for a few days before posting here.:-)

Yesterday, we walked to Morgan's house and back...a BIG deal for me, plus I also did qi gong last night. In between, and the day before, we cleaned a bit of the front yard, well mostly Rog did. Also on Sat. Morgan came over for a short while to help me plant the marigolds and pansies my brother gave me for my b-day. They were looking pretty sad; now quite happy in their pots. Also found some volunteers in last year's annual pots...not sure what they are, yet, but decided not to declutter them until we know what they might be.

Also, inside, we did some decluttering including Rog taking some stuff out, my getting a package almost ready to send out, dishes put away and several loads of laundry done. I also cleaned off the top of my desk, but it doesn't look like it this morning.

Still a lot of energy being used up for family stuff, so taking it slow otherwise.

Maggie, hope you both like what you see. Full-scholarship! Fantastic!

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Apr 10 - 12:53 AM

I have a great rolling pack that I picked up a few years ago at The Bay in Calgary that has once again proved it's worth (and it was so reasonably priced, also!). It has a zipper around the body so that if you need more room you undo that zipper and the thing is three inches deeper. Considering I'm carrying an extra pair of my son's shoes (long story) and some text books this time to make his duffel lighter (mine rolls, his doesn't) I think we'll be okay. I have a plastic water bottle they may not want to see (a souvenir from the university) so I may check the bag so they don't take the bottle. I have all of the electronics packed in the one I will carry on for sure.

This packing, though. What a challenge, because you pick up little things along the way. Like this hat. I kind of like it, so I'll wear it home I guess. It's big, for gardening, or hiking around a desert museum. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 13 Apr 10 - 05:51 AM

Offloaded the ginormous tent I bought a couple of years ago onto my daughter and son in law, so there's a bit more room in the shed to get at the rest of the camping gear now.

The little bedroom is finished, all bar the curtain rail, and so i have made that into Freya's room. The bookshelves from the landing are now in there with the children's books unpacked thereon. I have another bedroom full of craft rubbish (ie rusty pastry cutters and other salt dough related tools) plus stuff I'm not sure what to do with yet...but I'm getting there. The kitchen needs another coat of paint (this afternoon) and then that's done.
The loft hatch, which I had left hanging open for days, while I had the ladder down, fell off when I tried to close it up last weekend. It was MDF, and the screws were rather short. That's another thing for Peter to fix before the end of the week. He's then going on to another similar job for 2 weeks, before returning to do the hall, stairs and landing. This will give me a chance to do some more desperately needed sorting out. I have to tackle the front garden at some time too.

I'm off to the Eurogathering in Iceland at the start of May, so maybe he can get all the work done while I am away.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 13 Apr 10 - 05:52 AM

...and I'm not mentioning the 3lbs I put back on during the last 2 weeks, after losing 4.5 with a stomach bug (2 meals out last weekend didn't help!)

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Apr 10 - 11:52 AM

Don't feel badly, Andrea. I didn't mention the several I've put on since a med change AND emotional eating which kicked in over the past couple of weeks. I am still within my points BUT it's been more of not the best food vs the better stuff, plus I just know my reason for eating is more emotional now than before this...so it seems psychological is more important than amounts, etc. as far as I am concerned.

You sound as though you are doing great!

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 13 Apr 10 - 04:13 PM

Unfortunately, I like food, and I went out for 2 restaurant meals on 2 consecutive nights. Whereas you have a perfectly legitimate excuse, so have nothing whatsoever to beat yourself up over!

At least my leader did no more than raise an eyebrow at me...

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 12:21 AM

I don't like having ANY excuses, though. Adding on just makes my Rog and I concerned for the extra heart load and I feel it too much, physically. Still, though, my ring is still slipping, my MedicAlert bracelet is still loose enough for 3 fingers under it, and I have not gone back up one size, so I guess as tomorrow is my weigh-in day, I'll start all over.:-) And, I have biofeedback tomorrow, so that will be nice!

I recently was reminded of an affirmative prayer I like, posted it to Michelle's thread: I am a child of *God. I inherit no sickness. -Myrtle Fillmore-


*(Insert deity of choice, or not:-)

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 12:33 AM

We're back from a great trip, and I'll be cleaning up the kitchen after dropping our stuff before I head to bed. Laundry, filing stuff away, etc. Very good trip, more complete than we might have originally imagined.

Here's an account of my trip: MOAB thread.

I stayed with a friend with a tiny house, and visited another friend with little bit a larger house but so beautifully furnished, not cluttered at all. She runs a bed and breakfast, with a small suite built onto the back of this house (she designed it this way) and I think what both homes highlighted is that I need to keep moving out furniture. I sold a futon a month ago, and I don't miss it at all. What is next? I have some extra antique bed frames, I have tons of old tables, chairs. Each one gone is more floor space and they're not going to be missed.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: JennieG
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 01:49 AM

I still check in on this thread from time to time although I don't post often. We have less than three weeks until we move house and I am almost at the stage where panic is setting in, but I refuse to give in to it! Doesn't help that I am suffering from my annual sinus/allergy/heavy coughing/feeling like crap thingy that comes regularly each autumn.....I love autumn, but it doesn't love me in return. The dust from sorting and packing isn't helping either. Never mind, it will get done - and anything we haven't organised ourselves we will take with us and sort it out when we get there.

But the thought of packing up my sewing room is giving me the heeby-jeebies. I have less 'stuff' than many quilters I know, and more than some, but when it all has to be packed up there is far too much.

Ah well......onward and upward......when we are in our lovely new house with views across the valley to distant mountains and a bird sanctuary over the back fence, it will all be worth it.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 11:53 AM

Jennie, I've wondered how you were doing in that operation, thanks for letting us know. You've moved so fast! I hope you're able to work the move of your sewing room so that when you arrive at the new house you can find what you need easily and not find years from now that it is all still in boxes. Perhaps treat yourself to some specialized shelves where you can immediately unpack and organize? I can imagine your absolute pleasure at being able to use those resources, seeing them at your fingertips.

It's lovely weather today, and a neighbor is out removing the same cactus I took out last month (he's the one who gave me the starter plant). I saw a bunch in Arizona this weekend, and they do so much better (and grow more slowly) where the climate is dryer and warmer. My iris are spectacular. I'll be doing a lot of garden decluttering soon.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 01:17 PM

Awhile ago I was asked to show Dog World Pix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWziWsqBi1M


Dog World is approx. 20 x 50 feet of grass, plus addl 20' x 30' space in 2" of river-rock gravel.

DW is accessed from the house by a semi-enclosed, raised Dog Porch their kitchen corner opens into, and from the rear thru a 12' gate you can see in the video which allows dump truck access as needed, plus foot and lawn tractor traffic.

The photo shows black/tan Faulkner ("The Dog"), and yellow Sadie ("Other-Dog"). The first picture was taken facing the southwest view of the property, and you can just see the big ole red barn in back. The second view faces north.

Guess who tore up the cushion whose fluffy remains are showing? :~) Sadie, AKA "Her Royal Happiness." She's gonna learn to fetch it, to clean it back up.

The pix are very skewed as to perspective, and winter cleanup is barely begun. But you can clearly see the ag panel and chainlink we used-- old stuff re-used, incl old wood posts plus new chainlink posts donated to us. The torn-up ground in the first view is due to be planted with low, hardy shrubs.

The gravel you can glimpse is the area that used to be their run; the new, total space triples that space.

The old plastic dog house shown (adjoining the gravel) is the thing they play run/chase/catch around. This provides a lovely opportunity for them to totally annihilate the NEW "luxury" grass area (aaaargghhh!).

The second grass area (better seen from the rear gate photo with Sadie's big close-up) contains used lawn furniture waiting to be washed, and a tower of cinderblocks that will become an outdoor grooming stand.

We are thinking of a temp gate/fence section to divide off that furnished section so they can't chew up THAT grass as well.....

The gate Sadie is behind, BTW, is NOT skewed-- ag panel has its own structural strength when it is curved, as this single ag panel is slightly curved in place. Ag panel used this way requires no posts, and no gate structure at all. Tension it with a slight curve and, if it's on relatively level ground, it needs nothing more than attachment to a solid adjoining structure-- in this case, the solidly-concreted-in wooden posts.

The sitting area is for company, hobbies, and dogs when invited; it's in total shade all morning. On the other side of the red house-addition you can just see is our Weight Room, with Mario's sleeping couch under the window. The MudDorm is above that, which overlooks the Dog World compound.

Later updates to the montage will show more progress (and how DW fits into the property), as well as the small kennel we built to use when Dog World was under construction.

A huge (to me) batch of composted garden soil has just been donated to us. As soon as we can pick it up next week, I'll start the container gardening project that is ready to begin.


Thanks to Michelle for helping me learn How to Montage. The rest of you folks need to catch up! :~) Show us YOUR Mess to Magic!

And it's easy. WysiwyG!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 02:36 PM

Here's my blurb from the MOAB thread:

You want to hear about serendipity at it's absolute finest?

We were away for 3 1/2 days to Tucson to look at U of A, where he wants to study Computer Science. Tier 1 school, the best of two full rides offered. I realized that both coming and going we changed planes in Albuquerque, home of UNM, the other offer, and if I'd been thinking I'd have taken a few hours in town to let him visit that campus also. Not nearly so good, but still, a look would be useful. We get on ABQ to Dallas plane, I am in window seat ("Mom, you sit there, it doesn't recline,") he's in middle, a woman my age with interesting computer book sits beside him. We talk.

Turns out, she is chair of the UNM Computer Science Department headed to a meeting. Really.

We quickly realized this unique conversational opportunity, she with a potential student, one of those cream of the crop ones they all want, and it was a great opportunity for him to get the full-wattage discussion and attention of a professor who would love to have him in her classes.

Want to know what else is serendipitous? We both grew up on Lake Whatcom in Washington. She was on the north east side, as far down that side of the lake as you could drive, and I lived on the south east side, at the end of the road there. No road all around the lake because the mountain on that side was too steep, there was a railroad trestle and we were never allowed to walk on it. Small world!

