BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!

Subject: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 02:08 AM

In like a lion - and the title looks different enough to make this thread easy to pick out.

I'm still working my way through the Procrastinator's Guide to Getting things done. I'm concentrating on getting places on time, meeting deadlines, and making short, do-able lists each day to remind myself to stay on task.

I am beginning to stage the work in the garden, and everything but the eggplant and poblano peppers have started sprouting in the seed trays. Unrelated, but an African violet that I bought a few months ago has decided it's happy after all and has a beautiful bloom out today. It must be the longer days.

I am continuing to thin out the clutter around the house. Family artifacts, a lot of it. My office is a bit better organized now, but it still has room for improvement.

How is it going for the rest of you? Here is the last thread.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: mouldy
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 03:25 AM

I hereby promise to make a start on shedding the 14+lbs I need to lose. This won't be easy, but enough is enough, I say!

Eat less (crap), move more.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 09:58 AM

Calendar prompted me to open up Dog World for the season, so I would not forget in the lingering SAD thing. Now if I can keep it in the forefront of the week's stuff while I whip a swollen gland, bladder infection, and work stuff...... maybe next week, which is STILL 2 weeks earlier than it needs to be!

Garden, here I come. aND SOME ADVERTISING IS DUE... sorry caps--

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 11:53 AM

Sounds like you need some bright sunlight, Susan! I find this time of year, in the afternoons when it's bright, that I enjoy spending a few minutes in the back yard. I sit with a dog's head (Poppy) resting on my lap, and Cinnamon lying nearby and have the sun pouring down on my forehead. It's a great double-whammy with dog and light therapy!

My son will be back over his spring break, but I don't know how much time he'll spend here. I'm not doing any extra shopping for food, the freezer is full, some of it from the holidays when he was "home" but only spent four nights out of 28 here. :-/ If I run out, then I'll go shopping. His bed is made, his room is straightened and I'll dust right before he flies back.

I don't know if any of us (or our lurking readers) have smart phones, but here is a story a co-worker sent this morning: turn off the GPS on your phone photos if you don't want stalkers tracking down the subjects.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 06:45 PM

Still too snowy here for outdoor settin', SRS, but yes sun and dogs is a key warm-weather pursuit.

My particular requirements in warm weather, tho, are for filtered sun/shade, like impatiens flourish in; so Dog World has a mix of sun and shade built in. My summer settin' pond (IN DW) has a shade canopy.

All the outdoor areas I established last year will take most of March and April to revive, given my energy level, strength, and endurance; but the pieces should all be there to work with-- just need to buy us some dirt and for that, I need to get the empty water jugs outta the van first. As soon as the road to the spring is open, that's the next big thing on our list.

===

I must say that the mini-fridge as a giant crisper is SO NEAT, now that today's initial grocery-trip has begun to fill it. Eye level, well lit, glass shelves-- all set with the right humidity and temp to hold veggies for daily consumption. I set some colorful plastic trays on top to make it easy to "shop the crisper" for each evening's meal. We are blessed to serve a generous parish that bestows a ton of fresh produce on us all summer; to have a place waiting to put and keep things that used to be jammed into a nasty, dirty energy-hog (where at least half of the bounty would soon become inedible)-- it's a huge change in our eating habits too. Each night's main meal component is a freshly-made veggie specialty. Yes we also eat small amounts of protein and starch, but they are no longer the focus of our thinking or our dollars.

My hope for our garden is to grow what we can eat and not worry about canning and freezing-- just grow and eat it up, in season, eventually. I don't mind practicing with store-bought goodies while we learn more about doing it this way.

Each shelf in there has a different container for the goods-- pretty, eclectic, stuff we already had on hand. And all the shelves come out for easy washing. They may even fit in the dishwasher.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 07:00 PM

Last March 1st, I had my port put in and just about this time in the evening, my hair started falling out. Today is remarkably better.

My house is a disaster area at the moment. The only positive I can share is that the dishes are in the dishwasher and all my pots are clean (handwash only) and air drying on the counter. Our living room continues to look like Toys R Us exploded in the center of the room. Mama is getting tired of this look. I'm planning on sorting through JT's toys, moving one tub to my office and leaving the other in the living room. I'll switch tubs every week or so because seriously....how many does do we really need to have out at once?!?!?!? Besides, he currently seems to prefer to be in my lap most of the time or crawling all over me when we're on the floor. :)

Went to the doctor today after 4 days of sinus pain...sure enough, I have a severe sinus infection. Ok. I also asked to change my insulin back to what I had been taking a few years back. They keep messing with Lantus but that's just not working for me so now I have an insulin pen to try. I've been using a regular syringe all this time so it's something new and I'll be trying it out tomorrow morning. I'm hoping for much tighter control. Also, I'm down 5 pounds.

I have a mountain of paperwork to go through and organize....seems to multiply. I get a mountain done and another one appears in a day or two!

