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Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability
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Subject: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Dec 11 - 01:20 AM Last month's thread. I remarked a couple of days ago that December is the hardest month for most of us. Winter causes us to slow down (in the Northern Hemisphere) and the holiday treats are everywhere. This is the thread where you may need to come back often and congratulate yourself for avoiding hazards at work, in the marketplace, and your own impulses to create sugary treats this time of year. Aim for savory, for protein, less sweet, fewer carbs. Think about the mature pleasure found in a good slice of cheese on a whole-grain cracker instead of the cloying sweetness of fudge or divinity. Have good quality fruits around to treat yourself to a few apple or orange slices instead of more peppermint bark. Get out the olives, pickles, pickled herring, and smoked salmon instead of the sugar cookies and candy canes. I read an article in the Huffington Post today that gave some good tips about avoiding the holiday weight gain, so I've added it here to start this month's thread. Kat and Michelle have asked that we recognize (or ask about) the time they spend with their Qi Gong and Yoga each day, to help inspire them to keep it up. They probably have the best chance of making it through the month without weight gain because they already have this as a routine, so keep it up and inspire the rest of us, you two! I wrapped up the month of November with a wonderful visit with a dear friend, and I hope to keep up that kind of conversation with friends and loved ones during December. Along with sharing love with them, we need to (as is probably cliche as hell) love ourselves as well. That's where the discipline around junk food and the regular exercise are very important. You're doing it for yourself and for your loved ones. Onward into the next month, and try to keep the clutter temporary (decorative) and good for the spirit. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 01 Dec 11 - 04:15 AM A bad start to the month, weight-wise. A jump upwards of over a pound. This is quite hard to explain. Yesterday I did a lot of walking, including in the footsteps of the pensions march from Charing Cross down Whitehall to the Houses of Parliament, then back along the Embankment, up to Covent Garden, and down to Kings College on the Strand, with some time later, a return to Charing Cross. I felt quite fit doing it, though when I got back on the train, and had to face a steep hill to where I had parked my car, I did not feel up to it and had to use the bus. I don't think the sitting on the train helped (I was lucky to find a seat, though). I didn't eat much, either. Certainly less in actual weight than the increase. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: mouldy Date: 01 Dec 11 - 06:36 AM I have weigh-in tonight, after a fortnight that has probably wrecked any weight loss. I had stayed the same the last time, so I really hope that happens again. However, merely hanging around the house and not being able to do anything for the last couple of weeks will probably have taken its toll. I did get to my belly dance class last night, so my waist got a good workout! I must get going on my tai chi again when the yard's sorted. I joined a class locally, but I didn't really enjoy it. I'll carry on with what I already know for now. On the house front, the kitchen cupboards are getting doors, and the downstairs woodwork is coming together in general. My new big stove kettle came today (2.9 litres). This will be great when I need a big load of boiling water. Okay, it was just an indulgence! Andrea |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 01 Dec 11 - 07:37 AM SRS-- Re: pedometer/walking: If you can feel it you probably got in plenty of steps, even if they weren't measured. That was SO HELPFUL to see, because I was really hurting last night after some added walking. GREAT way to track it-- will discuss with PT. If I can get that much in every day, then it's progress. Have new Rx for PT and have scheduled it. Got a good update on another exercise opportunity also. I could use some reminders/encouragement to vary the exercise menu the way some of you vary food (which we are already doing so well). I need to 1. Mix it up 2. Schedule it 3. Focus on a balance of fun stuff, PT stuff, chore stuff 4. Indoor AND outdoor stuff And I need to resume the search for the right shoes. I have about 5 txgiving pounds to give back to the turkey that gave them to me! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Dec 11 - 10:17 AM I was so tired yet awake last night - you know that feeling when the caffeine is keeping you up but your brain wants to sleep? I should probably stick to Solitaire at those times. :) Susan, I can tell you what happens when you have the WRONG shoes! My new pair of walking shoes evidently has some kind of a lump under the insole area in the middle of the right foot. Wrong place for plantar fasciitis, but still painful. I limped more and more, it felt like a bruise, but I didn't remember hurting myself. I wore various shoes for a while, then one day I put these back on and the pain was instantly there. Those shoes are toast. Andrea, that sounds like a good-sized cooking saucepan. I have several very large pots (12 and 14 quart) for canning. They are almost too much for my current electric coil stove top - I'm still mulling the answer to this puzzle and am getting close to buying an outdoor cooking stand (uses LP fuel) to heat water for canning. I have a project I really want to do but I need to get it started before I name what it is, so I don't jinx it. Anyone working on any of those kinds of gifts for the holidays? For exercise here I'm planning to walk the dogs in the afternoons while it's still light and warmer. If I'm not walking them in the morning for now I need a new routine because today I think I might have fed them breakfast twice - once on autopilot. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: GUEST,Eliza Date: 01 Dec 11 - 10:56 AM Oh PHEW! I thought from the title that you were going to discontinue this thread! I've loved following it and enjoyed all the postings. Best wishes to all for 2012! "Keep a-troshing!" as they say here in Norfolk UK. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Bonzo3legs Date: 01 Dec 11 - 10:59 AM A couple of spoonfulls of Dulce de Leche will do for me! |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 01 Dec 11 - 12:06 PM Meditation followed by qi gong this morning. I really like the routine I am getting into. I actually crave the quiet time and the physical, as well as spiritual aspects, of qi gong. Good stuff, I am really feeling the physical effects. My feet hurt less whilst standing during the movements and it is easier to stand up from a sitting position. Best of all is the mental effect - that self-love SRS mentioned. Instead of a running, inner commentary beating myself up for doing nothing or not enough, I have thoughts of positive reinforcement. One thing I also added is a visual reminder. At the bottom of my monitor, I have a "ticker tape" piece of paper taped on which says: "LESS WEIGHT = EVERYTHING FEELING BETTER: Happy Knees, Feet, Shoulders, Arms, Kidneys, Heart, Lungs!" It's a constant reminder as I am at the computer so much throughout the day. One load of wash in. Now I am off to CDBaby to upload my brother's concert tracks and get him going with online sales. Yesterday, I worked a full day of PC and telephone time for both his stuff and mine, personal and business. Lots got done! |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 01 Dec 11 - 12:57 PM SRS (fasciitis), yeah!!! I will also be posting (it will look quite reptetitive/multiposting probably, so bite me) each time this month I make a trip up the stairs in excess of nightly up-for-bedtime trips, because it is on my PT list of home exercises. Starting with ydy's recalled trips: 11/31 3 12/1 1 ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 01 Dec 11 - 02:55 PM 11/31 3 12/1 3 |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness November 2011 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 01 Dec 11 - 06:48 PM Interesting post, mg. I copied it so I can look at it more closely when my brain is working better. SRS: Wonderful to be able to meet with a traveling friend at the airport! Andrea, it is hard when the end is in sight but not here yet! Glazing on Tuesday was a lengthy process but it got done and the firing went ahead. Weds was an adventure day. I actually felt badly that R missed it. Having begun to feel the need for more honey (lots of cranberry sauce needs lots of honey) I was asking around where to get some. Finally, dunce that I am, I looked at the label on the old jar and googled it, found the address and mapped it. Aha. So off I went - on the way to the country to check the kiln. It took 3 hours instead of one but was well worth it! Out a different hghwy to a different thrift shop where I managed to get two pairs of much needed running shoes for R. Then onward, following directions which took me onto a lovely side road along a huge lake - after crossing a long bridge over this Lake of Two Mountains. It became very rural and I arrived at a farm with a Miellerie (honey shop). The woman in the nearby house told me she would phone her son and he would be here very soon. He arrived in a very few minutes and I purchased two large jars (2 kg each) - one of clover and one of buckwheat - and a piece of comb for a special treat. A lovely experience. Then wended my way south, hoping I was getting back to the route to the country. A short stint on a major hghwy, then more water! I followed a side road, avoiding the route past the wasteland of box stores. Lovely old homes, cottages dating from the 1930s & 40s and a variety of domiciles, some dating from the early 1800s. Then across another long bridge and I was almost there. Rivers, lakes and canals all over the place! The last crossing was over the nearby Riviere des Anglais. Well, the kiln was almost cool enough to unload so I opened it and had lunch, then unloaded - 34 out of 35 mugs were lovely. What a relief! The chore done, I wrote some more raccoon stuff and an essay on a view of prison sentences. I believe there is no such thing as a short prison term ---- except that we shall never feel safe if the man who attacked R last year gets out of jail. It is a conundrum for me. I sent it off to editor of Canadian Friend - to use or not. It was good to get those writings off my mind. Writing as therapy. Today, I passed the raccoon stuff on to Raccoon Network members who are working on ways to effectively improve the PR of raccoons and protest a major "coon hunt" to be held in April - in the middle of birthing season, it would leave lots of infants o starve to death. This morning I photographed the various mugs - seven different glaze combos - for marketing purposes. Then spent two hours trying to figure out how to download the pics until I finally found a customer support number and a nice woman who gave me the directions - now written down. They are not great pics but I managed to prepare a paper with little pics so the store can easily mark down what sells. Also edited pics of the gorge we visited last month and prepared a slide show for R to see tonight. Memories of a wonderful fall day. I had meant to take the pots to the shop today but by the time I sorted out the picture problem, I had had it. Tomorrow - pots to shop and time at library. Then to the country for music and an open house on Sat at a marvellous B&B on the edge of Riviere des Anglais. The owner won every first in flower arrangement at the fair this summer! We also need to put the clay and glazes into that freezer which we decided to move into the studio - on wheels so it can be moved out of the way or near the kiln for added heat. The weather is getting seriously freezing this weekend. Then R needs to come back to the city to work. The artist who did the driftwood violin sent me pics of a piano she constructed out of driftwood!!!! --Moved by mudelf to current thread |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: mouldy Date: 02 Dec 11 - 02:28 AM SRS, the kettle isn't the sort you mean- it is the sort with a spout. However, I do have a very large jam pan (maslin pan) which comes in handy for boiling big stuff, and have been considering whether or not I need to get what we call a stock pot - a wide, and very deep, lidded pan. (I probably don't). However, it would perhaps boil more easily. A driftwood violin and piano...real ones, or representations? Half a pound off at the weigh-in. That's more than I'd hoped for! I am going to try and make a big effort this week. (If I ever get that cooker up and running, it will make a difference!) Susan, you are doing great - your mind is in the right place, and you are looking for ways to keep active. Andrea |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: GUEST,LilyFestre Date: 02 Dec 11 - 08:05 AM Yesterday was another busy day of running around doing errands. A tiny bit of stretching too...cat and cow and a few downward dogs. :) This morning I am up early, showered, dressed, some laundry done and am about to begin my normal morning routine. Then it's off to a friend's house for a play date. She has 3 children, one who is just a few months older than Jeremiah so it should be fun (and busy). Afterwards, I'm off to visit my Tracy. :) I haven't seen her in a bit (although phone contact and mail contact has been active) and I'm really looking forward to that. And then after THAT, the baby and I are off to enjoy some of a nearby town's Dickens of A Christmas celebration that kicks off beginning later this afternoon! Tomorrow morning brings breakfast with Santa, a train wonderland at the school where I used to work and then a day of walking the town craft fair. So...I'm not getting in much yoga these days but I am walking a LOT and am active around the house. As far as staying away from holiday sweets and such, I just don't go near them. If they are given to me, I share them with others or toss them. I can't treat myself to one or I'll treat myself to all of it and it makes me feel gross anyway. I decided last year to try a little of the goodies. Mistake. HUGE mistake. It won't be happening again this year! I don't feel deprived and if I start to, I make myself a cup of coffee mixed with a pack of sugar free cocoa and that takes care of my sweet tooth or craving for something rich. Also, if we have it, I LOVE orange coffee. :) Zero calories in that too! Gotta get started with my day. Have fun everybody! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Dec 11 - 11:10 AM I get the water kettle part, never heard of the maslin pan, we seem to both have stock pot in common. :) Cool and rainy today. Laundry, cutting up more peppers, and must fold laundry and wash dishes. I'll pull out boxes of holiday lights and see what I want to put out this weekend. It was warm last week, so of course I didn't get to it. Dorothy, last night I picked up the name of one of the places you said you drove by, popped it into Google maps, and ended up eating up probably an hour just moving around your neck of the woods looking at lakes and rivers and the places people put some pretty remote houses. Very interesting up there. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 02 Dec 11 - 11:36 AM Meditation and qi gong this morning and still 30 min. to go before my appointment! Prior to this, I would have been too nervous or anxious, wanting to make sure I had plenty of time to get ready for my appointment, that I would not have done this. Making sure that I need to post here has really helped me a lot this week. So that's five straight days of meditation and Chi gong to start off my mornings. Thanks, kat |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 02 Dec 11 - 11:48 AM Aw, thanks Andrea! And Advent is always so screwy!!! 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 02 Dec 11 - 11:55 AM I hadn't heard of a maslin pan until I saw one in Lakeland (Kitchen and other household stuff suppliers) a couple of years back. It was what i called a preserving pan. I always use a very large saucepan. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Dec 11 - 01:19 PM I have a couple of huge pots that I use for processing jelly and things like tomatoes and peaches. We just refer to them as canning pots. I forgot to mention that I went for two walks yesterday evening, taking them one at a time. They hadn't been out much this week so I figured I'd give them each a treat. One-on-one they're much better - I walked past numerous cats and no one barked her head off at them. Together they set each other off in a ruckus. Laundry drying, dishwasher running (I usually only drain clean dishes in it, but once a month I try to run it to keep it going and from stale water settling in it. Jed Marum is singing for the Friends of the Library program tonight - I'm really looking forward to this! My anti-procrastination exercises from last summer are helpful today - reminding myself that being early is better than being late and making sure I give enough time for all of the parts of getting ready. Dressing myself, picking up Susie, getting to my boss's house (she has a sprained ankle and had the week off from work) to pick her up, being at the library in time to help Jed set up. And then sitting back and watching it all unfold! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 02 Dec 11 - 02:42 PM There is a fantastic interview of Dr. Andrew Weil, who teaches and practices integrative medicine, on NPR, right now. He's written a new book, Spontaneous Happiness, about combating depression with meditation, anti-inflammatory diet, and exercise including yoga, tai chi, etc. He's got solid scientific evidence for what he recommends. The audio will be avaiable after 6pm Mudcat time HERE. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Dec 11 - 12:22 PM I've given my ecstatic review of the Jed Marum performance at the Friends of the Library meeting last night, and I can relax now. I was juggling several tasks related to that meeting and once it was set in motion I could get a few photos (I am still on the clock during these meetings) and watch the group thoroughly enjoy it. And we had a full house, a lot of people there I'd never seen before. It's cold and rainy out so I'll mostly be doing indoor stuff, but I'll probably make a run past the gardens with the wheelbarrow to pick up the stuff I cut and pulled last week. It needs to go onto the compost in the back yard. I'll have to use a stiff broom to dust out the channels between the tile in the hall then vacuum and put down the grout. I think I can finish this job over the course of a movie or two (which I'll be able to see across the room as I work.) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: EBarnacle Date: 03 Dec 11 - 01:43 PM Mouldy, we have my grandmother's aluminum chainek [kettle] which is about the same size as yours.. The problem, of course, is that it is aluminum. Nice memory p[iece, tho. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 03 Dec 11 - 02:59 PM Our huge pot is an old, FreeCycled-in speckled canner (dented) that we use as a spare slopsink to augment our single, stainless kitchen sink. Great for soaking dirty dishes, etc., to keep sink relatively empty till time to load dishwasher. The two big lids (for that canner plus the last one's lid) are hung in the porch, twisting in the wind, as a silent bird deterrent. Belly to belly they make a large disk that is eye candy for porch-sitters. (It warns momma birdies not to nest near the nearby BBQ that will soon cause them to abandon the nest.) BTW the PT agrees that estimating and tracking activity level by resulting pain levels is sensible. 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Dec 11 - 03:23 PM The story about aluminum causing Alzheimers has been debunked. Go ahead and cook in it. The non-stick coating on pans is probably less healthy than the aluminum. Getting close to finishing a CD cover for Bobert, sent him another draft. I mopped the halls to get the film off of the grouted tile and I'm set to start on the last push to finish the hall. I need to do some shopping, but I'll leave that till the grout is down and drying. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 03 Dec 11 - 05:07 PM 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores === BTW I see doc again in 2 weeks to confirm a Dx code on my last visit's printout-- I may now be OFF "morbid" hypertension and into "benign" hypertension-- as we discuss getting me off the HR-dropping med that is killing the fitness I had worked so hard to achieve before the dosage went thru the roof. If I can drop or even significantly reduce the dosage on that med, I'm back in bidness in regular pooltime and the pT has given me back the legs to DO IT. And I made a FAB haul on gym footwear yesterday! ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 03 Dec 11 - 07:35 PM Totally lost the post I wrote Friday eve at the cafe. It just would not post so I copied it and --- then forgot to put it somewhere to keep. A few minutes ago I lost it after copying this: From beautiful Whidbey Island, a new version of... I LOVE LANGLEY On the twelfth day of Christmas LANGLEY gave to me... Twelve rainclouds dripping, Eleven Ferries tooting, Ten frogs a leaping, Nine apples dangling, Eight lattes steaming, Seven salmon swimming, Six truffles waiting, Five golden slugs... Four crawling crabs, Three steamed clams, Two waddling turkies, And a heron in a fir tree!!! ~Sharen Heath post & pix (With apologies to the Wild Card Company.) Well, the pots made it to the shop and I have been duly compensated for my week's work - well, some 10 or so hours and several trips to the country. Last night R and I went togther to the Cafe - good music! Today we slept in - much needed and after a nice breakfast of French toast with the new honey, yogurt and apple/cranberry sauce, Went to the open house at River's Edge B&B. (Riviere des Anglais just out the windows). Wonderful social event. Retired dairy farmer and wife have beautifully renovated a 125 year old house. He paints rather nice water colours and grows beautiful flowers in season. She sews and bakes. His paintings of flowers are very nice. I bought a dried flower pic, a card from a painting of fuchias, and shortbread. Picked up some local lore, such as the owner of that barn that's falling down (to our dismay) and other tidbits. Everyone knows the owners of the cabin so we have an "in" as soon as we mention that. Which is where we went next to give them the rent cheque and pick up four cans of maple syrup from their sugar bush - behind the cabin. I suppose we shall get involved with the sugaring-off in March-April. Our rental included a promise of maple syrup! So a chat with them ensued - Deb just graduated with an MEd done totaly on line via U of British Columbia so they were there last month for that. Then we wended our way on to the city. And, hmm, I put the sheets in the wash so I better go put them in the dryer!! We came back to the city so R could get some work done but after a nice meal about two hours ago, he is still reading the newspaper. I have made it quite clear I do not appreciate coming back here if he is not going to work. I could have gotten some organizing done out there. "It better not happen again!" R dragged in someone's trash before supper (pots and dishes and some flatware) but after washing it, he decided it was not worth keeping so I will put it back out tomorrow so others less fortunate can pick at it before trash day on Tuesday. The flatware can go in the pile for the thrift shop. A run out there on Tuesday might be a thing to do if my potter friend is home for a visit. OK, tomorrow I will try to set up a sewing space with adequate lighting. Now, to the dryer! |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 04 Dec 11 - 02:48 AM I'm probably the only other Mudcatter on this thread who has actually BEEN to Langley. Whidbey Island is beautiful. The tile is finished. It's really late, I'm bushed, but I finished the preliminary grout sponge-off a few minutes ago. Headed to bed now, and I'll sponge it again tomorrow. My floor is now finally "invisible" - the work is finished so people won't notice that it needs (needed) work. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: mouldy Date: 04 Dec 11 - 04:31 AM My maslin/preserving pan came from an old car boot fair about 18 years ago. The pouring lip isn't quite as lippy as it once was, since I dropped it! It is heavy gauge aluminium, and has the original (pre 1971) price of 48/6 pencilled on it. That's £2.43 in new money. I paid £2. As I tend to make smaller quantities now, it doesn't get a lot of use (like Penny, a saucepan will do). However, it would be good for punch or mulled wine. The electrician actually did turn up yesterday, and laid the new cable under the hallway floor, and the earth wire to the gas pipe. He says he'll be back on Monday. Hope the plumber comes, then between them they can get the cooker going. I would like to know when the decorator might get here, as that may affect when the appliances go back in. I also need to get a new bed for the new bedroom. A trashy day, foodwise. People kept forcing chocolates into me! The pork, stuffing and apple sauce roll I had at the village Christmas lights party didn't help (but it was nice!) Andrea |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: EBarnacle Date: 04 Dec 11 - 10:41 AM SRS's comment about Alzheimer's is correct as far as it goes but ignores the association between aluminum and osteoporosis. The last I checked, it was accepted that trace Al from pots contributed to the problem by displacing calcium. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 04 Dec 11 - 02:29 PM Ah, well, it's always something. My kitchen counter is improving daily. I had a few cups of ripened tomatoes (the ones from the frost episode several weeks ago) that I blanched, chopped, and froze. I also sliced and froze some jalapenos. I'm baking a loaf of banana bread for my son later this evening, and I'll freeze it overnight. It goes into a priority mail box and in the mail from the freezer tomorrow morning and dropped off at the post office in time for the noon pickup. The last time I sent it the campus post office didn't deliver them on the Wednesday I was aiming for, he didn't get the box till the following Monday and they were moldy. So sad! Laundry is folded and now I need to move things around to put up holiday ornaments. I've started taking the stuff from the mantle so I can dust and arrange some of my favorite glass pieces. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 04 Dec 11 - 06:06 PM I ran a damp mop over the tile to pick up the film that remained from last night and it's looking fabulous. There is a set of shelves I want to put there, but I'll paint them a new color first. I didn't want to place anything there over the ungrouted tiles. I found a few tiles in my dressing room that I forgot to grout so I'll sweep and vacuum in there and finish those later this evening. We're talking maybe six tiles total, a very quick job. This is season with short overcast days and the need to plan for ways to get meaningful light exposure. I have an Ott lamp I need to remember to use more. I wouldn't say that I'm affected by S.A.D., but I recognize a mood shift with more indoor activity during cool weather. I think Susan has to get out the bright spectrum lights this time of year. Anyone else? Dorothy? As another hardened Northwesterner, you may also make some mental adjustments that people who move to the Northwest from somewhere sunnier aren't equipped with. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: GUEST,Lilyfestre Date: 04 Dec 11 - 07:05 PM Today I cleaned out my car which was loaded from last week or so (nothing that needed to be in the fridge was left in the car). It took several trips and about an hour to put everything away. I also finished most of the Christmas cards and have boxed up all family Christmas gifts except for Jeremiah's. I just need to wrap the boxes now which won't take much time at all. YAY!!! I also picked up all the toys on the living room floor, had a nice long shower and shaved my legs. I know that's not a big deal, but it's been awhile since I've had that much time to myself and I loved every second of it!!! :) Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 04 Dec 11 - 08:15 PM I could sure use more light in this house. People in the NW mostly do not really adjust to the lack of light. I sure met a bunch who went elsewhere for the gloom season. I had lots of windows - facing south. And used yellow inside - walls, comforter.... But as we move toward the solstice (17 days reported my gardening friend just now on the phone), I need light here. The cabin also has - most of the south wall - windows! Lovely! But here... I shall keep an eye out for more lighting - and hope the other half of our electric gets fixed soon. But a long extension cord and something bright is sorely needed in the meantime. A trip to the thrift shop on Tuesday might provide. Thankful for the way the extra magnesium has perked me up. Weather promises to be at or below freezing for the next couple weeks. I won't try to heat the studio but could spend some time at the cabin enjoying light and getting it better organized. Did some better organizing in house today. After R cleaned up the mess left by "Mortimer", who found a choc bar on the coffee table and left bits of paper and also bits of the nice yellow rug that covers the top of the table. Then he decided he could do a better job of mouse catching. M had eaten part of a pineapple getting ripe on the Kitchen table. R cleaned it up, prepared the pineapple, putting M's share in the live trap. We now know we cn tell when a pineapple is ripe - M will eat it! He did not, however, go in the trap. A friend asked if we used rubber gloves to bait the trap. Maybe tonight I'll try that. I found a glass in a cupboard this morning with choc pieces in it and a paper saying "Mortimer's". I have actually gotten rather used to this critter. I asked R if he would actually take it out into the COLD ... ??? OK, I'll go wash the trap again and use gloves and some of its choc. MAybe tonight... but I doubt it. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 04 Dec 11 - 11:09 PM I have a pot of turkey and vegetables for turkey pot pie finished on the stove and a loaf of banana bread in the oven for mailing to my son. I've made headway in the kitchen and the front room, where I put an extra sheet and an old blanket over the futon so the dogs won't leave hair on the mattress or the mattress cover. They came in for a while when we had a thunder storm this evening. It's supposed to be down to snow and rain mixed tomorrow. Somehow we need to convince the weather folks that even Montreal isn't this cool yet! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 05 Dec 11 - 12:48 PM I sat up late last night and watched the Return of the King. Over the years since these films were finished I thought I'd seen it - I know I'd seen parts of it, but I hadn't actually watched it from beginning to end. So this morning I was very tired, but glad to have finally seen it all, and am tempted to reread the books now. Last time was probably 10 years ago. The dogs are in the house this morning - I haven't set up their heater yet in the garage, and it's near freezing. They would be okay in their houses, but in cold weather they're not outside much, they don't come to the door often, so I miss seeing them. They're cozy on the futon in the front room, each on their own end and resting their heads on pillows. Kat, your new dog probably has a great coat for cold weather. How is she doing these days? SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 05 Dec 11 - 03:00 PM I had a relapse on food yesterday. I cooked some minced beef, enough for three meagre portions, and ate one with half a pack of dauphinois potatoes from the freezer, and peas. Fine. But then instead of packing the rest away for the future, I ate it all. I suspect the advent of cold weather. It is under 60 degrees C in the house. It feels like snow outside, though the skies are clear. I have put the electric blanket on the bed. Today someone came to collect my spin dryer, and I sent off a pocket microscope. Tomorrow, I send off a Victorian ammeter, and list a bakelite telephone. A knitting loom I have bought has not even been dispatched yet, several days after payment cleared. I took a loomed hot water bottle cover into Oxfam, bought a blue agate and mother of pearl bracelet for £2.99 and turned it into two necklaces, using glass bugle beads I had by me, which I took back to Oxfam. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 05 Dec 11 - 04:58 PM SRS, our dog, Luna, is very very shaggy, right now! I was just checking to see how much the grooming salon would charge to give her a good bath. I used to do Merlee, as he was so good. He'd climb right in the the bathtub and I would use the detachable showerhead on him. Luna has shown no affinity for water other than to drink it. No matter how enticing, she would not get in the wading pool we bought for her, she runs from the garden hose, and she doesn't particularly like going out into the rain. With my wrist sprained and sore thumb, even with Roger's help, I don't think were ready to tackle it. She really does look like a ragamuffin right now; Morgan teases her about being Miss Shaggy Butt. He came over yesterday and helped me vacuum out the couch and sweep. He also read aloud to me while I did some other cleaning things. Did the usual loads of laundry, Rog did the dishes, and after four hours Morgan went home. He and I had a lot of fun also, looking at Jacquie Lawson's virtual Advent calendar, and catching up on this year's to date. That led to YouTubewhere I found an old Disney Christmas poem with sing-along carols with the lyrics on the screen. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and others all sang along with us. When Morgan left, he was singing over and over, " we wish you a Merry Christmas, etc." at the top of his lungs. He can be such a joy and makes me laugh. This morning it was 22° out when we had to go to an early Coumadin clinic appointment, then to a session of hand/arm therapy picking up where we left off a month ago. I was relieved that he didn't think I'd gone back to square one, some improvement even showed up, so I think the qi gong has been helping, as well as my own regimen of rest, better posture, and using the other hand on the trackball, judiciously. We came back to the house for a late breakfast and then went to the Goodwill store were I found a beautiful black Ralph Lauren turtleneck sweater, a couple of other nice long sleeved pullovers, and a nice roomy wool coat with a lining, so the wool won't make me itch, and it is long enough to cover my bum. I hadn't really had a good warm winter coat in quite a while as I hadn't gone out that much and, I could swear, our car used to be better at warming up. Maybe it's just me. Roger did change the thermostat which hasn't seemed to change things much, but he has a couple of other things up his sleeve. in the meantime, I won't be making any more early in the day appointments! Penny, that's really neat the way you buy things at Oxfam, then redo them and take them back. The jewellery sounds beautiful. I've decided I need to wear some hematite so am off to the jewellery table to rework an old necklace. While Roger and I were out, we also stopped at the health food store and bought a vial of lavender and some tiny brown glass bottles with stoppers in them. We also bought a sea sponge. I don't remember if it was you, Penny, who gave me the idea. For small Christmas present,I'm going to send a small glass jar with the tin lid, a small vial of lavender oil, and a note, to each person, which explains how a few drops of oil on the sponge in the jar will work as aromatherapy to aid in sleeping. It's a small thing, but I think my family will all appreciate it. Speaking of Luna, if she leans on me any more I think my chair may fall over. LOL she has not had her run today and of course she keeps hearing her name since I'm using Dragon NaturallySpeaking to dictate this. I guess it's time to see how warm my new coat is. When I come back in, I hope to write the yearly holiday letter and get a start on cards. Ho, ho, ho, kat |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 05 Dec 11 - 06:14 PM Would you believe?! SO I entered a phone number and pressed talk: A cheery male voice said, "Quinn's farm, come to our weekend sleigh ride....! Me: "Oh dear, I seem to have a wrong number.... I was trying to make an appointment for an oil change." "Oh, there is one digit difference. But come on out to our... We have a craft fair..." Oh, I'm a potter." "I think we already have a potter. I'll check. but bring some pots out and we can take them on consignment...." So, I shall do that later this week after a trip to the country to fetch the pots - on a day that does not threaten icy roads. I will do it in conjunction with trip to thrift shop out that way. Cannot get oil change until 20th as they are busy putting on winter tires. Did that!! Black beans in slow cooker for more of very useful black bean/salsa mix. We keep finding more ways to use it: on salad as a "dressing", with morning eggs for mexican breakfast with guacamole and yogurt (instead of sour cream), as soup, spread on toast. Good stuff! Added lighting to LR and cleared a lot of chaff from the desk - now that I can see it. Room for sewing machine also. As we come closer to the winter solstice (16 days), I am already looking forward to days getting longer! Rainy today with dropping temperature and dark about 4:30! That extra light in the LR sure makes a difference! Our Raccoon Network is working on a video to get across message that raccoons are sentient beings that do not deserve to be torn apart by coon dogs. I am spending time thinking about where this needs to go and coming up with good words/captions as we all encourage our video person and look for ways to get more groups involved. Lots of time on-line reading others ideas. Looking for music and choosing pics. My #1 son is 53 today! The same sweet guy he has been from birth. The unreality of time. I am feeling ongoing improvement in physical energy/well-being and cheerfulness. I suspect the magnesium deficiency must have been long term and continues to be rectified by the small extra mag each day. I do see a dif if I forget for one day. Sure feels good! Groceries and banking this morning. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 06 Dec 11 - 06:08 AM Dorothy, that does sound like a planned wrong number, doesn't it? I turned on my computer for some reason, which I cannot remember, having checked ebay - loom still not sent - and poked around here. There's a haematite and quartz crystal bracelet over at Oxfam, which I am thinking about. These bracelets are strung on elastic, which I think is insulting to real stone! I've run out of glass bugles, though, so may have to buy some more. I started using them when I realised that people would not pay enough to cover the price of liquid silver beads. Oxfam would not be able to charge enough for that. They get costume stuff that other stores have not sold, and they have a low price. My stuff has to be better, but not vastly more expensive, to make it worth while. While I'm waiting for money to come in, it means I can give to appeals for various disasters to some extent. I'm running out of spare yarn, though, and the odd balls in the shop are not colours I fancy working with. Besides, I'm waiting for the loom to arrive to do things with some of what I have. I'm not very pleased with the seller. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: freda underhill Date: 06 Dec 11 - 06:36 AM I'm glad this thread's here too. I read it regularly, even tho I don't post very often. Tonight a neighbour and I went for our evening walk, delivering the local community newspaper. Then we sat outside in the light of the summer evening, and had a Thai meal. I've done a lot of cyber-sorting tonight! |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 06 Dec 11 - 10:57 AM Penny, I hope you'll take some photos of some of these projects of yours. I like the "value added" approach to the charity donations. Kat, does hematite mean something more to you than simply being an interesting metallic bead? I find it's chilly against the skin so this time of year would have to wear it with a turtleneck or sweater. Dorothy, you do have the most interesting adventures in phoning and driving around the countryside! It's like reading a series of short stories when you go out looking for some resource in the community. It's cold and clammy here. I asked Susie down for dinner tonight, but since she has finished her holiday decorating (and I have only gotten started and for the life of me I can't find the glass tree ball ornaments!) we've arranged that I'll take my turkey stew and pie crusts up to her house to eat there. My fireplace is blocked off and it keeps the house much warmer, but having candles burning in the enclosure did give the room a warmer look. That unfortunate fire with melted wax after the plank caught was enough to convince me only to burn candles in jars. That story is in one of the threads from probably January or February early this year. Poppy my hero called my attention to a fire in the middle of the night. It was in the fire place, but it shouldn't have been there. I have to get more stuff up on eBay. You've been doing some interesting listings, Penny. I have things from family estates so it's a matter of what I am interested in researching, describing, photographing, packing, etc. And I understand totally the winter meals - that is also a battle I have here. The cold weather makes you want to eat more. I realized last week that my sometimes snack of chips and sour cream (with onion powder, garlic powder, and a little salt for the "California dip" result) can undo all of my good work. If I scoop it into a custard cup and make a few ounces, it is all eaten. But if I mix it up in the sour cream container and eat just a couple of chips with some scooped from the container then a couple of bites is plenty. So I'll look at ways I do my grazing through the day - what is the best way to make a couple of bites available and easy to fix without turning it into an entire meal. My daughter came up with a list of books to choose from for her gifts this year. To do with ancient clothing, book binding, interesting subjects. eBay or Half.com, Amazon, ABEbooks, all will come into play. I might as well list some of my things while I'm poking around shopping. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 06 Dec 11 - 11:37 AM There's been some household stress, but last week I set my fone alarm for daily 11:30 home exercises per agreement with PT as to time of day, frequency, etc. Today I was here and ready when it went off. I turned on the perky music, put the exercise instrux on the CardioGlide, and did 5 warmup stands plus 15 stands with rows. These may not increase till I get that med reduced/canceled at the next doc visit. More likely I will discuss with PT at Thursday appt (? which printed exercises can be combined in CardioGliding, and which I still need to do from the CardioGlide with the supplied resistance bands). But despite a multi-tasky morning I DID IT and my knees are not too blown by it so I may do more later with resistance bands! Now, back to FCing sister's furniture-- coaching her via email on the safe way to FC. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 06 Dec 11 - 12:09 PM Lots of walking , yesterday and over the weekend. This morning: meditation and qi gong. Loosened the sciatica a little, but both are still tight. Time for more stretching, rest, and tincture. SRS, yes hematite can feel cold and is a metal, but once you have it against your skin, it generally warms up to your body temp. I need it next to my skin, so may warm it in my hands before putting it on.:-) kat |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 06 Dec 11 - 01:00 PM I always forget to take pictures! The loom is on its way - predicted 13 to 16 days! I used my bus pass (under threat, so I might as well make the most of it) to go to John Lewis to look for bugle beads. There weren't many, and what there was was expensive, so I went two towns along to Hobbycraft, where they had a lot of beads on sale. Not the bugles, but I've got some shaped rose quartz, carnelian, & snowflake obsidian, some smoky quartz chips and some glittery 4mm glass beads for spacing. I think I may do them with dangly bits on earring wires. Then I got two buses back, both full of school children, so noisy, but I did get a seat. Some of them seem to travel a very long way. I left about 1:15, and got back about 5:15 (the bus stops almost outside home), and most of the time was spent on the buses. Timing of the shopping was critical as later buses get a bit far apart - I couldn't spend much time at Hobbycraft, which may well have been a good thing. I don't need to add to my wool stash. I went to photograph the phone, but the batteries don't have enough power for the camera I intended to use, so that will have to wait. The market for these phones seems very odd. Some get bids, and some don't. Generally, the ones that don't have higher starting prices, but the ones that do can end up with prices as high. Odd. On the buses, I read a "history" book from early last century that I picked up for 99 p at Oxfam. It was a hoot, lots of it completely made up fantasy, and errors! My reactions must have puzzled people, and I so wished I had someone to point things out to. The author owned up to having speculated about some things. I don't know why she thought that the Picts were small and brown, the Druids were found all over Europe and Asia, all the Celts were tall and blond, and why, in her interesting bibliography, she did not cite one Caesar, J, as chunks seemed to be from his works. (She did cite Tacitus, Plutarch and Suetonius..) She also cited Layomon's "Brut" with the origins of the British being Aeneas' son Brutus, and the battle with Gogmagog as a real past. In one place she described brass being made from copper and tin, and later this was correctly bronze. The Catuvellani were in one place the Caluvellani. Sandwich is described as near Rye, which it is if you are looking from California, but not if you are making your way across land. There is a full moon associated with a neap tide which damages the Roman ships. And that's omitting the way she suggests that the Druidesses calling on Belisama were responsible for the storms destroying Caesar's fleets. I'm thinking of sending it to Michael Gove. His idea of history seems a bit out of date. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 06 Dec 11 - 01:42 PM What were you reading? 1066 And All That? |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 06 Dec 11 - 03:29 PM The FreeCycle of my sister's first give-away furniture has evolved into a neat thing. The recipient: Dear Birth Mother (2005) Listen! RealAudio • MP3 at http://www.longhaulpro.org/pages/series/heartland.html#birth. After waiting for Mr. Right (who has yet to arrive) – and after years of fertility treatments – Suzanne, a single woman in her forties, decided to adopt. She chose transracial adoption. We follow her through workshops designed to "teach white people to raise kids of color," baby-shopping trips with Mom at Target, a critical rendezvous with a young mother at a pancake house, and, finally, a magical night at a suburban restaurant chain. We followed Suzanne for several months as she waited to see if she would become a parent; she offered extraordinary access into her home, and really, into every aspect of her life. We first met Suzanne in 2004, and documented her last in vitro fertilization attempt in Long Haul's Babyquest. If you've listened to Dear Birth Mother, see a photo. (Warning: it will reveal the ending.). Winner of the 2005 Third Coast International Audio Festival Gold Award for best radio documentary, and recipient of an honorable mention in the 2006 Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism Awards. I've seen the current pix of child with birthsibs. Suzanne has maintained a great relationship with birthmom; the furniture is going to birthmom's large family, which is doing great as birthmom continues to move upwards in her life. Happies! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 06 Dec 11 - 05:41 PM Not 1066 and All That - not at all. They knew their stuff. This was "The Dawn of British History" by Alice Korkran (author of "Life of Lord Leighton" etc., published by Harrap in 1912. The cover has an attractive colour illustration of an Early Brit, tastefully draped in untreated furs, standing behind a heap of beakers, shells and tusks (or possibly horns - they are too small for elephants, and too big for walrus, but not like any cow horn I remember from the days before dehorning. I suspect too samll for aurochs, as well. He has a long spear and a gold armring, with a suspiciously neat beard and moustache. I have just seen at the end that Patrick fought against the worship of Baal in Ireland. (Ireland is regarded as part of British history in this work of erudition, but this was probably common at the time.) The frontispiece is of a set of elegant Druids in designer robes about to sacrifice a barely clad maiden at Stonehenge. (For a children's book of the date, her nipples, viewed in profile from over her head are extraordinarily prominent.) The book ends with Germanus' "Hallelujah" victory over, apparently, the Picts and the Scots - I thought he was concerned with defeating the Pelagians. No mention of heresy here. Which reminds me of a book called "Between the Forest and the Hills" about the period of the last of Romanised Britain, by Ann Lawrence. It is an amusing book - Romanised characters have names like Radius and Humurus, and it takes liberties, but the liberties are with what is now known, and would not require unlearning when studying the real situation. A difficult situation between the Romanised city folk and the incoming English is resolved by a stranger who teaches the townsfolk to sing Hallelujah - but it is perfectly obvious that what they are singing is rather more complex than what Germnanus would have taught. And rather later in date. Definitely Handel! |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 06 Dec 11 - 06:33 PM Ann Lawrence is on line Between the Forest and the Hills I can't find Alice Corkran, though she was reviewed at the time as having an "enviable reputation as an author of entertaining and instructive juvenile literature" (New York Times) You can see some of the pictures below. Images of another copy of the book. It looks like I've been slagging off someone serious. Ooops. I've posted a review on Amazon! Penny |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 06 Dec 11 - 06:49 PM Tummy is not happy. Something I ate for lunch, perhaps. Kitchen is looking very good, lots of space on the peninsula. The living room is still a mix of activities. I pulled out the under-bed bag with all of my various throws and shawls and have spread them around various seating areas. They make the house a lot more cozy. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Jeri Date: 06 Dec 11 - 08:02 PM I have a mammogram on Friday, a neurologist appointment on the 22nd for a weird brain MRI (who woulda guessed?), after which I'll spend a 11 hours driving to and several hundred dollars of gas to and from visiting a friend because I'm expected to. That comes after the $100 worth of oil change, inspection and minor shit for my car and the forthcoming exhaust repair and rear strut replacement, AND being e-mail shunned by friends. I'm thinking that once I get the bill for the car, I might just have a major coronary event, facilitating the effing off and dying part. I also think I might be a little bit depressed... just a little. This is just me bitching and whining. I'll get over it. Thanks for reading. (Is it time for the "The Holidays Suck" thread yet?) |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 06 Dec 11 - 11:00 PM Spaw would probably say all they'll find in your brain is a broke-dick mamalucca like him. Ewww, I know.:-) {{{{Lotsa hugs}}}} I tried to send you last year's JL calendar, but it came back and told me i'd tried to send an illegal file! Watch out for those guys in black suits; they may be on to luvyakat |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 07 Dec 11 - 01:09 AM Jeri, these threads are great for unloading some of that nonsense. It helps to vent. I could use some "email shunning" - I get way too much of it these days. So many advertisers say they'll only writer once a week or when it's really important - then they swamp you with it. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 07 Dec 11 - 03:41 AM Jeri, hugs. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 07 Dec 11 - 09:51 AM I'm realizing it's one of those way-too-full weeks for me also. Looking at it as a whole, it is a rather depressing list, so I'll break it into smaller chunks of time and cross them off the To-Do list as they are finished. I think it's about time for a Mudcat Tavern event. First chunk of time - in the time it takes to drink my morning cup of tea, I'll pay the last of the bills. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Jeri Date: 07 Dec 11 - 10:21 AM I'm better now. I think the worst part about it all is being in some weird state of suspended animation. "Don't know" this, "Don't know" that, etc. Traveling on Christmas eve is something only morons do, but I'll be joining the ranks of morons this year. Thanks for the hugs. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 07 Dec 11 - 11:10 AM Jeri, keep in mind that if you don't know something and you try to Google it, if it is medical in nature you can scare the shit out of yourself. A word to the wise: choose your online searches carefully (but if you do get something from your doctor you want to know more about I can search the medical databases at my university library and send PDFs or mail information. I've made that offer a few times in the past, and in a couple of cases it meant folks had better keywords for asking their doctors questions, or could hand over articles that helped their doctors with the treatment.) I'm just the conduit- and can only search with the keywords I'm given. Not a doctor, etc etc. Bills paid. Tea drunk. Into the shower, then to work. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 07 Dec 11 - 11:22 AM I've been wanting new dishes for some time now. Yesterday I went to Ithaca, NY on a mission...to find and purchase new plates, bowls and mugs. I also wanted to buy individual pieces instead of sets because I want our plates to be 9 inch plates instead of the giant dinner plates we have now and that are so common. I FOUND THEM!! They are a soft yellow, simple, clean pottery AND they were 60% off! HOORAY!!! So this morning I have been busy taking everything out of the cupboards, packing up stuff I either don't use or no longer want. I've wiped down the insides of some of the cupboards and have put back only what I need. I am LOVING the uncluttered cupboard and it has inspired me to do more. :) On the exercise front, I walked a ton yesterday! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 07 Dec 11 - 11:28 AM Michelle, I'm to the point to look for new plates, bowls, etc. I have been using relatively kid-proof Corelle for years, it's time to have some grown-up dinnerware! I also use the smaller "lunch plates" instead of huge dinner plates. You don't eat as much when you have smaller plates, and that is a good thing! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Bettynh Date: 07 Dec 11 - 11:58 AM SRS, check your local craigslist. Dishes are going for ultracheap around here. I'm trying to sell a couple huge sets, and not having much luck, either because everyone else has too many, or they're just unfashionable. Anyway, be sure to search the whole list for dinnerware, dishes, and china. They seem to turn up in several categories. If you can arrange a pickup, there'd be no packing/shipping hassle. If you were closer, I'd try to figure a way to get my box of Homer Laughlin Golden Wheat dishes to you. They were given away in Duz detergent boxes, and apparently Mom only bought small boxes of detergent, so I have 24 teacups, and about a dozen or so each of saucers and salad plates. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 07 Dec 11 - 12:00 PM That's exactly why I wanted smaller plates. Generally speaking, I'm not one to go back for seconds of anything. I eat what's on my plate and I stop there. So maybe smaller plates will help. :) Also, please know that Corelle DOES break, in fact it SHATTERS. Now I'm trying to decide if I want to store this stuff until next summer or just take it to Sals. We'll see. Laundry is going, chili is in the making and soon I'll be changing the bag on the vacuum cleaner and unclog it's one hoses and then it will be on to the living room rug. Meanwhile, big, heavy, wet snowflakes are falling from the sky. I've got a nice fire going in the wood stove, Jeremiah is happily playing and I'm enjoying a day at home. Have a great day everybody! Michelle PS. Jeri...I hope your tests go well and show that you are healthy!!! As for driving that far to be somewhere I didn't want to go in the first place...I'd be making other plans. Life is short, enjoy it!!! XOXOO |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 07 Dec 11 - 12:31 PM Good idea, Betty. I've seen that pattern before. Michelle, yes, I know about breaking Corelle. It flies all over the place if you manage to break it. Ask me how I know. . . SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: mouldy Date: 07 Dec 11 - 01:04 PM Hi guys! I am looking forward to joining the ranks of the sorting-out-stuff folk soon, but until the plumber has given me working sinks, I can't clean up all the stuff I stashed in the shed 6 months ago. The shed is somewhat dusty inside, after the shenanigans of the last few months. The floorings are down, and my upper back, neck and shoulders are complaining after I had to shift a lot of stuff from the upstairs. I have my belly dance class tonight, but when I get back, about 9.30, I shall drop my achy back and my 2 day headache into a nice hot bath. I took the cat to the vet yesterday, after being concerned for a while about his skinny body. He has a VERY overactive thyroid. They called me with the blood results this evening. Hopefully, I'll get over to pick his meds up tomorrow. Annoyingly, I was over that way this afternoon, taking some of the debris from the carpet/flooring laying to the tip. I am told the tiler is coming to do a bit more tomorrow. Andrea |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 07 Dec 11 - 02:48 PM Delighted to here Andrea is coming towards completion! Michele's wonderful yellow small plates! I too try using smaller plates to eat less. I hope Jeri is not "shoulding" on herself with that Christmas Eve trip. After a miserable morning yesterday, thanks to spending the entire hour of breakfast listening to R on phone with bro, I lost it completely and let bro (on phone) have it with both barrels, knowing all the time, HE JUST DOES NOT GET IT!!!! Apparently he was very upset when R got to where he was but that is because he does not have a clue. Why should I mind that our early morning is totally intruded upon by numerous phone calls from him - every @#$%^& day???? He does not even realize that was why I was upset. I all but packed up and left. Phoned a good friend in Nova Scotia who understands completely. She was married to R's closest friend. So I settled down and felt miserable all day because I KNOW that man does not understand and there is nothing I can do about him and, therefore, it is useless to lose my temper or waste any energy over it. And he is R's bro, and we both know he has run R's life since the day R was born - and R could have had a very dif life. R was, and is, a highly regarded geologist but got hooked into this insane business with his bro. When he got home last night - about 8 pm (earlier than midnight!), I requested a quiet morning "or I'm out of here" and pretty much got it today. Bro or not, there is nothing that critical that it cannot wait until after breakfast. R tends to agree but he gets hooked. But when we go to the country, he loves that the phone does not work! Today, in recoup mode, wrote snail mail cards to 3 dear friends and put stickers all over them and made some address stickers for them and other out-going mail - some for each address but had to phone landlord for address! Nice chat and he gave me a request for R. We are getting more and more connected with folks down there. He said, "I was talking to E and he said why don't you ask R!" Building a sense of community; I would so rather be there. Made an appt for R for a massage next week. He has never had one. Might relax him for an hour or so. Had a nice chat with the therapist. Planning a change in the LR to get more light in here. Remembered we have two beautiful - big - matching table lamps upstairs. Need shades. So a trip to thrift shop tomorrow to take stuff and hope for at least one shade. Now for lunch and sit down with book time. I have been busy since R left at 10 am. 15 days to the solstice! |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 07 Dec 11 - 06:59 PM 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores 12/5 1 12/6 1 front plus chair carry-in 12/7 much walking === Jeri, you go girl! ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 07 Dec 11 - 07:16 PM Dorothy, even if we may love them, friends and family sometimes can be so toxic to us. I hope that for his sake R will learn to either turn the phone off or only answer during certain times of the day. I've done what you did, venting at the toxic person, a family member for me also, but it never does any good. Like you say they don't get it, their brains are wired that way. One of the best things, I've ever done for myself was to limit, or even cease communication with a couple of people who were that way in my real world life. For one of them, it seems to have helped in that he has learned to be more independent, not co-dependent. Meditation and qi gong this morning. Two pillows between the knees on my side helped with the sciatica last night. My osteopathic girlfriend has added another day of the week for treatments, so I get to go see her tomorrow. Yea! |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 07 Dec 11 - 10:57 PM Yep! The wiring is definitely not there. After my screaming fit yesterday, doesn't he come round and ask if he could come and watch Dragon's Den. Absolutely not. Told him he is totally rude and talks through the programs ... "Just talking about the program." ARghhhh! He was made to promise to be quiet before being allowed to go to a video event at a friend's house. The last time the 3 of us watched TV, R spent the whole time telling him to be quiet. Totally ruined the program. Neither calm explanations or ultimatums nor virtual hysterics have had any effect. He seriously is incapable of comprehension. That is reality. We have done pretty well in avoiding his presence for a while but it seems to have escalated lately. Back to square one. Strategies to totally avoid. I will not put up with this. AT ALL, ANYMORE. Tomorrow - an email laying down the rules again and kept on file to be repeated as needed. Lovely trout dinner tonight. Much perusal of raccoon affairs and some other things on FB. Wrote a bunch more possible captions for our video on ---raccoons! Some time spent on looking into music for said video. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Jeri Date: 08 Dec 11 - 11:08 AM Bizarre weather. It rained like crazy last night and I had dripping in my fireplace, then the wind picked up sometime during the morning and the power went off for about a second. This morning, one bird feeder was on the ground and one young female cardinal was sitting on the pole and looking around like "I coulda sworn it was just here... had seeds and suet and stuff in it. Where the heck did it go?" It unscrewed itself and part was right under the feeder with the food rings by it and the top was close to the road. I can't blame the squirrels anymore. Maybe the mourning doves have found a way to unscrew the base by doing the "running man" on it... "everyday I'm shuffellin"... itty bitty little iPods. I put the seed rings back in, screwed it together again and added some seed in the dish. Eveerytime I go near the feeder, chickadees scold me with that whiney "chirp, chirp, for f's sake CHIRP", occasionally flying away with a "SONovaB". I don't like it when the birds swear at me. The nuthatches just sort of say "yeah... huh?... what? food... go... now... huh?" There's a reason they call those birds "nuthaches". And my across the street neighbor (they're great neighbors) got two fresh rescue dogs. He's now up to FOUR Australian Shepherds, which may be the craziest breed of dog on earth. They try to herd birds. Not the nuthatches, though. They're too buys walking upside down on the trunk trying to remember where they stuck that sunflower seed. "where?... huh?... whoops... nope... there... I need to go to the gym. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 08 Dec 11 - 12:43 PM I haven't put out the bird feeders yet, but I have a lovely array of them hanging from a beam in the garage, and a new big one on the workbench. I have lots of shepherd's pole supports for them, but I have to place them so over time the birds don't get habituated to running through my veggie garden area. This morning I had one of those "there's so much to do I can't get out of bed" mornings. So I have to just get moving and do as much as I can by adopting a plan of some sort. At least it has finally warmed and the sun is out. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 08 Dec 11 - 12:52 PM SRS, don't forget to take a deep breath now and then. When I have mornings like that it helps me if I make a list and, even if I don't get all of it done, it feels great when I can check off even a few of the things. Then I don't feel so overwhelmed. Jeri, you do have a way with words. Thanks for the giggles this morning. Ever considered washing the birds mouths out with soap?**bg** Hope the cleanup isn't too arduous. LOL Meditation and qi gong this morning. It was a bit difficult to talk myself into doing the qi gong as my back is still stiff and sore, but I knew it would help and it did. In about 10 min. I'll be off to my friend for an adjustment and anticipate feeling even better! |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 08 Dec 11 - 08:18 PM I figured out the lethargy problem - am taking care of it. And this evening, in my clean and clear kitchen, I am going to assemble the mother of all lasagnas to take to work tomorrow. It's our holiday luncheon. I have to get a gift for a coworker- I haven't a clue what to get this woman. Maybe a gift card - so uninspired, but I don't really know her tastes. The third disc in the Jewel In the Crown series arrived yesterday, and I'll put that in the kitchen computer and watch it while I work. I suspect this kitchen TV on the wall is over time going to get more use than my bigger fancy one in the living room. Zeke is coming over tomorrow morning. Susie is headed out of town and staying with a couple of friends, but one of them doesn't have a setup to handle a large dog, so he'll hang out here with the girls. They love it. He's getting used to this being a home away from home - he got out of the house earlier this week and Susie went looking for him - she found him here in my front yard. He hadn't gotten over to the side gate yet or the girls would have let me know he was here. Off to my evening of cooking. If I have extra ingredients I'll of course make myself a lasagna for freezing. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 08 Dec 11 - 09:44 PM Good program on autism on Suzuki tonight. Mainstream seems to be finally figuring out the interaction of gut, environment, genes and neurotoxins in the brain. Most of day spent shoping: groceries, thrift shop, Zeller's - closing soon to make way for another Walmart so everything on sale. bought some useful items but no long johns for R. No hot pads; guess I need to make some. Home: check e-mails, share animal advocacy links and others. Note from friend on Whidbey that my former dog has gone AWOL. Apparently she was failing in health. I suggested they accept that she went off to die in her own way. She was always her own person -very sweet but independent. Age unknown but she was old enough. She will be well remembered. Tomorrow! music, the country! Also rearrange LR and maybe some sewing. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 08 Dec 11 - 10:57 PM Lasagne assembled, in the fridge, ready to start baking at 9:30. I figure 75 - 90 minutes to be sure it is baked through, then pop it into a box of towels to keep it hot for the 30 minute drive to work. All of the dishes washed again, and one episode viewed. I have other things to do this evening, but my chamomile tea is having a good effect and I'll probably get up early and take care of a couple of things in the morning. This weekend is a push to get more stuff on eBay. Some perhaps for gifts, but most for people who have a few days off who might be browsing to see what they can find to round out their collections. Surely a few of the 99% have a little disposable income? SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: GUEST,mg Date: 08 Dec 11 - 11:44 PM Has brother been diagnosed with autism? Some of his behaviors sound like he could be on the spectrum...mg |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 09 Dec 11 - 12:42 AM I spent today going over my mom's new prescription plan, consulting with several pharmacists and deciphering the new rules...if this, then that but if that then not this blah blah blah. I think that stuff is designed to confuse and frustrate people to the point that they throw their hands up in the air and say WHATEVER. Not me. I kind of enjoyed it....welcome to my Geekdom! :) Mom was worn out by all of it by the end of the day but I was super energized! So...by the time we had dinner and the baby was in bed, it was going on 10:00pm. I decided to do the dishes, sort through a large pile of our own paperwork, rearrange the main counter top that I use (cleaning under and behind everything) and balancing our budget. :) I've still got a mountain of GO happening so I'm just going to go with it. Maybe it's the (almost) full moon with the combination of snow..who knows?!?!? Later Gators! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: mouldy Date: 09 Dec 11 - 06:47 AM Gained a pound or so this week, but I got hooked on some really lush cookies, so I only have myself to blame. The decorators have started work, and the tiler is here till lunchtime. The joiners will be here Mon-Weds next week, and that should be enough to complete their work. The tiler will be back on monday. The electrician will be here tomorrow, but the one person we could really do with is the plumber! Managed to get the first of the cat's meds into him, so I hope that's a good omen. The gales from yesterday have blown themselves out, but it's a bracing 3C out there right now! Andrea |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 09 Dec 11 - 10:44 AM mg: That is an interesting thought, however, After considerable wondering about a possible diagnosis - his failure to comprehend could fit into the Asperger's but nothing else fits. I have not read the entire DMSV IV but, in my experience, nothing fits this man. A good friend of over 40 years with tons of experience and knowledge (my major go-to person) states that bro was born with a brain dysfunction that cannot be touched by any therapy or drug. It seems, after 2&1/2 years, the only strategy is avoidance. That is what I did in 1972 when we shared a flat. It is harder now as I live with R and the phone rings - and rings, and rings. R copes fairly well most of the time, as long as he is OK. Sometimes, he just "leaves" - turns off phone and hides out, goes walk-about - when bro gets to be too much. I suggest that moving to Tasmania would be a good strategy - but bro would probably follow! My hope, perhaps in vain, is that R can get the shared business into a shape that enables him to be away more. I point out that he is enabling bro - when he allows him to keep blithering ( while I am saying "just hang up!"), when he allows him to interfere and get people upset, thereby causing business problems. Hard to change 64 years of habituated behaviours! I am going to try to choose not to get upset by his clearly uncontrollable behaviours. Avoid, and support R in avoiding as much as possible. R is still suffering from the parentally instilled belief that he has to take care of his (older) bro. The things parents do to their children, often without meaning to do so. Any other ideas, short of murder, will be given serious consideration. It is very hard for both R and myself that his bro cannot be welcome in our home. I consider his briefest time here a desecration of the sanctity of home. My gut twists if he comes to the door. I can turn off the TV but not bro. HE has no off switch - request, beg, plead, scream - no off switch. I will absolutely NOT have him in my vehicle, nor ride in one with him present. The noise is "crazy-making". R has actually referred to him as "a crazy-maker". Otherwise, he has high intelligence, a wonderful mind and the capacity to be very sweet and kind. Go figure! Yes, it is sad for all concerned, including bro. He has few friends, a couple people who are able to endure him. It totally stunned me when he commented, blithely, "My mother never did get used to my screaming and yelling." She lived to be 97! At about 93, his dad said to a visitor to the family home, "Can't ANYONE shut him up?" OK, thank you guys. You may not think this is about de-cluttering but actually it is about the ultimate in de-cluttering. Now to fetch ink for printer and a couple other things in an area I do not generally frequent. Still have not gotten to sewing; maybe today. Buttons back onto down coat are becoming a priority. Maybe even the old zipper off - challenging! and new zipper onto warmer jacket. Temps are going downward. 13 days to the solstice! |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 09 Dec 11 - 10:44 AM One thing about having an overage of stuff around the house is that you have it there to choose from for small gifts for coworkers. I had a box of lovely olive oil soap unopened in the hall bathroom (I bought it for my son to use last summer, but he spent most of the break at his dad's house and with friends.) Saves me a side trip this morning. Our office has kind of lost steam with several vacant positions. The library dean, an accountant, a secretary, and this week, our reception person who was also an HR clerk. No one stepped forward to provide what amounts to the main dish, so I offered to bring lasagna. Of all of the things I could make, this is easiest because I had all of the ingredients here. If I hadn't had such an early frost I'd have used much of this in making and freezing casseroles for myself because the garden was perking along when it was struck down. This weekend I'll sort my decorating stuff - Susie gave me a Norfolk pine because she doesn't like me not having a "real" tree - but I do sometimes go get one on xmas eve at the local nursery. I offer a low amount and they accept it because the day after it has no value. Better something than nothing. And I end up with one of those $250 trees that way. Do all of you have trees, real or artificial? Other decorations? I always decorate my mantle, and the last couple of years I put up lots of crystal bowls, pitchers, plates, vases, goblets, etc and put glass ornaments in them. I have some up-lights on top of the mantle so it sparkles wonderfully! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 09 Dec 11 - 11:54 AM I've some thoughts for you, Dorothy, but will have to post them, later. SRS, same here in response to your questions about decorating. For now, just stopping in to post: meditation and qi gong this morning. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 09 Dec 11 - 01:11 PM Well TBTG, I sure hit the trifecta today! I needed to be here on the premises today, so allocated the day to catching up on housechores I've recently had to let slide a bit. It LOOKS like a disaster but I have learned that even on these meds (appt next week), I can get it done if I chip away at it on my own. So: 1. I have a friend with whom I'm on a mutual-support deal who, today, is checking in with me hourly to be sure I am progressing on the day's chore/moving oals 2. The very short funds available this year for Christmas (the trip to see sis was expensive) all went to an online vendor we like where it turned out... I had boocoo points saved to cover a HUGE amount of happy-making... 3. ... sending one and all the perfect Christmas item that just came out today! Did I mention we got a freebie (FC) left-recliner last week, that is now in my house wrapped in cushy cotton for those days when the PT gets a little too intense. It's also great support for assigned exercises, because of course the height is remote-adjustable. Bonus: I can get up without pinching a hernia the doc sez is too small to fix surgically YAY! When I do not need it anymore it can go to other local friends with physical challenges, and we LOVE the peeps we got it from! Sister's furniture is sched for FC pickup this weekend. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 09 Dec 11 - 03:51 PM I have spent a week putting off opening a letter from the solicitors in case the queries from the buyers concerned my troublous neighbours. Not very rational, since answering will bring their removal from my life nearer. It's a battle between conscious rationality and paranoid subconscious. Plan A - get up early and do it before breakfast so that procrastination cannot sneak in. Subconscious victory - over-sleeping. Plan B - drive to solicitors and do it in the office. Problem is that documents have been moved half a county away, about 40 odd miles, because "my" solicitor had a heart attack. I would have done it, but yesterday was storm day, high winds and heavy rain. Plan C - take letter and computer into school when I go in to teach swimming and do it in the staff room. But I also had to tell the IT guys about a web site (Snow flake maker) and then the maths colleague who told me she is retiring next week, so I had to go to the office to contribute to her leaving gift... Plan D - on way home drop in to original solicitor's office and do it. This one worked. No worries about queries. Got home and started to type letter. And halfway through, Word went into a conniption fit, repeated every time it attempted to recover the letter. I was using Word rather than OpenOffice because the envelope function is better. Then I realised that I have a prepaid and printed envelope, so that doesn't matter. But it was too late for the post, so I'll do it tomorrow. Yes I will. Meanwhile, I have unpicked a long hairy scarf that Oxfam was throwing out and loomed it into a snood and a matching beanie. I was going to take it back to them, but it's my colours, so I need to negotiate a price with them. It's not what I grew up thinking a snood was, which was a sort of bag for catching long hair into. It's the new version, a tube which can be a neck warmer or a hood. I started to do the hats with left over yarn, and they look good with the hood partly over them. Slightly Islamic, I suppose. Oxfam have sold one set, in red with glitter yarn in it. I will post photos sometime. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 09 Dec 11 - 08:47 PM Successful shopping today. Made a large pot of tomato soup with tomatoes R brought home from cut rate fruit and veg store. Put it through blender as I detest the texture of tomatoes. It's tolerable. I am sitting here eating TOO much choc as R thought he would get through in time to go to country but then, at the very last minute, I had to agree that it would be best if he completed what he was working on and it was getting late so NO MUSIC tonight. We'll survive - the lack of music but I might not survive the overdose of choc. Time for more magnesium and maybe some herbal tea. Right now I wish I could puke! Christmas is not a big thing for us. I will get around to putting the one string of lights on the balcony railing - tomorrow. There is not room for a tree, even a small one. Upstairs, if we were using it, we could have a grand tree - but i am OK without. No children to enjoy it! I was too tired after shopping for the rearrangement of LR. Tomorrow. or sewing. ditto. Totally drismal day with flurries. Tomorrow supposed to have some sun. We may have reduced mouse population by one - caught in waste can and put out. But major mouse still with us and a smaller one also - if one can judge by size of droppings. We are good natured about it but it really would be nice if there were not new droppings each morning. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 09 Dec 11 - 09:33 PM Dorothy, I find a little bit of cheese or other kind of protein helps if I've had a bit too much chocolate or other sugary thing. SRS, we may use our Norfolk Island pine as the Christmas tree this year. Last year we bought a live potted tree and plant it in the springtime. It's doing well, but they're rather expensive so I don't think we'll be doing that this year. As far as inside the house goes, I have a few little things that Morgan I will put out probably tomorrow, but I already have so much to dust if I don't get that first it really wouldn't be very nice even if I did put up Christmas stuff. I am going to ask Roger to probably put Christmas lights on the tree from last year that's planted in the front yard. Tonight, we went to Morgan's school to pick him up and go into the main building where they had an arts and crafts fair for the children. There were activity tables set up where they could make decorations for Christmas trees, jingle bell necklaces, and some kind of gingerbread dough which they rolled out, then use cookie-cutter shapes and get them home on a paper plate, after being told they will set up in a day or two, at which time they can be hung on the Christmas tree or wherever with a paperclip. We were there for about an hour, I wore three of my Morgan creations (necklaces) which he pointed out to his teacher quite proudly. I was very proud of him in the way he interacted with the other children and the adults. At one point I asked him to get a chair for me, but be sure to ask the people who were standing in front of it if they didn't mind. He did so very politely and brought it around to me. The woman sitting next to us told me she was quite impressed with how gentlemanly he was. Makes the grandma proud! I got the annual holiday letter written that will go out with the cards I hopefully will get done this weekend. Haven't done very much of anything else. The doc told me no sweeping, no dishes and I have another treatment on Monday, so I'll be careful this weekend. Which reminds me, have any of you tried out the yoga ball chairs? The doctor recommended one. I found one on Amazon for $68 which has high reviews, but I'd like to hear from folks I know if they've tried it. It's about an hour and a half after our suppertime. I can smell it so it must be almost ready so I shall go. Before I forget, though, Dorothy, would you mind posting a recipe for your black beans, i.e. what spices etc. you might use when cooking them? They sound so yummy with guacamole and with salads. I'm supposed to be doing a bit more protein I figured be good to have some of those cooked up. Thank you. kat |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: mouldy Date: 10 Dec 11 - 04:05 AM I always used to get a cut real tree, not having anywhere to plant out a real one. It was always a hassle to drag it out through the house again. The year Ian died I bought an artificial one (which he would not have entertained) and replaced it with a slimline 7ft tall one for my smaller living room here. I also bought a small potted Norway Spruce, which is still alive, a year later, by my front door. This even after the ice and snow last year broke its growing shoot off, and it now has a much more rounded shape. Also, despite my best efforts, it gets blown over quite often by the strong westerlies. I put some solar lights on it this winter, but they aren't working, so once the electrician is finished, I'll dig out my smaller set of outdoor lights and fit those. The village is all lit up this time of year, and I have a string of their coloured LED lights from my guttering. The lights are timed from 4pm till about midnight, and the village tree is on all the time. Andrea |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 10 Dec 11 - 11:45 AM Housemate has moved out; time to start readying the space for its next user. Needs cleaned and re-arrranged. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 10 Dec 11 - 02:50 PM Andrea, if you plant that Norway spruce in the ground it will be a lot happier (and be sure the root swell is exposed and the roots untangled from being root bound). It will also get a lot bigger (so don't plant it close to the house) and will send out a new central shoot from a nearby branch. Today it warmed enough for a comfortable hour in the garden. I cut down big okra skeletal remains, pulled out a huge sunflower stump and raked up a lot of detritus that is now going to hum along in the compost. There is more to do, much more, but I broke it down to one task because I have a lot more elsewhere to take care of today. Potatoes will go in soon, so next I need to dig those beds. I have some shopping to do, but this time of year I have to work out a route that takes me around the horrid mall-congestion at some intersections and freeway exits. And before I go I'll have a dish of re-heated leftover lasagna from yesterday's luncheon. It's always better on the second day! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 10 Dec 11 - 03:34 PM Feeling kinda sick today so I'm not doing anything than hanging out with my feet up. I did give Jeremiah a bath but Pete has managed everything else today. What a good man he is! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 10 Dec 11 - 04:13 PM I think there are little bugs going around, not just big things like flu and colds. I felt puny (I learned that use for the word when I lived in Kentucky) for a couple of days this week also. Swung by the doctor's office for a flu shot yesterday. I've made a lot of progress today. Third load of laundry has finished, these are things that need to hang or dry flat, a type of laundry I always seem to have more of in winter than summer. One item is a bathrobe, a favorite but I've worn it for so long that the collar is about frayed off. I'm going to see if I can pick up a soft ivory colored corduroy to make a contrasting collar to give it more life. The robe is an aqua-colored terry cloth. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 10 Dec 11 - 07:12 PM WEnt off to the Sally Ann and got two "harps" for the two lamps for the LR but the shade I bought at the thrift shop is too small. Will continue to explore the solutions for that problem. Also got a very nice wool winter jacket with hood in grey/purple/turquoise. Like it better than the one which needs zipper. And a cosy pair of gloves for R who never has too many pairs - he loses them regularly. I keep threatening the string method... Wondering when I will get back to the country since we have totally missed this week. Guess I will go administer the slight rearranging of LR for a slightly less cluttered appearance, she says hopefully. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 10 Dec 11 - 08:12 PM WOW! That massive lamp is the same colour as the wall - sort of off white toward Devon cream! and the light blue flowers are not bad at all. But the thrift shop shade... ICK and too short, wrong shape, wrong fabric... The lamps were free but the shades may be hard to come by at a reasonable price. In the meantime, we will get used to the one looking elegant on the antique sewing machine which seems much less intrusive, although basically useless (when one needs storage), against the wall. And the TV is back on the coffee table sort of thing I brought in off the street. It has a lower shelf for the ever-increasing profusion of papers/magazines/... I keep hoping will someday be reduced in amount. I just found a pile of outdated flyers under there, guess I will go through the whole pile - now! I was once at a workshop and people were going around the room talking about their fantasies. I had no idea of any fantasy I might have until I spoke, later, with a wise older woman who told me, "I have a fantasy that someday (her husband) will fix the...." OH! I am becoming ruthless about paper but R has not, yet. That is today's improvement. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 11 Dec 11 - 11:18 AM Dorothy, get a shade that is the right size and put new fabric over it. Nate Berkus does that all of the time on his program. I've been reading this morning, but I have to go take care of several things on my list. I did find sheets for a duvet on clearance, and I found a piece of chenille that will work on the robe. The corduroy I found was strange - there is barely a "cord" to it any more. My local fabric store (JoAnn) had moved and in the process changed the amount of various things they carry (less fabric). The people who were cutting fabric quite conspicuously don't sew, don't have functional knowledge about fabrics. Perhaps it's just extra help during the holiday season. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Mrs.Duck Date: 11 Dec 11 - 02:59 PM Decluttering is a very slow process! Not helped by the fact that everytime I sort stuff for charity or bin Geoff comes along and lifts it all out again. I feel the house is a little bit like one of those puzzles that you have to move one square to get another to move. We put boxes in the caravan then swap them with other stuff to sort. Clear one room then fill it with with the junk from another. I feel sure that somewhere down the line we will have some semblance of order but not sure when. Next job is to clear enough stuff to allow for Christmas decorations. Watch this space - what do you mean "What space?" |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 11 Dec 11 - 04:26 PM Mrs. Duck - you're in the right place - we know exactly what that looks and feels like. What is the smallest room in your house? Even if it is a closet, a laundry room, or a bathroom, if you can get one set up perfectly the way you want, move out any extras (and deal with that stuff, don't just stash it) then you'll have the kernal of the cure: one room at a time, moving outward. Let us know how it goes! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 11 Dec 11 - 05:55 PM SRS: I have not seen any lampshades the right size and shape or I would do just that -- if I found something reasonably priced. $25.00 and up is not! I'll check Craig's list. Wore my new $7 car coat today - so cosy and nice, it surpasses my hope. More or less do nothing day. Another late night and early morning so it is mostly reading and internet. Just met a neat woman in Eureka, CA. Feeling the lack of not having been to the country in over a week. Shall have to go on Tuesday - just for me. Remembering my mother's home of 28 years. When I went to move her out and there were pathways through the house, paper - piled to the bottom of the DR table and everywhere else, 4 BRs and 4 walk in closets - FULL. ETC.... Such a good learning exp! Wish R had seen it! Don't tell, but I dumped 8-10 inches of paper in the recycling yesterday. YAY! Just found out raccoons are good mousers! That's what I need. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 12 Dec 11 - 01:18 AM I made a big pot of vegetable soup with a hamburger stock that came out great. That'll be lunch or dinner for several days this week. I also finished some work for work so I'll have some free time this week - my son flies in on Wednesday for the long winter break from school. Not much else to report. I think tomorrow I'll be able to get the dogs out for a long walk that will do all of us good. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 12 Dec 11 - 04:15 AM I have a lampshade I made by covering a frame with fabric to match curtains. When I was at school I was taught a method of making shades by winding raffia (synthetic imitation) over frames. So. for my new home, I went to look for frames to make my own, as there weren't any in the shops I really liked. And nobody had any, and I couldn't find any on the internet. So I understand Dorothy's problem. (I have bought a couple of capiz shell shades, and some of those student type paper shades, and one fabric one for a serpentine table lamp which really doesn't work well.) I have now acquired a replacement autoharp, thus reversing some early decluttering. I paid more than I had planned, getting involved in a last minute bidding war, but I felt it was the right instrument, from the right seller - one who is only selling because he has upgraded to 15 bars, and plays in his local club, not someone who knows nothing about the instrument. I have an invitation to meet sometime! He reckons me to be the right buyer, as well. My knitting loom has arrived - and I'm beginning to think it may have been a mistake as I try out various stitches. It doesn't really work the same way as the round looms and is more fiddly. I have listed an old bakelite phone on ebay, and have 5 watchers but no bids. Yesterday I lined the ceiling and part of the back of my airing cupboard with foil radiator reflector material. When I was moving things about in the morning it had felt cold and even dampish. It is right under the flat roof, and there is a void between it and my bedroom which I suspect of also channelling heat to the roof. The hot water tank has been losing heat surprisingly fast during the day, though it doesn't feel warm to touch. Even though it is not a really tidy job, stuck into plce with odd strips of gaffer tape, this morning it does feel much more like an airing cupboard. In summer, it gets quite hot in there. Now is when I need it. I've got more foil ready to do the rest of the back when I feel like crawling around in there again. Oddly, it makes it look darker in there than the white paint did. The weight loss has reversed. I can't believe this is entirely due to the box of chocolates the school gave me, and am now rather suspicious of the scales. The losses it recorded sometimes seemed too big for what I had eaten and disposed of, and now the gain seems too big ditto. How can I put on more weight than I have eaten? Doesn't make sense! Penny |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 12 Dec 11 - 08:59 AM A quote seen elsewhere, apropos of nothing but so suitable for declutterers: "If you don't get what you want-- just think of all the things you don't get that you don't want." ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 12 Dec 11 - 11:35 AM What we don't want could be a huge list, so just giving that remark consideration makes the house feel positively empty. :-) Penny, there is more involved than what you eat and what you burn. There is also the chemistry of what you're eating (with salt, etc.) and how much water you're drinking versus fluid you might be retaining. We fluctuate a lot based upon time of year and how much liquid we drink. I'm taking a week's worth of antibiotics and the bottle says "drink plenty of water." But I should have been drinking plenty of water anyway, and just got out of the habit with the cool weather. Digging out my desktop - lots of scribbled notes. I need to act upon or add to a more durable list then I can get rid of all of these little notes. Kat, are you able to do any seated exercises today? I've read about some you do in your office chair and upper arms and added a link - can you do that without jostling your ankle? Who else? Susan, are you still getting to the pool or are you finding more terrestrial PT activity now (I can't think of anything less appealing in cold weather than getting into a swimming pool, even indoors, but that is just me!) Andrea, did your plumber finally turn up? Or the electrician? Has the tiler finished and all of the rest of the guys, are they lined up and ready to finish their work soon? Claire, has our Western Pioneer moved into the neighbor's garden shed? (I have a really cute greenhouse now - I can see putting a cot out there for someone who wants to sleep in the yard without being subject to sleeping on the ground!) Jeri, have you made yourself a list? And Mrs. Duck, have you cleaned out a tiny room in the house, just to get a look at what you can accomplish? Michelle, I hope you're feeling better today. Don't worry about the checkup, you may not feel good because you scare yourself sometimes. You do have cause - we all know that, but try to relax, and give Jeremiah a hug for all of us! :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 12 Dec 11 - 12:41 PM SRS, I can, even one of my qi gong dvds is done in a chair, but I have to keep it elevated to keep the pain under some kind of control, so not for now. I've been sitting up, turned kind of sideways from my desk, for about thirty minutes, with it up in a chair with pillow next to me, but that stretches other muscles and makes it throb, so, it's back to the bed, soon. Because we have no wheelchair and we do have stairs down to the car, we have to have the fire dept. guys come over for a "lift assist" to get me to the car, then will have a wheelchair available at the doc's. Rog has taken the day off, a rarity! I hope she can put it best to rights, so I can get up and down from the seat without his help by tomorrow. (The walker does not work and is anathema to my hands and fingers.) I ll be better in a day or two. Thanks for being here, gals. kat |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 12 Dec 11 - 01:55 PM I do appreciate this thread! I found S's quote worth a helpful chuckle. Penny's lampshade considerations thought provoking. "shell" ? Oh, I have two beautiful shell shades going begging but they are too short and a couple shades made over frames with nifty fabric - go out and look through my available fabrics - really need off white or very pale blue. But---- finding a suitable frame... Drum shaped - straight-sided and about 14 inches top to bottom and diameter. Hah, you made me get up and go measure. Now, I am inspired to consider how I can make the frame - look in the yard and shed and watch the trash tomorrow - for found objects of use. I am only just getting a handle on Kat's level of difficulty. That last post is stunning. I was ready to give up on life when it was hard to walk in August and then I read what Kat is dealing with. ten million gold stars, Kat for sheer stick-at-it-ness. I am so incredibly fortunate to have the level of health and mobility I have. I know it but I see I am spoiled rotten. I have not been paying attention - again. I was vaguely aware that pants were tight, red jacket was hard to get around my hips to zip. Checked the scale and tried to convince my self that it did not say 170. This calls for serious strategy. !. more frequent de-toxing. 2. much more careful eating. There was a reason why I brought that little scale back from the country - other than that I had two for weighing clay and did not need it there. 3. Go out somewhere for some walking before the temp starts to drop again (only 40 right now). Here I go. Fabric and frame and walking. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 12 Dec 11 - 03:30 PM I think the problem with shade frames is that they are low value and take up a lot of space. Shops don't want to stock them. On-line suppliers don't want the hassle. I went round all the lighting departments - loads of stuff, but nothing was right. I'm currently looking for a rise and fall fitting for over the dining table - mind you, the dining end of the room does look like a farm kitchen with papers and stuff over the table and the sideboard looking like a dresser, with stuff. All those lights look very industrial, though. There was a stunning white sphere in John Lewis - £200. so it's tissue paper for me. Cooking program on - a London market, and a bubble and squeak and bacon bap. Oh my diet - two lots of starch! Two lots of fat! Thank goodness bubble needs a day's advance planning. Kat, I have such admiration for how you are dealing with life. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 12 Dec 11 - 03:35 PM "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." ~William Morris |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 12 Dec 11 - 04:22 PM Susan! Many would get rid of the husband first off! Or maybe the wife! Good plan. Yesterday, I put R's papers, which covered the entire top of the beautiful Victorian dresser, into plastic containers. I can now see some of the beautiful wood. Next, I will find a place to put the containers - off the top. My excursion to look for inspiration re lamp shades and also et that much needed excersixe: Got home about 15 min ago having covered a lot of territory, including a hardware store which merely made me feel ill so I left. Then I saw a library so I went in and gathered four new novels and a new library card. Coming out with four books to carry the numerous blocks home, I checked out a small dumpster and found two new looking, med sized plastic boxes, one with lid. Now I have MORE to carry! So I looked some more and there was a really nice suitcase with wheels! How I have wished for one during the last two plane trips! So, I wrestled it out, put the totes into it - it would not close but just enough to keep the flap from dragging - and the whole lot wheeled nicely home. It is in the car to go to the country. Maybe I can go down tomorrow or Thurs, spend some time, and check out the local thrift shop for shades. Two loads of laundry done. No sign of R since yesterday aft. He and bro working on legal stuff, court today and a dif one tomorrow. May not surface til tomorrow night. HE has a massage appointment Weds at 5. He looked askance when I first suggested it but I believe he is actually looking forward to it. He certainly needs relaxing. Now, what to eat - lettuce with black bean salsa. Then more veggies and hope that will be satisfactory. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 12 Dec 11 - 10:04 PM Lamp shades. Surely some of these folks ship. That's a great quote, Susan. And sometimes it takes an effort to step back and see the beauty in everyday things. The place that gives me the best view of what is right under my own nose is the fourth floor of the Brooklyn Museum of Art. I go there every trip or two to New York. Toasters, record players, plates, cups, mugs, tables, chairs - they show, by highlighting brilliant design and beautiful lines, how the everyday can be art. I had a wonderful surprise this afternoon - a friend, whose family moved out west probably 10 years ago now was in town to see his mom. His wife has a job out there as a nurse but he left his job as an aerospace electrical engineer in this town to move to live the rural life of the builder and inventor and a bit of a survivalist. Solar power, ham radio, greenhouse, deep water well, they're set in their mountain home to survive. We over the years have sent photos back and forth and shared notes on the work we're doing in our respective homes. Meanwhile, his wife enjoys quilting and makes some gorgeous creations. She has a huge quilting machine for doing the stitching - this is more than a hobby. They don't have kids so they can indulge some hobbies this way. These two are the kind of friends that even though I haven't seen them in ages, when we get together the conversation starts up like it never let off. Kat, I hope your doctor is able to offer some help. I fear you might be looking at surgery or a cast, for it to be that painful. I don't want to commingle fora here - you posted some remarks on one site and some on another. Here at Mudcat, between when you wrote on the ninth (when you were going to Morgan's school) and today (the 12th) you injured yourself. Achilles' tendon. Hurts like Hell. I don't know how much you're sharing, but that is certainly enough! Get over this, keep up the fitness routine, and get to where you're up and walking around without O2 like you were a year ago and we'll be much happier. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 12 Dec 11 - 10:12 PM I forgot to mention - Dorothy, I have 10 pounds more than you to shake off, I need to lose about 30 minimum, 40 at best. It's my goal to lose it by next summer in time for my high school reunion. Do you have a goal to help you tackle the extra? SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 13 Dec 11 - 05:44 AM Weight down again! And I did find some frame suppliers on line - there definitely weren't last time I looked. Weird synchronicity - talking about "female relational bullying" on phone to estate agent chaser upper, back to radio, and Woman's Hour discussing just that issue. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Dec 11 - 12:37 PM I weighed in this morning and I'm down another pound - I was afraid it might have crept back since I haven't walked the dogs as much lately. Good news, and not 10 pounds over, Dorothy, but only 6. Computer stuff today. Getting ready for kids stuff today. Baking bread today. Getting rooms ready for folks today. I guess I'd better keep moving! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 13 Dec 11 - 03:17 PM You are all a great bunch of friends, thank you so much. Dorothy, I so admire your energy and willingness to go with the flow and get things done that you need for yourself. I love the way you write and always look forward to what you read. I don't think of myself as doing anything extraordinary. I know of folks here on the Mudcat who have lived their whole lives with what I would consider insurmountable challenges and I admire them and look up to them for inspiration when I have a bump in the road. One of them, recently, reminded me it is all relative. What might've kept you from walking comfortably in August is just as valid as anything the rest of us may go through. Having said that, though, I am delighted that you have such good health and are able to do so much. I consider it a blessing. SRS, no surgery or anything, thank goodness. My osteopath did some incredible work on my leg and my body yesterday so that I am able to put a little bit of weight on my foot with the use of a cane to at least move around from the chair, to the sink, and to the bed. Roger was able to go to work today, although he did set up a few things for me, within easy reach either of my desk or the bed. He also brought me lunch; such a sweetie. (As to why I seem to have a lot of soft tissue challenges, my doc said I am like an onion. We are peeling away the layers of years of compromised living due to the old heart valve and inability to exercise. Since the heart valve replacement, it has been up and down, as you know. My goal is definitely to get back to where I was off the oxygen and doing much more. Taking baby steps seems to be the best and safest way for me to do that. I appreciate the reminder of where I was. It shows me where I can, again.) For exercise today, my sore muscles in my arms, legs, and back are not as sore today. I have used them more and without Roger's help, so I feel I have done some good " rowing" up and down the hallway from my desk in the dining room, to the bathroom, bedroom and back. LOL For decluttering, I was able to sit at the desk long enough to print out copies of our holiday letter, get them stuffed in the envelopes with cards. For the first time ever, I printed out mailing labels both return and addressee and put those on, too. I don't like doing that, I think it looks to impersonal, but my hands are happy that I didn't make them work quite so much. :-) I already had stamps, so when Roger came home for lunch, I sent those out the door with him for mailing. That had been bugging me, so I'm glad to have it done. Time for a bit of a lie down, I think. National Public Radio station here has been playing some beautiful holiday music on their classical side. I think I'll go have a listen and will probably check in here later this evening. Thanks for being here, luvyakat |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Dec 11 - 09:12 PM 23 1/2 Hours. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 13 Dec 11 - 09:31 PM Drove R down to courthouse in old Montreal and then wended my way along the waterfront admiring the old buildings. Watched trash for lamp shade frames. Did not go for groceries - need nothing. Made supper at lunch time but lunch did not happen until 3 pm. I was going to ask R to take me down to the market and I would walk back but it was too late in day by then. I started out earlier to walk there but it was spitting and drismal. Watered plants, edited an article and sent it of after responding to email from editor/friend. Making plans to meet wildlife rehab friends in southern Quebec - they come up from NYS. - in near future. Opened a file for another article to see if inspiration comes. Ate too many cookies and feel sick. Fat inhibits production of insulin and water is an excellent antidote for too much sugar but this is different. It is as though I want to taste of eating this stuff but my body does not want it in my gut. Curious. I eat so well and then spoil it with the cookies or choc both of which have started only recently to cause me to feel slightly nauseous and I know it but do it anyway. That is so self-defeating. I want something to munch or I want choc? I have not yet found a substitute munchy. List: toast with tahini; toast with nutella - triggers chocaholism; carrots- too sweet; celery - I HATE!; yogurt and granola. That's two - post on frig in big letters. All fruit makes me hungry. Cheese - I want MORE and it's high fat. low fat cheese -ICK. No, SRS, no goal. I never thought it would take so long but I really need to be more disciplined about detoxing. I do not have nearly enough to DO. So I fall into a kind of stupor and really do nothing. This is not good. When I was running to the country to do pots, it was better - but I sure did not lose weight! I made a financial decision to stop during the cold weather - gas for car and heat for studio. May not be the best mental health, or even physical health option. Need to look a it again. I prefer to detox there also. Important factor. I do not consider staying there overnight; R is working so hard now, I like to be here for him; he likes me to be here for him. Supposed to be sunny tomorrow. Another excursion would be nice. Interesting posts and links on FB. The one about hunters shooting kids in Texas elicited comments and responses. Just remembered that I started putting ink in printer and then did not finish. Do that and have a bowl of left-over veggies. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 14 Dec 11 - 12:21 AM SRS, thanks for the link. That's very interesting. I do wish professionals like him would think about folks who are unable to take walks and present different exercises which meet the same needs. I believe that's what I do with the qi gong, but those kinds of videos/statistics leave me wondering, sometimes. But, I go back and listen to my DVDs and read of the good effects of qi gong and tai chi and then I feel good about what I am doing. Good night, all! |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Dec 11 - 09:41 AM I think between those remarks about exercise and the vitamin D discussion we had many months back, these are two of the easiest changes most of us can make that will contribute to overall health. Kat, exercise comes in many forms and if you're moving your arms you're still getting your heart rate up. Tons to do today, including a trip to the airport. ;) I have a loaf of bread rising so the house will have the smell of freshly baked bread when the kid walks in. We're going for the visceral here. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 14 Dec 11 - 01:28 PM On Monday I went for a walk around the neighbourhoods - there are footpaths around the perimeter of each area - and then decided to extend myself into the village wood. Mistake. There was a slope, it had rained overnight, and the combination of wet leaves and slippy mud led to me falling. No harm done, but muddy clothes, and the thought that it was not something to be repeated. No more solitary walking through woodland on wet ground. There are usually enough dog walkers (don't think American type woods here) about to help if necessary, but I don't fancy the wait. I must have looked very funny getting up, like a toddler. Yesterday's walk was in London. After walking 20 minutes to the railway station from where I could park my car in Dartford, that is. Up Charing Cross Road to Blackwell's to check out some books - the ones I had in mind were not there. Then down through Seven Dials, where there used to be a bead shop - now a stall in the road, and not worth stopping at - and a shop with interesting design source books, where I hoped to find something to suit my mathematician brother-in-law. There, at about 4:23, as i looked in the window, the salesman locked the door. I had a look at Neal's Yard cheese shop, but it was too crowded, and I had limited time. Then the Australian shop, where the saleswoman pointed out that for little more than I was planning to spend on 3 Cherry Ripe bars, I could have 5 - an undocumented offer. (These have a dark chocolate coating on a filling of glace cherry and coconut.)