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: maire-aine
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 08:05 PM

Hi, folks. I haven't posted much since Easter, because I really haven't done much. Yesterday I did a fair amount of cleanup in the yard; yard waste pickup is Friday. Went to the music session last night-- I haven't played for almost a month-- and there was a good turnout. Had the guy from the construction company come over yesterday to talk about repaving my driveway. It'll be expensive, but it has to be done. I don't have a date yet, but they'll call me soon. Also had a guy come by to pick up my lawnmower to fix it up & get it going. In the meantime, I'll be using the manual push mower.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 12:11 AM

I have a push mower I need to use more. Good idea, Maryanne!

Tomorrow I'm going to go on part of the Scarsdale diet. Not the actual lose tons of weight diet, but the "maintenance" part he has you use in between the intense 2-weeks on the weight loss part. I lose weight on the maintenance one also, just not as quickly. For now, it feels like shifting to that, then in a week going on the full-fledged low-cal keytone-producing one will kick in as I'm working full-time on the garden. For a while I was occupied with school stuff and travel, but now I have time to pay attention to the diet.

Laundry is finished, all hung up and put away. Bread baked, kitchen is clean. I wrote a letter and mailed back a dog collar (Invisible Fence) that has a lifetime warranty (my lifetime, not the dogs). And I had a few other fires to put out. In all, it was a good day.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 07:19 AM

Anybody know how to un trap a nerve? My hands, arms, head and neck and middle back are in constant achy throbbing pain.

I keep getting up and walking around to relieve it and hoping it will move discs so as to stop pinching. On codydramol and amytriptylene which barely take the edge off pain.

No guessing needed - I am not doing any decluttering or cleaning of any kind at the moment.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: JennieG
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 08:11 AM

Maggie, meeting the professor was so lucky.....you couldn't have done it better if you had tried!

I have sets of shelves which will be coming with us, and also two closed cupboards for fabric as the light here in Oz can fade fabrics quickly - so I will have plenty of space for my fabrics and books. It's just the thought of packing combined with the fact that I am feeling a little less than wonderful because of the allergy that has me in its grip at present, but it will pass. Today the thought occurred to me that we have some large suitcases that I can use to move fabric. We're trying to use as many of our own containers as we can, as remavalist's cartons will have to be disposed of when we have finished with them, so over the next few days I will see how much I can get into our large wheely cases. They can be wheeled if they are too heavy to be carried.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 02:20 PM

Looking around for the "next big thing" to offer on Craig's List. Lots of tables around here, but they're all in use. Maybe the answer is to move one of the computer desks out and use a table in it's place. I have a modern office computer desk set up for sewing in the guest room. What I should do is pull together enough stuff for a garage sale.

I have a lot of extra packs and luggage stuff that never seems to get used, not after the first time I bought it for something. Some of those could go in a garage sale, certainly more appropriate than trying to sell them on eBay.

Earlier I mentioned the neighbor taking out a cactus. They occasionally do a garage sale, so next time he's out working on his cactus removal I'll ask, and maybe we can pool our stuff for a sale. He has better shade than I do for that kind of sale. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 02:54 PM

defo overdoing pain meds... just read Maggie's last post and got some weird image of her neighbour's talking cactus.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 05:42 PM

That wasn't the neatest sentence construction. I'd written more, realized I was repeating myself, so cut out a chunk. Sorry about that, Virginia. ;)

Sinuses are a little wacko this afternoon. Spring and allergies converge.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 05:59 PM

Maggie, that's a wonderful bit of synchronicity.

Nothing to report- haven't done much upstairs but hang a few pictures and decided to donate some old Carol Loomis prints (local artist) to the local school auction. Downstairs is tidy due to our current trend of friends over to dinner a least once/week!

And Hunt's inherited Moto-Guzzi motorcycle is being temporarily de-cluttered out of the shed, as the mechanic lives down the road and will be picking it up in a few minutes to take to work tomorrow to get it road worthy.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: JennieG
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 07:13 PM

We have an expression that if something doesn't work it is said to be cactus......"the car was cactus so I couldn't go shopping".......adds a new idea to Maggie's and her neighbour's cactus!

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 04:50 AM

Peter is off to another job for the next 2 weeks, so he's busy at the moment boarding out some more loft so that I can bung some more stuff out of the way up there. He's going to spend today tidying up little jobs like putting the clock and the notice board back into the kitchen, and possibly replacing the loft hatch. Plan A is to get rid of a lot more stuff while I have chance, before the hall/stairs/landing gets stripped and decorated.

I'm off out with Eleanor and Freya in a bit. We are going to have lunch at a Buddhist centre where there are nice grounds to walk in, then maybe visit a nearby town where there's a dress shop that does Marks and Spencer end of lines. Got a couple of nice dresses there last year. I have only worn one of them so far, though, so my de-cluttering brain says I don't actually NEED to visit it. Oh well...supermarket it is, instead!

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 10:00 AM

Pelvic ultrasound (internal type, ew) was last Fri. Tdy is echo and-- FUN-- Mammo.

Need results on all three. News when I have it. Prayer appreciated.

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 03:53 PM

Got some great practitioners today, TBTG!

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 05:31 PM

Today began the redemption of the back porch into an outdoor LR. Plans are beginning to shape up. We also unloaded the van for being able to pick up Earthboxes this week and deliver library materials to convocation parishes (hopefully Sunday AM).

If I can get out to the one of the farflungs, I can take pix (it's the only ones whose pix I lack), and then I will have enough montage material to showcase the convocation-- not just our one parish. The last 16 years' dream-- on the verge. Close enough to feel it.

The old, epic struggle-- life, or death? Live well, or die badly? Growth, or decay? Learning, or forgetting?

Good? Or Evil?

I PLAN TO WIN, TBTG.

The prize is simply too great NOT to go for it.


They say fat people, and hypertensive people, die. I'm betting against that, in favor of my past record of doing so MANY things "they" say can't be done. Cuz it usually turns out-- a'course they can! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: maire-aine
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 09:28 PM

I put all of the woolens & black/navy/gray clothes away in the spare room closet, and got out the light-weight cotton summer clothes. Now they tell me it will turn cold over the weekend. Pffft!

I gathered up all of the clothes that needed mending, and did that this morning-- ten buttons attached, and a hem repaired.

Took out four trash-cans of grass clippings & leaves for composting (the city picks them up beginning Apr 1st). I can get composted material (from last year) while supplies last at the recycling center.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 07:26 AM

Went to the boot fair at York again.

2 LPs, some kids' clothes and a book for Freya, 2 more books for me, a tongue press (for if I ever cook one again) and a silk Edwardian (supposedly, but it's long and in good nick) dress.

I WILL be selling my stuff there some time soon - promise!

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 12:11 PM

De-cluttering is sometimes a "one step forward; two steps back" proposition -- as it has been the past couple weeks.

Forgive me, Mother, for I have backslid...

Yes, I HAVE deassessioned some books. But...I had to read a couple before making that decision and a fairly high percentage ended up as keepers: "Roald Dahl's "Switch Bitch" (adult stories), Morris West's "The Salamander" (although I've loaned it to a friend who wanted to re-read it, so at least it's temporarily out of the house), and Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game" in the special author's edition (and why, exactly haven't I read this one before?!?)

And then on Thursday I was led astray by the bad influence of evil companions. I, who needs clothes like cats need wings, couldn't resist some of the extreme markdowns at Sears, especially coupled with my Sears discount (I work for USVision, but at Sears Optical), bought a couple classy jerseys and two sweaters. Over $132 worth of clothes for 10 bucks. That's even better than Goodwill prices and the stuff is brand new.

I really have to concentrate on permanently removing more stuff. And the Nottingham Library Sale is coming up in May -- I need to make that pile of donated books higher and I don't have much time.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 02:34 PM

They say fat people, and hypertensive people, die.
Darling friend, we ALL die. But you are an example of living life to the fullest, for as long as you/we can. I plan to hang out here for as long as I'm allowed, and kick up my heels as much as possible for the duration!!

I did drop off the first of many bags to the local thrift shop. The good news is I de-accessioned one of the last of my late beloved Byron's items of clothing that I still clung to- his wonderful, now stained and shabby EMS fleece. (I did replace it with a smaller, more me-appropriate fleece on sale.) I also de-accessioned a buncha other clothes that have been hanging around.
The bad news is I haven't touched the two seething garbage bags full of Hunt's old khakis and button-down shirts that NEED to get out of here!

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 04:14 PM

Susan, let us know (if you want) if you need a place to vent on those results. Start a thread separately so we don't lose track if you end up with something that runs more than 1 month. Otherwise we'll confuse the heck out of anyone who is a casual reader here.

I'm dealing with a sinus infection. Wasn't sure that was what it is for several days, but I think I've sorted it out now (and the pain has gotten so distinct it's hard to miss!). I've pulled out meds to address it, and today is much better than yesterday.

Mailing stuff today, that which can be dropped in the box and is under 12 oz. Other stuff will go out on Monday. I've been so slow to send stuff that has piled up on my dining room table in the living room. That table where all of the college application work has been staged.

I am happy to announce, after months of working toward this point, that after last week's visit and a few days of reflection, my son is going to go to the University of Arizona in Tucson (full ride). It's so beautiful there, and I think that in addition to the orientation, getting a chance to talk to a guitar student (recommended by the head of the guitar program) really helped tip the scales. He may major in engineering or computer science, but he really wants music to be a big part of his continuing education. With all of the AP classes he has taken, he has bought himself a lot of extra time to electives or guitar classes.

I pack up a lot of the paper and documentation, and though we didn't get him into an Ivy League school (we needed a year and two months, not just two months) we learned a great deal. I think he has a view of how this works, and when it comes time for grad school, he'll be way ahead of the process for having applied to some of these schools already. Actually, if we hadn't (I know, I insisted) done any of that Ivy League stuff he'd still be where he is now, but I still think it was worth a shot. Better odds than the lottery.

