Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 09:49 AM

Here's a new thread for August 2011.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: ragdall
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 01:51 AM

Kat, congratulations on your new family member. She sounds like a wonderful little girl. What do the cats think about her?

SRS, That's terrible about Dean's house! If the bank made the mistakes shouldn't they be making it right for him?

Any toys that are sturdy and intact are good to keep. You'll be amazed at how fast the time passes before grandchildren arrive. It seems to us there will be an endless supply of little ones. Our first grandchild arrived over 22 years ago, the most recent is two months old. The eldest already has a four year old and a two month old baby of her own so the cycle continues. They all enjoy playing with my children's toys when they visit us.

Last night I worked on my sewing machine, catching up some mending and projects. I've been using pieces of fabric from items in the rag box to make "pockets" inside my husband's pant legs to hold the two collection bags he has fastened to tubes in his body because of his kidney problem. The bags are meant to be held up with elastic strips around the leg. The elastic doesn't hold well enough and also tends to increase the swelling in a leg. So far, the pockets seem to work well.

I'm using thrift store sheets to give some worn comforters new life, recovering an entire worn surface. It was easy to sew the sheet along the edges of the first one. I'm hoping that I'll be able to feed the thicker parts of the comforter through my machine to follow the quilting lines and fasten the sheet in place.

Today I spent a couple of hours in the five foot by 20 foot long space between my deck and the fence along my neighbours' driveway, pulling up seedling trees and cutting out small trees. My hands are not very happy. I also pruned a lilac back away from the fence line. There are Green Ash, Mountain Ash, Cottonwood, and Choke Cherry seedlings everywhere in my yard. If I ever am unable to clean out that space or mow the lawn, in less than ten years my house will be surrounded by a dense forest. The Green Ash are the worst, they'll grow at least four feet in height in a year.

rags

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 11:35 PM

That's terribly sad about Dean's house, SRS. Is there even a chance he may not lose it? Good friend, you are. (I'm channelling Yoda, apparently!:-)

Thanks, Tink and SRS. I will get pix up, as I am sure we will be keeping her. She is really well-behaved and so quiet. Content to lie down or sit wherever we are and well-housebroken, too. I think she will get a new name, though. I had told Morgan is I got a Siamese female, again, someday, we would call her StellaLuna after a fav. storybook of his about a daft bat. We both just love the way it rolls off the tongue and IF we name her that, her nickname would be L-o-o-n-a-h, as we both like to draw it out a bit, sort of singing(ly). It has the same ending as her name, now,so I don't think it would be too confusing for her. Besides she has shown a lot of intelligence, already.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 10:11 PM

Kat, I looked at the dogs also at the Humane Society today, though I didn't bring anyone home. But there were more who looked like what I had in mind - 2 to 3 years old, full grown, healthy, well-proportioned and healthy looking. I'm still thinking the pooch I took down might come out the other end one of these days. Some of these animals spend several weeks getting healthy before they're put in the adoption area.

My friend Dean is probably going to lose his house because the bank messed up with some insurance activity a year ago. It has caused a cascade of expenses that have him up against the wall. I'm going to clear space and put up shelves (I have the supports and boards, just haven't used them yet) so he can store household things in my garage so they're out of the way when that move happens. I told him I won't start working out there until this heat breaks, and we do have time. But it is so heartbreaking to see how the poor choices made by various people resulted in this.

I'm going to move some furniture in my office this evening to make the scanner a little easier to reach and remove a little table. And soon it is time to start transferring the contents of the VCR tapes and burning them to DVD. Moving things will make it easier to attach the machine and play the tapes into the computer.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: GUEST,Tinker
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 09:59 PM

kat.... congrats on the dog.... she sounds like a sweetie....waiting for the photos

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 08:13 PM

We stayed up 'til past midnight and I couldn't sleep. Finally drifted off about 230a, then woke up around 6a. Argghh! So, this morning was slow going, but I finally built-up a head of "coolish" steam:-) and Rog helped me clean out and reorganise the linen closet. I found a cat shelter which advertises the need for old blankets, linens, and such, so I filled a bin for them. The closet looks great.

Then (drum roll, please) Rog and I, after lunch, went to the humane society. I'd felt a few days ago that it truly was time to look, seriously, for another dog. We were there almost two hours and have come with a beautiful, 3 year old mini-Aussie Shepherd named "Fiona" for the moment. She is spending the night with us to see how the cats, etc. do with her. So far, so good with the grandkid, she's shy of the cats, they don't hate me, thank goodness, AND she quiet and obedient. Really a sweet dog. I'll post a picture by end of tomorrow.

kat

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 07:15 PM

Took more recycling over to the bin, took 2 paper grocery bags of newspapers over to the Humane Society, took canning supplies back to Dean, and picked up some lava sand to spread around in the garden. I'll use it like mulch and it will help hold the water for some of the plants this week.

