Declutter and Fitness in early 2014

Subject: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Dec 13 - 08:02 PM

Here is the last thread in 2013.
September - October, 2013.
July - August 2013.
June 2013.
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013.
February 2013.
January 2013.

---

This one is up and running a little early in case people want to sum up the year - as risky an enterprise as that might be for some most of us. For some it was a helluva year - we lost our beloved Katlaughing, we lost parents and spouses and jobs. But others gained, and sometimes those who lost also gained. There is a yin and yang about all of this, depending on the time period in which each of us chooses to do our analysis.

I've made several major improvements for myself this year. I started the alternate day fasting and lost 35 pounds. I did what to most will seem silly little things like finally get to where my feet are more comfortable because my toenails are grown and cut properly to avoid the regular discomfort of nails trying to become ingrown. I mostly conquered the dermatitis that has made my hands tender, though over the break I got into a few things that caused a flareup. I'm still tinkering with diet and foods and vitamin supplements to help the hands more. I grew a lot of my own food and preserved a lot of it via canning and freezing. I have interesting adult grown children, a good relationship with my ex, and I have good friends both in this area where I live, in other places where I have lived, and a whole bunch of people I've met online who (astonishingly!) I've known for upwards of 15 years and count as precious as those I know face-to-face.

I'm doing a somewhat absurd little job after having been a one-woman publications and promotions department for many years. I hope to remedy that one day soon. I have personal goals that had been put on hold for a while that I'm reviving, such as getting back to more writing on topics I'm interested in (not just for work) and getting into a higher level of photography.

I'm still fighting to clear out clutter in my house via gradually selling and donating to clear out, and when something new comes in, I make sure that something old goes out, whether a pair of shoes or a piece of furniture.

My goals are simple - to continue moving forward, to find that new job, finish various jobs around the house that I started when I moved in, to enjoy my family and my friends and my house and garden.

I will leave it to others to sum up what they wish or list resolutions if they want to put them in writing(!)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 30 Dec 13 - 09:47 AM

After all the losses of this past year (even before Tom died, we'd lost eight friends or spouses of friends since March) and especially those since November (Tom, the love of my life; my mother; and Bob Webb, another friend), the holidays almost over, and I'm back from my mother's funeral in Milwaukee, now I can start to discover the new rhythm of my life...

NOW I can get serious about the decluttering. Not just stuff taken to Goodwill or donated to the Nottingham library sale, but selling ephemera on eBay, bigger stuff sold more locally on Craig's List, some pricier books at Amazon, maybe an etsy shop for the vintage and interesting jewelry. Now that I can pile things in the middle of the floor without having to worry about Tom navigating around the house in his wheelchair, I can call the magazine guy...and the LP guy...and the antiques guy.

Maybe with some of the legacy from my mother, I can get a real floor downstairs to cover the badly aging subflooring we've been living with for 33 years...

I've started going to a monthly poetry hoot in Portsmouth, and an every other week song circle in Dover. I'm going to try to get to a few other music sessions in Gloucester or Newburyport, MA occasionally (especially when the weather gets better and if I can find a bed so I don't have to drive all the way home late at night) and other written and spoken word gatherings in Portsmouth.

Continuing projects are The Archive/Tom's Musical Legacy, of course, relearning guitar (especially Tom's "Anglo-Saxon crash thud" method), my writing, and maybe finding time to do more beading and rubberstamp art.

My New Year's resolutions are pretty much the same as they've been for years -- throw out, give to friends, donate, or sell something every day; learn at least one song a month; and try to add 5 minutes of meditation to the start of every day.

I think just the change in meals now that I'm preparing meals just for myself (and after having Tom do almost all of the cooking for 30 years) will have me losing some weight. And making time to walk on a regular basis will help.

And maybe, now that I have no excuses, the house will eventually get more or less CLEAN.

But ultimately the goal is simple -- to continue moving forward. Right, Stilly?

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Dec 13 - 11:46 AM

Yup. Breathe, get enough sleep, and move forward. Small lists help. Whatever method works (starting with cupboards or a small room, rearranging the house by subject, ruthlessly sorting for a garage sale, etc.) when you can cross something off the list, you'll feel good.

I have a staging area for my eBay work so after I've researched the item I can photograph, package, weigh, and have it ready to go. I leave the box open with a slip of paper that gives the item info, so once it sells on eBay I can double check the listing and be sure I'm shipping the correct item. The post office has a lot of free boxes for priority shipping, and you may find good cardboard boxes in recycle bins at places like schools or libraries, if you ask.

Make the house look the way you imagine it can look.

I have some running around to do today, and happily it is a sunny day out. Not warm, but at least a bright day for a good mood.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 30 Dec 13 - 05:47 PM

I don't know if I'm ready to make any resolutions but I am certainly thinking back over the year, the things I would do differently as well as the things I would do the same or more of. :)

I'll be blogging to get the entire thought process in order before I share here. :)

In the meantime, I would like to wish everyone a healthy, new year full of much love, happiness and FUN! :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Dec 13 - 07:29 PM

We did not loss any important people this year. However, the loss of the cabin is hitting harder now that the weather is very cold -going down to -4 this week - and no toilet means no time in the country and this is a terrific downer for me. Add in the six months of coughing from environmental stuff and being really sick through most of our beautiful fall weather, I am not in great shape. I feel powerless as I have neither the energy to do the work nor the money to have it done and, in any case, it is not my prerogative. We have not been to the mill in two weeks and I am hoping my plants are still alive; there is enough heat but water? I never got to see the fushia open.

I spent the entire weekend waiting for R to be ready to go down so got almost nothing done. Then, yesterday afternoon, when I thought, "Well we are not leaving now so I can go make pots." But first I went outside to check on snow removal and my car, slipped and fell on my bum right shoulder. Nothing broken!!!!! But the pain was close to the screaming level. I took MSM and it settled down. But I could not lift my arm until this morning. The MSM continues to control the pain; I am on to something for the ongoing discomfort; might even clear the problem.

The two young men who rushed to pick me up deserve kudos - for kindness and for giving me the utmost respect of following my directions on how to do it so no further pain or damage would be done. I was lying in bed this morning thinking about how wonderful they were.

This afternoon, I took a hot bath with hopes that I could find a way out of the tub again. The strategies we can find when we need them. Then I went back to bed. Still rather stultified and feeling the other places that were jarred by the fall. Poor R. I did phone him but there was nothing he could do so he kept working -but made himself a nice salad when he got home and offered me one but I wanted comfort food. He spread Nutella on some special cookies for me and later I had good store-bought humous and lime chips. Could not use right arm at all. Now I can - cautiously, with as little movement as possible; my upper arm is mentally tied to my side to give it healing time.

The noise of snow removal equipment has been almost constant the last couple days and it is getting to me. I suppose the TV would mask it but nothing on. Maybe music. I so prefer silence that it does not occur to me that I can play music on the computer.

Arm is tired. Much better today; maybe we will get to the mill tomorrow if I can shift gears.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Dec 13 - 10:02 PM

Ouch! Too many slip and fall reports this year. A co-worker broke her wrist in a tumble in early December.

I delivered a letter and the bills that go with it to my neighborhood Chevy dealer. I finally got it written, let it sit, and tweaked it a few more times. The fellow I spoke with was not impressed, he has his side of it. I took the truck in to have an oil leak, dripping on the ground under the truck, fixed. The service guy said they'd do the obvious, check the oil filter, then if needed, pressurize the system with dye in the oil to see where it leaks. They called with an $850 estimate and named gaskets and a sensor as needing replacement. I took it home after the repair and realized they hadn't fixed the leak. Same oil fresh on the driveway, so I parked in a different spot for a week or two and confirmed it. Took it to my Goodyear place that does my oil changes and asked them to change the oil and look at the filter and elsewhere to see if they could find the leak. He said the filter was bad. (If Chevy had changed the oil during all of this work I'd have never known they didn't get the leak with all of the expensive work, they would have simply done what I wanted and I wouldn't be the wiser.)

So the yahoos at Chevy didn't look at the filter, and if when they called with the estimate they had said that it was the oil filter but all of these other gaskets needed changing, I would have told them to only do the oil change and I'd see if that stopped my problem. My mileage was fine, I wasn't adding extra oil, I had no complaints except for the small drip. So I wrote it down in the letter and said I knew the parts were in the truck, but I wanted them to refund the labor, because if they had done the simplest thing of looking all around, including the oil filter, that report would have been enough for me to decline the rest of the expensive repairs.

He didn't see it my way. I left the letter, told him to think about it, and I told him I'll put the whole thing up on facebook and twitter. He wanted to know if the age and the miles were going to go up as well. Fair question. They will. I'll do it tomorrow if he doesn't call with some kind of offer. I could have spent $30 instead of $822 (final price). I resent that they saw me coming and listed the expensive stuff that didn't need to be bothered with at this time.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 13 - 12:04 PM

The downside of the threat of publishing this is that they may refuse to do service on my pickup after this. It's a old truck, it needs work. I want them to pay attention and give me real choices when they call with an estimate. They have done good (but expensive) work, but failed on this one.

Yesterday I sorted the contents of some built-in cupboards in the living room that hide some things I forget about and don't use, so I'm clearing and re-thinking what is stored in there. I may make another Goodwill trip this afternoon to get it out of the house.

No takers yet on the living room futon for sale. My daughter spoke up for it, but then the date she needs it changed, pushed back to September when the friend moves and takes his. If it doesn't sell for my asking price I suppose I can hold it for her, but I'd really like the space freed up.

On New Year's Eve I don't make resolutions, it simply doesn't work. But during the year this year I found improvements that I recognized needed attention and worked on, and they end up as a nice list of accomplishments for the year, so I'll do that again. My ongoing projects, decluttering, paying bills, saving money, reaching my target weight, they will continue as before.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 31 Dec 13 - 09:38 PM

Nice and quiet on here! I hope everyone is having a peaceful evening.

I finished my last novel today, having not gotten to the library in this weather, snow removal and bum shoulder. Tried reading something more erudite but brain not up for it. Did a load of laundry and made brownies. Had a decent lunch and supper. Spent most of time on FB, most of it usefully - offering info, support, gathering info and support. Shoulder is much better and MSM is doing a great job but still cannot raise hand above shoulder. I can lift it above shoulder with left hand but it refuses to move without assistance. I hope I can pot tomorrow.   

R went to the mill and reported by phone that plants are OK and warm enough, and which should he water or not. We plan to go back on the weekend when it is predicted to be warmer! He is coming back tonight but may have to work for a while. See him when I see him.

I do have a few things bagged to take down for the thrift shop but there is nothing extraneous left here (of mine). Everything is at the mill and in the area too cold to look at before warm weather. I need to bring some winter clothes back here and still have not recovered my good winter jacket from being packed last spring. The birthday jacket given me on Whidbey has proven surprisingly warm - so far.

At least the snow removal seems to be done. So nice not to be hearing the machines all day and night!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jan 14 - 12:25 AM

I've made a point of pulling out the DVDs of movies I picked up but haven't actually watched. I've seen several this week, and have a couple more for tomorrow.

Happy 2014, everyone! It'll soon be the new year here, so I need to bring the dogs in. No matter what the regulations to do with fireworks and firing guns, the local idiots do it anyway. Gotta keep the dogs out of harm's way and where they won't be upset by the noise.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 01 Jan 14 - 06:05 AM

Finally did it. Got the old region 1 VHS tapes of my daughters in various highschool concerts and plays off to a professional transfer company. They will be set on long play, converted to region 2 and copied to DVDs. I have been putting this off since Andie passed away. I will have to force myself to watch the DVDs when the job is done to check they are all there and the quality of the recordings. The VHS tapes date back to 1996 through 2000. My plan once I have the DVDs is to tease out the bits with my girls in and post them to Youtube. I have mixed feelings about this. I am hoping that if I approach the task with specific purpose then I won't get mired down in sadness.

Still waiting on the job thing to find out if and where I will be placed in the new restructure. Not too fussed about it this time around. I don't have the energy to waste on anxiety. I will try to quietly accept whatever happens, glean the good and possibly move on plans that have been on hold due to no energy after a day of work.

Wednesdays off work. If I keep a job then I will insist that the Council honour the working pattern suggested and agreed by occupational health and my GP. I hope to have someone in to clean every other Wednesday using the extra benefit money I have been awarded. On alternate Wednesdays hold a crafting group with a few interested friends.

TheSilentOne (husband) has decided to stay in his IT lecturing post for another full year. We have 2 things need doing before he can retire and we can move.
    1. Replace the 1970s original kitchen which is literally falling apart. I have saved more than half of the cost of this project, by April or May I should have it all. There will be some structural change and expensive move of the electric panel and fuse board in order to make it safe, compliant and create more storage and work space.
    2. Buy up 40+years on the lease hold since the 3 separate groups of solicitors have failed to secure the purchase of the free hold for our flat over the last 7 years. This is the very expensive cost. We are trying to get together a group of flat owners in on a combined purchase in order to reduce the solicitor costs. Big fear is that the solicitors will "f" it up again.

Getting fit. I am hoping that the monthly anti - TNF injections will start working soon. I have only had 2 full doses. If I can get rid of the pain in bottoms of my feet (like they are covered in stone bruises), then I will deal with the hips and and ankles seizing up. Maybe start each craft meet with a walk, bulding speed and length each time. And finish each meet with some tai chi or qigong.

Diet. This is a tuffy. Needs more thought.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 14 - 08:11 AM

In 2013 I resolved to modernize and get rid of all my two vintage VCR's, convert to flat screen TV's, get a tablet and convert all my VHS tapes to modern formats - all these I did - I now have a Galaxy note 3, with a wireless speaker (talk about a giant step for man :)

Guess who could be one of the best dressed men in 2013. No, it's not winter-time Ed T or Gnu, donning Cdn. lumberjack attire,over a snow mobile suit, with Beaver Canoe ear muffs and a NHL toque.

Get ready, according to Esquire, it's the current rc pope. While, I suspect Mr. pope has had a good start in turning the rc inside around, I never thought that roman robes and pointy hats would be back in fashion. Go figure odd year 2013.
Best dressed Dude

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 01 Jan 14 - 08:12 AM

Last post was me (I resolve to reset my mudcat cookie in 2014)

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jan 14 - 11:47 AM

You two, good luck with the VCR tapes! I have a tall bookcase I built for books that now holds all of the tapes (they used to be stacked around but I got rid of a lot during 2013). I need to start digitizing them.

This is the 1 hour program that started me on my journey of weight loss. This program hosted by Dr. Michael Mosley played as one of a series on PBS last spring (the UK program is Horizon) and this episode looks at forms of fasting to live longer and healthier. The alternate day method has worked for me. Every other day eat only 500 calories, and on the "feed" days eat your normal diet. Be careful not to eat too much protein on your feed days or you can end up a bit constipated. I haven't stayed with as much this over the last couple of weeks, but today is the alternate day, so I'm having a late small lunch and maybe a piece of fruit in the evening. I've lost 35 pounds since last April and have about 15 more to lose. http://vimeo.com/54089463.

I'm working on a resume for a job opening at the university. It would be a lot of work but the pay would be tremendously improved. Good thing that as I've decluttered my office I've organized my samples of my writing. I need to pull and scan or photograph a few for the application.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Jan 14 - 05:33 PM

minus 2 here. I am in hibernation. A friend phoned this morning to invite us out for "coffee" but R phoned at 11 last night to re-inform me. He stayed over at the mill --- and is not back, nor has phoned, since. I have no inclination to go to the South Shore - cross a bloomin' bridge - today, in this cold, alone, to visit someone who does not listen. Never mind the alternative is to be here alone in a cold house - on FB. No good book to read.

Had an hour long skype from 2nd son and got to see the gorgeous grandsons for the first time in over a year. 16 and almost 13! Shocking to see my son looking older (50). The years have flown by.

Son was giving me computer advice and even in a way I could understand! R considering a flat TV and I want to be able to connect computer. Means another LONG trip to the Apple store. Not this week. Weather is supposed to warm on the weekend - almost up to freezing on Sunday.

A chat with a friend in PA elicited: my bro has driven a bus load to NYC so he is not home. My other son was not home.   Cheap long distance has not kicked in yet so not many people I can phone. Good comments on FB and a very interesting article on Environmental Health News that triggered an email to a person who spent most of his life doing significant (to me) work to improve chances of kids growing up non-aggressive. It hit me because he started in montreal when I was here and I feel as though that was a missed boat. I can only say, I have done what I could.

Something to think about - is there more I can still do.

Hope we all have the best possible new year.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Jan 14 - 06:00 PM

My goals for 2014 as far as home stuff are not really so much focused on decluttering, which has pretty much been done, but more in the nature of downsizing within the primary residence while furnishing a modest little vacay house commensurate with the amount of space I believe we will eventually need in retirement.

To that end I've been posting about a way-too-fast trip to Ohio with the first load of furniture/appliances for our little 3BR/1 bath bungalow. As of today:

The cargo trailer is LOADED AND STRAPPED-- 1.5 hours x 3 men. The van is mostly loaded, with a few light pieces to add tmrw, and the van is all gassed up for Friday's departure.

Hardi's brother and SIL will come get cleaning started Sat. AM. Then, about noon, i should arrive. A newish Ohio church friend has offered to help my son and DIL unload, which frees up some bucks for repairs indicated by our inspector. This means that instead of endangering my fragile spine unloading, I can use my energy and pain meds to sort and clean packed items with DIL while visiting w her and son-- who I seldom see. .

Finally, a great blessing via FB today-- a free fridge to take down there on the February tri Hardi and I have planned.

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jan 14 - 03:07 PM

Dorothy, you should be able to find all sorts of stuff to read on the computer even if you don't have a good book. Check out Bartleby and Google Books (I searched on "free books classics" - there are some real gems in there.)

Back at the office today. Very quiet and I came in mid-morning. My hairdresser called in sick just as I was leaving for that appointment so it is rescheduled so I used the time for driving over to the camera repair place to take in an expensive lens that needs the autofocus repaired. Lenses are electronic with motors and chips these days, and they usually cost more than the camera body, so it is worthwhile to repair them. Something I've put off but decided to get taken care of in this new year.

Stay warm, Michelle and all - it looks like another cold few days.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Jan 14 - 08:13 PM

I was busy this morning with laundry, dishes and cooking. I really hate having a sink full of dirty dishes or an overflowing hamper...especially if the power goes out and then I'm stuck with the mess for a bit. Silly? Maybe, but that's just me. It has been snowing since yesterday and we have maybe a good 8 inches or more of snow....and it's still snowing! The weather man says that the temperature will be minus 25 tomorrow...BRRRRR. The schools were closed today and are closed for tomorrow already as well...it's just too cold for the little ones to be outside waiting for the school bus.

Pete always keeps us in decent firewood but he has a bunch of dry, seasoned ash loaded up in the wagon inside and more outside under cover....ash catches easy and burns HOT....perfect for the bitter cold that is coming.

I think we are going to take the Christmas tree down tomorrow...maybe not...we shall see. :) Whatever we do, it will be inside!

I got to do some reading this afternoon and we all played with Jeremiah's new marble run.....he just loves to drop the marble in and watch it go. He's been singing all day...such a happy little guy!!! Makes my heart happy!

I've also been planning some more quilting activity. I got a steal of a deal on some fabric today (a layer cake of civil war fabrics) and even though I have a bunch of projects waiting, this fabric is just calling my name!!! I can't wait until it arrives!

Stay warm everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Jan 14 - 09:25 AM

Pulling out over killer Bloss Mtn at noon. Prayers invited.

♡+++♥+++♡

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Jan 14 - 11:42 AM

Bonne voyage, Susan. Hope the weather is kind to you.

SRS: reading on computer is what I do all day! Or so it seems and my eyes need breaks from that! I scrounged around in the myriad piles of books "there must be something here I could find interesting..." R collects books indiscriminantly. So, my while-I-am-eating and darn well tired of the computer book was a tiny 1983 paperback called Tea with the Black Dragon - light and lively. I finished last night about 1 am just as R came home for "supper".

NY day was made great by an almost 3 hour phone conversation with the wife of my #1 son (most of that time) and my "wonderful son" - her words. That should hold us for a while! The recent death of a major Canadian Quaker and how the family - each of whom is known and more or less dear to each of us - is coping and the memorial services to be held in Vancouver (I am NOT crossing the country in January!) and, later, in Toronto which, depending on when, could be possible. Only a 6 hour drive and we could visit other friends as well.

My son is working on a new CD, mostly of his own compositions. He is very very good at his Django jazz so this is something to look forward to. I "know " he is good because other people tell me so.

Each son gave me advice on TV/computer connecting. So, if R decides to clutter our lives with a new TV - not from Craigslist free - I have a clue or two.

Which reminds me I am supposed to drive to Laval today to pick up clay I ordered. With the weather at minus 9F and my car has been sitting since Saturday, I am going to de-clutter today by forgetting that until next week when it may go up close to 30F. Though it may snow again on Monday.

My arm is almost back to normal from Sunday's fall. Still needs some assistance to reach high but I can brush my hair. So I can drive - maybe tomorrow we can go to the country.

I did not need warnings to stay indoors yesterday (minus 13F). My goal in life was, and is, to stay warm - feet in oven. Finally realized the hole in the bathroom ceiling needed SOMETHING - the remaining bits of styrofoam and padded mailing envelopes and duct tape - YEP! and got the K up to 68 with the oven and two little electric heaters.

But since I did not use the hot water all day, it was not until R came home and needed to wash up - there is none! So one heater is in the cellar trying to thaw, or prevent further freezing. And the cold water is working and left on at a drip in hopes we not lose it also. That severely clutters life!

Some serious attention to the electric in this house would de-clutter my life amazingly. R is so rarely here... But he sure hated getting into the cold bed last night. Thankful for the heating pad!! Maybe after this latest crisis at work I can lobby for better heating... with some success??

The attention to the ceiling means it is almost 60 in the LR and a bit better in the K where there is now only the oven for heat. So I closed the door and am staying in the K - with feet....

I did go upstairs yesterday to see if it were warm enough to pot but not. Maybe today. I am quickly losing energy and falling into that I don't feel like doing anything morass. Have to keep warm or a sort of pre-hypothermia can set in. I did a little research on this when my neighbour in Ontario died in the other neighbours' back yard. It becomes increasingly dangerous as we get older and I had to force myself to get out of bed on cold winter mornings to stoke the wood fires before my brain did not care anymore.

There must be something useful I can do today - maybe bake something. Put on a warmer top for starters; I have gotten really cold while writing.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Jan 14 - 01:16 PM

Put on warmer top - another layer.
Gave water and care to LR plants with fertilizer now the days are getting longer!
Dusted the TV and tried to scrub the dirty looking parts of the love seat. Dish detergent did not do. I will try something stronger later.
Went upstairs and started running water in tub, very slowly; then checked it later. still OK. Thought at least we will have water.
Not warm enough up there to pot. Watered and fed big plant - touches the ten foot ceiling! Not sure what to do when it is really too big!
Checked some of emails. Looked at "last minute" travel "deals". No place we would want to go. Think I shall start talking a trip to PA to visit family in early April. Maybe add on an excursion to the wonderful waterfront of Baltimore, or even DC. OR even back up through NYS and Vermont so R can finish exploring the Shaker village. It is too long since our last adventure.
Now lunch with feet in oven and another found paperback - A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg. Need to phone library to renew books due today. Emailed the country library yesterday re same. And online banking. Nice when Canadian dollar is lower than US and I get lots more in the exchange. Do that before lunch. Then I will have done somethings useful.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Jan 14 - 01:36 PM

Okay, the deck is more or less cleared of snow and so is the car...again. At least this time it's stopped snowing and the sun is out. And the snow is fairly light and fluffy. I think we got about 7 or 8 inches. Took the car up to the head of the driveway to get today's mail. My plow guy will come back after I leave today and clean up where my car had been.

Don't have to one of the errands (the most strenuous) until Monday, so I can leave for the Press Room session a little later. Maybe I can get some more photos of Tom together for a friend who is scanning them for a slide show...

Really need my toes to warm up!

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jan 14 - 03:48 PM

It's chilly here but I'm feeling frozen after reading some of your entries! Stay healthy and warm, everyone! We're supposed to get down to 19^o early next week. This is so odd for this part of the country, all of these continual hard freezes.

I'm shifting my schedule to go to bed earlier and get up earlier - thanks again Alice for the advice about the amber lenses. I'll employ them as part of the process. I need to reset my nightowl clock (it's always worse after a long break when there isn't a bedtime for grownups).

Not a resolution, just an observation that I'm tired of a lot of the stuff that comes through social media: I'm planning to cut back on facebook and switch back to reading links that come through twitter. I get better articles and far fewer embossed memes over there. And last year I got back to a lot more reading of books on paper - I brought home from the library yesterday to scan through - I figure I'll narrow it down to one or two of them on this subject to read and return the rest.

I'm back doing the alternate day fasting. I know I added a couple of pounds over the holidays; everything fits but I notice my jeans are a little more snug than before. I want to finish this, reach my target weight and move forward from there (and probably do the alternate fasting a day or two a week when I reach my target to stay there).

It looks like we all have a cold weekend coming up. Everyone enjoy the time you're spending indoors and get a lot done now, if you're anything like me once the weather is warm and nice I won't pay much attention to housework, I prefer the garden.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Jan 14 - 07:01 PM

Mtns were fine as I boot-scooted out of 12" snowdrifts (after huge diner brekky with mah honeh) for vacay hse. God's light blinking green to reach house tmrw. Making good time. Trailer feels as good as our camper. Dog usual fretting level but glad not to be left. Hubby jealous. Am at motel youngstown area. One brief legstretch at hdwe store at midpoint run by friend-- grabbed sm items we will def need at camp ridgebury. At gas stop our Lord directed me to specific station where young angel man on way to youth camp kindly pumped tankful-- so I did not have to wake the dog who had finally settled. This "Mercer Angel" asked prayers for safe travel-- and we're adding prayers that all he touches is blessed and all that touches him is blessed and that their camp meet God's will in purity and holiness. Road bewful. Have pix. Finally slept last nite. Pumped. Plan to check out early. Hope to arrive by 11am.

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 Jan 14 - 09:44 AM

The roads were in horrible shape yesterday afternoon, despite the bright sun. (Which caused its own problems with glare.) Still so much wind and blowing snow, and since the snow is lightweight stuff, it just sits there and gets slippery.

Not surprising on Nottingham roads, but Rte 4 was slow and slippery; I almost turned back at the Circle. Closer to Portsmouth, the Spaulding was clear of snow and slipperiness but Portsmouth Circle and the Bypass were not great -- better, though, than when I got onto Portsmouth streets. Really hideous. If I didn't know better, I'd say they hadn't been plowed at all, just powder compressed to slipperiness.

Still cold today but not as cold as yesterday. Supposed to have a high of 24F, but right now it's about 6F. Oh, and the wind? It's still there.

