Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jul 11 - 12:25 AM

Andrea, four cubic meters of concrete moved in wheelbarrows? Over here that would be colloquially called a f**king shitload of concrete (no numbers attached, just sympathy for the folks who have to move that much weight in so many trips!)

Susan, I hope things work out. You've been working steadily to make your life easier. It will be good if you health cooperates with your planning!

Michelle, the key word here is "triage." The things that really need attention rise to the surface, and everything else gets the time that is left over.

I'm picking 1/3 to 1/2 bucket of grapes a day, and this weekend I'll use the steam juicer and be ready for jelly making soon. Then come the peaches.

Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday. I need a couple of days to rest up from the week.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jul 11 - 12:35 AM

TBTG for nurse-types who hang out with female patients who have great but overly-testosteroned male doctors. TBTG for husbands who go that extra mile and stick it out when it's tough. TBTG for a good friend and my new priest.

It went as well as it could I guess. BIG outcome is referral to the best PT/OT team in the wider area to give some expert guidance on next steps, literally.

I am very sad to miss (probably) Saturday's Relay activities. Might be able to get to the late-night stuff. Have to work.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: mouldy
Date: 08 Jul 11 - 02:05 AM

Yes it is an immense amount of 'crete to move. They have asked for extra bodies to help. Luckily the truck driver is the dad of the young ox who is one of the labourers, and so he is going to stay around until it's all delivered, unlike some who have a time-slot, and dump the rest on the road if it's time to go.
There is minimal water in the trench this morning. At the moment it is blue sky and clouds. If the sun can burn through in time, it may get rid of the rest. Hopefully the inspector will say it's dry enough to pour onto. Alo, if it stays dry today, the crud on the carpet with dry more, and might vac out a bit.

Hope you get the help you want, Susan. It's a great feeling when you actually get referred to the right people!

The sun is starting to show through...fingers crossed!

Andrea

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jul 11 - 06:02 PM

Pool walking 36 x 50 (1800 steps) plus ai chi stretch-out.

PT/OT appt for Monday afternoon with the sports-focus dudes.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jul 11 - 10:03 PM

One hot hot day today. 105^o and the dogs came in the house when I got home. This just wrings the energy right out of you.

Ellie and I finished the range of books (each side has the equivalent of 10 tall bookcases) this morning with a half hour to spare. That means we don't need to go back and do it later on in July when they scheduled more time for us.

Today a letter came from the tax office - I tried a new online tax protest link back in May. My house was built in the mid-1970s and is in good shape and surrounded by other houses built around the same time that are also in good shape. To our north 1 block begins a neighborhood with much smaller much older cute little houses, and to our east are the new houses being built in the development that started about 3 years ago. They're high dollar compared to mine, yet those were presented as the "comparable value" homes that kept my tax high (there was a form with those addresses and prices on the web site.)

I went into a realtor web site and found a couple of houses in my part of the village, the same size and age as mine, and did a PDF screen capture of each page, and wrote out a statement protesting that the comparables used for my tax rate were not right. The online protest process rejected my protest when I filed it (an instant response sort of site), but apparently a human later looked at the documents I sent in, along with my statement, and my house taxable rate was dropped by $8,600. This is the tax figure, it would be ideal if I ever sold it that it would go for more than the tax rate (they typically do). But that is a little bit shaved off of the mortgage next year.

I don't have a phone line or fax any more, so I did a little research and ended up faxing this back via a web page that will let you do one free fax a day, with no ads on the cover page. Three-page limit, but this worked perfectly. It's a Canadian company (http://www.gotfreefax.com/) and seems to have good reviews.

eBay is perking along. I picked up a flat of peaches today so I'll be cleaning the kitchen tonight in preparation for canning tomorrow, and I also need to use the juicer for the grapes. It's a general work around the house weekend.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 12:13 AM

SRS, you be careful in that heat. I heard it is supposed to be that way for at least another week. You're right...it does just sap the energy right out.