Looked for earphones for my mp3 player, decided to try the type my son likes, but they feel odd. Sturdy, and the sound is good, but odd. I'll try again another time and my has son inherited a spare set of earphones.

I came in this afternoon to find that it is so much cooler over by the back door! The shade hung up on the porch really does work. 105 today. Ugg. I'll work indoors some more and maybe outside a little at sunset. I want to get started with the sand.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 01:37 PM

Kat - certainly anyone with an outdoor job should be given access to work indoors for health and safety reasons.

Yesterday afternoon I put up a six-foot wide, six foot long blind, one of the indoor/outdoor ones that rolls up. I placed it on the side of the patio cover to block the sun that heats the glass doors. I should have done this a couple of months ago, but it did finally occur to me that this would be easier than cleaning the doors and cutting the film to fit. I didn't think of putting up the shade in this fashion until yesterday, but I have procrastinated in addressing the afternoon sun issue.

I've cleaned the fridge and made a shopping list. Baked a pan of bread pudding this morning; it heats up nicely for breakfast.

I have whittled down the papers on my computer desk (I can see some wood), filing and shredding my way through stacks. A couple of sets of notes from ongoing projects are going to have to find somewhere to live, and then be discarded when the projects are finished - that is a big problem, knowing when something is finished and moving on.

Gotta change water in the dog pools, then run a few errands. I hope one of these days I'll have a photo of Morgan in the water splash park as my screen saver!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 01:45 AM

Surely they will exempt folks from going out to work in that kind of heat, SRS? There were places where the pavement melted, recently, north of you. I'd think it would be just too dangerous for many folks to even be out on such days. Move slowly and be careful.:-)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 01:20 AM

I've fit more pieces of insulation into the fireplace cavity and used the foam insulation to close it up a bit more. It won't be air tight. I still have to figure out how to get the front in (I may have to remove the glass doors then put them back in place).

Dishes finished, laundry finished, but then I took out the gallon of tomato juice and found containers to freeze it in so now I have that and a few other things in the sink. I'll do them before heading to bed. Starting Monday it will be hell on earth here, that's all I can imagine. The high for the week is now forecast as 108. Who knows what they'll be predicting by mid-week. (My daughter was born in late August after we'd had a stretch of hot weather like this. She arrived a couple of days after a cool front came through, and I told her years later that I thought she waited for the cool before deciding to come out.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 05:44 PM

Rog and I were up early this morning. Morgan called at 8a, "Hi, Mama. I have a question about Uncle Delton's birthday. What time do you want me to come over and help make the cake?"

So, we left the house at 9a, went to the vet's for food and medicine for the cats, then to the grocery store where we picked up stuff for the party: pizza, balloons, crepe paper streamers, salad makings and carrot cake mix with cream cheese frosting. Picked up Morgan after stopping at the post office and getting sodas for lunch.

M huffed and puffed and blew up seven balloons, then we all three put streamers up across the LR with balloons hanging down and M put some outside, too.

Everyone showed up about 1p. The timing was perfect. We'd made the salad and had it chilling, made the cake, frosted it with M dotting it with "sprinkles" and had just taken the pizzas out of the over when they all got here, my brother, daughter and her husband.

The latter two have got the declutter bug! I am so pleased to hear this as their house was controlled chaos with the four dogs, two ferrets, one cat and no storage to speak of. They have been devoting a half day per weekend on chosen projects and are making great headway!

My bro was pleased with the food, the visit with us all, esp. my daughter as she grew up with him living with us (and still loves him!**bg**) and was pleased to get a gift certificate to the local garden center.

I did all of the dishes this morning, cleaned off the table, made the cake and salad with M's help, doctored up the pizzas with fresh veggies, and just generally cleaned up. Rog is now sacked out in the recliner, they've all gone home, the leftovers are in the frig, and I am about to go put my feet up and try to cool off a bit back in our bedroom. It faces east and is at the north end with a shade tree from the neighbours, so afternoons are a good time to be back there. It is 96 outside, but it feels hotter.

SRS, I am glad to hear there may be respite for you, soon.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 05:28 PM

I was hoping we would have a day that didn't reach 100, but it made it again today. At least it just barely got there.

I picked up one of those roll-up stick blinds at Home Depot to put up on the side of my patio to keep the sun off of the glass door. I may pick up a second for the far end of the patio cover also. I looked at window film, but since it costs about as much as the blinds, I think the blinds are an easier answer.

Dishes are finished. It has been a very low-energy day for me so I'm glad that I can at least say my kitchen is clean. I'm going to fold laundry next, and from there, work on the fireplace (I want the clothes off of the couch before I get into the mess of the fireplace and have to move furniture out of the way.) I'm thinking about making the mantle, that sticks out from the front of the stone wall, the top of a cabinet that is built in front of the fireplace, so it looks simply like a stone wall with a wooden cabinet in front of it. Whatever I do, I intend to cover up the fireplace and keep it from sending so much hot or cold air into the house.

