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BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records*
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Jun 11 - 07:54 PM You've all made a big move into summer work! I just started a June thread. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: mouldy Date: 01 Jun 11 - 03:54 AM After a day or two of merely pottering about, dental appointments etc, I am spending today sorting out the last of the kitchen stuff, and the dining room. I am off down south via Yorkshire for the Wychwood festival in Cheltenham, and I won't be back up here until Tuesday. Hopefully the kitchen cupboards (or some of the at least) will be coming out shortly afterwards. It's a case of pulling camping gear I may need over the summer out of the shed and dumping it in the hall, then filling the space left in the shed with the majority of the pots/pans/appliances from the kitchen. Oh well - better get started, I suppose.... Andrea |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: maire-aine Date: 31 May 11 - 09:58 PM My laptop now has a 4G connection, so I'm sailing thru the web-- even youtube videos. This will save a lot of time & aggravation, and money too, as my montly rate will go down. Got my first paycheck today from my new part-time job. Yey. M |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Penny S. Date: 31 May 11 - 08:01 PM Woke early, and went to the study to install another length of shelf support and more shelves. Emptied a few more boxes of books and considered that I need a run of some sort of cupboard for "not books". Sorted out some for Oxfam. Took an armchair up two flights of stairs to the room where I will be working on it to replace the webbing. Took the chair which has been living in that room downstairs and photographed it to see if Oxfam could take it. Went to Oxfam and found that one of my previous donations of books had gone, separating two which belonged together, so that the purchaser won't know the end of the story. Since the second had been priced at £35, it isn't a surprise. They could take the chair, but when I got back I realised they couldn't. It would need a fire certificate. I could re-cover it myself, but not certificate it. Proper upholstery would cost £70. But I don't have the space any more. I went to the village office to find out about the cable company, and they have ended the service, so I don't suppose the cable ends are live. Then I went to the dump to get rid of the cardboard boxes, and found a woman dumping two Ikea wooden boxes and a stair basket, which I now have. The boxes will do for the "not-books" until I can manage better. That justified the petrol, which I had worried about. I dropped into the supermarket on the way back, and met the woman from the cherry farm, which is starting to sell tomorrow! Hooray! I planted out the tomatoes in growbags, topped up the slowest potato bag, and planted out the courgette in a heap of compost. Something had sought out my bought in dwarf runner beans and chewed them, but I'm not ready to plant them out - the bed needs building up some more. I'm going to have to buy in anyway, as I have managed to kill off some more seeds in the propagator. Fortunately the garden centre is near the cherry farm. The slugs, active now it has rained, are ignoring the beer trap, but I have some organic pellets which are safe for other life which I am trying. I suspect them of chewing my carrots, which I will need to reseed. The cat did for some of them. I have spoken to the owner, who doesn't quite believe he is guilty, as he uses a spot in their garden, but he is the one I have seen. There is a new cat about though, which I will have to watch out for. Ginger is called Douglas - a Just William connection, maybe. It sounds as though it is territory rather than needing a toilet spot which brings him in, though. Penny |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 31 May 11 - 05:38 PM Michelle, in the summer my writing goes in spurts because I'm outside more. It's so hot here that I can't keep going without stop, so I check in when I'm cooling off. Woke up with terrible leg cramps last night, and realized I'd probably become dehydrated. A teaspoon of mustard (a suggestion from the Graedons of The People's Pharmacy) and a big drink of water and I felt much better and back to bed. I'm sure it came from not drinking enough as I toted rocks around the yard yesterday. I'll pay more attention - that's no way to wake up. I am waiting for the eBayer to pay and then I can get this box out of here. I have a couple of more things to list, and I need to set up my ad for the tiller tonight. Tomorrow is payday, so tomorrow I'll list this on Craig's List. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: LilyFestre Date: 30 May 11 - 10:15 PM Going to be taking a break from online communities for a for a bit for anyone who might wonder where I've gone. I might blog and add some updates but maybe not too. I just need a breather. Everything is good, no worries. :) Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: LilyFestre Date: 30 May 11 - 10:03 PM I made serious progress in my office and may put up some photos later on. I moved the bed, sorted a bunch of stuff, tossed a bunch of stuff (mostly old paperwork) and did some organizing, dusting, etc. Best bonus of the day? I found a tape one of my very best friends made for me in 1991. He happened to work at WCNN (DJ turned engineer) so he had full access to everything in the studio. The best part, he made the commercials and did the announcing himself. He died in 1999. It was sooo good to hear his voice today. I've been looking for that tape for a long time. Found it tucked in a walkman....that should tell you how long it's been since I've heard his voice!!! Love & Misses John. XOXOXOXOXO Night Everybody! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: wysiwyg Date: 30 May 11 - 05:24 PM Not sure how to quantify this but the afternoon's activity was a lot like riding a somewhat sedate horse for 1/2 an hour, which I used to do for hours and hours, to go scootering where and how we do it. You can sit there like a lump and bumpo along like a sack of potatoes, or you can ride actively, just like on a horse, and tho there is not quite as much leg action there can be quite a bit more than I had thought-- on the model I have now you can stand up without having it conk out. So 1/2 hour of scootering, as a pace for a few weeks, because on the last scooter 1/2 hour was way too much. It was OK on this one but I will feel it later, esp. in my back, butt, and thighs-- hopefully not so badly that I can't ALSO do the same amount of walking I've been doing. But it was a move in the right direction. We have a new paradigm. If the two really do become one flesh like the Bible says, then I suppose it would be a sin of omission not to exercise together, even if we do not do the same exercises and activities. It should be interesting, seeing how this affects both our workout times. I also learned a lot about how to load and unload this big scooter by myself. Will need a rope to pull it out, and some steering straps. An odd irony was that I was considered the most knowledgable person on the trail today because I could estimate the pace of the walkers, to answer their questions about how far they may have gone, and to warn them that they had probably done way too much for a first day out as they clearly were doing. I guess the old girl is still a coach when needed. So strange! Must have been that competitive look I was wearing, that I had no idea I was wearing. They used to tell me I looked like that in the pool, too, especially after they had failed to be able to keep up with me in aqua-sprinting (interval-training). ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 May 11 - 02:56 PM It's very warm out there now. I came in for lunch, but when I went back outside trying to work in that heat with a full stomach didn't feel good. I'll let it digest longer before heading out again. My rock wall is coming along beside the house. This is simply stacked rocks, not mortared like out front. This line of rocks there to conceal the concrete (former driveway) that goes all the way up to the side of the house. With the line of sight broken up by this low wall and potted plants the house doesn't look like it has a converted garage. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 May 11 - 10:48 AM I picked it apart before I saw maeve's corrected link. And I've subscribed to your blog. I have a couple of WordPress blogs running, one for the organic gardening, one for everything else. I probably should combine all of that into the threatened (proposed?) one blog and have a garden section and an everything else section. Then I wouldn't have to host my photos elsewhere (not wanting to fill it up so much that it runs out of space, but I should probably just buy that space - there are several possibilities). Now, I've had my cuppa tea so it's time to change into grubby clothes and head into the yard. It's overcast this morning, keeping it slightly cooler. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: LilyFestre Date: 30 May 11 - 09:50 AM Maeve, *MWAH* Thank you!!!! XOXOXOX Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: maeve Date: 30 May 11 - 09:10 AM The http:// prefix had been decluttered! :) http://www.changingmylifeoneroomatatime.wordpress.com |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: LilyFestre Date: 30 May 11 - 08:53 AM Hmmm...that didn't work. Here's the web address: www.changingmylifeoneroomatatime.wordpress.com Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: LilyFestre Date: 30 May 11 - 08:52 AM Here is where I will begin to document my efforts: Changing My Life One Room At A Time Gotta start somewhere...right? :) Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: LilyFestre Date: 30 May 11 - 08:15 AM So....the baby is sleeping in and Pete went out to do his chores. I got a head start on my office which is going to be turned into a quiet reading area/guest room/mommy's time out room. I have a TON of stuff for the yard sale and can't wait to get rid of it!!! I took some before photos and will set up a site so you guys can see it (still loving SRS's idea of having a spot to post photos of our progress). While the living areas of our home are in decent shape, my office and really, Pete's office too...have become catch all clutter rooms. You know, the kind of room where I don't have the time or oomph to put this where it should go so I'll just throw it in here. Uh huh. It's bad. So....when you see the pictures, just know that we all have to start somewhere. And I started today!!! And that does NOT include the 2 hours of uninterrupted time Pete has promised me!!! YAY!!!!! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: wysiwyg Date: 30 May 11 - 07:35 AM AC masked and light control underway. Spare bedroom window unscrewed and fan in, lovely early morning light and cool air. Porch work delayed by power outage on for today, in the midst of picnic. Friend whose power STILL not yet on now has our magic electricity gadget-- "Have a cup of electricity, neighbor?" New litter pans in place-- HEAVEN.... New editing project underway, PRICELESS. Prepping for Convention jobs (That's June 10.) TBTG, ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: LilyFestre Date: 30 May 11 - 07:15 AM William R. Bradford said, "A cluttered life is a life that you do not have control of. I have learned that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to declutter one's life by starting at the top of the pile with the idea that the solution is to just get things sorted and better organized. It is nice to get better organized, but that is not enough. Much has to be discarded. We must actually get rid of it." ("Unclutter Your Life," Ensign, May 1992, 27) Today is Memorial Day and Pete has the day off. We are giving each other the gift of uninterrupted time. I will keep the baby for 2 hours and then he will take the baby for 2 hours. Do you know how much I can get done in 2 hours of uninterrupted time? Sounds crazy but I am ready for my 2 hours to begin...I want to get started rearranging my office!!! