BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 May 11 - 12:54 PM

May 2011 thread. Glad to see you made it back alive, Susan! ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 May 11 - 11:24 AM

That was really interesting (and sad). I did make it to the windmill (it's mailbox steppage of 350 plus 150), but it was too much. I did actually need F's help. But HE had a good time!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 May 11 - 08:09 AM

A house's dnstrs-floor-worth of carpeting seems to be headed our way via FC.

Today the Sunday-skipped mailbox trip will be added in to replace yesterday's missed trip. I think I can add a trip to the far west-edge windmill that blew over, with Faulkner to help navigate knees thru the spongy grass.

Tomorrow's a bit of a marathon drive; plan to drink so much tea I HAVE to stop every hour to unkink the knees and help keep the leg edema down. Help the bladder infection clear, too. No car music-- need a break from recent tune-work. Audbook I'm proof-listening instead-- about a Wendigo in Canadia.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 May 11 - 01:11 AM

I cooked a hot breakfast for the kids for years, though there was a point in time, when we got moved into the apartment after the divorce, when I realized we were toasting a lot of bagels. I didn't want them to remember bagels as their childhood meals. Oatmeal, pancakes, eggs, French toast, Jimmy Dean sausages, baking powder biscuits, blueberry muffins, lots of fruit, typical breakfast things, though as my son got bigger and wanted protein before big tests, I'd sometimes cook a chicken breast. Unusual, but it worked for him.

Today I filled three wheelbarrows of wall mortar and filler and dumped it in the way back part of the yard. More progress on wall in keyhole garden (I was using some of the mortar chunks to support the wall, but decided to pull it out), and I moved finally to wall construction in front of the berm. I mixed up two bags of Quickrete and dumped them in each end of the little trench I dug in front of the berm. Those are to support the ends of the wall. I didn't have enough to put concrete in the entire length of it; I could go buy another five bags of the mix and put it in, but I think I'll use sand instead. My main interest was to have a solid surface for the ends where I want to put in a more ornamental stack of rocks. The base isn't very wide front to back, it will only be one stone deep (this isn't a two-sided wall). It's about 12 feet long, six inches across, four inches deep. The rocks will go on top of this. The other think my bricklayer said (guy at work answered some questions about this project) is that I could get cinder blocks or concrete bricks and put a layer of them in, or sand and then these things. I will use a level when I build it.

I forgot to water part of the garden, but it is supposed to rain tomorrow. If it isn't raining by morning I'll run the soaker hoses.

Bread is put away, 1/2 in freezer, 1/2 in bread box. Dogs washed. They'll get their Revolution in the morning. It's overdue, but within an okay time frame still. Dishes doing pretty well, still didn't fold laundry. Time for a motrin after all of that yard work.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 May 11 - 12:00 AM

We went to the soccer field, game was delayed 1.5 hours due to weather. We walked halfway across to where Morgan's game would be, said this is TOO cold and went back to the car. I don't think it got past 48 degrees and the wind was really going where the fields are. About 430p, Morgan called me. He very politely asked, "Would you like to see me, today?" Usually he just says, "can I come over?"

Anyway, he did and told me it was kind of to make up for us not being able to see each other at the fields. He and I then proceeded to make pancakes with walnuts from scratch. I used to be famous, among family and friends for my pancakes. It's been years since I have cooked anything, but Morgan still remembered one time when I made him a Mickey Mouse shaped one. As he was flipping a pancake over this evening he said, "Just like old times." Too funny and fun.

It felt good to reclaim kitchen as partly mine. For so many years Roger has had to be the one to prepare most meals and it gradually came to be "his" kitchen. It bothered me to no end, things were not arranged where they were handy for me: in too high cupboards, and other things all of which kept me from doing much, esp. when it took so much energy. (He's a very messy cook and never cleans up after himself.:-) This weekend, after doing the dishes, I told him I was throwing out the two frying pans he uses as they were so worn out and I was unable to get them cleaned up good enough to suit. So he went out and bought a really nice big fry pan and specifically mentioned he thought I'd like it for making pancakes. So pancakes it was and a big hit judging by what my "boyz" ate.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 11 - 09:47 PM

Ped 2395 MIssed the mailbox trip today

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 30 Apr 11 - 08:13 PM

Walked in a local 5k today to help raise money for friends who are going to Ethiopia to assist with water issues and animal health as well. It was a beautiful day for a walk, could have walked for miles if it had been flat but it wasn't. That hill surely let me know who was boss! I had Jeremiah in the stroller too. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 11 - 04:29 PM

And the wall is down! Piece by piece, and three wheelbarrows full of the crappy mortar and sand that were holding it in place. I came in to check my bread, it goes in the convection oven in a few minutes. The house will smell wonderful all evening!

