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Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Oct 13 - 02:03 AM I finished most of that new buffet I'm working on, converted from a nicely made but dated dresser that had distressed veneer. Now it has black high gloss enamel (I later saw something about "ebonizing" furniture - that would be interesting) and a glass top. I've been putting on the drawer and cupboard pulls, and found that one of the seven pulls was from the wrong bin at the glass shop with all of the great cabinet hardware. I'll swap it out tomorrow. There is a grocery bag packed with several pounds of old VCR tapes. I took a bag of them to work this morning and I'll take more tomorrow. This will clear out several cubic feet of space in the bookcases. I signed a title transfer form at work today for all of the publications and photos I turned over to the university archivist. I have an estimated 11.25 linear feet of shelf space now of my work in Special Collections. That doesn't count all of the gigabytes of stuff I turned over as well. This is prints and publications from the first 7 or 8 years of work. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 23 Oct 13 - 08:16 PM Got the last of the yard sale items listed on FreeCycle finally! Now, just the clothes and linens to sort, inside the camper, nice and dry and warm! An hour's worth of work. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 23 Oct 13 - 01:18 PM I went for a walk this morning in my own neighborhood which means BIG hills. :) More fabric cutting for me today...so far I have another baby quilt cut and ready to sew and am working on 4 table runners. I got information to my insurance company to have a procedure pre-approved and set up meetings for the next few months for a group I'm part of. Also, a 50 mile round trip this morning for some errands. Later today we have a parent/teacher conference to attend! I'm excited about that! Lots of busy little things going on. :) Life is good! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 23 Oct 13 - 10:25 AM SRS, the big-ticket items did sell (fast!) and a lot of the clutter, too. To the PT-pool stuff above, I would add that we also have a good plan to build a simple (cheap!) home gym out on my ramp and front porch, since I love to be outside huffing and sweating in the winter. Now that the Yard Sale stuff ain't out there, I'm claiming that real estate before it re-cluts! I have 90% of what the gym will include, already, up in the MudAttic, where I worked out after my first round of PT. Now I wanna be OUTside. A metabolism will do that for ya. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Oct 13 - 01:02 AM Such a nice thing to do for him! Thank you for being the sweetheart you are to see that need and filling it! I wish I could say I'd done anything even slightly as helpful as that. Just a little time this evening to read and chill after working late. I'm headed to bed and out early tomorrow. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 22 Oct 13 - 10:17 PM I did spend the day in my sewing room but I didn't get any sewing done at all. I don't even have my machine out. However, I did a LOT of cutting! I am going to a 3 day quilting retreat soon and would love to get there with everything all cut so I can just sew and sew and sew. :) I also did a fair amount of ironing today (fabric, not clothes...LOL..I never iron clothing). I also made a GIANT batch of Shepherd's Pie. Several single serve containers to freeze, some for dinner and a large foil pan to deliver to someone I met by chance....a man my mom's age who has a 33 year old daughter who had an aneurysm and then a seizure....she was being moved out of ICU into a long term facility yesterday. His wife is with the daughter in another state and he is alone....he cried and cried...said it was the first time he really had done that. So he's alone and so sad....just broke my heart...had to do something so I made him lots to eat as I bet he isn't cooking for himself. I delivered it today....he met me with a HUGE smile. :) Michelle who felt that smile for hours afterwards |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Oct 13 - 08:40 PM I hope you find the right combination, Dorothy, then share the recipe with us! Good work, Susan, on your sale. Did you sell most of it? Was it nice weather? Michelle, did you get a lot of sewing done? I saw a note that you were heading into your sewing room. I've started clearing all of the odds and ends off of the sewing desk in my guest/sewing room. First I need to tackle a bunch of mending that can be done by machine, and then I have some new things to actually make. :) I was able to shop my closet this morning and pulled out a lovely gray knit cardigan with pearl snaps that now looks good. My arms were too fat for a long time to wear it. And I am wearing a ring I haven't had on in ages. The cooler weather helps, I don't store water as much as when it's hot. This is my late night at work and I head in early tomorrow to take a service desk shift for a coworker, so there won't be much time to do anything, though I may see about doing a couple of more drawer pulls on the buffet. What I have done looks great and I want to finish that so I can photograph it and post the before and after photos. It is a striking difference that I'm quite pleased with. One of the lectures I set up is happening tomorrow and I'll be there to listen and take photos. Another reminder of how uninteresting things have become. That's why the successful completion of projects at the house is all the more important. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 22 Oct 13 - 08:39 PM Another load to Goodwill and tables returned to church. I'm going to be in a new PT mode. I had funding help for 12 aquatic PT co-pys and have progressed quickly thru 7 of these, but am still testing very weak. So instead of twice a week for 2 more weeks we are going to once weekly, for 4 weeks, and I start weekly and then oftener trips to the health club to do the same routine in cold water that I have been doing in warm PT water. We're finding muscles that have NEVER worked before, pre-surgery. I like 'em! ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 22 Oct 13 - 08:23 PM Took that bath instead of going to the country. Good thing as R was already back in the city having given instructions re K. I do not like not being there; wondering how it will all turn out. Kitchen is, to me, the most important room of all and I do not trust anyone to do it right - my way. Today's bath wiped me out; I had to get out without taking a shower then go back up and shower off the salt after a period of recuperation. Then I had almost enough energy to pot - but not quite. Put heat on so it will be warm enough when I do have the energy. R came in for late lunch, then for supper, turned off the water to work on toilet, then went off to visit a friend. ???? Coughing all day today after almost none yesterday. Used all the possible bits of my sage plant to make tea - without killing it! Then walked to grocery for a packet of fresh sage. Cannot remember what I did differently to stop the cough yesterday; nothing working today. |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 22 Oct 13 - 04:27 PM Post-sale activities are puttering along. One load went to Goodwill and another is packed to load and go on my next trip thataway. That leaves a large FreeCycle listing to cover the items still on the canopy-protected table and, inside the camper, piles of fabric items. Nice ones to church thrift shop and the rest to Goodwill, but I can work on them in the rainy days ahead. The camper is sked for foldup on Monday so that's my deadline. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Oct 13 - 12:20 PM Working around the house this morning, checking web sites, then an hour in the garden. If I can get the one closest to the kitchen door weeded then I will be able to put in broccoli. The potatoes will go on the other side of the driveway later, but I need to work the soil now. Cycling through cracked and dry hands because I accidentally got into coconut last week. I asked the co-worker who bakes to put a note on the item if it has coconut or chocolate. The ants that were around the den fireplace last week seem to be finding their way into the master bathroom this week (these rooms are separated by a wall). I'll have to spray spinosad on the countertop to convince them that there is nothing there for them. It's the time of year when so many of these things move indoors. I should have a lizard come in and police the counter for me. :) I've sold all but two recent eBay listings. One is in a "unpaid item claim" status (I set it up to automatically run after four days. Since I only take PayPal there is no reason to wait a week for a payment, there is no check in the mail.) Another has been relisted. I have some interesting advertising circular things that I found in the trunk this week that I'll list, plus the envelopes that they arrived in. Amazing what people collect, and ephemera is one of those things that was supposed to be thrown away so is all the more interesting. I'll relist that one item soon. I suspect that brand-new eBay user who bought this item won't last long, the first time out they messed up. I'll post photos when I finish the buffet. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 22 Oct 13 - 08:05 AM In the city since Friday night - ICK! Spent most of Weds and Thurs with my friend (Parkinson's) and met her morning caregiver. She was upset all afternoon at having, basically, been forced to take a shower in the morning; she felt it caused her to have more difficulty all day. Raises, again, the question of autonomy. So much has been taken away, so much she cannot do. "I used to be the one in charge," is a wistful refrain. Consulted with her husband yesterday and he has sorted that out. Caregiver thought she had to take orders from the daughter regardless of what the mom wanted. I held my tongue at the time (yay for me!) De-tox baths on Thurs eve, Sat aft, Sun (3:30 am!), Sun aft and Mon aft. Each one involved a few hours of recoup time but have collectively helped reduce the coughing. Fri, I went down to the mill and found the pollution due to construction too much and sat in the car reading until time to go to cafe- terrific music of Kim and Eddie Lawrence! R never made it so I phoned him so he could listen to two songs. Then I drove back to the city. The finishing was done on the sun space and LR. Today, work is starting on the K!!!!! R went down last night. I will go down after rush hour so I can have some input. May be able to do some work in studio, she says hopefully. ---Nice thought but I just realized the cough needs another hot bath - which is now running. I'll see how I feel after that. Yesterday, I went to the market and bought all manner of lovely fruit and veggies, made split pea soup and readied a brussel sprouts to-be-cooked mixture. Now in frig as R never came home! I bought the whole stalk of sprouts and that is going to be more meals than I considered at the time! I managed to clean up the dirt from R working on putting a new toilet in the downstairs - one that does not need to be flushed with a bucket, a really nice thing to look forward to but a longer term project than at first thought. Dealing with an OLD house, having to go into the dirt cellar to work on water... Arghhh! Glad it is not me doing it! Next stop - hot bath. |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Oct 13 - 01:23 AM This has been a day for clearing work surfaces. I put away stuff in the garage on the workbench so I could cut a plank to the right size to use as a template for my drawer pulls on the buffet. I drilled one set of holes on a narrow top drawer and it looks great - I put the drilling on pause and went back and retouched the spots where the wood putty is from the old holes. The middle drawer on top used to pull open from a finger groove on the bottom of the drawer face, but now with a cupboard below it needs a handle. So, two drawers and the cupboard knobs are in place now and I can see this will look lovely when finished. Once it is complete I can clear some of the dining table stuff into it and back out to the garage. I've been washing some of the napkins and other textiles from the old trunk - soaking in plain water for a couple of days with a few changes of the water, and then giving a few hours with oxy bleach added, and a couple of gentle washes in the washer, one of them with a little bit of chlorine bleach. I'll iron a few of them before I go to bed tonight to see how they look. I'm about to another point to purge some things from the closet. There is a pair of jeans in particular that has been remarkably adjustable to all of my sizes from the top (they were pretty darned tight, but wearable) to now (they're too long and about to fall off). I left for a while this afternoon and went with Susie