Time to run to the store, and then I'm going to be doing laundry and cleaning the bathrooms this evening. How exciting!

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 12:16 AM

Congratulations, SRS. I hope he understands just what a Force you have been in his success!:-)

I did some dishes for the first time in a couple of weeks. We just kept rewashing the few we were using. Our son, Colin, emptied the driveway of the last of family stuff which should have been hauled off last summer. He has one more pile of boxes and paper/books in the backyard, ruined by the weather, to load up and take to the dump on Monday. It looks so much better. I've been doing laundry all along and a bunch of daily stuff to help him with his recovery...lots of baby steps toward lasting sobriety, work, etc. In between Morgan has been over and helped with small things.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: maeve
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 12:22 AM

It was a pleasure to be in Sinsull's tidy, greatly decluttered house tonight. The queen of outrageously silly gifts has begun to create an oasis of space and happiness.

maeve

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 02:32 AM

Sounds like there is a story there, maeve! Should Sinsull be telling us her de-clutter secrets?

I have been dusting the shelves in the living room and for now, re-filling (rearranging) the shelves with like items. All clear crystal, or antique toys, or cameras, or Indian baskets or art glass. When I get things sorted better (they did get kind of mixed) then I'll decide how many to put away (I have cupboards down below also) and rotate the collection. Prior to this I cleared off the dining room table next to the shelves of all of the papers from college applications, and relocated the expanding file that is holding this stuff. (I'll take the non-active application stuff out of that file and put them together in an envelope for now, and label a few of the file slots for the things my son will need at school.) I set up a file like this for my daughter when she was getting ready to go to college also, so she'd have copies of all of the important papers at her fingertips at school. So much better than having to call home to have Mom look it up for her!

Also, I've figured out one way to compress a little more stuff into less space: I have a couple of antique trunks that don't have much in them, and some of that stuff is old towels and blankets. I'm going to wash the towels and put those in plastic trash bags to store in one of the trunks. For now, I'll take the plastic bin from beside the back door that holds dog toys and packs and such and set it inside one of these empty trunks and put leave it over near the back door. It will look attractively rustic, but it will in fact be holding the dog stuff and keeping it out of sight. Every time I can move something out so I have a few more square feet of floor space, I enjoy the slightly less cluttered look in the room.

Kat, my son did all of the work that got him into the U of AZ. I worked with him on applications simply to get them filled out, but he wrote all of the essays. I pushed him to try for the other schools that didn't pan out--one result of that Common Appliation work is that he has all sorts of left-over short essays he can use on any scholarship forms that come our way. There will still be expenses above and beyond tuition and room and board, and we've applied for a couple. I have a list of others to work on, if I get time before the deadlines.

It's late. I also cleaned the hall bathroom, including spraying stuff on the soap scum on the tiles and applying the elbow grease that helps it work (though it says you don't have to, I always find I need to). I've come to a logical stopping point in the living room, so I'm off to bed. More tomorrow (and I'll throw a load of stuff in the washer as I head to bed).   

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 10:55 AM

My hands and arms are back to normal. One trapped nerve now must be untrapped.

My back is almost there thanks to making myself get up and move around quite often.

Kitchen is almost clean. Must clean out microwave and sweep floor.

Caravan chest is outside with last coat of white paint drying on it. Looks so much better.

One load of laundry outside drying too.

About to do the last caravan curtain. I have ordered the curtain heading tape so will I stitch on as soon as it arrives. Plan to make two big pillows with leftover caravan fabric and load with beans from unwanted beanbag. These will provide me some adjustable cushioning against tender points when sleeping in the van. May have just enough fabric left over for a table cloth.

Spare room will be decluttered of one small white desk by Crow Sister tomorrow evening.

Ironing and vacuuming shall be done tonight before I shower.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 02:55 PM

I've scrubbed the pretty Mexican tile surrounds in both bathrooms. I'll need to go over it again one more time, but I got the lion's share of the soap scum off. A couple of loads of laundry have been washed, dried, and folded.

I've also decided that since spring is the best time of year to start a diet that I'll keep going with this plan, but I also need to tweak my HRT again. Last fall you may recall I weaned myself off of the commercial product I'd been taking for a couple of years when that one was shown to be an unapproved use by FDA.

The drug Rx plan I use stopped providing compounded formula through mail order, saying that there were commercial ones available that were much cheaper. But that commercial mix had too much methyl testosterone than I liked and I was feeling it. The trouble with dropping it altogether is that on estrogen only I'm turning into a dumpling with no muscle tone.

I'm going to bite the bullet and pay for the monthly compounded Rx at my local pharmacy. The mix that was working just fine for me before the drug company got involved and over-ruled what doctor and patient had going. And I'm betting the pencil pusher who canceled the compounding service and sent the suggestion that I use the commercial one is not a doctor or a pharmacist. They ought to charge these folks with practicing medicine without a license.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 03:08 PM

Susan, let us know (if you want) if you need a place to vent on those results. Start a thread separately so we don't lose track if you end up with something that runs more than 1 month. Otherwise we'll confuse the heck out of anyone who is a casual reader here.


Thanks. I do not need to vent, but prayer support would be appreciated. People can PM for details.

I was VERY fortunate to get the echo done by an experienced, brilliant, young, curious practitioner. She uses her ears as well as her eyes when she does an echocardiogram-- and how gifted she is! (She's also about to start to study to become a PA.) She pointed out all the anatomy as I requested, and told me what all the various sounds were.

The one sound I heard that concerned ME was the one that goes with the enlarged heart that has, IMO, had a bad year and has worsened (with various symptoms asking for attention). I heard a groaning "help me" tone in that rhythm and sound-- so that's what I'm focusing prayer on, as I continue to focus on healthy behaviors on all the rest.

The echo will be read this week to speak to the symptoms. Me, I figger I'll be around as long as I am "supposed" to be..... I said most of the important stuff a long time ago (some of it here), and now I'm having fun doing the work I have been given to do. (I prefer to talk about THAT!) I wake up every morning thankful to have another day to do it. :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 04:14 PM

Good luck with that. My sister and I both have heart murmurs that our physicians aren't concerned about but that others always mention. It always gives a moment's pause when someone mentions "you have a heart murmur" during an exam. Like, do I need to think more about it now?

Rain seems to have stopped, but it is overcast. The yard had a nice long leisurely soaking gentle rain over the last three days. This week, let the gardening begin!

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 08:30 PM

Impromptu cleaning session in the kitchen cabinets this afternoon: a bag of kidney beans apparently had some kind of bean weevil or beetle that was spread around (once I started looking) into a couple of cupboards. I had to empty, clean, dump food, and vacuum. I think I got it, but I'll check the space closely for a few days. Now that there are no more beans in the cupboard, I think they'll die off if anyone is left.

I also moved a trunk in the living room and am now looking at moving the contents and rearranging those shelves some more.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 10:44 PM

Hope yer hearts are OK, SRS; not really what I have tho. I have an enlarged heart working too hard.

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 11:29 PM

Ours are okay, I just made the point that every time someone mentions it, I think it skips a beat until I remember that this is "normal" for us. :-/

Great dinner tonight, leftovers for lunch this week. Kitchen is clean already. If I work to keep it this way meal preparation goes so much faster!

I brought a small antique table that I had stored away into my office. I missed having that big trunk there to put things on top of. I used it like a credenza, so now this table will do the same.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 01:25 PM

A day of gentle pottering in the garden resulted in the clearance of 4 bags of general rubbish and a clear space in the pond where the robins can bathe.

Major decluttering of books required but I can't bring myself to get rid of them!

LTS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Alice
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 01:36 PM

Today I'm throwing away two file drawers full of old files from my former job. Previously cleared out my desks of the related job forms and paperwork, but now it's time to dump all the client files I had saved for each customer's past orders. It's a great feeling!

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 01:52 PM

The process of getting Earthboxes here via FreeCyclers in our area is underway-- it started by our picking up a carload of cardboard boxes for them, ydy, from a source I have, to deliver tomorrow. GOOD boxes, uniform sizes, saved from going to a landfill.

Before we did THAT I had to unload the back of the van Friday. This was after the tests, which were the first thing upon waking after the 3-hour drive back from Harrisburg the night before-- which was half of the round trip that had begun at 6AM. I almost have the front unloaded of stuff from the meeting.... where I decluttered a Diocesan process that had gotten FU-almost- BAR.

Anyway-- when the boxes of dirt come I should have ennough for my immediate container-gardening needs. This includes the unkillable yucca I picked up via FC last fall, which never made it into the ground-- but has been stored in a loose bag behind the kennel. Sans dirt except what had clung to the roots when dug up. It's greening back up (of course), so I stuck it in a bucket of water till I can get a hole dug by Dog World.

The back porch sitting area is shaping up, surrounded by nestlings, tho it is slowed down each day for some much-needed staring/sitting time. Each day I go out there, I do a few little things. Today it was setting up cushions the dogs had chewed last year in DW, on the chair I decided to move up to the porch for company. (That chair also moved Friday, as did one from the front porch.)

Today's staring time also included thinking about who the "company" ought to be, and widening the circle a bit.

The AM was spent decluttering the camera that had recorded some cool stuff yesterday at two outlying parishes, and others from a cool Diocesan meeting Thursday. Plus correspondence to the latter, to show them how a montage works, and to gain their OK to make one of the meeting.

That led to the need to update a few of the recent montages so they can see a good sample of what the medium can do.

I decluttered some other area parochial relationships yesterday and this AM as well-- major roadblocks vanished.


I'm bushed, and I don't mean yucca! :~) Nyuk nyuk nyucca.

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 05:24 PM

I acquired a small (free) upright 4-drawer freezer today so I will have room to store stuff I grow...still waiting for seeds to germinate! Actually, I still have some from last year, but it's been very difficult to store it, along with the regular freezer contents, in the smallest size chest freezer (which was also free).