It's overcast, which helps with the temperature and sun exposure today. Good thing, because I'm going back out for a couple more hours at least. It's energizing to finally finish a project that I've been threatening for the last 8 years!

This evening I have a lot of laundry to fold, and before I come in for the evening I need to mow and finally bathe the dogs.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 11 - 02:37 PM

I wish I had nice porches here. I have a small one in front that is uninspiring - I hope to extend it out one of these days. The back patio is covered and I can do a lot more there. No side stoop, but I have walls around the side to hide the view of concrete coming right to the house (because it used to be a driveway/garage there).

In for a few minutes to cool down and eat lunch. Bread in the machine kneading. I've dismantled a lot more of the ugly wall closest to the side door and toted a full wheelbarrow of crumbling mortar and fill to the back. It's full again and ready to dump after lunch. The big rocks coming out of that wall now need to go into the new berm wall so I am at the point where I can dig the footer hole, mix concrete, and let it set so I can start that wall. I've also realized that no matter how desirable those big rocks are for a great looking wall, it's the little ones that are so important in fitting the wall together.

I'd like this to be a day when I can work here with stuff I have around the house and not have to go shopping to get any missing items. That's a goal I need as an ongoing thing.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Apr 11 - 02:17 PM

Been a busy few days. Started cardio-pulmonary rehab phase II exercise classes and I love it. Basically the usual training apparatus with careful supervision of vitals and all of that. I had the intake on Thurs. and first class, yesterday. It felt great. I've also started up the qi gong, again, which is a great compliment to the gym stuff and for the days I don't go. (It's 3 times per week.) Lots of walking, too.

Had Morgan over after school, yesterday, for about an hour. He wanted to "write a chapter book." So, he sat down and wrote the "first chapter" on my PC. He's definitely got the my writer's bug.:-)

Good thing we haven't planted anything as we've had two nights of freeze warnings, with three more to go and woke up to a skiff of snow on everything, plus a cold wind. It's melting but the wind and 40s-low 50s temps make it very chilling. And we're to go to Morgan's last soccer game this afternoon.

This morning, we loaded up and delivered 5 boxes of heavy books, and three of misc. antiques and trinkets, plus two bags of clothing, to the pet charity. Boy, that felt good and cleared up a big space in the LR which, of course, will get filled up, again, with more giveaways. There were some really nice collectable books in there. This was a real test for me...could I let them go or no? Yes and it felt good! As we drove away, I could see the employees/volunteers looking through the books and showing each other a gem or two.

On to more...

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 11 - 01:23 PM

Outdoor re-org underway. Front porch halfway re-org. One large storage container will go to Dog WOrld where its lid will keep some nice things dry. Back porch looking much better, more to do. Pedometer replaced, same model, wearing it. Assessing what this bad winter cost me-- BAD. Some goals moved forward, many halted. Till now that is!

Have been forgetting to post sets-- avg 2/day. Three was too many.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 11 - 10:53 AM

Back on a normal schedule - a full night of sleep, awake at my usual time. Lovely today, supposed to rain tomorrow. Must plan accordingly! Tea and a little breakfast, then I'll head into the yard. I've been picking up around the kitchen already. My copier and cartridge are up on eBay, and as I expected, one has a watcher, the other doesn't. Next week I may have one sale and one donation.

I enjoy working in my more tidy garage. I still have some arranging to do in there. Maybe today is the day.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 30 Apr 11 - 04:20 AM

Of course, spider is colloquial, and I can't remember the correct UK name. Got to go out now to replace the tyre.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 11 - 12:32 AM

Ah, yes, the old lug wrench. A common murder weapon, according to many published murder mysteries and in film and television! :) And good for changing flat tires also. And your extra length of pipe would be used as a lever or fulcrum, along those lines.

Rules like wearing white or not, virginity or not, are all a judgment call, are simply fashion or manners. Whoever complained is just a wet blanket on the joy of the moment and shouldn't be given the time of day.