(I get them for my sister - honest!)(Well, some of them.) Then on to Kings College Chapel for their Carol service. and after that, back to Trafalgar Square where a choir was singing seasonal songs in front of the Norwegian Christmas tree - which I felt wasn't guyed enough for the expected winds, and back to Charing Cross. I cheated back in Dartford, and got a bus up the hill to reduce the walk back to the car. Sitting on the train seems to do bad things to my legs, but only on the way back from town. This may be because of the crowding on that leg, as I can't stretch my legs out if someone with their bag in the floor is sitting opposite. Knees practically touch. Today I went on the health walk again. Not very sociable as everyone is paired up with someone they know. We went round the perimeter (widdershins) of the north west part of the village, but I had to peel off towards the end as the effect of a coffee before I set out, and the chilly air, made it vital to get home to the loo! did an hour, though. A disappointing delivery awaited me. When I was growing up, we had a set of Angel Chimes for the table at Christmas, and I've been thinking I'd like ro have them back - I don't know what happened to them. I found Amazon had some, labelled as original. Today they arrived, and they were not up to original standard. Flimsy metal, and silent bells which the strikers did not hit. I've sent them back, and am pursuing a set on ebay. I have 12 watchers on my old phone, but only 2 bids, to £5.50. Some have gone for over £50. I suspect the watchers are like I was on others - all hoping to see that it's worthwhile them listing theirs! I'm learning to use a wooden knitting board - it doesn't do the sort of things I hoped to do with it, not like the stuff I did on the round looms, so I think I might have to buy some of the plastic sort with large pegs. Or possibly get back to using my needles or the machines I have upstairs. Or even get out the weaving loom I bought years ago which is designed to use the knitting machine to manipulate the warp patterning. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 14 Dec 11 - 01:56 PM 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores 12/5 1 12/6 1 front plus chair carry-in 12/7 much walking 12/13 much walking 12/14 1 front, 1 back, much walking in house chores I posted signage today reminding me to GO OUTSIDE, even if just for a quick look at something in my jammies. Today that trip (in sweats LOL) netted me a great chat with a contractor doing some work here as he was packing up. The house's owner also stopped by coinkydinkally.... the net result was a longer worklist for this ole crumbling house... looks like the wreckers ain't a-gonna git this one after all-- much deferred maintenance now planned for spring work... maybe sooner. We love the contractor too-- Mennonite (think Amish lite) fella and family working hard and smart and doing really nice work. Several generations were onsite today for a big push before bad weather hits-- great people. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: GUEST,mg Date: 14 Dec 11 - 02:20 PM I got rid of a horrible tangle of cords at work yesterday by getting a new surge protector with room for those big plugs and I moved my scanner right next to my computer which really cut down dangling cords there. For some reason, I can live in a total mess, papers don't bother me, clothes on the floor don't bother me, dirty dishes don't bother me..but tangles of electrical cords really bother me. mg |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 14 Dec 11 - 02:44 PM 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores 12/5 1 12/6 1 front plus chair carry-in 12/7 much walking 12/13 much walking 12/14 1 front, 2 back, much walking in house chores, driveway cleanup, fetch mail I posted signage today reminding me to GO OUTSIDE, even if just for a quick look at something in my jammies. Today that trip (in sweats LOL) netted me.... ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 14 Dec 11 - 07:07 PM 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores 12/5 1 12/6 1 front plus chair carry-in 12/7 much walking 12/13 much walking 12/14 1 front, 3 back, much walking in house chores, driveway cleanup, fetch mail |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Dec 11 - 07:44 PM Susan, did you have several screens going when you were keeping track of your exercise? That was an awful lot of chair lifting and trips to the mailbox! My son is home, at least, he's back in town. We came back here from the airport, he checked in on his old computer while I made lunch and this evening his Dad stopped by on his way home from work to pick him up. 19-year-old young men don't come home from college with plans to have long visits with their mothers. :-/ We'll all get together on Friday when we go for Moonglow's graduation ceremony. !!! Tons to do around here tonight. Where to start?! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Our Christmas Traditions From: wysiwyg Date: 14 Dec 11 - 09:17 PM DECLUTTERING CHRISTMAS ON A BUDGET II. CARDS. Each year, amid the mad rush of parish events, there is one night when we MAKE time to wrap each OTHER's gifts-- AND a card for each close friend/family, with flat ornaments enclosed. They vary each year, but each year they must be what will fit pretty flat in a card. I simply use a Sharpie to label each one with the year. We ask recipients to display it with their own decorations as a tiny reminder of how we love them, and we display one on ours. We ask recipients to pack them with their own décor so that next year when they decorate, they will remember that we are thinking about them! This year's: a few window-cling snowflakes. For the first time I can recall, I found several inexpensive sets locally, and bought enough of the snowflake pattern to give each person a large one, a medium one, and several tiny ones. As I cut these up to divvy up the sets, I prayed and gave thanks for each person, with carols playing.... In the card is also tucked a page out of a party-favor pad of Christmassy pencil-puzzles. Next year's item is all picked out and will make an all-year craft project-- a herd of paper animals I'll cut and assemble all year, with a silver bow and hanger for tree or table use. We do not otherwise send Christmas cards, tho each year I email old fwds to people who send us e-cards. I have quite a nice stash now of the good, older ones. During Advent this year I also started sending other cards to sick or troubled friends, and those ones who are not on the internet get a relevant cartoon I print off my hard-disk stash of "motivators." II. TREE. Our Christmas tree is about 24 inches tall, with tiny white fiber-optic lights built into it and ornaments we wired on permanently. We do not take it down all year. That's because if we did, it would never get put back UP till February-- which happened several years in a row, until our fire in 2000 burned up our just-blended-family's Christmas heirlooms! In 2001 we replaced the full-sized tree with all-miniature stuff, lights and all, on a table-top-sized tree. (The first one had to be replaced, but the second one's been going strong now for years.) It only needs to be plugged in for instant Christmas spirit, late at night, when we are really tired and need it. The ornaments we've been sending people per the above are on it, and the window clings for this year are on the adjoining mirror as well as the back door. And this gives me more Christmas time to GO SEE PEOPLE and hand out candies wherever I go, in my Santa hat! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 14 Dec 11 - 09:20 PM Susan, did you have several screens going when you were keeping track of your exercise? That was an awful lot of chair lifting and trips to the mailbox! No, as I posted at the top of the month, they will look like repetitive posts but are actually cumulative. There is one extra one today so I could print the relevant portion for my doc who will hopefully decrease my meds tomorrow and INCREASE my activity level. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Dec 11 - 10:15 AM Your posts yesterday from 01:56, 02:20 and 02:44 were almost identical, but I see the bottom line is slightly different. Last night I finished (possibly) some design work for Bobert. I'm waiting to hear if that copy needs more information added. That's virtual declutter from the desktop. :) There is a tall set of shelves that I built many years ago and have upgraded a couple of times. I moved it, VCR tapes and all, from the front room to a space where it perfectly fits in the hall. And now I can see all of the tapes there and decide how many of them I'm going to convert to DVD. It moved because I was able to lift on end and slide a big cardboard box (flat) under it and move across the carpet. The final touch was to put some shims under the bottom (I made the base broader and deeper than the shelves to stabilize it). Thank you Home Depot for such great shims - I used 1 5-gallon and 2 1-gallon paint stir sticks. I have a lot of paper to organize with various degrees of filing and research. I'll spare you the details - just imagine most major horizontal surfaces stacked with paper stuff. There you have it! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 15 Dec 11 - 12:04 PM 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores 12/5 1 12/6 1 front plus chair carry-in 12/7 much walking 12/13 much walking 12/14 1 front, 3 back, much walking in house chores, driveway cleanup, fetch mail 12/15 1 back, fetched mail from box (box just back YAY), carried 6 trips of wood left from construx crew-- all in equiv. of 2 pound ankle weights (each). === In hockey they say "good things happen when you go to the net." This is twice now that "good things happen when I go to the yard." Today's good thing was not only wood salvaged, but also a delightful visit with our mail carrier who used to live in this house as a child, when it had a totally different layout. We had a nice chat about the reetny-moved housemate. :~) As far as activity feedback for what should be a normal trip and chore for me.... WITH the med I can barely make it to the road and back. The GOAL is to be able to SNOWBLOW that entire long driveway-- my half of the chore as agreed with Hardi when we bought the blower. Meds that interfere with that activity-- and do no measurable good-- are not good meds. I found the doc back in Chicagoland who first monitored my BP. I wish I had remembered him while I was just THERE and gone to see him, but I will be asking the doc today to do a phone consult with him-- he was pretty conservative in his meds approach, is a faculty doc, and they will play well. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 15 Dec 11 - 01:08 PM Meditation and sitting qi gong this morning |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 15 Dec 11 - 05:38 PM MEDS SLASHED!!! To slash further in a month if no trainig effect from intervals training at PT. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Dec 11 - 01:03 AM Good job! I've been researching a tape from my Dad's collection this evening, and in general puttering on the 'puter. I'll take the day off tomorrow to get ready for graduation. :-D SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 16 Dec 11 - 09:24 AM It will take a few days to process out of my system, but (based on past dosing at this rate) the meds change will be enough to move me from PT to our usual pool. Not sure how bennies will work in the new year-- some changes coming to our insurance plan. This is a bennies change I have known is coming so I have been soaking up an amazing amount of info from the PT peeps in case I need to go back to running my own program. Next to find is a TRAINER who an work with me periodically at our pool/weight room, on our own dime-- even if the bennies do not change, there is a limit on PT visits in the year. So at some point I will need to have another plan. And I have two in mind..... ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 16 Dec 11 - 11:53 AM 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores 12/5 1 12/6 1 front plus chair carry-in 12/7 much walking 12/13 much walking 12/14 1 front, 3 back, much walking in house chores, driveway cleanup, fetch mail 12/15 1 back, fetched mail from box (box just back YAY), carried 6 trips of wood left from construx crew-- all in equiv. of 2 pound ankle weights (each). 12/16 PT clinic (Jay), lower body at limit, new eval/functional goals w/MJ (housecleaning, snowblowing) 12/16 MEDS SLASHED, new activity/nutrition approved by doc, monthly visits planned to monitor with new "OPTIMAL" benchmarks (PT acronym) 12/16 1 front, plus walking/lifting at limit moving more wood. A little more than ydy's walk/lift/move wood (negligible difference); much walking planned for later today w/GKB ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Dec 11 - 12:29 PM I cleaned out the pickup truck so riders to graduation tonight won't complain about being tucked in with boxes and bundles in the back seat. Susie is bringing Zeke down this afternoon to hang out with the girls in the back yard and keep him from being underfoot or taking advantage of unattended food during a party at her house tonight. She'll pick him up in the morning - this party is for employees of her son's business, and preparations have been complex. She builds the most amazing gingerbread houses, and today there are four crock pots going with different dishes for the party tonight. I'll be lucky if I manage to clear the kitchen table for anyone who might come over tonight. The counter is looking good, and I have materials for cookie baking set out for this weekend. Camera and spare batteries ready to go for graduation. That's the important thing! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 17 Dec 11 - 02:32 AM Over 12 hours later I'm back, daughter fully graduated, an alumna of the University of North Texas. And next semester she will be a graduate student at said school. We went out for dinner: travelling family conference as the four of us drove south from the traffic jam around school. She was texting "GOOGLE" on the cell phone to get the location of various restaurants (did you know that trick? You can text to Google - 466453 - and it sends back text with answers to your phone). Laughing at the idea of McDonald's or Schlotzky's, discussing the possibility of Olive Garden or Szcheuan (closes too early). Settled on Razzoos because she felt like gumbo, and decided to go to downtown location. Very lively scene, unlike when we moved here when my now 23-year-old graduate was 15 months old. You wouldn't know it to look at all of us that a divorce happened 12 years ago. But I think we're better for it, and it was a festive and funny evening. On another note: A couple of weeks ago I sold an old Sony VAIO laptop for repair or parts. The bidder never paid, never contacted me - I fear something has happened to him because he had a 100% score until this time. I went through steps to close it and then second-chance offer (would have gotten $5 for it instead of the winning $5.75). No response. I relisted a week ago and came home tonight to find that it not only sold for $20+, the new winner already paid! I hate to throw out things that someone else can cannibalize for parts, so that's what this sale was about. My friend whose house was lost a couple of months ago didn't know what was wrong with this laptop. I took out the hard drive and sold the rest for parts. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 17 Dec 11 - 09:44 AM I can feel the meds decreasing-- a spontaneous thought as I headed downstairs: "I feel better today and it just gets better from here!" It's felt, physically, like I've been on the wrong planet-- the triple-grav planet? I'm getting back to the one I can LIVE on! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 17 Dec 11 - 10:46 AM SRS, congratulations to you all for her accomplishment! And, now grad school! Wow! Glad you had a good time. I've opened it. WOW, again! Totally unexpected and so beautiful. Warming up as I type. Thank you so much!! |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 17 Dec 11 - 05:21 PM 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores 12/5 1 12/6 1 front plus chair carry-in 12/7 much walking 12/13 much walking 12/14 1 front, 3 back, much walking in house chores, driveway cleanup, fetch mail 12/15 1 back, fetched mail from box (box just back YAY), carried 6 trips of wood left from construx crew-- all in equiv. of 2 pound ankle weights (each). 12/16 PT clinic (Jay), lower body at limit, new eval/functional goals w/MJ (housecleaning, snowblowing) 12/16 MEDS SLASHED, new activity/nutrition approved by doc, monthly visits planned to monitor with new "OPTIMAL" benchmarks (PT acronym) 12/16 1 front, plus walking/lifting at limit moving more wood. A little more than ydy's walk/lift/move wood (negligible difference); one big diff was I could work till throat burned. Much walking w/GKB 12/17 front 1, mail |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 17 Dec 11 - 09:00 PM I was out running around with Moonglow while it was nice out, but by the time I returned home it was chilly and dark. Maybe tomorrow I can dig some beds for the potatoes. They go in any day now. The house looks a bit like it was picked up and shaken. Must do something about that. The electric bill came in, double last month (which was extremely low). Have to figure out if the heater in the garage is making a big drain on the bill. I may have the dogs in the house more at night or put it on a timer. Must begin cookie baking. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 18 Dec 11 - 12:57 AM I printed out a mudcat recipe for shortbread. Bert, thank you, it's really wonderful! I'll measure those weights and write it down (we American cooks are used to cups, not pounds). I reduced it to a small batch (based upon a 1/2 pound of butter) and have some of the resulting rectangular cut-outs in a food storage box. While I worked I watched a Fred Astaire and Betty Hutton musical I've never seen before (streaming via NetFlix on the television mounted on the kitchen wall). I'll finish watching it later - it is predictable, but a little odd. These must have been second-string songs. There is probably a story behind this one. A big push tomorrow. eBay and those playbills. Lots of research and listings ahead. I'll delay listings so they don't land on xmas eve or day, but the day after, when people may have eBay cash to spend (or spare time to search for things they collect). Susan, I hope you continue to feel better, more clear-headed. Kat, keep up the gentle exercise. Andrea, keep moving stuff into the new kitchen where you can - xmas will be upon is in no time! Maryanne, are you out making snow angels yet? Sinsull, seems to me your office did some interesting stuff last year at holiday time. What are you doing now? Kat: Did Morgan come over to help you at all this weekend? Have we told you lately what a great grandma you are? I never met my grandparents - any of them - and am the poorer for it. I envy him the rich life he has, with you there to offer your guidance in addition to what he experiences at home. I hope that during his holiday break he's able to work on some kind of drawing or craft that you might be able to send out to his various Mudcat Aunties. Hint hint! Have you seen some of the strips of colored paper that are cut out in a very elongated triangle that are rolled into beads with glue to hold them together? I bet that some of us would love something like that, if he'd care to make them. How about junk mail or magazine page beads? SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 18 Dec 11 - 01:01 AM Roger did a great job of sweeping the entire house. I did four loads of laundry AND folded and put them away. Morgan did a bit of sweeping and helped me with trash which Rog then carried out. Morgan also helped me put together some small gifts to be mailed to family on Monday. I got the idea for them in one of these threads. I think it was Penny who posted doing this with marjoram for sleeping. I cleaned out small empty Tiger Balm jars, put a small bit of real sponge in each one, then put the cap on. Filled some very tiny brown vials with lavender oil, capped those tightly, then wrapped them all up in paper, etc. with instructions to put the oil on the sponge and leave the lid off at night for Sweet Dreams! I hope they like them. Tomorrow, Rog will mop and do dishes. I've been banned from both by my osteo/girlfriend:-) I'll finish packaging the gifts and maybe put up a few decorations. Oh, Morgan did hang up a neat thing my sisters sent us to make. They got the idea from Martha Stewart. Take a personal sized bundt pan, mix bird seed and raw cranberries with lard or Crisco, pack it into the pan, then place in freezer for a few days. When it is a cold day, take it out, flip it out of the pan, put a red ribbon through the hole, then hang it outside for the birds. We had enough mix left over, Morgan filled the pan and it put it back in the freezer for another "ring." They do warn not to put it out unless the day stays cold.:-) |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 18 Dec 11 - 09:30 AM I'm thinking back over some recent doc's appts and realizing that only his malpractice-fears kept him from suggesting to ME that we slash this med-- coupla things he said and did NOT say add up. The expensive trainer has been downgraded to a cheap photo-frame to use poolside, with a slideshow off the perfect (for me) workout video PBS is running today.... keep a copy on the DVR for dry-work and slideshow for pool on the portaframe. TBTG who provides, right on time!!! To celebrate, I'm picking up the CardioGlider and moving it out to the weight room, where I will soon have the aerobic capacity BACK to pump along on it while Hardi does HIS thing out there! ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 18 Dec 11 - 02:34 PM Feeling in a bit of a funk this afternoon - so much to do, so little time to do it in. Everything will sort itself, but I think the dark overcast day is contributing to the mood. Time to make a short list and finish the few things on it. And to generate a few endorphins, it's time to move some furniture. That always seems to help me feel more robust! Michelle, I hope everything is fine with you. Is Jeremiah old enough to be really excited about the holiday? Do you have to keep the gifts out of harm's way, or is everything hidden until xmas eve or day? SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 18 Dec 11 - 06:31 PM Hey SRS, Everything here is good...just wiped out. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: GUEST Date: 18 Dec 11 - 08:12 PM MODS: not really a GUEST; it's Dorothy!:-)
I'm about ready to go into hibernation! It has finally gotten cold here and although the cabin can be warmed in no time with the wood stove, the city house is at 56 today. I am wrapped up with heating pad and do not feel like moving for anything. R is off working and he has been working so many hours I am loathe to beg for more heat in the house. The electric in here is NG. I thought of taking myself elsewhere but the libraries closed at 5 pm. I am simply not motivated to do anything but stay wrapped! Book and laptop within arm's reach. The next time I get out of my cocoon, I will arrange a mug warmer at arm's reach also. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 19 Dec 11 - 12:36 AM I managed for once not to spend any money today. That's a great thing! Instead, I worked in the kitchen, a batch of shortbread (experimenting with a mold for cookies - it didn't work well) and a batch of spritz. And I moved all of the furniture in my living room. I need to do a photo shoot tomorrow so I've left one table so I can work on it. I experimented moving one chest on the hearth, but that didn't work, so it's back to the TV on the hearth, but I moved almost everything else to a new location. Getting ready to switch out phones. I'm tired this evening so I'll wait till I'm fresh in the morning. Less apt to have problems that way. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 19 Dec 11 - 10:20 AM Good Morning!!! The sun is shining, the sky is blue with fluffy clouds and I am feeling much more perky this morning. I'm puttering in my kitchen while laundry is going and making plans to do some decorating. We are keeping it simple this year....two nativities, a 7 foot Christmas tree and maybe a little something for the kitchen table. That's it. Oh..and I've been hanging up all the Christmas cards. The kitchen spot is full so I've now started hanging them along the staircase which is just about at it's limit too. Next I think I'll hang them along the window casings. :) I love looking at them! And oh yes....I finally gave in after years of wanting one and purchased a kissing ball which I have hanging over the table where I am currently sitting. :) My nana always had a fresh kissing ball hanging over the sink at Christmas time...being that we heat with wood, it wouldn't last long so I have an artificial one...no matter..I love it and it reminds me of Nana every time I look at it!!! Tomorrow I'm back at the hospital to have my port accessed and tumor markers checked and a visit with my (chemo) oncologist. I'm hoping for low numbers! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 19 Dec 11 - 12:12 PM 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores 12/5 1 12/6 1 front plus chair carry-in 12/7 much walking 12/13 much walking 12/14 1 front, 3 back, much walking in house chores, driveway cleanup, fetch mail 12/15 1 back, fetched mail from box (box just back YAY), carried 6 trips of wood left from construx crew-- all in equiv. of 2 pound ankle weights (each). 12/16 PT clinic (Jay), lower body at limit, new eval/functional goals w/MJ (housecleaning, snowblowing) 12/16 MEDS SLASHED, new activity/nutrition approved by doc, monthly visits planned to monitor with new "OPTIMAL" benchmarks (PT acronym) 12/16 1 front, plus walking/lifting at limit moving more wood. A little more than ydy's walk/lift/move wood (negligible difference); one big diff was I could work till throat burned. Much walking w/GKB 12/17 front 1, mail; moved CardioGlide and chose new upper body program 12/18 some walking, meds still processing out; a bedtime chore that is usually impossible was reasonably breathable-- still lost breath but got the job done first 12/19 1 front, mail (breaking in new clogs); January/February doc appts set up |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 19 Dec 11 - 12:50 PM prev post dupe 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores 12/5 1 12/6 1 front plus chair carry-in 12/7 much walking 12/13 much walking 12/14 1 front, 3 back, much walking in house chores, driveway cleanup, fetch mail 12/15 1 back, fetched mail from box (box just back YAY), carried 6 trips of wood left from construx crew-- all in equiv. of 2 pound ankle weights (each). 