Funny, as I start thinking about these things my enthusiasm grows and I feel more energetic, so maybe all I needed was a plan!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 10:42 AM

Rags, it's a process before you can conclude that the box contents are excess - and to decide what pieces really are important for the story they tell or the person they remind you of. My stumbling block - some of the kids old toys that were so good, played with a lot, that would be good for grandkids. I have to decide which ones might actually get used and which will be too old for babies when we ever get to that point (my kids are college age now). And bins of crayons - don't those take you immediately to your or your children's childhood? They're probably dried out and need to go, but it isn't easy!

Other hobbies, though I've tended to neglect them for some years, I think it's because I was so busy with the kids. Now I can see which ones I want to go back to, so I'm not sorting out many of the craft items unless they're old or too obviously meant for the kids for school use and we don't need them now.

Hopefully next week will be the height of the nasty heat and after that the tropical storms that start to form this time of year might help with the drought (they will make it extremely muggy, but we need the rain and will hunker down for the humidity.)

Out to run a few errands before it gets hotter. Also, I'm drinking a bottle of Gatorade early to see if that keeps me comfortable through the afternoon, avoiding the lethargy the heat causes.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: ragdall
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 09:29 AM

LilyFestre and Stilly River Sage,
Thank you for your replies.
I'll look for that book at the used book store here SRS.
I'm trying to convince myself that realistically, I'm never going to be going back to some of the craft/hobby activities I did in the past and get rid of everything I've been saving to use for those things. It will feel as if I'm cutting pieces from my life and throwing them away but somehow I need to downsize drastically.

Michelle, I like your hide it in a bin approach and chuck anything forgotten. I think I'd remember what was in each bin though. I can't remember what I ate for breakfast or what someone said to me two minutes ago, but I have a mental inventory of the contents of dozens of boxes in my attic.   

Am making some progress. While I was on the phone for a couple of hours tonight, I deleted the contents of 35 floppy disks, dating back to 1996 and 1997, then reformatted the disks in preparation for throwing them away. I saved the contents of a few of the disks on my hard drive. Will make a CD from that.

rags

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 12:14 AM

Michelle, good for you!! Giving thanks, here, that you find a sitter.

Re' "power surges"...I used tinctures of motherwort, dandelion root, and hawthorn berry, in fresh, clean water, a few times a day and didn't have very much trouble at all. I bought them at a health food store and they are available in non-alcohol based formulas. I know what you mean about HRT. I was never going to use any esp. premarin because of what they do to pregnant mares to get it, but I've recently had some "tissue" breakdown, so was able to get a synthetic, hypo-allergenic compound made up for internal and external use, sparingly only for a week or two, but it seems safe by all accounts. I found we have a new "real" old-fashioned compounding pharmacy here. Each prescription is made from scratch per individual's needs and they include tasty prescriptions for pets!

G'night all. SRS, stay as cool as possible!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 11:28 PM

107?!?!?!?!?

I would be a puddle.

Glad to hear the Gatorade is bringing some relief and might have to pick some up for around here. It's not 107 degrees but the heat that we do have coupled with the hot flashes I have....forgettaboutit!!! I talked to my doctor about it and he said I could take estrogen if I really, really wanted to but since I've had an estrogen receptive cancer, it's not a great idea at all....but I'm glad he gave me the choice instead of just saying no. I'm going to sweat it out. There's no way in hell I'm going to do any HRT. Nope. Never. Ever. Ever.

So...I walked and did yoga today as posted earlier but holy mother of stiff muscles....my legs are TIGHT. Yoga was a lovely stretchy class but it's been some time since I've had a regular practice and man do I know it. Not that my yoga practice has ever been pretty (although my teacher tells me it's beautiful to watch), but today was rough. Whew.    As we settled into our bodies at the beginning of class, I cried. I couldn't help it. It was the first time in months that I felt like I was doing something of my old normal life. The sound of my teacher's voice, the friendly banter, the smell of my mat, the squish of it under my toes.....I had no idea how much I'd been missing it. My goal this week is to find a sitter for at least one day a week for a few hours so I can give this gift to myself. I want it. I need it. There has to be a way...there has to be!!!

I love my yoga and I suspect that will never, ever change.

Be safe in that heat SRS.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 10:46 PM

The insulation sheet is cut into chunks, most of which are standing in position inside the fire place vault. I have to cut the front one into a couple of pieces to get it into place. I'll pick up a can of that window strength insulating foam and use it to roughly seal these edges together. I plan to close the fireplace door and not fool with it any more. It can be removed, but it probably won't be by me.

I've moved some paper, paid a couple of bills. Ate the cantaloupe out of a Tupperware square round (one of the old sandwich boxes). This one is better than the first. Sweeter, more flavor.