I just came in from a concert and a stop for an appetizer at a favorite Mexican restaurant. I took the young woman who is my son's age and has been a family friend for ages. She has a few developmental programs and is finishing high school late, but she is finishing. And she needs good adult attention to balance out the whackos she sometimes meets online in gaming sites and facebook. We were talking about something a friend told her that she'd swallowed wholesale, then repeated, and on facebook I told her was nonsense. A few folks that neither of us know hopped in and painted an ugly picture of her. Just what a kid needs [not] who is working through a sense of self and building self-esteem. Our outing was a good one and the air is clear between us.

Lots to do this weekend. I hope the weather is as beautiful as it was today. Now off to bed for a normal night's sleep. I took a couple of naps today to balance out the extremely early rising.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 29 Apr 11 - 04:49 PM

Sorry. The spider is a cross shaped tool with four arms, each ending in a ring spanner of various sizes for different wheel nuts. The spanners included in most car tool kits, along with the jack (UK also jack) are often inadequate to undoing nuts fitted with the machines garages use, flimsy little things. With a spider, you can use two hands at opposite sides to apply more leverage. With a bit of steel pipe to insert in one arm, the force gets even more effective. (I think I've seen spiders with 6 arms - obviously an appropriate 8 would not be possible.)

I have watered the brick like bit of the garden so I can dig up the periwinkle which is taking over, and move it to the old flats garden. I really don't know why the previous owner had so many invasive plants in a small garden. I've stacked up some of the moved flags, which have turned out to make a useful stand for the laundry basket when pegging out. I've attacked the clay soil in a second raised bed with an odd cultivator tool from my Dad's, called a "Garden Claw", and topped it with bought top soil, lion poo pellets, and prunings. (See cat thread for reason.) Found that the seed propagator had got too wet, and I only had one pea germinated, so planted some more peas and beans.

Watched a bit of the wedding - they were playing it on the radio in the local shop when I went for my paper. Then the flypast - my friend's father flew Lancasters in the war. I noticed that the crowd movng forward looked like the water flowing over Japan. There was a letter in the paper complaining that the future head of the Anglican church had been flouting its teaching on matrimony, and Kate shoould not have been wearing white. I would have thought that there was cause for celebration that they were putting it right, that the living together had always been associated with getting married. It looks like a relationship that is not the stupidly artificial mess that his parents were trapped in.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 11 - 01:37 PM

I found that my spider and associated steel tube for additional leverage were not in the boot.

I know the "boot" is what we call the "trunk" of the car, but what is a spider? Is it the equivalent to what we call a "jack?"

I watched the wedding, and am dog tired now. I need a nap. It's a lovely day, I'd love to work in the yard. I need to finish some jobs today, though.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Apr 11 - 07:00 AM

The activity level is up enough now to wake me in the night. It will be interesting to put a pedometer back on to see what the numbers are.

[long ACOA ramble follows]

===

As an ACOA, I found long ago that I had been raised to ignore body-talk-- hungry little kids interrupt the drinking, so they often must "wait." In my 20's I used those "waiting" "skills" to sustain jobs where relaxed meals HAD to wait. In my 40's, THAT caught up with me, and it's been a struggle to maintain metabolic stability ever since. I "forget" to eat, till end of day, and then I am too hungry for my own good. (Been working on THAT one for years now....) Plop exercise into the middle of that pattern and it all goes kaflooey. Add starting from very low birth weight and being raised mostly by a man (before men were enculturated to nurture).... it's just complicated.

Anyway, 4 hours of sleep is just not enough for an average, so small bedtime snacks are as needful for me as they would be for a diabetic, and sometimes a very small mid-sleep snack too. Hardi manages his sugars with a cracker and about 20 raisins when he gets up mid-sleep. I prefer my kibble hot, and I was doing OK till the office fridge crapped out in a lightning strike last month-- dinner leftovers, to re-warm without having to wake up much, could be kept up there. OK..... back to canned stuff, but the budget is busted this pay period so I have to.... oh goodie, WAIT.


ANYHOO! Whenever I can't sleep, an inner architect seems to get active in my brain. I solve all kinds of problems; not a worry-pattern but an "Hm! I can figure out XYZ!" skill. As a very small child I'd visualize building myself a small house (shed). I'd plan it and then see each step, in the right order, to do the job. I had to take a lot of nights' work apart to re-do steps that turned out to have been in the wrong order :~) but by my teens, with real wood, it turned out I'd gotten pretty good at knowing how to build.

