July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 11:56 AM

Here's the new thread. I've tried creating my own tag, so it's one that will have to be moved below the line before a hard-core folkie has a fit. :)

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: ragdall
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 04:44 AM

Alice,
Your painting is amazing! I love the style, you're very talented.

SRS,
Are the dogs all de-skunked? What a nuisance! Eventually the dogs should run out of skunks? Were you able to get back to your sorting? How do you survive in 103, do you have air conditioning? We don't get much done in the heat of the day here and it's much cooler than there.
I remember taking my boys off to college. It's a big job and can be hard to let them go. Will your son be near enough to come home on long weekends?

Kat,
Thanks for the encouragement. After reading SRS's post, I remembered that I also weeded two flowerbeds and started on the third but got distracted partway through so it looks very strange with one nice clean patch and the rest overgrown.
Part of my problem with outdoor work and other chores is that I often have trouble making myself leave my house. Today I had to go to the medical lab before they closed at 1 pm, so that got me out. After that I ran around town for several hours, researching materials for various projects I'd like to accomplish in August.

I bought the lumber to build an overhead ladder as a "housewarming gift" for the grandchildren. Tonight I managed to saw all the pieces to the right lengths and cut the notches in the pieces that will fit together. Hopefully tomorrow I can drill the 22 holes for the dowelling, fit it all together and get one coat of paint on it.

I'm hoping that I will be able to find enough paint in my supply cupboard to do the job. I wanted to use several bright colours on it, but the smallest cans of paint were about $20 each. I'm going to see if I can still buy tubes of oil paint at the dollar store and experiment with using those to colour small amounts of my white "marine enamel".

After I quit working with my saw, I mowed my front lawn. I started on the back lawn, but the dew was getting heavy as the sun was long down. It made the grass clog the mower so I had to quit. Then I came inside and vacuumed. I suspect that I will pay for all the exercise tomorrow.

rags

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 02:55 AM

Pete and Re-Pete here. Last Saturday I stopped canning half-way through because I needed to de-skunk the dogs. Tonight, I was sorting the playbills, but I stopped when I smelled it and realized they'd killed another Saturday night by killing what was probably the sibling of last week's skunk visitor.

Poppy got it, Cinnamon stayed out of the way. She's only going to pick up stink because she keeps comforting Poppy. Who got it full in the side of the face.

Grrrrrr.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 11:49 PM

Beautiful, Alice and congratulations!

I did my qi gong, tonight. Hope to be better about doing it more often now.

Did some laundry and small bits of decluttering, in picking up stuff. We did buy a small plastic drawer, rather than bin, to sit on top of the kitchen counter. We had a copper tray there holding a jumble of stuff...flashlight, gardening gloves, this and that. I decided this morning a bin to put it in would make it look less cluttered. It did, sort of, but what I really want are cleaned out shelves below the counter and/or more kitchen cabinets (but not really because I want to pare it down to where we do not need more cabinets, just smarter use with less of what we already have.)

We have had a full evening of rain and it is still gently falling. It sounds so beautiful and smells divine after the many days of way-too-hot weather. SRS, you have my sympathy.:-)

kat

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 10:40 PM

Good work, Alice!

I'm thinking about a second job - possibly some online work - just to speed up the process of settling a few bills.

I don't have any decluttering to report. I did some tedious running around, mostly shopping. I'm getting ready to send a kid away to college, so I picked up plastic bins to pack (Home Depot, Lowes, and various other stores are ready). I also bought myself a nice hat with a good brim and a scarf that can shield the neck. This was at Academy. It was 103 here today, and the next week is supposed to be about the same.

I'm going to sort playbills and fold laundry for the rest of the evening. And get that new thread started in the morning.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Alice
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 03:26 PM

I became inspired to go back to my degree in art, the work I love, and started painting again. I had a small commission to finish and ship soon to a person who had found my aliceflynn.com web site and emailed a request for a small painting... her name is also Alice Flynn - how weird is that! She was googling and came across my site and emailed me for a painting to give to her husband for his birthday. It has reopened the door for me to paint again. I've been able to support myself with graphic design in the past, but fine art was always a money pit, more expensive to pursue without a profit, since shipping, framing, gallery %, etc. are high when you live in isolated Montana.

So... yes, I've de-cluttered lately, cleaning up my drafting table and the area around it, and have been inspired to start doing small paintings that can be finished in a day. The Letterpress Prints project is still going, but here is a link to the painting blog I started today:


http://aliceflynn.wordpress.com/

Alice
(anticipating a forecast destructive hail storm heading our way again today)

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 01:00 PM

That's a good idea about the duvet covers - used sheets. I'll have to look into that. I have a couple of down comforters that could use them.

These threads are a sorting out of daily activities, and de-cluttering is part of it, but not all. It gets commingled.