Tomorrow afternoon I am going to take a deep breath and get rid of a large amount of my salt dough tackle (ie cutters). I have some quite detailed sugarcraft cutters, but over time they have become somewhat rusty due to exposure to the salt. I have hung onto them, knowing the high cost of replacements, but it will be quite a while before I do any more, and a lot will depend on what storage room I have when I eventually move.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 07:10 PM

Today I de-cluttered a handful of odd-denomination stamps in my desk. You know, the ones on envelopes that somehow never got sent, so you tore off the corner and dropped it in a drawer. I used to soak them off the backing, but now I just use a glue stick to apply them to what is shipping. Several of you will get a demonstration of this soon.

I also started de-cluttering the stack of stuff that has been on the corner of that living room dining room table that was the staging area for all of the college applications. I put the application stuff away and now am mailing stuff I've been meaning to send for ages (see paragraph above).

Kat, are you at the same P.O.B?

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 12:05 AM

I am, SRS. I deleted the info you posted though as I'd just as soon not have a finger pointing.:-) I know anyone could find it, anyway, but I'd like to try not to help them.

NOW, I am excited and will be watching the mail! Thanks!

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 12:22 AM

I haven't decided yet for you, so I'll be surprised also! :) There's a lot of stuff on that table. I'm working my way through it. I'll try to make it a good fit.

Moved 2 trunks this evening, and I'll look at the new places for a couple of days and see if it works.

The next book to read is An Enchanted April. And I'm headed off to read it. I had so much fun with Jane Austen that I'm trying to get back to the no-recorded-book no-television no-radio no-computer enjoyment of literature. Read a book. What a concept.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Alice
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 12:38 AM

This afternoon I cleaned out the small pond, as the ice had finally melted. Pumped out the water, scooped out mud and dead leaves and gunk, refilled with clean water and set up the pump and the waterfall.
It's nice to hear that waterfall running again.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 06:33 AM

New double bed has arrived for the spare room so people don't have to sleep on the giant air bed! Last of the washing has been done and on the line drying after our trip to a very sunny Scarborough last week.

I find it hard to declutter books too Liz. I've got a few boxes put away that I can't bring myself to send to the charity shop. All the duplicates were given away when we moved into this house nearly 2 years ago now.

The easter egg stash is slowly going down but got another boost from various family members at the weekend.

Must have done a fair amount of walking over the weekend without realising it as although I have lost 2 lbs this week I have lost an inch on my waist.

Veggie tubs patch is looking good although we are still covering everything up to protect from frost at the moment.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 09:06 AM

I've lost 2 of the 3lbs I put back on last week, I'm pleased to say.

I have transferred the fruit and veg from the chest freezer, and added 3 bags of mixed from the supermarket. It's full to bursting already! Luckily there is a little room left in the other now.

I have a choice this afternoon, seeing as it is fine. Do I start and remove the cobbles that turned my pond into a pebble pool, and try to resurrect the pump; or do I get the wire brush onto my rusty gates and then paint them for the first time in 20 years? I know I said I was going to do my salt dough cutters, but I have just eaten a double Mars Bar, and am full of the need to work it off!

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 11:05 AM

Got a line in tdy's email for some free FreeCycle plants. Next montage will show plantings, plus the temp grooming station we erected ydy.

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 11:12 AM

Normal chores in process.....lots of dishes as I didn't do any this weekend or yesterday. Two loads of laundry washed, just about to put a third in. Downstairs swept, front porch and walkway swept too. I can almost see the entire surface of my kitchen table. All living room chair covers have been swapped out for fresh ones, carpet and soon I'll dust. My plan was to work downstairs this morning and upstairs this afternoon. Chemo on Thursday which means next week I won't be able to do squat. I want to have the house clean when I leave....still will need dusting and sweeping when I return but overall it should be in decent shape. That way I can rest peacefully and let the pain meds take care of me without worrying what a disaster area my house is in or how much Pete will have to do when he gets home from work.
   
Of course all this is being done in spurts with rest in between as needed. My side is still bothering me so when I sit, I have heat on it.

If I get everything finished that I want, I have a few flower pots for the window sills that need some dirt and seeds to be planted. I also have some rooted catnip from a neighbor that needs to be planted today.

Onward!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 07:06 PM

Remember, ice and pain use the same pathways and cold will trump pain every time, so...maybe ice it off and on, too. Heat will increase blood flow and any possible inflammation.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 02:59 AM

Last night I did a 4 mile brisk walk, an hours body pump class followed by an hours body step class. Feel quite achey this morning but it's all good!

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 10:37 AM

Well yesterday I removed all the cobbles from the pond, and bagged them up, then I wire-brushed and washed down the gates. Today I have installed a new pump and got the cascade working beautifully. If I didn't have such a nagging headache and achy back from yesterday, I'd feel really great! Maybe tomorrow will be gates day.

Now I notice I need 3 new double glazed panes in the kitchen windows, dammit!

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 10:50 AM

I have several double-glazed windows that need replacing. But they're way down the list as far as affordability.

Sinus still aching, but diminishing. Lovely day, I wish I had time to mow. Maybe this evening.

I'm doing a little freelance work on the weekend, so I'll have to pace myself. Kitchen and dining rooms are clean, laundry is caught up.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 12:15 PM

Do good intentions count?:-)

I have done the laundry the past two days, even put some of it away! Rog did his usual sweeping and changing of litter boxes. We did move the old trunk out of the LR, to live under the end of our bed. It is full of heirlooms and was only a catchall pseudo coffee table in the LR. In its place is the mini-trampoline, until I decide a better pace for it. The docs don't want me bouncing on it, but I can walk on it, no matter the weather and it feels good.

I still intend to get the office cleaned up, the books gone through, and a bunch of other stuff. Biggest declutter soon will be our son getting his own place asap.:-)

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 03:25 PM

Erm - excuse me, Kat, m'dear - I suspect your mind may have been elsewhere lately, yes? I think all excuses are acceptable at the moment! By the way, I HAVEN'T put the laundry away, and I have NO excuse!

And it's 4 panels need replacing. I wouldn't normally bother (although one of them is ruining my view of the garden) but I want to market this place in a couple of months. ("Speculate to accumulate...speculate to accumulate...). There's a local glazing company that will probably be able to do it, although the panels are old spec.

At least the headache is a little better now.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 05:13 PM

Oh, ah, thanks, Andrea, ya mean I am only a human bean and not SuperWoMom?**lol** My Morgan doesn't understand excuses, though. He came over ready to help clean today (I made no mention of such...it's purely his own doing!) So, after lunch, we opened the bottom drawer of the four-drawer filing in which I have been pitching things for at least two years, actually longer. He loves to shred, so we took one, only one! accordion file holder and emptied it. Two full trash bags later, we'd emptied the shredder so many times and used it so long, it was hot and needed a break. BUT, we got the one whole file folder emptied, contents shredded! Trooper that he is, he was ready for the next file folder when I said, "No, not today, that's enough!":-) It does feel good to have done that, at least AND I found last year's tax return I'd been looking for!

With Rog in my ear at lunchtime, telling me not to let my son get started (pity party-sobbing, which is healing to a point,) and pacing myself, I'll make it, esp. as I am Morgan's Project. He told me he was here to cheer me up!

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 08:21 PM

Shredding the file contents can be a big deal, and for a kid, there's the charm of seeing the build up of shreds to show you've been busy.

Mowing tonight for a while.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 12:33 AM

Taking tomorrow off, if I can, to work in the yard. I have to get some gardens in and to move some iris, so I can keep the colors looking good. The dusky bearded iris are plentiful, but I'd like to propagate more of the white and bright white and yellow ones that are mixed in. That means I need to move them now, while I can find them. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 04:56 AM

I recently shredded a load of Ian's old papers, only to find out the following day that they would have been very useful. It had taken me ages to get round to doing it, and it was only because the file cabinet fell over when I moved it, and spewed its contents, that I decided to get sorted!

Hopefully my gates will be "Hammerited" this afternoon.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 05:29 AM

I got tol'able reports back on 2 of the three tests, and made some progress in the journey to better manage my health care in this complex, rural healthcare setting. I also learned another valuable set of info about the current national system, and how that system is adapting to "new" healthcare "improvements" to continue to suck as much money as possible out of my pocket. :~)

A big one yet to get back. Calendar auto-set to do them over again in TWO years-- NOT ONE.

===

Plan is to get garden soil (bulk) Friday, plus another ag panel to complete dividing DW. Tomorrow (actually today-- I hear the birdies) I'll set a spell gazing at the garden space to plan the layout for the all-container-garden that will be chair-accessible for self, and friends old and new.

===

I'm engaged in a major declut/reorg/re-marketing plan of the parish website. Tres busee'. Made it blink today.

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 09:22 AM

First coated top bit of driveway gates - wrought metal is bloody fiddly. Constant nagging headache now, a continuation of the beggar that's been bothering me all week, so I am off to go lie down for a bit. It was the lifting of the bags of rocks what done it - my neck is all tense now.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 10:05 AM

Downeaster sold out yesterday, so Tom's appointment in Boston had to be rescheduled.

But...

It was a glorious day so I took advantage of it to rake all the leaves out of the raised bed on the driveway side of the house, hand comb the leaves from the holding bed and part of the bank (succulents), tidied the edges of the woodpile and did yet more raking and schlepping of leaves.

Also grated zucchini so I can bake zucchini bread on Saturday, baked a loaf of beer bread (actually using seltzer because, can you believe it?, I didn't have any suitable beer on hand), and swept the house when Tom was out shopping for dinner. (He can't stand to see me do most housework -- like sweeping or vacuuming -- when he's around.)

Very accomplished day, though there's still so much to do.

And -- guess what? -- yesterday marked the arrival of that herald of New England springtime...BLACKFLIES!