I had a busy day with exercise at 9a with Morgan in tow; hand therapy at 10a, then home for lunch, then at 2p delivered M to his mom and went off to get another high-cost shot at the kidney doc. Met the new doc and quite liked him. He sounded like an echo of the pulmonologist, "Keep doing what you're doing...it's working." Nice to hear!

Also, a couple of weeks ago, Rog and I met with the CEO and Chief Med. Officer of the first hospital I was in in Feb. The one which really messed things up including an ER report which said my "chief complaint" was a "gunshot wound!" Anyway, I'd written a letter delineating what all went wrong including the consequences and asked them to write off the remaining $900+ which is what we owed after insurance paid. The CEO promised to let me know their decision last week, but no call, so I left him a message yesterday. Today, his PA called to tell me they were writing it off...it was a done deal. I am really glad of that. Still have some issues to resolve, but it's a start. I feel a sense of accomplishment, esp. after calling a few lawyers in town and being told no one wants to take a case against the hospital due to the smallish size city and their wanting to stay on good terms with their "care" provider.

Rog had to work today, but will have Monday off, so we'll do errands tomorrow, groceries, etc. and go to breakfast at Morgan's to celebrate his dad's birthday. We've got a few things to clean up in the yard and inside...the usual, mostly. I hope to get some more decluttering done. Have also been working on getting the files accepted by CreateSpace for my old book. I figure it's easier to start with it, then I'll have a template, of sorts, for Prairie Child. I spent about three hours on that, yesterday.

Andrea...love watching it all come down and, soon, go up!

kat

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 11:52 AM

Home from the Relay For Life...

Had

a

BLAST!!!!!


I worked at the Survivor Tent, walked several miles, hung out with some really FUN women during the wee hours of the morning...think lots of laughter, dancing and utter silliness, hosted a Survivor Breakfast and helped to break down camp. I spent 27.5 hours at the Relay, awake for 26.5 of those hours. WOOOOO!!! I am SO beyond tired that I'm NOT tired!!!   Time to sit back, relax, put my feet up and take a nap when my body finally slams into that cloud of sleepiness.

The goal of $113,000 was reached and then some. EXCELLENT for the small community we live in!!!!!! Much larger areas held Relay events this year and raised substantially lesser amounts! I'm so proud to have been on the committee for my local relay and am thrilled that the community came together to raise so much money for research and to help local people!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 01:29 PM

Michelle, get a good day of sleep, or at least a long nap today. Congratulations on the fund raising! Kat, congratulations on getting the hospital to settle that debt. It's only fair. Andrea, don't spend the entire weekend vacuuming!

I have been getting up earlier every morning to use the cooler time to get work done. I went to bed at 9:15 last night and was up at 6 this morning. Zeke went home (Cinnamon is so disappointed!), I picked a bucket of mustang grapes, and I took the trimmer out and knocked down the weeds along the edges of gardens that get watered regularly. I have a push mower I'm going to use on the lawn, I don't need to fire up the gas mower for what amounts to a few grass seed heads.

This morning I also cooked up two batches of grape juice in the steam juicer. I have to clear out the fridge to make room for the juice until I make jelly, and I have to go shopping for pectin, lids, and sugar before that happens. I also have to can peaches.

A batch of laundry will go on the line out back in a few minutes. No rain in sight these days, though you'd think I could at least tempt it by hanging out laundry. Maybe I should wash the pickup instead.

Clearing up a couple of eBay items that didn't sell, and packing the rest (several sales end tomorrow, and it looks like I'll have to combine orders for one guy who bid on several different auction books.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 06:58 PM

The juice looks kind of cloudy - I suspect it needs to settle out some of those little cysts of whatever those little yellowish drifts of stuff are one usually sees in the bottom of the jar. Meanwhile, I went over with a paintbrush and a jar of Roundup and I painted the leaves of some of the poison ivy around the grape tree, then I came home and dropped all of my clothes in a pile and took a shower.

There are some clouds in the sky, but with a 10% chance of rain, I doubt the laundry I need to hang this afternoon is going to tempt any precipitation.