I have talked with a woman who cleans houses and she has agreed to come for a day in the spring once the mud has dried up. I'm going to have things in order and have her help me do a really deep scrub on the floors. It's next to impossible to keep them beautiful for more than 15 minutes at this time of year when the dogs are in and out as well as my husband with a buggy full of firewood and his barn boots. I sweep and mop but you get the idea.

My goal for this month is to keep the house nice, to continue tweaking the budget (I'm really enjoying that part, believe it or not...kind of excited to see how much I can save) and to eat healthy. Also, I'm going to be playing in a concert with a visiting string group...in the background for sure...but playing none-the-less. I'm really excited about this and will be working hard to perfect a new piece of music.....plus 3 of my friends are joining me...it's going to be FUN!!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 08:39 PM

The first day of March! Soon 'twil be spring - officially anyway! And some good things are happening, yes?

We have a "new" frig. It WORKS!!!! I really got the message across and then called Rob not once but twice today and had a frig before 3pm. Good thing 'cause it took 'til 5 to get it clean but now it is at the appropriate temperatures - clean on the inside and full. I'll do the outside tomorrow. I ran out of steam!

I also finished the raccoon story and sent it to a rehab friend in NYorkState who is being helpful. Still no connection with Montreal rehab and phoned again today. Will send it to a couple more folks tonight for comments. Maybe even get it into blog if I can figure that out again. I am SO happy! Hope I hear from Montreal rehab so I can pass info to reporter and get a story into newspaper before birthing season!

It was a lovely sunny, thawing day but back below freezing now. Front stoop thawed but now it is frozen again - more salt so Rob does try to fall again! There is ice again on roof of shed and it needs to thaw a lot before I can clear it. Maybe tomorrow. I don't think the sun hits there at this time of year.

Next project: clearing about 20 years of day books by checking for important dates and any other info and then heaving the lot - neatly stacked in a box just waiting for me. Could start tonight! WOW!

Tomorrow: groceries, clean outside of frig. finish day books and decide on next pile of paper to get gone.

One african violet has had every flower eaten???? They did not fall off, not a petal in sight. Just plain gone. But not the buds. The others, on a different table are doing beautifully. One of life's mysteries?

Happy March! May we attain some of our realistic goals! And forgive ourselves when we fall short.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 10:47 PM

GOGOGO DP!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 01:19 AM

Michelle, Michelle, Michelle,

Who cares if the house is a mess today, and looks like Toys-R-Us crashed through the roof? Today of all days, just enjoy it! Revel in it! You're free of cancer! You have a lovely baby boy! Do you remember where were you last year? How frightened you were? Yup, you see? Enjoy it!

It's going to look like Toys-R-Us for a while longer. Years. You'll be able to do Morgan-like things and have Jeremiah help you, and as you lose weight you might get to where the insulin isn't required. But for today - enjoy being alive, and being a Mommy!

I finished proof-reading a long thing for a co-worker. Faculty publishing and award recognition that we set up as an exhibit in the library each year. This will be the third time. It makes me want to sit down and start writing.

Ran the dishwasher tonight just to give it a cleaning with the dish detergent and keep the inside looking and smelling good. I haven't done that for a while. I rarely use it, I always drain my sink-washed dishes in it, but I don't want it to become an embarrassment.

I made a favorite casserole tonight of pork, onions, tomatoes, and eggplant. The tomatoes and eggplant came out of my freezer. The casserole is going to be many lunches this week. I also found that same Middle Eastern cookbook has a lot of information about preparing okra. Good! I plan to use a lot more this year.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 11:03 AM

SRS, we periodically run our DW with vinegar to dissolve the mineral deposits that stain things here.

===

I just got off the phone with the nice man who takes care of the roads around the spring, next county over, that we have needed to visit since snow closed the hunting-camp roads-- they are not maintained unless someone is wintering up there, and this year no one was. My funeral-director colleague over there (a friendship that began in my Red Cross days and has since been cemented with recent funerals) didn't happen to know how the particular road I was concerned about might be now that Mid-Thaw is on. This VERY manly-helpful township guy actually offered to take a ride up there in his 4WD, and call me back to let me know if our van can safely navigate the ice and/or mud and/or bad ruts on that steep hill that is the best way to get up to the spring-- so water-jug-filling can't be far off, yeeHAHHHH! (Apparently he was in the mood to he'p a lady out and take a sunny ride this afternoon.) My favorite part of the chat was when I described the exact spot in pictures and he totally knew exactly where I meant-- the shorthand between people who actually live here year 'round? As opposed to the leaf-peepers (tourists).

Another reason we stay here-- people live close to the bone and don't put on airs, and "neighbor" each other so well. I'm grateful we enrolled in the program! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 11:35 AM

The frig is now clean outside also. I had to turn the frig part down and it is at just the right temp now. After 10 months of struggling with a bad situation, I am actually tearfully happy! Sometimes we do not realize how bad things are until we get out of the swamp! This is good, because we just keep on slogging, or treading water, or whatever until ... Well, until help comes or we find the way out or..... - we'll skip the other alternative.

Robin loves my raccoon story. I am SO happy. I think writing it has helped me feel better also. I still miss my dear Frick but the pain i lessening. Yeah, I know there are people out there who think I am nuts but there are also the others!!!