I finished mowing the yard last night. Did the front the night before. It's supposed to get really hot here this week, so maybe the grass will slow (though we had so much rain, I can't say for sure that will happen). I have to weed the front bed and get it planted. I should do that this evening. I'm still trying to do most of my outdoor work when the sun isn't so bright. Now it's just common sense stay out of the heat and sun, not just the Cipro reaction.

Today I should work on sorting those programs. It would be nice to hand those over to the Special Collections folks before I leave for Arizona. (Before I leave I also have to sort out who will feed the dogs and water the yard. Oy.)

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 11:57 AM

Sounds to me as if you've managed to do a whole lot amongst child-minding, etc! My house looks more cluttered than it did at the beginning of the month, but the piles are "works in progress" as I have definite plans for most, it's just finding the time to work my plans.:-) With my grandson here everyday, it's been a challenge. I keep thinking come Sept., when he starts first grade, then I'll have more time, but will also lose a little Helper.:-) Give yourself a pat on the back Rags...helping with children moving, fixing up a spare room, dealing with an aching back, carting off even small batches of things, stitching up beautiful, thoughtful duvets, etc. ALL count. I've learned we have to give ourselves credit for even what may seem to be the "small" things as they all add up. Ya did good, from the sounds of it!

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: ragdall
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 03:03 AM

July is almost over and looking back at my July 4th post, I can see that while many of you have made great progress toward achieving your goals, my good intentions this month added paving stones to the road to a very warm place.

I've spent a little time on a ladder picking ripe Saskatoon berries from the tall bushes in my yard and freezing them. Have done a little sewing and a lot of child minding, but the clutter hasn't been noticeably reduced yet. I did manage to recycle three small boxes of obsolete computer manuals and teaching guides and to take a small box of miscellaneous items to a thrift store when I was getting the "guest room" ready.

My son got a contract for September to teach in a village two hours away from here. They found a house there and moved about two weeks ago. That meant that children were dropped off on a number of occasions for me to keep occupied while Mom and Dad packed so I couldn't very well work on a declutter project, could I?   Their move prompted me to clean out my "guest room", (aka temporarily relocate items stored there), so the five of them could use it while engaged in the long process of moving during which time they were neither here nor there and had no beds to sleep on at either house. I also would like to give them a "home base" for times when they want to come into town and not have to drive all the way back home again that night.

After deciding I must make removable, washable covers for the comforters and duvets that the family will use when the weather gets colder, I did a sweep through several thrift stores, looking for attractive sheets in good condition. I have two twin bed sized "duvet covers" pinned, ready to sew. I'll need to find two more sheets to make the third cover. I would have had enough sheets, but I fell in love with a sheet covered in small yellow roses and diverted it and it's mate to cover the foam mattress I use to sleep on the floor when the back pain is too bad to sleep on the more flexible bed. While I was looking for sheets I found two queen sized duvet covers in excellent condition, so the parents' bed will be well covered without me having to sew anything for it.

I've set aside two medium sized boxes of "inflatable items" such as beach balls, air mattresses, and tire inner tubes which were used by my son and his brothers many years ago. They all appear to still be usable. I think that someone who just bought a house, about a kilometre from a huge lake, should have them. I'll make sure that the boxes are loaded into our vehicle when we go to view the "new house".

The past couple of days, I've been losing sleep, trying to select photos to get printed, mounted and entered in the photography contest at out local Fall Fair (Aug. 11- 15). I'm entering as many categories as I can, so I'm hopeful that I'll be awarded a ribbon for one of them.

Maybe next month I'll have time to declutter?

rags

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 04:42 PM

That's good, Kat! Wonderful discoveries like this lead to more success, so soon I expect you'll be out there swimming laps while Morgan plays. :)

I've pulled the lemon balm that ran wild outside my back door. It's nice to again see the bricks I laid down several years ago. I need to do more of that work, there's a stack of bricks on the porch waiting to extend that hidden part of the patio. I'll use the string trimmer to clear the rest of the grass off of the surface, and then use vinegar to keep the grass from growing back. Spray the green shoots enough and the roots finally run out of energy and it dies.

I'm tossing the plants and the dirt (and seeds) I swept up on the part of the yard above the creek. It helps to have good ground cover back there to prevent erosion. Lemon balm can grow wild and help hold down the bank.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 02:12 PM

LOL...I think he's grown bored of the vacuuming, for now.:-)

I do use librarything, when I remember to. I like to keep track of what I've read, esp. now that I don't hang to books like I used to...I have a shortcut on my desktop, but still keep forgetting to go there. I used to be able to get a print out from the used bookstore where I buy books, sometimes, of all the books I have bought there. It made it easy to keep track of what I've read (so much fiction, I forget, esp. as I read for pleasure more than anything), but the new owners no longer allow/provide that, though their system does catch it if I try to buy one I've already purchased before.