12/16 PT clinic (Jay), lower body at limit, new eval/functional goals w/MJ (housecleaning, snowblowing) 12/16 MEDS SLASHED, new activity/nutrition approved by doc, monthly visits planned to monitor with new "OPTIMAL" benchmarks (PT acronym) 12/16 1 front, plus walking/lifting at limit moving more wood. A little more than ydy's walk/lift/move wood (negligible difference); one big diff was I could work till throat burned. Much walking w/GKB 12/17 front 1, mail; moved CardioGlide and chose new upper body program 12/18 some walking, meds still processing out; a bedtime chore that is usually impossible was reasonably breathable-- still lost breath but got the job done first 12/19 2 front, mail (breaking in new clogs); January/February doc appts set up |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: mouldy Date: 19 Dec 11 - 02:22 PM You all deserve to feel very proud of yourselves! I,ve just spent half an hour reading down the thread, and I feel quite humbled by all you are getting on with (all mine is in the hands of other people). I did lose 5lbs at last week's weigh-in, but it would be mainly down to poor eating. I got to 3pm that afternoon, and realised that I hadn't eaten all day. So I ate an apple. The problem is that workmen come early, and I have no table clear yet to sit at. However, the kitchen is about done, the new appliances are up and running, the decorators are in, the plumber has finished, The new spare bed has arrived, and the electrician has a couple of small jobs left to do. The sticking point is the joiner at the moment. The new dining room window went in last Friday, and as they took down the old boarding from the recess, before it went in, a load of loose stonework came down from the wall above. The central lintel (wooden) had rotted away. So one new concrete and another wooden one later, the new window's in. The recess has been partly re-boarded, and a new sill made. So an hour or two's job has mushroomed! Unfortunately, the phone line comes in there, and the ancient cable has objected in the strongest possible way to being disturbed. I have no phone line. So now I await the line engineers. Had my annual meds review with the GP today, and I am all signed up for another year. He was happy with the blood pressure readings I had done over the last week or so, thank goodness. For once, I can't wait to start cleaning! Andrea |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 19 Dec 11 - 02:31 PM What is a kissing ball? I've never heard of that before. Real versus artificial? |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 19 Dec 11 - 03:29 PM Here you go: Kissing Ball I think they are just sweet! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: mouldy Date: 19 Dec 11 - 03:32 PM Every year I say I am going to make a kissing ball. I think I have a high enough ceiling downstairs in the old bit to hang it. They are very traditional in England, but not many people seem to do them or have the height to hang them. Andrea |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 19 Dec 11 - 03:53 PM Hardi sez the window clings I bought are almost as much fun to put up as the Colorforms we both recall playing with. I just put up the last of them. Let's see... there's a huge angel with a couple of frolicsome white teddy bears below it, with snowflakes all around, on the back door. On the front, a nativity scene and another teddy couple-- these two are toting home a tree and a sled. On the loo door (under the permanent green John Deere sign), 3 Christmas-card-like clings), coordinating well with the Deere colors. (The paint is semigloss and the clings are clinging perfectly well.) In the LR south-facing picture window, a train set Santa is driving, full of toys and trees. One door and several windows remain blank in case I find any more VERY inexpensive sets. And the glass shower.... no, they'd slide off. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 19 Dec 11 - 03:57 PM So, I'm guessing the kissing ball is made with mistletoe? Sorry if that seems like a stupid question; it wasn't quite clear in the photo. Roger did a great job of mopping the floors, yesterday, as well as did the dishes. This time, he even remembered to wipe off the counter and stove. LOL I spent about 2 1/2 hours going through everything on the top of my desk and either filing it, putting it in recycling, or tossing it. I also filled a box with books and videos from the living room to be gone through at a later date. So that clutter was sent to the old office. Did one more load of laundry. It's waiting to be folded and put away, followed by one more in the dryer. Not large loads, though, so it won't take too much effort. My left foot is still sore and needs to remain elevated which makes doing things awkward, but doable. One thing I have to go do, right now according to the dog, is that outside and throw the ball. LOL she's been very patient but is now getting quite insistent. Later, gals, kat |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 19 Dec 11 - 04:26 PM Forgot to say I did 15 min. of qi gong last night and have done meditation this morning, after Morgan's early arrival at 7a, all chipper, and ready for a ride to school! Qi gong will come later. Dog lost her ball under the fence, again, so throwing it was only for about 7 minutes.:-) |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 19 Dec 11 - 07:47 PM 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores 12/5 1 12/6 1 front plus chair carry-in 12/7 much walking 12/13 much walking 12/14 1 front, 3 back, much walking in house chores, driveway cleanup, fetch mail 12/15 1 back, fetched mail from box (box just back YAY), carried 6 trips of wood left from construx crew-- all in equiv. of 2 pound ankle weights (each). 12/16 PT clinic (Jay), lower body at limit, new eval/functional goals w/MJ (housecleaning, snowblowing) 12/16 MEDS SLASHED, new activity/nutrition approved by doc, monthly visits planned to monitor with new "OPTIMAL" benchmarks (PT acronym) 12/16 1 front, plus walking/lifting at limit moving more wood. A little more than ydy's walk/lift/move wood (negligible difference); one big diff was I could work till throat burned. Much walking w/GKB 12/17 front 1, mail; moved CardioGlide and chose new upper body program 12/18 some walking, meds still processing out; a bedtime chore that is usually impossible was reasonably breathable-- still lost breath but got the job done first 12/19 1 plus 2 front, mail (breaking in new clogs); January/February doc appts set up |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 19 Dec 11 - 10:50 PM I have the height here for hanging something fancy, but never heard of a kissing ball. There is mistletoe out in the hackberry tree, but probably not pretty enough to put into a bouquet like that. I've been working on decorations, though I should be working on the papers that need filing. I've moved them around quite a lot. They must be filed soon or important stuff will get lost. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 20 Dec 11 - 11:29 AM SRS, I am sure you know, but it's probably best not to bring the mistletoe inside where the dogs may have access. I've heard it is deadly to them.:-) Meditation and 30 minutes of qi gong this morning. Really missing my oldest daughter back East, this morning, as well as my grandsons. Morgan will be over all day, tomorrow. We'll probably put up a few decorations and maybe make pies. Other than cards received, our house has not an ounce of decorations. kat |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 20 Dec 11 - 03:05 PM DUPE IS POST PREV 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores 12/5 1 12/6 1 front plus chair carry-in 12/7 much walking 12/13 much walking 12/14 1 front, 3 back, much walking in house chores, driveway cleanup, fetch mail 12/15 1 back, fetched mail from box (box just back YAY), carried 6 trips of wood left from construx crew-- all in equiv. of 2 pound ankle weights (each). 12/16 PT clinic (Jay), lower body at limit, new eval/functional goals w/MJ (housecleaning, snowblowing) 12/16 MEDS SLASHED, new activity/nutrition approved by doc, monthly visits planned to monitor with new "OPTIMAL" benchmarks (PT acronym) 12/16 1 front, plus walking/lifting at limit moving more wood. A little more than ydy's walk/lift/move wood (negligible difference); one big diff was I could work till throat burned. Much walking w/GKB 12/17 front 1, mail; moved CardioGlide and chose new upper body program 12/18 some walking, meds still processing out; a bedtime chore that is usually impossible was reasonably breathable-- still lost breath but got the job done first 12/19 1 plus 2 front, mail (breaking in new clogs); January/February doc appts set up 12/20 1 plus PT clinic (flunked treadmill) for new PT plan/our-pool Rx Last night (paying bills), we found the paper the PT clinic had lost in their digital system, so I will take it for them to scan-- it's "only" the baseline from which the doc and I want to work all winter! ;~) "Our" pool is still under heavy construction all around it, but the pool itself is open for, most likely, the worst of the winter. Due to my meds having been so high, I missed a big chunk of membership time; we have been given an extension that will let us take a good hard look at our fitness plan and THEN allocate the bucks right after the first. Friends we adore happened to be there when I stopped in at the pool; we decided that there will be a DougFire here (they'll co-host and provide scrap wood; we'll provide location and stuff)-- just a little after 12th Night. Due to normal clergy scheduling, and their travel plans, we decided to call it "Twelvish Night" and make it an outdoor campfire/indoor toasting thingie-- FUN! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 20 Dec 11 - 03:14 PM Do you want the 10:51 post removed, Susan? Too quick on the "send" button? Kat, there's mistletoe growing on the trunk of a big hackberry in the back yard and I break it off if it gets low enough for the dogs to reach. I don't know if they'd notice it, but I don't want them sampling it. And maybe tomorrow is a good day to see if Morgan can flashlight a few beads? Working for a cup of hot cocoa after a few minutes? Snickerdoodles are underway. Also probably wreaths or some other cookie press shape, and krumkaka. It took a couple of days of searching, but I finally found a forum that gave information about how to port my Sprint phone over to Google. I had to not only stop having them associated for voice mail, I had to delete it from the system and I logged out of my browser before going back in to set up the phone to port instead of just be linked. Paid $20 to Google (a one time fee to keep the number) and am now waiting for it to show up as transferred. The bill next month is going to be really big. Not looking forward to that, but at the same time, I don't need two cell phones. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 20 Dec 11 - 08:02 PM At least Google Voice was quick - they ported the phone over in 24 hours. Now I can get the new plan and keep it a little lower because of fewer phones. How is everyone doing as far as shopping, wrapping, clutter of paper, holiday stuff, cooking special foods, etc? I have been running the dishwasher more than usual because although I do have to rinse dishes before putting in the dishwasher it's still faster than hand washing in the dishpan. Laundry needs attention, and I have to do some design work. It looks like, once again, there aren't enough hours in the day. :-/ SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 20 Dec 11 - 08:07 PM I spent all day getting to the hospital, two appointments, grocery shopping and home. I'm beat. Bad news? They killed my port..lots of blood and some bruising...pain free but still. The good news? My tumor marker numbers are low which is PERFECT!! HOORAY!! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 20 Dec 11 - 09:35 PM Reconnected R's phone to bluetooth for safer driving. Bro screwed the previous connection, messing with the phone. Also did mine so it can be used if he is driving - and if we remember to change the bluetooth from truck to car. Took car for servicing today. Took ALL afternoon and cost twice what I expected. Arghhh! On the way, I thought to go see the Quinn Farm which has a craft shop and sounds interesting. Maybe I can put pots there on consignment next year. It took a stop for directions but I found it. It was closed but maybe I can go back on Friday if R can manage it cause, once again, it was an adventure of a little winding road along a large body of water with some interesting old houses and a really neat barn with a roof that turned up at the edges in the way of the old Quebec houses. Never saw a barn like that. The assist service manager was excited to hear about the honey farm I went to and gave me a lecture about using maple syrup or honey instead of sugar - which I always do but he is so sweet and enthusiastic. Made another batch of black bean whatever. Now I'm fixing to make a BIG batch of humous. I think I may have cooked too many chick peas (two pounds makes a lot!) but I can go get more lemons and freeze it after it is made. These two items are helping me eat more salad and less other stuff - some days anyway. Still cold and getting colder on weekend. Well, R is working all day, everyday - until midnight or later. I do the laundry - not much of that. Make breakfast for us before he disappears. Then I read, watch a little TV, do the little things I can find to do, shop. And get stuck in the chair until I think of something else to do. Bought a nice poinsettia tonight. There is no bud yet on the Clivia miniata. And the plumbago dropped all its blooms shortly after I got it home. OK. two days until the solstice and then the days get longer and the plants and all will be happier. Crisis: gotta figure out how to have a more satisfactory life. We don't get to play much since R is working too much and he needs to do it. I need to do other things. Gotta make a plan. See more people. Go to country more often. It is not enough to have friends on line. I need to visit real people in real life. That is what I need to make happen. Thank you, guys. Later. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 21 Dec 11 - 08:48 AM Do you want the 10:51 post removed, Susan? Sure. I had an inexperienced PT tech yesterday and a couple of areas that should not hurt are really giving me hell today. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Dec 11 - 09:52 AM Sounds like a couple of candidates for ibuprofen today. After posting last night I decided to run over to the closest Sprint store to take a look at the phones, because there was what looked like a good one on sale (Internet special) for free, but it ended last night. Had a good conversation with the sales guys then came home to tackle the plan and get the new phone. Had to change the plan before they let me buy the phone, and I had less than an hour to spare. Later today we'll get a different phone for my son, back at the Sprint store. Racing the clock the rest of the week, and frankly, the rest of the year. I get a week off between xmas and new years, which will help. One can get tired just looking at the list of things to do, so I'll chop the list into short segments. Michelle, if they "killed the port" does that mean that it has served it's useful life? Will you have it removed one of these days? Kat, have a great day with Morgan, and Morgan, I'd sure like another drawing one of these days! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 21 Dec 11 - 12:16 PM The port is fine...it's just that they did a craptastic job with it yesterday. I will not be having it removed any time soon. I sat with my chemo sister on Friday as she had hers out. Same procedure coming out as going in...taped face, awake...no freakin' way. If it is causing problems then I will have it taken out as agreed with my oncologist...I will be ASLEEP. I know people think I should have it out but those folks haven't been taped to a table while their chest is cut open and had tubes put 8 inches up into their neck. For me, I'd rather have it flushed once a month and have that as my blood work venue. They can also use it to push meds that would otherwise go in through an IV for scans and such. It was poor wording on my part. Sorry about that. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Traditions Part 2 From: wysiwyg Date: 21 Dec 11 - 01:35 PM How is everyone doing as far as shopping, wrapping, clutter of paper, holiday stuff, cooking special foods, etc? Well, we have several traditions in our clergy household that I think are different from most families. When our relatives come to visit they share these with us, and are very glad to have a chance to SLOW DOWN the rush of the usual, shopping-mad holiday traditions. (These and the above traditions were enclosed (for people new to them) who received our special ornament cards, to welcome them to the traditions.) === The first one we adopted several years ago, quite by accident. We liked it so much we have kept it up. That is, for any holiday that involves a huge meal, we do not do ANY prep in the days leading up to it-- except maybe looking in the freezer to see what is going to be there, and maybe buying a few things to go with it. No menu!!! But on the day of the holiday, NO one gets dressed until they feel like it, and NO one cooks till they feel like it. Then, still in their jammies, whoever is here gets together in the kitchen, and gets started creating one-of-a-kind dishes out of whatever is on hand. (I usually buy a few things to tie it all together in the week before, but it’s usually just about $10 worth of stuff. I picked these up yesterday; by the time these holidays come, we’ve given all our grocery money away where we discover it’s needed!) Anyway-- once the food starts to smell ready to eat, we start on the appetizers, sometimes without setting the table at all and sometimes setting it with the good silver and china. Again, whoever feels like doing it does it. If no one feels like dressing up the table, we feast on exotic but healthy foods off our tray tables or laps. (This year I got some especially savory olives and there will be some leftover eggplant dip.) The whole point of this is that, since we spend most of each holiday taking care of other people, by the time OUR turn to observe the holiday comes-- we do not watch the clock or meet the usual social “obligationâ€쳌 to dress up and make a perfect-looking home to "entertain." We just RELAX! And we freeze all the leftovers so we have one MORE celebration meal, ready to go on short notice. But then sometimes we give those away. === There's another tradition that flows out of that-- where does that grocery money go in the weeks before the holiday? Many other people will be busy stuffing five-dollar bills into cards to give to their mail carrier, dentist, etc..... but instead we take all we can scrape up-- it's usually $50-100-- and do one BIG thing for ONE of the businesses/agencies who has been there for us that year and who has a special need, now. It also started by accident, and we kept this tradition-- a friend had opened a gift shop selling local artisans' stuff on consignment. New businesses here have a pretty rough time getting established. We wanted her place to succeed-- to survive the Christmas rush for years to come. So we bought ALL our gifts there that year-- flat, crocheted holiday ornaments we could tuck into Christmas cards to very close friends and family members-- about 12 of these. They were expensive, but they were SO EASY to pack and send! (It started the tradition I posted about upthread.) I'll tell you about one pat year's business beneficiary. (A few details have been removed to respect privacy.) The [shop described] here is small and family run. That year the hated gas company's flux of drillers and managers had resulted in a HUGE overload of their tiny shop. It's a small place, but they have no competition for the services they offer. Like many rural towns' businesses: they do what the city and 'burbs do, but in microcosm. The place replaces four other typical businesses and a prayer room, in what used to be a tiny house. That year, one of the employees best at multitasking in that kind of pressure-cooker had suddenly been sidelined with aggressive carcinoma and a double mastectomy. The staff were busier than ever, and hurting / worrying / praying for their friend-- no one here is not-friend, no matter what other relationship they may have such as an employee relationship. Small-town / rural folks know they need each other, so they make these wonderful friendships alongside every other way they might relate. Anyway that year, I’d spent an afternoon there, Christmas week, helping them finish a job I'd asked for. It gave me a way of seeing them I'd never seen-- they never have time to EAT. “Duh!,â€쳌 I thought, “We can fix THAT much!â€쳌 So “Santaâ€쳌 showed up the next day, bearing food trays and hot Subway sandwiches sliced into palm-size eat / work bites. The manager was called out into the parking lot to get a breath of air (they also never get a minute for THAT), in the middle of a busy day, to see what the Surprise Santas had out in the van. I "made" her bring a helper. In between the helper's trips back and forth to carry all those items into the store, the manager/owner and I had some privacy. I told her what a great leader she is (she cried). I reminded her, in a special way, that she is the leader-- that she can and would continue to think of ways to take care of her people-- the people who she manages: her friends and employees. That reminder (because of the healing nature of the tears) continued to kick in for her, for months to come. We told her what we always tell the recipients: <> this is a secret thing we do each year; <> this year is "their turn;" <> we are taking nominations any time for next year. Each shop we have done this for has gotten a different presentation, depending on what they need there. But they always cry, they always become better leaders, and they begin to understand what WE mean by "Christian." That year's recipient said it best in a way I will never forget: "When you called to tell me I HAD to get my coat and come outside when you arrived, and you wouldn't tel me why... at first I was scared... but then I realized, 'This is Susan, and she would never hurt me.'" Thus she had been excited about the surprise-- like a little kid eager for the surprise to COME and "invade" "her" world. Because what we do in our Lord’s Name is not at all “of this world,â€쳌 and sometimes people need a little strong encouragement to suspend the “usualâ€쳌 rules long enough to accept Grace! And now whenever I stop in, that lady looks at me from inside that special memory, and only needs a word or a facial expression to telegraph how she's feeling, or to convey that she sees however I may be feeling. And these sorts of folks are the same people we find calling us whenever there is trouble that Hardi or I can help with. This year's final supplies are now at the post office and I'm headed out to pick them up. Tonight Hardi and I will do the packaging and wrap our god-kids' stuff to ship, which will arrive during the 12 days of Christmas. (I think I already know who next year's will be-- someone Hardi has met who just took a tough new job. We have all year to get to know him well enough to know what his surprise needs to be!) ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 21 Dec 11 - 04:46 PM I've had a rush since Saturday. I had a call from the estate agent, saying that the buyers of my old place wanted completion on Thursday, and I needed to send the signed contract off to get to the solicitors' on Monday. Off it went, with a carefully worded letter answering the questions from the buyers, special delivery. Sunday my nephew came down with his van and we moved worktops from the old place to my garage, from where they will be listed on ebay. I took him out to roast lunch at a nearby pub with inglenook fire - which was out of sight round the corner. Monday I was told they wanted completion on Wednesday. I can't remember much more about Monday. Odd. I did order some gifts and phone my niece's partner. On Tuesday I collected cleaning stuff and went to get the house ready. Stuck in a jam at Bluewater mall, I decided to pop in and get a nephew gift, only to discover that my purse was back at home with the computer from the ordering. Back I went, to get a call from the estate agent. The solicitors needed me to sign a document. In Ashford. (If you recall, my local chap had a heart attack, and they moved my stuff half the county away.) Off I set, first arranging with the holly bush seller I had arranged to buy a gift for my sister from a change from today's pick up. Got there, signed, and picked up company documents I had lent them for some lawyerish reason. With time to spend before the holly lady would be there, I went to the nearby designer outlet. Not recommended. Boring. I did get some reduced thermals from M&S. Then I ate lunch at a service station - tired shepherds pie. And drew some money from the cash machine for which I had to pay. Boought the holly bush, with berries, from a garden full of little plants, a real gardeners' garden, then back along lanes to the old house. I was too tired, it was dark, so I went shopping instead. some stuff for the dinner I am giving a friend, timers for the lights, and the presents I hadn't bought in the morning. Today, I set the alarm and set off for the house. Suitcase for the curtains, which I had forgotten about until the day before. My neighbour downstairs offered to help, which was useful, as I had to fix worktop edging to finish the kitchen sink unit back, and it was too long for one to manage with impact adhesive. Took a break to post a gift which I could not send via personal post. Finished the hoovering, cleaned the windows, which the bad workman had left cloudy, polished the bath, and de-limed the shower head. My neighbour commented that she liked the suitcase, which I had been going to dispose of, so I offered it to her. More phonecalls updating me on the changeover at 1. I cleared out the garage, and set off with a full car to the dump. All done by 12.50, the keys in the door and the aganet notified. apparently I have to wait for the money to get in my account tomorrow. That costs me £39. Otherwise they were going to send a cheque. Thought I was odd to be concerned about that being in the post when I was going to be away. "Was it large?" said the secretary. (It occurs to me that they may getting interest on it while in their account. Hmm.) Home to pick up the suitcase key and empty out the curtains, then back to give it to the neighbour before she left on holiday. Then I ate a nice lunch at the nearby garden centre, which does not have a line in bags to back bushes in. More shopping for food, and the shop had a large box for packing that had had flowers in it. Just right for my two hollies - one berried, one not, and hoped to be male. Now totally sleepy I had a nap before getting up again to do a few things. Tomorrow I have to do cards, late. Make mince pies and cook a Christmas dinner. Pick up a friend for that dinner and then take him home. Friday I am going to deliver gifts and pick up an angel chimes I bought on ebay. Saturday I am going to make the custard for a trifle, and go to my sisters' with it, and the mince pies, and the hollies. I'm sure I've forgotten something. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 21 Dec 11 - 06:07 PM Goodness, Penny! I hope you get some time to stop and breathe!:-) Meditation and qi gong this morning. The rest of the day was kind of a wash. Morgan was a gem, but Mama was a grouch; missing her other kids and family, not feeling up to doing much. We did watch a good movie filmed in Lapland called Christmas Story. Rog is taking tomorrow off because he has to work on Friday, so I hope he will help me make pies tomorrow. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Dec 11 - 12:00 AM They replayed a program from May on my NPR station today - you can find a podcast of The Nature Principle on Think on KERA-FM. I'm 20 minutes in, first caller. In case you're curious. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Penny S. Date: 22 Dec 11 - 04:01 AM This morning I went out to put the bags for the bin men out, and found a Post Office card. Not there when I got in last night. And before 8 o'clock this morning. I have a doorbell like a klaxon. But there in my bin cupboard was the autoharp I bought on ebay. Beautiful condition and sound. Good start to the day. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 22 Dec 11 - 09:42 AM I think I have the bad-PT thing sorted out, at least mentally. There were 4 issues. Unfortunately (for them, LOL), I have experienced the best in PT care from the person I've worked with in their aquatic program. Now we are working to transfer my work to the gravity world, and we are dealing with unknown forces! 1. The PT aide I drew last time is not experienced, is very young and cellphone-driven, and has not been well trained. 