Holy macaroni! I just looked up and see two more african violets have been denuded of flowers!! Only the one on a metal stand and the one on top of the wood filing cabinet have flowers left. Could the resident mouse (mice?) have done this???? JUST the flowers. Well, I'm grateful for that. Where to put them now so they can flourish again - lots of buds.

Off to do groceries! Happy to come home to new frig.

Oh, and Michelle - having kids means living with the fall out! I found raccoon kit toys when we moved things to bring in the frig! 20 years from now.... J. will be all growed up and there will be no more toys. These are precious times. The most important thing you will ever do is give J. the best of your self.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 12:04 PM

Oh don't misunderstand....Jeremiah IS the center of our lives!!! I am extremely blessed to be able to stay home with him and would not change that for the biggest paycheck in the world! Nope...we waited a long time to have a child and we are going to enjoy every second we can!!!

My comment about the living room was sort of tongue in cheek but kind of not. There are too many toys in here, too many choices. I think it's better to leave out maybe half of what he has so he isn't so overwhelmed. Anyway, like I said, he's most content right now to crawl in Mommy's lap or if I am on the floor playing with him. If I'm on the floor, he is either crawling all over me or playing very close by, often offering his toys to me.

We had a triaxle of logs delivered this morning....very nice guy who also goes by visual markings for directions....he asked me how to get to Pickle Hill from here (without having to travel all the way back into town) and I was able to do that...it really does work that way here (I live in the same area as Susan...have almost all my life). I wouldn't go so far as to say that everyone is down to earth but many are as I'm sure they are all over the world (yep...I've lived quite a few places and if you are nice to people, generally they are nice/helpful in return.). Also was able t clean out my car which wasn't really FULL of stuff but it had some things in there that just needed to be brought in and put away....stuff like egg cartons from friends who know we share our eggs, a basket that I always have in the car full of baby things (needed new sizes of diapers and spare set of clothes), 2 of my coats, etc. It took one sled load to the house and ta-da...beautiful, empty car. When it warms up, I'll take it to the carwash for the works...but for now, it's just the way I like it!!!
   The new insulin has been started...OMGOSH...I LOVE THE PEN!!!! It is so much easier, faster and less painful than a syringe..hardly feel a thing.....yep..it's a very cool device...no more mixing vials...LOVE IT...now let's just hope the doseage is right!!!! So far, I feel good (which tells me the fast acting part is not too much)...YAY!
    Laundry is going and when the wee one wakes up from his nap, we have to run some errands in town.
    It's a good day, despite day 5 of this headache....thinking it might be my pillow. My own, favorite, well loved pillow (from before college) popped a hole. I have been meaning to try and mend it but in the meantime, I've been using a travel pillow. Perhaps today will be the day the needle and thread come out!

Have a great day everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 01:34 PM

Kids love creative mess-- but not chaos-- and their mental state will usually show which is which to them, within their particular personality/brain chem/wiring. Even a daycare-full of kids appreciate orderliness in the toy department. The adult models putting things away till the kids are able to put one toy away before taking out another. And yes, boxing them up (or almost everyone loves baskets) and putting out one box per day is an oft-repeated strategy on all the home-organizing shows. (It works for adults, too.)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 02:15 PM

Yes..kid toys do not have to take over a house or living room. They confuse the kids, irritate the parents, and show too much child-centeredness if you ask me, which you actually didn't but I chime in anyway. Children should be alongside mom and dad a lot of the time learning to cook, clean, garden etc...they don't need huge numbers of toys and past a certain number, too many toys are harmful at least for some situations. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 02:26 PM

Oh, Michelle, I am aware J. is your center! You clearly would like less clutter. You can do that as the energy arises and I do agree - chaos is not good for any living creature. so i'd best go do something...

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 11:53 PM

You can see a photo of Jeremiah's playland, er, um, our living room on Facebook if we are friends! :)

Michelle

PS. It really isn't so bad.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 10:36 AM

Morgan came over yesterday as it was early release day at school. I hired him, after pitching the baseball to him for about 15 minutes, to clean up the trash and a few other things in the front yard. He did a GREAT job, even noticing the gate latch was loose, again. Nothing for it but to get the screw driver and have at it, plus every other screw he could find on the outside of the house...all tightened up, "just to be on the safe side, Mama." (Their back fence was blown down a couple of weeks ago.) I told him he didn't need to worry our house was fine, but he said, "I want to make sure it is secure." That kid!

So, our front yard is more presentable. I am feeling better every day. The cpap is really helping with sleep. I am keeping up with laundry and things which need to be picked up and put away. This Friday, we are taking our car in for recall repairs, so will be cleaning it out this afternoon.

I have lost 25 pounds, according to my records, since Feb. 13th, though the doc's records say more - her's are from earlier. That's a lot of water and more to go, but it's so nice to have ankles, again, and my ring keeps slipping round my finger.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 02:43 PM

Michelle, you've hit on the trick that is good for small children. All of the toys don't need to be out at once. It's a good idea to have a place to store 1/2 to 2/3 of them, and every few weeks exchange an equal number. They'll be like new again. That worked with my kids.