So, I do need to use librarything more as it is the only record I have of what I've read. It is very easy to use and can be kept completely private, plus I have never received any email from them except a "welcome to." I have not explored the whole site, there's quite a bit available, but for now, it is a great thing for me.

I've been struggling for years, now, to get past the psychological effects of being ill for so long and being on O2 for over 8 years pre-new heart valve. For so long, my energy was ltd. and we just knew I could only do so much, then had to stop. I was doing better until the pneumonia last year. Now, I think the mind is finally catching up to where the physical wants to be.

This week, each morning which has started out with my exercising and/or getting out of the house and being active, not just sitting and watching Morgan swim, I have noticed much more energy throughout the day, than I've been used to. My brain was still back in the "look at all you've done this morning, must rest" mode. Getting past that psychological speed bump (sleeping policeman)has been tough, but I think I've made a break-through this week. Instead of staying in this morning and just doing a bit of housework, I left for the post office, then the grocery store, all by myself, plus another stop at the drug store. I then came home and still had so much energy, I carried the groceries in, washed and prepared the veggies and fruit I bought, plus cleaned off the kitchen counter and put the dishes in to soak. I also emptied all of the dregs of lotion, into one bottle so that's clutter gone from the bathroom, plus I scrubbed the commode.

I am not done and this is SO NEW to me. I've talked with the therapist about this, puzzled as to why I just haven't seemed to get past it once I had the new valve put in. After all, Letterman and Robin Wms. have been gung-ho ever since they had their surgeries!**bg** Anyway, we agreed that physicians/surgeons usually never address the psychological implications, positive and/or negative, of such a major event in a person's life.

Yesterday, Morgan went home at noon while I was at the dentist's. By 115p, I surprised him, by picking him up and taking him back to the pool just to play. It was hot outside, though not as bad as it has been, another thing which usually keeps me in, but there was a breeze and shade, so we stayed there for two hours while he had a blast and I had a good time visiting with a young mother. Any other time, I would have said, no, it's too hot and I don't have the energy to go out like that after already going to swimming, the dentist's, etc. As it is, after I dropped him off at home, HE was dog-tired and I still had energy to come home and do a few things until Rog came home about 530p when we had supper. THIS was a "Mama" Morgan is unused to and it was wonderful to surprise him with such a treat as pooltime sans lessons; the first time this whole, hot summer.

Thanks for listening...had to share this with my friends!

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 11:21 AM

Grandma is always more exciting! She lets him run the vacuum and rearrange furniture!

Kat, have you used that Librarything.com site? I think someone from Mudcat mentioned it a while back. I stumbled upon it and am thinking about using it, since I never did update the software I was thinking about using for organizing my books.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 10:59 AM

No Morgan, today, so I am getting ready to get some real work done around here; picking up after his week of playing here, soaking some dishes, clearing my desk and getting my mss. ready to mail out, plus go to the post office to mail off a book or two. Of course, he will probably call about lunchtime and ask if he can come over after having grown bored of being at home with "dad.":-)

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 10:12 AM

Beautiful photos, Maryanne! It reminds me that I haven't taken my camera with me the last few times I visited the nearby historic little town with all of the Victorian houses and the old limestone courthouse square (Granbury, TX)

It's the end of the month. Let's see if each of us can make a push on Saturday to give ourselves a good start into Autumn. Here in Texas it won't feel like autumn until about October, the only visible sign will be the shorter amount of daylight, but in the Northwest I remember that August was a really transitional month, that summer activities started wrapping up, preparations for fall and winter were underway. Storm windows up, patio furniture put away, the garden was about over (we're getting ready for the second crop here.)

I got some good work done in my office last night. There are fewer papers laying around. Some were filed, or put into notebooks or subject folders, others were shredded or put in recycling. And I like putting that orphan hard drive back to work.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: maire-aine
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 10:03 PM

I got the Stratford pix on FB , so you can check 'em out if you wish.

The plumbers aren't coming until Tuesday; yesterday's job took longer & I wasn't available Friday or Monday.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 07:00 PM

Bright idea afternoon, here.

I have been looking at the readings on my computer to see why it has slowed down so much some times of the day. I've found part of the problem, and I've found a few things that aren't working correctly. I have an external hard drive that I can't see the contents, and keep meaning to diagnose. Turns out Win7 isn't compatible. So I'll move it over to my other workspace in this office, where my office laptop is located, and use it there. This one has an extra USB plug (so I can connect a device to the disk drive and the computer sees it in a kind of daisy chain fashion).

I've paid a couple of bills (nice!) and am following my own advice that I sent to Maryanne, looking into the costs of on-demand water heaters. Last year I had higher bills because a couple of things weren't working - my side-by-side fridge was keeping the freezer way too cold, and that is fixed. My hot water heater was keeping the water way too hot, and that is fixed. But I've been thinking about the on-demand system for a while and wonder if it isn't worth while making the change before the hot water tank bursts. Again. It's out of warranty, it could be any day now. :-/

I looked at the Energy Guide yellow sheet on my hot water tank. Looks like I average about $559 a year paying for hot water - probably higher if you take my son's hour-long showers into account, though there are only 2 of us in the house.