Next week I have meetings at work during the week, but we have extreme weather forecast, up to 107. I may have to take some leave to be sure the dogs are okay - they're not house dogs, I don't want to shut them in the bathroom all day. I'll see if there is someone who can come in and let them out to take care of business then come back in. Perhaps my son (I'd probably have to pay him. . . )

Back to a little more puttering before bed.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 08:40 PM

I picked up a case of 20 oz bottles of Gatorade at Sam's Club. Not the flavors I like, but a lot cheaper than at the convenience store. The times I've really felt the lethargy of the heat were when I was so low on salt. Drinking a Gatorade had me feeling much better within the hour. Under "normal" circumstances you shouldn't drink this like a soft drink, though lots of people do. I am going to make of point of having a couple in the fridge and probably drinking one a day until the heat breaks, then we'll see.

Paper filing tonight, and I have that big sheet of insulation to cut down and fit into the fireplace. I also need to find some window film, though I suspect everyone who had it is probably sold out.

Zeke is coming mid-week next week to spend time here while his humans fly out for the week. My girls will be ecstatic!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 07:28 PM

Walked about 2 miles at a local fair and then went to yoga.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 07:23 PM

Reading along. Been very busy with Morgan, which has been fun, but not getting much done! Have my brother's b-day party to plan for tomorrow early evening. It was on Thursday, but everyone was hot and tired from work and heat, so we saved it for the weekend. Have been to exercise twice this week, the dentist for a cleaning, coumadin clinic, and hand therapist, plus the pool, yesterday. Next week starts swimming lessons, etc. Also found socks on sale, buy-one-get-one-free so M now has 12 new pairs of socks for school. I bought him some new shoes which he wore for a couple of days, then told me he was "saving them for school."

This high heat scares me. I move very slowly through it. SRS, I cannot even imagine how taxing it must be down there.

kat

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 07:06 PM

I decided that while I need to pick up Gatorade, it's $2 a bottle at the gas convenience store and I can surely do better. I picked up a case at Sam's Club, though it isn't the flavors I prefer. The point is good health, so I bought 20 ounce bottles instead of the larger 32 oz bottles that I use for a couple of days sometimes. At this point, there appears to be no real rain in sight; the bulk of the tropical storm will stay down along the Rio Grande.

I'm going to work on my office this evening. Get more of this paper out of here, either filed, shredded or recycled.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 05:09 PM

Spent most of Weds and Thurs in the country, making pots, getting more organized each time. Weds, took hot bath after getting home, to soothe aches. Took extra MSM/glucosamine. Thurs, stopped early and took hot bath before leaving. Today, breakfast at 7:45 at a restaurant with friends from Ontario - on their way to nova Scotia. Nice to catch up. And a phone call to 94 year old friend near Toronto )6 hour trip). Notice of a Living with Wildlife conference in Toronto on 23 September. Maybe I can visit her then. Also meet some of the online ontariowildlife folks!

Weeded some, then caught up on computer, emails to SPCA and other raccoon folk. One rehabber is going to be an hour away in NYS on weekends so we can visit! So far I have had very good luck when meeting in reality, the virtual friends I only met on line.

Broke down and watered the tomato patch profusely and it still has not rained. Looking like it might but - oh yeah, it moistened the ground! Maybe tonight, she says hopefully.

Michelle, you did enough the other day for a week! You were doue for a break.

I'll leave for country at 6. R may need to come along later. Irish music tonight.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 10:20 AM

Rags, you wag!

I know what you're talking about. In the past there have been times I decided impulsively that I was holding onto too much stuff so gave away things, then actually felt a bit of a panic attack that I'd gotten rid of something that was my mother's that my children might like, etc. One way to do it is to develop a philosophical approach - you need to move stuff out, you want to sort it according to good reasons and not just emotional ones. I found the book by Don Aslett called Clutter's Last Stand. He looks at a lot of the rational and irrational reasons people keep things, and as you work through each chapter, you'll find yourself able to identify items that fall into his categories for you. You will be able to find inexpensive copies of this, and usually my half-price bookstore has several in stock.

This morning I took a squirt bottle with orange oil, compost tea, and plant wash out to do some surgical bug control in the garden. I have learned that when I have aphids and mealy bugs that the plant is in distress. All of my okra was looking good except this one plant. I realized the soaker hose loops over itself near that plant so it's getting twice as much water as all of the others. I've reworked the hose in a couple of areas - any spot where mealy bugs were turning up - and hopefully that will take care of it. But I wore gloves and spritzed each leave and scrubbed off the aphids and mealy bugs from under the leaves.