2. That aide has some significant stereotypes going on that are getting in the way. 3. The table they have me lie on is too high and not stable. 4. I need balance support for some of the exercises. SO-- 1. Pain that started that day still remains, and is nerve pain inhibiting more activity. I will ask for a more experienced aide till I learn the moves well enough to know when I am moving correctly and when I am not-- just as in the aquatic program where, at first, like any patient I needed significant postural correction from the PT; over time I could just hop into the pool and do the planned exercises correctly. (Nerve-pathways thing.) 2. I will draw her again and I will address them at that time, directly. 3. They have a lower, wider table in another room. 4. In that other room there are also the parallel bars I was wishing I'd had when she had me do 2 other exercises on foot. The great news-- tomorrow is aquatic day and that aquatic PT is also in charge of my dry-clinic program, so I can discuss and resolve #1 and #3 tomorrow for a fresh approach at next week's next dry-clinic appt. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Dec 11 - 11:56 AM Took the day off to get stuff done around here. We have the week from xmas to the new year off, and I need to create a short list of big projects to do. This phone stuff will be expensive for the next month or two, but it does have the effect I was hoping for, though - it puts my son ahead of the curve for once phone-wise and allows him to do programming for that device as well as for computers. Important for a computer science major. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: mouldy Date: 22 Dec 11 - 04:53 PM It appears the work is all finished, apart from the yard! This gives me 2 days to get all the building dust and mess cleaned out, and all the accumulated and piled up stuff shifted. Yesterday I twined an artificial fir garland through the spindles of the staircase, just below the handrail, and then threaded some new red berry lights through. That and the illuminated door wreath are now on a timer, so I don't have to switch them on and off. The cake is iced (with ready-roll) and has been decorated with silvery and gold edible glitter stars. (Presents not wrapped yet). The kissing ball has mistletoe on it, but is made with other greenery like ivy and holly. They are usually made on a wire frame, which is like the seams on an inflatable beach ball - usually 4 I think. The mistletoe hangs off the bottom, or occasionally inside it. Sometimes apples are hung too. I have one mention of little home made male and female figures being made and hung inside too. You could really put what appeals to you on it. Weigh-in tonight - stayed the same. Just one pound short of the stone! Andrea |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 22 Dec 11 - 06:34 PM That is great news, Andrea! I'll bet it looks lovely. Meditation this morning. Rog helped me make two pies to send to our son. Then, he went to the store to get more pie making ingredients. We had lunch, then I made two more for Sunday at our daughter's. Then Morgan came over and played with Luna in the snow(!) we got last night. Found out she loves it unlike rain and standing water. We then played a couple of hands of canasta, then he went home. He is so excited. I had on Christmas songs, so he was singing along throughout his time here. Rog will be gone in the morning tomorrow, until he comes to get me for an 11a hand therapy appt. Then he may be able to stay home until about 5p as he has to be on hand during the 530p newscast. Then he's home for the holiday. Depression was beat back, today. I hope I can say the same for tomorrow. I can't remember a time when the holiday made me quite this sad. Just missing family, I guess. Thanks for listening, kat |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 22 Dec 11 - 10:36 PM Walking video yesterday. Today, walked tons just being out and about. Vacation has officially begun for my family and tomorrow we will begin to decorate for Christmas!! So far, not a cookie has been baked, the tree is not up, nothing has been wrapped. However, loads of Christmas songs have been sung and danced to and most of our Christmas cards went out on time. :) I refuse to stress about what hasn't been done. We are together and healthy. That's all I really care about! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Dec 11 - 11:16 AM Michelle, I found that once I started baking the cookies the rest fell into place for me. I'm still behind, and it won't be a full-house decoration setup, but I'll get a few zones looking festive (and I did put up some lights on the front porch the other evening, to brighten my end of the dark block). Paper seems to be a major obstacle as I approach the long break - I must pull it all together and tackle it. And today I need to mail my holiday letter. It has taken ages to get to it, but I must finish it. Here's hoping all of you Brits have good cookers operating over the holidays, and the rest of you have ovens with good thermostats and can make your houses smell welcoming. Kat, I think for your continued mental health you should make a batch of cookies with Morgan. Do you have a cookie press? I was always dying to use my Mom's press when I was a kid, and it always brings the holidays back to that childhood delight when I start pressing the spritz, wreaths, trees, etc. Almond and vanilla together with green food color in the xmas tree cookies might take me back faster than anything else. If you don't have a press, then ginger bread and cookie cutters might accomplish the same thing. Susan, my Rx for the holidays (in addition to the usual church stuff) is to find a favorite old movie and go to town watching it as you walk on the treadmill or ride the bike. Everyone else, I'm sure we'll all check in, but I suspect we'll be busy and not post a great deal. If anyone feels the need to actually talk, if the holidays become an emotional burden, then I would suggest you send a PM to one of us on your continent, or set up an online chat if we're talking around the planet, and have some voice or face time to help you through it. Google+ makes video chat with a web cam very easy to establish. We're in the season when the breakup of families, the loss of loved ones, the transition from kids at home to kids grown and away impacts all of us. Look for small rituals that make you feel good, that help you feel good about yourself. Have at least one organized room where you can spend time and feel pampered. (And don't forget that unconditional love from pets can be a big help also!) Take care! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 23 Dec 11 - 11:31 AM Susan, my Rx for the holidays (in addition to the usual church stuff) is to find a favorite old movie and go to town watching it as you walk on the treadmill or ride the bike. Please see PM. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Dec 11 - 11:48 AM Oops! Overshot the progress. I've just started a new thread about smart phones. I don't want this to overwhelm my week off, but I would like to get it set up so it runs smoothly and I don't have to travel from one electric outlet to another. I will put a charger in the pickup, though, to have for just in case. Time to make some more cookies. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 23 Dec 11 - 11:53 AM SRS, thank you for your kind and caring thoughts and suggestions. Having Morgan over yesterday helped quite a bit, but doing anything with my hands at the moment is a bit too painful, especially after making four pumpkin pies, yesterday. He and his mom are making cookies today, but I've managed not to gain anything, so far, so any nibbling on them will be minimal.:-) Having Roger at home yesterday helped also. This morning hasn't been as bad as recent days. I have two frozen pies wrapped up and boxed, sitting outside on the front porch waiting for Roger to come home at noon and send them overnight to our son. It's only about 13° outside, so I hope they'll stay frozen long enough to get to him safely. My pumpkin pies are a favourite among our family. We haven't done much decorating, either. Morgan hung a few Christmasy things here and there. I may get some lights up on the Norfolk Island pine today, but not too concerned about it. I did get some birdseed out this morning; poor things, we had snow and now really, really cold weather (for here), so I feel badly for them and like to keep them fed. Something really neat happened for my daughter and grandsons back east today, but I'm going to note it in a different thread, either a new one or the wonderful news one. I guess I don't do cold weather any more. The windchill this morning was zero and our car radiator still needs to be flushed out, so I rescheduled my hand therapy appointment. I really don't want to be outside in this weather at all and can do some hand stuff at home anyway. I think we should all go as easy on ourselves as possible. Take good care of yourselves and enjoy whatever it is you do over the holidays. As usual, thanks for being here and for listening. kat |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 23 Dec 11 - 12:06 PM I'm not sure I'm going to make cookies this Christmas. We had planned to bake cookies and share them with neighbors but have since decided against it. By this point in time people are all cookied out. I know that no one in this house needs any cookies. Next year we will be baking for sure as Jeremiah will be big enough to participate in the fun but for this year, I think it's a no. What we are going to do is bake some homemade bread after Christmas and deliver that to neighbors. :) It's not that I'm not in the mood for Christmas, it's that I have been really stressing about the results of the check up I recently had. Once I knew the results, my body said OK....NOW you can collapse and so I have. Lots of early bedtimes and sleeping in. :) A gift from my husband! We have a small tree that we used last year and may decide to do that again tonight. We'll see. I also have a few ornaments out: One I purchased from the local hospice as a remembrance for my uncle, a sparkling snowflake from my WW leader and a hand painted ovarian cancer ornament made by a complete stranger who gave it to me in thanks for all I do with the Relay For life. Like I said, I'm not too worried about it. My family is together and healthy and that's the best gift ever! |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 23 Dec 11 - 02:12 PM Holy mackerel, Penny! That was a long day's work! Christmas - I hear it will happen regardless of what I do or do not do. That may sound terrible to some. I was raised with the firm belief that it is for children. I do not buy gifts - all the (grand)children are so far away, the postage is as expensive as anything I could afford to buy. More discouraging: the three packets I mailed from New York State on 3 November have not been received. I was SO happy to finally mail them. I long ago decided to buy and give small gifts when I found them. No hoopla - just, "oh here is something I thought you might like." Decorations: I picked up the Peace on Earth banner that had fallen behind stuff and tacked it across the door. And I bought a not-as-red pointsettia for the LR, having given up on African violets. The two the mice did not eat have died anyway. The only place I ever had success was on Whidbey; I left a bunch behind, blooming beautifully! Cooking: Oh, yeah. That was four pounds of chick peas - almost two gallons of humous! Not a great idea! Most of it in freezer. Today I made a pear crisp from the recipe in Seventh Generation e-newsletter. Hope R likes it. Now I am hoping he is able to get home early/soon so we can leave and he says he is not working tomorrow!! Hope springs eternal. We can spend most of a day in the country. He will probably go to church with bro tomorrow night. (Bro may have learned to not phone before 9 am; early yet, to know. He is being very polite when I answer the phone.) We are invited to an open house Christmas Day; it was fun last year. We are invited to a dinner which would include at least 3 out of 5 people I have no wish to listen to for hours. Issue undecided. I would rather go to MacDonald's! Or better still, have a quiet time at the cabin. Maybe we could get snowed in! R says he is OK with not going to that dinner. Part of my attitude towards Christmas - "The worst time of the year for many people" - many very bad experiences - of not being with my children when they were young because they spent it with father. 1970 was so bad it still makes me tearful. I am thankful for the solstice and ignoring the "C" word as much as possible. I have enjoyed some of the TV movies. Program on TV right now - history of C: just had a too short segment on the Christmas eve cease-fire in WWI. My step-father wrote a poem that included something about trying to kill people who at other times would be our friends.... We each have our views of Christmas. Hope it suits each of you to the best possible effect. It is snowing lightly so we will probably have a white one. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 23 Dec 11 - 04:24 PM I think I have the bad-PT thing sorted out.... There were 4 issues. Now that we are working to transfer my work to the gravity world-- which never occurred after my self-administered aquatic program (meds precluded plus no trainer bennies). This time around I qualified for PT, but at this weight-- we are dealing with unknown forces! 1. The PT aide I drew last time is not experienced, is very young and cellphone-driven, and has not been well trained. OUTCOME: Discussed with my main PTist. This is an issue others have also reported, and it will come up at the next staff meeting. I'm reassigned to another aide, but they encouraged me that if I draw her again I should feel free to request more knowledgable help with the newer exercises. 2. That aide has some significant stereotypes going on that are getting in the way. OUTCOME: Discussed with my main PTist. This also is an issue others have also reported and will come up on next staff meeting. Tho I'm reassigned to another aide, they are on notice that if I draw her again due to staff shortages, I WILL address this with her directly. 3. The table they have me lie on is too high and not stable. OUTCOME: I'm OKd to use the lower table that also is wider and therefore also works for some of the other ADL goals established. 4. I need balance support for some of the exercises. OUTCOME: Risk-mgmt plan is now in place, including using parallel bars for support for some exercises, which also are near that lower table. My PTist volunteered the feedback that I had raised these issues tactfully and appropriately; I have to thank a right-at-the-edge venting-session with my friend Vanya which led to a good ole, all-day, deep-cleansing boohoo yesterday. This allowed me to sort out the several old baggages that had almost kept me from saying anything at all about it. === JANUARY GOALS w/PT/doctor: 1. HR to get over 105 IN DEEP WATER for sustained periods. Today was 100-ish at 3MPH top speed on the aquatic treadmill. (About double the speed of the old-dosage workouts.) No dry treadmill for the foreseeable future (I flunked it). PT will help establish details of the intervals-program to achieve this; if it is not feasible due to lowered med dosage, it will be lowered further at next doc appt. Feb. target HR goal 120. 2. Continued stair-climbing ("reciprocals" in water and "step-ups" in dry clinic, with support-bars) with ankle weights in water and none on land. 3. Add ankle weights to aquatic treadmill, not during faster intervals work but for slow work, to reach toward the land goal of snowblowing in the heavy boots. Ideal for the backwards walking. 4. Transfer most of the existing aquatic strength program to the dry clinic, and add regular aerobic work at our club pool 1-2 days/week. 5. Eliminate ankle weights for dry clinic exercises, till postural adjustments are ingrained with coaching (a re-learning process), and until improved balance warrants using them. 6. Try out balance board for specific work on balance issues-- may not be possible at this weight. 7. Incorporate home exercises already prescribed into play-therapy/ DVD workouts. 8. Hardi is my new play-therapy partner, aiming for gentle but continuous movement and no competitive stuff, following some DVD routines we're soaking up and for which I have accompanying tracking charts to report to PT and doc. 9. Continue attempting to get 1800 calories in, every day, whether I feel hungry or not (2000 on workout days). 10. Continue adding face-activities this winter (lunches with new friends, craft class, etc) === I may have to make a 2-week trip back to Chicago for sister's moving plan, Jan. 1-15, so I may miss posting these goals in the January thread and I may need a reminder that these are over here in December's thread. Please be advised that my friend Vanya now looks in here to see how his PPPM is doing, tho he doesn't plan to post; he's been pacing me via text-message on accountability since August, and I no longer have time to do this in two places. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 23 Dec 11 - 06:34 PM Today I sorted out the bags of goodies that have been piling up near the kitchen table, did 3 loads of laundry, cleaned the bathroom sink and toilet and scrubbed the bathroom floor on my hands and knees. I also vacuumed the dryer due to a Jeremiah activity....don't ask. :) I also made a pot of SF Goulash. YUM. Walking DVD done too. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Dec 11 - 09:44 PM I'll try to remember to repost the link back to this month in the middle of January, but at least you'll be able to scroll back to the beginning to find it. I am listening to the album that Deb Cowan has put up to share for a couple of more days. See her permathread for the links - it's a lovely album, one I'd love to have wafting through the house. I downloaded the zip file and will put it on a CD later. I'm going back and forth between the office and the kitchen this evening as I work on batches of cookies and some gift wrapping. Also laundry folding . . . There are a lot of reasons why this time of year is very difficult for people. All the more reason to try to find significant reasons to celebrate those who are gone, those who are away, those who are living their own lives and haven't slowed down to remember that we're here. Michelle, I was driving home this evening with some holiday candy that we always get (those from my childhood- ribbon candy, cut rock candy, etc.) and thinking that I need to introduce some non-candy or cookie treats to our day. I'll make some pizza dough for focaccia topped with olive oil and cheeses, and maybe have some ham or sausage to go with it. And carrot sticks to go with a dip. Some carbs, yes, but no sugar to speak of. We need more savory here, less sweet. I give plates of cookies to neighbors, and I need another type of cookie at least, so I'm working on those this evening. Next door is expecting 6 grandchildren, so I can take lots of cookies to them! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 23 Dec 11 - 10:30 PM I'll try to remember to repost the link back to this month in the middle of January, but at least you'll be able to scroll back to the beginning to find it. If you could just post it near the top of the January thread if I'm absent, that would be a great help. Thanks, ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Dec 11 - 12:08 AM Whew! Moonglow and I were on our feet all afternoon and early evening making Puerto Rican meat pies called "empanadillas," and a pot of rice with pigeon peas called "arroz con gondules." Her Dad pulled up about 45 minutes before we finished and watched, occasionally sampling when I cut one up to taste (we made chicken and pork this year). Last I saw them, they were toting out a box with the pan of rice and a big plastic box filled with the empanadillas to cool then freeze for meals this winter. I'll watch a movie for a while, but if I get tired, they have keys to let themselves in. So much has changed from when they were little and we worked on making the holiday ritual "just so" for them. Now we're all grown-ups, and if we're tired, we go to bed! :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 25 Dec 11 - 12:20 AM Oh yeh, those gondules are goooood. We got a few cans in the stash of canned goods we hauled away when our friends moved-- they are quite unusual and yummy! ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 25 Dec 11 - 11:17 AM Merry Christmas Friends!!!! Love to All, Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Dec 11 - 12:51 PM Michelle, you're at that stage where christmas is a huge adventure, and the camera is probably pointed at Jeremiah the whole time! ;) My kids rolled in late, I was already in bed, though I did wake briefly to know they were in the house. Since they brought pies back with them we have pie for breakfast, along with our traditional bacon. And a plate of oranges as the healthy portion of the meal. Have a great day, everyone, and don't worry about decluttering except maybe to try to knock off the dishes before bedtime so the kitchen looks usable in the morning! That's my only goal, anyway, a gift to my future self, so to speak. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 26 Dec 11 - 09:44 AM Have a great day, everyone, and don't worry about decluttering except maybe to try to knock off the dishes before bedtime so the kitchen looks usable in the morning! That's my only goal, anyway, a gift to my future self, so to speak. We did, and Hardi did that kitchen trick! We made a huge beef roast and a big batch of spinach potatoes (greek yogurt instead of sour cream), a shrimp dip (greek yogurt instead of sour cream and lite mayo), and young eggplant marinated in garlicky olive oil. We managed not to overflow our trash cans with paper, enjoyed a new tradition (re-review of all cards received cuz we don't each see each others' till The Day), and the best gift I got was the handweights-rack I wanted which Hardi put together before bed! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 Dec 11 - 01:25 PM Shifting gears after the rush up to the holidays, now I need to work on stuff on my own behalf. This is often the hardest time of year for people, after the holidays. It's short days in the Northern Hemisphere, often overcast or raining (it has been that was this year for us in Texas - since our drought hasn't passed we need this, but a sunny day for xmas would have been nice!) As a possible aid to getting past the dreary part of the winter, here is an interesting story about a song I heard on an interview on Weekend Edition last Saturday. And here is the song. I really like it - on many levels, and frankly, the image of the family waiting for the grown daughter to visit is really wonderful - for her as well as them. I don't have strong emotions about the New Year - though I enjoy the gap between xmas and Jan. 1 as a time to keep watching the holiday movies. I'll put a few in to view while I work on the playbills this week. Yesterday was not a pretty sight as far as calories - carb consumption was at an all-time high with cookies and ice cream and pies. Oh my. A big bowl of oatmeal this morning to help flush some cholesterol through and I have some lovely salad materials and fresh vegetables here. I'll boil a couple of eggs and use some of last night's chicken and some of the honey baked ham my next door neighbor sent over to build a chef's salad. I love those! Michelle, here's the unsolicited "been there done that" Mom bit: the holidays are sometimes hard on little kids. Toddlers can be completely overwhelmed by the holidays, too much excitement one day, nothing the next. Overstimulated is never a pretty sight. Putting away the old familiar toys and perhaps even a couple of the new ones, and bringing them out again later will help level things for him. What they learn when they're little about pacing themselves, calming themselves, comforting themselves, about how to entertain themselves and about how to respond to times of extra stimulation will give him a lifetime of being able to control and comfort himself, as needed. I miss the days when my children were so small, when we were their entire world, but at the same time, I love seeing how they have grown and how they interact in their worlds - and how they sometimes remember to report back and let me enjoy their experiences of the world. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 26 Dec 11 - 02:23 PM The new hand-weights rack is now installed in the re-arranged weight room (my workout for the day). A tiny table for DVD player has been re-purposed (from the summer porch) to hold the tiny portable DVD player that failed to sell over the summer (TBTG)-- my evening project will be to take those out there and set them up, and fine-tune the setup while Hardi does his workout, and decide where I want to post my routine-sheets-- probably on the glass covering a poster I love that sits in front of my CardioGlider/weight bench. We also adjusted the tension on the Glider down to zero, so I can see what aerobics I can do on it with the lowered meds dosage. Did I mention we ran into the doc a few days ago, who opined that the meds have processed out now enough to evaluate-- and there is a tiny dose we can try next, if the already-lowered dosage is still too high. It's back to the PT pool Wednesday to continue planning the improved dry-clinic logistics, and we will settle what the home routine now should be, at the dry clinic pool Friday. So it's back to the club pool tomorrow. Big Gift #2 was a new cell phone, and the 11:30 alarm is all set for the daily prompts to run all of this. Another TBTG gift was a tiny digital foto-frame that can sit poolside on its carabiner/tripod base, slide-showing thru my aquatic routine prompts. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 26 Dec 11 - 02:40 PM Christmas was wonderful here! We did not open gifts at our house yesterday, not even a stocking. Instead, we lounged around and enjoyed being home together without rushing about! We did exchange gifts at my Mom's house and of course she had presents for the baby. To be honest, he wasn't really all that interested. We didn't really push the issue. I sat on the floor with him and tried to entice him to open one gift which he eventually did. He found 12 Little People trucks inside the wrapping...his eyes lit up, the smile was amazing and he said, "WOW!!!!" Daddy helped him get the new trucks out of the box and he happily played for hours. He opened a few more things but since he was focused on the new trucks, we left it at that. There are several other gifts to be opened and we requested that mom enjoy that with him during the next few visits. It IS a lot for a small child to take in on one day. In fact, he has not opened any gifts from us just yet. We are going to stretch it out and enjoy it as it happens. :) A little unconventional but it's what works for us this year. :) Pete and I exchanged our gifts to each other this morning. Jeremiah thought it was great fun to help unwrap today which was part of the fun. :) I sent out the last of the Christmas cards today....it was a photo card of Jeremiah (I know you are ALL SO SURPRISED..LOL). We used to send cards to just about everyone in Tioga County. This year we sent them to the people we know well and love. Also, I took Jeremiah to church on Christmas Eve. Now THAT was overwhelming for him. He liked the music but the rest of the time he was antsy which I kind of expected. He was chatty throughout the service (we stayed for about half of it) and sang along when there was music. Overall, I'd say it was a success and I'm glad I took him. Today is another relaxing day and I am enjoying my family time immensely! :) Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 Dec 11 - 03:59 PM A little unexpected declutter today - I had a couple of bottles of salad dressing in the pantry but didn't realize how very old they are. We're talking years here. And I thought I had a recently purchased bottle, but I can't find it, so the old ones are going out and the pickup is coming out of the garage for a run to the store. I have a couple of other things on my list as well so it won't be a one-item trip. Sounds like you've gauged what Jeremiah needs perfectly, Michelle! He's pacing himself well, playing the the toys that catch his eye and that's enough. Kat, how are you feeling today? Any gentle movement for exercise? Andrea, I haven't had a chance to completely catch up on facebook, but I'm going to take a look at your photos when I get back from my salad dressing run - I'll enjoy them with my meal. :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 26 Dec 11 - 07:38 PM dupe post prev === Well, I think we've probably had our first bad FreeCycle experience. When we first stared FCing, I made the mistake of setting out 4 huge boxes on the front porch, stacked... Each box was clearly labeled with the name of the recipient. The top box was for the first picker-upper scheduled, and so forth. When I happened to open the front door and see what was going on, that darn first-comer was loading all but ONE box that was still left... [shrug] My goal was to get 'em gone, so I just called 2 of the other recipients and told them what had happened-- and oh well! :~) But on Christmas Eve Day, our friend Ed and I took an item "urgently needed" to deliver an hour away, along with a NOT-urgently-needed item, because I had no address for the urgent one but did have time to get going. We left the urgent item, with the non-urgent person's encouragement, for the urgent requestor to pick it up however they could work it out-- not my business! And Ed and I had a wonderful, sunny drive catching up on his recent trip south to see his brother. We got to the Xmas Eve family service just in time. I sent the urgent-need lady and the porch-owner each others' email addresses as soon as I got home, so they could arrange next steps. I waited to see if the urgent requestor had gotten her email in time to surprise hubby... but instead I got a question from the non-urgent helper who'd held the item for her a few hours: not only was the item gone, so were some heavy-duty extension cords that had been left out nearby. Did I know the picker-upper personally? === I have no idea if they ever got hooked up in email, or which one is selling me a story-- but I do know that the brand-new AC I donated to the cause was NOT an "Energy Star," and that those two peeps were responsible for their own FCing!!! It was a good reminder-- always FC or Craigslist in daylight and take a friend and a cellphone every time, as we do, no matter how nice the peeps seem because.... you really never know. But someone got a nice new AC, so Merry Christmas to them! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 27 Dec 11 - 10:42 AM I had been dreading Christmas day. I was missing my son and other daughter, both of whom live a ways away. I knew Morgan would be fun, but it didn't feel as though my heart were in it. Well I was in for a surprise! It turned out to be a very lovely day. None of the grandkids woke us up too early, my brother came over for breakfast for which I made a coffee cake on the spur of the moment. I'd gotten a recipe off the Internet that morning and it turned out to be absolutely delicious. Then my brother went home for a while, until we met him at Morgan's house around noon. My daughter and son-in-law had everything ready for a nice Christmas dinner. I like the way they work together in the kitchen; it reminds me of how Roger and I do the same for holiday dinners…it's almost like a symphony. Santa brought Morgan and new bicycle and he had various other things. Not too much though. This year his parents really wanted to focus on him giving gifts as much as receiving. So they gave him a budget and took him shopping. He was very careful in what he purchased and gave very thoughtful gifts. After we finished eating, we opened up our packages. He was quite excited at the one Papa carried in. After he opened it, it was about the only thing he did for the rest of the day from what I hear. It was a "Rock Band" drum set, which is four electronic drum pads with real drum sticks. A person can buy DVDs to go with it of their favourite bands and, through a serious of very colorful prompts, learn the basics of drumming and then drum with the band on their favourite songs. Not quite our cup of tea, but a very good way for him to have fun, work on hand/eye coordination, and develop an even better sense of rhythm. His folks bought him the software for his first band. They chose AC/DC. Oh joy, hard rock. LOL the kid is good though. Within two hours after we left, he called me to let me know he had aced one of the songs already, rated 100% because he'd hit each beat perfectly. That was impressive, as we all had tried our hand at it and it was not easy. So, while I will still push the folk music, etc., it looks as though we may have a budding rock musician! I made the best pumpkin pies I've tasted in years. Took one to the kids and kept one here, besides the two we overnighted to our son. He was most appreciative and, thankfully, was invited over to a friend's house for Christmas dinner. Our daughter and grandkids back east had a very nice day also. Her boys are 13 and still are so excited they wake her up of 4 AM to open packages! They were very happy with their music keyboard. Yesterday was a quiet day for Roger and me. We did a few household chores and I took out the pile of bills I've been stacking away, went through them all, and made plans for payouts, Wednesday, when we get our Social Security check. Roger has gone to work this morning, but is going to try to take Wednesday and Thursday off; he already has Friday and Monday, so that would take care of some vacation days he will lose, otherwise. SRS, thank you for asking. I've done bits of qi gong in the past couple of days, as I sat watching videos, or waiting for Roger in the car. The terrible painful sciatica has let loose and it is much easier to do anything now. I have a hand therapy session on Friday which will be helpful. I did gain about 2 pounds from extra special treats over the past week, but I have no doubt they will drop off quickly as I get back to my regular eating habits. It's been very cold with bright, bright sunshine here. Christmas wasn't at all what I expected. It was much, much better. SRS, your call was timely and much appreciated. The terrible funk I was in for a few days seems to have flown the coop. I did have a very special "healing" between a dear friend and myself, but I'll save that for the wonderful news thread. Andrea, I'm off to look at your pictures now. Congratulations on making it through all the rubbish, foibles, and red tape! kat |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 Dec 11 - 10:43 AM Last night I made the last push and have completed a good first draft of my holiday letter, in InDesign. I have one more photo to stick in there and then I'll take the PDF down to a local copy center and have them print it on a nice paper and get these in the mail this week. I can also send it via email. I also caught up with a friend I haven't spoken to in a while - the kind of friend that when we talk the conversation picks up from the last time even though it has been months. We're going to try to get together this spring in Tucson when I pick up my son at the university. She always used to talk about going there (she's north of LA) because of Air Force reunions her father used to go to, so I think between us we'll have some nice places to visit and share and we'll talk non-stop during the whole visit. We're back in the realm of errand running and getting things out of the way during these few days off. It's finally sunny today so I hope to get some work in the garden - it's time to plant the Irish potatoes, and transplant a couple of things. And yesterday I picked up bags of topsoil and humus to mix in a big trash can with soil amendments to use in the greenhouse. I received an oil radiator heater for it and will keep the temperature above freezing and get a bunch of stuff started for spring. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 Dec 11 - 11:13 AM What I forgot to mention is that when my friend from LA comes to visit she'll swing by my brother's house on the way out of town (town - ha! It'll take hours of driving to get from one side of LA to the other, I fear!) and pick up a sewing machine and a sewing table that my sister kept from Mom's house and is sending to Moonglow. My brother brought it down from Seattle in the fall and I'll bring it back along with dorm room stuff. This is a slow motion delivery but will be perfect for a young woman who aims to design and sew for a living - the family sewing stuff. Kat, we cross posted. It sounds like a lovely holiday, and I hope that Morgan has a set of earphones for that drum pad kit! Most of them do these days. :) Susan, you're right about Craig's list and freecycle - you've have phenomenal good luck in getting such a range of items and giving away stuff - but it isn't an environment to be too complacent about. Sometimes you have to relax and let the opportunists have their way (we found the competition between scrap metal collectors back in October when we were filling that foreclosure dumpster to be something we had to keep track of - and point out occasionally that anything they picked up was without strings attached, so please not to bicker among themselves as they one-upped each other.) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 27 Dec 11 - 11:29 AM you've have phenomenal good luck in getting such a range of items and giving away stuff True, TBTG! :~) ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 27 Dec 11 - 02:19 PM 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores 12/5 1 12/6 1 front plus chair carry-in 12/7 much walking 12/13 much walking 12/14 1 front, 3 back, much walking in house chores, driveway cleanup, fetch mail 12/15 1 back, fetched mail from box (box just back YAY), carried 6 trips of wood left from construx crew-- all in equiv. of 2 pound ankle weights (each). 12/16 PT clinic (Jay), lower body at limit, new eval/functional goals w/MJ (housecleaning, snowblowing) 12/16 MEDS SLASHED, new activity/nutrition approved by doc, monthly visits planned to monitor with new "OPTIMAL" benchmarks (PT acronym) 12/16 1 front, plus walking/lifting at limit moving more wood. A little more than ydy's walk/lift/move wood (negligible difference); one big diff was I could work till throat burned. Much walking w/GKB 12/17 front 1, mail; moved CardioGlide and chose new upper body program 12/18 some walking, meds still processing out; a bedtime chore that is usually impossible was reasonably breathable-- still lost breath but got the job done first 12/19 1 plus 2 front, mail (breaking in new clogs); January/February doc appts set up 12/26 2 sets of 25 on CG 12/27 2 20-min aquatic sets of ski-jog, each one with a 6 min interval at 152 BPM |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 Dec 11 - 08:16 PM Did some running around, ended up in TWO malls today. A gift sent to my son, a good looking shirt, was a size too small. First mall didn't have his size, but gave me a gift card and a printout of the malls that did have it. I had other errands, and ended up half-way to the next mall, so went over and picked it up. And found a gorgeous leather handbag for 75% off. Only way I can afford them is to stumble upon this kind of sale. Home for the evening to address my holiday letters then work on the playbills. A quiet evening in. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Dec 11 - 12:27 AM I have written notes and addressed a dozen letters so far. Not working fast, but considering that none went out in previous years, this is progress! I'm actually multi-tasking, I downloaded an burned a disc for my son and was watching the Kennedy Center awards. I'll finish these letters tonight and that's a big load off of my mind. I took too long to get to this chore, but finally getting it done late is better than not finishing the letters at all. We have some mildly nice days ahead, so look forward to a few garden reports. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Dec 11 - 02:20 PM Still finishing my holiday cards, having to track down a few addresses that are suspect before mailing these. I just handed the first batch over to the mail carrier. It's time to do a good sweep and vacuum around here. Just like doing the dishes at bedtime means the kitchen looks good in the morning, I should do a good clean-up for a good entry into the new year. Small tasks that are easily accomplished. And I need to start putting away the holiday decorations. I have to take the dogs for a walk today, get us all some exercise and reinforce my pack leader status. How are the rest of you for exercise? Is the weather such that you can get out, if that is your exercise of choice? SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 28 Dec 11 - 06:34 PM How are the rest of you for exercise? Is the weather such that you can get out... PT is at a whole new level. Today (in the PT pool) we calibrated my legs to determine how the aquatic treadmill's MPH equates to the BPM speeds of deep-water aquajogging. We found that with the meds reduction, I am now able to go as fast as I ever was, but I need to build up wind. Also there are different strides/forces that will take a little more muscle development. But the basics are right there to return to fast, aerobic aqua-running-- sooner rather than later. We will probably do a few more PT-pool sessions to continue to build stair-climbing ability, but other than that I could be in the dry clinic now. My main PT-ist also approved my basic "discharge" plan of transferring some dry workouts to our weight room. We will stick with at least one dry-clinic PT appt per week to finish out the benefits approved. These will get me thru the SAD winter, because they (and the doc) will be asking me to report on weekly workouts at home and in our club pool. It's been very hard to get this far, but I am finally where I was before the meds knocked me back into chair-i-tude-- ready to make the transition from pool to weight-bearing. First I have to aqua-run off the 50 pounds gained during the high-meds period on the 1600 calories I was on for most of it, till I began PT and bumped it to 1800. I'm sore, but it's the right kind-- from hard workouts. And I'm freezing because no matter how you dress for it, it's cold going from pool to car to house during a wind advisory! But the slip-on shoes worked great as far as getting wet feet INTO them. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Dec 11 - 07:23 PM Good walk this evening, and we stopped to see Zeke at his house for a few minutes. Susie is in for cataract surgery tomorrow and we'll be having him here a bit to keep him from underfoot as she gets used to the corrected vision. Gotta do something about some of the paper here still. Starting with the playbills. Tonight is the night. Stay warm, all, and don't trip on any of those toys left on the floor or stairs! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 28 Dec 11 - 08:59 PM Pete and I are going to do an exercise DVD tonight after the baby goes to bed...I am completely looking forward to it! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Dec 11 - 11:29 PM I've been planning to move a VCR player into the living room to play some of my exercise videos on the big TV. I need to start with stretching. Once that is set up I have a few videos I made for the kids that I want to view with an eye to converting them to DVD via the computer. In which case, I have one I'll be sending for Jeremiah. But don't tell him yet - I need to figure out how to copy and edit it first. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 29 Dec 11 - 12:22 AM Mums the word!!! Ended up not doing the video tonight. I was deep into a book and wanted to finish it and Pete fell asleep. *shrug* It happens. :) Besides that, I lost track of time tonight and started cooking dinner around 9:30pm...I thought it was more like 7:30pm. YIKES. Whoops. That's what happens when I fall into a book! I did make a healthy dinner....center cut pork chops, potatoes and green beans. Skinny cow for dessert for those who were interested (not me). :) Night everybody! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountabi From: GUEST,Lilyfestre Date: 29 Dec 11 - 01:02 AM Hey....I can use my Kindle to access Mudcat...who knew?? :) Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 Dec 11 - 11:26 AM A big push on the contents of the dining room table today. Keep the cups of tea coming! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 29 Dec 11 - 12:18 PM tennis elbow - major pain for two days Mudcat take me away! |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 29 Dec 11 - 01:35 PM Working on setting up new weekly schedule refelcting chat with main PT ydy... 11/31 3 12/1 3 12/2 1 front 12/3 2 back 12/3 1 12/3 at walking limit, all in house chores 12/5 1 12/6 1 front plus chair carry-in 12/7 much walking 12/13 much walking 12/14 1 front, 3 back, much walking in house chores, driveway cleanup, fetch mail 12/15 1 back, fetched mail from box (box just back YAY), carried 6 trips of wood left from construx crew-- all in equiv. of 2 pound ankle weights (each). 12/16 PT clinic (Jay), lower body at limit, new eval/functional goals w/MJ (housecleaning, snowblowing) 12/16 MEDS SLASHED, new activity/nutrition approved by doc, monthly visits planned to monitor with new "OPTIMAL" benchmarks (PT acronym) 12/16 1 front, plus walking/lifting at limit moving more wood. A little more than ydy's walk/lift/move wood (negligible difference); one big diff was I could work till throat burned. Much walking w/GKB 12/17 front 1, mail; moved CardioGlide and chose new upper body program 12/18 some walking, meds still processing out; a bedtime chore that is usually impossible was reasonably breathable-- still lost breath but got the job done first 12/19 1 plus 2 front, mail (breaking in new clogs); January/February doc appts set up 12/26 2 sets of 25 on CG 12/27 2 20-min aquatic sets of ski-jog, each one with a 6 min interval at 152 BPM 12/29 1 front, mail, 1 set of 50 CG ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 Dec 11 - 01:37 PM Kat, now you're playing tennis? :) Take it easy - compensating for one injury can lead to others. Tracking down the last few addresses for my holiday letters has lead me to conclude that one cousin must have passed away. I can't find any sign of her (she may also be in a nursing home, and I'll have to see if I can find some of her family to get that information). But the rest have been located. My holiday is flying past quickly - I'm hoping for more productivity in the last few days. Will report as it happens, if it happens. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 29 Dec 11 - 01:48 PM Planned January Fitness Schedule: 11:30 AM: Mon Club Pool; BackHab, Ai Chi, Aquajogging; eve cardio w/Hardi Tue PT Dry Clinic; eve cardio w/Hardi Wed Club Pool; BackHab, Ai Chi, Aquajogging; eve cardio w/Hardi Thu Home weightroom; Upper Body workout, eve cardio w/Hardi Fri PT Pool; Cardio and Stairclimbing Sat Active REST DAY/Sat Svc Sun Eve: Club Pool w/Hardi; BackHab, Ai Chi ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: katlaughing Date: 29 Dec 11 - 04:23 PM throwing the dog's ball with rt arm, SRS, which was not ready...stupid of me katscreaminginpain do have a call in to the doc |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 Dec 11 - 06:15 PM I wish I knew more about spreadsheets. Most of the Microsoft Office suite is passably usable, but I never have to set up spreadsheets for myself. I sent a list and some requirements to a friend who is going to set one up and send it back. So silly. Making headway in my end of the year last minute work on this tax stuff. Looks like a long evening, and an early morning tomorrow. Might as well be a work night! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 29 Dec 11 - 06:33 PM Yep, Christmas happened without us! Went to the cafe on Friday night. Late again. Went to the cabin and STAYED there four days. That is how long it took before R was able to force himself, guilt-ridden, back to the city. He slept for most of two days; I read and did little things. We did not eat much. Then he slept only until late morning for two days. We took a walk in the beautiful sunny woods where the trees hung with snow, and did some very small improvements in cabin. He read and I sorted things, making more small organizing stabs. We visited a close /walking distance neighbour and spent almost 3 hours getting to know an interesting man. It was lovely. Car did not start on Tuesday so I went out to the road and waved someone down! A nice neighbour from the next road over. He owns the next lot and stopped in once in the summer. It was nice to move the relationship up a tiny notch. Yesterday, R brought home a booster pack and battery charger - for my Christmas! This was the third time the car did not start out there. There is not much traffic but we have been lucky. Prefer to be prepared. Today: 6 outdoors and 56 indoors! Heating pad on feet and wrapped in quilt. No motivation to do anything! Did 3 loads of laundry yesterday but added another space heater and using the washer shuts off the circuit. Heat is more important! Looking forward to the David Suzuki movie tonight and dinner with friends. News on: telling us about the year that is ending. Most interesting to me is Arcade Fire's sweep of awards. Just because it is so amazing to see a friend's son, a band member, on TV. I remember him as a 5 year old. Remember his dad as a Morris dancer at folk festivals. Mom involved as a musician. And sister now a dynamite singer songwriter of the political protest variety. Mom is SO proud of her kids! Posted on FB for my 2nd son to please contact mother! #1 is sometimes reachable. Visited today with sister-in-law, niece and her kids and husband on Skype. So nice to see them looking healthy; 7 year old just found to have diabetes but doing quite well with it. Skype is so wonderful. Phoned that country neighbour this am. will try to meet with him as he is tech savy and had ideas about how we can connect to the internet and have a cell signal at the cabin. Would make me feel more comfortable to spend more time alone there. No cafe for two weeks. |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 Dec 11 - 07:22 PM Taking a few minutes from my playbills to check end-of-the-month bills. Electric bill seems to creep a little earlier each month. My year contract is about up (next month) so I will shop around for another inexpensive plan. I do everything I can to keep it down, lots of things on taps with switches to keep all of those ready lights from running, etc. I did recently turn the hot water tank up a few degrees. When I run a bath now the water is warm, but it isn't hot enough to make it feel this side of a hot tub. A little singe when getting in is the heat I like. As soon as summer is here I'll turn it way down again. Dorothy, can you park your car in a garage when you're at the cabin? Cold weather always brings out the worst in a battery, if it's ready to die, that seems to be when they go. On another note, I also love the Suzuki programs - I grew up watching those on CBC since we had Canadian channels on our cable offerings in Everett and when I as in Bellingham broadcast channels came through. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 Dec 11 - 11:40 AM Delivered Susie to her doctor to have the protective eye patch removed after yesterday's new lens and cornea transplant. What a big deal that takes so little time! She has to be very careful for a couple of weeks so she's starting the weekend at a friend's house and I have Zeke here. The girls love it! I called work to make sure I'm going to arrive in good time with my donated stuff. I have a letter I'm writing, dated yesterday when I started it, that I'll email as well as hand deliver, for tax purposes, and while I'll take the lion's share over today I'll probably finish delivering the papers on Monday, because I'd like to organize what I give them so they can tell what it is right away. There will be a box of stuff that is bits and dabs from all over, that is probably a goldmine of local theater activity, that will go unsorted because I can't guess how they'll want to approach it. Back to work. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 30 Dec 11 - 05:43 PM The PTs OKd this plan, YAY! It was very hard work getting to this point with the last phase of PT augmented by more activity at home; now the next phase of hard-work notches is underway: Planned January Daily Fitness Schedule: Sun-- Evening Club Pool w/Hardi; BackHab, Ai Chi Weekdays (11:30 AM and about 8PM): Mon-- Club Pool; BackHab, Ai Chi, Aquajogging; evening light cardio w/Hardi Tue-- PT Dry Clinic; strength and balance training; evening light cardio w/Hardi Wed-- Club Pool; BackHab, Ai Chi, Aquajogging; evening light cardio w/Hardi Thu-- Home weightroom; Upper Body workout, evening light cardio w/Hardi Fri-- PT Pool; Cardio and Stairclimbing Sat-- Active REST DAY/Sat Svc === At today's dry-clinic PT, all the issues of the last bad-PT visit were met with new strategies; RESULT: a harder, more effective workout YAY! The new schedule begins SUNDAY. I no longer need to track the stair trips and other increased, midweek household activity that got me this far. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 31 Dec 11 - 12:28 AM Good work, Susan, and you'll get back the old you in the new year. How cool is that? A race against the clock and a printer on the fritz, but I got to the library with time to spare to turn in a hefty donation of materials. The archivist who received the boxes said that this set is so much more extensive than the one they already had that they wouldn't scavenge this collection to fill the other one, quite the reverse. This should probably have the name of the family whose estate they came from and any gaps filled in from elsewhere. Good! I told them when I first found this how fabulous it was, and I don't need my name on it, I just rescued it. :) I have the family information and contacts so I hope some good things come from this donation (and my taxes will benefit also - but it wasn't entirely a windfall - my sorting and filing added a lot of value to this collection.) The excel spreadsheet will make it easier for them to work with. I'll do each portion of this donation with a spreadsheet, when possible. My co-worker reminded me of an IRS rule that anything over a certain level needs to be professionally appraised - I use the eBay method and averaged, so I'll keep that in mind as I work on each segment. It might take me a couple of years to get the entire thing donated. Anyway, enough of that. Tomorrow is going to be a house and garden day - the high is supposed to be 74, so I can mow and mulch the leaves out front and spend some time clearing up the house, including ornaments. I can't say this was my best decoration year - I had some out, but I never got so far as to put away the boxes the ornaments came out of while they were up. I need to label boxes better, I spent a lot of time looking for things. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 31 Dec 11 - 11:56 AM It may be New Year's Eve, but it is also Saturday before going back to work on Monday, so I am resuming many of the normal activities (such as the alarm going off early again). I'll start a new thread and we'll see if people have any goals they want to list (not necessary, but in the spirit of the season, people do tend to look ahead and think about activities to come.) I have to mow the lawn to mulch in all of the neighbors' leaves. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: LilyFestre Date: 31 Dec 11 - 03:26 PM Looking forward to a new thread and the new year!!!! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: Stilly River Sage Date: 31 Dec 11 - 10:26 PM Here you go! A new thread for a New Year. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Dec. 2011 - Wrapping up Declutter & Accountability From: wysiwyg Date: 04 Apr 12 - 03:20 PM Needed some info from this old thread and what a great re-read it was. Some DAMN hard-working folks here, Lord bless 'em! Hm.... if I save all the old declut threads as text.... (AKA printer friendly) I can mail then to my Kindle to access/search tips, any time.... hm...... heck that REALLY beats the printer/binder process! I bet it would fit on my fone, too, where I skimmed a whole thread earlier today..... ~Susan |
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