Depending on how many devices you have going at once, you can put tankless water heaters in one in a central place for a smaller house, or you can put one near each major hot water faucet in a more spread out place. Or you can put them in multiples, like putting two parallel heaters one place for the house, in so they're working together. I have electric only, so that would be a better bet here. Looks like those heaters meant for this climate cost about $500 each, and then there's installation. I think I've just answered one of my first thoughts - it looks like a job to do after the hot water tank finally dies. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 12:06 PM

Checking bank account online today - there was a lump sum deposited by the office that handles child support. All summer I've been waiting for this other shoe to drop. This seems to be it. It gives me a little boost here at the end, but now I'm in the deep end of the pool all by myself.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 10:30 AM

Catherine, you do have your hands full. Congratulations on the continued weight loss!

I got out for a nice walk with the dogs last night. I have a set of pages a friend sent that is his stretching routine. First time I worked through it I realized it is primarily for the back. I am going to get some of my exercise tapes and put them back in the bedroom (I moved the former living room television and a VCR in there a few weeks ago.) I need to simply work on the stretching part and not get into the exercise part for a week or two, just to limber up. I'm still being careful, because it hasn't been a month since I'm off of the Cipro.

The enormity of my son's move in mid-August is beginning to weigh down on me. He's putting a lot of stuff till the last minute. I'll point out today that if he doesn't get this new computer built he's going to have to take his old Dell. Maybe that will inspire him to get started buying the parts and building the thing.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 08:59 AM

I joined slimming world body optimise to drop this final stone in weight. I've already lost 5 and a half stone but need some sort of a boost to kick the last bit. I'm now on week 2. I lost 3 lbs last week so I'm off to a good start!

The digging of foundations is well underway in the back garden for the extention to the house.

Got a long list of exercise classes for the rest of the week and next week that I'm signed up for.

Looking for a new mattress for the bed in the spare room. 2 and a half months before all the family descend from around the country so need to get the house all sorted. Hopefully our bedroom will be decorated too...the walls were stripped over the new year break but we have been so busy with other projects we just haven't got round to finishing it off.

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 12:09 AM

Plummer did a wonderful interview on the Diane Rehm show a couple of years ago. It was wonderful. Here's a link to the show, from Nov. 18, 2008.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: maire-aine
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 10:21 PM

Thanks for the info about the water heater, Maggie. I'll follow up.

But, I put aside all thoughts of plumbing problems yesterday, and ran off on a mad-cap adventure. A friend called me Tuesday morning and asked if I wanted to go to the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford Ontario. Of course, I said "you bet". She and her friend had planned this trip, but her friend fell ill and couldn't go. Everything was arranged (and non-refundable), so I was happy to go. She said all I had to do was drive the car over the international bridges, which is okay with me.

We saw "Jaques Brel..." and (wait for it) Christopher Plummer in "The Tempest". He was tremendous, and even at 80, he carried the whole performance. I've had a huge crush on him since I was a teenager, so I was thrilled.

Now back to reality.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 08:00 PM

Feeling lethargic today, but I must motivate myself to go out and mow. We've had heavy rains two days in a row, so of course the lawn is galloping into a growth spurt.

In the house we've had another small flood - the air conditioning isn't draining properly. After a rain when it's so humid this thing can't drain fast enough. I'll add more Clorox to the condensation pan and see if that helps. Otherwise I'm afraid a plumber will have to come take the line off and blow or snake it out. I think if I take off the front panel I can reach that pan better, and maybe squirt some bleach down the line.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 02:42 PM

When I was a kid running through the sprinkler was about as low-tech and high pleasure as we could manage. My kids used to play with a wading pool and sprinklers. It's truly one of life's simple pleasures. (My pit bull also loves rolling in the sprinkler - this is a pleasure that spans species!)

My fruit stand didn't have any more boxes of peaches. I'll have to try again another day, and early in the morning. They taste wonderful, so I bought a few of the loose ones (at a much higher price, so there's no point in buying them at that price for canning.) Also found huge ripe mangoes for $1.29 each.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 10:44 PM

Qi gong this morning followed by taking M to swim class, stopping at an organic veggie/fruit stand which didn't have tomatoes, yet, so on to the other one, then to buy envelopes, then home for lunch and an afternoon out of the heat, playing canasta, uno, and Chinese checkers as well as spaying him with the garden hose...he loves that so much! Can't remember if I said we sent out several books on the weekend and I have another going out tomorrow.