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: mouldy Date: 30 May 11 - 03:23 AM I'm enjoying reading about the wonderfful activities you have all been doing. I will own up to having been a bit lazy this weekend. The dining room is getting really cluttered with the kitchen stuff, and Ernie won't be able to put the stove in for at least 10 days - he isn't back from the US till Saturday, and I am away until the following Tuesday. I will then have to take my turn with the other work that has piled up. Meanwhile, I will be needing to store crockery and pans somewhere. At least the bulk of them can go away into a shed or the annexe, as I will only need the minimum. Today's plan? Flower festival across the road in the church, and a village food and craft fair up the road at Ford. Lots of nice plants and handmade soapy things there. Might look for a present for a new friend of mine from this area, whose mum died yesterday (very peacefully) after a long, hard battle with Parkinson's disease. Andrea |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 May 11 - 12:27 AM Kat, that kind of cleaning kind of creeps up on you - when you decide to move stuff the dust and hair can be a real surprise. I have some under-bed zipper bags that I need to fill with wool throws I had around the house during the cold months. I'll clean under the bed, then move the bed, then rearrange the furniture, then put the under-bed bags back. Today I swept leaves and built up debris, and I know I am destroying a great habitat for a lot of beneficial critters. But when I finish leaves can build up again. Dinner is over, the kitchen is clean. My ex brought some videos on his mp3 player and with a special cable he was able to connect to the little LCD TV on the kitchen wall. They stood around it laughing at downloaded bits he brought along. I usually have a movie running early in our get-togethers (no one tends to watch, but it is a great conversation starter). This time the movie/s were imported. Tomorrow will be a great day to finish work in the yard. I'll also list that tiller - I decided to wait until people could have access to banks if they decide impulsively they want to buy this. It's a great old machine and I'm probably underpricing it, but I can use the space and the cash. :) Michelle, I saw your photos from the picnic. Jeremiah clearly LOVES the swing! I remember spending long hours in the park with my kids when they were tiny, trying the various rides. My favorite kid/park episode was when my son turned six. We invited a handful of his friends from Montessori and a few of the kids from the neighborhood to a party in the local park that is set up for handicapped use. I was so proud of it, it was developed during my term on the park board--handicapped parents or children could move through the ramps and passages and no longer did parents sit in wheelchairs and watch from afar. And children in wheelchairs joined the able-bodied kids in the play structure. It was an interesting dynamic; as parents we knew the value of free time for the kids to play, but also wanted to keep an eye out. I realized that we had naturally spaced ourselves out, standing in clumps of two or three, ringing the structure; visiting yet keeping an eye on the play and also able to see other clusters of parents on either side of us. Kids would appear and disappear, and gales of laughter were a great sign of the party's success. I was poor, so our meal was simple: I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on homemade bread, cut each sandwich in 1/4 and wrapped them all with cellophane. We had fruit cups or cut up fruit, and individually wrapped Hostess cupcakes. The kids would kind of swarm out of the structure to eat then head back. Happened a couple of times, then we were finished. In this modern day and age you can let kids have the space to play and explore, and I'm sure Jeremiah will have some kinds of parties like that that he will remember for the fun and the play, and that you'll remember because your plans worked out exactly as laid out. I started a blog entry, but I think I'll save it and finish tomorrow. I've made enough notes so I'll remember what inspired me to start it. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: wysiwyg Date: 29 May 11 - 11:07 PM AC in the bedroom, IN and no circuit breakers popped! That means if a guest wants our sleeping attic all year round, they can have it! It also means I can finally get back to the structured schedule the winter killed, hooray! It includes lots of trips up the stairs. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Penny S. Date: 29 May 11 - 08:10 PM I'm 8b, but must bear in mind the longer period of colder temperatures than 8b in the USA Penny |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Penny S. Date: 29 May 11 - 08:05 PM Kat and SRS, thank you for the links. Today I had a friend round, but first I managed to plant out leeks and celery. Five ripe strawberries! Penny |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: katlaughing Date: 29 May 11 - 07:59 PM Yes, SRS, Morgan's last day of school was Friday past. We didn't have him over last night, but he did come over about 1015a this morning to help us with a huge project.:-) And, he did call me for a chat, last night. Went on and on telling knock knock jokes and other stuff. It was pretty funny. Kudos on the compliments about your wall! We tore apart our bedroom, got the mattresses (a futon with Select Comfort air bed on top) out of the way, took up the crates and plywood they rest on and cleaned out years of cat hair, toys, cat barf, dirt, tons and tons of dirt, etc. There were some very tough spots the mop just couldn't get, so Morgan, who was full of energy and was being paid for his "extra" work today, took a scrub cloth to them, on his hands and knees, and did an outstanding job! Couldn't have been better if Rog or I had done it. The cleanest looking part of the floor was where Morgan accidentally backed into the full mop bucket, not once, but twice, spilling it. All available towels were used to mop up. They are now in the dryer after being washed. Rog took the three Roman window shades down for me. We draped them over some office grid stand thingies in the shower and I hosed them all down. They had a lot of dust on them and one hangs right by my head at night. We also washed all of our bedding, then, finally made the bed. We started at about 830a and didn't stop 'til 2p, though we sent Morgan home after feeding him lunch and paying him. He and I wrote out an "employment contract" between the three of us for the summer. He will help with certain chores and earn at least ten bucks per week. That was after he did some wheeling and dealing negotiating price! We explained the "trading out" concept, too, which fits our budget better.:-) I