Stage two of my organic weed control took place today. I'm using the mix of 1 gallon 10% vinegar, a couple of ounces of orange oil, a tsp of detergent, and a tablespoon of molasses. Mix it so the molasses dissolves, then spray it on the turf while the lawn is still dormant and it is just the weeds growing. I used a gallon over the weekend and can see where the weeds died, so went over the gaps and then extended my spray to the next zone. And in a couple of more days, I'll do that again. If I can get those weeds out now it'll make the garden easier to keep weed free during gardening season. Fewer seeds and less spreading. No toxic bagged weedkiller that compromises the health of the soil and the garden.

I've had another brainstorm as far as how to make the house look less cluttered. I'm debating where the bulk of the objects that sit on crowded living room shelves and around the house should be stored. (This is much like the advice to Michelle - every so often put away what is out and take out some of the other items for display). I built shelves for Moonglow years ago and I want them back now. Probably for my sewing and craft stuff, because some of the glass and crystal won't fit in there. I have a cupboard in the sun room I could use for the crystal and glass, but the contents would have to be moved out. That's where the lion's share of the craft stuff lives. If I do this, I'll probably thin it out.

There's a lot of stuff in the way in the sun room before I begin such a task. So . . . my work is cut out for me.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 03:02 PM

Kat! You are doing wonderfully well! And Morgan is a gem. How nice that you have him nearby.

Years ago, I had the music part of a piano that I wanted to hang on a wall for cycling of pictures. They would sit so nicely and could be changed so easily. It never came to fruition but it is still a nice idea.

My "new" frig is SO wonderful. Such a relief! But, I started putting things on top of it and today I thought, "hmmmm, I did not clean up there." So, I got on a chair. Next project.... The rest is clean and working so well it is exciting to open a door and know things are COLD! or FROZEN!!

Still having trouble with the next part of the raccoon project. Someone, on line, suggested I take a course in rehab of wild animals. That is not on my agenda. I spent a good chunk of yesterday desperately seeking local help. Will I have to start a whole new organization? Where are these people anyway?

The LR is now MORE cluttered as I brought in a metal stand with large glass bowl for the African violets. I thought this would protect them from the mice which is what I thought must be eating the flowers. BUT this morning I found another one mostly eaten - on a brass stand. The mystery....

With my focus still on raccoons, the day books are not disappearing into the recycling bin - yet. But the laundry and dishes are up to date, the ice is off the roof of the shed - a big job yesterday and VERY important as it was droopy and starting to leak. I took a detox bath today. It seems to have helped the rash on my wrists - a new development. Another mystery.

A beautiful sunny day - around freezing/thawing mark but very damp. Cheery though! Guess I'll start on the daybooks while I hope for more raccoon help.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 03:49 PM

Thanks, Dorothy! It has been wonderful to have him so close his first seven years. I hope it continues for a long time.

I did the dishes. I did the dishes. I did the dishes!!! Can't remember when I was last able to do that, so I know I am getting better. I also got out my dulcimer, last night, for just a few minutes. That's also been a long time coming.

Dorothy, do you have a cat which could get near the African violets? Or, a pet bird? Are there any bugs on the underside of the leaves? You might try spreading talcum powder around the base of them which will repel ants or anything like that which may be getting to them. If it's a cat, it would be consistent with one of my cats. He doesn't go after the violets, but will devastate an hibiscus and several others I have. Good luck.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 04:22 PM

No cat, no bird, no bugs visible, not even a small dog or even a raccoon! And I have spent the last hour looking through AV sites. They tell me how to grow - no problem. But only address bugs when I find sites that look at problems. I emailed Dr. Optimara! We'll see. Actually, I just inspected the small cyclamen which was showing buds; some of them may have also been eaten.

Darn! I feed the mice in the kitchen. Deliberately leaving the compost - and two live traps...

There is more to life than violets, mice and raccoons, so on with the paper project.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 04:27 PM

KAT!!!! Isn't it wonderful to be able to do everyday things??? All my life I have hated doing the dishes (which always seems to be my job) but when the day came that I needed help with it, I hated that more. I will never again complain about having to the dishes because doing dishes means I feel well enough to do them!!!

I did a load of dishes today, laundry, got through that pile of paperwork, picked up the living room, let Jeremiah *feed* himself today...it was a hoot. Of course, most of the macaroni landed in his lap...it was everywhere! Immediately afterwards, he had a nice tubby time in the kitchen sink. Pete has been hinting about wanting a cake lately so I'm going to make cake in about half an hour....yellow cake with chocolate frosting.

As for me, I am LOVING the new insulin pen...what a HUGE difference. My sugar was well within range last night and this morning it was kinda low (had the shakes) but that was easily taken care of and I will adjust the night dosage accordingly....but seriously...less pain, faster and less mess!!! LOVE IT!

Also, the kitchen table has been found. It occassionally goes missig!