to take the newest dog to the vet. She does have a bladder infection, and is on antibiotics for the next two weeks. These dogs are what Susie needed to set her household to as close to the old "normal" as possible, after her injuries and recovery last year. My co-worker was so ill that she couldn't care well for them in the last year. People donated dog food, and in the last few months her parents have been at the house caring for the dogs and their daughter. The dogs have been overfed and have been eating the cheapest dog food available at Walmart. Before any more vet visits for skin and gunky ears happen, they need to transition to a healthy diet and each get a thorough grooming visit. That may well be enough. It feels like fall now. I love this cooler weather, and I've been enjoying more of my herbal teas. I pulled a bag of bulk steel cut oats out of the freezer and have filled my canister for the oatmeal season. For tomorrow morning I have my little crock pot in place. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Claire M Date: 20 Oct 13 - 02:47 PM Hiya, Sorry, was bit stressed. Took Merlin over to visit friend who was/is ill & wanted a dog kiss. He can be quite forthright [friend, not Merlin] ; he was asking me about moving out of where I/we live. Maybe a goal for a few yrs ahead but not now; ideas were/are very iffy [will keep you updated if this website's still up] Had to explain that what I might *want* isn't necessarily what ends up happening. Nov approaches fast, & so does the Wintersmith Tour, & with it, my bowel-loosening horror of it being the last one. I toss & turn; I yearn to dance the Dark Morris once again. Luv & Loads of Leaves Time I was away.......... |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Bat Goddess Date: 20 Oct 13 - 01:17 PM Okay, all the spiffification that I can do without totally collapsing is done. Chair is moved to close to the door, for easier removal. Rufus will have to play in the cellar for awhile when they get here. As soon as they leave, I have to take some Rxs to the pharmacy for pick up tomorrow. I have to photocopy them now, so Tom's cardiologist and PCP knows what they are when we see them this week. I really don't feel like going out, but it will be okay. Then I'm under-reacting again and reading. Maybe the rum cake won't get made today. That's okay, too. Linn |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 20 Oct 13 - 12:14 PM This morning I was digging into a trunk looking for more table linen items, mostly napkins or things to be used as napkins. This is full of all sorts of stuff, including things like a whole bunch of fancy antimacassars. Any of you need to visit your dictionaries for that one? Surprised I knew it? I did. They are the small and often crocheted or tatting lacy pieces of cloth that go on the arms or backs of chairs to keep them clean (the cloths themselves were regularly laundered). Meant to keep the macassar oil that was used on the hair off of the furniture or clothing. Your bit of trivia for the day. I thought I knew everything in this trunk, it was packed in 1984 by my friend Emma. I knew her from my years in college when I worked up in the mountains each summer. We stayed close friends and I knew she loved antiques so I flew her to Connecticut to help with my great aunt's estate. She boxed up glass, crystal, silver, and tons of textiles. This trunk is her last surprise for me - down in the bottom under the rolls of Irish linen and antimacassars were two heavy boxes, mostly silver spoons (plate) but a few old family gems brought from Ireland. I'm sure she picked these up and put them in the trunk unexamined, and now I'm finding the pieces my great aunt and her sisters and mother used and ordered (lots of Betty Crocker coupon orders of various silver plate patterns.) I visited Emma with my son in tow last summer - and found that she has Alzheimers. She remembered me, but after I introduced my grown up son it didn't register that he was the little boy she was asking me about. I'm sure my son saw my face, my realization that this friend is slipping away. This needs to become a thoughtful essay. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Bat Goddess Date: 20 Oct 13 - 12:12 PM Just a note to say if you want to know what I'm up to, check the "Curmudgeon In Hospital" thread. Laundry done and about to be dried. Dishwasher emptied. Brunch (breakfast sandwiches) made and eaten. Now to spiffify just a little bit before friends bring over a recliner for Tom and take the old chair away. Have to remove slip cover, etc. Yeah, this is how I'm relaxing today. I do intend to make a rum cake later. I've very much been craving one. Bought whipped cream the other day specifically for it. Linn |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 20 Oct 13 - 02:07 AM I am dumbfounded. Another death at work - this time the husband of a woman who retired earlier this year. More photos to dig out. This evening I used wood putty and filled in the holes from the former drawer pulls on that buffet I'm working on. I was going to simply drill new holes using a template, but I need to do two things - make the template more robust (cardboard isn't enough, it has to be a piece of wood) and then fill those existing holes since the new holes are very close to the old ones. I'll need to stagger them a little higher to avoid the new holes merging with the old ones. I think filling the old ones first will make the new holes easier to put in. The drill bit less likely to drift. The kitchen is looking pretty good, it took only a few minutes to clear off the peninsula counter. Hand washables out of the way, the rest of the laundry gets washed tomorrow. I finally sold one of the eBay items that has been relisted many times. It's a bulky box, so shipping this on Monday will clear part of the bench the boxes were stacked on. Tomorrow I have to spend some time doing serious dusting. It is piling up again. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 19 Oct 13 - 07:36 PM Dog transfer didn't happen today, it will tomorrow, then Susie's house will truly have lots of dogs. We'll work out a dedicated set of pooper scooper equipment and I think this will be a grandson chore. After a short nap I'm going to create a template for my dresser hardware and get to work. Lots of great PBS viewing on Saturday nights, so it is a good evening to work in the living room and have the big TV on. Getting ready to run a load of whites that have been soaking in an oxy bleach all day. They are napkins and such that will go in the new buffet. And I'll get out another set to soak and so do them in small batches. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 19 Oct 13 - 05:32 PM YARD SALE REPORT: Our little maiden yard sale was great! Just the right amount and flow of traffic, and all advertising and signage was fruitful. Things sold at (or very near) marked pricing. I gave away a few items people needed and could not buy. Faulkner was a superb partner, discerning who belonged here and who did not. I will def do this annually, and as we continue to prepare for downsizing I anticipate more and larger pieces each year. Using the camper was a hit also, as my base of ops. Keep-dry items were displayed in there and, prob because I had all the windows zipped open, no one felt funny about going in there. My previous retail experience was helpful in how items were grouped and displayed, as well as in how I interacted with buyers. Some huge plusses I cannot empahasize enough-- 1. Hardi came along about 1pm and brought me lunch and a spare pair of hands for a bit. He also took down some of the signage while I took down other signage. THANK YOU HUBBY! 2. My ADA scooter was a wonderful help. I still got in more than the PT's walking assignment for the day, and the scooter gave me fast mobility all around the property. This meant that I was not pinned down to the sale table, and could still meet buyers as they arrived. 3. Altho the rain held off (TBTG) till an hour before closing, I was so rain-prepped that I was able to relax and enjoy folks as they scurried in hoping to beat the rain. And none of the merch got soaked. A friend I had hoped could drop by and give me a pee break phoned at the last half hour, while I sat on the dry porch for the last of the advertised "open" time. We had a great visit! ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 19 Oct 13 - 11:10 AM Well...no yard sale for me this morning. We have something family related that came up and that comes first. All the tagged things will stay tagged until probably the spring and that's ok. Family first. ALways. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 18 Oct 13 - 06:36 PM The glass top looks wonderful, and I selected a set of antique brass drawer handles. I was originally thinking about using bin pulls, but the one I really liked was discontinued and I needed 7 of them. This dresser/buffet isn't huge (48" wide, 18" deep) so I don't want them to be the wrong scale for the piece. They have a little grain pattern on each side, and I found two brass knobs in the same family for the cupboard doors. I'll make a template to fit the drawers for the new holes (I don't know if these will fit the old hole pattern, but I suspect not. I need to wood putty and paint those.) Okay, it was a "free" dresser and I've turned it into a black lacquered buffet with a glass top. Total the glass, hardware, and paint (I had the wood putty already for filling in the veneer gaps and I think I had the plywood for the shelf and the doors) is just under $150. I couldn't have bought this for that, probably, but my point is that "there is no such thing as a free buffet" if you decide to convert a piece of furniture. Photos to follow. It has been an interesting exercise. I'm a messy painter and have a couple of spots to touch up and I need to use a stripper to take off some smears on the sides of the drawers. This weekend I'll launder and iron some of the antique table cloths and napkins to put in the buffet. And I have a heavy silver platter on the top that needs to be polished. I want my dining area to be ready to entertain people so I don't have to scramble to get set. Art and Jenn Brooks will be coming through town in a couple of weeks, maybe we will sit down there to have dinner. :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 18 Oct 13 - 06:22 PM Special thanks to Hardi for helping me unpack it all and price a few last-added items. I'm getting too old for this! But it was great to be alive to do it! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 18 Oct 13 - 03:09 PM Hardi found some nice items-- 2 SLR/film cameras-- to add to the sale. I added our old fairly-new blender and a small food processor. The sun just came out; after a lazy start to the day, doing laundry, and cooking (I drove to Rochester and back yesterday), we're heading out to load up the trailer in the sunshine so I can start setting up tables and laying out merch. Minimal chance of rain tomorrow, towards the evening-- YAY! I have a 22' tarp to cover the merch. We decided to post a guard overnight since heroin has hit the county big this year. Done: Dust off two ladies' suits, and hang them in dry cleaners' plastic to keep them dry in case of forecast sale day rain. Dust off two ladderback chairs and take the 2nd one out front. Doing now: Load trailer in front n unload in back (hubby power). Hang clothing n linens fr upright trailer ramp. Lay out merch. Tasks left: Pick up color printer ribbon. Set up yard decor n balloons. Set out road signs. Lock hse n open sale w dog. Make BIG BUCKS and new friends! Take pix for freecycling any items not sold. Load all unsold items on trailer (wrapped in clear plastic) and cover with tarp. Drive FC-unclaimed items to Goodwill (they unload!!!). ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Claire M Date: 18 Oct 13 - 02:15 PM Hiya, I loved Disney, but couldn't convert my vhs to dvd, & there was only 3 I watched regularly anyway. Much prefer[red] the older versions of the stories, still do; write this type of thing myself – old fashioned language & all – & am hoping to get them published. Finished w/ angel books lent to me. We've got a tombola coming up, so may donate said unplayed cds to that/flatmates. Probably tombola cos people are very finicky re their stuff here [even when it was/is unwanted before & think when anything is donated it's been left here by mistake. Hesitate to call them flatmates anymore cos every time our paths cross most of them complain about something/nag – they've nothing to take their minds off things/escape into, in the same way I have, so any conversation we *do* end up having is ½ - ♥-ed. I've been here for 1 bloody yr & it's still the same. The Consort likes to chat & find out things as I do, but he tends to get avoided, & nobody bar me seems to listen to him, which makes him cross. I'm ripped apart by pain on a regular basis while waiting for wheelchair