hope, by attacking the dust, one room at a time, we might alleviate some of the allergy symptoms we've both been having, though the doc said it's mostly cottonwood and other pollen, etc. in the air. Of course, today, half of Utah was blown across the border to our valley with high wind warnings all afternoon and evening. The sky is an ugly brown and the mountains, etc. obliterated from view. Good day to stay inside with the evaporative cooler on to dampen the air before we draw it in. It really feels good to have done such deep cleaning. I hope we can stay on top of it now. Michelle, glad you had a great day! kat |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: LilyFestre Date: 29 May 11 - 07:08 PM Beautiful day for a class reunion family picnic!!! Got to see several people who I love and haven't seen in a long time!!! Great conversation, laughter, a walk and time on the playground pushing the baby on the swing. :) It's been a lovely day!!! Tomorrow....we FISH! :) Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: wysiwyg Date: 29 May 11 - 05:47 PM I got news today of a fabulous project I'm invited to work on, and a deeper level of involvement on an existing one. TBTG Hardi just got me a new laptop. The one Dan gave us will go to a colleague who needs less media but has been unable even to email for several weeks, so a trip to the post office is in the offing. Off to see if the new one will fit into the old case--- ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: katlaughing Date: 29 May 11 - 11:30 AM Penny, the zones do have to do with temperatures, etc. and rates plants as to their "hardiness." Here is a map with zones, etc. for the UK. |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 May 11 - 11:25 AM Penny, visit this site for a good example of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Hardiness Zone map. You can Google "USDA growing zone map" and find all sorts of them. I am in zone 8A (north Texas, not to be confused with the Texas panhandle). When you buy a lot of plants, you'll find they might indicate a zone on the planting stick thing, or when you research plants online, they'll often tell you the zones they'll thrive in. You should be able to look at the color coded chart below and figure from the high and low temperatures what your zone is. We strained that lower threshold this year, with a low of 9oF a couple of days last winter. It killed some tender shrubs. This morning the dishes are all out of the sink, and I've used the rinse water (I rinse in a plastic tub in the sink) dumped into buckets and carried out to the yard to selectively water. The wash water sometimes gets poured on the compost to give more food particles to help it perk along. I don't think the soap is a problem. I'm trying not to run much water out of a hose to water the garden this year if I can avoid it. I will finish clearing off the kitchen counter and get my sauce made, and then I'll step outside and clear away the piles of rocks and pots beside the house. An hour spent transplanting stuff and then an hour rearranging rocks should give me a pretty area for this evening. I have this wrought iron sofa thing that needs the seat reinforced that is in the back that I need to move to the side. That'll give the dogs more room and one less obstacle when they're running around out there. (Dog world as we know it doesn't include a porch, just a 60/40 cloth covered patio and a few chairs and a table.) My eBay sale ends today, it has crept up to near $10. It's good to see this little case go to someone who wants it, and it is a nice return on my $1 investment. Would that I could do this all of the time, I could earn a tidy little sum on the side, eh? SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: wysiwyg Date: 29 May 11 - 08:42 AM My May summary is that despite the lack of breath from this damned medication, my activity level is increasing. Not sure of June goals yet. The item Hardi had that was so much easier than a generator is a car-battery-starter. It's shaped like a small canister vac but about he size of a car battery. It has jumper cables to connect to a car battery but it ALSO has an outlet for a cigarette lighter and we had an adaptor to make that into a regular electric-outlet-type connector. So to recharge a phone, an MP3 player, or run a lamp for a little while if bright light is needed-- very helpful when we finally figured out how to employ it. It had some charge left in it from using it years ago for a car that had frequent winter starting problems, and then it went away to recharge and Hardi brought me home "a cup of electricity." :~) Not much use for winter heat in an ice storm, I'm sure, but for warm weather power outages, a great asset. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Penny S. Date: 29 May 11 - 05:28 AM Yesterday I worked on the raised bed, making it level, but not filling it. I pulled the last of the leeks and browned them ready to freeze. While working on the bed, I managed a minor boob - cutting not only my own redundant TV cable, but also my neighbour's! There was a corrugated plastic tube lying just under the surface across the bed site, which I knew was the conduit for the cable, which my vendor had pulled out and left across the garden. I intended to re-use the conduit for the power for the water feature I will eventually install. I dug it up as far as I could go before it dipped down too deep, and hacked through it w3ith the mattock. Surprisingly, there was cable inside it, so I got my wire cutters and cut it, before I suddenly realised there were two cables. Round to my neighbour, who told me he had his own cable, which he wasn't using as the company had ceased supplying what he wanted - diminished range, same price, so he had switched to satellite. Despite the local controls which demand cable, and ban any sort of aerial - no-one seems to observe this! Back to the conduit, where I find at the other end it dips down to his side of the fence! If cable ever returns, we'll both have to have a new run - which I will insist is not only three inches under my veg plot! Back to my neighbour, who is not bothered. I've managed to find corsican mint - or my sister has, at a local little nursery. It does smell slightly different from the previous plants, with a chemical odour a bit like some sort of