Well, I have been awake for hours now, hoping for a nap later, but with a lovely mind-picture of a way to enlarge parts of Dog World. I took what I learned from working with chain link and ag panel and looked back thru pretty memories to a friend's creative farming use of ag panel-- I know now how the farmer must have done the hardware to make it work, because it's really just jewelry-making in large scale. And I know, better, now, how to join that ag panel to the chainlink posts. Cheaper and easier!

[end of ramble]

===

When I can afford more ag panel (1 at a time per pay period), I can "easily" spin out several curvy lines across the lawn, connecting existing fenced areas, and have more safe run-space for Faulkner that can swing out of Hardi's way when he mows.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 29 Apr 11 - 03:47 AM

Last night I managed to puncture a tyre on a traffic island, while trying to get visibility back in the rear view mirror which a friend had knocked while getting a bag from the back seat. As I called the Automobile Association (I don't like bending any more to get the jack in place), a couple turned up an offered to help and did a brilliant job. (As my friend said, if we were evangelicals, we would have thought they were dispatched by heaven, and were possibly angels.)

But as they worked, I found that my spider and associated steel tube for additional leverage were not in the boot. (I had moved a lot of things out while clearing Dad's place, and thought I had replaced these essential items.)

So, this morning, when I woke up early (about 6.30), I went down into the garage under the house and started a search. I had put them in the big metal cupboard left by the previous owner. I have now listed the contents of the top shelves on the door in permanent marker. I have rationalised some of the arrangement, and managed to unstick a roll of wide duct tape by using white spirit and a saw. Over an hour's work decluttering! What a good way to spend the wedding day! There is one more shelf of odds and ends in the garden pot department, and two of geological specimens, which I will not itemise, on that side of the cupboard, and then the shelves on the other side.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 04:53 PM

Consolidating some of the paper here, dropping other in the recycle bin. Listed a couple of eBay things at lunchtime, tired of the tripping hazards of these boxed items. I tend to set aside things I can use for packing in my sun room, but I'm sure it's overkill in there, so I should thin it out and recycle some of the cardboard.

I picked up a 1/2 pound of sliced brisket on my way home from shopping, and I had some small hamburger buns in the freezer. I can probably make three lunches out of this. Beans out of the freezer and I'll make a batch of rice this evening to go with it. Trying to eat healthy.

Walking again this evening. I feel like I should wear a necklace, Susie always wears a piece of her beautiful glass on a chain. She used to do a lot of beading (does less now because of a vision problem, but I have a good light with a magnifier, so we can get together here and look at the beads I've accumulated over the years).

I'll do laundry this evening and set out clothes for a concert tomorrow night. I notice my jeans and another pair of pants I wear regularly aren't as snug now that I'm walking more. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 12:59 PM

Hi Gang,

   It's a beautiful (windy) day here in Pennsylvania! I've put the baby down for an early nap and we are going to go for a walk when he gets up! I'm really looking forward to it too!!! I have just about every single window in the house open letting in as much fresh air as I can. I LOVE days like today!! It's about 50 degrees, give or take, a bit of a breeze and fluffy clouds and a bright blue sky behind them. The weather has been rain, rain, rain, storm, bigger storm, flooding, more rain, etc....so I'm going to go out and ENJOY it!!!! I think I'll pick up a hanging basket for the woman who took care of Jeremiah and I the night before last. I'd bake cookies or something for her but she's diabetic, so a plant is better. Besides, she loves flowers! :)
   I spent this morning overhauling the living room...sweeping, vaccuuming, dusting, rearranging, etc. I'd like to get or make some sheer curtains for the slider in the living room and take down the heavy insulated curtains...although, they do help keep the house cooler in the summer. Maybe I'll put up sheers just for the spring weather. I want to get more light in here!!!!
    I wrote out some cards today, packed up a gift for Old Dude's wife, packed up photos to send to family near and far, did the dishes, blah, blah, blah. My energy is HIGH today and I am LOVING it!! I had a 3 hour nap yesterday and slept ALL night..>WOOO HOOO...maybe the chemo is finally getting OUT OF MY BODY!!!!
   I'm glad Susan said something about the pedometer, I'll try to remember mine before I head out the door. Oh yeah..I also made an emergency bag for the baby. I was SO THANKFUL that I had a few jars of babyfood in the car as well as a well packed diaper bag (complete with toys too) the other night. I will never go out without it again (it will stay in the car with non-perishables).