Sun's out. Driveway beautifully plowed. Deck cleared.

Think I'll go back to bed and read for awhile.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Donuel
Date: 04 Jan 14 - 10:47 AM

Is this genius thread the original invention by Stilly?

2013 my year of listening and not reflexive posting amounting to time savings and conflict avoidance. The cost of not sharing the profound or mundane is an interactive unknown.

2014 my year of sharing the singularities of honesty of healing and discovery while abandoning discussing 'truths' because every truth has an anti=truth or exception depending upon circumstances, environment or culture,

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 14 - 04:39 PM

I think Katlaughing gets credit for starting these threads. I picked up the habit and ran with it.

I think this essay is going to set the tone for a while - a kick in the pants to finish some of this declutter work sooner than the pace I've worked at till now. Time to hit a neat, uncluttered level to maintain and start contributing in other directions.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 14 - 09:41 PM

I've worked on a resume that is being crafted for three different job applications (three iterations - I won't send the same one to all three jobs). After a while it all becomes a blur, so I stopped before I lost ground. With the new year interesting opportunities have opened up on campus, including one that seems to have been written for me. But the last time I thought that I was blindsided so I'm not making any assumptions.

I have some general picking up and kitchen cleaning to do this evening, and tomorrow I need to clear a bunch of stuff from the sun room floor and take it over to Goodwill.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Jan 14 - 07:22 PM

I went out today...the first time in a few days....and did a little bit of grocery shopping. I also picked up a few things for my sewing room....a magnetic bowl (50% off), a small rotating cutting mat (40% off) and a storage box (50% off)that has a handle on top and is just the right size for taking a single project to a friend's house for a sit & sew....add an additional coupon for 25% off the total order and imagine me exclaiming *SCORE* as I walked out of the building..LOL

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Jan 14 - 07:47 PM

Saturday: first day out of house since the fall on Sunday. Too darn cold. But yesterday was warmer. R took booster pack and started my car and w went to library - where else! No hot water for a few days so no dishes or laundry. And not much else as too cold to think.

But we went out last night to hear Bobby Dove - not too far away. But a pub which we usually do not do, but gentle. No food but "go next door and bring it back"! So we did. There were two customers in the hole in the wall carribean spot who greeted us with We stayed at your place!! (the cabin) We eat off your bowls all the time! OH, we know Bobby! We've heard her at.... Who ever would have thought of Montreal as a small community! That was neat. The food was good also and so was Bobby.

Today after a late morning, We had brekkie and I made two pots of stewed apples (4 qts), having discovered the apple juice I had put on the floor next to the back door to keep cold had frozen and so had the apples! My arm quit with 3 apples undone but I hope they were not frozen. I could do no more. And have been in discomfort ever since.

Then we went to CT for materials so R could do a proper job of the ceiling - mine increased the temp in the house by 5 degrees but he thinks he can do better. En route, we found a bunch of 1 inch styrofoam pieces, boxed, in someone's trash and squeezed it into my car. That should help.

Enough to do the window in the laundry room but R says it has to be cleared before he can do it and I do not have the energy but I just reorganized it and don't want him to mess with it.... I HATE feeling incapacitated but it hurts more than ever today. Need to re-think the treatment. Even keeping my arm almost still, moving the curser is felt.

More MSM and more apple juice. Hope to enjoy the above freezing weather tomorrow before the next onslaught of COLD.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jan 14 - 12:45 AM

I know the cold we're each experiencing (in Texas it's down to 13^o tonight) is relative to what we're used to - and for everyone it is much colder than usual. I'm seriously considering staying home tomorrow because I don't want my dogs out in that much cold (the high for the day is 32^o) and they can't stay in the house from 7:45am till 6pm. They're house-broken, but they're not used to such a long time. Maybe I'll go in for a half-day. The garage has a heater, but it won't be very warm out there, maybe into the mid-40s for them with that heater.

Today I spent the afternoon with my son - we went to a local museum and then out to dinner - and each time we went outside it was a chilly dash for the next door. He is going to school in Tucson and though they DO have winter there, it is milder even than here, so I suspect he's looking forward to thawing out when he returns for classes in a week.

Not much in the way of decluttering this weekend, only that I didn't contribute to the problem.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Jan 14 - 12:48 PM

I'm making chili and cornbread today to warm our bellies during the -30 degree temps predicted for later today. I'm also organizing toys and started to take down the Christmas gear. Stay warm!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jan 14 - 02:48 PM

I stayed home for a couple of hours in the morning, but the dogs, when they went out, were more interested in sleeping in the sun (as cold as it is) than hanging out in the garage. But the garage is warmer now the sun has been shining on it and the heater is on.

Turns out that the Internet died overnight. I did the usual troubleshooting things and it wouldn't start up so I've made an appointment for tomorrow morning. Today I have Internet at work and will read a book this evening. :)

They're suggesting that rolling blackouts might be necessary with the demands for electricity today. And with all of the cold I'm finding that the alternate day fasting is almost impossible. My metabolism isn't letting me go for a long time without calories of some kind - I feel it more, so for this really cold stuff I'm just eating modestly. Small meals more often are what the cold calls for.

When I came to work today I remembered to carry in some of the things destined for the campus e-waste recycle bin. A little bit more out of the house.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jan 14 - 10:09 PM

Well well well - the Internet is up and running this evening after all. The blinking in and out isn't a good sign, so maybe having the tech over in the morning is a good idea anyway.

It never got over freezing today. I'll make sure the cupboards under the sinks are open again to let air from the house flow and keep the pipes from freezing. Down to 23^o tonight, but tomorrow looks much better. By Friday it will be up to 65^o but with 100% chance of rain. The weekend will be better - I'll make that my weekend when I finally get my winter garden in order. The broccoli look awful right now, still alive, but haven't grown at all. Soon it's time for potatoes and onions, and I want to transplant some asparagus.

I worked more on the resume and letter of interest today. I think they're about ready to go - I'll reread them tomorrow and after any final corrections, I'll post them to the job site. I have a second job I can use this resume with, but I have to send them copies of my writing. I should tell them just to Google me.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Jan 14 - 01:33 PM

Although we now have hot and cold running water! R left a cube heater in cellar by the pipes. I leave the water dripping all the time just in case. Yesterday caught up laundry including the bedding and re-making the bed. Ahhhh! clean sheets!

Our "warm day" was not above freezing after all. R fell down the front steps (3) this morning hurrying to get the recycling out as the truck was at the door! Fortunately, just a scrapped hand. He cleared the steps with hot water and then put salt down. I am declaring myself officially OLD. I am literally afraid to go out there. After the recycling bin was empty and left in the street, I waited until someone was passing by and begged them to bring it close to my outstretched hand. Thanked the young woman in French and English. This may be irrational but without health insurance, I simply cannot afford a fall. I only really felt myself this morning. Not about to lose that by falling!

Cleared a small drawer in my desk and managed to discard a couple handfuls of paper, sorted out check books for three accounts and discarded two very old sets of cheques, feeling guilty that I had re-ordered without checking the drawer! But now all is in order and up to date.

Cleared the end of the laundry room in case R has time to use the found styrofoam to do that last "window". Sorted out a box of supplements that have accumulated - some from a friends parents several years ago! Some in trash, a couple emptied by taking them and a bunch set aside to google and see if they are useful, safe. what they are for and checked with my pendulum to see if they would be "helpful for me". That is a work in progress. It will help clear a floor space in BR. That plastic container under them?? OH! little potential gifts that I forgot I had. Can be stashed elsewhere. As will the remaining supplements once sorted.

Checked Craigslist for a flat screen TV but only a 24" so far. Went through emails and see I am not the only potter to lack "fingerprints". I could not be fingerprinted a few years ago. No prints! I could turn to a life of crime!

Checked the clay I put on plaster to dry yesterday and turned it, splattering it on my clean pants - oh well. At least I remembered before it was so dry I had to re-soak it. I may be able to do some work today. Need to find warm short sleeves to layer.

I have managed four stints on the exercycle in the last week - one long enough to be felt as I was talking on the phone with a distant friend about her working up to four minutes. I just kept on 'til she commented on my puffing.

Michelle's mention of chili was helpful. I have not done groceries in a while but there are ingredients for a new batch of chili! Also baked cauliflower and carrots with the last couple potatoes.

OK, go put beans on to cook and then up to the "studio".

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jan 14 - 02:45 PM

Son and DIL depart tomorrow. I will miss them and their fabulouz help. But I AM looking forward to couple days' naps-- I'm really tired!!!

However I am letting Ohio friends know that I'm actually coming up for air. I suspect I may be ready for some fun by this wknd. I can offer tea here-- kitchen is working well now. Or we might enjoy a movie or laundry excursion if their schedule permit.

The one thing I've needed, that I forgot to pack, are my old super-shock-absorbing shoes which I wish I'd had for my first week running like mad around this slab floor. But I can work with local options till we come back next month for Valentines. ♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Jan 14 - 07:17 PM

It was 10 degrees F. today and the wind was brutal...sun out, though. I had lunch with a friend in Portsmouth and would have gone for a walk on the beach but...did I tell you the wind is brutal?!?

Tried out a new place -- Cemita Shack in Portsmouth and had a lovely lunch. Had it fully traditional today, but next time will prolly have either seafood or pork on the caesa'rita salad -- I'm trying to avoid as many simple carbs as possible. Besides the change from cooking for one from cooking for two, and not having to follow Tom's desires on cooking (which will mean more veggies, less meat, more other grains instead of white bread, white rice, or potatoes) AND I won't be required to keep desserts around.

Did laundry this morning, but I haven't been doing a lot since the weekend. And yesterday I ended up on the phone most of the day getting something straightened out that I thought was taken care of at the beginning of December. Sigh. (Didn't help my state of mind, either.)

Intended to get CD jewel cases today (for Tom's CDification of his 1986 cassette tape) at Staples, but they didn't have any regular 1-CD full size jewel cases. So broke down and ordered online. Also stopped at Savers looking for a mid-weight winter jacket to replace the ancient one I'm wearing (which I love, but the lining is self-destructing with age), and ended up buying a lovely forest green one and a heavier brown one, all for less than 20 bucks. Now I can retire the bulky but warm jacket I don't particularly care for (warm, though). I think a friend can use it. The green one needs the buttons sewed on tighter and the other one needs new buttons, but I think I might have some that will work.

Decluttered another unidentified container from the freezer -- stew! Just had some of it for supper.

Now, I think, I'll take a glass of wine upstairs and make some phone calls and/or read. Believe it or not, I was asleep last night before 8:30. Knee pain didn't wake me this morning until after 6:30.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 01:16 AM

Don't you just love those little mysterious meals in the freezer? That reminds me it is about time to pull out of brick of lasagna again one of these days.

Turned in a job application (resume/letter of interest/references) today. Fingers crossed. There are a couple of other jobs that I'll apply for also - the same resume will work but they need different letters.

My phone officially died. I really need my son to decide what he is going to do - whether continue with his own plan on this company or get a new phone and port his number to a new company. I can't go elsewhere with tag-along family phones still on the plan. As you can imagine, I've been prodding him pretty hard the last couple of weeks.

Nothing much in the way of decluttering here in the last few days. Just keeping the static electricity at a manageable level so my hair doesn't stand on end in all of this dry cold.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 09:20 AM

I've finally learned to actually LABEL those containers in the freezer...too late, of course, for some of them. The original intention had been to eat them soon enough afterwards that I'd remember exactly what they were. Trying to use up stuff now -- churn the contents of the freezer so I have some room for new stuff since so many things cannot be prepped for just one person.

Went to take a shower earlier and found the bathtub water is frozen. No other water in the house is affected and the bathroom sink water runs fine. (But the bathtub line is on the outside wall, even though it's a south wall. Kitchen sink water lines are on the same outside wall but they're fine.)

It's about 7 degrees F now, but should get up to 20-ish today. And continuing to get warmer until Saturday when it should be in the 40s. (And then the cycle starts all over again?...)

But I suppose when I go out later with Jeri to see a movie (Hobbit) that I should close the bathroom shutoff valves. Just in case...

Meanwhile, since it's not convenient to wash my hair anyplace else, I guess I'm stuck with waterless shampoo for the time being.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 11:39 AM

Hope a Mud Elf can delete the duplicate posts above -- no idea how that happened.

Anyway, I'm now waiting for the plumber to return my call and the water is shut off in the bathroom.

At some point between when I turned off the computer and went upstairs (approx. 9:30) and when, after sorting papers, I decided to get dressed (approx. 10:30), the pipe (evidently) under the window in the bathroom burst and I discovered water cascading down the windows by the table downstairs. I quickly pulled the table out, disconnected electronics, moved some other stuff, then ran back upstairs to pull out the Rubbermaid drawers, etc. in front of the bathroom shut offs and got them OFF.

Arghh. I don't think the papers on the table and in the bookcase have gotten much damage (Dave Hallowell's framed photo of Tom got wet but far from soaked) but I'm still coping (and trying to sop up the water now draining towards the kitchen floor).

If I'd closed the shut offs BEFORE the pipe broke, I wouldn't have known the pipe had broken.

Just got a call from the plumber -- he's on his way. So I've got to clear stuff out in front of the window in the bathroom.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 01:53 PM

Plumber arrived...and it's a BAD break where I thought it was (under the window), but it extends towards the sink and access there is through the bedroom closet -- which IS a problem. The tub enclosure might have to come off, too, but that's held on by screws not cement so that's no real problem.

Sigh.

But moving everything in the that needs to be moved to get to the bedroom closet should actually get me closer to my ultimate goal of beating the bedroom into submission. The problem is that our house is like the kid's game with the numbered squares and one empty square...only we've never had the empty square. And the closet itself is a problem that I've not been willing to face for awhile. First I have to clean up the flying squirrel shit. Then I have to move one wall of videotapes. I have NO idea where they're going, even temporarily. More than likely, stuff is going to have to be stored on the bed. Which means that, since the guest room bed is also cluttered and unavailable, looks like I'll be sleeping downstairs on the recliner for a few nights. It's a very comfortable recliner, so that's not really a hardship...just different.

My sensible plumber (you have no idea how grateful I am that he replaced the shutoffs last spring!!!) would prefer to put off the repair until any possible frozen bits of pipe are unfrozen and either broken or not broken (Friday or Saturday), so he can fix it all at once (instead of having several possible crises to fix over several days).

I can live with no water in the bathroom for a few days. We have a composting toilet and this is one of the REALLY good times to have a composting toilet! And I'll call my hair stylist and go there to get my hair washed, maybe tomorrow. But all the moving in the bedroom is the opposite side of the room from the problem I've been working on, which is clearing out stuff in front of the trunk, moving the trunk and the chair and cleaning out the cat poop (Sabine being upset with Rufus's confiscation of HER litter box), then rearranging the trunk so I can put a litter box between the trunk and the dresser. No, there is no way to keep the cat(s) out from under the eves or out of the bedroom...

I just put plastic between the pages of the one important paper item that got soaked. I mostly lucked out, especially as far as all the current important papers on the table, but the booklet for the large model of the Globe Theatre (in the cellar) that I'd like to sell was in the bookcase and took a hit. I cut up some plastic bags and put the pieces between each page so they won't stick together. When it's dry, I can iron the pages... Tom's yearbooks only got wet on the edges.

Jeri and I were going to go see "The Hobbit" today... She, by the way, is fighting a couple mechanical problems in her car and with her internet/phone set up. So she is currently offline and will be offline until probably Friday (or Monday).

I'm exhausted. And it's not even two o'clock... (But at least I just had a nice lunch.)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 03:20 PM

And I thought I was having problems with my phone dying and my Internet withering on the vine. . . I've transferred my phone over to an old little flip phone so that I can receive calls when I am not in the basement of the library. My son assures me that he isn't doing anything about his phone today. Grrrrr. The one bright spot is that after that expensive oil gasket repair that I didn't need the folks at the dealership said that while they won't refund the money I asked for they will make it a store credit.

The thought of dealing with all of that water when it is as cold as it has been - awful! Why don't you get boxes and instead of simply loading the VCR tapes onto your bed, put any of them that are available on DVD or via streaming on NetFlix into a recycle box, and the ones you need to transfer into a keep box. I think you'll be surprised at how many of them you don't need to keep any more. I certainly was.

It's raining here today, and looks like wet off and on for several days. That will moisten the soil so that if it is warm enough on the weekend I can finally get out and pull or chop the old crop plants out of my garden. I might have to struggle to get myself out the door on the weekend - right now my brain seems to be stuck in the idea of "it is never going to be warm again."

Computer is doing something odd. Later.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 05:04 PM

Apparently I hit "send" just in time, like Scotty down in the engine room getting those di-lithium crystals to give a burst of energy just in time to raise the shields. Just before my computer crashed and burned. It seems one of our computer techs "advertised" a reimage to automate to the computers in the library classroom 315. I'm in the basement, different area, all sorts of things different. I noticed a little dialog box about reimage on the other monitor and hit send on my mudcat message as I realized it was counting down. My computer turned off and has continued to cycle through a loop that isn't working. I called IT, three have now come down. It also seems that others were hit by this - two others that I know of so far. Good thing I save my stuff on an external university drive, but it does mean I have to redo my desktop and free programs (browsers, etc.) and reset preferences. I was going to use a different computer in the same area but a tech needed to use that to navigate to his desktop to see what was happening. I'm now on a computer that has Internet connectivity but no access to the drives I was working on.

"Toast" is the adjective used to describe my computer's hard drive data.

I think I'm jinxed this week.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 05:26 PM

Four computers hit that I know of now. I feel sorry for the tech who set this off; we have hundreds of computers in the building, but when it hits staff computers you hear about it right away.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 11:02 PM

There was a 2 hour delay for the start of school today due to the excessively cold temperatures this morning (yesterday schools were close all day). For us, that means Jeremiah and I had some extra time at home this morning. I got some business tended to but no chores. I have running cold water in the kitchen sink but no hot water. I did half the dishes yesterday and couldn't feel my hands for a good half hour afterwards...BRRRR. Today the dirty dishes will wait. No running water in the bathroom sink or for the washing machine either. Thankfully, the shower is working fine! :) Tomorrow things should warm up and all will be working fine.

After I dropped my little man off at school I went to a funeral for a man I had met a handful of times...good guy...but more so, I went for my dear friend Tracy (who I met during chemo). I was there for about 4 hours and did some people watching.....interesting stuff. Tracy called me about an hour ago and thanked me profusely for being there...she was there alone (her family was there but the dynamics are really screwy) and she said that my being there was so important to her and made the day go a bit easier. I didn't do much beyond hold her hand and rub her back when things got tough but I think sometimes those things mean more than words. In any case, I'm glad I stayed there with her.

Tomorrow I go to have my port accessed, 9 tubes of blood for endocrinology have been ordered and I'm taking my BRCA I & II tests to be drawn as well. I've had the test sitting on my table for 2 months now...didn't want to know the results before the holidays because that would have wrecked it for everyone should the results have come back positive. On the up side, my hematologist and genetic counselor both feel very strongly that my tests will come back negative (which would be a huge blessing). I don't know the geneticist but my hematologist has always been upfront with me so I don't feel like he has sugar coated this. I hope, with all my heart, that he is right.

It's a lot of blood to be taken all at once but I'm not driving so I'm not worried. It will all be over by 10:15am tomorrow.

Sweet dreams.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Jan 14 - 09:44 AM

I have marching orders - a reminder came to schedule my next colonoscopy. What a miserable thing to prepare for. I also have to go in for bone density and mammogram. This is a reminder of the anniversary with the physician I use now (GP) - she's the one who insisted I go ahead and get the first one done, she's a strong advocate of preventive medicine (a good thing!) Usually when I go in I see her nurse practitioners for things like sinus infections and poison ivy, but every so often there is this stuff.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: maeve
Date: 09 Jan 14 - 12:05 PM

Michelle and Maggie- I am so very grateful you both can and do make use of the health care available to you. Thank you.

Maeve

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 09 Jan 14 - 04:49 PM

Maeve, to be perfectly honest, I didn't want to do the BRCA test today. The possible results scare me silly. I did the test anyway and while I still don't know the results and won't for a few weeks, I feel like a large weight has been lifted from my shoulders. It's done. What will be, will be and we will go from there.

Maggie...I hear the prep is the worst part of the colonoscopy. Get the softest TP you can find...you rear will thank you for it! ;)

And hey Maeve...I don't know if I've told you this or not but I have this special mug that I have coffee in almost daily. Mornings are NOT Magical!!! ;) XOXOXO Nice to see you here!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 09 Jan 14 - 04:53 PM

Oh...I meant to post this the other day. There is a woman by the name of Megan who did a very cool video to the tune of Stronger. She is a cancer patient and the video touched loads of people and went viral. She then made a second video and asked for people to send their photos. I sent mine in and am thrilled that out of the thousands of photos she received, she picked mine to include in her newest video! Here's a link: People Like Us

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Jan 14 - 06:36 PM

For all our various difficulties - watching today's news reminds me of those who are out of their homes due to the latest train derailment and fire. and the amazing young woman still recovering from an acid attack several years ago. And all the other catastrophes in teh world.

Yet, our things are what we are dealing with - face to face, right now. I came back from today's shopping and had a light lunch and became to tired I can barely stay awake. Wonder if I was exposed to something toxic-to-me while out.

In any case, I did well Tuesday, making a new batch of chili, roasting veggies topped with cheese, and a big batch of brownies. I have remembered to check on drying clay, bought a new heater for the studio area and put it on a timer so it does not run during the night (there are two others, inadequate at these temps but ok for when I am not working.

I finally got my brain in gear enough, yesterday, to put on wool socks and my fluffy slippers and place one of the little heaters so it is directed at my feet while I sit. Wonderful! A cold brain does not work effectively. R's repair to the ceiling has done wonders!

A long, long talk with a dear friend in NYS yesterday, my first since the cheap LD kicked in! Land line cordless died in middle so I switched to the corded one and now have a new battery in the cordless.

Yesterday and today I have done groceries, filling all the empty spaces in the food dept. I actually looked at the Home Depot flyer this morning and decided the on sale stainless garbage cans - one tall, two small - would be worth having. So off I went, pre-groceries, and bought 3 cheery foliage plants, a wireless doorbell and a LED motion sensor light to install over the front door - sick of struggling to unlock the door at night, or wondering if someone is at the door. And I am calling that a form of de-cluttering - frustration and annoyance! The more we can de-clutter, the better!

In setting up the large garbage can it was hard to find a level spot on the deteriorating K floor where it could be placed, but I won in the end. The small ones can be used in bathroom and the would-be powder room - if it comes together in my lifetime! Though I am thinking they would also be excellent compost buckets. The main part of my rationale was to keep the mice out - not to make the hopelessly horrible K look better! I am still hoping that happens before someone falls through the floor - maybe in my lifetime!

YES! a compost bucket is a better use.

Next: Hot bath, I think.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: maeve
Date: 09 Jan 14 - 07:15 PM

Michelle- I doubt Maggie wants to have her procedure done either...but you and she have the option and you got 'er done.

And thanks.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 09 Jan 14 - 08:02 PM

I'm sure no one is super excited to see if they have cancer.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Jan 14 - 08:28 PM

Hot bath was a good idea. No electric upstairs now. The new heater must have blown a fuse and they really are fuses and I cannot see a thing, even with a flashllight. So no heat up there and it is cooling. So, I decided to drwon my sorrows in choc chip cookies. In the middle of the second one I started coughing - badly. I coughed after eating the small brownie after lunch. Experiment - is it the choc or th other ingredients? Eating choc chips now; not coughing. End of experiment - before I get nauseous! who? me? a chocaholic?

I think I will just watch TV and hope for the energy to clean under the K sink - something I carefully ignored for almost 4 years - until R took everything out to warm the pipes. Now there is a possibility of cleaning and organizing under there!! One more baby step. If I find the energy. No pots made again today. Blich! Thank heavens for Big Bang Theory.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jan 14 - 11:20 AM

As it happens, both Michelle and I have had cancer, but hers was a lot harder to get through. The colonoscopy is awful, Michelle has it right about the prep. I did one five years ago, they said do it every five years now.

Have been in communication limbo for a while as I rebuild the connectivity of my office computer. I don't have a smart phone right now either - amazing how much you learn to do with the things that you don't notice until you go back to the old flip cell phone. I'll get a new phone once both kids have moved off of my existing plan. Soon.

It's Friday, there is a meeting tonight that is a group I've been active with for years. Supposedly one of my replacement folks is going to be there to take photos, but I doubt it, so I have my camera at work in case. This will be a well-attended meeting because of the speaker and I don't want to see it ignored. It'll go into my photo collection in Special Collections. Late night, so I'm treating it that way for my work day.

It finally warmed up some here, it's moist and humid, it feels good, but it's dangerously foggy. This weekend is supposed to be much more typical for this time of year, up to 70^o!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 11:08 AM

I've got a colonoscopy scheduled for Feb. 6. I'd rescheduled from Jan. 6 -- which definitely would have been way too much to deal with at that point. I'm thinking about rescheduling again as I seem to still have so much to do in the next couple weeks.

I'm feeling very much over-extended right now. I didn't go to the session last night (MY session, fer-pete's-sake!) because of a combination of weather and extreme fatigue. I was asleep before the session would have been ending. But I needed that music and the friends and...and I missed it. From the photos posted at FB, looks like it was a really good session, and there were some new people and I really SHOULD have been there.

Right now I'm running dishes through the dishwasher. If there's a plumbing problem, then the plumber will be able to fix it this afternoon when he comes to fix the broken pipes in the bathroom.

Cleaning out the bedroom closet and having to do it RIGHT NOW has been both a good thing and a bad thing. I'm physically exhausted from schlepping sheetrock, a shelf unit, bags of what is now trash, boxes of videotapes, and bags of stuff to go to Goodwill. I've put on a lot of mileage up and down stairs (as my knees are reminding me).

But it's also gotten me closer to being able to fix a problem on the other side of the room involving moving major pieces of furniture in order to access and clean out where Sabine has been showing her displeasure with Rufus usurping her private litter box. (They each have a separate litter box and Sabine's was placed where she'd have some privacy. Alas, Rufus has insisted on using BOTH of them. So on top of everything else, I have to be a cat shrink.)

I've also been up and down stairs often to check for leaks. I'll feel a lot better when the current problem is taken care of and all of the shutoffs are replaced with ball valves.

I also got some of the little niggling pieces of paperwork finished and mailed off. Not a lot of money, but a couple hundred dollars is a couple hundred dollars.

Still have some more to do in the bedroom and closet before the plumber gets here. Need to put my contacts in. Need to make sure there's no problem with the dishwasher and related plumbing.