solvent. Still, I wasn't planning to eat it, or make creme de menthe. I've got to put the tomatoes out in grow bags, and have the first strawberries ready for picking today. I've netted them from the blackbirds, who were getting interested, and I hope put them out of the way of the mouse! I don't know if any of you across the pond can elucidate something for me - I read a lot of sites about the corsican mint, and posters were referring to being in Zone 5, or Zone 6, or other numbers. Any dea what this means? I assume it's about areas being dry or rainy, cold or warm, low or high altitude. Took some more books to Oxfam. Penny |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: LilyFestre Date: 29 May 11 - 02:29 AM I can't sleep so I've swept the kitchen, bathroom and hallway, cleared the table, filled in Jeremiah's 2nd year baby calendar, completely emptied the diaper bag and restocked it, wrote 2 letters, emptied a large bag that I had taken to my mom's house the other day when we didn't have power...I had to go out that evening so I took 2 outfits (couldn't make up my mind), hair gear, makeup, etc. as well as baby gear for that day. I put away things picked up at the store this evening, packed the fishing box (permanent items such as sunscreen, bug spray, my small tackle bag and anti-bacterial wipes (ewww...fishy hands) so it's ready to go when we get the urge to go fish (hopefully that will be part of tomorrow!) I had my nails repolished today so they are pretty for the reunion tomorrow. Hmmm...oh yeah..brought in the laundry from the line, folded what was dry and hung the rest on the rack or in odd spots around the house. I imagine it will all be dry by morning...that's my hope anyway. I have a Zumba partner, actually someone I met a year or two ago and our friendship has been getting closer and closer. She lost her sister as a child and has longed for a sister ever since. She asked me if I would be her sister. I was so honored! Anyway, she came to a Relay For Life event last night. It was supposed to be a mini luminary ceremony in the town park but at the time we were to set up, tornado warnings came across the radio and a mean storm blew through. So, in the end, it was canceled but AB and I got to spend some time together and that made us both happy. When she initially arrived, she was yelling to me across the street, waving her arms. She made her way over to my car where I was loading things up and I stopped to tell her how happy I was that she came for the event and I gave her a hug. She was practically giddy hugging me and then she planted about 5 kisses on my cheek! I shrieked and laughed....what a nut...I had NOT been expecting that!! I think I am going to like having a sister very much. :) My point? Just that I have a partner to go to Zumba with so I have been much more inclined to actually get to class. Does anyone else here do Zumba? Does anyone find themselves getting kinda nauseous with all the hip twisting and movement? I was feeling a bit green for a little bit.... Overall, I really like it. I like that it's all shapes, sizes and ages of people....all of us shaking our booty, dancing around like we know what we are doing, clapping, etc. It's just FUN! :) I should be in bed but this reunion thing is on my mind. I'm sure it will be fun and just fine, if not, the fishing gear will be in the truck and we can head over early and spend time on the lake. I haven't seen some of these people in 25 years. Others I have been connecting with on facebook but not in person...at least not yet. One friend came from Iowa and she brought her grandaughter who is a month younger than Jeremiah....can't wait to see her and Little Allie Mae. Ok. I'm going to go lay in the dark and daydream myself to sleep. Sweet Dreams Everybody! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 May 11 - 11:50 PM Kat, I missed your post before; we cross-posted. Good news indeed if your doctor is so gleeful! Is Morgan out of school for the summer yet? I finished mowing the back yard this evening; I started in the afternoon and mowed about 1/2, then paused to do some other chores. This is the second time in a week I've mowed both the front and the back, it's because of all of these storms we had. I composted the last of the bags of lawn clippings from neighbors that I'd picked up then stashed behind my garage-side fence. Now so I can mow and tidy that area. And I pulled out and photographed the tiller. I wish I remembered what year - I'll have to look through my files, because I know the guy at the repair shop told me. It's one of those big old monster tillers the people love to have. What drives me nuts is that I am not strong enough to pull the cord to get it started by myself. I now shop specifically for "easy start" tools. This is code for "we made it possible for women to start this by themselves." I could simultaneously list it on eBay and Craig's list, and take down whichever ad doesn't sell. Local pickup only for eBay (this sucker is Heav-eee), cash only for Craig's list. It's a long bank holiday, but if someone wants it I'm sure we can work things out to wait until Tuesday for payment. Sometimes Craig's list items sell very quickly. Had a great conversation with a woman up the street this evening when I was out walking the dogs. She has been working on a new house (new to her - built probably in the 1970s - she bought the house next door; it needed work, but it had a wonderful garden room with a 12' window - that is what sold her on it.) Her mother still lives in her first house, and she sleeps there at night. Anyway, she has been learning how to do all of the work on it since last September, so when she said "I've been watching you build your wall, it's beautiful" I responded that I've had to do it in stages. "Of course!" was her answer - a kindred spirit who knows you have to do these as you have the time. Looks like a barbecue for tomorrow evening is falling into place. I have a few takers and will make my sauce ahead of time. I'll use my roaster oven to pre-cook the ribs and I'll pre-bake the chicken, then put them on the small charcoal grill in turns to give the meat that barbecue flavor. It'll be perfect timing since I finished mowing, the yard will look great. I'd better spend some time picking up in the house, though I think the yard will be the star. One of the friends coming over is another woman close to my age who does a lot of work on her house and yard, and has discovered the joys of a reciprocating saw. She's using it on the limbs and extra trees in her back yard. I told her she can bring it over here if she wants to show it off- I have lots of work! I may take a page from her book and think about one of those instead of a chain saw (which I could use, but the Sawzall can be used for more things than the chainsaw can.) Whew. Time to stop! Hope the weekend is going well, that the weather clears up, and that you all are able to have a nice break with friends and family over this holiday weekend. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: wysiwyg Date: 28 May 11 - 10:06 PM Power out, here, Thursday evening thru about 5PM tonight-- camping in the house gets old! But I proved a theory I wondered about when I was in serious poverty-- that being poor eats the clock. Living rough makes everything take so much longer. And the pedometer bore it out. In a day when I did not accomplish more than an average day of late, the ped numbers were doubled what they would have been if the mod cons had been working. Oh well. (Why my camping activity level is always higher.) We had our requisite 40 gallons of water on hand as we always do-- our house electrics go down about once a month for an evening or more. This just was a tad longer than usual. Another good reason not to have had the yard sale this weekend! :~) All the neighbors were unpowered as well, and no one went much of anywhere except for urgent supplies. The tornadoes did not hit us (just one window broke and some treelimbs fell in the grass-- no biggie) but there were some real bad road wrecks and I heard someone got crushed by a tree going down in a park, too. We were very lucky TBTG. Kudos to local radio KC-101 for running updates on various things, with a generator powering their broadcast. And TBTG my MP3 player was charged enough to give me FM radio to hear them. Hardi had a neat thingie we used-- but that's for later. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: LilyFestre Date: 28 May 11 - 01:58 PM Four loads of laundry done and hanging on the line. Dishes done, kitchen cleaned up somewhat (still need to do floors and wipe down the cupboards) and next on the list is to vacuum the living room as soon as DH brings the vacuum downstairs and the baby is up from his nap. He does NOT sleep through that sound! My 25th class reunion is today. We are not going to the Alumni Banquet or the bar afterwards but we will be attending a class family picnic tomorrow! Still trying to decide what to wear. I think khaki capris and a black top....casual but not too casual and something I can get down on the ground with to play with the baby and other children (yep...I'm not the only 43 year old Mommy of a baby!). Have a great day everyone! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 May 11 - 12:41 PM Finishing ripping a few recorded book CDs to the computer for the mp3 player. They're due today, so the Library is on my list of things to do. These books (the ones I listened to so far) were a lifesaver as far as making the miles fly past on the drive to Arizona. Hot all weekend, and it was already hot when I first went out this morning. I need to mow the back, and I'll get out my back porch shower head, my summer tradition. It's there for emergency use, but it's also wonderful to step outside on a completely dark night when the hose water is tepid and take a shower. This is the time of year I wish my shade trees were better established. Out front I have a shaded view from my office, but the trees in the back, while attractive, have been slower to grow large enough to block the sun beating down on the glass doors. I need to fertilize the back trees and soak it in, encourage a growth spurt this year. eBay is perking along, and I have a good box for my next listing. I've also dug out the research I did for the tiller; I'll list it later today, I think. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: mouldy Date: 28 May 11 - 04:51 AM More kitchen shifting today. seems a bit weird, really, because I bet it doesn't get removed for a couple of weeks! At the moment, the food's all in the dining room, and the means to cook it (apart from the combi-microwave) is still in the kitchen. The camping cooker is in situ, on top of the tumble dryer, but not set up yet. Due to the paucity of electrical sockets, I'll boil kettles on that most of the time, rather than use the electric one. The trouble is, I'm conscious that Ernie will be coming in at some time with the stove, and will need room to work as well, including sweeping the flue. I'll leave a message for him at the shop saying when I'm around, and then we can sort out a time, once he's back from the States. Andrea |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 May 11 - 11:14 PM I wish the Internet was working better here tonight. I couldn't get the preview feature to work on my last entry. Perhaps you can tell? |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: katlaughing Date: 27 May 11 - 11:13 PM I was off to exercise this morning, then home to have lunch with Rog, then back out to see the specialist who was do happy with the echo last week. Met his wife and almost-4 year old twins AND have never seen a doc so happy. He was just about walking on air, he's so pleased, actually the term "gobsmacked" comes to mind, at my progress. I laughingly said "I'm your Star Pupil" and he agreed and gave me a big hug. It was so funny and joyful to talk with him. He just kept saying things about how well it all is going and in such a short time, etc. There's more, but that's the gist and I walked out on air, too. I then drove to the O2 place to pick up a collapsible trolley for the O2 tank I carry - it's 12 lbs when full, stopped at Walgreen's for anti-allergy supplies, and celebrated with a stop at Sonic, first fast food stop since January, and had a freshly squeezed lemon slush with an order of small, no-salt french fries. Also, tried to get a new ear-bud wired headset for my cellphone, but the store was out of them. Can't find the bluetooth I have but didn't want to use.:-) Oh, well. So far, Rog worked today and has all set up so he shouldn't have to go in this weekend, we hope. We want to get some things done around