Lator Gators!!! Get out and enjoy some of that beautiful sunshine if you have it and can!!!

Love to all,

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 12:00 PM

Dropped off or buried?

(Leprosy? Oh! My pedometer!)

It popped off the elastic band it rides on. I am sure it will turn up, and if not it's a $5 replacement at WalMArt, next paycheck, by which time I will be needing to measure a new goal/habit. Till then I can count new items as I do them and add them in.

Another accurate way to measure activity is-- does it wake you up ravenously hungry for health food, in the middle of the night?

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 11:08 AM

Darn! I posted and it didn't stick. Yesterday as I was preparing to walk the dogs I heard them start with their noisy happy greeting for another dog, so I knew Susie and Zeke must have arrived at our house. When you can decode the bark there is so much information.

Listening to the news about the tornadoes in Alabama. When a storm explodes houses open like that, stuff goes everywhere, making reaching people more difficult. One account had a woman and her daughter in the hall of her home, the only part left standing when the storm passed. I think placing a really strong table in the hall here would be the way to go.

Tons to do today, must get to it.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 10:09 AM

Tho the pedometer has (temporarily I hope) gone missing, I've been repeating pretty much the same activities, so I'm logging an est. 2700 for ydy and 2700 for today.

===

Neat quote from a good friend/thought for the day:
I was raised to say "Please" & "Thank you," to learn from my mistakes, to accept people's apologies, to have respect for my elders, to lend a helping hand to those in need, to hold the door for the person behind me, to say "Excuse me" when it was needed, and to love people for who they are, not for what you can get from them! (If you were raised this way too, re-post this if you agree.)

===

The camping cot for the van has been getting its necessary modifications while the van is back in the shop-- straps to stabilize the legs so they do not fold up when I move around, a layer of padding to keep the springs from ripping the sleeping bag and mattress, etc.

===

The boondocker space-planning is well underway in my head, since the van is not here to do it with. The gear lockers do fit under the cot but therefore the folded cot does not fit inside the locker. The lockers however are great. A tarp to wrap the folded cot will be picked up tomorrow so its frame does not get caught on stuff. I'll use the same tarp to wrap the scooter, which will need to be offloaded and wrapped against rain any time I set up the cot. The nightstand-flap is nice, but too heavy and too much trouble to take and install each time I camp. It will be a great addition in the pop-up camper's sleeping bunk for Hardi's stuff. (It will form a valance over the tab-top curtains we want to add for bunk-darkening.)

===

A pesky super-closet issue is resolved-- been working on hanging more and folding less as I can afford nice XL non-slip hangers. I added hooks for 2 bulky raincoats now taking up too much valuable rod space, inside the door that already has skirts, etc. hanging on the back of it. Already had the hooks. Now they are inside where I need to hang coats, not outside where they tend to collect stuff better hung on the rod, inside.

===

A pesky LR issue also resolved-- an unused chair next to Hardi's recliner is now a side table. (I added a non-slip tray and put away the crap piling up there.)

===

Gotta sign off puder-- edema in legs out of control due to meds.


I see SUNSHINE! And there MAY be a big fat check to deposit, out in that mailbox!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 07:22 PM

Dropped off or buried?

Heading out soon to walk the dogs. And walk off a big lunch (even though I brought home half and warmed it to have for dinner). Rich sauce - one I probably won't eat often.

The deck cover is going up next door and it is spectacular. I hope it matches the house when it is finished - though even if it doesn't, it will be a great shaded summer patio. I doubt and more spare bits from the project will come this way - it's enough to have the topsoil and concrete blocks and to go ahead and use them soon.

There's time to do a little yard work before our walk. I got distracted by reading the news, but now, out to the garden.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 05:08 PM

Damn! Lost the pedometer!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 05:03 PM

Don't know what it will do for cancer...but I can guarantee it will cause some people to have heart disease who otherwise would not.   Depends on their ancestry. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 04:36 PM

What a great story, Michelle! And I agree, it sounds like you have a new friend.