Linn

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 11:17 AM

Lots of gardening plans today, after calling to inquire about an insurance refund that has never arrived. Turns out they sent the check to my P.O. Box in early Feb, it was cashed in mid Feb, and this because the post office mis-delivered my check to another box, whose owner is not very honest. And I have my mail go to the P.O. Box for security? Geez. . .

Anyone get any packages yet?

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 11:24 AM

The garden in progress typifies much of the pattern of my life-- I can see the outcome, but the externals on site at THIS point in time look like crap. I look back, though, and see--- all visions accomplished, and standing as role models (the visions, not me).

So I move forward toward the newer visions.

And I know that it will all get done, in its proper time and season.

A heartbeat thought for over a year now has been, "I already gave you everything you need. It's right here. Look again." And it's been true, every time.


TBTG,

~Susan

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 05:22 PM

More shredding done with Morgan, today.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 07:43 PM

It seems silly to go dig up flowers right when they're blooming, but that was the only way I could be sure to separate the irises that got mixed up in a couple of beds. I want to cultivate more of certain colors, but I'm told they tend to muddy together if you leave them in the same bed. I moved two white one's I hadn't seen before that I separated, and I have some two-tone white and yellow bearded iris I want to act as an accent to the dusky yellow ones. And then there is the bed full of blue. I had a few get out of that bag of bulbs last year and ended up with the yellow iris this spring. All is in place now so next year I can begin separating some and propagating more. Much more fun than simply buying new plants!

I also mowed the back, and that was one tough gooshy lawn. I think it took 1 1/2 hours to do the entire back. And I emptied a couple of bags of leaves at the spot of a new compost pile, and then spread out all of the weeds and dirt from today's gardening on top to hold them in place. Great timing for the rain now, to soak it and hold it all in place.

I need a nap.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 08:56 PM

My package with the wonderful collection of stamps (on the exterior) arrived today, and, since I just got home from work (about 8:45) I opened it just minutes ago.

Yeehah! A new Roald Dahl ("Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life") to read! Thank you, Maggie! It looks like great fun (like his "Switch Bitch" which I recently read as a result of attempting to declutter some shelves).

And I actually have room for it ;-) here in the Schulz-Hall Not-So-Public Library since I'm currently reading a circa 1970 Pearl Buck that will be deaccessioned to the library sale as soon as I finish it tomorrow morning. (Unlike the Roald Dahl which I decided I "had" to keep in the permanent collection.)

What a really nice surprise! Thanks again.

Linn

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 11:07 PM

You should have had that when you were waiting around in a hospital, I'm sorry it took so long to get to you.

Roald Dahl is my favorite short story writer. That particular collection has some real gems. The rat catcher stories are, well, you have to read them. And "Parson's Pleasure" is simply the best short story, my absolute favorite of all time. It keeps going and going after you finish the last words on the page. I love the way he writes so that you do a lot of the work, but get such pleasure from it.

Many of the characters are recurring, and you can read some of his short stories strung together like a novel. But they all stand alone as well.

I sent Michelle a collection of my favorite non-fiction essays. I chose these because they're short, some are very short, so if you're tired, pick one that is only a page long, read it, and then take a nap. For both of you, these are meant to entertain, but also, to share what really talented wordsmiths can do when they sit down in front of a typewriter.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 05:51 AM

Morning workout done this morning...feel great!

Washing on line drying. Veggie plants all watered.

Paul has made a fantastic light fitting in the shape of an areoplane for Harry, will put up some pictures when he fits it tomorrow!

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 06:18 AM

Really LTS on the sofa....

Not a lot done around here since the garden was cleared earlier this week... been to work, been busy with committee meetings and choir and quilting by hand. REally should sort my fabric stashes out and try to keep a lid on the dining room clutter. Sorting books to weed has just resulted in me re-reading a series from the beginning so that's a no-go-er..... humph.

STill, the garden looks great! Haven't been on the scales for a while... should see how that's going. The forced inactivity of the last 3 months has made my trousers a bit tight, along with the side effects of certain medications. However, I'm feeling a great deal better so I may start the yoga again soon, once I get my sleep pattern back to something that doesn't include waking at 2.30am.

LTS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 08:19 AM

Roald Dahl IS an absolute delight. Woke up earlier than I'd wanted this morning and finished "Mandala" by Pearl Buck and grabbed your gift. Only had time to read the first story and get part way into "Parson's Pleasure" -- cut short by having to get my body together and head to work.

The Press Room session will be cut short tonight because of Jazzmouth, so I'll be able to get home a little earlier and read a bit longer.

Thanks again! I think short stories are often much better crafted than novels.

Linn

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 05:39 PM

Working at home part of the day, and heading to campus for an evening meeting, and doing some freelance work over there on Sunday.

I have tomorrow to make another big push in the garden before the work on Sunday. I hope the weather stays nice, though I could use another rain before I put out the beneficial nematodes (otherwise I have to water and then spray them). I missed the opportunity yesterday because I ran out of time and it hadn't rained enough yet. There's another chance of rain in the weekend.

Also if it rains, maybe I'll sit down and list more eBay stuff.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 06:35 PM

Small steps, here. I got two books packaged up, ready to send to my sis. Also, I am going to close up the tins' package promised to Animaterra and get it out, tomorrow, ya hear that 2Ls?!*bg* ("'bout time she sez." I am just now going to write a letter to put in a package with a children's book I wrote for Morgan which an artist friend is going to illustrate. That will clear a bit off my desk, at least.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 09:05 PM

OK, I know this is not the gardening thread, but for me this is an activity-level thing first, so for now it's here:

Boughtt jiffy/peat-thingie starter mini-greenhouses to fit the avail. sunny window space for starting seeds. Bought seed, half off on sale at Home Depot. Mater varieties, sweet peppers, herbs, 2 diff carrots, beans, climbing peas, anad as Giac called them, "flars."

Dirt for the Earthboxes (Google THEM!) we were given last week via FreeCycle wait till the sprouts "earn" their dirt (another paycheck away at least anyway). I have pots galore from a previous year's FC to move the sprouts from starter-world to hardening world to Earthboxes.

AND we got el cheapo plumbing parts to fix the uncomfy handlebars on the scooter. I scootered Home Dept at 5 MPH. Slow eh-- not when you have no windshield and it doesn't all HURT--- for the first time.

The hdwe we bought, I installed right in the aisle for a test run around the store, to the loo, to checkout, to the car. The szs picked fit thru ADA doors perfectly (right into the loo).

FUNFUNFUN!!! Mark he date. This was GOOD DAY. No skunks, now! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Eiseley
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 12:06 AM

I must have recycled a cubic foot of paper today from my desk. But now it is clean! The laundry is also all folded and I took an entire trunkful of clothes to the thrift store (and asked for a receipt, thank you, Stilly).

How do you folks learn to keep the kitchen clean? There must be a fundamental psyche shift I haven't figured out yet.

Tomorrow is the town's Environmental Fair and I will take the book wagon and give a free book to every child who attends. This is one of my favorite parts of my job---matching children with books. A boy scout organized a book drive and donated 500+ books for me to give away. Wonderful. And how does this fit in with the environmental theme? Well, think of how many resources are saved when people check books out of the library instead of buying them. Also, the books we give away find good homes and are a way to cycle them back into use.

One more huge project and then the semester is over and I'll be halfway to my master's degree. I really want to spend the weekend writing in the sun, but instead I'll work hard on the project and go to the fair. The time to play (write) will come soon enough.

Eiseley

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 12:44 AM

The kitchen is the heart of the house. It's a challenge, and if you read posts from many months back, you'd see the pattern: sometimes it starts with cleaning one drawer. And the next day cleaning another. Or going through a cupboard and recycling all of the Chinese take-out plastic tubs and lids, then cleaning the drawer where the plastic wrap and twist ties live.

I have a kitchen/dining area combined, and have settled with a small table in the dining area, and book shelves (I have a collection of cookbooks, a few I bought myself, and most of them from my mother over the years, and a few sent after her death). I have a Hoosier kitchen (kitchen queen) in one corner, and an upright 1970s avocado green freezer in the other. These two areas look good, mostly because I forced myself to take almost everything off of the counters. I can work so easily there now, and I force myself to wash the dishes as I use them, if I have time. I'm a recently reformed character, though. It hasn't always been this way.

The rest of the house is a work in progress. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 02:28 AM

I have woken today with an urge to paint the back door which sorely needs it - but I know that with all the chores I didn't do yesterday due to an incredibly stiff neck and sinus headache, that it won't happen.

Still, I thought about doing it, and that's something!

LTS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: maeve
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 03:02 AM

Liz- What color/colour?

m

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 04:18 AM

Morgan comes with his own paint and brushes, LtS. You should see my backdoor...he really wen to town about two years ago at four yrs. old. It may actually need a real painting now.:-)

Eisely, I was going to say who said we had clean kitchens?!**bg** Mine is always a mess because my Rog does all of the cooking and also has his home office, i.e. computer and various broadcast engineer's parts spilling over every surface. It looks like his kitchen did when I met him...a very sloppy bachelor's apt. We do get it cleaned up, somewhat, every weekend, but it never lasts.:-)

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 07:16 AM

For once in my life, I cleaned out the car completely when I got home from chemo....no lingering bags in the car and just about everything has been put away. YAY!

No books have arrived here just yet but you can bet I am keeping my eyes peeled for the mail carrier this morning!!! THANK YOU!!!!

It's the perfect time for a package of books to arrive too as leg pain will arrive in full force in a day or two which means lots of chair or bed time for me....great reading time!!!

Michelle who is off to an early morning weigh in!

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Eiseley
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 08:34 AM

Thank you for your encouragement. And yes, I will read the back posts. That actually doesn't even seem daunting :). I woke up with good ideas about how to finish my big school project, so I'll jump into that assignment with a will!

Eiseley

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 12:23 PM

you think I am going to clean house when it is this beautiful outside?



HaHaHahahahahahahahahahahahah!


as if!