And SRS...I do that with knicknacks. I have several that are specialk to me but I just can't have all of them out at once. I rotate them when the urge strikes. My MIL does that with her good dishes. My mom does it seasonally.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 05:21 PM

The township dudes just called-- dang! They actually went out and plowed that road just for us, just because a neighbor needed to get up there. Humbling, SO nice.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 05:30 PM

What township is that?

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 06:16 PM

Shipped a box of chocolates to my son, his birthday is on Monday. 19!

Used up my frozen homemade tortillas to make some quesadillas for a couple of meals this week. I find that when I make things myself I don't make so many as when I buy them, and I try to use them while they're still good. Yes, it takes time, but no one is paying me for this time, so I might as well save some money with it (and the food is better).

Kat, it's good that you're up more and I'm so glad to see that Morgan is coming by again. It's time for starting plants indoors for planting out this spring - do you suppose if I sent a packet of seeds that he'd enjoy growing something? Can you get some pots and potting soil for such a project? Chard is really easy to grow and has nice big seeds for handling. I could send him some of my different colors of chard, they look so nice in the yard even if you don't eat it!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 06:50 PM

SRS....love that you are cooking and using what you make. Sometimes I make stuff and don't use it. I'm getting better about that. Tonight we are having Shepard's Pie (with lean ground beef...NO LAMB..ICK) and veggies from last summer's garden that I put up or froze. YUM. I also made that cake...it's currently cooking off in the fridge (I'd put it on the porch but we have a hungry, snooping possum) and I made the frosting from scratch.

What a great idea for Morgan too!!! Kids LOVE to watch things grow, especially when they have planted it themselves and cared for it. My first graders had fun decorating the pots and naming their plants too!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 09:58 PM

First graders? A new side to you - do tell!

I remember growing bean plants in elementary school. All it took was a long holiday to have them all dry up, as I recall. Or they'd rot from over-watering.

The sink is full of dishes and pans. This process of not using a microwave is quite a voyage of discovery - as in, how dependent we are on them.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 10:19 PM

The seeds sound like fun AND the chard sounds pretty. Thanks, SRS. Morgan and I will have a blast with them.

BTW, my mom's B-day was the 19th, too.

Michelle, weren't you a teacher?

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 10:27 PM

Yep. I was a first grade teacher...absolutely loved the kids!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 10:31 AM

LF, the township I mentioned is at the far side of our travels, where a friend has a spring we are OKd to use. We hope to drop off a pie out there a bit later. :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 10:48 AM

So nice to get up in the morning and there is LIGHT coming in the front windows!
So wonderful to go to start breakfast and the frig is behaving - like a frig!!
So nice to have a response to an email sent to a total stranger confirming that - it must be the mouse eating my African Violets!!! (Found him after searching and searching...)
Also searched and searched and have yet to find info on microwave that indicates it is a food safety issue. But I have only gotten to about page 6.
Also received a nice note from the raccoon rehabber in Ontario who had torn strips off me. I had not been clear enough and she is looking for help for me.
Also Rob has found more of the shelving for the frig; maybe I will go over later and check it out - after I get gas (ARHHHH!!!).
Now to move the mouse traps and mouse proof the violets.

So nice to come to the computer and know you guys are out there working on stuff too.
And I am still stuck at 160 lbs but, hey! I have not gained and spring might be coming - any week now!
And it is Friday and we go visit our friends in the country and listen to good music!! Even if it does snow some. Slow is better than not going at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 11:03 AM

Susan,

At first I thought you meant Torpy's Tipple but I remember you telling me which friend and where. Must be that township has much more available cash, time and workers to be able to clear a non-maintained road...sure don't have that on this side of the mountain, no matter who your friends are. All the drivers have left for employment with the gas drilling companies so road care is minimal.

The living room floor has been swept and vaccummed (laminate and carpet), all framed photos have been removed from the piano, dusted and some returned. Others will be hung on the wall as I am tired of taking them off the piano to dust! Also, at the moment, I'm liking it with less rather than more. I moved a large cut glass vase full of dark purple flowers from the kitchen desk in on top of the piano with 4 favorite photos instead of about 12. Looks nice. Clean. Dishes are done. Laundry is going. I'm in the mood to rearrange and sort today so I expect I will get a lot done.

I love how I feel in our home when things are clean. Besides, it's Friday so if I get everything done today, that will leave more free time with my honey pie this weekend. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 11:38 AM

LF, it is not a "non-maintained" road, but one they maintain when needed-- there are several people who do sometimes live up there all year 'round, some of whom have apparently not been there yet this winter but one we know who will be up there for the year in a few short (wintry) weeks. We have no special pull up there, nor does our friend (really more like a brother). The township has no additional budget there, either. Just purely nice folks helping out a neighbor when they happened to have time to take a ride to look over a local road on a sunny day (which also is a shortcut to a school up there). It's a good road. And good people typical of good people here. And a hill that has not yet been fracked up. Yet.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 11:57 AM

Our cabin is on such a road, I understand what you are saying. My point being that the guys around here are stretched to the limit, that's all...no time for extra stuff anymore. And yes, they haven't fracked over that way yet....it's going to happen though. They are everywhere and moving FAST. There was an interactive map of gas wells in PA on the NYTimes site...very interesting....well, more scary than interesting...has to do with radioactive elements being dumped back into our water supply. Torpy's is near Antrim on the opposite mountain from the dump....spring coming from the top of that mtn so it's not contaminated from the dump....although I recently read that something new is going on over there too...escapes me at the moment.