I bought a galvanized stock tank to add to the other one already in the yard and I'll take out the plastic pool that Cinnamon is allergic to. I hope the metal tank lasts longer than the plastic pool, for the price!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: saulgoldie
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 11:47 PM

Dear Lily,
Please PM me about snail letters. Thanks.

Saul(goldie)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 07:31 AM

Today I have filtered curds of most of my milk which had turned which I am going to turn into an Indian sweet.

I have also been piecing parts of a skirt which my mother had partly cut up for patchwork, and am now cutting it to make a lning for a sleeveless jacket- not exactly a waistcoat (vest) as its a bit loose. It's a bit slippery, and I am now juggling it about as it has got slightly too small for the pattern.

The main fabric is from a pair of teal linen trousers which had worn away between the legs. I then have to work out exactly how I'm going to turn it inside out, as the way the trousers are won't work the way the pattern wants. I'm not going to undo an existing seam because the pattern makers grasp of topology is not very mathemstical.

The dress fabric is creamy green with a pattern of hedgerow flowers. Among them are some tiny quail. My mum obviously did not see these, as they are upside down in her construction, and will probably have to be in mine, as well.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 08:08 AM

I DID make the Relay's late-night shift and enjoyed an hour's scootering and chatting with Hardi who usually dies his hour alone. Came back to catch 3 hours' sleep then off to ydy's planned work thing: attending a GREAT retreat yesterday with the new people on a Commission that advises the Bishop on people seeking ordination; he led the retreat gloriously and my "seniority-comments" were helpful.... new people on the group are superb. I see new friends there.

With the realignment on roles certain people play with my healthcare (only some reflected here... much more actually going on), I had the energy and focus to do my work there despite very short sleep.

I then zoomed the 2 hours back home in good order (still hearing song after rock-radio song that was PERFECT for recent struggles' reflections), to find Hardi too whacked to do the Sat. nite music-- so I led that without him, as Ed and I used to do when we played at other churches.

Edema-swelled ankles behaved themselves all this sitting-time, even thru a "pamper-us" dinner, and then we came home and I slept like a log. I think Hardi finally did, too. TBTG for peace in work He gives us to do, along with the strength to DO it even when beset by troubles and distractors.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 10:48 AM

I have prepared for the impending zombie attack by thoroughly cleaning and organising every square inch of bathroom and most of kitchen. I need sterile rooms. Just in case.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 12:58 PM

Up early, working in the garden (pouring buckets of water with compost tea and fish fertilizer) around the crops. I'll sprinkle some amendments (greensand and lava sand) later. Just trying to keep the plants alive so they can produce in the fall.

I've run my grape juice through a fine sieve to try to clear up the cloudy appearance. It usually isn't completely clear, as strawberry juice usually is, but it seems cloudier than usual. I'm going to run to the store to get some bags of frozen strawberries and run them through the steam juicer. That I can use completely - the juice for jelly, the fruit for jam. The leftover grape seeds and skins went into the compost.

Another load of laundry needs to wash and hang try today.

Waiting in anticipation of the work at Andrea's next week. Keep those photos coming!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 01:49 PM

I am exhausted today. My beloved let me sleep in and was totally okay with it when I wandered down the stairs at noon. I've had some breakfast and am ready to go back to bed. I LOVE LOVE LOVE doing the Relay For Life but it wears me out. I worked all day at the Survivor Tent (signing folks in and also being support for new people, listeing to stories of loss), walked the Opening Lap, the Survivor Lap, the Luminaria Lap, several laps with a new friend who has asked to report my story in the local paper and a few laps alone...time to read all the names on the bags (over 1,200 of them were on the track), time to pause and reflect, time to give thanks for my life and time to remember.
   I worked all day with a woman from my church...we made an incredible team and I am so looking forward to working more with her!!! I also hung out with some other women from my church while Susan and Greg were doing their allotted hour of (maybe a half hour...I dunno) walking/scooting. What a HOOT!!! I see several more fun times together ahead!!!   Dancing, laughter, sharing of stories, silliness....wooo hoooo!! Who knew that under those reserve Sunday folks were some funny bunnies waiting to come out and play? YAY!!!