It's Friday. How are you going to spend your weekends? We have a small chance of rain, but the tropical storm aiming at the Gulf coast seems to be on a trajectory way south of me. It'll probably be hot and humid as hell.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 10:19 AM

Rags,

I don't. That's why I have so much stuff!!!! I do try to sort things out though. For some things that I thought I had an attachment to, I put them in a rubbermaid tote and stuck it in the closet. Guess what? I can't even remember what's in there, so how can it be that special? I'll be getting rid of some of those things next month in a yard sale. If something is special, I keep it. There's no shame in having meaningful stuff. I think the ultra clutter free business is a fad and will pass in time. I watch all those tv shows on HGTV and they show these gorgeous homes but they are empty and have no personal feel to them at all. If there's something that makes your heart happy or it came from a special someone, I say keep it!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: ragdall
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 01:20 AM

I'm looking for inspiration and advice from you master declutterers.

How do you manage to part with things you've been holding on to for many, many years? How do you decide which hobbies to give up (and all the clutter that goes with them)?

Thanks,
rags

The only time I've ever managed to get rid of something with few regrets was when my first husband left me.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jul 11 - 07:33 PM

We all sound hot and cranky this week. I need a nap - someone wake me up in October, please!

The high was 103 today but it felt a lot hotter because there is more humidity in the air.

I need to keep pushing the paper filing. What is filed is useful, but I need it to be organized and maintain that organization.

This afternoon I picked up some shredded beef, buns, and sausage at my favorite barbecue place. I'll make sandwiches with reheated meat over the weekend, saving heating up the house. All of that canning exhausted my patience with heating the kitchen.

I'll get something done this evening, if only laundry (there is a load stacked in the washer, I need to set the timer to wash again overnight.) Every so often you need a day off. Looks like this is it!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 28 Jul 11 - 06:39 PM

Appetite all to pieces yesterday, and migraine type sickness in the afternoon . Woke in the night with non-migraine head, so today all messed about as well.

Yesterday morning I did go on the local authority's "Health Walk" with some interesting people. Not a particularly interesting walk, as the leader was a bit under the weather, as well. We did discover where a dog walker lets the dog foul the middle of a rape (canola?) field. Just the one dog, on many occasions. Out of sight of everywhere, just making walking the path a hazardous business. I'm not at all sure about why the local authority does this. Tuesday at the neighbouring village, Wednesday at ours. No information about where we go, just walking - not at any athletic pace. Leader at the front, who takes a register so that they know who they've got in case of accidents. Person at the back with first aid equipment, which they are not allowed to use, just make available to us to use on ourselves if necessary!

Today I cleaned out the salad drawer in the fridge, necessary because of the appetite loss. There is some very expensive compost forming in the bin, which I have watered heavily to suggest moving to the ants. I need to do some weeding of the kneeling down variety. Somehow, some nettles have arrived, and they must have come from my compost, since there aren't any around here to seed into the garden. The top of the garden is becoming jungly. The potatoes in their bags are growing to my shoulder height, and some of the tomatoes are tall, too. Not looking too healthy, though. I got a Chinese meal for supper, to save cooking (and it will do lunch tomorrow as well), though earlier I made some bread and then a ginger cake in the machine, and cooked beetroot in the pressure cooker, to be chopped and frozen in portions tomorrow.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Jul 11 - 06:10 PM

Not much going on here at the moment. I'm finding myself really tired lately. I walked a few miles yesterday.

I do still run when it's not raining (driveway gets slippery). We need the rain so I'm not complaining one bit.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jul 11 - 09:27 AM

I went to Home Depot yesterday for a couple of items. I now have another of those 15' hose segments to run into the garden to the Y thing that my soaker hoses are attached to. It used to be easy to reach but everything is so overgrown now it's an adventure to hook a hose to it. So now this extension runs out of the garden to the driveway and I'll put the garden hose onto this to use the soakers in the veggie garden.

I also picked up a big (and very light weight) sheet of closed cell foam insulation (kind of a huge sheet of Styrofoam, but it's a different plastic and it's pink.) It was too long for the bed of the pickup so I pulled the back window down over it (I have a camper shell) and used a bungee to hold it shut, hooking it over the end of the pink plank to keep it in the truck. No way I'm going on the freeway or this could go airborne, so I took the frontage road. At the point where I crossed through a low-water crossing on the road the thing was jostled enough that the bungee came loose and when I went back for it (I was near home so delivered the plank first) I saw it in the middle of a large busy intersection. I pulled through, parked, walked back and pushed the pedestrian crosswalk button and was able to walk into the road and get it. Whew! Big expensive bungee adventure! If it had been one of the little cheap ones I might not have gone back for it.

The insulation will be used to form a vault kind of box that fits into my fireplace. I'm tired of the heat and cold that comes in despite the flue being closed.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 08:50 PM

I've shifted a lot of paper. Some of it is in the file drawer, some of it has three holes punched and is in the notebook for keeping track of my Internet sites. A bunch of it is in the recycle bin, and there is still a bunch that doesn't have a home. Soon.

Headed out for a little shopping and I'll take the recycling with me and drop it behind City Hall.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 04:31 PM

I had some sheets listed on eBay, ending soon, but cancelled the auction because it just wasn't moving or getting the views I'd hoped for. Funny, but raising the starting price and putting a "Buy It Now" price on the new listing got a very early bid and there earlier watchers the second time around.