Maybe I can relax tomorrow...and maybe shake this feeling of being over-extended. And the what must be mild depression. Unlike last Saturday, I can't just embrace it. Got too much stuff to do.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 12:02 PM

Linn, the last time I had to have a plumber come out I went by the Ace hardware on my way home and I bought an assortment. The plumber said the ball valves are best (I think so - and so easy to use!) and it saved a trip because he didn't have any with him in the truck. I returned the ones I didn't need to Ace the next day.

We need to form our own little mutual support society for the colonoscopy. I need to go for the initial appointment and then schedule it when someone can give me a ride home. They won't let you drive yourself, it's a rule.

Alice posted a link on facebook to a page with various declutter ideas - lots of those popping up this time of year - and there is a photo of a huge closet. It seems like clutter would be less of a problem with a huge closet. My modest walk-in is under control, but I walked in yesterday morning to dress for both work and and evening event and had the thought that I should toss all of it and start over. I need to keep an eye on the sales at the Dillard's clearance outlet (a nice high-end department store in the US) and go in when their tops are on sale, get an array of new, and toss the various beginning-to-look-a-bit-worn tops. Then do it with pants. Get a couple of nice jackets or blazers to mix and match with tops and pants, etc. When they have a sale it is stupendous. Items that cost $200 are now $20, etc.

I'm not doing much of the alternate day fasting because I find the run of extremely cold weather has reset my internal clock and metabolism - I feel it more blood-sugar wise because my system is saying "eat carbs to stay warm." I stood in the morning sun for a few minutes and felt better - and I need to work in the yard today to see if I can't get past this cold-weather phase. I also need the exercise. This week I climbed the stairs at work several times a day (all six floors) to get started and I'll dig up the garden today for a general workout. And walk the dogs - poor things, they haven't been out of the yard for ages and they do love their walks.

Down to the last family phone on my cell plan, and today my son and I will meet to let him buy a new phone and set up a plan. I'll see how it goes - some of the big carriers offer a no-contract service, but the phones they couple with that plan are low-end. I want to know if I could buy a current phone (if I buy a quad core perhaps it will still operate after a couple of years - my most recent experience is that the dual core Android upgrades were pushed out to my single core phone until it was totally bogged down, then they stopped upgrading.) My son and I are on the same wavelength as far as how we want this to work, so I'll listen closely as he asks his questions today before we port out his number from my plan to one he pays for himself. I'm so ready for a change!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 12:21 PM

My plumber replaced the old shutoffs (only one worked) in the bathroom last spring with ball valves. Thank God! Otherwise Wednesday would have been a disaster and I'd not had any water at all available in the house.

He knows that I'd like to replace all the shutoffs in the cellar either today or soon. It depends on how much time he has after fixing the broken pipes.

Gotta go schlep some more stuff out of his way in the closet area.

I drove up the driveway to get yesterday's mail and then turned around just up the road. Glad I didn't attempt the 50+ mile round trip yesterday to The Press Room...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 01:47 PM

That's good news if the plumber knows what you want re: the shutoffs and such. No one likes to stop what they're doing to run to the store, probably not even plumbers.

Waiting on my son's call - he's a late sleeper when he's not working or in school. I'll get my gardening materials set up, chances are good (Murphy's Law) that once I'm ready to start that he'll call and I'll have to drop what I'm doing.

I did read some of those lists in the last couple of days. Time for a few small things this morning - I tossed out the various sponges in play in the kitchen and bathrooms and replaced with fresh. I got out a new toothbrush, and need to buy a few more (spares for guests who forget theirs.) I suppose I could also change out razors, consolidate shampoo bottles, etc. I have a load of recycling ready to drop off, and I should finish the xmas light string cull and drop those off as well.

Martha Stewart's PBS cooking program this afternoon is making French Onion Soup. Crave crave crave . . . maybe I'll get a bowl after the phone shopping. There is a wonderful French restaurant near where we'll be going.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 06:41 PM

I am missing something in the colonoscopy dept. I had one about 9 years ago and remember it as a non-event. The only part I remember is the physician telling me, as I was going under, "Tell all your friends to have... We can cure colon cancer!" I believed him.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 11:36 PM

The procedure is under anesthesia - it is the self-induced cleanse the night before that is so brutal.

Did some more research after asking questions at the phone store this afternoon. I couldn't talk my son into going out to the place with onion soup - he wanted breakfast - so we came home and I fixed breakfast at 3 in the afternoon. :)

Kicking back this evening, planning for a busy day tomorrow.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jan 14 - 10:33 AM

The BluRay disc of The King's Speech won't load in my player - it gives the upcoming attractions then stops. I'd rewatched an old Charlie Rose interview with Firth and the director and was primed to watch - good thing I remembered seeing that it streams from NetFlix. Good save! (I always want to play Beethoven's 7th Symphony after watching it - they use the second movement so effectively during the speech itself.)

Lovely weather, good day for gardening and I'm going to start the day by walking the dogs. They get more attention today - I'll wash their bedding and police the grounds. I'll have lots of weeds from the garden to toss on top of their droppings and anything from the kitchen compost bucket.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jan 14 - 01:24 PM

It was a great walk! We were all so in need of the exercise and getting out of the yard.

Eating the last of the split pea soup for lunch and I'll use a few other leftovers later. I have stuff for pumpkin bread - some thawed pumpkin, recently purchased chopped dates, plus some homemade applesauce to cut down the amount of fat in the recipe. I've used up the last of the loaf of whole wheat bread so it looks like a baking evening. I'm also going to fix a batch of my taco/burrito meat (with lots of my home-grown peppers out of the freezer, along with a pound of chuck pot roast to grind) for meals this week.

The wheelbarrow is filled with various tools. Must still dig out the pruning sheers to take the tops off of the asparagus before transplanting the crowns. Transplanting asparagus is a lot of work, but it's worth it and the price is right. My original bed has been in for about five years now.

The kitchen counter is cleared, as is the kitchen table. Stuff for consideration for donation has been sitting out for a while and it is now sorted and either back in the cupboard or in the bag for the Goodwill.

A load of laundry is in. Now out to the yard.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 12 Jan 14 - 01:45 PM

Plumbing in the bathroom is fixed and it's even better than it had been. The plumber brought the line inside (it was inside the south wall of the house) earlier so more of it will benefit from the heat inside the house. I think the materials are better, too. And he insulated more inside the wall. Be basically replaced everything from where the pipes came up next to the chimney all the way over to the tub and shower.

Since he's trying to catch up lost time yesterday when a fatal accident on Rte. 16 north of here tied him up in traffic for three hours, we'll worry about replacing the shutoffs in the cellar in a few weeks.

There are a lot of things about this house that I would have done differently if I had known Tom then and been involved in building it. It's a post and beam KIT and it was built by Tom, his friends, and students from Whittier Reg. Voc Tech (with the supervision of their teachers). It's still not actually "finished"...(I'd kill for a real floor rather than subflooring downstairs). I'd have designed all the plumbing in a central core, especially since the house was intended to be heated primarily with a woodstove. I DID finally (after going through several clothes washers) get Tom to change the arrangement of the washer and dryer so the plumbing wasn't on the coldest wall in the house. Couldn't do anything about the kitchen sink and the bathtub/shower and the pipes to it. Thank goodness we have a composting toilet so I never had to worry about THAT freezing up!

Of course, Tom built this house when he was in his prime, able to do most of the plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and everything else himself. AND carry in firewood and keep the fire going all winter. Not to mention cleaning the chimney every year. He and his first wife were chimney sweeps and Tom was the first president of the Chimney Sweep Guild of NH.

But I love this house and its location in the middle of the woods and in a wonderful little town where I know everyone at town hall and my mortgage is small. And I certainly couldn't afford even a spot under a bridge in Portsmouth.

I'm taking the rest of the weekend off... Friends are picking me up in about 15 minutes and we're going to see "Inside Llewyn Davis" which is playing in Bedford.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jan 14 - 04:22 PM

Sounds like a good plan for the evening, Linn!

I dug in the gumbo of the garden for about an hour so I have had a good workout, but it is slow going when the soil sticks to the mattock as I work. We had rain late in the week so it needs to dry a little more to be at it's optimum working consistency.

It took the last couple of days in the sunny weather to reset my internal clock. I no longer feel like it will never warm up again, I've been out in the sunshine for a couple of hours soaking in the heat and the rays. It was probably 70, but very windy, so I worked in a sheltered area.

Laundry is almost finished as far a dog beds. My laundry will go in after I give the washer and dryer a thorough wipe-down to pick up any hair left behind. And tonight I'll bake bread and make stuff for meals this week. Mmmmm!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Jan 14 - 04:59 PM

The treadmill is UP! YES!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Jan 14 - 09:52 PM

Linn: would love to hear how you like inside Llewyn Davis.

I have been managing at least a few minutes almost every day on exercycle in the last couple weeks. Promised R if I did not use it, we would get it out of the LR. Only can tolerate it if watching TV.

Fri I did the dreaded trip to Laval for clay I had ordered. Actually found the place with no trouble- at last! Yesterday, a chat with a potter north of Montreal resulted in her suggestion we meet in ----Laval! - sometime! Get used to it, Dorothy!

I came down directly to the mill and Vanessa unloaded the clay - very careful on the snow, turning to ice in the rain. Went to music at cafe after eating and eating. Good music.

Saturday, nice brekkie and off to look at small property for sale nearby. I would so like to have a real house - even needing repairs to this. Just did drive-by to check location - excellent, right next door to a property we rather regret missing last year. Good wooded area and this house, on 3 A. is right in the trees, just far enough from the road. I emailed the agent.

After supper we went to music and had a fun evening, networking with local friends. Would I demo at the event in September? - yes. And R caught up with someone he had been meant to visit.

Today has been a nightmare of trying to reorganize stuff in storage area so it looks less like personal storage and more like the workshop area it is meant to be - eventually. Caught between the local municipality which does not mind and the Ministry of Agriculture which does. Zoned agricultural means we cannot "live" here. Believe me, this is not living! But the staff person took umbrage. We can have wood working shops and agricultural related stuff but Ken's trees in the upper field are not very visible with all the snow and the bee people are not coming until spring.

Anyway, we managed to sort out the stuff that is "heading out" and R is moving stuff with pallet truck to various resting places. Vanessa came to pot but her wheel misbehaved and R could not fix it immediately so she went home with some epsom salt (I buy by 50 pound bag) for a hot bath. (I wish!)

A friend came by for a visit in late aft and R took a short break and she helped a little. I had plumb run out of energy. I would have curled up in a quilt with hot water bottle - if I could find the latter. I felt cold to the core so I drank warm water instead.

So here I am on computer and R is back at it after an after supper nap. By-law enforcement officer is coming on Tuesday and R has to go to the city and come back. I am staying here and hope to get pots made tomorrow. HOPE!!!! Maybe even organize to mix some more test glazes.

The weather has been above freezing the last couple days and the next couple so snow is melting, river is rising. It would have been even worse working in the storage if it were terribly cold.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 12 Jan 14 - 11:36 PM

Making some more progress on clearing out our excessive accumulation of books (mine at least) with about 8,000 pages worth (18 books) scanned to pdf and rid of the hard copies in past week. Most of these are older references type stuff.

We have minor maintenance outdoors that needs attention, but weather has been incompatible with our physical condition, so it's mostly on hold.

We are making plans for some small plumbing fixes, but still need another month or to two sequester funds for the bigger ones. Some savings expected from lumping the little ones in with the bigger ones and letting the hired help manage them for us. (I can still crawl around under the pipes -- I only have a problem with getting back up when I get something done.)

For the most part I'm following the advice in one of the management theory books I scanned yesterday:

"The quicker you get behind, the more time you have to catch up."

John

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jan 14 - 12:37 AM

John, are you disassembling books and scanning them that way? I hope at least it feeds them in and does it at a high speed, like in my library? And are these books not available digitally via Google Books, etc?

Plumbing bills can gut your savings. Good luck in managing repairs. I have a drippy faucet in the kitchen that could use a new cylinder of some sort ("washerless" doesn't mean they don't need some mechanism to keep them from dripping, it just doesn't have washers) or replacement. The sink has had a crack since (I think) the carpenter stood in it to work over the sink. It hasn't grown larger but one of these days . . .

New phone in hand, I spent the evening decluttering default settings and working on how to streamline it so it doesn't ding and whistle and try to alert me any time someone sends an email. And it doesn't need to monitor facebook and Google+ and such. I turned all of that off on the last phone, this one I hope to set so it won't try to do all of that beyond WiFi range because I've picked up the lowest data plan. I expect most of my phone activity will be in WiFi range.

I didn't get the baking done, except 2 sweet potatoes, but I did make a batch of my taco filling for meals this week.

The dog bedding is back in the dog houses in the garage where it belongs, and they were happily curled up in their area last time I checked, though they've been indoors enough this winter they often ask to come in at night even though they don't need to. They are outdoor dogs for the most part, with their cushy digs in the garage available anytime they want in there.

Those of you with treadmills or exercise machines, good job getting going! We have two computer desks at treadmills in the library and I keep meaning to go up and work there for some time during the week in addition to my exercise of climbing stairs. I haven't yet, but I will and will report back.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Jan 14 - 12:49 PM

SRS! Does that mean one can computer while on the treadmill? I really doubt I could do both at once. Brain plagues me with lack of function. Sometimes I try to make sure I have not just given up. but some days are better.


Point: Lost it completely last night when R mentioned for the ...time how "disorganized" is my studio. Have barely spoken to him since. He, I finally realize, does not have (or want to) a clue how sick I have been most of the last 7 months. I try to keep up my end of things to be done but there were still a few days when I could not even get up to feed him meals. Then, he built the studio without consulting me and I have lots of place for shelves but no shelves yet because I cannot do it his way - screw a zillion little brackets in place to hold the lovely shelves he bought. So, NO! nothing is organized and I HATE not being organized and I am living in two "homes" neither of which can I organize to my satisfaction. As soon as I clear a space, he clutters it. So, yeah, I lost it!

Although my arm has been improving since the fall, the work of moving stuff around yesterday, set it back and that was bothering me as well. My cough which has been almost gone came back after he came to bed without washing adequately. All that dust from moving stuff and sweeping and in a few minutes I was sitting up coughing - for what seemed a very long time maybe 30 minutes. It eventually settled down to a small cough every few minutes. I did not get much sleep and was totally out of it when he left at 8 am for the city.

Plumbing: I wish for, here in the country, running water to the K and a toilet within a reasonable distance. At least it is warm enough. Ah, reminder - right now I am going to turn up heat in the studio... Done.

So here I am on a - was sunny for a while - day, cooler than yesterday but still 46 so lots of melt still happening! Gradually waking and getting my brain and body into gear. 12;30! Need a plan: Have a garbage bag and more to take to thrift shop. Have 7 empty gallon jugs for water - fill at thrift shop. Trip to the good butcher for local meat. After I get into studio for a couple hours to get some pots made.

I asked R to unload my car Saturday am as it is still full of boxes of pots. I am daunted by - it is still full and in the "garage" so I shall have to open the very heavy door to go anywhere. Oh, my shoulder. I have trouble picking up a cup of tea. Lest you think I complain muchly. This business of feeling a lack of ability to function has me right down. And you are helping me figure out how to get it together to get through this day in the best possible way. Getting dressed and having lunch seems a good couple steps. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Jan 14 - 06:47 PM

Dorothy, I just posted my impressions of the film in the " 'Insight' Llewyn Davis" thread.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Jan 14 - 08:18 PM

Went to studio and did a couple hours of looking, thinking, fine tuning, and decided the man needs a guided tour. Aside from the lack of shelves to really fine tune it, the flow is just fine. It is organized to the best of what is there. Did not get anything made as I still have no energy after yesterday's ordeal. My arm does not preclude making pots - some anyway. Tomorrow is another first day of....

I dug my heels in and left car unloading, opening of garage door, and errands for tomorrow. R can do the heavy work. I refuse to live in pain unnecessarily. So, after a nice, light supper, I am on the sofa with a cosy mohair throw and a book and computer. Looking at an early night.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jan 14 - 03:57 PM

The dogs and I went for a lovely mid-morning walk before I got ready to come to work (late day today). They do love the walk, and I needed to continue to work on resetting my brain with sun on my face and getting the mile walk in. After about four weeks of not much alternate day fasting, of mostly just trying to keep my eating moderate, I have probably gained a few pounds but not enough to make my clothes not fit, one pair of pants is a bit snut. Now that I can get outside on warm days and the sun it is much easier to resume the alternate fast. And so I have today.

I decluttered myself of one annoying piece of technology - I dropped my old Samsung Nexus S into the recycle cell phones bin in the library foyer. I'm still adjusting to the new phone - figuring out how to make it do everything in WiFi so I don't use the data except for when I'm completely away from hot spots.

SRS.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Jan 14 - 10:06 PM

R came back from the city last night so it ended up not being an early night but I was glad to see him and gave him the tour. The little bit of change I had made - he pronounced it wonderful??? So I fed him and went to bed.

More stuff had to be put away this morning before the by-law enforcement officer arrived. she was very nice and took pics which she will send to the ministry of agriculture. R also needs to phone. However, all R's great plans for a BR and fancy bath are not going to be permitted. We can have a bathroom but must keep it low key. I really do not like living here so I said, Oh, good! So, the incredibly big stressor he had made out of this is now done with and we can move on to the next crisis.

After she left, R phoned a realtor about a small house for sale about 15 minutes away. It is on 3 wooded acres and surrounded by other woods. R refers to it as a "cabin in the woods", thinking of it as similar to the one we were renting. It could be, although it is said to be in rough shape. We will be able to see it on the weekend.

Then, before he left to go back to the city, he unloaded my car and brought it around to the front door for me. He also repaired Vanessa's pottery wheel! I had a really do nothing day as the dust of Sunday hit full force today. Remind me to wear a respirator in future- even if it does not seem as though I need it. I ordered 10 new filters for the little one as the filter it came with seems to have lost its efficacy. Even so, it would have been better than nothing.

symptoms: hots and colds, sinuses full of stuff, nose running, mild headache, general malaise. Similar to a flu or cold but I know from experience that it is the dust. I have only to sweep a floor to end up with itchy, runny eyes and nose. I also have gotten a bit stiff from all the moving of stuff on Sunday. Consider it exercise!

Ate very little today- rice and chicken broth and tea. Hopefully I will be better tomorrow and can get rid of stuff for the thrift shop. Told R I would stay here until I feel better. (The dust is out in the storage area. I have a powerful air cleaner in the "living space".)

Our January thaw is over. The temp is dropping to 18 tonight and the cold will continue for the next while. It sure did get rid of a lot of snow! Now the cycle begins again - some snow tomorrow. Plan to do errands in the am. Need lots of veggies!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Jan 14 - 08:54 AM

A good start to this day: I watched the sky turn pretty colours - and the cloud cover become almost solid! Made the trek (99 steps) to the toilet. Realized my sinuses felt like hoover dam was in there and my brain said "xclear". I have not used it in years but noticed it when I was sorting through supplements. Within a few minutes the dam was cleared and continues to clear.

I made a pot of Pau d'Arco tea and feel like life is possible today. Started placing an order for more supplements and checked email. Love that delete button! But one email was from drugstore.com offering an extra discount for my "anniversary, hence the order.

Another pot of tea (green this time) and a piece of toast, then I believe I shall be able to go do Monday's errands before the snow starts. Getting back on track...

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jan 14 - 10:17 AM

Damn, just lost my last entry. I usually remember to copy so I can paste if needed.

Dorothy, will you describe the rural area where you had the cabin and the mill and are now looking at another wooded cottage? Were you and Robert renting the mill or was it a purchase? And since the bedroom and bathroom can't be built, this will be sold? Is it a historic building that limits remodeling or is it a structural restriction (that you might appeal if some accommodation is made such as extra supports put in?) Is this area where you head out of town to actually in the country or is it a less populace suburb? I read your posts and have a mental idea of what the area looks like, then some new clue comes along and blows the image in my mind's eye out of the picture.

My job here now is to file papers. Since it is tax paper accumulation season that will be easier if everything else is picked up and filed or shredded.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jan 14 - 11:49 PM

Made headway on the paper clutter, filed some, recycled more of it. The dishes are in the sink from today, they'll go in the dishwasher in the morning. A hot bath felt great and I'm headed to bed to read some then a relatively early night.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Jan 14 - 03:41 AM

Stilly - (13 Jan 14 - 12:37 AM)

The books I've been scanning are just what's on the bookshelf. Unfortunately we have lots less shelf than books. Any that I might want for reference come apart and go through the scanner. A 500 page book in very good condition takes an hour or two to make a pdf. The ones in "less than good" condition may need a fair amount of cleanup, but seldom more than another hour or so. Most of them are "out of print" textbooks, or rare and obsolete references, although a few might be still "buyable." Very few are available in ebook form.

My "little scanner" runs around ten sheets per minute, but scans both sides in a single pass, so it (theoretically) gets 20 ppm. Epson makes a "big brother just like it that claims 80 sheets per min, but it's about $800 and I can't feed the pages that fast anyway.

Anything wider than 8.5" wide (narrowest way) has to go through the big scanner that only runs one side at a time, around 6 pages per minute at "publishing resolution" (300 dpi). Theoretically the big one can turn the original over and scan the other side, but that cuts the speed to about 3 pages per minute and it eats about one page out of ten in the turnover, for old books in the condition of most I have. I can generally get 500 pages through in just a little over an hour and a half(?) depending on how many rescans are needed. The big one can handle about 11.8" wide by approx 19" long, so "coffee table" books are mostly doable.

My ONLY purpose is to keep what's in "my books" and get them off the shelves. So far I've eliminated about 160 ft of shelf needed for the ones I've scanned, but LiK keeps putting her junk that used to be piled on the floor back up as more shelve get visible. (We started with over 308 feet of shelves in the old house, and still had piles on the floor. We only had room for about 220 ft of shelves in our new house, and LiK has "sewing materials" on a little over 30 ft of that.) "Her" books, of course, are mostly "too valuable" to take apart.

A side benefit is that the pdfs are "searchable"** (which has been a big help in the seven volume 3900 page "maintenance manual" for my truck - which had a totally inadequate Index.)

So far the books I've scanned are only about 405 GB, all in a little HD 3.5" x 5/5" x 0.8" instead of 160 ft of book shelf. (actually also on about three backup drives, but they're still small enough to carry along to the care home when I go.)

** Except for The Dictionary of Egyptian Hieroglyphics Vol I which totally baffled the OCR.

John

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jan 14 - 09:59 AM

We pay people do to that kind of work here in the library, John. Maybe you can hire yourself out to your local library when you finish your books. And you should encourage LiK to rejoin our discussion - I miss hearing what she's up to. I have a room full of most of the sewing stuff (it used to be spread around more) and I at this point do have all of my books on shelves. Several years ago I took all of the books off of all of the shelves and made a big sorting are a on the large tiles of my living room floor. The A, B, C, etc tiles were piled high but not precarious, and I used extra tiles for M, N, S, T, that had more authors. This allowed me to finally sort and remove duplicates of books and I took several boxes of said dups over to my local half price bookstore to sell.

Finishing a cuppa tea before heading to work. I've assembled a lunch for this, an alternate day, so it's an assemblage that is probably under 500 calories. We keep having cold, almost freezing nights that still engender the metabolic response of "eat, it's cold out," but not as bad a few weeks ago.

My office is looking better now that I look around this morning. I was able to get enough stuff off of a couple of flat surfaces that I can 1) see the desktop in front of my monitor and 2) see the stacks on the other desktop that had so much stuff there that there were piles on top of piles. Now it is a single layer of stacks. This may seem a non-distinct distinction, but I can see a difference.

Tea finished, out the door. Tonight I'm going to scan some of the newspaper articles I sorted and selected last night. They're some of my above-the-fold stories from my years as a reporter, needed for another job applications.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Jan 14 - 10:08 AM

From the mill while lying in cosy bed (very comfortable futon which keeps this room a LR, not a BR!
JiK: What a project! Rather awesome, imo.
SRS: You could google 2986 route 138, Godmanchester, Quebec. It usually does not place the red arrow in quite the correct space but the "highway" is there and gives you an idea of the area. Fairly flat down here near NYS with the foot hills of the Adirondacks starting along the border. Hence, a ghastly row of wind turbines with flashing red lights along the ridge in NYS which are highly offensive to those in Quebec who view them across the fields - corn and soya - and lovely woods left where the soil was too rocky or the terrain too rough for planting crops or apple orchards and vineyards. The latter are across the bottom of the ridge.

The cabin was rented and the son of the owner wanted to live there.We miss it! It has been a very rough period of adjustment from that lovely spot in the woods. It was also on the edge of the "pavement barrens", a unique ecosystem occurring 22 places in the world. We googled that and were fascinated by it and loved being close to it. Our group that formed to fight the turbines on "our road" informed the municipal council about this, unknown to them, special place and also the larger council (akin to the county level). This was a part of what convinced the "MRC" to request bigger set backs from the province to protect our natural environment. YAY!! Now there is no place in our MRC for any commercial turbines! We only have to see the ones in NYS. Not hear them.

We had also become a part of a small community and moving has put us into a different small community. We miss the previous one even as we become part of the new one. The cafe in Ormstown is in the middle and, still a centre for us it has given us a base of friends down here.

We did not have the resources to purchase any of the places we liked 2 years ago (all sold) so, having bought the "old saw mill" as a business venture, R moved us in here - 20,000 sf building on 4 A of land so permeated with fist sized river stone that I cannot even dig a hole to plant a flower! The rock was trucked in to form a firm base for the heavy trucks that brought logs. I need to develop raised beds. Instead of looking out at trees, the view is of the road, the three neighbouring homes, and surrounding corn fields and, in the distance, the wind turbines but far enough that I can ignore them. Hence, I focus on the sky and how amazing it is as it changes - solidly soft blue grey today at the moment.

This property is zoned agricultural and cannot have a "home" on it. This also restricts the sort of activities - wood and metal transformation are OK because that was here before and the tree nursery a friend is developing in the field. We also have ten beehives coming in the spring via a company looking for placements. My pottery studio did not cause any problem - WHEW! A window manufacturer is supposed to be moving in - last year! - and R is putting in a wood working shop and a fine wood working shop - with appropriate venting and dust collection!

R believes the municipality would like to change the zoning to commercial - higher taxes! He is working to keep the lower taxes!

Being old - but not old enough to be interesting, and vacant for several years, the building is full of mold and sawdust and dust and stinks of old oil spills... But less and less. Hence, the reason I have been sick ever since they sprayed the fields in late May, painted some of the interior of the building with alkyd paint in June and we started sleeping here 1 July. Now, with the living space fully separated by walls and with an air cleaner hard at work, I was almost done coughing. Then, my unutterably stupid failure to wear a respirator when we worked on organizing the stuff out side the living space.

Well, that is done, not without words being shouted, and the living space has been approved as "a lounge and snack area for staff" and R can move on to his next (business) crisis. And I, having learned a great deal over the last months am healing quickly but the cough, I suspect, will linger for a few weeks yet, even if I am careful.