Saul...I'll write soon...promise.

If I can find a smidge of energy, I might do some dishes after lunch. Course....they'll still be there tomorrow too!

Lator Gators!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 03:51 PM

When a priest signs up for an hour, Michelle, he does more than an hour, just as he does for a liturgical vigil, even on his day off and even if he ends up paying for it all he rest of the weekend services.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 04:58 PM

It's so often the case that when you get involved in something that you thought you'd do for only a set period that you end up staying way longer than planned. I have several events like that at work. Good job, all of you!

It's the regular afternoon slowdown, the funk when it's so hot outside. A little cooler today, only about 100, but still, hard on everything. I do wish I had a black water tank to elevate and run a shower from. Shower on the lawn after dark and at least water that spot where you're standing! Maybe I can set something up this summer that can go in the garage during the winter. I do hate running perfectly good city water on the yard, it's better to make it do a little work before we pour it on the ground.

The kitchen is just about cleared for some cooking this evening. Canning peaches, and if there's time, juicing strawberries for jelly later. I have to make sure I have lots of convenient surfaces handy for setting things to cool that can be undisturbed for a while.

Several eBay items headed out the door soon, and I'll have to list a few more. I also returned a couple of things to Home Depot that either failed or weren't needed. Clearing out in several directions! I swept the front porch last night so it was a pleasure to walk barefoot over to the corner where the faucet is and be sure it was off. Sometimes with all of the pebbles the porch felt like it was covered with Legos. :-/ I have to clear weeds lying dry on the driveway and finish filling holes dug in the back yard over the last couple of weeks. And laundry to hang out. Just the usual puttering!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 07:53 PM

Susan,

   I'll be happy to talk to Father Greg about the Relay For Life and share how one is able to walk at any time (except during the Survivor Walk) from 10:00am on Friday until 10:00am on Saturday. No one is required to walk in the wee hours of the morning or for even an hour. Most teams have 30 minute sign up slots. Even further, coming to the event at all is voluntary. If he didn't want to go, he didn't have to go. However, from the cheerful demeanor he had when he came over to talk with us, I'd say he was fine with it. If he wasn't, that would me he was lying...no?

I'll be sure to talk to him about it. If YOU are perturbed because YOU had to be out late, I'd say see the above paragraph.

I had a BLAST and so did everyone else I came into contact with! The Relay For Life is a community unto it's own with most participants having had cancer themselves or have been deeply touched by watching a loved one suffer through or dying. We share a common goal, to raise awareness, funding and the hope that one day no one will have to hear the words, "You have cancer."

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 12:06 AM

I think any other discussion of clergy walking time slots or not might be best via PM, so no one gets themselves into a corner by discussing it in an open venue. Just a thought.

My kitchen was a sauna this evening; I canned peaches last year but I had to give myself a small trial run to see how the new pot would work. Great for blanching, but it's a real squeeze to get a full inch of head room out of it when jars are in the colander. It will be perfect for 1/2 pints, but too short for any more pints. I have a taller pot and will put a rack in the bottom and take jars out with the jar lifter for the rest of the peaches.

Collected by laundry on the line by Coleman lantern light. Gave each piece a good shake in case of bugs. This afternoon I did the basic layout for some 2x2" cedar planks to make myself a potting table out of an old cast-iron framework that used to hold firewood. It might not be pretty when it's finished, but it will give me a good-sized working space at a nice height.

Several eBay items to ship tomorrow, and I must list some more.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 02:33 AM

SRS, you have reminded me of the first time I went off to help a friend with his thesis field work - I had started cooking beetroot in the slow cooker, and hung washing on the line. When I got home very late, the beetroot was perfect, but the washing was crawling with earwigs!

The lining stitching didn't go quite right. Mum had cut long curved strips from the hem of a skirt which was as full as a New Look skirt from the 50s and I had sewn these together with contrast zigzag to look like a design feature, picking up the colour from the outside. But with the juggling to fit the pattern piece, the lines looked crooked, so I had to hand sew invisibly, and unpick the zigzagging. This has slowed the whole project down.