Yes, people do help one another...that's how things work both here and in life...usually. There are those who will look to others for help but rarely lend a helping hand themselves...but that's life too.

I'm contemplating going to the store...supposed to get rainy and icky this weekend so maybe I'll just go and get it over with today. I'm really working with this budget plan and watching every single penny so I'm trying to NOT shop as much as possible. However, we are out of basics...milk, eggs, butter. Reminds me of that Sesame Street episode where a young man goes to the store for his mama repeating...a loaf of bread, a jug of milk and a stick of butter. LOL. We've been eating from the freezer and the things we put up this summer. This week I will spend under $20.00 for groceries!! YAY!!!

Time for lunch! Later Gators!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 03:21 PM

We've done a lot this morning. Took our car in for recall fixes on seat belt and rear hatch latch. First time I have driven in 2-3 months at least. I did okay, but my foot hurt when I hit the brakes, so I did a big no-no and used my left foot for that. Thing is, I did it!

Then we went to the coumadin clinic - all is well, then to see my doc. She's really happy with how I am progressing, esp. pleased that my cholesterol levels are very good (as they've always been), on to the health food store, where I went in with Rog and wandered the aisles. We also got cat fishie at the pet store and Rog went in the supermarket for a few things. I did a lot more walking today than I have in ages.

Michelle, that new pen sounds great. Glad you are happy with it and congrats on the budgeting!

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 06:20 PM

We were able to fetch over 50 gallons of pure mountain water thanks to Hardi's forethought in bringing a shovel and his nimbleness in scaling snowbanks, and thanks to the friend who lent jugs he wasn't using at this time of year. We should have enough to sit tight till the full Mud Season runs its course. The perfect thank-you surprise is already in the works.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 03:09 AM

I was up late watching one of my NetFlix disks that has been here way too long. It'll go in the mail tomorrow.

I cleared two of the cubbies (of 30) in Moonglow's room this evening. Books that were moved to another bookcase or to a box. I took photos of stuff on some of the shelves a while back and printed them out, with the idea of packing shelf contents and taping the photo on the outside. I'll do some of that tomorrow, if it rains. If it is nice, I'll be in the garden.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 10:00 AM

Wow, SRS, she's lucky to have a mom that will go the extra mile with her stuff.... it sounds like you have hit on a great way to save the memory of the look she would find familiar and keep her stuff findable to her-- and make it poss. for you to zoom thru the 28 remaining cubbies! Is there someone in your circle who could share the "fun" and make a day of it with you?

===

Here the task of stowing 50 bulky gallons of water is underway in a way that makes it manageable for me (I can't lift the 55-lb. jugs more than once, yet) and Hardi (who has no time to help). I have several 2-1/2 gal and smaller containers we did not have last time we fetched home so much water.... I'll have to juggle spigots (3 for 6 jugs) and space to set up a pouring-off station like last time, but I've reconfigured the space a tad since last time... the next fetch will allow porch storage and I know where THAT can be managed... I tell you what, tho-- if everyone had to personally lift all the water they drink, as some of us do, the water policies in the US would be different. I'm grateful we have the experience to know how and the water to do it with, but I leave a week from tomorrow on a trip and I do NOT want these huge jugs in Hardi's way.

===

In the main house, plans move (slowly) forward to paint the lower level sometime this year. I've just about decided to retain one wall of the weird wallpaper that IS this house to many of its past occupants, our guests, and us. It's the one wall they papered really well-- laying out the pattern so it's centered on windows and such-- that will not be substantially re-arranged post-paint. If I leave it, the fabric we got for drapes will work, I think; after 15+ years here I almost don't totally HATE the pattern as much as the overuse of it in a narrow space. If the fabric works (I have some to hang to look), leaving the one wall will actually look like it was papered on purpose to go with the room decor.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: GUEST,Bizibod
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 11:34 AM

Hey, I'm so glad that you're keeping one wall of the bird paper! I saw your photos and thought what a remarkable paper it is, but as I don't know you didn't think I had any rights to stick my oar in about what you do in your own house! Good decision !

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 11:41 AM

Wow...I was just hoping it would all be painted or removed and painted...a whole nice new fresh room. But it is your house...mg

Subject: Bird Wallpaper
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 12:33 PM

LOL, my wallpaper has Friends; I should register it on Facebook. ;~|


We rent this house from someone whose mom (still living) LOVES that paper, this house, memories of friends who lived here when they were just starting to "do" dairy... and it's taken me 15 years to uncover these details and put them together. Half the county has lived in this house at one time or another and may live here again. So on top of being a rental, it's not really "our" house exclusively, and part of what I love about living in this house is that sense of being a mere speck in its history-- learning as much from those who no longer live on the planet as I do from people still around me "in the flesh."