What we have is a sun room in the space which, last May, was full of an old furnace - what a transformation - two walls of recycled patio doors. A K with beautiful recycled cabinets ($650), the very nice stove (I love it!) which came with the free K R removed for someone and a frig. We also have a small freezer in the storage area - which has not had to work very hard in this cold weather! No running water yet but that is permissible and will come when R has time. The LR (lounge) has a big picture window facing south east, hence the sun rise, bureaus for our clothes, the very nice futon, a couple chairs and two large plants. Not beautiful with the concrete floor and not painted yet.

Oh, the feature which may have caused our problem: The inner wall of the LR, separating it from the storage area is comprised of six french doors cut short into windows. This was done to allow light into the back area, the workshop-to-be. It is a striking feature and if the guy from the ministry looked in the front window and saw that, undoubtedly!, we realized THAT was the cause!   We will be putting semi-opaque drapes to reduce the view but still permit light. Eventually, there will also be windows in the north wall of that space. When the weather is warm.

The fact of not being able to put a BR here (I was delighted!) has made R more amenable to the idea of purchasing, things having improved somewhat in the finances. We are looking forward to looking at this property on the weekend, only 15 minutes away, which is a "cabin in the woods" in bad shape but people are living in it so - livable. On a high spot with surrounding woods - and a great view of the Adirondacks/wind turbines off to the SE - across a zillion acres of corn fields, then the orchard area, then the beginning of the ridge up to the border. The price is right (and R is not a Scot for nothing!) and the woods are lovely and 3 A is adequate. I am looking forward to seeing it.   

Yesterday: took a few books (donation) to the library, the latest lot of stuff to the thrift shop where I purchased terrific shirts for R and 4 tuques for $1 just in case and a heating pad that does not stink. I will donate the smelly one back; six months is long enough, purchased a thermometer to put on an outside window so I don't have to turn on the computer to find the outdoor temp! and a few other items for use in pottery.

Then picked up back issues of local paper from friend to whose address they are sent since we left the cabin as no mail box at mill. Visited for a couple hours. She keeps telling me I should wrie a book (I just did!?) Then I told her a couple chapters of my life. "What chapter is that," I asked.

Then I picked up meat at the organic butcher and stopped at the municipal office for this year's trash and recycling schedule. While there the building inspector came out of her office and said she wanted to send R a letter of confirmation; what address... I told her she needed to send it to the city as we have not been permitted a post box at the mill. The "boss" came out and excused herself for over-hearing but vehemently told me we are entitled to a mail box and R can go bcak to the post office and talk to them again and if they give him trouble, they should call HER! She is here to take care of the people of Godmanchester!! And that is what a small community can be like at its best.

THEN, I completed my list at the IGA and came back to the mill feeling it had been a day well spent. Emailed R with new info. And spent until about 2 am on the computer, mostly on FB invited people to "like" the International Wildlife Rehabilitation page. Wore out my wrist inviting folks to the "Second Annual Pay it Forward weekend". Wrote a piece on that page clarifying the meaning of this. It is important to me. Unfortunately, something caused my computer to freeze and I spent the next couple hours, alternately reading while the rainbow twirled and then making small movements until, I managed to open a new FB page and ascertain my post had, indeed made it. Then I went to bed and slept rather more than I coughed, waking at the usual 7ish. And here I have been ever since. Now that I am almost awake - have been drinking Pau d'Arco tea - it is time for green tea and toast accompanied by the next book in the pile.

The sum has come out!!!!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 12:51 AM

I'll backtrack a couple of entries tomorrow - this evening I've done other than read Mudcat - I researched vehicles because, alas, in the university parking lot as I planned to go out a different exit than usual I put a big crimp in the front of my pickup.

I was making a loop from where I usually park that involved going around a row of parked cars (the lines are painted so alternate rows were parked diagonally pointed in different directions) and with the sunset in my eyes I was looking to the left and missed seeing a handicapped parking stanchion at the head of the row in front of me. I wasn't moving fast but I nailed it with my bumper and put a crease in the grill and nose of the hood. Enough to require body work - and enough to mean the truck would probably be totalled by the insurance company. The high price on the Kelly Blue Book is almost $5000 but with a crease like this, only a couple of thousand. I may call the insurance company to ask about this, but I may also simply speak to the used car folks at the nearby dealer.

I've looked online at the vehicles for sale there - they have a standard transmission Toyota that would work for me, so I'll see if I can work out an exchange as a substantial down payment. I will eventually end up with a pickup truck, but for now a car will work in a pinch.

Thursday just became this week's Friday. And a long (but possibly expensive) weekend looms. I'll keep you all posted.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 09:17 AM

Oh, OUCH, SRS!!!! Good luck with this one.

I am going to do a quickie here then dash off to the fabric store's 30% off everything in the store sale!! Then check out the steps at the church hall where the MArch market will be held. I do not like carrying boxes of pots up steps! I need to register for the three winter markets - or only two. The other two are in stair-free venues.

Time moves apace. I was up at 7 and took the garbage bin out, discovering a beautiful sunrise further east , behind the house across the road. Realized I could not put a name to the colours!

I dragged out another bag of garbage and a bucket of broken glass. Left one bag that I deem too heavy. Made a pot of tea and my toast and started the distiller. I was getting short of water. The distiller here has a problem so I was happy to discover that the cordless electric drill up against the switch prevents it turning off before completion -but does not prevent it turning off when it is finished? ! However, the fun part of the K is that I can only use one appliance at a time, hence the ordering of things. I can unplug the still if I need to use - the toaster oven or tea kettle....

After finishing my lengthy missive here yesterday, I found that I needed to vet an article on my environmental illness. I sent material to the ed months ago asking her to tell me what she thought was approp. Instead she spent 3 hours making an article out of it. I felt terrible and although she did an excellent job and I only wanted tiny changes, it was not the thrust I would have taken. It took me quite a while, in any case.

Then I did the email/delete thing and read a good chunk of Against Medical Advice, finishing before collapsing into bed last night - the whole book in one day. A horror story about a family's increasingly desperate seeking help for their child's unique - Tourette's? OCD? .....

The writer's group was lively but I never did figure out what we were supposed to write about. I kept asking and people kept trying to tell me but too many at once and even the woman next to me... I need to write something to give each person so they can better understand my difficulty in discriminating sounds. I was too tired to get frustrated - which I have mostly given up anyway. But there is a fine line between giving up being frustrated and just giving up and falling into depression.

I woke up this morning with much on my mind and things need to be written. Insights in several directions need to be looked over and not over-looked. During the gathering, I remembered my goal of years ago to write about Marie Corelli. So that is back on my list!

As chaotic as the group seems to me, it is also of value. I came home with a mixture of thoughts and feelings swirling through my brain, finished to book and slept between coughing spells.

Now, to the fabric store!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 10:17 AM

I have been thinking for a long time about getting another vehicle, a smaller one for daily driving around and keeping the pickup for pickup sorts of things. But I'm not at that point, I just got myself to the point where I was going to pay off some bills, and then I can look at maybe financing a newer vehicle. So I'll get a used vehicle for the driving around and wait and do the pickup thing later.

Mostly I'm just kicking myself for being so stupid as to clobber a sign and mess up my truck. It's an undignified way to go. :-( The dealer will be able to repair it and make some money, probably, but going the retail route of repairing for an insurance company isn't the way it will get fixed.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 02:30 PM

Somehow it seems not quite right that in the new house, one of my tasks was to declutter THEIR stuff they left behind!!! Stuff in and around house done About 12 bins with Hardi bext month in the garage!

But I did gain an unopened classic coke in the old classic bottle, a tiny Batman with Batmobile, a bulletin board, a bag of nice stuffed animals (which niece/neph will love when they visit for playdates), and 4 rum dbl-shots. According to one I am now a Marine. According to me sellers were MUI.

~♡~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Charmion
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 03:10 PM

A major decluttering of my closet is currently under way, as I finish sorting out the clothes that are now too big for me but are still potentially useful to others. The Canadian Diabetes Society does periodic sweeps with a five-ton truck picking up donations of clothing, books and household stuff, so I can unload redundant stuff before it gets too grungy to appeal to the discriminatong Value Village shopper. I swear it's the Diabetes people who keep us out of the ranks of storage-locker renters.

I have started a new phase of my fitness program: strengthening my feet and ankles so I can start running when Spring finally rolls around. My husband has signed us both up for the Perth Kilt Run in July and I intend to cover the distance (five miles) in less than an hour, so I must raise my game, as they say. I have zero inclination to let my weight start creeping up again, so these little adventures are part of my foreseeable future.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 06:26 PM

Still at the mill:
I have not concerned myself with my weight over these months of malaise but I found the scale and it is in a bag to o back to the city where I can take hot baths and weigh myself in a warm place. I suspect I may have gained.

"MUI", susan?????

Found the fabric at the shop. I wanted crinkled cotton which I knew they did not have so poked around and found a cotton gauze, 84 inches wide! 12 meters will give a fulness across the window wall and I shall only have to hem the two ends and make a pocket across the top. When it needs to be washed, it will come out wrinkled and I can live with that.

I also purchased 1.5 meter of a striped fabric that I have been looking at for a while and a couple of the scraps which they sell by the pound. The latter are, well, one will make a top for a small bench with beautiful hardwood, Queen Anne legs - once a dressing table bench I believe. The others simply insisted I take them home - another piece of upholstered furniture - a foot rest - can use a sprucing up and left over could be a very nice shopping bag. The stripe? Table cloth? runners? I just plain could not leave without it. I really tried. In fact, I actually drove back for two of the scraps as I could not live without them.

When I came back the first time, I went into the storage and brought sewing stuffs into the LR, including the bench, so I can think about getting things done. Also washed the dishes of the last two weeks! There were none left to use. Fetched more water. Now have four empty jugs - tomorrow.

Picked up a desk calendar and a wall calendar at the dollar store to start organizing the year. Visited with Vanessa at her office -a nifty youth drop in centre; she needed cheering. Checked the steps at a market venue and decided I could live with them - carrying boxes of pots up stairs is not my forte; maybe people will help. They usually do. Stopped by the voc school and left my card; they want to consider the possibility of pottery classes of some sort. Having finished my list (!!), I came back and worked on calendar, emails, and now this.

I felt good most of the day with intermittent periods of not so good. Hopeful that I get make this pass and get on with life. No pots made this week - bummer. But the weather is still around and above freezing so still thawing some during the day and the snow has only been tiny flurries.

And the lid of my dear little tea pot did not fall to the concrete and break - just now when I went to pour the last bit of tea and the lid fell off. Love this little guy - bought it for about a dollar at a thrift shop and it has that nifty strainer in it. I am inspired to try making some similar in size - trying to get them right size to use a strainer will be challenging.

Off to cafe.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 10:21 PM

I found a little Chevy SUV HHR - a vehicle that was on the low end of the SUV marketplace but this one was a high end for that model. 2009 is nine years younger than my deceased pickup, which I think has gone straight to the wholesaler. Alas. It will become a project for someone to repair (it runs great, there is nothing wrong with it except the body work - but it can't be safely driven because another accident would make the hood not buckle, it would be pushed back through the windshield.) Whoever is lucky enough to get this truck will replace the hood, the grill, the front bumper, and do the work to attach the bumper to the body properly. I got $1500 for trade-in.

Taking today off was not planned, but it ends up making a four day weekend with the Monday holiday. Lots to do, and lots to put away (the stuff that was in the pickup - when I cleaned it out I think there must have been at least five umbrellas in it!) and errands to run. I am astonished at how much larger the garage looks when this small vehicle is parked in it. The truck had only about six inches to spare behind the back bumper. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 10:46 PM

Moving
Under the
Influence

~♥~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jan 14 - 01:47 PM

Second load of laundry is in, beds have been made through the house, and in the guest rooms I've covered the pillows so they don't collect dust since these beds aren't used often. I was reading one of those recent declutter lists that made the rounds after the new year and it said to make the bed first, to give the room a neat anchor to work around. I've always done that, just never articulated that it was what I was doing.

Getting back to alternate fasting. Today is a regular eating day, and I'm making a point of breakfast and lunch larger and a light dinner. This was a tip my physician suggested when I told her about the alternate fasting - that between two groups eating the same number of calories with the goal of losing weight, those who ate a smaller dinner lost more weight.

Much to do today, and getting accustomed to the new vehicle is part of it. I haven't finished reading the owner's manual for the new SUV - I still don't know how many gallons of gas it holds. I sorted out the baskets full of stuff that came out of the pickup and will assemble a small box of things to go in this vehicle - I miss having three charger spots (the thing like the lighter goes in) because I have a number of devices that operate off of it. I have been so accustomed to just chucking things in the back of the truck, now I have to figure out how to get things to fit.

Beautiful sunny day here - I hope everyone else is thawing and past some of the worst mud of all of the ice and snow. I have daffodils poking up through the leaf litter. Any day now I'll be surprised by a bright yellow flower bobbing in the sun.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 Jan 14 - 06:54 PM

I've always found a made bed makes the whole room look better. Of course, the goal is for the whole room to be tidy... A nice goal!

Gorgeous day - but there will be no daffodils poking up until late March! I walked out on top of the snow crust to put up thermometer but when I came inside I realized the screen door would hit it so I retrieved it. Needs to be somewhere the sun does not hit. The solar gain in the sun room made it hot! Lovely!

The music at the cafe last night was good but the indoor air ... and my new filters have not arrived yet so I became less and less sociable as I felt worse and worse. Home by 10:30 and fell into bed.

I finally could no longer stand the suspense so, today, I weighed myself fully clothed. Delighted that 160 is close enough to the 155 I had gotten down to, so I can now strive from there. Today, when I regained sufficient consciousness to get up for real - not just because nature called again - I actually felt good! That was 8:30 this morning and now, at 6 pm, I am ready to re-collapse but shall persevere a while longer. My cough continues, my nose is streaming, my sinuses are alternately clogged and clearing (They have only cleared completely a couple times in my life.) My arm is tolerable as long as I am very careful how I move it. This is a very good day.

I washed my hair and trimmed it without looking - no mirror!. Used the same water to wash a few undies. Sorted through the sewing containers and arranged projects - iron on patches, hand mend, machine hem, new elastic/razor blade to remove old elastic. The scrap I bought for the little bench just too small - darn!; I shall wait until I can look at my fabrics that are packed. I did find a piece of foam to use! Can use one scrap to make a case for a heating pad to help with cold feet. May yet DO at least one of these little projects tonight.

Then went off to town (only 3 km) for waxed paper, stopped at library to return a book - this author is now on my "none by her" list, filled six jugs with water at the thrift shop, and stopped by the restaurant to see if my friend was there; we had a visit. And a trip back to dollar store for iron on patches; I have some - out there.... Looked for cookie sheet to no avail and I know I had it since we came here. Looked for good winter jacket to no avail. Did not look for extra bobbins ... Tomorrow. Out there is challenging to find anything, esp since the re-organization on Sunday!

R has not made it back down. Crises abound. Hopefully tomorrow. The appointment to see the wee house is Monday.

My one fuschia blossom is fully opened! They are so neat! This one is very pale pink.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Jan 14 - 10:34 PM

I have been invited to a Color Run in June which is 5k. It's perfect timing and motivation for me to use the heck out of my treadmill to do some training while the weather is icky outside. I'm meeting my partner for coffee tomorrow morning to finalize the plans and send in our registration...I am PSYCHED!!!!   

Take a look: Color Run

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Jan 14 - 09:05 AM

The sky is a monochromatic pale gray! Snaow falling so light that have to look closely. About half an inch. 24F. Due for flurries today and tomorrow then sun the rest of the week with the temp going down as far a 1F. Now our Jan thaw is definitely over. Sure was nice!

Feeling good today and hoping I can get myself into the studio before long. I keep in mind that I turned the heat up yesterday so it is already warm. Encouraging! Up at 7 am; love that! Finishing the wake up and face the world process. Cosy in bed with book and computer, not feeling very motivated to move on.

I did get it, finally!, that this heater blows right into my face so I got up and turned it away. An improvement! AND I thought to post my weight in my desk calendar - my latest effort to keep track. Used he pendulum the last couple days to determine the supplements - type and number of each; attribute improvement to this. Just one of the things I have been neglecting.

I tend to feel that I deserve to just enjoy my comfort. I have worked hard and done lots and now must accept that my body is no longer willing to do much of what would have once been "nothing" to me. I told my friend that I could put shingles on the roof of the wee house if it needed to be done. She thought not, emphatically. She is correct because my right arm would not be able to wield a hammer for long. Anyway, now people use air guns and I would hate the noise. Looking forward to seeing it tomorrow - a cabin in the woods.

Anyway, I shall start to feel badly if I do not get some pots made so.... soon. Want to focus on pots first, sewing projects later. Three weeks to next Farmer's Market.

Congratulations to Michelle on her latest endeavour - an encouragement for her!

And to Maggie for so quickly replacing the truck with a more economical vehicle. Happy transitioning! (One friend just replaced his truck with a car - everyone wanted to borrow the truck!) There comes a time...

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: GUEST,LilyFestre
Date: 19 Jan 14 - 01:46 PM

I am registered for The Color Run and did a mile on my treadmill this morning. :) YAY

I feel FABULOUS!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jan 14 - 02:13 PM

Looks like fun, Michelle. Do you wear goggles to keep your vision clear, or are people pretty good about aiming for the shirt? :)

I did a lot of running around yesterday, hopefully finally have the right sized box for that chandelier and I have a mirror box to ship a small anchor to my brother. It came from my father's estate and I didn't want to leave it behind, and my brother now lives out at the same beach where Dad did, so it's his once I can get it to him.

I spent the morning searching and cropping photos after an email came out that a long time member of the Friends of the Library died suddenly on Thursday. The family visitation is today, the funeral tomorrow. I'll burn a disk of photos for his wife (and I found a few photos of the two of them together that are lovely) and give her this afternoon. I've put a few up for the marketing folks to use if the need to put a note about him in any library newsletters. I imagine there are quite a few people who will want to know about this.

So, I have some work hours accrued today that I'll take off next week. No working overtime now - that's my rule for myself. They're not taking advantage of my skills so I'm not donating any hours to them. I'm going to drive over to the visitation this afternoon very briefly - dress up a pair of jeans with boots and a blouse and walk in long enough to give Jeanne the disk of photos.

I parked the HHR in the garage (I need to keep naming it so I can remember what the darned thing is called! I'd never heard of them before last Friday - it is a Chevy knockoff of the PT Cruiser) and am astonished at how much room there is. There was six inches between the pickup bumper and the garage door. Now I have at least 4 feet.

It's a lovely afternoon here - I hope everyone else is having a great day. This evening I'll finish some of the dusting and mopping I started this morning, and I am going to make some runs to the recycle bin at city hall. I can't put everything in the car like I could in the truck. I was spoiled by the amount of space.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Jan 14 - 06:09 PM

Lazed around in bed this morning after making some tea -- almost finished Dave Van Ronk's "Mayor of MacDougal Street" (hope to later), checking Mudcat and Facebook with my iPad but mostly reading and listening to Dave Van Ronk and others at Pandora.

Guess I deserved a little bit of laziness after the tedious driving in snow yesterday. (And it was still spitting snow this morning.) It was gorgeous outside...but it felt more like a cocooning day rather than going out to clear the car and deck off yet again.

De-accessioned some stuff later (got to make a Goodwill trip sometime this week -- after my neighbor takes a look at the warm jacket), used rather than cutting up a box (that also works for getting it out of the house). Hacked away at clearing the floor in the bedroom. Emptied the dishwasher. Wrapped up another month transcribing my calendar/journal (but I'm getting close to Tom's last two hospitalizations and death, and I'm not sure I'm up for that that right now...), but didn't get back to finishing the index of Tom's freelance articles. I don't have that much left to finish up and maybe I can work on that and let the calendar sit for a little while.

But I did get the play list from yesterday's session posted on the thread.

Had a good, productive talk with an old friend. Not only getting caught up on his current legal hassles and life in general, but reminiscing about and reviewing some old (c. 1978) projects we'd come up with and made some new plans for monetizing a few of them.

Too late to call Tom's elderly cousin, but I think I'll call my sister.

Tomorrow I'll go down cellar and see if I've got 150 gray slate squares to do the bathroom floor, which needs replacing (it's just a well worn vinyl remnant now) before installing the new composting toilet I haven't ordered yet.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jan 14 - 10:57 PM

Even if you didn't DO a lot Linn, you obviously thought a lot about things you have to do!

This afternoon I went to a visitation for a man who was at a Friends of the Library meeting I attended about 10 days ago. He died suddenly on Thursday. I wanted to give his wife a disk of photos I've taken over the years, and in particular there are a couple of lovely informal photos of the two of them together.

Tonight I cleared all of the little things off of the window sill over the kitchen sink. Marbles, paper clips, toothpicks, crystals, and tons of other tiny things accumulate in little containers. I'm the worst when I comes to saving letting seeds dry there - then remain in little plastic cups of all sorts. I kept the most recent batch and the rest will get one last chance because they're now in the compost.

I've also started tackling cardboard. I made one trip to the recycle bins today with the usual household stuff and tomorrow it will be flattened boxes, after I use what I need to encapsulate an old rusty anchor that I'm going to mail to my brother. It is probably something my Dad used with his Boston Whaler, and my brother has a boat not much larger than that. It's an old family keepsake and my brother should have it, whether he uses it or decorates with it.

In apparent anticipation of the anchor going out, my sister sent a box of stuff this week. She must have an endless storage room in her house somewhere - these boxes come a couple of times a year. This one had some of Mom's old 3.5" floppies that I copied to files and sent back to her via my dropbox file. It also has baby and children's clothes that Mom made for us and that later were used for doll clothes. The tyranny of the antique and the keepsake. Unless I'm going to tell my kids what they are and the stories that go with them, there is no point in keeping them. I'll make a point of sharing stories next time the kids are here together.

Dishwasher is running, I've about run out of steam. I agree with Linn - it's a good evening for reading.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Jan 14 - 08:03 AM

Cold and snowing in Ottawa, not the kind of weather that makes me long for the great outdoors, but I must hie myself to the gym today nevertheless. Before the New Asthma Dope, any temperature below about -12C would make me cough, but now my main problems in cold weather are numb hands and frost on the spectacles. This week we're back in the deep freeze, with highs just nudging above -20.

Over the weekend, I made two large batches of soup -- one lentil and leek, the other bean and kale -- to take me through CET's next absence; on Wednesday, he's off to Petawawa for at least a week, possibly two. Life is much less stressful if the freezer is full of mostly-veg dishes that combine with a bit of bread and cheese for a filling, tasty, mindlessly easy meal that is also consistent with my diet. Cutting back on meat for the sake of both calories and my middle-aged digestion has piqued my interest in beans, only to discover that CET has "bean issues" -- life-long prejudices against varieties that I consider highly desirable. We've been married 15 years, and I just found out that he won't eat lima beans! Not fair -- that should have been covered in the Diocese of Ottawa compulsory pre-marriage course.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jan 14 - 11:15 AM

I'm planning to make another batch of split pea soup this afternoon, though it isn't to ward off the cold, it's there for lunches and to use up some ingredients (I have some ham that I don't like as well as I thought I would served as a slice beside my eggs, but I think it will work well in a small dice in the soup.) I won't eat Lima beans either - but there are many other admirable varieties out there that taste much better. I use a lot of red kidney beans and black beans, and on occasion, pigeon peas (gandules).

Last week at work they had a monthly birthday cake and it was white, so I tasted and then ate a slice. I don't eat chocolate and I have to be careful to figure out if white has coconut - I think there must have been some form in it even though I didn't detect any flakes. My hands have cracked badly and this has made a lot of the heavy lifting difficult that I want to do this weekend. I'll use some of the steroid cream, wear vinyl gloves for a little while to help soothe and heal - and I guess I just won't eat any cake at work any more. They buy these from commercial bakeries and I don't have a way to read a label of ingredients.

It's a bank and postal holiday today but I can still work on preparing a couple of items for mailing tomorrow. And I need to continue the work to flatten and recycle a lot of cardboard around the house. And walk the dogs. And cook my soup and work in the yard. It has warmed up now, so I'm into my yard shoes and out the door.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Jan 14 - 05:49 PM

I haven't been doing much in the line of decluttering lately...mostly just keeping up with the household chores. Jeremiah has been pretty sick so I kept him home from school all week. He goes back to school tomorrow.

In the Fitness line, I'm just working on walking. I've got a schedule for the treadmill to keep me on target for the Color Run.

I've been doing a lot of sewing lately. Photos going up on Facebook later tonight or tomorrow of the tumbler quilt that is now at a standstill until I have money to purchase fabric for the borders, back and binding. I've started another quilt top that will be raffled off as part of a fund raiser for my Relay For Life team. We'll have it up at each community event we do and even possibly at a local restaurant that often has photos up from local photographers. The owner is on my team and even goes so far as to have a block party to raise funds...so maybe....we'll see. It's only going to be maybe 50 x 70....a good snuggling in your chair kind of size. The colors are deep, rich primitive colors...dark green, navy blue, maroon, a dark orange and several shades of wheat color and a little bit of a heather purple....I'm loving the colors...might have to make another one just for us!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jan 14 - 10:15 PM

Sounds lovely. Have you ever thought of selling a fundraising quilt for Mudcat in the auction?

This afternoon I spent some time picking up dog droppings, and realized the grass was getting a bit too tall to find it all. After 2 buckets (it has been a while) I mowed the front lawn, swept leaves from the gutter onto the lawn to mulch them in, then mowed the back yard. After the back yard I picked up another bucket of droppings. All of that goes in the compost, by the way, and I commingle dog poop with kitchen waste so the dogs leave it alone.

I did a lot of other stuff today also. After cleaning out more boxes in the sunroom I recycled cardboard and plastics and took several bags to donate at the Goodwill. I'm going to spend some time in the car now and figure out how to program the locks - it is on the default setting that I don't like - as soon as I put the HHR in park all of the locks unlock. No way is that safe - in my pickup I programmed it so they did nothing, and I've found the instructions to program this one the same way. It has all sorts of great safety features, lots of air bags, a low tire pressure sensor, etc. And it has OnStar, but I won't be using that.

Aspirin at bedtime, to help combat the stiff muscles I know will be there in the morning. I can feel them begin to set in now.

SRS

Subject: re-entry
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 10:39 AM

Back from the tidy little vacay home I set up, I arrived home to see all the clutter I've accumulated with fresh eyes after a very NONcluttered 2 weeks that felt so good. It's a lot easier to maintain that with one floor living and no TV!
,
So as bedtime sleep meds wear off, I'm trying to prioritize what I need to do next... after brekky n straightening the kitchen, I started with laundry-- clean clothes and linens for the vacay house-- and getting the pile of moving boxes we got just before I left (via FC) out of the snowy porch area so they can be used for packing items I listed while at Camp Ridgebury (CR). With the local Ohio radio on a fone app and no TV till evening break time with my honeh!