Watching Dr. Oz today - they're discussing a diet to prevent cancer and heart disease. Cuts out meat, fish, chicken, eggs, diary (cheese, all of it). Oh, my! Sounds like a difficult one to stay on.

My first daylilies are blooming today!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 03:53 PM

I once had a shorter, but equally joyful, unanticipated visit with an older local resident in his home..... It's part of why we stay here and why, over time, we hope we have gotten more grace-ious.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 11:25 AM

I hosted a Relay For Life Tupperware party last night in a town bout 30 miles from my home. When the party was over, it was storming outside something fierce. I packed up everything, tucked Jeremiah into his carseat with a blanket, turned on the lullaybe CD and slowly made my way towards home. I got about 3 miles from our home but the roads were flooded....fast moving water. I turned around and tried another route but ran into the same problem. I couldn't get home. I stopped at a house right where I couldn't go any further. A woman in her 70s came out of her house just as I pulled in her driveway. I asked if I could use her phone. She let me into her home, I called Pete to tell him I couldn't get home and was going to go to Mom's house which is 26 miles away. The woman looked at me and she said, "You can stay here."   A complete stranger welcomed Jeremiah and I into her home. I wasn't sure but the thought of taking my baby back out on the roads was weighing heavily on my mind. I think she could sense my hesitation and then she told me that she lived alone. The storm and the rising water nearby scared her. Her basement was filling with water and she didn't want to be alone. She had a sump pump on but she wasn't sure it would keep running. I agreed to stay. Jeremiah played and we talked for hours. We sat at the kitchen table and she told me about her family and how she lost her husband of 57 years last September to cancer. She let Jeremiah and I sleep in her bed and in the morning she showed me all kinds of frames and cabinets her husband had made, pictures of him and then she brought out a shoebox with shall the sympathy cards she had received....70 of them she said. There was such a deep sadness about her, I could feel it resonating in the air.. that makes my heart hurt. The good news?   I made a new friend and I think Jeremiah and I will be seeing her again soon. :)

Michelle

PS. My finternails and toenails are painted teal...for a few Relay For Life events. Teal is the designated color for ovarian cancer...I wear it to show my support.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 11:10 AM

I know that response isn't to my toenails! Tell us when you're ready.

Lovely day here, spectactularly clear and crisp outside. Such a waste of a good day to stay inside working, but alas, I must.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 08:50 AM

Very strange night....my faith in humanity has increased substantially and my heart aches all in the same breath.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 10:12 PM

2711 - 2307 average = 404

Met goal

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 05:56 PM

Kat, I used to paint my toenails, but I could never keep polish on my fingernails, with all of the activities during the day. Someone remarked one time that they expected it on my hands when they saw it on my feet. I suppose people do, so I stopped painting my toenails. :-/

Michelle, your card arrived. Great photos! Thanks!

It's a lovely afternoon here, but the weather folks have been on TV nonstop this afternoon because another weather event is evolving. I think I'll take the dogs for their walk early and enjoy the sunshine and cool temperatures (about 70).

I just launched the first message on a new listserv set up for library retirees. A good point to stop for the day.

I expect to get some work done around the house this evening. I'll let you know what it is once I've figured out what it will be!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 01:51 PM

I kept up a steady stream of decluttering, yesterday...deep stuff that's been around for years: old files, "important" receipts, etc. some of which had been tucked inside my daytimer/address book for over 7 years(!), two loads of laundry, added more books, wall pictures, and misc. to the charity pile, packaged up some books to send out, answered email, and worked some more on the formatting of my novel. I think I just about have it ready to go to Amazon. I also added more books to paperbackswap and deleted a couple of items from my Etsy store. Still thinking on that one.

Oh, and I painted my fingernails bright red! I hadn't used any polish in probably 25-30 years, ever since getting out of sales. At the beginning of this year, my doc girlfriend and I were helping each other to stay motivated. She had a couple of things she needed to do and so we challenged each other. She had to do two things and her choice for me was painting my fingernails red. Well, she went on to do what she was supposed to and I took a detour through the hospital. I knew i was going to see her this morning, so yesterday afternoon, I sat down and gave myself a manicure. Boy, are they red! Boy, are they pretty and make me feel good. Funny little thing and I usually eschew any "makeup" but it's been fun, even Rog noticed and liked it. I think it reminds him of younger times.:-)

This morning, I did 35 minutes of Qi Gong after getting back from osteo manipulation with my doc friend. Feels great!

kathotred&lovin'it

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 11:59 AM

I found an institutional way of looking at what my level of activity has been and is moving towards.