I'm still playing with the topology of the turning inside out trick. The pattern directs sewing the shoulder seams before that process, and I'm sure that with two closed loops in the piece, turning inside out is not possible. In fact, I think it's not possible with one closed loop. The pattern suggests leaving both side seams open, and turning through one of them, sewing up afterwards, which would be very difficult by machine. I'm planning to leave the shoulders open, and have the side seams on the right side closed, with one on the lining open to turn through. Those would be easy to hand sew. I think I might have to make a model first!

I ate a big salad yesterday, with a lot coming from the garden. Lettuce (though one has been completely destroyed by slugs), radish, spring onion, and the first, full size carrot. The second lot of radishes have poked up above the surface, but there'll be a gap in the lettuce supply. The seedlings aren't showing, and I can't get pre-sown ones from the garden centres. I think I might get "living salad leaves" from the supermarket and plant them out. I've made a soup from the onion stems, peapods, lettuce leaves not up to salad, with the whey from the curds and the drippings from some burgers I had for Saturday's meal.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 10:00 AM

Penny, turning garments right-side-out after all of that work is the last puzzle of the whole operation, isn't it? Sometimes a whole-lotta cloth gets shoved through one tiny space! And it sounds like you are doing some design on the fly as you fit pieces - good luck with that!

This morning I was walking the dogs and neighbors up the street were working in their gorgeous yard. I teased the husband that I had mulch to put out in my yard when he finished there. She said "don't get me started about your yard!" half teasing, half serious. I guess the jury is still out, or has severe reservations about if I'll ever get this place actually looking like the image I see of it in my head. I think they're mostly sorry to see that I let the grass die in the summer and just keep the beds watered. But I enjoy it, and I'll use that remark as the boost to get a few beds thinned and weeded again. I have a soaker hose going in one bed right now, and if I thin the Louisiana iris that alone will improve the appearance of that bed, so I may go ahead and do it during a 20 minute break this morning. That's usually enough to get some work done but not be completely overheated.

Zeke came down to play in the yard for a few minutes this morning, and we had breakfast al fresco with all of the dogs and showed Susie where he learned his new trick about waiting to eat. She likes that one and had him do it last night before dinner. He sits and drools until he's told to eat. :)

Tons to do today, and I need to hustle with a couple of chores. No oversight this week - my boss's first grandchild was born yesterday so he's taking a few days off! The mom is in the hospital for a couple of days with a low blood platelet count that they've been addressing.

Must ship several eBay packages today. Good work!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 10:37 AM

Michelle: Bonnie T and Pat D are the captains for the St. Paul's Relay team; thank you for visiting our team tent in support of Relay for Life, and I am glad you enjoyed seeing a side of some folks that we see all the time.

You have made it clear that you are on another Relay team. Bonnie and Pat have no issues with Hardi or his participation. Or mine. Period.

~Susan

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

Susan,

Why are you so defensive about this?

Yes, I was part of another team. Problem with that?
People walk whenever they can and for however long they can. I don't have an issue with that, nor does anyone else....except maybe you.

I simply pointed out I was having fun while you and Greg were doing your laps. If you read more into that than was there, go enjoy your misery as nothing was meant by it at all


I didn't say ANYONE had a problem with your participation or Greg's participation. Go look for a fight with someone else. I'm not interested.


And, FYI, all teams welcome people in to visit, chat, laugh, commiserate...whatever in their team tents. Another FYI, I'm already on St. Paul's Team for next year. :) I'm sure you think it's to annoy you because you are so self centered in EVERYTHING you do but sorry to disrupt your giant ego...it has NOTHING to do with you AT ALL.

Go twist things around with someone else.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 11:51 AM

I'm going to ask Kat to remove the last two posts. We need to keep it friendly here, and the behind the scenes personal stuff just doesn't fit and makes everyone uncomfortable. We're working on clutter, not baggage. Okay? :) It's hot - relax, and come back when you are back to your old self.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 12:07 PM

Fine by me, it's already been copied and sent to where it needs to go.