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 10:44 AM

.... and my plan of attack is simply to pack between meals in a more organized fashion than the first load I took permitted (a rush job due to helpers' skeds)-- just as tho my new day job is packing here for order at CR, with as much cleaning and ordering here, as I go, as my back can handle.   

♡♥♡

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 01:58 PM

Ah, Susan, your new vac/home space is good for you!

I enjoyed my lentil soup and decided to head for the city for a much needed hot bath. Clearly, I was not going to make pots. I arrived and unloaded food stuff. Started a roast in the casserole with potatoes and carrots. Ran the hot water into bath, phoned R and we agreed he needed it more than I so he came home and spent next two hours in tub!! Asleep? some of it. I went through emails and checked the roast and we had supper and watched Big Bang. I thought he was going back to work but ... He never did. I never took my bath but went to bed, and so to cough - most of the night. Deep sigh. My nocturnal trip woke him - on the couch at 3 am. He came to bed. Then I slept awhile until his phone rang about 8 and he dshed off without brekkie.

I tried the bath again but this time, having run the hot water, I turned on the cold and went downstairs and when I went back up, it was not as hot as I need it. Went downstairs and boiled the largest pot of water and took it up VERY carefully. And took a not hot enough bath.

Gave up and put laundry in. Took off bedding and started second load. R came home - forgot his cell- and we talked about the electric bill for here and the possible bill for the mill. Scary! So how to cut back on the space we heat and how to arrange that in the studio. Then I gave my sandwich lunch and he was off again after we checked that his blue tooth is, in fact, charged and working. USE IT!

Now, about 2 pm - I guess it is as warm as it will get today (about minus 6 F!) so off to library only because it is necessary! I really do not want to go out there - but I shall.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 03:56 PM

Yes DP it is....

I got two large and very heavy containers underway upstrs and smaller boxes set up to catch items dnstrs.... the boxes outside need to thaw a bit n then I will have 6 going at all times-- one for each rm in the little hse.

The upstrs ones are some of the trickiest this load will include--
1. lamps n shades are in one, cushioned with pillows n clean linens, and
2. an oddly-shaped printer too large for boxes on hand BUT the boxes' donor had a similar problem, so there is a top I can affix to the open box holding it, and to fill up the space, misc ofc supplies are scattered in; a sheepskin makes the top layer to squish it all tight.
3. A third box has been started upstrs that holds an overdoor towel rack with misc niece/neph toys to fill voids. That one, and the lg trash bin with the lamps, will need encasement in plastic bags on hand (which get re-used at CR), because neither have tops.

Apparently I'm gonna have to knock off at 3 each aftn to start supper.

<♥>

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 05:05 PM

I have been in the process of packing some very odd shaped items (it took several tries to get the right shape of boxes.) U-Haul has the odd shapes I needed and I didn't finish over the weekend but I'm set. I have a very large (contractor's) trash bag filled with packing materials I've saved up for packing the chandelier. The anchor will be encapsulated in cardboard and newspaper so it doesn't shift around in the shipping box.

I tried to reset the HHR doors and radio and such last night but couldn't find the "reset" button, and there wasn't an index that detailed to find the first reference and illustration in the manual. This morning I had an "ah ha!" moment and looked online for the owner's manual where I found it as a searchable PDF. I was finally able to find the buttons that are for info and reset - they aren't what I thought they were - and I can reset to the factory settings the bluetooth and radio and redo the doorlock setting. It has OnStar that I won't use, I'm more interested in getting the bluetooth to connect to my Sony mp3 player where I load all of my recorded books.

My yard looks great this morning, just in time for it to get cold again. I put the faucet covers back on at bedtime after taking them off earlier in the day, wondering if I could leave them off. Nope. One warm day and a mown lawn does not a spring make!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 07:16 PM

Some of the stuff done today I can cross off today's list...and some of it I have to put ON it first, then cross it off.

No, I again didn't get the corner of the bedroom cleaned out -- where I'll have to play cat shrink. But I DID declutter ALL of the leftover vegetables for stock out of the freezer, and a grand lot it was. So I made veggie stock with it...which will again fill up the freezer. Sigh.

But I've got a colonoscopy scheduled in a couple weeks, so some of the veggie stock and the chicken stock in the freezer will get DEcluttered...

Got a few other onerous tasks accomplished, plus a bit of grocery shopping (in a store crowded with pre-snow crowds; argh), got the little check from an insurance policy I didn't think still existed (long expired term insurance, but evidently good for $98 which is better than nothing...AND they sent back the certified death certificate), and I got the kitchen more or less cleaned up.

I also did some serious cat petting and Jeri and I went to see "Saving Mr. Banks"...just got home.

Alas, it's looking as if it will be snowing all day tomorrow so I'll miss going to another singing session I'd like to check out. Ah well, I'll get there sometime.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 07:42 PM

"Winter Storm Warning" ! 5 - 7" between tonight and tomorrow noon !
SHOCK ! HORROR !

...oy vey.
(Just let the power stay the hell on.)

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 08:42 PM

Uh,oh. Jeri and Linn are in for it again. We had a few inches of snow on Sunday night but not a problem -- until R slid into the intersection (on 138 in Ormstown) and did not miss hitting a car. $600 damage re a cracked fender. Quebec's no fault insurance means he is not responsible for her expense. I say he is. apparently it saves on court time because there can be no court cases at all. Your vehicle is your problem regardless. Does not seem right to me.

Drove to library. Even wore a monster coat someone gave me. Warmer! Then to IGA/post office to pick up package - new filters for mask, much needed. Someone had a zillion packets to mail so I did some shopping and still had to wait in line.

Back home: Put roast back in oven to see if longer will make it more tender; did not, just made it fall apart. Last months was much better. Finished drying bedding. Felt so sick I just wanted to wrap up in big quilt with heating pad and lie down. But it passed and I remade the bed and managed a real hot bath, then had a cheese/apple/crackers snack while watching Big Bang.

A 1/4 t. vit C powder, twice, eliminated the sore throat that has been bothering me a couple days. I am realizing that the coughing saps my energy as does the pain in my arm. I shall need to be patient and use the energy spurts I get, and know that is all I can do. My body is now ready for bed. I think I shall prepare a small salad and dinner plate for R and go to bed. Get a head start on the cough.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 09:53 PM

The problem with this car is I have absolutely no idea what sort of control other people have. I think it's relatively good driving and other folks are fishtailing, so the bulk of my being careful is watching out for them losing it. Not me, them. 5-7" isn't a big deal, as far as I'm concerned, and I think a lot of it will happen before morning, so the plows will get it. I have no where I have to be, so I can stay home and shovel, and do laundry, and work on beading projects, and maybe watch some Torchwood.

Here are a couple of webcams in Portsmouth, NH that show the pretty snow: Market Square and Market Square 2 (looking in the opposite direction

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 07:06 AM

The problem of winter driving is that nobody has good control of their vehicle all the time, and some people never learn how to regain control when it's slipping from their grasp. Worse, too many of those people have clunky cars with rear-wheel drive and automatic transmission.

Miserably cold in Ottawa today, which means iced-up windows instead of snow. Time to break out the big sheepskin coat and the mink mittens.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 10:54 AM

Charmion and Jeri and I agree on the risks of driving. I am always wary of the others on the road. I have, however, in 60 years of driving winter roads, had my own mishaps and happily did not involve anyone else! I hope saying that does not "jinx" me! I have also found that a little snow is more dangerous that a lot. One or two inches terrify me. I once drove ever so carefully on an inch of slush, only to do a 360, then a 180 and go down a small embankment and across a field where I encountered something which wrecked a tire....

Montreal is, of course, also in a deep freeze, to be alleviated on Saturday, with more snow flurries.

After 12 hours in bed, I was almost awake when R rushed off to a mtng. Took a really hot bath, had brekkie and now, having been through the emails, am prepared to accept going back to bed. Coughed less last night. The good news is that the additional supplements have increased my mobility and decreased arm problem.

SRS! As you mention packing fragile stuff, a potter has posted on line that he packages his fragile, and very expensive, ware by putting the object in a plastic bag, then puts a quantity of spray foam into a box, adds the ware, fills the box completely with the spray foam. Actually, a couple of them report doing this. They recommend buying small cans so it is all used as they do not keep.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 11:49 AM

DP, what a great idea! I suppose one takes care in de-casting....

I spent part of the morning topping off the boxes in the LR. Several of them will nest in two chairs stacked yin-yang style. Then I visited the old MudDorm to see Hardi's new heavy bag up there and fetch pillows for the beds. These are now stuffed into the bag-lined 33-gal trash bins, ready to roll out to the fr-porch staging area along with the stacked chairs and their nested boxes, as soon as the pillowcases come thru the laundry for inclusion in the bins. A taller bin upstrs, from ydy, is also ready to roll out.

I will set up another round of small catch-boxes for each room, but most of the rest of this load is furniture and tools. My part of that job will be gathering/grouping them so that Hardi knows what to muscle, and being sure there is a clear path to get them to the staging porches as we used them on the first load. And being clear on priorities when it does not all fit.

We may take two vehicles this time, which affords a lot more covered space-- there's an annual vacay-town weekend workshop, a day after Hardi needs to zoom north for work.

>♥<

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 07:05 PM

Well, the snow missed us...just a very light dusting on the deck and car.

Took three large bags and a box full of videotapes to Goodwill this afternoon...and a box to the post office to ship to my sister. Both were exercises in decluttering...

And I purchased (much!) less cubic footage at Goodwill than I donated!

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 07:23 PM

I got back out of bed about noon and had a small lunch - small because I did not feel like eating much. I ate the remainder for supper.

After lunch I knuckled down to figuring out how to apply for a Permanent Resident Card. I feel my body aging and Quebec will not give me a health card without the PRC even though the website for immigration says that a landed immigrant is a permanent resident; since I have my landed papers, I did not think I needed a PRC. I applied for citizenship but it looks as though it is going to take many more months; the PRC is said to be 82 days (when I applied for citizenship 18 months ago, they were about the same). I decided it might be the better part of valour to deal with it. It took most of the afternoon and tears of frustration. There is no one to ask; I do not fit the application as I immigrated in 1967. Finally, the guide said to mark not applicable and explain. So I wrote a letter of explantation and filled out what I felt I could. I have to wait until I go back to the mill to finish as the papers I need are down there. Yes, it makes sense because the papers for border crossing are only needed when we leave from there. SO all that is ready for printing; I'll take the printer back down so I can copy the other papers that are needed and mail it on Friday. I feel lighter.

Other than that: emails mostly deleted, one written to dear friend and mutual support person, watched some of the news - mostly bad - and now I am tired again. A few hours of good energy/day is all I am getting. Could be worse!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 10:41 PM

I love live cams! There used to be one at a Fish and Wildlife office in Alaska next to the Tamiyami River and it was a marvelous thing to watch the seasons. When Homeland Security came along it went away.

I'm shuffling papers myself this week. Choosing a new electric company (every year at this time, to take advantage of the low offer they give for a year, then change when they want to up the price after the contract expires.) And stuff to do with the new vehicle, paying bills, etc. And accumulating income tax forms. Piles of paper are forming.

You all got hit with another storm, now it's our turn again. Way low tonight and tomorrow the temperature not rising much above freezing. A possibility of snow flurries. This has been some winter for us in an area that is usually dealt a milder hand.

Finally things are getting busy at work - they found things for me to do a while back, but none of it was happening until this week. Now all at once it is. Feast or famine.

Stay warm and dry and safe, everyone.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 09:37 AM

A cough-free sleep! I managed to muddle through the eve, watching TV/doing FB. Bed about 10:15 and so to sleep! Until 7 am. OK, need lots of sleep and started to couh upon waking but slept and arm feels better too.

Stayed snug in bed until 8 then brekkie, and getting ready to go back to mill to finish that application and get it in the mail. Also stop and do Farmers' Market business for the 3 winter markets and pick up another loaf of Esther's zuchini bread. Maybe catch friend at restaurant and pick up this week's local paper. Then the writers' group 5-7 and back to the city.

Emails are done and now I am off and -not running, just walking!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 09:38 AM

Hardi brought dn the heavy upstrs bin last night and I secured the taping on the other two upstrs boxes. Tmrw all but electronics go out to the staging area and we pick up a used fridge. Once we see how big and heavy it is we can plan the furniture cargo and start staging that over the coming days. I will mark out a space on the fr porch equal to trailer size to pre-fit the cargo. Then on loading day it will only be moving a Jenga tower.

~♥~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 10:47 AM

I've now cleared space on the front porch for staging, and unrolled (unfolded actually) the commercial-grade carpet that has been sitting out of the weather out there, which needs to go in the CR kitchen, to be sure mice hain't et it up, nesting, or to give them their eviction papers LOL. It's fine, as big as I recalled, and ready to shampoo in Ohio. I hope it thaws in time to roll it up tight, but there is a plan B if it's too stiff to roll and has to go re-folded as it had lain.

Tomorrow, we pick up a donated fridge to take on this trip or next, depending how big it is. I have a box from ydy to tie up when we go up to bed tonite, and I found the mirror that missed the last trip, as well as a second 10x20 or 10x30 tarp we'd have loved to use on the last trip. This frees up a smaller one to wrap that fridge.

How lovely to have the luxury of time (it is white privilege) to plan as a couple-- Hardi said Trip One was kinda like a hurricane hit the house-- and to be able to squeeze in hockey and grocery-shopping time on this run!

~S~
on laptop

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 12:31 PM

Small but important errands run this morning - my dentist required $8 to set my bill to rights, so I took it over (who writes checks any more?) and I stopped by the optometrist to have them tighten the right hinge on my glasses. It was flopping and I was afraid it might lose the screw. Loose screws are a problem!

I've managed to scan a couple of more documents for my writing samples - we have a KIC scanner - not sure the acronym but it is an overhead fixed lens and you set the document or book on the flat bed and it works very quickly. Email, save to thumb drive, etc. right there.

Still feeling a bit gun shy after last week's crumpled fender. I think it's because I'm getting used to a new vehicle without nearly the clearance or visibility that the pickup had. My brain is adjusting to the settings of mirrors, etc, so it isn't quite a conscious a process as the first day or two.

Tomorrow is supposed to be another very cold day, down to 14 overnight. I'm SO TIRED of this odd weather - especially because we had some 70 degree days last week. There's no getting used to it when the temperatures aren't consistent.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 04:24 PM

19 days till load-up and 20 days to departure. .. those are Susan-days, not Hardi-days-- to calculate his I would have to subtract days that belong to parish and Diocese. ... which would be most of them!

I got the van mostly emptied of the luggage, trash, and pop-up dog crate from the last trip, lvg a heavy Cabela trunk and a big bike box for Hardi-- the bike box = half a mattress box and I bought a cheap vinyl mattress protector for tge bed's undies. If the bike shop sells another bike before loading day tge mattress will have shirt AND pants! I bought rope to tie it all tight against trailer-wind.

Tonite we will carry the leftover packing boxes up attic for a future use. I'm out of packing tape anyhow; I have the two Cabela trunks and two large, rectangular plastic bins I can use as catchall boxes, that I want at CR anyhow. One is a huge plastic toybox, yay!

~♥~
On fone

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 09:59 PM

The kitchen is still looking great and smells fabulous tonight since I made a pot of split pea soup. We have super cold (for Texas) temperatures again tonight. The house is full of dogs. The air outside is frigid, the wind is taking the chill down to the low teens.

I'm working my way through a stack of paperwork. I wrote a thank-you note to the manager of the service department at the Chevy dealer - after asking for a refund for work that I think was excessive on my pickup (the oil leak turned out to be a leaking oil filter, not all of the gaskets they replaced) they gave me a store credit. I was able to apply that credit toward purchasing a used car from the same establishment. I expected an argument, but they were very nice about it. I think I need to say thank you.

Taxes, job applications, and I'm going to be copy editing final drafts of articles for a new journal put out by professors on campus. The most tedious part, the last stage. I need to get another job, where I can be the writer again.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jan 14 - 11:58 AM

Damn it's cold out there this morning. But it is a Friday morning. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 Jan 14 - 12:57 PM

Stilly, talk about weird weather -- we've been cycling between close to 50°F and 0°F. Neither of those extremes is "seasonal" for New Hampshire! Today when I was out it had warmed up to 8°F. Tomorrow should get up to low 30s...but snow. And looks like next week is flip flopping between teens and low 30s.

And the wind...have I mentioned the wind? There's a flap in one of the exhausts (in the house -- I think it's for the Jenn-Air grill) that makes a constant rattling noise if there's any wind at all. If anything will drive me crazy, it's that. I really need to check into it as it might need to be closed off completely. The Jenn-Air needs some parts and hasn't been used in years. (One more thing...)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 24 Jan 14 - 02:52 PM

Linn: That rattling would drive me berserk in seconds! A piece of duct tape??

SRS: more soup! As for the weather: Supposed to go up to 5 today, then 19, 5, 16, 1, 12, 14 are the daily highs for the week! I used enjoy roller coasters ... But terrifically grateful for those in the teens. Today, I put on monster coat and went out - IGA/post office to mail my application!!, Library to pay a fine because I forgot I had a DVD/never watched it, up two flights to get some exercise, then to a "super C" grocery for the bread I like. I was clean out and it is the best - heavy german rye with sunflower seeds. I have been eating it almost exclusively for over 20 years. There was none? Asked a staff in my best french and she responded in English. They moved it over to the aisle with the junk bread. She had to show me.

Then there was only one loaf so I expressed my wish for more - 3 if you have them. She went in the back and came out with the three and I suggested she put more on the shelf. That was all for this week so I left feeling slightly guilty that no one else could get any until next week. Not guilty enough! Two for city and two for mill - one in freezer each place. I only use one piece a day but other breads often have a negative effect.   

The IGA was deserted, Super C moderately busy for a Friday morn. People just not out unless they really need to be - or maybe the ones from colder climes.

Accomplished the needful and wanted tasks yesterday. Actually had the wit to stop on the way to the mill to get pics made for my application! Did the Farmers' Market business- app and check ( first check since mid Dec!) Had a good visit with the Mom and Son who keep things going - he was working on the flier for February. In Dec, he actually made me a new business card for the flier - now if I could just figure out how to get it in a place from which I can print it! on my list. Picked up a loaf of zucchini bread there also.

I stopped and filled the gas tank, knowing I would be tired at the end of day, The gas is cheaper down there as it is close to the border. People go shopping in the US and get gas. My friend was not at home so no newspaper. Good thing because when I got to the mill the Hydro (electric) metre reader was just waiting. She was happy to be able to do her chore. I had some of my lentil soup and a small piece of zuke bread. And a small piece of Esther's choc zuke cake. I could make this stuff but Esther does it so well!

Then completed all the pieces for my application in time to get to the writers' group where after the usual chattering, we had an interesting discussion using a talking stick ( as I had suggested before Christmas) and the worst chatterbox managed to be almost quiet. She doesn't realize that every time she chatters, I miss out on what anyone else says. A news item about a woman who was "kicked out" of a Montreal hospital for requesting treatment in English was the theme and brought out many thoughts on the multiculturalism of Quebec - or the lack of it. And we got to know each other better!

Then I drove back to the city and watched TV and did the email thing, simultaneously until R came home for a light supper. R lobbied for brownies. I did not have THAT much energy! When he fell asleep on the sofa I turned off the TV; BEDTIME!

It was wonderful to feel like a competent being all day and again today. Head is still clearing, but that is my life. As long as I am not longing to go back to bed, it is a good day. So next of my list was bread p--- interrupted by mad dash to K to rescue, I hope, much over cooked choc bread pudding!! I even whipped cream to go with it - that will rescue almost anything ----won't it... It HAS to be good. It has 12 oz of dark choc in it!

Now, to sit here and cut up apples for stewing.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Jan 14 - 04:13 PM

When it's not quite so cold, I'll stuff the vent full of insulation. It's not used to vent anything anymore...

My stomach bug seems to have skipped a day. I felt more or less fine yesterday, but woke up headachy with an upset tum this morning...and my body feeling very tired (not sleepy). There are two events I'd like to go to tonight, but I think just feeling basically yucky will make staying home in bed with two cats and a book win out.

I did run out to the store to pick up a couple things, especially half and half (for the Brits, that's a dairy product with less fat than light cream but more than whole milk) so I could make some bread pudding with blueberries for breakfast.

I feel as if I've been more or less busy today but haven't accomplished much.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Jan 14 - 05:40 PM

Much accomplished yesterday. Friends who had donated a fridge BROUGHT it TO us. I counted out my available days and Hardi's to get ready to go, and enjoyed the strange sense of having plenty of time this time. Then we set goals for the February trip, which refined the pack-list. Next we finished clearing out the pre-loading staging area, and took a buncha packed stuff out to it, which nicely un-crowded our LR.

Then we decided to knock off, it being Hardi's day off, and went up to Elmira on an errand and had a nice dinner. On the way home we predicted/envisioned my next trip after this one-- to paint and try to secure a caretaker/roomie. No cargo! Or very little!

We returned home to find that a copy of a key I'd lost in Ohio is being mailed to us. All great! TBTG for His perfect timing.

===

Today was a box-challenge day: Comparing boxes on hand with lamp shades on hand (need 1 or 2), I have one box in which one shade will fit on its side. Not ideal, but my plan is to line the bottom with heavy items awaiting packaging, and top that with the shade.... which means Hardi starts to allocate TODAY whatever clothes he wants for CR, to lightly stuff and cushion that shade. Cuz I not fixin' to haul crumpled newsprint! I bet the shade will arrive no more creased and crumpled than it already is!

Today was also accounting day for the last trip... I had been careful to keep receipts on everything for taxes, so I was able to see where all Mom's money went (and the generosity of family who'd come to help)! TBTG for His abundant provision, and His leadings in sound stewardship.

===

Our friend and landlord happened to be checking something in the basement when Hardi went out just now to warm up his car to go to work, and mentioned a favor we can do him on one of our trips-- haul back about 800 pounds of discs for his harrow from an ag place an easy drive from CR. We're thrilled to be able to do that for him-- he and his kids have traded helps back and forth with us for years and this is a biggie for him that's a snap for us-- deadheading back with an empty cargo trailer seemed so weird!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jan 14 - 07:16 PM

Errands run and I'll be up at Susie's a couple more times today, she called from Dallas and asked if I'd watch the animals because she is going to spend the night with her daughter's family. Glad to!

Got gas in the new HHR then pulled out the calculator to see how the mileage is. On this first tank it was 23.75mpg. Much better than the pickup.

I'm going to make a radical change to my computer desk after today's expedition. I have three or four USB ports and tons of wires and every so often one of them pitches off of the back and things come unplugged. I looked at Fry's and found one that has 24 USB plugs on one. It's a large round device and this evening I'll unplug and replug everything and see if it doesn't resolve a tedious problem.

Off to feed the dogs. First Susie's, then mine.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jan 14 - 11:20 PM

I have filed, recycled, and shredded my way through a whole bunch of paper this evening. There is still plenty of other stuff to do around here, like dishes and folding laundry, but the paper was most pressing. I'm off to let out Susie's dogs one more time then I may take a hot bath and read for a while. Relaxation needs to be pencilled in along with chores on my list of things to do.

Among the things I've shredded are the old documents for the pickup - no point in keeping them, though I have enough information to show that I did once own it. The vehicle folder is now holding the new purchase information, the phone company folder now has AT&T info (Sprint stuff mostly discarded), and I'd love to have a new job file one of these days. I saw my old boss (for 15 years) and his wife today for a few minutes, I took over a bag of iris rhizomes for her garden. I was so lucky to have worked with him for as long as I did, and I had more than one person tell me I had the best boss. We remain good friends, and he is a reference for jobs I'm applying for. (The iris were not a bribe for a good word!)

I hope everyone is warm, has power, and sees a lifting of the heavy weather soon. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jan 14 - 10:14 AM

Up early today to run up to Susie's to let "The Girls" out. They were happy to see me but felt I missed a major reason for the visit - morning is meal time also. Susie said she'd feed them later this morning when she gets home (they have quite a routine - different amounts and two different types of food, and each dog expects their bowl to be in a certain place.) Last night I had the bowls in my hand and I moved to each point in the kitchen and when a dog went to that spot expecting to eat I put down their bowl. :) My three eat in a line, fairly close together, and they wait until I tell them to eat. I'll have to teach Susie's dogs to do that also. It's very handy.

I made headway yesterday, crossed a few items off of my list. I paid some bills, paid the property taxes on the minerals, closed out the Sprint account and the former electric company account. I can see the desktop (not completely clear, but better) at the computer and on the other work desk. Dishwasher running, laundry will go in a little while. Watered the broccoli, and I'll be out working on the potato mounds later. I forgot to buy mackerel but I need some to make a fish slurry to put in each mound. It really made a difference last year.

On Friday I caught up with a couple of episodes of Sherlock that I somehow missed - they streamed on NetFlix. I'll watch the first season 3 episode on the PBS site, I recorded the second, and maybe I'll be ready to watch tonight's program when it comes on. I decluttered my computer of some back episodes of a couple of programs that stream from NetFlix. One reason for clearing the hard drive and for setting up a new system for the USB hub is that I'm switching to using Camera Raw for my photos and that takes up a lot of space in a hurry. Memory is cheap, and I'll probably get a 3 terabyte drive for photos, but I need to see how I'm using what I already have, and some aren't connected right now. And I need to do a backup of my C: drive. Virtual declutter.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Jan 14 - 11:13 AM

Seeing some of the desktop is always a good thing!

The choc bread pudding was duly rescued and, thought perhaps drier than meant to be is actually quite edible, esp with whipped cream! The only reason for this was a very large loaf of good whole grain bread that was falling apart and useless for sandwiches or toast. I won't buy that again. And may never make bread pudding again. This 13x9 pan will last quite a while; shall have to freeze part of it.

Last night I made "Better Butter Chicken" from a recipe in a magazine than somehow visited us. It is edible but NOT butter chicken and certainly not "better". And lots of it! So I have added the same amount of seasoning again to the left-overs and hope it is more flavourful today.

The group Fri night was quite delightful - fun. entertaining. But they seemed to get louder and louder. I believe this is due to me becoming more and more affected by the indoor air. It happens most weeks. I put on my mask when I realized I was starting to feel grumpy - an effect bad air can have on me. My eyes were burning. The kitchen does not have an adequate exhaust system.

R had to come back to the city Sat morn. I hung on in the country hoping to get the studio warm enough to work. By 3 pm it was clearly not getting to 60 so I packed up and came back to the city. I did get the dishes caught up and some organizing things done. As Linn notes, sometimes we do things all day but little things do not get remembered. I was not sitting on my hands. I did have a 97 min call with a friend that was helpful for her and helped toward healing our dicey relationship. I was not on computer at all as I forgot the cord.