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 01:49 PM

48 peat pellets seeded and mini-greenhoused. Joint effort. Next-- the mower deck-- joint effort.

This is all 2 weeks behind.... hurry hurry but relax, relax, FUNFUNFUN

Paradigm: Farmer (not gardener).

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 02:26 PM

Virginia, you got my number! I've been outside all day so far, and expect that to continue.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 11:44 PM

My garden isn't completed, but tomorrow I'll be able to put plants in one side of it. I'll have to water with a sprinkler till I finish and can re-position my soaker hoses.

The house is still looking pretty good, but that's because I haven't been in it all day. :)

As far as accountability, I've put in a couple of heavy days of yard work and mowing. The calories burned are off the chart. And the dogs and I went for a nice walk this evening.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 02:13 AM

The door is green and will be repainted in that colour if I can find the right shade.

Today is the AGM at church so nothing will be done on the decluttering front today. I did actually sit down yesterday and do some mending - I feel virtuous and justified...

LTS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 07:23 AM

All laundry done

All curtains and two extra cushions for caravan done

Currently copying some CDs so we can keep a collection of music in car
soon to clean bathroom and master bedroom - it's cloudy out today

I will do some ironing today and some mid upcoming week when I have time off booked for Andie's deathiversary.

I hope to start laying out my wild woman coat project too and get in some instrument practice and maybe learn a couple more songs.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Old Vermin
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 07:26 AM

Shrubs cut back and brambles removed. Washed volcanic dust from cars' windows, again.

About thirty years ago, there was a called Mr Marshall who gardened on the same allotment site where I worked pretty hard at it, keeping going and moving fast. He, by contrast and being aged over eighty, moved very slowly and precisely.

One day, just for a laugh in his absence, I tried imitating his way. So much more got done with so much less fatigue.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 12:35 PM

That sounds wonderful! I've been moving more dirt this morning, and have been trying to be efficient, but I'm shaping this thing an the design is evolving as I see how it looks with each new load of dirt. The end result will hopefully be a bed I can reach into from the lower paths, but I'll have to put a lot of mulch down so after a rain or watering I don't sink down into it.

The cut iris in the kitchen have been very pretty, but they do smell like cat pee, so is not likely to be repeated. Until next year when I forget again. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Eiseley
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 02:23 PM

About Iris and remembering what color they are when they stop blooming:

My grandmother would write the color with a pen or a stick on the underside of the green leaves. When the flowers finished blooming, the name of the color would be etched into the leaf and she could move them later.

I still remember and wish I had a particularly beautiful deep peach one.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 05:32 PM

Having dented the plastic at a health and healing fair yesterday, I decided that today I would spend the morning at the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at Harlow Carr, near Harrogate, and perhaps track down a couple of unusual plants, have lunch, and go home to do some gardening/sorting out kind of stuff. That was what I intended when I set out at 9.15 this morning.

Well, I got to the turn off near Harrogate, and found I had got the chance to go to the Harrogate Spring Flower Show instead - never been before... I WOULD have been done by lunchtime, but I wanted to buy a specific rhubarb (Fenton's Special - merely for the name - it's my daughter's married name) and I had to wait until the display was dismantled at the end of the show. So, in the end, I got a blacksmith-made candlestick, a new hose attachment, a tablecloth, 2 lavenders, a Jerusalem artichoke, a Lemon Verbena, some pond plants, a chilli plant, 3 ferns, sore feet, aching back, AND a big pot of rhubarb!

Will somebody PLEASE padlock my purse!

Andrea

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 05:48 PM

What fun, Andrea!

Eisely, what a wise grandma!

We changed our sheets, last night, so today I did our regular laundry plus extra bedding. And, put it ALL away for a change. Our bedroom was really looking badly with clean clothes strewn every which way.

I swept the hallway into the LR, into the DR/Kitchen while Rog wielded the dustpan. Morgan came over and, after we got done walking at the park and watching him play on the swing sets, etc., he vacuumed the bathroom, then mopped it and the hallway. He also helped me scrub the bathroom sink and commode. He loves the way I do the sink. I read, years ago, about a blind woman who cleaned using her bare feet and hands, in order to *feel* the clenaliness. From then on, I have poured Ajax cleaning powder on my sink and faucets, then used my hands to scrub, though I will use a cloth, too. It's hard on the hands, but it is also very satisfying. Morgan loves it because it's messy! Rog also did the litter boxes and went to get a few things at the store. We both shared in getting the dishes done, though they are all his to put away IF he wants "Sarah - the cleaning girl" to wash up during the week. She's a picky broad, demanding empty drainers before washing so much as a spoon!

Anyway, my house is looking much nicer, though it is still in the "needs work" mode and probably always will be...still it's home.:-)

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 10:14 PM

It was a very, VERY bad winter for me in many ways I have not shared at Mudcat. From the excessive number of fall funerals till the present, I have lost quite a bit of ground that had been hard enough to win to begin with.

Ah well, TBTG I still HAVE the muscles-- they just need to be brought back online and I know from past layoffs that it will only take about half as long as it feels like it will.

This time, tho, there are other slippages bringing me nearer to early death than I would prefer to be; I wake each AM grateful for another one, TBTG, and hope I have many, many more-- but am also ready in case I do not.


So! To Hardi's excellent weight-room program for me (which we log there on paper), has been added all this month 3 days per week in the pool. Today that 1/2 hour of no-fun became "Oh we are getting back to work now," so I hurt all over, but in a GOOD way (except for Arthur's visits).

NOW it is program-workout worth logging-- 30 minutes ski/slow jog punctuated by 5 minutes fast jog, with a view to increasing the total SOON from 35 to 40 to 45 to 60, plus the 1/4 hour of Ai Chi stretches that keep range of motion (ROM) improving-- or at least not deteriorating as my geezer pals remind me! :~)

This week's FC includes a wonderfully thick, vinylized, folding camp mattress-- it will replace a thinner, not-folding one in the Boondocker's van-sleeping kit (as soon as it dries and is de-mildewed.)

After it dries and is sun-cured, what's a good mildewcide I can put into it and leave in it? It's cotton-poly fabric on one side, and about 4" of foam with car-upholstery type vinyl back and sides. Need a non-allergenic aroma to leave in it-- lemon juice maybe?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 11:50 PM

Susan, that's one heckuva act to follow.

Kat, I read your post and decided "okay, if there's a clean kitchen in Colorado, there will be a clean kitchen in Texas also." I went in and washed the dishes before coming back to write this. I'll appreciate it in the morning.

I've been digging up the oldest compost pile and sifting it through my homemade compost sieve. Comes out real nice. I dumped three wheelbarrows full of it in the new raised garden area in the front, and I planted three of the tomatoes in one of those beds this evening. I'll sift and plant more tomorrow, but I still need to also move some earth for a couple of the incomplete raised beds. I'm using piles of dirt and compost that I've been meaning to use for a while. I have to go ahead and use the local stuff and not just run to the Home Depot and buy a few bags.

The laundry is finished and one load was dried on the clothes line. I put my son's clothes and the bath towels in the dryer this time, but next time I'll probably line dry then tumble for a few minutes to soften them up. The sheets line dried and they always smell so wonderful that way.

I did some freelance work this afternoon and I'm working on that more this evening. It takes longer to do the computer processing part of images than it takes to shoot the event, in my experience, and I have two events from the last three days that I have to process. I send shots to the local newspaper, and it dawned on me this afternoon as I was working in the garden when I got home (you can think about so many things when you're out puttering in the garden!) that I must be showing up online quite a bit now because they always give me a by-line on each photo. I tried sending them the line "Courtesy the UTA Library" but they want a photographer listed in the credit.

It feels like I got a lot accomplished this weekend. Part of that is that I shifted my HRT back to the compounded estrogen/testosterone formula I was using before my insurance company discontinued their online compounding. They said "there is a perfectly good pill available." Well, there isn't. I tried it for a while and it wasn't good, and it took a while to wean from it when they said last fall they couldn't sell it any more ("Oops! Our bad!") But the answer for the last few months (estrogen only) was weight gain and lack of energy. So, since last weekend I'm back on my old compound, and paying out of my pocket. I realized that I can save money by picking up 3 months at a time, and the insurance would have made me pay $25 a month for the pills. This way I pay $20 over that ($95 for 3 months) and get what I want, and I can already feel the difference. It's worth the few dollars more.

I'll try to make it an early evening. I feel like I'll sleep like a log. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 08:30 AM

Morning workout was done, feel a bit achey so probably didn't stretch enough. Yesterday I did a spinning class, 4 mile walk, then another 5 miles with Paul and the kids. Paul brought the weights in from the workshop for me so I can do some toning at home as well as the gym.

I planted carrots and spinach with Harry yesterday. The sprouts are coming up well as are the leeks, broccoli and cauliflower.

I'm watching the Walk the Walk website to see when the dates for next years London moonwalk are released so I can register early. Maybe one day I'll do the London Marathon but I've got alot of training to do if I do!

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 11:11 AM

Catherine, how are your knees holding up? I'm impressed, to go from crutches a few years ago to running marathons! You go, girl!

It's so tempting to play hooky today, the yard is as inviting as it has ever been, but we're at the end of the semester and have lots of things to document and report.

I see that Michelle's book is due to arrive in her post office box today. I found a copy of Mama Makes Up Her Mind and sent that (after it sat on my dining room table, probably kind of like Mama's table, for a while). If any of you remember hearing Bailey White commentaries on All Things Considered, you'll remember her almost elderly-sounding gentle witty southern drawl and her great stories about Mama. I'm not having luck getting her audio to load from the NPR site, and apparently if you follow links you have to enter the date and year of the recording and find the title on the page. Maybe I need to switch browsers. Here is more about her. The embodiment of the place in which she grew up and still lives, and an inspiration to us all.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 11:26 AM

Hey, SRS-- put me down for a book when you get a chance. My vision issues have got a prescription (at last) that lets me read actual books printed on paper for the first time in 10 years!