Somebody needs to back up and take the very direct hint to LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE. I've had enough and will NO LONGER sit back and try to be respectful or to try and figure out what the hell she's trying to say. I did not say anything bad about her or Greg but she absolutely took it that way.

Everyone tip toes around her and I'm not going to be one of them anymore. If she gets in my face, she can fully expect it back. So much for all those sermons and righteous life she lives about loving your neighbors. What a joke.

I have put up with it for years and it will stop here.

Feel free to delete this post too. Just wanted to state where I stand.

For the love of God, I even wished her well with her medical appointment last week. What the fuck was I thinking?!?!?!?

I can think of another medical appointment that should be made.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 12:12 PM

As far as decluttering...ah yes...I just cleared some very foul air. ;)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: maeve
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 12:53 PM

SRS- Yes, genuine friendliness is preferred.

The repeatedly offensive/defensive behavior to which many of us have objected publicly and in private is excreted by the same person.

Michelle is correct to make boundaries clear. Anything less direct is ignored.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 02:17 PM

As a moderator, I am not going to delete the relevant posts. As I told SRS, I know they don't fit with the thread, but that does not warrant deleting them. There is a history of this and, it is important, imo, that we feel comfortable confronting that in public, if need be.

Thanks,

kat-mod

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: maeve
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 02:26 PM

Bullying and manipulation need to be identified and exposed to the light. Thank you, kat.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: maeve
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 02:29 PM

Thanks to SRS too, for maintaining this thread for us all.

We've been decluttering more rubbish left from the fire and regaining some sense of order on the farm. The insulated slab will be poured tomorrow; it was too cold this winter, so we've had to delay getting the wiring and plumbing installed.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 03:06 PM

I lifted seven slabs today, and mattocked the stuff underneath. Not much clay under the sand to mix in with the last of the mushroom compost, but a lot of flints, and red clay, which is the colour of the geology. It wasn't enough to make it worth while to bring it up further. I added three bags of good topsoil, which didn't bring the bed quite up to the height I wanted, but that can be done later. Then I planted out a number of different lettuces from the supermarket, intended to be used on the kitchen windowsill. It will be interesting to see how well this works. They don't look much different from the ones I bought to plant out before. A good buy for 90p.

That had me sweating, so I had a bath and a lie down. Then I packaged the soup I had made with salad trimmings for the freezer, and cooked up the curds from turned milk into an Indian sweet. Salad for supper. I'm going to have to eat stuff out of the freezer for a while, as I have it completely full.

I have a pattern for the shape of my top, but because the trouser legs are going to provide front and back it's going to be done differently. The instructions do make sense if done their way, with the fronts pushed through the shoulders and out at the side. It'll work my way as well.

Penny

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 03:21 PM

We are working on re-doing our front porch. We had plans of putting on an entirely new roof. So, today 3/4 of the porch was emptied and the floor scrubbed down. The rest will go tonight when its cooler or in the morning. Upon closer inspection, we will be patching up the spots that need it most and having a new roof put on next spring. As with many of the things in the old farmhouse, things wer done backwards....maybe they didn't have the knowledge or maybe they ran out of cash and did what they could to make do. Either way, we have been making corrections for years and that porch is next on the list. One day, when we win the lottery (should really buy a ticket first), a window will be added to a part of the house that is darker than we would like. We've also been talking about moving the nursery so there is more play space for the baby. We'll see. For this week, it's all about the porch!!!!

Also, the yard sale was a huge hit and most of my things were sold. Anything that wasn't will be put out at another yard sale next month and the leftovers will go to Santa's Closet....a local consignment shop that often just gives things to families in need. I support that 100%.

Dishes did get done, table is pick up, one load of laundry done that I will soon hang on the inside rack as it looks like a thunderstorm may be coming.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 04:36 PM

Might seem silly, but what exactly is a yard sale? I know garage sale - not often done over here, but known. And boot sale, which starts appallingly early on a Sunday morning in a field wherfe people turn up in their cars with stuff, and others hope to get things much too cheaply.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: maeve
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 04:42 PM

It's all pretty much the same, Penny. A yard sale is set up in the yard of a house, a garage sale is in and around the garage, etc.