I've been at "ADL" level and am moving towards IADL level: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activities_of_daily_living.

ADL seems to be at about 2,500 steps per day (or lower if one is in a smaller home). A daily additional trip to the mailbox is the activity I am adding now-- muscles and bones feel it as a stress but once I acclimate to that I'll add another. Our mailbox is 350 steps from the back door's low stair-steps (fewer via the front door but with steeper stairs). So when I can do the front steps comfortably and/or find myself adding more outdoor stuff before coming back in, it will be time to measure and plan the next item to add.

As I posted earlier, living in camping mode for a month (with lots of shade, lake-swimming, and little or no steep stairs) seems to boost me way above that ADL level each summer, and the challenge is keeping it up there in the winter. The great thing is that the yard is already set for me to resume the boosted level as soon as it's warm enough for outdoor tea in the morning, as it was today for the first time; spring seems to have been about 3 weeks late this year.

An activity I have been wanting to add is taking Faulkner for therapy-dog trips to the local assisted living place to increase my walking, there, on the flat. I can practice with our friend Ed who is still living at home.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 11:32 AM

Researching broadcast, microwave, cellular, etc. towers since one of my Sprint family plan members has been having difficulty staying in the PCS vs roaming state. FYI: If you want to see what towers, antennas, etc are in your area, go to http://www.antennasearch.com/ and enter your location and you'll be amazed at the amount of stuff going on through the airwaves. It can take a couple of minutes to pull the list together if you live in an urban area, so be patient.

Not sure how much home stuff I'll get done today; I'm at the office now and I have a freelance project to finish tonight. I tried to finish it for this morning but it was going too late.

I'll be so glad to finish these antibiotics. They do seem to have some sleeplessness as a side effect. I have been making a point of taking the second one in late afternoon or early evening and that helps. The rash is only a faint shadow, no one would see where it was without it being pointed out, but (as the instructions say) I need to finish the entire Rx.

Going phone shopping at lunch with the friend whose phone is getting the roaming status. We need to ask a few questions (then order it online and go from there).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 11 - 09:35 PM

I ate dinner earlier today, before I walked the dogs. I need to do that, to help with losing weight. I tend to have a farmer's approach of working outside until it's dark and then come in and eat.

Nothing much else to report. Pacing myself on chores, and counting the days until payday.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Apr 11 - 08:25 PM

Met with a friend this morning, ran some errands, normal chores are done and I currently have a load of rugs in the wash. I also spent time going through some of my clothes today. Good grief....I hang on to WAY TOO MUCH stuff!!! I remembered to put my pedometer on but not until about 3:00pm. At the moment it reads 3511 but the day is far from over in this house!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 11 - 12:18 PM

My dogs would destroy those things so fast - they'd tear them off of each other. ;-) They've cooperated before on projects like that.

Busy week coming up, at least there won't be as much yard work for a few days. Things need to dry out again.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Apr 11 - 11:04 AM

Sounds like those little dogs may need one of these: Puppy Bumpers.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 25 Apr 11 - 12:32 AM

Remember the license plate that says thank god it is monday and i have a job to go to. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 11 - 12:10 AM

This afternoon I finished digging out my keyhole garden, and I started rebuilding the walls around it the way I should have to begin with. I won't have to redo all of it, but the interior section certainly needed work. I want it to not only be functional, but lovely to look at.

I broke off from that job a little before 7pm, when the dogs started getting noisy. They went without a walk last night because a storm threatened, but tonight we went in spite of another threatening storm. We met Zeke, and made a circuit around the village and over into the prairie. There were two little dogs out loose at one point so we went around them - ours would be a handful if we were charged by these two little delinquents who no doubt broke out of their own yard. We walked for about 50 minutes, good for all of us.

Everything was put away for the night. A load of laundry awaits. The dogs are in because of the storm, but they'll head back to the garage soon.