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 03:23 PM

The knees are holding up pretty good thank you SRS. It's amazing what the surgeon has done. I still have regular check ups. One pin in my left leg is a bit loose and will need to be removed but there is a bit of a waiting list to have that done. I wear supports on my knees which give me a bit of extra support when exercising and running and losing weight has helped lots too. I feel so much better I can't tell you how much.

I have registered my interest in the London Moonwalk for next year so I will get an email just before the registration date is released. It's 26.2 miles power walked over night, I can't wait. I'm running in the 5km race for life in Hyde Park in July raising money for Cancer Research. The Moonwalk raises money for Breast Cancer Research. Fingers crossed I will be fit enough to hopefully run in the London Marathon in 2012 raising money for Help for Heroes.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 05:01 PM

Good work, Cat!

WYSI, PM your mail particulars. I'm sure I have something around here that will suit. :)

You never know, though. I sent Allison a couple of old dish towels (tea towels). ;-D

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: maire-aine
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 10:11 AM

I'm slowly pulling things together and getting some work done. The construction crew arrived this morning, to tear out my driveway and repave it. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather today & tomorrow. The repair shop brought my lawnmower back, so I can finally cut the grass; gotta stop for gas today. Now if it would just warm up a little bit.

I've gotta stay home today, so I'll catch up on laundry. The diningroom table and the coffee table in the livingroom are both cleared off. I've got some seedlings started under a grow-light in the diningroom, but it's too cold to put them outside.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 10:47 AM

Nothing much will be happening here for awhile. Gotta keep my feet up a few days,,,doc's orders,,,oh the life...a willing servant to bring me whatever I want...a laptop and thee!**bg**

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: SINSULL
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 12:51 PM

A loaf of bread? A jug of wine? Chocolate?
Enjoy your lying in, kitty.
M

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: maire-aine
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 02:18 PM

lying-in (?) "the state attending and consequent to childbirth"--did I miss something?

The cement truck just arrived, so they're pouring it now.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 02:41 PM

if you missed it, so did I!*bg*
lazing about is what it feels like! thanks just the same, Sins.:-)

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 05:27 PM

Sure signs of spring:

<> Two companionable dogs sunning themselves on bare black dirt(they dug it), emulating cows on the hill beyond

<> Seeds are sprouting in mini-greenhouses, just as promised

<> I'm cold from too much "'net" time in drafty home office

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 10:00 PM

These days I'm trying to finish up projects, like getting my garden shaped the way I want and planted, and finishing moving an old pile of dirt from the back yard to complete that garden.

This afternoon I moved about a $12 worth of dirt (if I'd bought the bags that filled the four wheelbarrows full that I moved). Small savings, but I made a discovery. The dogs were helping, and it seems they like to eat those white grubs. The ones that become Junebugs later on. They also eat Junebugs, so I guess this isn't a surprise.

I turned in some work from the weekend freelance work, and I think if I get other offers like that, I might "charge" the full price for the work but ask to donate the time instead and simply have them write a letter acknowledging that amount of work. I'd have to see what all is required for taxes, but I think this might be as useful for taking away tax indebtedness than earning extra cash and contributing to my tax load.

Dinner is almost ready (late, as usual) and The Good Wife is about to start. A new episode (five new coming up in the next few weeks).

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 07:32 AM

Right... I have to start doing something positive....

Weight has crept up... still under what I was 2 years ago, but I need to make sure it doesn't go any further. The major problem this year has been lack of mobility - getting out of breath going up stairs whereas last year I was going up Hadrian's Wall and not getting so winded! Anyway... I'm working 3 days a week, walking to and from the station where possible and will start up on the yoga again next month... I'm off all medications again (other than chocolate and the occasional asprin) so hopefully the sleep pattern will return to something resembling normal. I'm already sleeping longer without waking and the chest pains have lessened considerably. I'm going back to the 'eating plan' which was quite successful last year when I kept to it. Butter, bread and biscuits have crept back into my life since out stint singing at the Ritz at Christmas. They're out or at least reduced...

Then there's the decluttering. I have to get my fabric stash under control and back in its drawer. This means emptying out the furniture and removing the computer for a day! That's my task for May. I can disguise it as 'looking for a ground fabric to go with the jelly roll quilts I'm going to spend a weekend making soon'.... but it's going to be difficult. I just cannot bring myself to throw fabric away, no matter how small the scraps! I must be harsh and disciplined.

Alright, you can all stop laughing now, especially you Catherine Jayne!!!

In the meantime... just being at work for 2 consecutive days is a major goal achieved - but tomorrow will tell... third time is the charm!

LTS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 09:45 AM

I'm only laughing at the being harsh and disciplined with the material stash....it'll never happen, you're too much like me in that respect. I've got bags of wool and material I can't bring myself to throw out as they may well come in useful in the future!

Well done Liz on getting back on track with the eating plan. The Yoga will help too. I bet you feel much better for sleeping longer and with lessened chest pains. Looking forward to catching up with you over the weekend.....I'll pack the gin!!

I did a 4 mile walk last night, an hours body pump class followed by an hours step aerobics......and an asthma attack! I needed 2 nebulisers but I'm ok now just a bit breathless and tired. No exercise classes for me for a week :-(

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 11:13 AM

With a long major push yesterday and a short major push today (in my highly functional home office), I declutted two huge "work" thingies toward someone ELSE's in-basket. On one project, a report for possible hand-delivery tonight where I hope for an opening to advance another project a few inches (an hour's Hardi-ride away). On another, a completed task that can and will sit till the recipient tags me as "it."

Declutted sched with a welcome date-change on a container-gardening consult with the Earthboxes' donor.

Declutted ALL scheds ydy with a change in Hotmail appt. notifications.

Missed pool last night due to gastric, uh, DISTRESS, and made up the activity in chores instead.

Seedling 'houses opened ydy.

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 04:30 PM

I was at work for a while this morning, pulling together material for some articles I'll be writing. But the drive over, with the sun just at the level it was, clobbered me and I've been feeling a little like I'm coming down with the migraine aura all day. A nap helped. Other than this setback today, I've been feeling a returning energy level with the shift in the HRT formula.

It's absolutely beautiful weather this week. My garden is making headway, still early days, but it is beginning to look like a spot to grow plants again.

I did have one big de-clutter this week. Yesterday I was driving my usual route back from dropping my son at school, and I was first in line at a big light. There on the pavement just in front of me was the same piece of 4' x 8' MDF plywood that had been there for at least one, maybe two days that I've been through the intersection. Fell off a truck, no doubt. I took the moment to put my truck in park, catch the eye of the guy next to me to not start until I was out of the way (it was a red light, and was not a fast one, but still. . .). The only problem with that successful maneuver to haul that out of the road was that I didn't have gloves on and an came away with splinters and lots of little nicks from pulling it several yards. Ouch!

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Eiseley
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 04:33 PM

They're delivering a new piano tomorrow so I am hurrying to move the potatoes (yes, it's Idaho) from the back porch and otherwise make it a straightish shot from the back alley, down the steps, through the garden, up the threshold, through the laundry/Ben's room, around the corner where the potatoes won't be anymore, across the linoleum and into the piano nook.

This will work! (I hope).

Eiseley

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 08:47 PM

Oh, you are all so inspiring! I'm still racing to catch up with myself after 5 days away - I've been back since Sunday but feel as if I haven't stopped running.
Tomorrow will be the ultimate de-cluttering- I have a strong young man coming to move me out of my last storage space (so I don't have to pay the May rent for it!!). That means I'll have to deal with all my teaching materials, family photos, costume boxes, my kids' book boxes, odds and ends of furniture, camping equipment, a couple of bedsteads- oof I'm getting tired thinking of it!

My dear husband will stay away from the chaos and instead will build me my raised bed boxes so I can FINALLY start my garden! That's assuming he feels ok- he's been a bit under the weather lately.

And, we're looking for a nice, adult, calm dog. Am I nuts?

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 10:08 PM

Adopt an older dog (4 or 5 yrs) from the shelter. You should be able to determine the level of calmness that is established in the animal.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 11:16 PM

.... we're looking for a nice, adult, calm dog. Am I nuts?

No, just do not settle for anything else. Then when you get one with the right brain, be sure to encourage the calmness with good reinforcement. Do not reinforce excited behavior even if it looks to you like fun-- to a dog it is usually nerves, not fun. A happy dog is more usually a beaming dog paying attention to YOU
Ask the shelters to let you try any dogs surrendered due to a death or illness-- those dogs usually take awhile to bond and then bond tight and calm, grateful for a new bond. (You also can start by fostering and then keep The One when you find it.)

If you find Enid let me know-- she's on her way here.

====

I DID deliver that big ass memo this evening, and I DID advance not just one other project but 3 or 4. Many carefully-tended sprouts bloomed this evening, and I was deft, TBTG, in the harvesting.

~Susan
~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: mouldy
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 09:44 AM

"The best laid plans of mice and men", etc...

Plan A - Spend today emptying a lot of what is stacked in the hallway (mainly potential boot fair fodder) into the relatively empty garage. Get other stuff off the landing and either up the loft or slung into spare bedrooms for sorting. Do packing and any "toiletry work" needed. I am off to Iceland for the Eurogathering early tomorrow and will be back, geology permitting, on Weds afternoon.
Peter wants to start work again on Thursday.

Plan B (currently in operation) - Spend three quarters of the day supervising and chasing around a now walking Freya, before I eventually get her to sleep about 2pm. Try to do some packing (manage half of it), leave garden and seedlings in a safe state, fill pond again, take cat to cattery, visit cash machine, empty hall etc, fill new iPod with music for the trip, make sure fridge is clear of stuff that will go off, de-fuzz relevant areas, shower, finish packing...and forget the early night I could do with!

But I lost another half pound last week!

Andrea

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 11:10 AM

Today sun meets free-time meets need for fresh air.