I went to a good little boot sale in Edinburgh once; got some of my favorite treasures...gone now.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 04:58 PM

Well, that's what I thought, but some of the reports here suggested that the sales were away from home, which got me puzzled.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: maeve
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 05:06 PM

Yes, good point- yard sales can be organized together with other people or by an organization. In that case, participating sellers may have to set up somewhere away from their own yards.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 06:27 PM

I am still mid-yard sale with boxes packed all over the place and still not completely unpacked in the kitchen. Great excuse to keep people away during the hot months. I hate this sticky weather.

Bit by bit the clutter is disappearing. Some day...

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

Thanks all.

I'm doing a sort of slow motion garage sale as I move things on eBay. Sitting in the yard in the heat is not an easy job, even if you have shade. It is fun to see the neighbors if they stop by, that's one good thing about them.

Five parcels were handed over to the mail carrier this afternoon, and it averaged about $10 per item on eBay, so it is a slow moving garage sale, but I've made that little sitting in the yard all day sometimes.

I moved a small table out of the kitchen after relocating the microwave to the wire shelves that I put in there last week. It looks good there and with the table gone you can see some of the wall around the room. I also took down some ceramic fish shapes that added to the very busy look of the kitchen. Not sure if I'll find another place for them, or sell them. They're attractive.

One of my jars of peaches from last night didn't seal. I'll just have to eat them this week. I have a lot more peaches to do, but I've sorted out the pots so I can do more, though I think I need to run to the store for more pint jars. I may put some of them in jelly jars for single servings.

My boss's first grandchild was born yesterday. I put one of the photos he sent with him holding the baby (I used first name only - far be it from me to start splashing info about a newborn in such a public way!) on the library facebook page. Lots of "likes" of a photo where you see a man falling instantly in love with the tiny person in his arms. :) I've been smiling about that all day!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 08:45 PM

Penny,

    The yard sale I am involved with includes several families. Every year we get together at a friend's very large garage and sell our stuff. It seems that every year each family has something to get rid of. This year I sold mostly baby things. I had more to take over but got swamped with last minute Relay For Life things that were more important. I still have a rocking chair, a hoppy/activity center, a few boxes of baby clothes and odds and ends from around the house. One thing I REALLY want to get rid of is a lava lamp that I had purchased for Jeremiah as a night light. It's blues and greens but gets very hot after about 15 minutes. Our group yard sale typically runs from early Friday morning until 4:00pm and the same thing happens again the next day. We typically make an event of it with a lunch where everybody brings a dish to pass. We all hang out in our yard chairs and visit while folks shop. This year I had to miss that because it was the only weekend everybody else could go (I had the Relay For Life). They were kind enough to let me put my stuff in the sale anyway. So what happens now is that I will go pick up anything that is left and my mom and I will have a yard sale in few weeks to try and unload any leftover stuff (or more that we find in our homes). Leftover stuff from THAT sale will go to a local consignment shop or sometimes my church. Dates won't coincide for the church yard sale this year so the consignment it is for this year!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 10:36 PM

Found a case of pint jars, no trip to the store needed. I'm waiting till morning for the canning because I have to finish some computer work this evening.

Trouble with lava lamps is that the thing that moves is wax and the bulb underneath must get hot to heat the liquid so the wax is less viscous and will float and bounce. I love looking at them, but not for a curious kiddo! Good move, taking it out.

SRS

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

Well, he's too young for this, yet, but there is a kids' science experiment in which one can make a benign LAVA LAMP, though it won't be lighting up any rooms.:-)

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

I had always wanted a lava lamp as a kid and was never allowed to have one. So of course, I want Jeremiah to have one! I guess I just didn't know quite how they worked (the wax that is) and that was part of the intrique for me!!