Tomorrow is Monday. Bleh.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Apr 11 - 06:26 PM

Took a power rest, got up, put more clean clothes away and went through the canvas bins I use for sock, undies, pjs and tees. Filled a garbage bag with clothes to pass on, folded the keepers ad put them away. It looks so much better and neater in our bedroom, now. I also did something I've been meaning to do for years. The docs are always asking me about past meds and I do not keep good track of them. I used to figure that was their job, in the records, and I could always ask the pharmacy, BUT it's stupid for me not to keep track of what works and doesn't, what caused allergic reactions, etc. So, I went through all of the old stuff and more recent, made a spreadsheet of them with name, dose, how many per day, doc and date. There weren't really that many, but it will help to keep track. I will call the pharmacy, tomorrow, about disposing of all the unused ones in a proper way. That removed a small, but persistent bit of clutter which has nagged a lot.

I am feeling so much better, I don't even feel like stopping. There's so much I've been wanting to get done. I am pacing myself, but things are happening around here!

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Apr 11 - 04:24 PM

I am working on dismantling one of the wing walls on the front of my house. The thing was crumbling when the previous owners were getting ready to sell it, so they used thinset (the stuff you use to put tile on floors) like mortar. It's a crumbling mess. I had used some of the big chunks of mortar from the pile of rocks in my back yard when I build my keyhole garden, but it doesn't hold up (it's not like chunks of concrete), so I took one wheelbarrow of it back to the very back of the yard to dump. I'm working on another one now. I stopped to come in and check out the Sprint site - none of my picture mail photos are going through. Seems there is a system outage and they're working on it. I'll send them later.

Before the new wall I'm finishing the keyhole garden wall. No point in having a couple of partially finished projects. The digging has been pretty good because we had two heavy rains several days ago. I have to get some Bermuda grass out of the area, then restack the limestone rocks and fill it in. I'll use some of the new dirt from next door (after filtering out the Bermuda in that). It's almost ready to go.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Apr 11 - 02:36 PM

I have not, SRS, but I have only a few items up and basically put it on hold when I became ill. I am rethinking what to offer there; it seems to work best when one focusses on a more specific product than I was. Right now, it is not top priority, though.

Our ride was abbreviated and very soggy...it's raining buckets out there and I Love it, but it's a good day to curl up with a good book and a cat or two! More grocery shopping done and put away.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Apr 11 - 02:24 PM

1 week average 2307/day.

Now the fun begins-- adding the missing outdoor activity now possible with spring weather. Goal this week is to average 2500/day and to discover what daily activity equals the difference.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Apr 11 - 01:05 PM

Have you ever actually sold anything on etsy?

Overcast today, and humid. I'll work in the yard some, and I need to wash the dogs, I was too tired to do it yesterday.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Apr 11 - 12:35 PM

Until this morning, I never knew my daughter thought I was really good at hiding Easter eggs! She and their oldest dog, Dizzy, who is also the "Nanny" helped Morgan find eggs over here. It was also Dizzy's birthday, so she was sporting a new "camo" collar in hot pink!

After they went home, Roger did the litter boxes and trash. I'd already scrubbed the commode. We just finished going through two shelves of stuff I had set aside for ebay or my etsy shop. We made a final decision to donate it all to the pet charity and it is now in boxes waiting for pick-up, while a few books we are keeping are on one of the shelves. There will be more. I still have a basket of old files to go through, from those shelves. Maybe later today. We are going for a soggy Sunday drive in a few minutes.

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 24 Apr 11 - 04:20 AM

I spent the morning in my downstairs study, furthest from the sun, sorting out one of the boxes of assorted stuff, assigning it to the right place, and listing that place on a spreadsheet. When that warmed up I went out to the AC'd shop to get stuff for a hot weather Easter lunch instead of the lamb I'd planned. Then round to the front of the house. I had to rush out get the washing in at one point, having noticed it had got shady. There was a lovely cumulo-nimbus overhead - I left watering in case it rained, but had to do it this morning, as no rain fell. The air cooled, though.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Spring Declutter & Exercise, April 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 11:48 PM

Mowed the front AND the back. I skipped the dog walk tonight because a storm was threatening so I was out pushing the mower until I had to quit. The storm has been all around, but not actually here, so no rain yet. (Lightning kills, even if it isn't right here, so I stop when I start to see it.)

This evening I set up a little chimney coal starter and was able to get coals ready and into the covered barbecue and do some pork and chicken for this week. I was prepared to cover the top with foil to keep rain out if necessary. It wasn't.

One load of laundry finished. Enough for today, I managed the meds better today, so I'll sleep well tonight!

SRS