assessment but unless it's *really* bad you don't catch me snapping @ everyone. I want Merlin [collie] Requiem Aeturnum, dona ei, Domine...... |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 18 Oct 13 - 12:29 PM Headed out to pick up my glass, and then maybe a little time in the garden before heading to work. This is one of those weeks when you count the days, and when you get through a day and are ready to turn off the bedside light and go to sleep you can count it as a success. This is a weekend involved with the funeral on Saturday morning and Susie and I are going to do some modem and router troubleshooting (I'll check her system before we leave for the funeral, and since the place where I buy electronics is over near the funeral, we'll make that stop later and finish up the morning at Susie's with an up and running home network for her.) A few more tapes are in the donation box. I have been comparing services for viewing programs (Hulu, NetFlix, Amazon Prime) and if I find them streaming then there are sets of tapes that were recorded at home that can be recycled. Home recordings can't be sold for obvious copyright reasons. The new collar is pinned in place on the bathrobe, and next I'll use more of the replacement fabric and create a yoke that will serve as an interfacing attached to the new collar. This way I'll sew it in place under the collar on the back side and tack it down along the top edge of the collar and the yoke facing will help anchor it inside. Hard to visualize, perhaps, but think about a yoke on the robe, just on the inside as a facing instead of on the outside. This is because the collar is so thick (this is a heavy tight terry cloth) I can't sew through all of these layers. I just got off the phone with the woman who has been finding homes for the pets of my coworker. I think the retriever mix will be coming over to join her sisters. She's really depressed right now. It was a tearful phone call - we both remembered the point when I put the two dogs in my pickup and the third one didn't understand, wanted to get in also. :( SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 17 Oct 13 - 09:26 PM Careful, Michelle. I think I have that same "nerve," and another mudcatter pointed out that I might have a small haital hernia. I asked my GP and was told it isn't a problem as long as it doesn't effect eating and swallowing. I'm sure he said more, that's what I remember. I'll get any of my extra stuff done tomorrow morning because I have meetings in the afternoon and evening. I'll pick up my glass for the buffet and take over the information about my first choice of brass hardware and compare it to what they have in the store. It would be marvelous to finish this whole thing this weekend, but it depends on the price of the hardware. Linn, I hope you're giving yourself all of the opportunities you can to get naps and a good night's sleep. If you don't get enough sleep you won't be able to stay healthy to help Tom. Sweaters soaking, bathrobe laid out with replacement collar fabric, various small maintenance activities taken care of. I may do a little ironing this evening after I finish folding the laundry. Lots of puttering. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 17 Oct 13 - 06:13 PM I have a DVD/VCR combo machine and have quite a fabulous collection of kid's videos that I picked up for .50 or less (usually a quarter) at the Salvation Army. People upgrade their machines and have no use for the VCR tapes anymore....suits me just fine! :) I've gotten rid of many VCR movies but did keep a solid 20 or so that are our favorites. I can't see ditching them to repurchase in another media mode. I had a nice lunch with my mom today and then did my grocery shopping. It's the first time I've been in over 3 weeks (with the exception of milk, bread and fruit once a week). I spent quite a while going through the sale papers and planning our menus for the next few weeks and am happy to say I came in quite a bit under budget! YAY. While unloading the car I dropped some papers on the ground. Of course I was holding far too many bags at once on my left arm and when I bent over, something in my chest seized up...painful...not good. It has happened before...I have a nerve in there that doesn't like when I move just so. YOUCH. So now I'm taking it easy. All the freezer and fridge stuff is away and the rest can wait a little bit. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 17 Oct 13 - 12:38 PM I could send them all over to the Goodwill - they would put them in their VCR tape section. I remember now that they have a whole shelf opposite the book area. Thanks, Betty! This week is crawling along. Friday complex with meetings and a photo shoot. Saturday morning there is another funeral. Still sorting photo files at work and finding remnants at home to bring in for the archives. When all of this is out of the way I need to put on the boots and dig up the garden, as much for the therapeutic energy discharge as for my fall crop (I picked up a bunch of broccoli bedding plants yesterday). I'll get my buffet top glass tomorrow, that will be a nice step in the transformation of this old veneered dresser - it had good "bones" but didn't look like anything elegant. This has been an exercise in creating something new from the old piece. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Bettynh Date: 17 Oct 13 - 10:25 AM Don't trash the kids' tapes, SRS. At my yard sales I found that some families, primarily not-rich, have put together super-cheap entertainment corners for kids with ultra-cheap VCRs, old TVs and video tapes. Very cheap or free quality kids' movies would be VERY welcome. For that matter, shelters and daycare centers probably have taken the same route. |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 17 Oct 13 - 01:19 AM I had an "aha" moment today, reading an article about a new book about Jeff Bezos of Amazon - and it merged with that article I posted (probably on facebook) about your clutter or your life - that we have an awful lot of entertainment cluttering our lives. At this point I have NetFlix, and if I add Amazon Prime that covers about anything I can think of that I want to watch either on DVD or streaming. I have favorite DVDs I'll keep here but I'm going to finish culling the VCR tapes of all but the most rare that may not be easy to get elsewhere, and move the home-recorded ones to place where I can go through them and discard a whole bunch more. That'll clear out a few more cubic feet of space. I suppose I could donate the commercial tapes, but I don't know if even the Goodwill can sell them much any more. I have a few of the nicely boxed Disney ones the kids had that are now out on DVD and BluRay. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 16 Oct 13 - 01:42 PM Sign boxes made (YUCK!) and hand-made afghan packaged-- it's a neat Ladies' Sample Squares afghan, knit and crocheted, multicolored. I added an extra pillow to bulk it up for display and stuffed it into one of those clear-plastic, zippered comforter big-box-store-packaging thingies. So tasks left: Dust off two ladies' suits, and hang them in dry cleaners' plastic to keep them dry in case of forecast sale day rain. Dust off two ladderback chairs and take the 2nd one out front. Load trailer in front n unload in back (hubby power). Borrow hangers from church. Hang clothing n linens fr upright trailer ramp. Pick up color printer ribbon. Set up yard decor n balloons. Set out road signs. Lock hse n open sale w dog. Make BIG BUCKS and new friends! Take pix for freecycling any items not sold. Load all unsold items on trailer (wrapped in clear plastic) and cover with tarp. Drive FC-unclaimed items to Goodwill (they unload!!!). ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Oct 13 - 09:59 AM Cold this morning! Relatively, at any rate. Not as cold as Montana, but we have finally shifted into full autumn weather. Pulling sweaters out of the closet. Starting with dark clothes for a funeral this afternoon (I received a note about it last night - I wasn't sure if I'd be going because it seems to be a private ceremony, but a few of us in the library received the invitation and I'll be sure to go.) I have more cotton bedding to put out in the garage for the dogs, and this weekend I'll do some work on the stall (I need to make it a bit wider to accommodate another dog house). It won't be cold in there for a while yet - they came into the house to eat this morning right out of their beds - all three were warm and smelled like sleeping dogs. If you own dogs you know they have their own sleepy smell, just like sleeping children, etc. Much to do today. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 16 Oct 13 - 08:49 AM In this big ole house we are two people getting stronger and one critter getting creakier, and we do not want to buy anything new for anyone because we are saving all possible resources for our retirement home. So-- <> The electric lift recliner I no longer need is on the way out to whoever needs it next <> A Salvation Army chair for which I have a coordinating ottoman is on the way in, and will hold a lot of the foam that used to customize the lift chair to my back <> The folding cot I'd sold my 2nd autoharp to buy may have gotten too damaged to use-- gotta check out the frame-- but in the meantime it is a nicely narrow, cushy cot well off the floor for poor achy Faulkner. (The FC electric blanket on the floor was too wide and too easily stepped on. Now it hangs down to make a kitteh kave and a little under-bed stowage space for items we need at hand but out of sight such as extra bedding for cold winter evenings, winter boots....). Damn dog slept in it when it was in the van anyhow-- he already thinks he owns it. So I added a pillow I'd been sitting on, in the lift chair that had almost zero padding left, to at least remind him that it's actually mommeh's cot and he must share if asked. And it's long enough to hold him and a cat or two, too. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Oct 13 - 12:44 AM As of now telecommuting is not allowed at work, unless for specific short-term tasks and one must file a five-page form in advance requesting said time and it must be approved first. If you have to work at home because of a delivery or plumber or something the dean doesn't expect that you're going to work 8 hours around the visit, she expects that you'll take some vacation time to cover the distracted period during an 8 hour work day. She is pulling every perk that we had, considering that we are so low paid so they made a difference. Putting more pressure on those who were displaced to move along, out of the library. It sucks. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 15 Oct 13 - 03:52 PM Tasks left: Make boxes for road corner signs and affix signs. Load trailer in front n unload in back (hubby power). Borrow hangers from church. Hang clothing n linens fr upright trailer ramp. Pick up color printer ribbon.. Set up yard decor n balloons. Set out road signs. Lock hse n open sale w dog. Make BIG BUCKS and new friends! Take pix for freecycling any items not sold. Load all unsold items on trailer (wrapped in clear plastic) and cover with tarp. Drive FC-unclaimed items to Goodwill (they unload!!!). ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 15 Oct 13 - 01:29 PM It's green pepper season around here too. We have plenty of our own (just for eating, not enough for freezing) but a friend has offered us a 5 gallon bucket of green peppers so I'll be chopping and freezing that much later tonight. Today I've been working in my kitchen. Our fridge is the kind with the freezer on the bottom and generally it isn't used for much other than ice cream, half open bags of veggies and fish. It has also been used for extra zucchini bread, Vita-muffins, egg rolls, popsicles, etc. Well....I'm sorry to say that some of that stuff has been there a LONG time and just not even looked at so we have a lot of freezer burned stuff. I cleaned out the bottom drawer this morning and got rid of most of it. Then I brought in the veggies, fruits and meats I have planned for this week's meals. No going out in the mudroom in the dark (light switch is in a weird spot) to dig around in the freezer on a daily basis! YAY!! I worked on our budget, scanned the flyers for deals this week on groceries, made a menu for the week, pulled out any canned or boxed items I'll need, did dishes, am on my 2nd load of laundry and maybe I'll do floors today..maybe not. I have some homework to complete for my class (ahead in the reading but didn't do the workbook stuff..shame on me!). I should be at Sit & Sew today but I just have too many things around here that need attention and the house is bugging me. I'm hoping to get grocery shopping done when I pick up Jeremiah, have a little Mommy and Jeremiah time with a picnic dinner at the playground, then class and home. Today I also pulled some stuff out of the kitchen that I just don't use anymore and put it in the yard sale pile. YAY. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Oct 13 - 01:04 PM Peppers are bagged, the rest will be cut up tonight. The water is lifting a fair amount of the sepia tone from those napkins, I've changed it out once already. Still not feeling my best, but this is a modified fast day, so I think I'll be okay. I think my coworker had this bug for several days. Odd one. I'm making sure to wash my hands a lot. Looks like a trip to the post office on the way out, my postal carrier must be running late with a heavier load of stuff today. No telecommuting this week, a form that is now required hasn't been approved yet. Still looking at other jobs. Funeral tomorrow afternoon, funeral Saturday morning. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Oct 13 - 12:30 AM Half of the bell peppers I picked the other day have been diced and spread on a baking sheet in the freezer. I'll do the other half tomorrow. Dishes put away, those in the sink washed. I pulled out some of the antique cloth napkins from a trunk in my front room and have them soaking in plain water to lift some of the brown age color. I found so many great items I've forgotten about, but I won't take them all out now. I can put a lot of it in this buffet. And as for the buffet, I finished lining the drawers and took a good look at a printout with a brass drawer pull I like - I do think the glass place I visited today has something very similar. I pick up the glass top after Wednesday. I cleared the dining table and brought in a rotary pad and a rotary blade because I couldn't remember where my X-acto cutter and blades are. I looked through various desk drawers where some of that kind of thing is (and found plenty of other stuff I forgot about, but no knife.) Those of you preparing for garage sales, I salute you! They're hard work, but when they happen on a good weekend with great weather they can be quite a success. Cold weather is due to come through here tomorrow, so I'll dig out a sweater to wear to work. Finally! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 14 Oct 13 - 07:44 PM This morning started out really gloomy and gray but by mid afternoon the sun was out and I was thrilled to see that as I scheduled Jeremiah for a professional photo shoot today. We had so much fun and now I'm anxiously waiting to see the sneak peek that will come tonight! We had 3 outfit changes and two Halloween costumes.....had a blast! Missed WW tonight though....bummer as I had a good week....will have to catch an alternate meeting later. Time to make dinner...I'm making a chicken casserole that my nana loves and ALWAYS requests that I make for her. I might have to call her later tonight just to say NEENER NEENER! LOL Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Oct 13 - 05:10 PM I packed a box to ship today, then remembered that the post office is closed. I'll hand it to my mail carrier tomorrow. This afternoon I drove over to the glass store to order the piece to put on top of my buffet. What an amazing place! They have lots of glass furnishings (including bent glass), mirrors, blown glass, plus the usual window glass. And they have lots of fixtures - hinges, knobs, drawer pulls, etc. I have a place in Dallas I was planning to drive to, but I may not need to make that trip. I'm not ready to buy the hardware, that will have to wait a little. This afternoon I'm going to dust each of the drawers and cut liner paper for them. I have lots of table cloths and linen napkins to take out of a trunk. I'll wash, iron, fold, and put them in the drawers. I can still open them without knobs, but the investment to buy the hardware is going to set me back enough that I have to pace myself. The dining table is about to have the first project laid out on it. Luxury! A large flat workspace that isn't on the floor! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 14 Oct 13 - 03:56 PM Tasks left: Make boxes for road corner signs and affix signs. Load trailer in front n unload in back (hubby power). Borrow hangers from church. Hang clothing n linens fr upright trailer ramp. Pick up color printer ribbon. Get change fr bank. Set up yard decor n balloons. Set out road signs. Lock hse n open sale w dog. Make BIG BUCKS and new friends! Take pix for freecycling any items not sold. Load all unsold items on trailer (wrapped in clear plastic) and cover with tarp. Drive FC-unclaimed items to Goodwill (they unload!!!). ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 14 Oct 13 - 02:29 PM Respiratory system is still de-cluttering, loudly. Coughing is less. Still frequent but as long it is productive... A bit more energy each day. I was hoping R could put a frame in place today for a raised bed where I would plant all the perennials that are still in pots. That would have generated some energy for me. But he had to run back to the city. I did get clothes into cupboards in the LR on Fri, relapsed after a couple hours at the Cafe in the eve, but each day a few things get accomplished. Dishes are caught up at last. Laundry - some is still on the line as it was not dry enough to take down. Maybe it is now. Today I brought the sewing machine in and have hope of getting a little done. Potted 3 small spider plants. Amazingly, I realized phone was DEAD! this morning and quickly plugged it in, hoping my friend had not tried to phone. Five minutes later, he called to request assistance on Weds and Thursday. I am happy to go and help out. Hope the cough is more better but they are used to it. I hope to pick up some packaged Indian meals - cheap and tasty and Pat thought she would like them. It would be something she could prepare herself (Parkinson's but she can chop veggies), just need cooked rice on hand. I always have some in the cupboard for low energy or late coming home times. The pottery studio has all its walls, fully enclosed with door to storage area and two small windows-that-open on north wall. Unfortunately, the glue in the plywood is overwhelming so I won't be able to work in there for a while yet. It looks terrific although the sunset wall will have to wait. Maybe Bruno will have time to put the big window-that -opens in but R does not want to put the door in until there is something to step out onto - rather than a 3 foot drop! I may try moving a wheel (on a wheeled platform) to a safe area so I can get some work down - when I have the energy. I ordered a face mask with charcoal filter which