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 11:56 AM

Maryanne, those plumber visits can be horribly expensive. I had one place tell me last winter that when my heater was fluctuating all over temperature-wise my best move was to replace the hot water tank. I got a couple of opinions and the guy who actually did the work simply replaced a thermostat in the hot water heater. I am seriously considering making the switch to an on-demand (tankless) hot water system next time I have to replace a heater. There are simply so many reasons why keeping 50 gallons of water always hot in a closet isn't the best way to go. And this time of year, I have to cool the house around the closet with 50 gallons of hot water. :-/

Here's a U.S. Dept. of Energy sites about them. I stayed with a friend last winter who had a system and was astonished at how well it worked.

Son wasn't thrilled about going to class today, but he went. He's big, he could simply put his foot down and say "no." But he didn't, and I'm glad. Plus, having taken this class he'll have a good certification to list on any job applications he'll submit, and sometimes these classes can make the difference in getting jobs, especially the types of summer jobs that are open to college students.

We have several days of rain coming, to be followed by extreme heat. Joy (not). More mowing the lawn in really hot weather.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 11:16 AM

Whew. The yard sale for this year is over. Tonight I have to go pick up what's left and decide what to do with it. Funny how having a yard sale makes me want to sort out more stuff to get rid of. Yesterday I sorted out a good deal of the bathroom closet. I have a closet with shelves that I had loaded up with tubs of bathroom stuff. It was not organized and I couldn't tell when we were running low on different items without digging or worse...having to dig around when I needed something in a hurry. So...I purchased several clear shoeboxes (on sale now for the college kids) and sorted things out, labeling each box so we can find things easily. Makeup. Hair accessories. Deodorant. Razors. Manicure/Pedicure stuff. Toothpaste. Soap. Hand Soap. You get the idea. I also purchased a shoe organizer, the kind with pockets that hangs over the door. I hung this on the closet door, facing the inside of the closet and it is now full of bottles of hair spray, gel, mousse, shampoo and conditioner. The pockets are see through so it makes it a snap to find what I'm looking for. And right now, I don't need all those hair care products clogging up shelves or the medicine cabinet anyway! I still have some sorting to do and hopefully I'll get to that today.
   I already did a giant load of dishes and have the laundry started. Chicken is thawing for dinner, the baby is napping and I'm about to put some laundry away.
    Pete went back to work today after a 3 day weekend....had to have his car repaired yesterday. I always feel kind of a let down after having him home for a longer period of time. I love when he's home with us!
   Ok. Back to work for me. I have a yoga class tonight too...YAY! Have a great day everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: maire-aine
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 03:40 AM

I'm getting ready for some major (expensive) work on the house. Yesterday I noticed I didn't have any hot water (it was only lukewarm), so I called the plumber. He came out today & said the switch has worn out, and the whole water heater should be replaced. That will have to wait a while, but I can still fire it up by turning the dial up. I just need to plan ahead.

At the same time, I had him give me an estimate on cleaning out the drain that's nearest the furnace. It's too clogged to let the water from the humidifier drain out, so I couldn't use it last winter. They'll be here on Thursday to start on that.

We've had a bit of a break in the hot/humid weather, so I cut the front & side grass. Lots & lots of crabgrass this year. I wish there was some use for the stuff. I could get rich. Also washed the kitchen floor.

Scanned a bunch of old photographs & posted them on my cousin's family tree.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 01:00 AM

Oops. I put my last de-clutter update in Michelle's thread. But it isn't like that hasn't happened across these platforms.

My son goes to a day-long first aid class tomorrow. I decided that was the best way to be sure he has some self-preservation smarts when he goes off to college. They'll train him how to recognize some health problems and how to respond in emergencies.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 11:52 AM

Kat, I understand about how important a good ergonomic position is. I go through this every time my glasses Rx needs to be change. My computer glasses are the result of a painfully stiff neck from sitting incorrectly in front of the computer.

The USPS was quite swift and the package has been delivered. It seemed that Michelle's thread in which she went through all of the diagnosis, surgery, recovery, and chemo steps had reached a point where it was a story that needed to be collected so she could refer back to it. It was sent from all of us for obvious reasons - we all participated, since it was a spinoff of the de-clutter and accountability discussions. (Pretty amazing, isn't it: we start out discussing housework and end up curing cancer!)

I canned this weekend - not heavy duty, by any means, but this was my first time canning peaches as an adult (I helped my mom with this work when I was a kid). I have 14 pint jars of beautiful peach slices. I'll pick up some more fruit this week and do another batch. Hopefully without the dog/skunk interaction this time.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 07:51 PM

I'll take your thunderstorm and send you some dry, high desert heat, LtS, though it may not invigorate any more than hot and muggy.:-)

This morning, whilst it was coolish, my Rog switched tables for me, narrower-across-library cum dining table for a broader one for me to use as my desk in the dining room. So the narrower one is now draped with my birthday present real oilcloth and set up for our eating and Rog's computing, next to his PC workstation.