I was looking at getting a few more cases of wide mouth canning jars today too..must be the day for it! I'm not sure what I'm going to be canning this year other than tomato sauce, pears and apple sauce. I think I'll be making more of Pete's favorite relish and my dilly green beans. Then there's the new pressure canner to contend with but I won't be needing that until this fall. We have peach trees this year that are full for the first time ever so I imagine we'll be canning some of those too!

Night everybody!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 05:05 AM

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 09:01 AM

What a luxury to have a pressure canner! You can do so many more things that a water bath isn't enough for. My friend Dean thought his was missing, but it turned up in a corner of the garage - hug sigh of relief!

Humid here today, but no real chance of rain till the weekend. I'll sound like a broken record player this summer - I'm tired of the heat!

Zeke is going to come down tonight and spend the night with us because his family are headed out of town for a long day away tomorrow. Now that we've got the pattern established, he can come and go here and my dogs will be happy to see him, and it's much easier than their trying to keep him comfortable while they're at a hospital setting (chemo checkup).

My kitchen looks better, now to attack the sun room. But first, work for work.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 09:17 AM

SRS,

   I've never used a pressure canner before but I have friends in the area who have and are willing to spend some time showing me how it all works so I don't blow anything up...LOL.
   Our steer will go to the butcher soon and we are interested in finding ways to preserve our food instead of just the freezer. I'm looking forward to it!!! I know canning is a lot of work but it's SO worth it!!! :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 09:47 AM

Michelle,

That's how you have to do it - I started canning at the side of my friend Dean, helping him and observing the steps, listening to the cautions as he worked. I still call occasionally to ask for reminders of things I did last year but have forgotten in the meantime. You'll have a great time once you get that up and running! Sauces with meat, for example. Canned chicken (Dean makes that and it becomes an ingredient for many other dishes during the year), etc. He cans hot peppers, all sorts of good stuff that when it is in season can be purchased in bulk.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 12:45 PM

I did some clearing of the kitchen table (our catch-all), gathered up my Relay gear into one place with the hopes of storing it all together in a plastic bin (if I ever get myself to the store), laundry folded and waiting to go upstairs, giant laundry rack put away as it's nice and I can hang stuff outside, lots of playtime, vacuumed the rug, swept the kitchen floor, did dust bunny vacuuming around the edges of the living room, hallway and bathroom and soon I hope to get through some paperwork. I also made several business calls this morning. My mail ordered (required by insurance) insulin has hit a snafu and is not here.   I am down to my last flex pen of one of the kinds I take and it will run out by tonight. I sure hope everything is straightened out and here by tomorrow. I'll wait until tomorrow to pick up leftover yard sale stuff as I need to go that direction then anyway, why make two trips if I don't have to?

Anyway, it's been a productive day so far. Plenty left to do.

Have a great day everybody!

Michelle

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

Don't you love it [Not!] when the insurance companies practice medicine without a license, subjecting patients and doctors to their rules?

Finished a couple of things I've been pushing to the back burner for far too long. It's not just the projects, it's the whole change they represent.

Canning this evening. Stickiness everywhere after that, I'm sure!

SRS

Subject: PT begins
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 03:37 PM

GREAT PT/OT intake ydy with sports-focus dudes and dudettes. I was thrilled to see a good friend-- our landlords' youngest son-- interning there (he plans a PT college career starting in the fall).

I was welcomed as a fitness colleague who has fallen on hard times (and my recently injured butt), and treatment was planned accordingly. Their therapy pool will be a tad warm-- I'll have to add an icepak to my head to do it-- but they plan to work me ALMOST as hard as I have always worked myself in the pool. They will manage the pace as well as send us off on vacay with exercises paced to continue.

I left them drooling over the water-proofed aquatic notebook full of handouts I use in the water, with the laminated exercise cards. Their aquatic therapist is already familiar with one of the programs I have used and taught, so they prescribed THAT (at my option) for the "yer gonna be purty sore" off days-- not the weight-lifting I had expected, just yet.

Now I just have to get this funded.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - Build on Success -July 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 03:38 PM

PS oh and last night we discovered that the new scooter can go thru SAND to the BEACH.

~S~