So-- really, others have "rights" to those sights as well, and one wall of it, at the far end of a 25 foot long room that is otherwise without it, would have been just about right-- as I am SURE the others who lived here looking at it would have eventually thought, after about 10 minutes with it. I know a little bit about the lady who had it installed-- stubborn may be the right word for her-- and I bet, much as she loved it when she chose it, was the first to realize that. I even first saw it with her drapes still up-- she did what she could to decorate around it once she had it, too! About half the peeps who have visited have exclaimed that they LOVE it. When they arrive. (By the time they leave I think they'd welcome a loaded paint-roller.)

There's some wisdom in learning to like what you live with before you change it TOO much, I think. But I can tell YOU a secret-- [whispering] .... the wall I leave papered (IF I do that) will be little enough square footage to affordably COVER WITH FABRIC, too! Cuz I MAY not like it ALL, 12 months of EACH year! :~)

~Susan-too-busy-for-HTML-italics

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 12:37 PM

PS, water mgmt: I am presently able to handle a 5-gal (40 lb) transfer horizontally (no lift), and filling 6 of 8 water jugs (1/2 gal each) in one "go." Every spring's chores are at the LEAST a tune-up for summer! This year, hopefully more than just the tune-up.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 01:44 PM

I have four of the cubbies clear now, and this is one of those de-clutter instances of the Chinese tile puzzle - clearing a space so you can move something into it, leaving a new space that something else will go into. :)

As a child I didn't have so many toys as my children did, so when I look at the objects and toys I see things that didn't hold as much individual significance for the kids. Their regard for particular toys was diffuse - toys in general were nice, and there were a few favorites. I think they haven't considered the disposition of their toys at all, it's the wrong time in their young adult lives for that, but I'm thinking about them and the space they occupy. For now, I'll compress the lot.

Cold day today, overcast. Doesn't look very inviting in the garden, but this afternoon I'll do some digging, I need to plant some beans.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 01:48 PM

A note on wall paper removal, just in case. I did not know this stuff...

After months of removing 17 layers by scraping and then using a hot cloth, a friend arrived with a sponge mop and, with boiling water, we removed the rest in short order! Later, one layer was removed from an average size room very quickly with old towels, a bucket of water and a hot iron. No chemicals needed. Thankful for friends with good ideas!

I am still stuck on raccoons. Some progress is being made. The newspaper article is changing focus. I am meeting distant rehabbers, getting support and ideas. This may get political. I may need a bi-lingual website. Found one other Quebecer willing to talk about it, so far. I have looked at so many websites and other info, my eyes are crossed.

Robin found a couple more shelf pieces for the frig yesterday so they are yet to be washed and organized. Oh joy! I went and fetched them home then went to library and, by the time I got home, the inclination to wash shelves was not available.

Oops, I went to turn on the water and nothing happens! Rob forgot his phone this am so, after lunch I will drive over and inform him of the water situation - if it has not started again. Doubt it's frozen - not cold and it worked at breakfast. Just another one of life's mysteries. Still no element for the oven - the store did not have one and has not phoned...

The frig is wonderful. There is drinking water. It's raining? Who needs to bake?

Subject: House History Pt I
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 02:35 PM

Wallpaper, aye. We, to, are not removing-- painting over. (I know) it's a HUGE no-no, except in a house where 90% of the walls ARE paint over wallpaper.

In a house of that vintage, the paper is now part of what holds the house together-- as some folks find when they start removing, in a really old house-- ca. 1850's here maybe, we know for sure ca. 1880.

In those days this would have been the first farm in this valley, which is quite visible when arriving from a higher altitude and looking down the valley as it snakes-- you can easily see what was built first, and what sprang off from what else. It COULD be designated as a historic place, but then no one could change much of anything-- and so far all the owners and residents have voted for practicality. Us too.

Whatever-- the ground water on this property has been of variable quality since long before we arrived. Folks tell of a flood one year that poisoned the aquifer, and there are still consequences unfolding. "Just our turn for bottles," I tell myself as the fracking goes on all around us. Next county over survived it, in their "gas boom," and is still known nationally as "God's Country," meaning (in tourist-speak) unsullied and wild.

ALMOST as wild as the Native Americans whose land it was then, who melted, from here, up into the more-northern woods. Still, even now, almost as wild as the Undergound Railroad passengers found and took good advantage of, in its isolation and wildness, on the way to freer Canadia (tho I have been learning about Canadia and its founding-times racism of late).