I have been having terrible pains in my shoulders, down my arms and in my right wrist ever since switching to a lower chair which alleviated lower leg, ankle and foot pain (bad enough to make walking a pain!) In doing so, I got the upper bod screaming and protesting. By switching to the bigger table, I now have a pull-out drawer with a thin board I can put across it for my keyboard and track ball, so I *think* my shoulders etc. will be much happier as I am not having to reach up and forward to type and move the cursor. We also went to the lumberyard and had a thin piece of pressboard cut to fit the drawer as its bottom had given out years ago and we haven't needed to use it until now. So, I gained a drawer and a more ergonomical set-up. That has always been so important to me. It may take me a while to figure out what needs to be done, but I am looking forward to lessened pain now. It's really been bad.

Rog also did the litter boxes and swept while I scrubbed both tables, then put my desk stuff back on the table. I was able to turn my HD sideways on the adjacent wooded typing stand, so I will have easier access to my printer which sits on top, too, plus there's jsut more space.

I also did some other housework, laundry, picking up, etc. and we did the grocery shopping yesterday, so I got in a good bit of exercise the past two days.

kat

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 06:27 PM

More of the same for me... although I did declutter the wallet of more money for some fabric I couldn't resist - but it is a commission for someone so that's going to come back to me...

It's got berries, citrus and pears on it, shades of red, green and yellow so it's going to make a table warmer called 'summer pudding' after the famous English dessert.

Child has dyed her hair purple. Really purple! I lost a chunk of tooth yesterday evening and still haven't done any of the sewing I was supposed to. On the good side, I have only 17 more blocks to do before the green and yellow commissioned quilt is ready for piecing.

I wish it would just bloody well drop the thunderstorm that's in the air, and get it over and done with... far too hot and clammy tonight.

Perhaps we should rename this thread 'whingefest'....

Night all.

LTS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 12:58 PM

I have revised my estimate on who got more skunk. This morning it was Poppy who still had the hot skunk smell on her nose. I'm still treating them with the Nature's Miracle, they haven't had any baths yet. Later on today, though. I'm going to go by the Office Depot near here and get one of those old fashioned bottle sponge applicators so I can roll it on rather than pour and spread.

They were funny last night, so sheepish and acting like they must be in trouble. I rolled them over a few times, got the enzyme on their coats, and finally had to let them do a few tricks for treats so they'd know they're good girls. Every so often you just have to chase a skunk out of the yard; this is a challenge too great to be ignored. I understand this.

Today I'm waiting for a call from my peach guru. Last night's work yielded seven very pretty pint jars, but I need to refine my method.

I kept the kitchen pretty clean as I worked, with a pan full of hot soapy water in one side of the double sink and a pan of hot clean rinse water in the other side of the sink. A quick swish in and out and set to dry in the dishwasher kept the counters clear for working.

With skunk smell extant in the yard I abandoned my plan to hang out laundry this morning. At least they let it get away. I have to go get them new collars. Their existing leather collars now smell like skunk.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 03:11 AM

It's 2am my time, and until about 30 minutes ago I was up late finishing canning the first flat of peaches (7 pints). As I finished peeling and slicing the last few jars, a smell reached me that wasn't from something burning on the stove, it was the hot acrid scent of skunk. On dogs.

At least this time they had the sense to leave the darned thing alone once it nailed them. And it barely got Poppy - she hung back this time, and the pit wasn't too bad. The last time the pit bull killed it, and I really struggled to get the stink off of them, my eyes burning the whole time. I had Nature's Miracle handy this time, and you put it on the dogs before you get any water near them. They already smell almost normal. And you typically only have to treat the front end of the dog, the face, chest, feet. They had headed into the garage so I spritzed the stuff on the floor in there. And locked them out of the garage for now so they can just sleep in the yard and let the enzymes soak on the concrete floor.

I have another flat of peaches in the fridge, but I'll get up and do those tomorrow morning. I opted not to try to go back and forth between cooking and de-skunking dogs.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 12:11 AM

It's a "bookseller/bookstore" account I opened there a few years ago, but never got it going as I didn't get my inventory all listed. (It doesn't cost anything to open.) They marked it as inactive, so I had to contact them to let them know I would like to reopen. It will take me some time to get books listed and I don't know just how I am going to organise them all, as I list them, so they are easily accessed when I get an order, but it is something I want to try, at least.

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 10:02 PM

Tell us more about that Biblo account?

It got a lot of running around accomplished this afternoon. Didn't get back in time to hang laundry, though, so I'll put it up in the morning.

They're planing Arsenic and Old Lace on my local PBS station. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 05:00 PM

Morgan inveigle his way over here, today. Only for an "hour" which wound up being about three hours. Anyway, he got boxes out of storage and helped me box up the books on the card table in the LR, then pushed those boxes over to where I wanted them. He also took a cat carrier back out to storage! All this so we could play cards on the card table.LOL The LR looks much better now.