Now, brekkie is long over, the K cleaned up, a small load of laundry needs to go in dryer. R has gone off to work. MY head is in clearing mode, better than a long time. Sage and ginger tea MAY be helping. My right shoulder is mildly uncomfortable but better than in the last year so I am terrifically hopeful that I can get it back to normal.

I now have no doubt that choc does cause foot/leg cramps and magnesium citrate prevents/heals them. Even the bread pudding had me jumping up 3 times Fri night with a foot in excruciating spasm. 3 trips to K for more mag. After two pieces of "pudding" - more the texture of brownies!

Going to catch up emails and hope for potting energy this aft. Now - the dryer.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jan 14 - 02:48 PM

Emmys on tonight so there is a repeat Masterpiece (Sherlock) opposite. No rush to watch the first two programs. Good! It's too lovely outside to spend hours indoors watching TV.

I've been in and out today, soon to head out for a while with the mattock and wheelbarrow. I distributed all of the irises I dug up so far, but more await. I need to sieve the soil from that area to get the straggler iris rhizomes - I dug out this bed last summer and as many returned as before, even though I was trying to remove them all!

A neighbor called to check on me today - enough time had passed with a vehicle she didn't recognize in my driveway that she wanted to see if I was okay. When Susie stopped for a cuppa tea on her way home the two unknown vehicles put Pearlie over the top, so she called. I had a quiet bet going with myself that someone would call pretty soon. I don't think people saw the front end of the pickup to know that it needed work or replacing, I parked it on Thursday night and drove out on Friday morning to trade it in. Next door might have seen it, but I parked pretty close to the garage door, so the fence was blocking their view. It's a lovely neighborhood, very polite, and I need to let the rest of them know I am okay and that this new vehicle is now the one I'm driving. I made banana bread this afternoon, maybe I'll deliver some around and explain the change.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jan 14 - 06:45 PM

I was able to close 2 large boxes this AM. Later the the dog crate went back into the van, and boxes crowding the LR now sit behind it. Now, each day I can just put a few of the smaller and more weather-sensitive items right out there, to allow the LR to resume a more normal mode-- items that have been piling up in here making us nuts can go straight to the staging area or into the van!!! It doesn't make sense to have a vacay house that leaves us feeling like BOTH places need a lot of work!

A nice feature of Trip One is that I left the house turnkey ready with all necessaries including several meals in the freezer-- we do not have to unload ALL of this the day we arrive.

♡♥♡

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Jan 14 - 07:02 PM

This turned into an internet all afternoon. Lots to see as I had not been on yesterday, and a couple chats with nearby friends. R came home a short time ago - sick. So he has had orange juice, chicken broth, an avocado and a piece of zuke bread. Now taking a hot bath where he will probably fall asleep. The last one was good for two hours! A good place for him as there is nothing on TV.

He was at IKEA! On a Sunday! I would be a basket case!

Anyway, the K is still clean and the laundry caught up - except for the clothes he wore today. I was about to phone him to see if he were coming home soon. If not I would have taken a hot bath! Tomorrow. 3 degrees tonight, going up to 19 tomorrow! Why I did not feel like going anywhere today.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jan 14 - 07:31 PM

....And it's working!!! Hardi just brought the next item down from the attic-- a tall side table crammed with items, all packed for the last trip but it never got loaded. Down it came, but it went right out the front door.... and onto the ramp. In the morning I'll take it down-ramp and put it into the van-- it's a little too delicate for the trailer. And it ain't in our living room!!!

+♥+

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 12:00 AM

I dug more of the new bed for asparagus this afternoon and after that put the resulting iris rhizomes in the greenhouse (still in the wheelbarrow). The back yard was policed, the compost emptied, and everything was piled over with weeds from the front. I have photos of the stages for construction a compost parfait - the trick to keeping the pets out of the food in the compost. I'll put this up as a blog (I haven't done that for a while!)

I took the dogs for a lovely mellow walk after that. Just as well we made the most of today because it drops precipitously overnight and the high tomorrow is 37^o. The low on Monday night is 19^o. I'm doing an on-again off-again thing with the front faucet cover - I watered the broccoli bed yesterday and today, then covered the faucet tonight in the face of the next few freezes.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Charmion
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 08:28 AM

Saturday saw the departure of four large bags and five boxes of stuff we don't use and won't miss, picked up by the Canadian Diabetes Association "clothes line" donation program. In 10 days, when we have another garbage pickup, a similar quantity of junk will go to the kerb.

It's hard to know what to do with warped cookie sheets, rusty pans and other items of wounded cookware. The child of a Depression survivor living deep in my heart can't bear to part with things that just might, possibly, have one more task in them, but my practical grownup side yells "No! No! No!" and sends me running for the bin-liners. Eventually, I slam it all on the sidewalk and avert my eyes until the garbage men have done the business, and thus I preserve a little breathing space in the basement.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 08:40 AM

Char, Goodwill 'em. Times have been when that was all I could cook with, and glad to have it. Better GW gets the scrap metal payout for what they will deem discardable than your trash peeps.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 11:56 AM

My thought also, Charmion. Scrap metal can be recycled, but if the Goodwill or Salvation Army has the items they can decide if it gets more use before recycling.

It's goddam cold out there this morning - I had to trot up the street to pick up my large plastic trash bin that blew off once the trash guys emptied it of all of the cactus pads (I put a lot in the back but I left some at the curb in case others wanted it, and what was left went into the trash to decompose or become a cactus garden at the landfill). I realized as I dressed this morning that I have never had an opportunity to wear so many sweaters in one winter in Texas. It's like being back in Seattle. I put on a turtleneck this morning that I hadn't worn yet - most of them have been seem multiple times and then there are the vests and over-sweaters that are constantly in use. I love sweaters, I just never get this much use of them down here.

The car has a nifty feature - remote start. I pulled it out of the garage this morning and quickly closed the door to let the space heater near the dog stall warm that space again. When it was near to time for me to leave I pushed the two buttons on the remote key thingie and the HHR turned itself on for 10 minutes. It will only let you turn it on remotely twice between actual key-in-ignition starts, no doubt a safety feature. Anyway, when I got in this morning the heater was already putting out heat when I turned it on and drove away.

I'm going to wait till the next warm spell and list the front room futon again, lowering the price one last time. I'll add a note that this is the lowest the price will go, if it doesn't sell it will next be seen at the Salvation Army. I can do a lot with the space that clears up. I know the dogs love sleeping on it, but they'll adapt to cushions on the floor.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 12:34 PM

Could have sworn I posted yesterday (and I usually copy before I hit Submit...just in case it doesn't "take") but as I was still in the throes of "The Bug" I haven't a clue as to what I'd posted that I'd accomplished, cuz 'tweren't much!

Oh, I DID inspire a friend (via a long phone conversation) to de-accession her VCR and a bunch of VHS tapes -- that will give her the shelf she needs for something more important.

Oh, I know what I did/posted... I was reading a book on eBay and exploring a few categories I'm likely to use on eBay. Stilly, there used to be an easy way to see prices realized recently (to aid in pricing). I'm sure that can still be done, but it looks as if it's been changed (and not quite so easy to get to; sigh).

So far this morning I've made major inroads in the organization and cleaning of the bedroom AND I've started another pile for Goodwill. And I've cleared snow off the deck and car yet again. It's comparatively warm today (30s F) so clearing the car was a lot easier than it would have been with yesterday's ice, but it will be back down to 6F tonight with a real feel of -12. Twenties for the next three days, then creeping upward again.

Today's when I get to use my cat shrink skills. After de-pooping the inappropriate place Sabine has insisted on using, I'll move the huge, heavy antique trunk to make space for another litter box for her close by and sheltered. (The inappropriate place is sheltered, but inaccessible to me without great difficulty.) Both Rufus and Sabine have their own separate litter boxes downstairs. Sabine's is sheltered and "private" in between the washer and dryer which are at right angles to each other. Unfortunately Rufus is a firm believer in "everything here is MINE" so has appropriated Sabine's litter box as well. Where her new litter box will be is where I can use a squirt gun on Rufus if he tries to use it. Wish me luck!

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 06:02 PM

Heavy furniture moved, depooping accomplished, smelly and ineffectual piece of flooring removed, new litter box installed, rocking chair put back...

But I'm going to need to rearrange some furniture in the foreseeable future. Gothic chair will probably come downstairs so I can sell it, heavy antique trunk will be moved into THAT spot (which also means ALL the clothes have to be hung up and not draped over that chair and the sheets & pillowcases will need to find another place to live)...

So I also cleaned the two litter boxes downstairs after I was interrupted by some financial matters on the phone and there was still enough daylight left to do it safely.

I also remembered that making brownies (don't get excited; they're from a mix) was on my morning's list, so they're now just about ready to come out of the oven. (And I added nuts and dried cranberries to the mix so they'll be a little bit healthier -- and I'll probably put half of them in the freezer.)

I still have to move some stuff off the bed before I can sleep in it. As I've said before, my house is like those little games we had as kids, the ones with the numbered squares and one empty square. Alas, I've never had the empty square!

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 11:30 PM

R slept in mostly until about 3 pm when he claimed to fill much better so he could go back to IKEA to finish the task there - ordering two kitchens for a building he is working on. This was after several doses of Pau d'Arco and C. The chaos of IKEA! He phoned about 8 pm to let me know he was still there and almost done. Arrived home after 9:30, sounding pretty bad and requesting soup.

Hence, my day was spent on computer and reading, alternatively. As I tended to him and waited, expecting him back a whole lot sooner! I am also under the weather but not as far! Also doing C and Pau d'Arco but also eating real food. Nice chat with friend to whom I offered emergency bed if she needs to stay in city as she works long shifts during the snow season. (She landscapes and runs the plows, both. Working almost entirely with men.)

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 12:54 AM

The anchor is neatly boxed and ready to go, awaiting my brother's okay to ship. He's doing some traveling soon and wants me to wait till he's home and can get it when it arrives. I hope he won't be too disappointed, it's a funky old cast iron anchor.

I have the box for the chandelier also in place and am slowly putting in the packing and supports and will be clearly marking six egg cartons as the ones that contain the prisms. I'm using a whole bunch of egg cartons as part of the packing (I've collected them for ages for this.) It is a really beautiful chandelier, if I had someplace to put it up I'd keep it myself.

This evening I opened a bag of chamomile flowers that I bought in a Middle Eastern grocery last fall and crushed them up some and bagged the lot for loose tea. I love chamomile tea in the evening and get tired of paying several dollars for 20 tea bags. I spent $2 for dozens of cups of tea from this, and it tastes wonderful.

Linn, The way to find the price on anything is to do a search on it. For example, I just did a search on "brass chandelier 8 arms vintage" to start with - and I get results of 16 active auctions or sales. When I look at the results page there is a whole column of information on the left - starting with the categories, the condition, price (boxes to check or amounts to fill in to refine the search.) Below that are categories for format (auction, buy it now, etc.), shipping, etc. And you'll see "Show only" - I look at both "completed listings" that shows me everything that was for sale whether it sold or not, and then select "sold listings" so I can see what the prices were on the things that actually sold. You need to see what is in the marketplace and what the condition and prices asked are to know how to price your items, and you need to know if there are any or a lot of sales for the actual items, to see what the market will bear or if it seems worthwhile. Be sure to try alternate spellings and look in related categories. Often times people sell things they don't know much about, or they don't know anything about. That's how you can get lucky if you're shopping, but it is a mistake you want to avoid.

When I stage anything I'm going to sell I try for as neutral a background as possible. I make sure I'm not in a reflection, and no part of me (a hand, fingers, etc.) is in the shot. I don't let furnishings in the room show or anything about my house or yard. There is an example of horrible staging in one chandelier up right now - This is what you shouldn't do when trying to sell a really nice piece. I have various pieces of fabric to provide a contrast background in my photo area, or I put things in front of some of the paneling in my living room that just looks like interesting paneling but doesn't let you see the furnishings, the floor or ceiling - no information except a wood wall. Who wants to be distracted by a ratty wall-to-wall carpet or seeing the laundry and ironing board set up in the background of a photo? Or the car parked in the driveway? Etc. It may well sell, but it may not go for as high a price as they want.

On the other hand, ratty setups may make buyers think they are going to get a great deal because the seller isn't very careful and several of those folks can push the price way up. It can go either way.

It gets easier as you get the hang of it. Make sure you describe and photograph it well, are fair with the shipping and have it packed and ready to go so you can ship as soon as possible after payment arrives. I only take PayPal, no checks, no credit cards, though they may be able to use various payments that go into PayPal, I don't have to fool with it, PayPal does.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 09:53 AM

The verdict is in...Sabine walks STRAIGHT THROUGH the litter box and poops as close to where the ceiling meets the floor as possible.

Deep sigh.

And I've had to chase Rufus out of that litter box several times.

There is no way possible to block that area off from the cats. It's way too complicated (and expensive) to build side walls to the room or (as I've wanted to do for 30 years) put in built-in drawers.

The good news, though, is it is now a LOT easier to clean up her mess and I can do it DAILY and continue to spray with Nature's Miracle. (And I'm going to make and try a repellent spray of cinnamon, rosemary, lavender, vinegar, and orange essential oil. In the meantime, I'll try the eucalyptus and lemon spray that I made and used the last time I cleaned out back there.)

Argh.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 10:01 AM

Aa I have gotten up and had my simple brekkie, I consider that R is sicker, I am "weller" and it may be another take care of R day - pushing the healing herbs. I am excited (!) that I have one almost totally clear nasal passage. Such a rarity. I am hopeful that I am taking something that is causing this. Time will tell.

Back in the early 70s I went to the hospital clinic for the problem of chronically closed passages. The Dr. told me I needed an operation for a deviated septum but come back when I was not in school (working on M.Ed at the time). Fortunately, I remembered, in that hiatus, that I could breathe totally for one month in 1967, therefore it could not be a deviated septum causing the problem. But what?

About 30 years later, asking every health care person I encountered, I picked up a book at the library about sinuses; it fell open to the page telling that "for thousands of years the Chinese" have used ephedra to clear the sinuses. That month, I was taking epinephrine but it made me dizzy and I quit. Never put the cause and effect together. I tried drinking ephedra tea but --- it made me dizzy! So, yes! I am hoping I may inadvertently be on track of something that may clear my breathing.

"They" took out my tonsils when I was four because I was a "mouth breather"; did nothing. Even moments of being able to breathe well cause me to get excited. I treasure every one of those moments. I believe it is also a factor in my environmental problems. The nasal passages have scillia (sp) which catch foreign materials. Breathing through the mouth does not offer this protection.

Those are my thoughts on this 0 F but sunny day. I won't be able to pot as it is too cool upstairs. Or take a hot bath - same reason plus the water heater seems to be dying. And I am not going out for a walk! I need to write a message to a friend and then.... it is me and the computer and current novel and a sick R.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 11:57 AM

Awful weather is hitting the South to the east if us here in North Texas - we have the frigid air, but the snow is further on. I'm so tired of the icebox that is my bathroom that I set a small space heater on low last night and pointed it in the general direction of the loo to warm the seat a little. Tonight is supposed to be even colder, so I'll do the same thing again. My electric bill takes a hit in this weather, even though I turn the thermostat way down when I'm away from the house.

This is my late night at work, I'm puttering this morning and doing more chandelier packing interspersed with searches on parts of the fixture. I have all of the measurements and took photos a few weeks ago. The crystals that are on it now are very expensive to replace, they come in at about $18-20 each. I could take them off and sell them individually and put brand new crystal on it and sell it for a lower price. I may consider that if my first high price doesn't get any nibbles. I'm not going to sell it low so someone else can take the prisms and sell them individually.

Linn, good luck corralling that cat poop. I wonder if she had to spend time in a large kennel with a cat box in it if she'd bond better with her litter box.

Dorothy, is the flu going around there? Is that what Robert has caught? Keep an eye on him, it's a bad strain this year.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 01:49 PM

Sabine never had a problem with the litter box until Rufus joined the household. She wants her privacy.

(Hmm...I wonder if I put it out of sight behind the little fridge or the trunk? -- Sigh. That's what I did with HER downstairs litter box hidden in between the washer and dryer and with just a small entrance way...and RUFUS commandeered it as his, too...)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 04:06 PM

Feeling good, more energetic today. I think the amount of light is helping (in that I've been able to get out in the sunshine recently and the days are longer) despite the frigid temperatures. Not that I felt bad, I just feel better now. :)

I think also having these boxes to finish working with, and the prospect of getting rid of the futon one of these days soon, I can see more space finally in the living room. And it will get much better when I can rearrange furniture. I walked into my daughter's room to look for something today and glanced into her closet, a long narrow space - we had it set up with art on the walls so it looks really cute. I need to find a way to clear out extra stuff in that room (my sewing room) so the view in is pleasing. One way is to recycle more cardboard. I suspect this is the first niggling sensation of spring cleaning seeping into my winter-fatigued self.

I brought in a few more small tech items to recycle in our e-waste bin at work. Every little bit helps.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 05:12 PM

SRS: Robin may have a flu or may have a cold. I never have figured out the difference. I would call it a cold. He calls it a flu. In any case, he is taking light nourishment this afternoon. I am going to suggest he get up and watch the news so that will be done - now rather than at 10 pm.

I am clear that I have a cold which is unique as I have not had one since being environmentally poisoned. My health consultant states that those of us with MCS never "get sick"; we are sick all the time. But this is clearly sneezles and wheezles - a pro pos of Christopher Robin. I do not have a fever but R has although it is diminishing. Vit C does that. Otherwise, the symptoms of my environmental are almost entirely gone and my shoulder is very much better though not 100%.

My bum is tired of sitting and so is my back but there really is nothing to do and is has been seriously cold all day. My big event will be putting my boots on to bring in the recycling bin!

Planning a lesson on the subjunctive mood for the writer's group on Thursday. "The what??" I never knew what it was until I studied German my freshman year. Dear prof was horrified that we did not know what it was - not even me. With me, all grammar was "intuitive"; I just knew where things went but never why. So I shall be learning also.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Charmion
Date: 29 Jan 14 - 07:59 AM

Much clearance achieved in the cellar after recycling day and a complex trip to the St Vincent de Paul; I can now sweep the entire floor.

What's complex about visiting the Vince? Loading and unloading a car full of awkwardly shaped and sometimes fragile stuff in seriously frigid weather, that's what. We've had our January thaw, and now the thermometer is hovering between -16 and -25 Celsius with a fierce wind that will yank your hat off if you turn in the wrong direction. There's much blather on the radio about the wind chill factor, but I generally ignore it -- otherwise, I would never go anywhere. It's just too depressing.

Longjohns, serious socks, scarf over the face, leather mittens. Soldier on; there's only seven more weeks of winter.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jan 14 - 01:39 PM

Oops! Dorothy, I guess I read "Robert" into the "R" of your posts - if not, don't tell Robin about Robert! ;-D

Effing cold out today. Down to 17^o this morning. I left the pit bull in her fleece jacket when I let them out - they'll be spending the chilly morning in the garage next to their radiator in their dog stall, and not suffering, but still, the house is in the 60s and the garage, until the sun hits the door at about 9am, is in the high 30s, warmer in their stall. By now it will be comfortable but they're probably out sleeping in the sun in the yard.

I hurried over to work this morning to meet my daughter, and we went to a meeting of folks from libraries in the region that is of interest to both of us. We'll get lunch in a few minutes, she's touring our Special Collections and I left so she can talk to whoever without her Mom there. This was a great meeting for her because these are all peers in the field and potential employers. And my supervisor told her to call if she needs to set up a practicum, and I'm sure others will tell her the same thing. This is as much as I will do - as I told someone recently who was talking about the trend of current college student parents to meddle in their children's choice of classes, etc., I was of a different era. My goal is to show them where the steps are before I throw them into the deep end of the pool. Or they take the plunge themselves.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jan 14 - 03:20 PM

There are only two large furniture items left to bring down and out. This means that Friday, we can sort and fit items in the preload area and make final decisions on cargo allocation-- van or trailer or lv for next trip-- and begin the loading process with the trailer by laying out the bottom layer over the floor tarp, and (weather permitting) load everything else but the not-yet-rainproof mattress.

That would lv sensitive electronics and the mattress to load on departure day.... and some much-needed downtime til then!!!

♡♥♡

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jan 14 - 03:48 PM

It's warmer this afternoon, and the weekend is supposed to be lovely, so I'll relist the futon on Craig's List to have it in play Friday through Sunday. And if it doesn't go, then schedule the Salvation Army.

Susan, when my son and I traveled from Fort Worth to Tucson we had guitars and computers and other electronics in the pickup, and when we stopped for the night we unloaded that part of the stuff into the motel room. We packed so that it wouldn't be a struggle to untangle things in the truck - what needed to come out had to be easy to reach. It meant we slept better not worrying that something might look tempting to a burglar out in the parking lot. Are you making your drive in one day?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 Jan 14 - 05:59 PM

SRS: Robin could care less!
Your 17 degree temp reminds me of a Christmas Day in central Ontario many years ago when the ex from D.C. phoned complaining about how cold it was ...36F. I said, gleefully, "Well, It is wonderful here! It has gone up to 17 and we are out doing firewood in our shirtsleeves!" I was a lot younger then - about 40 years younger!

R went off about noon to do useful things; he can actually talk today! I am still going up and down like a yo-yo. Coughing non stop for interminable lengths of time, but I went off to get groceries, mainly because we were running out of chewable C. It helps with my coughing without burning my tongue and it is portable. Came back with lots of groceries and had to off-load and go elsewhere for C. It felt good to be out but I was worn out when I got back. Had a small lunch but the cough.... doesn't just linger; it takes short breaks! I may go lie down for a bit.

Caught up all emails and an overdue message to a special, and fragile, friend. Had a go-round with Apple the day before yesterday re receiving messages in French. The customer service person was not totally adequate. So today I phoned again and talked to someone new. Now I KNOW that THOSE messages are scams and where to forward them. Also know that my account info is correct as per the changes I made Monday. Any further French messages or English ones that seem unusual will be forwarded to "[e-mail]".   And, yes, changed the password.

That's it energy gone again.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jan 14 - 07:15 PM

SRS, yup. That's why those items will be loaded last right inside the van doors. We travel with similar items on each year's vacay. My job is knowing what's where, and being sure they stay accessible. Then Hardi's the muscle. It's one overnight stop... where I've stayed before.... with very secure parking, right outside the room's dog-guarded door.

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jan 14 - 12:12 AM

I just unplugged the spaghetti of cables behind my computer and took out two 7-port hubs, replacing them by a wonderful 24-port 2.0 USB hub. That'll deal with the hubs pitching off the back of the desk every so often, disconnecting or tangling wires. And now all of my old enclosures with external drives are turned on and I may move around data and put larger drives in the enclosures (at least, the SATA drive). I'm going to start working with Camera Raw with my new camera and that eats up space fast.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jan 14 - 11:13 AM

The winds are strong and from the south. It's cold this morning but warming to near 60, but the kicker is that these warm winds bring high fire danger. And pollen. I'm taking Sudafed in low doses during the day today to counter the mountain cedar that is blowing in.

It has been a busy January but I'm titling these threads so they can go for longer periods of time, so this one will run at least through February. We'll declutter the number of new threads here at Mudcat.org that way.

For fitness I'm planning to spend some time working on a computer station that is set at the front of a treadmill. This is something that doesn't get much use, and my using may call some attention to it, but also give me some exercise. I miss telecommuting and all of the things I can get done at home during the day - take time at lunch to go mow the lawn or walk the dogs. I tend to work through lunch when I'm at the library.

Has the snow melted for any of the rest of you yet? Are you able to stir around out of doors at all, or is everyone still house-bound?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 30 Jan 14 - 01:15 PM

17°F has been our high lately, here in New Hampshire... But, Maggie, you're just not supposed to have to deal with such temperatures! Ach! It's like those poor snow-inexperienced people in Atlanta (and other place) who have neither the tires nor the skills to drive through even the small amount of snow that we denizens of New Hampshire don't even slow down for. (Though we should -- nothing worse than an over-confident driver of a 4-wheel drive SUV...)

I took Jeri out to lunch yesterday (for playing with the cats and keeping an eye on the house, etc. while I was in Milwaukee) and, since we were both hungry for steak, we went to the local Bugaboo Creek (I wanted to try the onion strings so see how they stacked up against "haystack onions").

The food was decent. The filet was tender and tasty. But why, exactly, does a restaurant have at least SIX large screen TVs each tuned to a different channel in just our smaller section of the dining area? AND loud and more or less inappropriate "music" piped in? (Forgive me, one of my pet peeves is restaurant music that bears no relationship to the type of food being served. I'd rather hear oriental music in a Chinese restaurant than light rock, or opera in an Italian restaurant rather than country or blues...)

It was very distracting and I'm not sure which was more distracting, the constant jangling of motion on six screens or the over loud "music". What's the matter with being able to pay attention to your meal and your dining companion?

Thank you for indulging my rant...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Jeri
Date: 30 Jan 14 - 01:53 PM

And thank YOU for the meal!

It was a great steak, and I had smashed potatoes (great) and onion strings. The latter tasted great, but my stomach was heart-burny later.
But I lucked out, in that I only had one TV in front of me and one off to the side. Also, while ANY piped-in music is a PITA, it was less obnoxious than some. Not much, but a litte.

Having lived in some of those states that aren't supposed to get that sort of weather, it doesn't matter how good a driver or their car/tires are when they're faced with ice and inadequately cleared roads.

I am very sick of the cold. Most of the time, it feels like it's too much to go outside unless I have to. This is definitely not a healthy way to look at winter.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Jan 14 - 03:33 PM

This last triggered a conversation between us two sick folks: R detests Arabic music while he eats a souflaki. I enjoy the Indian music in a grocery store we go to and the Greek music is nice in the Greek restaurant. Flickering lights drive my brain totally berserk in minutes, if not seconds. So I would have had to turn around and leave that restaurant. Nobody wants to be around when my brain is being attacked! Including me. OR esp me!

I had to message my writers' group friends this morning that I cannot get there tonight. Sent them links to material on the subjunctive mood and a poem by AA Milne about Christopher Robin and his sneezles and wheezles, one of my life-long favourites.

Then I went back to bed but determined I felt worse there so here I am. We had nice salads for lunch. R is reading a terrific book called Rapt by Winifred Gallagher. "a really good writer". My brain is not up to reading that good a book though I was delighted when I found it at the library. I shall soon give up on internet and go back to my latest novel.

That will be it for today.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jan 14 - 06:06 PM

There is a device called TV-B-Gone that you might want to keep in your pocket for this kind of outing.

The cold was still here this morning, but wind has been pushing it around. I felt it buffeting me on the road. Tonight I'll probably have to pick up more of the neighbor's paper that blew down the street from his trash (I found a magazine with an address in the next block - with wind pushing magazines you know it is pretty gusty).