Filing, sorting, shredding, getting my work files straightened out, ready for the new year and to finish summer projects. This has needed doing for a while!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: mouldy
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 04:05 PM

The lads are going to pick some quoins (corner stones) tomorrow, but the quarry is closed for 2 weeks from tomorrow evening. Ali, the builder, said he had rung the quarry to see how things stood, and was prepared to vent his wrath, but he said the poor guy on the other end of the phone was nearly in tears with the stress! So it looks like a little more may get done in the next fortnight, but that the main activity won't be until mid August.

I was bent over my front flowerbed this afternoon, dead-heading the roses and yanking a few weeds out, when my backside got beeped by one of the labourers (Geordie) passing by in his van.

I'll put some pics up on FB soon.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 01:13 PM

I left a message in the mudcat site. Mixed feelings about the state of our nation's economy right now will, I think, trickle down to the population even more if they don't get this shit resolved before next Tuesday. The House is outnumbered- the Senate and President aren't going to go along with them. They need to stop playing chicken with the economy when the majority (57%) of Americans doesn't want them to do it to begin with.

Banana bread is baking, and after it comes out of the oven I'll make myself another open face toasted cheese sandwich. I've eaten a tub of cantaloupe and need to cut up one in the fridge so I can put one I picked in the fridge pretty soon.

Did more filing, and am cutting up templates from work for my own uses at work. Tomorrow I go into the office and I'll take in the steam juicer and food mill to drop off and clear up space on my counters.

I'm working to keep the dishes from sitting in the sink and attracting ants and I went around the house and garden outside and sprinkled my fire ant bait in places where I was seeing them or I remember getting recent bites. I need to wash a load of laundry and hang it out, but they don't want us using equipment during the day if we can avoid it. I'll have to wash it overnight and hang it before I head to the office tomorrow. It dries so fast I can sometimes start taking down what I put up first after I finish hanging all of it.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 10:01 AM

I hope you'll resume posting photos, Andrea. This is a fascinating process. Clearly they were waiting for you to get back to document it!

Making more complicated passwords to slowly swap out in my various places. Just seems a good idea.

There's a *slight* possibility of moisture this weekend. Remember I said we need a hurricane at this point? We're looking at the next best thing, a tropical depression off of Cuba that might be headed this way.

Last night's bread was wonderful for breakfast this morning. I have two small containers of leftover jelly that weren't enough to fill jars last week. The batch I tried this morning is a softer lovely texture, the other one is a little firmer. Both taste fabulous! I'm also eating cantaloupe a lot these days (3 meals a day!), in the fridge I have part of a cut up one and a whole one and I picked another one this morning, and there are three or four more in the yard still.

I've been combatting aphids and mealy bugs on one of my okra plants, I sprayed with orange oil and plant was in water yesterday and today I went out with masking tape and simply pulled the buggers off of the backs of the leaves. I also sprinkled some organic fire ant bait in the garden in a couple of places to see if that will help remove the ants on the plants problem. I'm getting close to picking several eggplants (I could now, but I'd like them each to be right at about 12 ounces to 1 pound in size).

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: mouldy
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 06:52 AM

Back at last! I had to drag myself away, as we actually got some warm weather at last this weekend. I left Scotland in 23C and clear skies, and arrived home to 13C and grey skies.

I have done as much laundry as I have got time for this week (one mixed load in the village laundry) and it's going through the dryer at the moment. I am going to go up to Berwick shortly and get some diesel to top me up for the 2 long hauls I've got coming up - Yorkshire tomorrow, then the south coast on Friday. On Sunday it happens in reverse.

The work on the house has stalled at the moment, due to no stone being delivered from the quarry. Apparently they are known for closing down for a couple of weeks this time of year.

I've put on several inches from my holiday. Everything is feelinbg tighter! I think a lack of exercise may have contributed! I saw a wonderful couple of exhibitions in Kirkudbright: the town hall always has an good one. It's the "Glasgow Boys" this year. Last year's was the "Glasgow Girls" (Jessie M King, etc), and I thought that was even better than this year's. However, the Tollbooth has a small expo of Glasgow School arts and crafts works. It was amazing!

Every surface in the house is cluttered at the moment. I feel like I'm in transit! I think that next week a concerted effort must be made to at least attack the living room!

Andrea

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 04:47 AM

Not feeling very energetic at the moment. I've got up to the middle middle ages with my book sorting, but need a bit of a break from that. I re-arranged the bookshelves yesterday, to make a run across the whole width of a 12" shelf for the big books, but am having second thoughts about how well this is going to take the weight. I have definitely got more books than shelf. The history resources are double parked.