In any event, the task at hand-- I am running out of pour-off bottles (have to drink up some cran juice for more). But I have established that my spring 2011 deadlift capacity is 50 pounds, one rep. Ouchies!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 05:28 PM

Dorothy, when my mom re-papered my bedroom when I was about 14, she rented a steamer or used a steam iron, I can't remember which, and it worked a treat. It was so much fun, for me...watching the childhood kitten paper come off in strips, knowing we were going to put up a Victorian green flocked fancy paper I'd picked out...gawd knows where she got the money for it, by then two more kids were in college. Anyway, the other neat thing was, before she put up the new paper, we had to let the plastered walls dry well, so she let me take bright coloured paints and draw anything I wanted on the walls. I did, filling it with "flower power" flowers and peace signs.;-}

I have now lost 30 pounds since 2/13/11 - not all water weight, now. Also walked about 40 minutes today.

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 10:58 PM

Good work, Kat!

I've been in my daughter's room tonight packing stuff. Her cubbies are mostly air, with stuff on display, so I've emptied 14 of the 30 now. I had the television on in there and the 2005 version of King Kong came on. Now this version is simply the stupidist movie I've ever seen. I got my DVD of Pride and Prejudice (with Colin Firth as Darcy and Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth) and have that playing. I took a break to come get another box to tape together and fill.

Not sure how far I'll get beyond emptying the shelves tonight, but this is a good start.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: maire-aine
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 11:15 PM

Stuck at home tonight, because we got more snow & freezing rain. I had planned to go out & listen to some friends playing nearby, but the roads are just to nasty. The snow was almost gone from the yard this afternoon, when it got cold & started to snow again.

I've got beans soaking overnight, so I'll bake them in the morning.

At least Facebook keeps me in contact with the outside world. I just learned that 2 of my pub quiz team-mates got engaged tonight-- it's her birthday. So happy for them.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 08:57 AM

The water transfer project has been going well, and I got the van back from the shop last night-- including not only my scooter in the back but the several midsize jugs that had been set there for the fetch we had planned. Because it went to the shop and had a protracted stay, we ended up fetching instead with Hardi's smaller but 4WD car... so before another boatload of snow falls on our freezing flooded yard I slickered up to grab those last empty jugs, while the gittin' was good. That gives me the total I need to pour off from a friend's borrowed jugs-- and get his back to him when he's ready, because I leave a week from today for a trip that might overlap his timeframe to get them back. So now he and Hardi will be able to handle the swap-back.

===

The next task will be to get the van road-ready while we flounder in the week's snow and ice and rain, which will be REAL fun. While I was out there in my slicker, I eyeballed the van's back end to fix firmly in my mind's eye: what will need to be removed/added before I set out? So I can use the next weather window of opportunity to do it all in one shot. I brought in the one bag that would need some re-packing-- the always-onboard toiletries bag I use whether we are gone for a month or a daytrip. (It has saved my dignity during many the IBS event!!!) I am thinking of extending the trip by a few days to see my son.

===

Made and began to implement a tough decision last night backed by discernment and certainty-- been wallowing thru shifting sands in the desert of this awful winter, with the pieces of it. The result is a well-planned, phased-in resumption of a ministry I've missed very much, with as many win/win features as possible built in for the other folks affected. I am very much at peace with the decision-- and the waiting to make it till the clarity about the details kicked in.How it will affect ongoing home improvements is that I am going to use my two autoharps, this time around, for awhile, for my own music. Sounds simple-- isn't.

===

After mud season here (and it's gonna be a bad one), I'm gonna ask Adrian to cut up the kitchen rug I despise-- into pieces to replace the rug (walk-off mat from mudville) in the dogs' corner. I have a template of the odd shape.

It was a free carpet. It is NOT working in the kitchen, but it will work handily for that purpose... and then be thrown out when too nasty to use! That carpet will have had more than nine lives by the time I let it go, and my health is the priority-- not trying to wring 12 lives out of 9 in a rug worth, at most, 2! Those pieces will be ready and waiting for next year's mud season, and be swapped in as needed!!! (I might not wait till the end of mud season to do it!)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Exercise & Declutter March 2011 - Roar!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 09:23 AM

And a Happy Good Sunday Morning to you all!!!

   I love waking up to the sound of rain and the extra time to snuggle up with my honey. Most mornings are way too busy for that...but not today. :) Added to just laying in bed listening to the rain was the extra wonderful sounds of Jeremiah cooing contentedly, talking to his pal Scooter. :) Up for a nice cup of coffee by the fire and watching the little one play, going from one toy tub to the other. He is getting taller by the day....amazing, really. On Thursday, he'll be a year old!!!!
    Yesterday we delivered a load of firewood to a friend and went out to dinner at the Outback. That's a special treat for us! We had been given a gift card to go there at Christmas time but decided to save it so we used that last night...our late Valentine's Day dinner. The three of us went and it was lovely!!!
    Today, with the icky weather, I am going to be puttering all day with chores and just stuff that I want to do. I have dishes to do, laundry to put away, I'd like to get some vaccuuming done upstairs too. In between will be yummy weekend coffee, catching up on some reading, a little fiddle playing and a promise from my love to watch the baby for an hour or two so I can work in my office. I really should take photos of it..disaster central. I've been just throwing stuff in there (lots of yard sale stuff) and not being organized at all about it. That is going to change TODAY!!! YAY!!!

Enjoy the day everybody!

Michelle