Picked up another ag panel ydy to put a divider in Dog World, so a poop-free sitting zone can be created for doggies to enjoy with us when invited-- within the fence but beyond the poop. (Song title?)

Also ready for order is the back porch that has been catching items planned for a nice, shaded, dry sitting area. We have been using it for about a month while I have cleared the corner of it that needs to hold our chairs. This is for Hardi and I and friends, including the furry ones on chains, LOL. House is rented-- not gonna screen that porch/build doors, etc.

The third area I may get to is under a favorite tree that offers a different view of the surrounding countryside. There are 6 rusty, white iron chairs waiting to come out of retirement and go out there, and a table to fix as a side table for it-- a former kids' picnic table, round with a little umbrella. Fabric for that is shot and toddler-age style, so I plan to spray-paint it to look like a drinks-umbrella.

This is all WAY too much for one day but I shall make a start and by the time Hardi gets home he can help me finish and "set a bit" with me, in one of these 3 zones.

Our friend Ed sez he has a month to go to get outta rehab and container-garden with me. I may take him a seedling or two to mind on his windowsill.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 12:13 AM

I had a good day's eating yesterday - only slipped a couple of times with an extra slice of bread and a few bits of chocolate over my points allowance... pretty good compared with previous weeks.

Also managed 3 days of work this week, another first this year, but judging by the pounding head and the sparkly lights at the corner of my vision, I'm doomed to spend at least part of today in a darkened room with a bucket...

Ho hum...

LTS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 09:51 AM

Oh dear Liz, hope you are feeling better soon.....I'm bringing much chocolatey goodness (which is probably way over your points allowence...ho hum..) tomorrow!

I seem to recovered ok from the asthmas attack and did a morning workout dvd this morning. I've also....baked 2 loaves of bread, 2 chocolate ginger bread cakes, double chocolate brownies, a spiced sausage meat lattice and a sage and onion sausage meat pie. Need to sit down for a while now!

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountabil
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 11:10 AM

I have more energy with the change in my daily Rx, and while I probably am losing weight again, I haven't stepped on the scale. It takes me a while to get around to that point--I don't want to see the bad news until it isn't so bad! ;-)

Liz, do you know what the problem is, why you feel so bad? Is this something you are slowly getting better from, or are you waiting for more tests? I hope you are able to get back to your old self soon!

My hair cutter on Wed didn't end up with the shorter cut I wanted, so I'm going in tomorrow morning for another try. I found a photo and emailed it. I was late to my appointment on Wednesday and we didn't have time to discuss the remaining changes to the style before she had another customer waiting. I think we'll get it this time. Funny, as my kids' hair gets longer, mine gets shorter. But I could sit on mine, it was so long, when I was their age.

Lots to do around here. When I settle on what I will take on, I'll report back. I find myself sorting out things for a garage sale, so I suppose that should happen soon, before it gets too hot.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 11:13 AM

What actually got done ydy was the ag panel got dragged into DW and propped/tied in place. The dogs do not know I am not done, but I do. I had forgotten how heavy is the heavier gauge I bought. o.m.GOD..... I had the muscles, but what I didn't have was STAMINA.... not sore at all, just wiped out.

The back porch-- I did move a lot of really heavy stuff to make room for the chairs and I did put together a side table I had nabbed. I had to sit to catch my breath after every item, so I did, and when I got to the part that needed help, I stopped till there was help (today). The chairs will move today, in a little bit.

How I FELT as I did all this was happy-to-be-moving and a little surprised at how tiring it was.

But what it COST was three knocked-out-sleeping chair naps as the rest of the day and evening unfolded, then I slept a solid 9 hours (7 is more usual), and I am ready to go back to bed now even after wakeup time.

Tdy we go for a consult on Earthboxes so we can buy the right dirt, next week, in bulk. It's a pretty day for buying dirt, and if we get it in indiv. bags I can fill and plant a box a day and leave it all in the van, so I can drive to the planting area. I think tdy's purchase will be a bale of peat, some vermiculite, and a SMALL bag of dirt. I can always get a coupla larger bags when the seedlings warrrant. So far they have only earned sm. potfulls of dirt.

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 02:11 PM

Chairs done. Recliners for 3 in place, with "side tables," and camp chairs for more yet to add.

Dog-chain to accompany hoomins, done.

Final sorting of items to relocate on/from porch, done. Filthy items set to soak. Garden supply area set to go out to kennel "potting" shed.

Off to consult on dirt with Earthbox donors, and buy enough for the veggie seedlings to grab hold during hardening.

Great to see so many other folks also coming to life, with results sprouting all over.

===

Thank y'alls for the PMs about cardiac issues, friends. Today I talked with my trainer-- we will research some cardiac-rehab info to check our cpnsensus on how much is too much, but agreed to keep working on all this for now at a slow pace, and keep the naps if needed. I'm still betting on my Secret Garden. :~) (LIFE)

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 02:21 PM

My white lounge carpet is covered in red, purple and burgundy string and fluff. I started cutting the squares to make my wild woman mojo coat.   I am afraid the floor is going to have to stay that way because now I have to pack for 3 days in Rochester Kent for the Sweeps Festival.


Must pack for rain and cold and wind. It's not going to be very nice.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 03:08 PM

I've been reading the May Martha Stewart Living and yesterday discovered her discussion of good neutral paints, muted tones of various colors. And there is some discussion of the ceiling in one set of colors. I've been thinking for some time that the wood paneling in my living room, while beautiful, competes with everything made of wood in the room. I've been thinking about making the plunge and painting it, but that is a permanent move, so it needs to be a good job and a good choice. Something to think about.

Looks like thunderstorms heading this direction. I mowed the entire yard this week, and the garden is the next part to get more attention. A good soak will make weeding easy in the established bed that need planting. In the new beds I need to get some more soil in place, so I can finish planting this weekend. Better make a run now.

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 05:55 PM

The garden consult went VERY well, and the new sitting area in the porch has already paid for itself, with dividends. And I knocked off (I think) before getting more tired than I wished to.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountabil
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 07:42 PM

That sounds nice, a sitting area. Mine isn't too easy to use because you so often have a dog (Poppy) wanting to sit in your lap. You have to carry a small stick--you don't need to touch her with it then, but she just knows if you have a stick it means you'll poke it at her if she tries to jump or climb.

That said, I'm sure I mentioned rescuing a wrought iron bench that I need to strip, paint, and put some kind of seating on. And it would look great in the back yard, though I wouldn't mind having seating on the front porch, also.

I just finished working with a scan of a great pizza dough recipe I found last year in Martha Stewart Living. You can search for it as "Bianco's Pizza Dough" or you can send me a PM with your email and I'll attach it. I put the images into a Word document. I abandoned my old pizza dough recipe after making this one a couple of times. It is really superior. I often times just use olive oil, fresh herbs, and sprinkle some garlic and Parmesan or other cheese and it's wonderful without being a full-fledged pizza. Foccacia or however it is spelled.

Picked up some bags of dirt, and I need to go mix and spread. It still looks like rain but hasn't hit yet. I'll go to my favorite little nursery after my haircut tomorrow (it's out of the way except for when I'm at work or this haircutters shop). I want to have the soil ready when I have the plants. I need to be careful not to get carried away, since tomorrow is payday. :)

Guess it's time for a new thread soon.

Oh--before I forget--that sneaky Linn put something in the mail and had the presence of mind to not mention it, so this disk of Tom's shanty recording from the 1980s was a complete surprise today. Thank you!

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 08:36 PM

Hardi relocated an item for me that will serve as a temp potting shelf, until it becomes dry storage for extra camp chairs.

SRS, our chair stick is for a kitteh that's half-feral and wants to be Lap Cat. She is nice but she needs to remain on the upholstered arms of the recliners. She takes gentle momcat swats pretty well to learn what is OK and what is not.

Faulkner refuses to sit on the chairs that smell of us, but he does curl up chairside with the new seating config. With the old config he just milled around, fretting. This one makes US relax, so he does too. Now Sadie would jump-=- but she is not invited to this zone. She has another one! :~)

F earned the cushy dogbed that is in the brick shed/small kennel. I need to take it out anyhow to make room for the dirt I will mix next. Great shed, flex use-- 6' head clearance, dry as a bone, easy chair inside already for me (dog-s-'haired).

~S~

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: LilyFestre
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 10:12 PM

Yoga. One solid hour of absolute bliss.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountabil
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 11:20 PM

Michele, how did the party go? Was that part of the yoga today? (I read your other thread for part of the story).

I've made a little progress on the garden, finishing the third main bed and starting the next hump of dirt, by putting layers of newspaper down on the existing turf before piling the dirt and humus (no point in digging it up, it'll be 12 inches under). I picked another pint of strawberries today. And they're mine - all mine!

SRS

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 May 10 - 07:38 AM

The party was really nice! She had all kinds of food there (cheese, grapes, crackers, cookies, tortilla pinwheels, sushi, wine, beer, etc.) and I think there must have been at leat 35-40 people there. I got to see people I haven't seen in a month or so, lots of hugs and catching up, 2 people gave me their numbers and told me to CALL so we can get together to do something. And the yoga....I was able to do just about everything.....it felt absolutely amazing!!!!
   
I'm coming over for strawberries!!!!!! :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Maryrrf
Date: 01 May 10 - 11:20 AM

Haven't posted recently but I have done a massive decluttering and I'm still only about halfway through. I've hauled twelve bags to the dump/recycling, and seven bags of donations. It feels great! Also I'm finding stuff I had completely forgotten about - including a Dustbuster that was buried under some old suitcases in the closet. Also got the garden planted. I've taken a week off from work for spring cleaning and gardening.

Subject: RE: Apr '10 De-clutter(SpringCleaning! Accountability)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 May 10 - 01:35 PM

Here's the new thread.

Mary, if you're half-way through a massive de-cluttering, my hat's off to you! AND you planted the garden? You're Wonder Woman!

SRS