I have my old account at Biblio pending now and have the *key* required to enter my books using their ISBNs.

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 02:37 PM

Okay. Made a little progress out there, but I'm finished with the yard until this evening. Now I have to go find my pint jars.

A load of laundry will go in before I run errands. I'll make it a loop trip like usual, take my recycling over to the drop-off point, visit the post office, buy a lotto ticket (Saturday and Wednesday. I rarely even win $3, but you never know. . . ) When I get back I can hang out the laundry. It'll have to be out there longer because it is pretty humid today, but those sheets always smell best when they've dried on the line.

With the rain we had for a couple of weeks I haven't hung out laundry as much as usual, but I will partly because I enjoy it and partly because I'm still trying to save money. The best way to save has been to change electric companies. I just compared - this July is $75 less than last July. Weather could be factor, we had a lot of rain, but we also had many days over 100 in a row. Mostly it's the new company and a couple of cents less per Kw hour.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 10:52 AM

I've been out doing a little work in the yard, but after a heavy (nearly 2") rain yesterday, it's very muggy. I came in for a few minutes to listen to the radio, Scott Simon talking about his old friend Daniel Schorr. Once I send this I'll go do a little more work then come indoors, shower, and head out to get some pint jars. I bought two flats (about 10 pounds) of peaches yesterday. I thought I'd be buying 5 or 6 flats, but this was all they had! Turns out the "Canvolution" event, a big web event where people have canning parties, is this weekend. I sent a notice to folks at work but no one responded. I guess someone did, because the woman at the green grocer said a guy came in a cleaned out her peaches, but she'd forgotten these two boxes or he'd have gotten them also. I told her about the event - she was puzzled at such a rush.

So, if I can find pint jars I'll be back to boil water in the house for a few hours.

I decided to freeze some of my grape juice, because we found several jars of last year's mustang grape jelly that had been hidden under a case of tomato sauce. I'll make jelly next winter (I gave about the same amount to my friend Dean, who does all of the canning for competing in the State Fair. He's won several blue ribbons.)

I need to arrange those shelves better. Frankly, I need less food in there, it's just me soon, so I'll arrange it so the canned goods are all in sight.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 11:16 PM

Brainstorm, eh?:-)

About 6p this evening I felt so tired it scared me. I was flashing back, so of, to the past year when I was doing very well and was always fatigued. THEN, I thought about all that I did today and thought, "hmm...must just be tired..a good tired!" Little bit of supper, a nice cool shower and I am good to go a bit more.

Answered a call at 630a from our son. He's living in a campground up in the mtns. and in moving to there from a Buddhist retreat, he lost his cat. His 20+ old female cat had to be put down recently, so the one he had left, a Russian blue, was his best friend and only companion. Everyone knows to watch for him and he's going back each day to look, but it's been almost a week. Anyway, he was very down and needed to talk to mom. We've had some real miracles with lost pets in our family, so I fully expect him to be found.

y the time I got off the phone, it was time for Rog to load up the 10+lb cat and carrier and follow us to the vet, after I picked up Morgan along the way. The cat was good and is fine, it's an adventure to take a 6.5 yr old to the vet's, esp. when he wants to know about everything and his favourite word is still "why!" Then, we load up, again, reverse the process with Rog in tow to help unload. In the meantime, I've talked Morgan into stopping off at his house as his dad was off for the day, so I could come home, alone (after Rog went to work) and pay bills. This was not decided until Morgan and I agreed I'd pick him up for lunch AND bring him his paycheck for watering and weeding and extra cleaning the past two weeks. It was his payday, too, after all. When I picked him up, my son-in-law asked if I'd mind bringing him back some takeaway and paid for it (something I would have offered anyway.) However, Morgan really wanted to stay home with dad as they'd just set up a nerf game, so I dropped him and their lunches off and came home to more peace and quiet.

I worked on some writing stuff, futzed/phutzed around on the computer, did some reading and picked up a few things, then stuck my feet up while lying down, got up and did a bit more and figured out I was just tired.:-) It doesn't look as though I did a lot, but to have done the cat/vet with the grandson, paid the bills, and gone out for lunch, in one day, tells me I really AM 100% better than this time last year!

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 09:27 PM

It's Friday. Kicking back this evening, but not so much that I leave a messy kitchen when I go to bed. It's wonderful to walk into a fresh and clear kitchen in the morning.

I need to start sorting those playbills on the dining table, so I'll probably bring in some plastic baskets and a couple of small folding tables. First to sort by theater, then to sort by year, etc.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 02:01 AM

My kitchen is clean. I was rather tired when I started, thinking maybe I'd head to bed and do the dishes in the morning, but I'm so tired of summer heat and so tired of a messy house that I made myself do the dishes. It looks great, and will feel nice to walk into tomorrow morning.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 12:53 AM

Brainstorm this evening. Busy here.