Had a brief migraine aura in the evening. Fortunately, I don't get the heads any more, but it's a bit irritating having the visual field all messed up for a while.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 12:14 AM

I have Morgan full-time from now until school starts, so...our M-W-&F include my exercise class for an hour which he is doing very well. We are all envious of his energy! Starting next week, we will add two weeks of swimming classes for him M-Thur., right after my exercise classes, then it's home for lunch and some kind of rest/decluttering/playing in the afternoon. I feel such a welcome sense of responsibility and gratitude in helping to shape this wonderful little "human bean." For more of what we did, today, please see Kendall's thread about his dear old dog, Seamus. Morgan and I had a wonderful teaching/doing session in our sanctums this afternoon, candles, incense, and all. The kid asks some very deep questions and wants answers. What a very special delight!

Oh, and yesterday, we went to the new downtown water fountains feature after exercise and he played for about an hour. Had a blast and was soaking wet when we left.

I did two loads of laundry, today. One put away, the other drying. We had rain this afternoon! Softly for about an hour, then a slight deluge for about twenty minutes, enough to water the flowers, then sun and clouds. Morgan and I spent the time out in the rain playing. He also helped me do a bt of sweeping in the kitchen.

More, tomorrow! Oh, joy!

Michelle, congrats on your blood sugar!!!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 11:13 PM

Last night and again tonight I was on the phone helping a friend of a friend solve some computer problems. Trouble is, he's using an Apple and he's only used it for a few days. We're both PC people trying to troubleshoot the Apple. Ugg. Made a little progress, took a lot of time. Amos (Mudcat's Amos) was able to suggest a site that may be able to help with antivirus stuff.

Bread is baking - this is a welcome move, because I've been wanting some kind of bread or toast for breakfast and I was out of bread and frozen bagels.

My feet got a good warm soak this evening, with the pumice and scrubbing with a rough wash cloth. When it's so hot out and with all of the walking around I get more callouses this time of year. Anyone else notice that? Anyway, to stay comfortable I need to remember to pamper my feet, and right now they're very happy.

Bread's out and I'm off to bed. Sleep tight, all!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 09:03 PM

Chores:
2 loads of laundry: washed, hung, folded and upstairs
Swept all of downstairs
Mopped the kitchen
Vacuumed the rug
Dishes
Collected a box of books and carried up to my office
Swept upstairs hallway
Swept stairs
Made healthy meals

Jeremiah (need I say more? He is BUSY!!)   :)

Ran 1/2 mile
Walked 1/10th of a mile

Blood sugar: 106

YES!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm ready to put my feet up and have dinner!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 04:07 PM

Our thread fell off the page overnight. I'm sure it isn't because no one has been doing anything!

I made a batch of beans last night but they're not yet finished; I have to add a couple more things so I'll simmer them some more today (have to add the venison and some capers when the batch is cooked down enough.)

Today is overcast so it's only 101 out there now, and I have to do some spot watering in the yard. I have a pattern laid out for most of my watering now and I keep an eye on my trees, trying to keep them alive.

I have got a few things done around here, but nothing worth reporting. Getting my son ready to return to college, etc.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 04:03 PM

JOY! a breeze and about ten minutes of steady rain. Not near enough but hope for more? Sure better than none! Spent the morning hoping, while weeding and solar-drying a load of laundry - ALL dry and then the rain. I held off yesterday because it was "supposed to rain". This morning I hung it - "so it would rain!"

Getting a handful of tomatoes every couple days but it is escalating. R enjoys his fresh from the garden handful. The flower beds are holding up well and have continuous bloom; I feel successful!

Ah, the rain is coming again! It was wonderful to be able to work in the yard with the breeze and cooler air. I have the front and back doors open so the breeze blows through!

In the country, I worked in the studio parts of fri through Monday and have near a small kiln load drying on our wonderful "new" shelves. Got some more of studio organized as I will soon need a glazing work area. Now can work on dark clay on one wheel - I LOVE my "new" kick wheel! And on white clay on the other kick wheel. I am starting to feel really organized and I feed on it! Success breeds success!

Was going to go back today but giving bod a break; also felt need to get the yard work caught up and I am very glad I did. The fingers were complaining the other day but I took extra glucosamine/MSM and they recovered. Changing types of movements is important. The potting exercise has made it easier to do the stretching and bending of gardening. I feel more flexible already.


i wish I could send you southerners this lovely breeze!!! AND the gentle, steady rain!! It is totally delicious.

That whale video is awesome. It came to me last week via wildlifeontario (yahoo group) and I sent it to a few people who appreciated it. No doubt the whale was aware it was being rescued! If only all humans could see these things and realize how intelligent other animals really are.