Slogging my way through the work week. Editing today, and I find to work here I have to put on headphones and turn on music loud enough to drown out everything else in the room. I enjoy telecommuting so much when it comes to this kind of work and controlling the light and sound in the environment.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 31 Jan 14 - 12:20 PM

That TV thing could get a person in big trouble!! I am amazed! Sound and light - I have always found them each difficult but far more so since 2000 when I was poisoned. Ear plugs in pocket all the time now and my wonderful new mask. People tend to believe I am protecting them from my disease. No one questions it.

But, at 20, I went for a job interview at State Farm. They showed me the work area - a huge room filled with small desks, a zillion people, phones, typewriters. I knew I could not work there! It seems that the vast majority of people are not affected OR are not aware they are being affected, so those of us who are have to find ways of protecting ourselves.

Some better today. Made R a real brekkie and had my usual piece of toast/tahini/apple. R went off to work, feeling well enough. Have a load of laundry in dryer (bedding) and one in washer. Also cleared a corner of K where I had put stuff from laundry room, hoping R would insulate that window. But it was all in front of the back door and -YAY!- a moderately warm day so I took out the compost (walking on top of a crusty foot of snow) and cleaned up that corner. Made a cup of Echinacea tea 'cause it made me feel better yesterday (forgot I had it). Here I sit with my tea, building up energy for the next round - gearing up and organizing to go to the cafe and then to the mill. The "warm spell" is supposed to hold through the weekend! ( high of around 30F)

.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 01 Feb 14 - 03:44 PM

I've just made one of the bigger messes in the kitchen that I've ever been responsible for -- including Thanksgiving and other ceremonial meals.

But the resulting vegetarian vegetable soup is outrageously good. Haven't a clue as to why I decided that's what I wanted to do for lunch since I started it when I was already hungry.

I'd bought a mess o' mushrooms the other day on the markdown rack, so I first sautéed them up in butter, while defrosting 2 bags (4 cups total) of the veggie stock I made a week ago. Then I cut up a bunch of carrot rounds and celery and let them simmer a bit in the stock. Next I threw in a bunch of frozen stuff that needed to be "churned" -- sugar snap peas, cauliflower, broccoli, and corn, and remembered a jar of fried onions in the fridge (where did THAT come from? Oh, I remember, mark down rack...). Then just for good measure I cooked up some orzo and threw that in with the last of last week's baby spinach that I hadn't used in the eggs florentine. Did I mention garlic? Lots of garlic...

I suppose I could have used a can of chickpeas, but, quite honestly, I think it's got enough in it. Sort of kitchen sink veggie soup. The stock has a splash of dry vermouth in it, and was fairly heavily garlicked and onioned to start out with. All I did was add black pepper; I don't think it needs any other seasoning. I seldom add salt to anything as it usually doesn't need it.

The other day I tried the roasted cabbage steak recipe that was making the rounds on Facebook and it was great -- that recipe is a keeper. I love cabbage no matter how it's fixed, and this was a nice variant, with extra virgin olive oil brushed over it (and garlic rubbed on it) instead of the ton of butter I usually put on boiled cabbage (along with both pepper and salt).

Big decision tonight is I'm going to see a friend performing at a Greek restaurant and do I eat before or get a later than usual supper there. Or just get some tzatziki and a glass of wine...

Linn

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 14 - 04:30 PM

It's not bad right now, but we have cold weather moving in again, so I went for the most basic of comfort foods, made a loaf of bread. The house smells heavenly. I'm going to spend an hour or so in the yard getting my onion sets in the ground, and then see what other job jumps up demanding attention.

I relisted (I think) the futon today. Craig's List sometimes just seems to update an old ad, not boost it to the top. It may take a few minutes for it to show. If not, I'll completely delete it and write a new listing when it warms up again. Yes, we're headed into the deep freeze again tomorrow.

A couple of weeks ago I took the files off of some floppy disks (sent by my sister) and decided it is something I need to get back to again with my own old floppies. I have a stack I located today (hiding in plain sight) that are by the old Dell. I'll move the disk contents into a file in dropbox then be able to pull them into the big computer for storage. Something to do this evening. The old disks will then got to the e-waste bin at the library.

Snow flurries in the forecast for tomorrow and Monday. Extra day off? It would be nice!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Feb 14 - 07:14 PM

Nice morning - not sunny but bright. Then afternoon snow but very light. Less than an inch so far. May do more tonight.

Yesterday's good morning turned into a lousy afternoon and I phoned R to ask if we could go to the country together in my car as I did not feel up to driving. So we did and even got to the cafe on time for the main act. It was wonderful to have our friend Steve back in the audience, and participate in one song at open mike, recovering slowly but steadily from the motorcycle accident last summer that put him into a rather lengthy coma!

We continued on to the mill and made it to bed before midnight. I coughed all night for the first time in at least a week. I had a period of recovery in the am and managed to make breakfast about 10. Then mended pair of long johns by hand after I mended the heat thingy - that we put in the microwave to get hot to warm the bed. Crisis! When R pulled it out this am, it was leaking! I HAD to mend it and as long as... Did a tiny bit of sorting in the studio but not enough energy to do much so did not turn heat up.

R put sweeps on the bottoms of the front door!!! and the door from storage area (COLD) into studio. No more jeans blocking the crack under the door! I made a nice simple lunch about 3:30 then dashed off to the library as a book seemed to be overdue. Part way there, I realized I had forgotten the book. So I threw myself on the mercy of the librarian who simply renewed the week overdue book for me.

Since, I am sitting here - watching the snow fall until it became too dark, computering, and sneezing and blowing my nose and coughing, coughing, coughing... Time for more C and Pau d'Arco.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 14 - 10:09 PM

I spent enough time outside this afternoon to dig a few rows and put in the onion sets. Not a lot, for me three bundles will last quite a while. Watered everything in, and then put the insulating cover back over the faucet since we're going to have some cold nights again this week, down to the low 20s again several more times.

Linens changed, a couple of loads of laundry done, a loaf of bread made (it is a very good loaf, and I added a couple of tablespoons of ground flax seed to give it a little more whole wheat look and nutty flavor.) Looks like tomorrow will be all domestic indoor stuff, the forecast is for cold rain early turning to freezing rain or snow later.

Soaked in a hot tub, and now catching up on Sherlock this evening.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Feb 14 - 12:24 PM

It's a heavy gray overcast and very cold and humid today. Yuck. I'm wearing my dacron booties (they look like blue insulated boots). Not going anywhere, and I think I want to bake today. :)

I'll bring my bathroom scale into the living room and balance the box with the chandelier on it to get the shipping weight. I'm not going to close and seal it, because if it doesn't sell with these prisms at the high price I'll sell the prisms separately and put a new set of almond/teardrop crystals on it and sell it that way. In which case I'd have to take it out of the box, put the new crystals on and photograph it again.

The dogs are in and everyone is napping. I think I'll join them in that activity for a little, then get moving. I'm not a football fan so any viewing today will be movies, NetFlix, or streaming PBS for the last Sherlock to be completely caught up.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Feb 14 - 02:34 PM

Another bright morning with the sun making some effort but just enough to know it is up there!

Late to bed, late up. Did NOT cough in the night!! Felt almost normal. Brekkie done and most of the weeks dishes. Filled the dish rack. More to go but that was enough to wear me out. I wandered around looking for the iron on patches I bought last week - in the dish cupboard?? OK! Mended the 3 pairs of pants. Now I can put the iron away 'til next year. Now down to sewing with the machine. Maybe today... Coughing incessantly for most of last 2 hours. Tiring.

Wrote a 2000 word treatise on stress and its effect on - well, on everything. A la Hans Selye. It is this hyper intellectual claptrap of the group on Meet-up - the brain and society. They need a down to earth kick. No one seems to care about real life. But i cannot help giving the kick once in a while. The meeting place is too toxic and too noisy for me to attend and everyone is so busy blithering they did not recognize when I did go and tried and tried and tried to say something. Hence the written word, to which the leader will respond missing the point totally. I just had to do it!

I almost feel like doing something useful. I did whip another batch of cream for the next round of choc bread pudding - still from the original batch! It is actually quite good. As good as brownies!!

Contemplating a walk outside - around to the other side of the building and back, just for a change of position. Tired of sitting. It is up to 28 and the snow is dripping off the roof.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 09:45 AM

I hope everyone had a pleasant Sunday! I did take my walk, equal only to about 2 blocks but fresh air and viewing the trees and the snow dripping off the various roofs was a nice change. Then I made a light lunch after searching all over for the lettuce and having R search all over. I found it by the "bag to go back to the city". Part of "I have no idea when R is going to decide to leave so I better start getting things ready". THEN I made a light lunch!

Then I just sat and computered/not wanting to start anything... Geri visited with two back copies of the local paper so we had a nice, but short, visit. read the gleaners and I went back to my computer. Back to the city about 7:30 and R turned on the superbowl. I, in a state of shock that he would do such a horrendous thing and with ear plugs, finished my current novel and phoned my potting partner to apprise her of changes in the reception of electric in the studio, as it has to be turned on elsewhere first.

When I say:"I cannot stand watching sports" I mean exactly that - ever! He means - except when I feel like it.

Managed a night's sleep with almost no coughing. Making up for it now. R is gone to work with only orange juice, vit C, Pau d'Arco and a piece of zuke bread. I am drinking warm water with apple cider vinegar to sooth the gut before my toast. Hoping today I can make a few pots, with just enough time to dry and fire before the Market on Sunday. Pot between coughs? At least I feel at the cusp of OK.

The weather has moved down to 12F and sunny. There is a couple inches of snow on the front steps. A chore for later. Now toast beckons!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 06:47 PM

Feeling lonely here!

So I went off to the library and then to the Market for apples and juice - the bag of apples was so heavy I could barely carry it. I do believe he gave me extras! Then the cheese store and a long conversation with charming staff person about finding cheese without calcium chloride AND the fact that the secondary labeling does not always list it. He came back and told me which one did not - a Swiss brie. This was at the marked down portion of the display - 3 for $14 so I picked up three wedges which would have cost almost $30, and a new bottle of organic whipping cream, the only one without additives!

And black beans from the bulk store as I could not find the ones I thought I bought last week. A new package of brown rice is also unfound. This means I need a better way to mouseproof stuff like that as I found other things in odd places! A large, lidded plastic bin is in order! On list to bring one in from the mill. Of course I shall have to store it --- under the K table!

Nice email from granddaughter (20-something) made my day; starting to plan a trip to Montreal, from NYC, in the spring - or whenever something interesting to her is happening here.

A dreadful coughing spell in the library - went in the rest room to complete it! and another one after I returned from excursion. The latter worn me out completely and I read until about 4:30. Then had enough energy to do the batch of chili for which beans had been cooking all afternoon. Now, I have almost enough energy to pot but no inclination. I will spend a quiet evening and hope for an early night. Tomorrow!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 07:50 PM

I took today off, I wasn't feeling great last night - I'm wondering if there is some lactose intolerance showing up. I realized I had quite a bit of dairy in various foods yesterday afternoon and evening.

The chandelier has been weighed and I'm working on the description now. I'll list it this evening. In other sales, I had a text last night asking if I'd take a low-ball price on the futon, to which I responded with a much higher price. Got back a sob story about he's broke and sleeping on the floor. Frankly, I don't care. He can find an adequate bed in any number of ways, he doesn't need to use a sob story to bid down something he wants to buy. I ignored him after that and haven't heard back.

It has been a grim, gray few days around here. I could really use some sunshine! I also need to cross things off my list to motivate myself to get more done.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 11:09 PM

I've been teaching myself Camera Raw as a way to process digital images, so this evening I worked on chandelier photos in that. Interesting, but I can't find all of the settings I saw in the Lynda tutorial, so I'm sure I'll be revisiting that and watching the segments I bookmarked.

Tonight is supposed to be a low of 38^o but every night until next week after that is below freezing. B-o-r-i-n-g. And damned depressing.

Heading to bed to read. Best thing to do on a cold evening. Read and listen to a pitbull snore at the end of the bed. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 03:51 PM

Declutter of bank account complete: bills all paid, except for insurance premium addition. After buying a new vehicle I learned that previously they kept the whole premium down (my son and I are both on it) by marking the youngest driver as the one with the oldest vehicle. Our cars are both the same newer age so the policy went up and I have to pay a pro-rated amount. Since I paid in full in September I got a "paid-in-full discount," but if I wanted to pay this next bit monthly I'd have to also give back that discount. This is a mutual insurance company so they always send me an annual bonus payment in February - it appears we'll be sending checks back and forth in a couple of weeks.

Dog beds laundered this morning before I left for work, but I didn't have time to dry them. No way did I want to put two bulky dog beds in the dryer and leave it running when I drove off. There will be tons of dog hair in the lint filter and even though this is an electric dryer, that is bound to be a fire hazard. The beds are propped so they can air dry until I get home tonight and then they can finish in the dryer.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 07:01 PM

I paid off one credit card so I could get the full benefit of a balance transfer at 0% interest until June. This may enable me to finally get that amount paid off nad keep up with the other one. I will only use the one and pay it off each month - unless I go berserk! I could not pay rent on the cabin and pay off the credit card so that is the only good thing about no longer renting the cabin. We miss it very very much.

Now have no hot water here in the city. I am hoping this might become a priority for R soon! At least we do have running water here.

The good news is that even though I am still having periodic coughing spells, some of which are dreadful, I did manage to get to the pottery this afternoon: 5 heart shaped small bowls, 4 smallish pitchers and a bunch of lids of which I hope some will fit the already dry jars I made a while back. I really need to make a template and make ALL openings and, hence, lids the same size! I can probably get these dry and fired before the Market on Sunday. I'll go back up in a while and check dryness and carry on to the next steps as possible.

I also talked for well over an hour with my friend and health consultant in PA - thanks to my new cheap long distance. Wonderful to be able to catch up with her and the doings of her wandering daughter. I, then, sent her my recent writings as I realized I might have done sooner were I thinking clearly.

Brain dysfunction. I am beginning to feel I am coming out of the malaise of these last 8 months, hopefully. Very heartening. Now to be very careful I do not fail to use my wonderful new mask, or the respirator when necessary - remembering that it is necessary!

Right now, while I wait for things to dry, would be a good time to look at recent article on environmental illness. A friend suggested I print it and give it to people so they can better understand my difficulties and be more understanding, and be forewarned when I get grumpy.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 08:22 PM

Not dry enough but turned over and covered 'til morning.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 08:46 PM

This is my late night, followed by a "regular" day tomorrow. Makes it really hard to get anything done when I get home because I have to go to bed right away to get up in the morning. I have a couple of things I need to do, though, so I'll prioritize as soon as I get home.

Listening to a bit of the Bill Nye debate with the creationist. An exercise in frustration. They are so mis-matched. Ham is a Luddite repeating the same nonsense over and over.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Feb 14 - 01:10 PM

SRS: I could not listen to such a debate!! Almost as bad as watching a hockey game - maybe worse, even!

Lunch is in the microwave. Pots are uncovered and will be ready for next step after lunch.

The water heater is dead forever and will be replaced ---- Several are being removed from a building R sold- finally! And with any luck one will make it into the cellar here before the next millennium. In the meantime, no dishes done - until it becomes desperate enough to heat a pot of water! Did clothes in cold water yesterday but prefer hot for sheets, etc.

The trap door to cellar was challenging to open this am. My doing as I had put something there to protect the cord for the wee heater. But I managed to save the life of the handle of my fav mop by using strong slim files to weasel it up enough to open!! "Sometimes, R, I DO know what I am doing!"

Cough is still doing well but had another cough-free night so I am feeling OK.

Nice email this am from folk dance friend in PA to which I wrote a lengthy reply. I do miss those guys and hope to get down there in the spring - that means after mid-April!

Goal is to get to the studio by one, so lunch...

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Feb 14 - 04:37 PM

It's cold out. Really really cold. And windy, which makes the cold feel worse. The next several days forecast are about the same. By all rights my house should be totally spotless and decluttered with all of the time I've been shut in due to icky weather. Instead I seem to find ways to mess it up. Tomorrow is supposed to be so cold that I think I'll take the day off. I don't like sending the dogs out in it and I don't want them in the house for 9 or 10 hours alone, they're not used to it. The garage isn't warm enough with their little heater, either. This has been the strangest winter, and now that we aren't allowed to telecommute, I have to take a vacation day to stay at home, even if I chose to work. I may do some of the Lynda training things - those are as useful to me the individual as they are to me the employee.

Sounds like everyone else is getting hit a lot harder and snowed under a lot deeper. Stay warm and dry, all of you!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Charmion
Date: 05 Feb 14 - 06:00 PM

Snowing again and cold in Ottawa, but I'm feeling virtuous with the cellar mucked out and the study tidy for the first time in months. The recycle boxes are full of out-dated road maps and legal manuals. I hope nobody out there is yearning for a heavily used loose-leaf copy of Volume I (Administration) and Volume II (Discipline) of Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces, dated 2008.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Feb 14 - 09:43 PM

The trailer is now totally filled with snow. Looks like we'll have to shovel it out to load it next week. On the plus side tho I was able to help w snow removal today, over a half hour on the snowblower plus cooking for Hardi and shoveling the trash cans outta the drift the road plow left em in.

♥¤♥.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 01:25 AM

Charmion, before you toss those maps, check around to see if any of the universities in the area has a map collection in their Special Collections. I've donated a lot of my out-of-date maps to my university map collection and they love it. Mine were the mini-folders from national parks and various related maps. There is information there that, when compared to other maps, adds up to an interesting story. Seriously - check around and see if someone wants them!

Susan, it sounds like you have been hit by the winter gremlin. If waiting a little is what it takes to make your move safely, I hope you'll alter your schedule a bit.

I'm going to work at home at least in the morning tomorrow. We'll see how the day advances, if I go in for a half-day in the afternoon. The houses built in this climate just aren't meant to go down to some of the temperatures we've experiences regularly this winter. It is 24^o right now, going down to 19^o overnight. The high tomorrow is around 28^o. It's well below freezing every night until early next week. Brrrrrr.

The pooches are tucked in for the night, I'm finishing my cup of herbal tea, then everyone is in bed for the night. The forecast keeps changing, but now it looks like we are in for some snow tomorrow.

Snow Day!!! (Fingers crossed!)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 10:18 AM

SRS, no worries... besides, do u have any idea how many people it takes for Hardi to be able to sked a wk of vacay!?!?!

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 01:27 PM

No, Stilly; none of the three universities near me collects maps of the sort I have just heaved-ho -- official state highway maps from Virginia, New York and Maryland, and city atlases from Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.

If we were habitual travellers in the Canadian hinterland, we might have something they would want, but we're far more interested in destinations that do not offer blackflies in summer and total isolation at other times. I'm a wuss; it's a known fact.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 01:35 PM

SRS seems to be having similar temps to Montreal! Yesterday was not bad but today is cooler at 8F.

Wonderful Susan to be able to do snow removal. You are doing so well!

I succumbed to the cough yesterday and only went upstairs to cover the pots so they do not dry too much. Coughed most of the night, for the first time in a few nights - R slept through it, thankfully. He has an identical cough but never during sleeping time. I am waffling today, between coughing spells; do I just give up or do I go up and try to get things done. If left too long, things become throw aways. Today's coughing spells are leaving me drained. I feel good but then the energy just goes into the cough pit... Definitely not going down to the country for the writers' group.

Hot water: asked R if it would happen in this millennium, "In 2014". I warmed water in a pot this morning to wash hair and put the pot of water in the open oven (the only heat in the K) so I can do some dishes if the energy arrives. I did tell him I consider this a "crisis".

We went to a Mexican restaurant for supper last night as I had a Living Social coupon which was coming to the expiry date. The traffic was bad in the fresh snow but not in the directions we went!! Good meal but too expensive for our budget without the coupon and even a little high with it. But it was nice to have something very different and very tasty.

Then we watched the grand finale of Republic of Doyle. The only thing it has going for it, imo, is the scenery of Newfoundland; the ending - until next season - was a total cliff hanger! So much for closure!!

I managed to complete two pieces of snail mail this morning - a bill that has to be paid in this archaic manner and a check/donation to the clayart group which I have found interesting, and helpful, at times. Like mudcat, it can also be aggravating, etc, if one does not choose carefully what to read and when to forgo it!

Guess I shall try some lunch and hope to complete the pots.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 02:51 PM

I got the path outside the fr porch dug out this AM by hand--where multiple elevation changes where the ramp meets the steps make snowblowing impossible till the edges of things can be seen. Hardi and I will work on that area together tmrw, and then get the snow out of the trailer before it packs down and freezes.

We got abt 15 inches of snow, and cleared most of a large farm driveway yesterday. What we did ydy allows good enuf foot and vehicle access out in back where we usually park. Out front it is possible to park, but we need to clean it up for feet and ramp access. TBTG my lower-body strength and balance make it work for me as-is, but for visiting friends and for trailer loading-- that HC parking zone is the next priority.

I've only run the blower once or twice before, and that was years ago-- I need to relearn how it starts and what the finer points of adjustment are, etc., so for now I won't be running it when home alone.

♥♡♥
It's more fun with two people-- one to move vehicles for the other and one using the blower while the other cleans up edges with tge little John Deere. Anyway that was our plan when we added the blower.... Hardi DID move a lot of snow over the yrs with that little blade!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 03:52 PM

Ach, Charmion! I "collect" (accumulate) old maps of all sorts including outdated highway maps. I decorate with them, covering the insides of lamp shades, walls, table tops, pocket folders..

Won an argument with my mother with a highway map of Wisconsin from the '60s -- towns drop off the map when the population drops below a hundred. The leader of the dance band my dad was in back in the '40s was found in Hika, WI in the '60s. In the '90s when no one could remember where he lived, I said Hika and was ridiculed for years by my mother. (Family gatherings were so much fun...) . It was no longer on the map. Then I bought a batch of road maps at a yard sale and showed her Hika...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 05:54 PM

The University closed early today, and we'll see what happens tomorrow. It isn't going to be above freezing for a day or two, sounds like, and the ice on the roads is the issue.

Dogs in the house all day, one asleep on the rug beside me now. She's wearing her jacket even in the house and isn't fussing about it at all.

I caught up with a NetFlix video while I made a batch of split pea soup. I usually make it maybe a couple of times a year - I've made it three times in the last couple of weeks, what with this cold cold weather. I'll keep that for taking for lunch and am making a little bit of pot roast for dinner tonight.

I've cleared up paper in the kitchen and run the dishwasher, though soup making seems to have involved enough stuff that I again have a sink full of dishes. I'll find more stuff to do to keep moving around here - I'm keeping the house cool, around 65, because I'm sure there is a high demand right now and also because the bill goes way up in this kind of weather. If the power goes out I'm prepared for a three-dog night with my three pooches!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 08:01 PM

Ah, yes! There is a reason why pea soup is a Quebec specialty in winter! SO comforting!

MY cough escalated and I have gone down a bit so the only thing I managed was to go up and wrap the clay objects better so they do not dry too fast.

The good news is that R and Bruno came in so B could check out the water heater and declare it officially dead forever. He told me he will install a "new" one "tomorrow". "New" means on from another building that is being cleared to make into condos. It will be newer than 1985. I am hoping this shall come to pass, if not tomorrow, then in the next few days.

I fed the guys chili and will soon feed R and I pasta. Maybe small salads also - when I stop coughing again.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 08:41 PM

A batch of pot roast (enough for two meals) is simmering away, there is split pea soup and chicken soup in the fridge, and the kitchen is fairly clean again. One NetFlix ready to go in the mail - I'd never seen Living With Ed (Ed Begley, Jr.), and A&E cable program that I can't see (no cable) so I got the disk. I'll go ahead and get more, it's breezy yet interesting in the eco-projects he takes on. There is no mention of how much these projects cost, but he's bound to come up with things I can afford now and then!

Not sure what tomorrow holds, as far as work. The university is closed tonight so I suppose everyone will get up early tomorrow to see the verdict and either get ready to go to work or go back to bed. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 10:52 AM

Chance of snow today, not warming above about 34^o. I'm working at home again. We're not supposed to telecommute, but I have deadlines I'd like to meet.

I worked overtime in December, something I expected to see on my January paycheck (that arrived Feb. 1.) They turned it into comp time instead of time and a half, so I rattled a few cages and got the mistake fixed. Turns out I missed a step back when the time card was turned in, but in 17 years of working here they have never before offered to pay time and a half so there was a bit of a learning curve. It was deposited in my account overnight - a nice little buffer for the month.

I just brokered a new computer for a friend who is badly in need of one. The new one is used, but only a couple of years old, much more robust than what he's using now.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 12:45 PM

It IS more fun with two people-- we both were single parents for so long that we are more used to doing it "all" on our own, but over the years we've learned to put our church-teamwork skills into our home skills, and so (puff puff!) I just finished my end and came in to check on the beef stew I set to simmering before we went out.

I ran the blower while Hardi did a little job in the bsmt with the band saw, and then he came out to work with me. We took turns shoveling out from under the trailer and he shoveled out the interior, while I blew it all to hell and gone. And now we're off to DAY OFF fun!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 10:57 AM

A coughing fit on Thursday resulted in nothing getting done. Friday did not bring hot water; maybe Monday.

I did get up enough energy - before lunch! - yesterday to do the next step on the pots and put them on the oven door to start drying. Then packed them carefully and loaded them in the car for the trip to the country. Terrific music last night - more like soft jazz. There were only about 20 people present, largely thanks to BAD road conditions. Everyone listened; no talking! This wonderful guy just kept playing and one of our superb locals joined him and they filled the evening with lovely healing music.

When we got to the mill, I put all the pots in the oven on low and this morning I loaded them in the kiln. With what I made a couple weeks ago, there was almost a full load. It should be done and start cooling before noon. With any luck, I can glaze and fire in the late afternoon and have those ready for the Market tomorrow. I made 5 small heart shaped bowls so really would like them for this pre-Valentine sale.

15F and almost sunny but flurries expected later. R is hoping to get the snow blower working to clear the drive. I need to go to the library.

Darn! I only coughed in the early part of the night and had a good sleep. Woke up thinking I had gotten past that but now the cough is bad again. R, also. Sometimes togetherness is a bit much. Spent about 90 minutes on phone yesterday with a friend on Whidbey - she was coughing too!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 11:06 AM

DP, I'd love to see those heart-pots!

Snow in S. Ohio is so deep we now plan to take our snowblower along to facilitate access!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 06:58 PM

Made a huge mess in the kitchen today, first making a big batch (no way to make a small one) of chicken fried rice then a big batch (ditto) of chicken stock from the carcass of the chicken that at last ended in the fried rice.

But I cleaned it up. Fried rice and stock in the fridge waiting to measure it out to freeze tomorrow.

What would I do without sesame oil, toasted sesame oil, dry vermouth and white truffle oil?