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 09:01 PM

Desk top is much improved. I'll file later, after the yard work.

We're in the last hour of daylight, so now I'll go do some puttering in the yard. I won't necessarily accomplish a lot, but it will more than I could do during the rest of the hot day. I'll focus on the area near the garden where the compost bins are situated. It's a bit overgrown.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 01:06 PM

Maryanne, I was listening to someone else talking on the same subject as Kessler, and her premise was that if you're cooking from scratch it's much more likely to be much healthier for you, whatever it is. The slow food movement and all of that.

I picked a big eggplant today, and have a couple more in the garden I could have picked but will leave for another day. A friend is going to make caponeta one of these days and can it. Last batch of eggplant I gave him he didn't have time to can so he breaded and cooked slices and froze them to use for eggplant Parmesan. Even though there is oil and bread crumbs, the home grown vegetable and the sauce and cheese that will go with it are healthier than one you buy in the store, and probably healthier than one you but at the Olive Garden, etc.

My kitchen is cleaned up, and there are avocados on the counter waiting to be made into guacamole. There are bananas and peaches waiting to be eaten. Veggies from the garden waiting to be sliced and frozen. And I'm making tea by the liter this time of year and trying to drink more of that than pop. It's healthier and cheaper. And I feel more virtuous brewing my own tea than buying cans for a dollar when the bag costs a nickel. :)

I've almost cleaned off my computer desk, but the "need to file" pile has grown on top of my file cabinet. I walked past a faux-Chippendale desk the other day and realized that if I moved the file cabinet from beside it the beauty of the feet would really look great on that tile floor. Same with the dining table. I need to try to emphasize the beauty of the pieces that are here by thinning out the amount of stuff in the room.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 10:43 AM

Oh! I forgot about this! I found a superb solution to a longstanding sleeping-attic storage problem. It's a square-based rolling shelf about 20 x 20 inches wide/deep, and it's TALL-- 4 commodious shelves. Also a nice big hanging-file portable bin for a new project Hardi and I took on, and some smaller storage items. I hope to pick it up today.

It gives me a mouse-proof kitchen setup for that attic, among other things. Which ALSO gives us a rentable studio apartment up there if we want to do that.

~Susan

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: maire-aine
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 10:43 AM

I read the Kessler book about this time last year. Really opened my eyes. After I finish reading Radicals in Robes , I plan to read it again. I am much more enthusiastic about cooking from scratch since I read it.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 07:27 AM

Sleeping still erratic but at least I managed to sort a 3ft pile of sheet music and books....

Lack of appetite means I'm not picking, but when I do eat, it's the wrong stuff... typical. Wish this feeling crappy would just stop for longer than 2 days at a time.

LTS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 01:27 AM

BTW: Some of you may enjoy this blog entry What it's really like to be a copy editor.

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 01:19 AM

Getting things done piecemeal around here. It was nearly dark when I went out to mow some more of the back yard, but it felt so much better to mow when it was cooler. I still have about 25% left to mow, and when I see it in the morning I may have missed a few spots - it was getting pretty dark when I quit.

Dishes are washed, some laundry done. Having my son do his own just to see how often he needs to do it if it is only his laundry in the basket. Clearly if he waits till he has a full load he'll be out of clothes, so he'll have to work out a plan.

He saw the doctor today about his gut pain (infrequent, but intense enough to land in the ER). He understood our desire to try to solve this now when he's home and not have it happen when he's alone 2 states away at school. We have a plan in place, and if it doesn't work the way we hope, then we'll take him back in when he's home again and they'll take a closer look.

I was finishing up some printing work at my office early so I can take a week off in August and not worry about racing to do it when I get back. I had the invitation finished and printed when the speaker had to beg off. His book was optioned by a big publisher who asked him to cease promoting the older self-published version. Now I'm going to have to race when we get a new speaker in place. Oh, well. They say no good deed goes unpunished.

For today, shower, then to bed, maybe to read a little. I just started the book The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite by Dr. David Kessler. I heard him interviewed on several radio talk shows when this book came out, and I've kept putting it back on the top of my "to read" stack of books. It's interesting.

SRS

Subject: RE: July-2010-DeClutter & Exercise Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jul 10 - 11:36 PM

Brought an accordion file out of the office, filled with photos with a note "To be scanned" and started on them this evening. Took photos of a few books which will be sold. Many more to go...slow going.:-) My house is really bugging me, though. Have to decided if it's worth storing the books on shelves whilst selling them online or if it would be easier and better to just donate all but a few which I know are worth selling. I went so far as sending an email about re-opening my store at biblio.com, but we don't have much room for them all. (I would also list them on Amazon. Ebay does not seem worth it for most. What to do, what to do...there are many more in storage. Ongoing...I know we will figure it out.