I expect tomorrow to be a potting day.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Jul 11 - 10:20 AM

SRS,

   If you look at any of the new photos of Jeremiah that I put up on Facebook, you'll see a lovely little pool, a happy baby, brightly colored toys and a yellow/brown crunchy yard. It looks and feels awful. We always like to joke about people who cut their grass so short because it turns brown every year. Well, our grass still isn't golf course short but it definitely is all dead. :(
   Mother Nature is teasing us. It's cooler and there was a nice steady rain for about 5 minutes, then nothing. Now it's raining again and I hope it continues ALL DAY at the very least! Like you, we need it so very badly.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jul 11 - 09:52 AM

I "mowed" the lawn this morning - in other words, I knocked down a few weeds and took the seed heads off of some of the otherwise dormant grass. I hit a soaker hose at the corner of one garden, so I'll repair it rather than change it out. My next door neighbor was mowing and she had taken out most of the taller grass in the patch beside my raised bed on the side - a nice surprise! This way we'll have better looking dead grass for the next couple of months. :-/

I'll cook a batch of beans today, I haven't made any for a while, and keep to simple beans and rice meals for a while. Easy to reheat for quick meals.

Working on the file cabinet today, organizing my work papers and notes.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Jul 11 - 02:40 AM

SRS,

   I hope the heat subsides for you soon. The only good thing about living where you do is that most places have AC. Here in north central PA, many people and businesses do NOT have AC as we typically don't have too many days a year where we really NEED it. We are lucky as we have several AC units in the house and a large collection of fans. It's a good thing too....with all the hot flashes I have, combined with this intense heat, I'm pretty sure I could have killed somebody dead a few times over. (Just kidding but seriously, I think the heat makes people much more irritable).

   I lived in Atlanta and don't remember it ever being this hot. The good news here is that it's supposed to rain for the next 24 hours...rain that we really need....and that should cool things off a bit.

   I'm up to take the second Ambien of the evening. I am just wide awake. I'm not sick or worried or anything, I'm just awake. That's fine for the weekends when my honey is home to take care of the baby so I can sleep in but not so much during the week. Gotta catch some zzzzzs.

Night everybody!

Michelle

PS. Signed up for camp next month...a women's survivors retreat...I'm looking forward to it!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jul 11 - 12:01 AM

Michelle, you're lucky the heat is subsiding - you'll have more energy for running. Mary, thanks for the heads-up. I posted a remark on Brett's thread.

Canning finished. Dishes piled in the sink but I learned my lesson - as tired as I might be, I'll wash them before heading to bed to avoid the ants invading again.

It's still 95^o out at 11pm. I can't imagine how it must have been living down here before air conditioning. Houses with "dog trots" for ventilation, along with hip roofs, were a must.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 08:48 PM

Jogged half a mile and did 1/10th of a mile walk for cool off. I hung a load of laundry on the line and started another load. It should still be light enough to hang it by the time the machine stops. We'll be having dinner soon: Grilled salmon, summer squash (from our garden) and parmesean herb rice.

New photos up on Facebook of the new pigs that joined our farm this weekend!!!

Love to all,

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 08:30 PM

Saved all the house chores and van unload/reload for tonight and tmrw AM, till the heat eased off a bit. pantpantpant

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: SINSULL
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 07:49 PM

Viions of Joe Namath in pantihose crocheting to relax. LOL. I claim one of those necklaces. Although I wear my bracelet all the time and will cede to another Auntie.
Just read Brett's Guam thread. More tragedy.He could use a word of support.
SINS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 07:46 PM

Kat, several of the most interesting and talented men I know are good at sewing, crochet, cooking, etc. For so long the "womens" crafts seemed off limits to boys (and alas, shop class and power tools were off limit to girls). Now shop class has largely gone away all together.

Laundry drying, got kind of musty because I forgot it in the washer after it finish in the wee hours. Kitchen is looking good, and I'm finishing some canning this evening. I'm finished canning until I have any of my own crops to can.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 06:44 PM

Love the necklace and bracelet idea!!! Morgan is a lucky little guy to have such a great grandma to show him how to do all kinds of neat things!!! I was wondering if you'd like to come find my kitchen table top Kat? It's like a magnet for STUFF. I get it cleaned off and BAM, stuff seems to find it's way there!!!

I slept WAY in today and then went to take care of a friend's cat (I'm cat sitting while she's away).

It's been a slow day here...a ride with the family, stopped for ice cream, hanging out playing, etc. A perfect Sunday.

For the first time in a VERY long time, my blood sugars are balanced nicely. It's been running high since chemo, then this past week I've had several lows (68ish) and today it's been between 100 & 140. My doctor set a goal of 140 for me for right now. He said it's been so high for so long that things in the truly *normal* range (80 to 120) will make me feel like crap. He's half right...anything under 100 and I feel weird and know that trouble isn't far behind. So...even with the ice cream today, my sugars have stayed in place. HOORAY!!!!!! Balance is GOOD!!!!

Evening run coming up as the sun sets. I'm going to shoot for half a mile today and then keep that distance for a week or two until I can do it comfortably (ok, relatively). Tonight I am running for Tracy and Cindy.

Love to all,

Michelle