I hope will help me breathe safely in places like the toxic library. In the non-de-cluttering category: R dragged in a yard sale lamp that I took one glance at and said, "NOOOOO!" But he insisted I look at it and now we are both fascinated by it. It is a (to me) ugly blue green colour with shade to match. Seems to be a cast-in-mold object but it has children's drawings very nicely scratched onto it: church, rainbow, parent figures, road, fenced field with a cow and a sheep,... colours carefully added as appropriate. Has place of honour in LR; I suppose I shall get used to the colour - someday. He also brought a very nice bathtub which I hope to get to use someday. The bathroom is still not in line for construction. Kitchen is next, I hope. I hoped I would have lost weight but although I have not eaten much, I have done very little. Oh well. Sunshine!! I'll go check the laundry. |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Oct 13 - 12:24 PM At last - a lazy rainy day. The table is cleared for sewing projects to set up today. Oatmeal for breakfast was wonderful (time to restock, I'm nearly out). Wearing another pair of the size 12 pants today. The weight is headed downward again; I'd been on a plateau for many weeks, but I've made some changes and am back on course to lose the last 15 pounds. Must address some of the paper piles around here today. It has built up in the last couple of weeks - most of it simply needs filing. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Oct 13 - 12:13 AM I bought a bag of Cortland apples last week - we don't get them often but they are very good. And I was thinking about how to get a cinnamon boost on an apple this evening - I'll have to try that! Some laundry done, the buffet measured and some stuff put away off of the dining table. And because we are at the cusp of cooler weather and I love a hot bath in cool weather, I did a major soap-scum removal scrub of the Mexican tile surround (I put it in) so it will look wonderful while soaking. I also gave the tub a thorough scrub. The gut is still feeling a bit iffy so I'm taking it easy tomorrow. I'll set up the crock pot and make a batch of oatmeal for breakfast, and keep meals modest. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 13 Oct 13 - 10:49 PM Had a nice conversation with Pete tonight about the unplanned upcoming yard sale. We made a nice list/start of things to gather tomorrow and mark (mostly larger things) and then I have things in storage at a friend's house of leftover, already marked gear from the yard sale in July. YAY. It is my understanding that I have a six foot table to work with so not loads of table space (on Saturday anyway), so I'm not going to stress about tons and tons of gear...I already got most of it out for the yard sale in July. In addition to the yard sale, I have a retreat coming up to get ready for. We are all supposed to take a snack and you should see the kitchen of treats that always arrive but since I'm trying to be a bit more reasonable in my food choices, I'm looking for something simple and healthy to take besides the standard boring veggie or fruit tray (also it needs to be somewhat on the low cost side). I might just take cookies or something that I already have all the ingredients for and then make my OWN snack bag. There are a few things I'm digging on lately....Cortland apple slices with pumpkin pie spice sprinkled on for one! YUM. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 13 Oct 13 - 08:33 PM Net result of pricing being done is that the largest section of our front porch is now cleared of For Sale items and I can get back to keeping the house neat whole I polish off the rest of the tasks for the sale, at my own (slow) pace. I can walk out my front door onto my ramp and all I see are full bins of sorted items to lay out, and some trash to sweep up and bag. That leaves room for my scooter and our snow blower out there, YAY!!! With lots of turning space! ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Oct 13 - 07:18 PM I got out to dig in the garden this afternoon and cleared an area for onions and garlic. My ex came over and picked tomatoes. I was going to help Susie with her router but never got to that. Maybe tomorrow evening, I suspect it will be an easy fix. Laundry goes in soon, and I'll do some more work in the living room to see about getting set up for spreading out sewing projects. I have a large piece of paper to do a template for the glass on the top of that buffet, so I'll finish it and be ready to take to the glass shop this week. For now, I'm going to go cut up green peppers to put in the freezer. I used a couple to make a batch of Kung Pao Chicken (like they make at Panda Express, if you have it in your area). Squash (I used a yellow instead of a zucchini, but they taste the same), large chunks of onion, green pepper, canned mushrooms, large dice chicken (because it was a cooked breast I cut up) and a handful of salted peanuts, seasoned with a squirt of Hoisin sauce. Mmmmmm! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 13 Oct 13 - 06:33 PM Worked on firewood all day. Kinda digging on Susan's list, maybe I'll make one and post here. I will be gathering stuff for the yard sale on Friday and Saturday. Prime location on both days, advertising already done for one at no charge to me...YAY! Signage too! Homework for my class is done plus an extra chapter. YAY ME! No sewing time. BOO. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Autumn Leaves Decluttered Spaces 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 13 Oct 13 - 03:31 PM Pricing DONE. Tasks left: Run minimal Pennysaver ad tomorrow morning. Make boxes for road corner signs and affix signs. Load trailer in front n unload in back (hubby power). Borrow hangers from church. Hang clothing n linens fr upright trailer ramp. Pick up color printer ribbon. Get change fr bank. Make sign for trailer-displayed item price display (clothing or linens not in priced ziploc bags, $1.00 OBO). Set up yard decor n balloons. Set out road signs. Lock hse n open sale w dog. Make BIG BUCKS and new friends! Take pix for freecycling any items not sold. Load all unsold items on trailer (wrapped in clear plastic) and cover with tarp. Drive FC-unclaimed items to Goodwill (they unload! !!). The FC items can be hand-carried one batch at a time to the front porch for hassle-free pickup, making a daily walk for me and Faulkner. ~S~ |
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