here. May have Morgan for a sleepover tomorrow. Oh joy!:-) Michelle, I hope you all stay safe! |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 May 11 - 11:11 PM Michelle, sounds like our weather from a couple of days ago has reached you. Though I caught myself procrastinating by weeding in the garden, I make myself mix the last 1/4 bag of mortar and finish more or less leveling the wall out front. This isn't the final finishing layer, this is attaching the important stones to the structure. I have a couple of more to put in place and then I can decide about the finishing layer of mortar. I think it is beautiful, but this is what all mothers think about their children, isn't it? ;-D Tonight for dinner it was leftover chicken along with some pan-fried pieces of my garden potatoes and a bowl of green beans. My beans got clobbered by hail, so these are from the grocery. But anyway, it is coming along. I was at Home Depot today looking at the pre-fab cabinets. Thinking about how to use one, with a cooler attached, as a faux root cellar. It would be nice to "invent" such a thing that I could manufacture and sell. Who knows? I've been looking to see if anyone else has one out there. It isn't a fridge - that isn't good for potatoes or onions or probably lots of other garden produce. I'm thinking about size, adaptability, and power supply right now. This is a food storage unit for those of us who live in warm climates who don't have basements or root cellars. My Internet is slow to connect this evening. Running diagnostics. Also finishing ripping Recorded Books so I can return these to the library tomorrow. They were wonderful to listen to on my drive to Arizona. I now have a new mp3 player and am working on loading them into it. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: LilyFestre Date: 27 May 11 - 10:05 PM Tornadoes, big thunderstorms and massive amounts of rain here in northern Pennsylvania the last 2 days. We were without power for about 26 hours. I am thankful that the power is back on. I can do without the tv, the computer and the lights but I seriously missed my fans. The air is just too stagnant and humid without them! More storming....bit lightening...gotta go. XOOXXOOX Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 May 11 - 04:38 PM Cool-down and bowl of ice cream break here. I completed the items on the list in my pocket. Recycled household stuff, picked up free mulch, then swung by Home Depot for items for current jobs and around the house. As a trial I bought one of those new-fangled LED lights to put in the fan light fixture in my sun room. I'll see how it looks there, or if I want to maybe get some of the smaller ones and put them in each of the three ornamental glass covers. They last forever but they are expensive. I'll have one bulb going to start with, just to see how it looks. I picked up humus and top soil to mix for transplanting stuff this weekend, I picked up cypress mulch to mark the walking areas in my gardens, and I picked up a bag of cedar mulch to use in a few specialized areas just because it smells so good. One of my few non-organic products here is the wasp spray, for use on those nests that are too close to a door way. I hate to knock them off because they are beneficial, but the sting is so very painful that I need to have a boundary and a fast-acting repellent. Time for a short nap, then back out to the yard. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: mouldy Date: 27 May 11 - 02:41 PM I worked out that after the next edition of the weekly paper comes out, I will be away for 5 days, so I rang my friend and offered him the units on condition he helps me get the stuff he doesn't want to the tip! I've about a 10 or 12 day slot for him to come and remove them. Spent this afternoon moving more of the kitchen into the dining room, and trying to hoover the muck out of the mainly filthy beige carpet. When all the hassle is over, I'll shampoo the whole lot, and see how it turns out. You can hardly move at the moment, let alone manoeuvre a big machine! Andrea |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 May 11 - 11:53 AM Off to get free mulch, then work in the yard, with cool-down periods built in. Should have been out earlier, but slept in, felt nice. My eBay item has perked a little interest and bids. Nice for an item I picked up for $1 at a garage sale a couple of months ago. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 May 11 - 11:22 PM This afternoon we let my dogs and Zeke (the chocolate lab) off of their leashes in my back yard. I kept Poppy by me for a few minutes, and Cinnamon so clearly wanted Poppy with her that I finally let her go. Cinnamon is the one that was actually in Zeke's face so much that he was growling. I think, in hindsight, that he didn't recognize the dominant female was trying to get him to roll over. I finally hosed them all, and it settled down. Cinnamon and Zeke each took a energetic dip in her wading pool- it was funny to watch him creep up to it, take a drink, dip a paw in, then climb in and joyfully roll around. We walked them back up the street when Susie took Zeke home - a nice experiment. Susie was surprised at how large my back yard is - a great space for these guys to run around. There were a few of those mad-dash laps run out there today. :) It was too late to mix another bucket of mortar this evening (I started this wall by mixing it by the wheelbarrow full, now I'm mixing it in a regular bucket and doing smaller and smaller adjustments) and I didn't think I had the time or enough perfect-shaped rocks to finish the wall. Instead, I cleaned up the yard a bit, hauling one load of the old gray mortar from the second wing wall (where I'm getting some of the rocks I need for the front wall) out back. Then I filled the wheelbarrow with weeds pulled off of one side of the berm. When the wall is finishing the landscaping will begin, so I figured a load of weeds to the compost would give me a head start. I'm taking off tomorrow to add to a three day weekend for some important spring work around the house and yard. I find some areas of my activity are still experiencing procrastination, but in others I've been able to get past it. It is important to finish the wall project that I started, and I think it'll give me an emotional boost for other work. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: maire-aine Date: 26 May 11 - 10:46 PM Yet another day of rain, so I spent the day going thru a box of photo albums left to me by my aunt (Dad's sister-in-law). No other relatives in her family that I know of, so that's how I ended up with them. Collected about 2 dozen photos of my dad & his brothers/sisters, plus 3 of my grandmother (I never met her). I'll save & scan them, and pitch the rest. There's nothing historically significant or anything. Gave my poor plants a pep-talk today. Told them to hang on for one more day, and then they'd have sunshine (I hope, I hope). m |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 May 11 - 04:54 PM Andrea, you've hardly had time to get settled in this new house, have you? Sounds interesting, though. This afternoon I mowed my front lawn, but left the trimming for another day. When I finish the wall the yard around it will be looking good, and I can address landscaping around it. Before that, though, I need to organize more of my pots and garden stuff. I have the planks for making an outdoor table thing, and I'll build that this weekend. I need potting soil for some transplants (that work will happen on the new table thing once it is built) and I need to do some more clearing out and organizing in my garage. I think I'm going to sell the huge old tiller - it's a workhorse, but I haven't used it because I can't get the darned thing started by myself. It's taking up space and should be saleable. It's late in the season for gardeners here, but still probably would move on Craig's list. My neighbor gave it to me and I had it reconditioned, but he's elderly and can't run it either. I see quite a few for sale, one much like mine but his doesn't work. Mine works. I have a pump out there that I should use, but I've had it for years and it's still in the box. [sigh] SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: mouldy Date: 26 May 11 - 02:48 PM Just waiting for the mortar to dry on the fireplace now. Ali, the guy doing my extension, wants to start on 20th June, but has asked if I can get rid of the kitchen units first, otherwise we will have to hire a skip for them. He says I could probably adverise them in the local paper and sell them, as long as the buyer will come and remove them. Alternatively, I could offer them to a friend (for free) who is a woodworker, and is setting up a workshop. At least I can start and organise the kitchen into the dining room now... Andrea |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: wysiwyg Date: 26 May 11 - 10:30 AM Plus-100 on today's ped reading ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: LilyFestre Date: 26 May 11 - 08:27 AM This morning I decided to clean out my car before it gets hot again (yesterday at the hospital reached 91 degrees). I had a giant box of toys that a friend gave me for Jeremiah, about 15 bags of Tupperware (that will be delivered TODAY..thank goodness), a case of diapers, 2 cases of wipes, a Sam's Club sized container of animal crackers, 2 gallons of water, 3 bags of just STUFF (mostly baby toys, some RFL materials, egg cartons...people save them for me). It's not only unloaded but it's in the house. I took 9 trips up the hill to the car...it's already humid out there. UGH. I am not a hot and humid weather kind of girl. (Although I do love the sunshine and all the green trees!) Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 May 11 - 12:37 AM I haven't been shopping for a while so I went out this evening. Got some fruit, a few essentials, and I find that in the evening Kroger marks their rotisserie chicken down to $2.99 after about 8pm. They're still hot and fresh, but the last couple of the day. I've picked up a couple of those this week. They're not as salty as the Sam's Club chicken, and they're not as big, but they're very nice. Had good conversation with a friend who is an English professor in North Dakota. She's from Illinois and spends 9 months a year at the job and heads home for holidays and for the summer. She's working on a new class that will include literature, music, and art. So many interesting possibilities. As we spoke I named a few names and kept referring to mudcat. I shudder to think of her finding my alter-ego here (some of the squabbling days are so far back that they're probably buried.) Anyway, I'm going to be going through some of my tapes and CDs and making copies, or sending YouTube links. I told her about Art Thieme, Jean Ritchie, and others. My dining area is completely cleared, but the counter still needs work. A load of laundry is finished. Not a hugely productive day, but not bad. Kat, having Morgan for the summer sounds like it will be a lot of fun. And Michelle, that toddler will keep you on your toes, no doubt about it. Enjoy every minute of it! SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: May 2011 Declutter & Fitness Records* From: katlaughing Date: 25 May 11 - 10:34 PM It's been busy here, too. Rog may have to work if anything goes wrong with the JUCO (Junior College World Series) live shot set-up; otherwise he has a four-day weekend. We hope to get at least one major task completed...maybe go through our closet, get rid of a lot, and reorganise it. Or, maybe we'll get through the rest of the books. SRS, I love Library Thing. I'd love to go to New Castle and visit my ancestors' and mom's graves, take flowers up, but I don't think it's quite time for that, yet, even though I'd love to take Morgan. He went with us when he must've been four and was fascinated and enjoyed putting pansies on each grave. Morgan and I talked today about "Mama's Elementary" when he asked me to teach him what he "needs to know for second grade!" I went to exercise this morning and they told me it would be okay for him to come with me, so that is good. If it is a small class, Paul even said they might do weights with him, etc. He'll love it. I think he is also signing up for swim classes, again. I hope to employ him to help me with simple tasks around the house. "Jobs" he can do while I work on my editing, etc. Our days will be busy, regardless. So, it's an hour of exercise M-W-F and in between gardening, etc. My friend who does our floors once per month is coming tomorrow, so I'll do some straightening up while she is here. I am still checking in, just won't be posting as much. kat |