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 07:47 PM

I ran errands today, got my new plates and registration on the car, picked up a repaired camera lens, and did a little shopping.

I passed a Goodwill and went in to see if I could find anything useful for me or for eBay. I found two 1 quart crockpots. They were both taped shut so I couldn't open them there, and the bowl of one has a hairline crack. The other didn't have the right lid. I could take back the cracked one because the bowls are the hardest part to replace, but instead I'll put the good lid on the intact pot and sell it for more than I paid for both of them. I found an Ott lamp that needed a bulb, and got the bulb on the way home. I love those things, and have them all over the house. Goodwill sells most of it's small items for about $3 or less.

It warmed up to about 60 today while I was out running, and tomorrow will be about the same, so I'll plan to do some garden work tomorrow. I policed the grounds, and found that Zeke had apparently eaten a dish towel. I found it out there in the piles, a twisted part of a towel in a big poop. No wonder I found signs of diarrhea also, it was probably a job to push that through. Ugg.

I haven't been watching the Olympics, it's always all US all the time, they cut away for commercials when some of the interesting small nations turn up. I'm not buying into it, though I may try to catch some of the figure skating.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Feb 14 - 01:53 AM

A load of laundry out of the way and the kitchen sink emptied of dishes. I cleaned up the crock pot I picked up and am giving it a test overnight (oatmeal). I'm pretty sure I kept a box from one that was shipped last year, if I can find it I'll pack this one in it and list it. I have to say that eBay got terribly complicated since the last time I listed. It picked up the text from various auctions and buy-it-now sales, gave them long numbers, and made me choose or edit between them to put up older things (relisted). It wasn't working at all so I had to not edit the things at all, just use an old relist option. What a pain in the ass - I tried different browsers, etc. I hope if I put up a brand new listing that won't happen again.

Done for the night. Dogs are in. I found an old movie that is playing that I haven't seen before - Dangerous Crossing in a noir series. I've put it on NetFlix and will wait for it so I don't have to watch all of the stupid late-night commercials.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Feb 14 - 10:36 AM

Foggy, not freezing. I need to do some work in the yard this afternoon, pick up some mulch and plant my 'taters. Maybe get some more strawberries, and transplant the asparagus finally.

I also have some blog stuff to work on. And some photos to process - I'm teaching myself some new skills, a new program. Creative things have been out of the picture for a while. Time to remedy that.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Feb 14 - 07:24 PM

We start loading the trailer tomorrow since it will be one of two "almost-warm" days this week before Thursday's departure. We're taking the snowblower (and bringing it back again), because we hear the accumulated snow down there is crusted and piled beyond hand-shoveling-- and we want NOT to have to park the trailer on the street like I had to do. I can't wait to enjoy the first trip's results with Hardi! A lot of work awaits us... but it can't be all work and no play! 

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 01:33 AM

Oh, look, another week of slick-as-snot freezing rain, way-below freezing lows overnight (not as bad as last week, but bad enough), following a relatively mild weekend. I suppose weekend-wise this is good, but it sure kicks the crap out of getting to work and back home again all week.

Lots of little things accomplished this weekend. Finished paying a couple of bills (the new car caused a jump in the insurance premium and the last bill from the former electric company). Laundry done, put away. Linens changed, some filing done, made leftovers for this week. Recycling dropped off, and during my series of chores today I got a little carpet at Dollar General that will reside in the back of the car, the surface of which is an automotive plastic and things slide around back there. The rubberized underside of the mat will stabilize the mat at least, and things shouldn't slide so much, or at least make noise while they do it. :)

I didn't read facebook as much, I decided I had better things to do, and I haven't been watching much television either. Radio, classical music, or just silence. I guess I'm just not buying the hype of the Olympics and staying glued to my set for the next two weeks and on facebook there are an awful lot of dogs and cats passing by these days.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 12:45 PM

Yesterday I finally found notecards that were big enough to hold an 8-1/2 x 11 letter folded into quarters. Arghh! Most (including all the ones I had) were 1/8 inch too small in one dimension. Got them addressed this morning and to the post office -- this is the "New Year's" letter to my relatives telling them (officially) about Tom's death, enclosing a copy of the obituary, and (most importantly) correcting the wrong email address my sister put in her letter on my mother's death.

But, of course, before I could take everything to the post office, I had to clear snow off the car... And the driver's side windshield wiper appeared to have bit the dust. So took care of a bunch of errands -- post office, new wiper blade, picked up Rx -- before coming home and clearing the snow off the deck and steps. Is there anyone NOT tired of winter?

Today I HAVE to change all four lightbulbs in the bedroom's overhead light. I brought the ladder upstairs the other day, but it seems like by the time I have time, I've lost daylight. I use the overhead light to get to the bedside lamp to turn it on.

But first I have to bag and freeze the chicken stock I made Saturday. Again, it will be easier to freeze them flat outside on the deck table before storing them in the freezer.

Oh, better bring the laundry down and do that, too.

Splurged and bought myself a Valentine's present "from Tom" yesterday...a pair of bright shiny red sequinned fake shearling slippers -- he reminded me for over 30 years not to walk around the house barefoot in the morning.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 01:39 PM

Linn, love the slipper image and the sentiment behind those slippers.

===

I dragged down the double bed mattress for the afternoon's loading party to save Hardi a trip up to the attic.

===

The vacay house is already set up enough for a MudGather so I've got a thread running for that, to coincide with the painting trip I'll need to make on my own in about 6 weeks.

===

TBTG the week's weather is perfect: sunny and warming here for loading, and sunny and warming MORE in Ohio for unloading and enjoying our worktime there! (It's been colder there than it has up here, up to now.) Again, God's perfect timing. Did he make us this weather? No... but He did tell me when to hurry up my packing!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 01:41 PM

Lynn, I also navigate to my bedside lamp via some other light - I don't use the ceiling light now, and I suppose I could take the fixture part off of the fan and use the brass cap (that is still around here somewhere.) I like the touch lamps that are inexpensive at places like Home Depot, and I have LED lights in them so if they stay on for a long time there is very little energy used, and in the evening I turn on my beside lamp (that has one of those LEDs) and leave it on till bedtime. I end up with just enough light spilling into the hall that I don't need to leave a light on there. The electric bills are all going to be horrible this winter, so these low-power lights are a big help. And today I remembered to push the thermostat down on the office furnace (the other one is programmed to be way low during the weekdays).

I suppose I could be freezing stuff for the freezer outside - it hadn't occurred to me! As long as it goes out the side door, not the back door where the dogs are.

There's a lecture on campus this evening - and there is [yet another] winter storm advisory for this evening and tomorrow. Fingers crossed the storm decides to arrive after the talk.

Those slippers sound nice. I usually walk around barefoot in the house, but this winter the floor (on a slab, no basement) is painfully cold.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 01:42 PM

Strawberries and asparagus......I can't wait to play in the garden! We are still drooling over seed and chicken catalogs while we wait for spring weather to arrive. It has been below zero on our front porch every morning for 30 days now. I know it's winter and cold temps are to be expected but this is one of the coldest winters we've seen in a long time.

My house is a mess but I am getting lots of sewing time in. I am hoping to finish up a quilt top later today. I will need to get fabric for the borders yet. This one is for us, queen siZed...los of coral, gray, sage and pink with a tint tinge of light blue....eventually I will have photos up...my laptop is in the shop so for now, I'm on the Kindle.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 02:36 PM

Sounds like a beautiful quilt top.

Sounds like an effing cold porch!

Sounds like Susan got lucky with all of this moving.

Sounds like everyone needs to pamper themselves for a while to get through this exceptionally difficult winter!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 04:36 PM

39 days to the vernal equinox! Who's tired of winter!! We stayed at the mill last night as we were both TIRED! Good thing is that we got back to the city and snow clearing in our area was still underway. We thought R's truck had been towed and were starting to drive around looking for it but finally remembered I had picked him up in VSP so we drove over there - another 15 minutes; it would have been closer if we had stopped on the way - if we had remembered! Instead of being towed, he only had a parking ticket; predictable if one parks next to a no parking sign! But the tow would have been worse.

The pot saga: So tired Sat aft, I took a nap and then decided the whole kiln load would be white with burgundy/red rims. Finally got it loaded about 6:45 pm. Got up at 7 am and opened the kiln about 4 inches to try to get it cool enough to unload. Managed the top shelf about 7:45 but the next shelf - the potholders started smoldering! Finally unloaded by 8:15 and we went to the venue and unloaded and set up. The "valentine's" in the middle of the table. Only sold five pots - ALL in the burgundy\white, so glad I made that great effort. It was well liked so I will do more. Only one heart bowl - to a man, no doubt a gift! The other four I passed on to a friend with a gift shop; she may be able to sell some before Valentine's. I got the idea for the heart shaped bowls on a clay group on line. Someone posted a pic of how she did it. I do get a lot of info, not just tripe.

The great mystery of the day was the few bright blur spots on the white. It appears that the blood from my cut thumb did not burn out at 2000F??? I have asked on clayart/world if this is possible! I have no idea how else I could have had blue specks. (I will ask R to email the pic he took so I can post it on FB. I think the spots show also. MY FB page is open to the public so anyone can go there.)

A fun day but tiring. R went back to the mill and took a nap and came back for me. Then we went to see the cafe my potting friend is coordinating - a youth project - and trying to get open. R has friends who might help with equipment. Then to restaurant for supper; friend Geri happened to be there with a friend so we had good conversation with them and two Farm market friends came in later and sat in adjacent booth. A very social time! Back at the mill before 8 pm, we re-collapsed and were asleep by 10:30.

This malaise - coughing incessantly is exhausting. Two weeks and I had hoped it would be over but even though we do not feel really badly, the tiredness has gotten very -- tiresome!

After I dropped R off at his truck and got a tour of the building - two apts being reconstructed and are going to be very nice - makes me want to move there! Bath tub, hot water, big windows - why cannot some of this effort go into our house???? No action on the hot water today.

I stopped at two groceries on the way back and collected two loaves of the good bread at one and several loaves of interesting, marked down bread and good chicken breasts at the second. Forgot milk and stopped at IGA for that and sage, avoiding snow removal and getting back to the house at just the right time to have my fav parking space, unload and have lunch. First time on computer since Sat morning. Nothing on TV but Sochi and junk, (imo). So I will peruse FB and read I am Malala, cook chicken and have a salad for supper.

A man of raccoon rehab group took issue with the concept of civil disobedience as someone was opposing the pipeline. I had to remind him about Gandhi and MLK, Nelson Mandela and the importance of standing up for what is right. Got a kudo from one of the women.

Call from R just now wanting his passport number. I had been leaving all those imp papers at the mill - near the border - but decided a few weeks ago to put them back in the computer bag so they would be handy! Good move!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 06:06 PM

Well... I set up the ladder, put the light bulbs on the ladder shelf got on the top usable step (I really don't do well with ladders...) and tried to undo the first globe... Uh uh, this ain't gonna work. It's definitely a two person project and with one person a lot more comfortable on a ladder than my almost 65-year-old knees. With another person, I can take the globes and clean them and hand up the light bulb and then the clean globe. The fixture is four glass globes on a chain...and it likes to rotate while you're trying to do this.

I guess I'm just lucky that these bulbs last a long time. I think the last time they were replaced, Tom was the person on the ladder while I cleaned the globes (but I think I replaced one of the globes once by myself...) and handed things to him. He could see then, so it was at least four years ago, probably a bit longer.

My neighbor keeps offering to help me with this sort of thing (like being on the ladder while I wash the decorative plates and hand them back to her to rehang on the beams downstairs) so I'll give her a call and take her up on the offer.

Oh, dryer just shut off -- gotta go fold stuff.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 10:39 AM

As we were running out of dishes, I heated a pan of water and washed most of dishes - after first washing the apples the furry friends had been cavorting in. Most of dishes washed. Most of apples in frig drawer. Large bowl of apples awaiting their turn to be stewed. Supper was chicken/feta/ salsa salad for me and added tomato and sweet peppers for R.

Response to blue blood: one possibility is the iron in blood reacted with white glaze ingredients to form blue! That has interesting possibilities. A couple suggestions on how to do testing for this. When the weather is warmer and the energy level better. And a british response: "You have just proved beyond doubt that you are definitely a cut above the rest of us!
Yours in awe and wonder." Great for a hearty laugh at 10 pm! I am delighted to learn that there is definitely iron in my blood; I am not anemic!

Need the large pot for apples. Thought of heating water in crock pot but cannot plug in anything else. So put the cast iron pot on stove for water warming. Will do apples when I get to it. May try to make some more pots first- large mugs, small teapots and medium sized pitchers, she says hopefully.

We did not cough during the night and I hoped it was gone but --- not yet. Only take heart from, so far, diminished. Lack of pain in shoulder and improved mobility is an incredible relief. Even driving back from the country - shifting gears - did not aggravate it, nor did washing the dishes and apples!

6F and sunny today. Nowhere I need to go! 38 days to.... I put new batteries into the indoor/outdoor thermometer today but darned if I am going to open the back door to put it outside. On the floor next to the back door, it is 60. On the desk next to me, 67. Little heater blowing on my feet keeps them from turning to ice.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 11:19 AM

There was a plot centering on pottery in one of the early Lillian Jackson Braun "Cat" novels - blood in the glaze or flesh in the kiln giving them a special look.

Here is an article about what to get rid of in the new year, but I'll note that they are totally wrong about the tea. If it is stored properly it is fine, and in fact, very old tea fetches gigantic prices at auction in China.

This is my late day at work, I have rolls rising to take in for a potluck lunch, but am watching the weather to see if a freezing rain descends on the region.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 03:31 PM

Meds for our dog picked up, extra pellets purchased and loaded, groceries gotten, dishes done, fire going, some time spent on making Valentine's Day gifts & Jeremiah' s kitty with a hole in her belly has been hand stitched to be almost as good as new! Also, today being part two, I won an argument with a medicalprovider/vendor who thought I should be returning some equipment or coughing up $1200.00. I hate when you have to fight about medical stuff. In the end, I get to keep equipment...yay me!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 04:55 PM

YAY, Michelle.

I must have missed that "cat" book; I thought I had read them all. I am certainly wondering about the blood on the glaze and shall see what effect a little iron oxide might have.

Too cold to pot upstairs but fortunately I phoned the daughter of my friend with Parkinsons and we talked for 2 hours, the first time I have managed to reach her since before Christmas. Her mom has had TIAs and dad is not doing well and is in denial; her cat is sick; her dog is sick; her live in the building bro is in denial; her son has no job and has a toxic girl friend; the other bro is sympatico but not nearby; and she has to walk both her dog and the parents dog, separately. And all I have the energy to do is listen! I think that was helpful. Sure is hard to have people who were the strong supportive ones getting to the end point.

Then R came in, "feed me, I'm getting stupid." So I fed him and his brain is stressed. I hope the food kicks in and fixes the brain. He may be going to the mill but with a worker.

And there is nothing on TV but bloomin' Sochi. Maybe I can find something on line to ease my brain. Even the 5pm news - and chocolate. Hot water would not help. (Maybe tomorrow.)

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 08:33 PM

I just reread all of The Cat Who books in order plus the additional books and the Cat Who Companion... And now I'd like to sell them all as a collection. It was one of the early books; Quill was still living Down Below in the city and working the art beat at the newspaper.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 11:43 AM

Yes, and he had just the one cat still. I read probably the first 12-18 of them, then got busy and didn't keep up. It was a rather funny novel, aside from the grisly murder, as I recall.

I've identified one more food that causes a problem. At least when eaten by itself a pint at a time. ;-) Ice cream disturbed the gut during the night, still a bit bonked out this morning. I had a bowl when I got in last night without eating anything else to lessen the impact. I'll go back to avoiding milk products that aren't cultured (I did for many years because I used to get bad sinus headaches, and I still don't get much dairy overall.)

Overnight Monday one of the dogs left a puddle on the carpet and a pile in the hall. I cleaned up, poured vinegar on the spot to discourage hitting it again (I'll get some of the odor remover enzyme later today) and am a bit jumpy about having them in the house even overnight if they're not going to tell me they need out. I woke at 4:30 this morning and ushered them out to go (even put on my jacket so they knew I meant it.) Consequently they didn't wake me early and I overslept. :-/ I'm working at home today anyway so it doesn't matter much.

So, this awful cold weather has moved east, Atlanta is a sheet of ice again and it is now swinging north up the east coast. All of you stay warm and safe. In a few days we're supposed to warm up a bit - I hope that weather also comes your way.

In the UK, batten down the hatches - I hear the winds are up to 100 miles per hour (is that really 160 kph? What a horrendous number to look at in the weather report!) And I hope you're all able to stay about the high water.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 12:25 PM

It was minus 12 on our front porch this morning...it is cold to be sure but it is a beautifully glorious day out there!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 01:01 PM

If anybody is missing about 9 kg, they seem to have followed me home over the winter and I'd like to get rid of them, rather than keeping them around...

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 05:25 PM

Is that you, Mrrzy?

A few of my former lost pounds have come back to roost. This time of year normally isn't so hard on me, but as a friend of mine remarked in an email yesterday, "we'll be talking about this winter for years to come." I don't have snow to shovel or I'd probably be doing better - I have just tried to stay warm over the last two and a half months. We rarely have such a prolonged cold spell as this, and there is an opportunity to comfortably walk or get out and work in the garden, etc. I did mow the lawn on Jan. 20, a holiday that was warm and the weeds were getting tall. But since then there has only been sporadic opportunity to get out. Today is sunny and cool, and I stood on the porch out of the breeze letting the sun shine on my face - it really is therapeutic.

It has warmed up into the 40s today. I'll run a couple of errands and then settle in to do more work this evening. I have many tasks calling out for my attention.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 08:26 PM

I shall have to go find the old Cat books. Curiosity...

Nothing happening around here today. R has not left the house today. Eventually I heard him mention headache and sent him to take supplements and he is now back in bed after having read the complete history of chocolate - today!

I managed to heat water, wash dishes, put veggies and sausages in casserole and bake in oven but before they were ready, R wanted a pizza so that was lunch (from the freezer; I do not make pizza anymore). I did a large pot of stewed apples and washed the last batch of apples and put them in a safe place - from the furry critters. And washed that darn K sink and the oven door - since it is always open to let heat out, except when I am actually baking something, and the door was pretty grungy. Also put baking soda and vinegar down the drain; it may have made a difference. We watched the 5-6:30 news (repeats 3 times! mostly). I suspect the casserole will be tomorrow; may need to take it to mill.

We both still have cough but mine seems to have lessened and I have slept several undisturbed nights!! Today was mostly sunny; 10F now and snow to start tomorrow early evening - maybe 20 cm. We need to go down to the mill for a meeting so hoping we can get there before roads get bad and leave Fri morning when they are clear???? R will need to use snowblower on the drive before we leave? All that is hopeful thinking. Makes sense to me!

No hot water yet so no laundry. Bruno has to do it but B is busy fixing his Winnebago so he can sell it to people who want to drive it to Mexico - immediately. NO HOT WATER! This is the man who told me last Thursday that I would have hot water "tomorrow". No point in getting upset; it won't get me hot water any sooner. Oh, how I want to soak in a hot tub!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 14 - 12:09 AM

The idea of no hot water is so depressing! Makes me cold just thinking about it. But this winter just makes me cold thinking about it. As a friend said in an email yesterday "we're going to be talking about this winter for a long time to come."

Tomorrow one of the directors of the library will be in our department to spend the day. She'll work with various folks to see what they do, but me. I am doing very sedentary intense things - photoshop for 200 photos I took a couple of weeks ago, and editing three journal articles. No one wants to distract me from finishing this stuff, so I'll work unmolested. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Feb 14 - 11:33 AM

Today was supposed to be warmer but - not! I shan't even bother going up to see if the studio is warm enough. And no hot water forthcoming today. I shall just bury myself in the computer and finishing Malala. I have a pot of warm water on the stove and washed my hair before breakfast. May wash the dishes before we leave for the country - if I darned well feel like it. I may just drown my sorrows in chocolate.

Need to respond to an email from a special/fragile friend. Already responded, she says hopefully, to a barely comprehensible one regarding my application for a permanent resident card. Why do they have to make these things so ridiculously difficult?! Thinking of Linn's on-going problems of a similar ilk - anything to go with government. Yesterday I had to figure out the exact dates for any trips out of the country in the last five years. This meant racking my brain to figure out who I might have emailed about said trip and how to access those emails....

We are both still coughing but less, still feeling less than 100%. R has gone off to try to get things done but says his brain is not working very well. My brain is in get out and push mode, too. But my shoulder is still improving!

Thinking of everyone in the areas to be hit with more snow! We may get a bunch tonight. But our area can deal with it, the southeast ....!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 14 - 12:54 PM

A freelance job came up for the weekend after next - two sessions, one Friday evening, one at noon on Saturday. I don't charge much, it's a campus group, but it is an nice opportunity to get out and try out the new camera and the processing things I'm learning vis a vis Camera Raw.

Warmer here today, and through the weekend. I watered my cold but parched garden yesterday and overnight I didn't put the faucet cover back on. I think it only got down to 31, so not a crisis. My broccoli is finally growing and it looks like the onions are getting established. I picked up some thyme for the front bed where I want to establish ground cover and some strawberries for the kitchen garden to add to the existing patch. Coriander is doing well but my bay tree is looking wretched since the tender growth ends all got zapped in the cold. It usually recovers, but this has been a test I didn't expect it to receive. Good thing it is a little be sheltered by the house.

Zeke threw up this morning - the second half of the dishtowel that he ate about three weeks ago. Last week I found half of it in a long twisty poop in the back yard. This guy has probably had a stomach ache for the whole time. I have made a mental note to keep a laundry basket up on the washer for anything I toss into that room from the kitchen. I think he smelled food and ran off with it. How he managed to swallow it without choking himself is a mystery. I visualize catching him in the act and pulling it out. Yech.

Deadlines loom, so I'm back to work.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Feb 14 - 03:36 PM

Snowing here and I've declared it a snow day. My nose has been itchy-twitchy since I woke up and have had several sneezing fits -- if this is a cold trying to get me, I'm fighting back! More garlic! Had a dry chest cough the other day...

Scored an iMac with newest OS and lots of additional RAM (plus wireless keyboard and mouse) on Craig's List for a very reasonable price -- needed a newer computer with Intel processor because things are going away on my G4 mirror door (such as I can't upgrade Flash and I'm having problems backing up to an external). It'll be a hike to pick it up on Saturday (in Portland, Maine), but I have to be in Portsmouth for the sea music sing later, so it's not quite as far out of my way.

Got a couple packages from my sister today, so downstairs is a mess with packing material stacked, boxes that need to be cut up for the trash, and a pile o' stuff to be put away. It'll get done, just not right now. Right now I'm going to make hot chocolate and take something for supper out of the freezer.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 14 - 12:47 AM

I've watched a couple of programs and worked online to finish a project for work this evening. This stupid rule about no telecommuting has been ignored more and more as the semester progresses. I have one thing to turn in tomorrow and another one to start working on as soon as possible. I even picked up a pair of earphones for blocking out the noise in my office (and listening to music in order to do so). I saw a pair of over-the-ear earphones at Fry's last week. This evening I found them and will do some serious editing starting tomorrow.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 14 - 11:00 AM

Friday! And the sun is shining!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Feb 14 - 11:26 AM

SRS: congrats on free lance! Not to mention things growing in the garden. Hard to imagine from our viewing point!
Linn: on the imac!

Yesterday I figured out how to get pics from my new phone to my computer. That was nice but I might need to write it down. Or take more pics and do it a few more times.

We were late getting to the country for my meeting but R was almost on time - actually ten minutes late might mean on time these days. So I dropped him off and went to my writers' group and started writing something rather interesting - stream of consciousness. I hope I can get back to it and bring it to a conclusion.

Then I went to the other meeting, re a budding coop nursery on the land at the mill. My concept of meetings is qualitatively different from ---anyone's!? It dragged on and Ken repeated himself and I totally lost patience. I believe it was partly due to the environment in that building. Perhaps the frustration, often sublimated, of not understanding what anyone is saying- even the woman sitting next to me. I insisted that more needs to be done by email so we can each see what others want/think/ etc.

Getting to the cold mill, we turned the heat up. Fortunately, someone had had cheese and muffins and tea for us at the meeting; that was our supper as I was shot. I was also distraught but R assured me that I had not behaved badly; he tells me when I do! So I read a bit, then gave out, having crawled into bed, after making it and putting a foot warmer in.

We woke up to a white world and more than a foot of snow. R thought he could drive my car out. I knew it would not work. Had nice French toast for brekkie, with local maple syrup, stewed apples, and raspberry yogurt. Then he got the snow blower and cleared enough to get the car to the road. Now he is warming up so he can finish the blowing. We still need to go back to the city and I want to get back down for 7:30 music at the cafe. That is almost a turn around trip????

Still tired, still coughing but less each day.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Feb 14 - 06:08 PM

Drove about 5 miles at 40 mph on a road that must have been plowed early this morning. I turned around, saying it would be two hours to Montreal if we made it at all and refused to go and refused to let R take my car which would have been counterproductive as he needed to bring a truck load back.

I suggested the bus but the soonest one was after 3 pm. We seem to have spent about 2 hours wandering around Huntingdon; R talked to Vanessa for quite a while then we looked for a bus schedule and were finally directed to the "bus terminal", a run down convenience store on a back street. There, R was informed that although they were the bus stop, they did not have any schedules as the bus company had decided the schedules would be at the new gas station and would not let them have any! So, everyone, who knows, is directing people to the "bus terminal" which has no schedules.... I suggested to the trade school that they could keep some on hand but "everyone who takes the bus knows"... And if you don't know then your chances of finding out are close to nil! I would like to obtain a handful and go round to a variety of public places and post them.

Eventually, we ended up back at the mill to get gas cans and went back to town for gas for the snow blower and came back for lunch. Then R read through most of the afternoon that was left and, as it is getting colder as the sun sets, finally started snow blowing. About 30 minutes then he was back inside looking like a snow man and COLD! Usually gets cold after a snow storm... Though it is still snowing, and blowing! About 21F, plus the wind and snow in your face.

Meanwhile, I washed the large pile of dishes and changed the bed and deleted most of 40 emails. Now it is dark and still snowing and soon time to go to cafe.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Feb 14 - 06:58 PM

We did most of the trailer loading Monday and tarped it till we finished it ydy AM, which had been the planned departure day till we saw the snow forecast for the route. The extra day was great cuz Weds. we were too wiped to finish loading!

So we finished loading and tying it all down ydy and left tdy abt noon, after I'd napped off an incipient cold. So far we've made our halfway point for the night.

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 14 - 11:48 PM

It was a lethargic day for some reason - despite the sunshine. Despite that, I finished one project to the stage that allows the person I took photos for to see what is there. They haven't been processed at all, just sorted and the best ones kept, the rest culled.

I finally sorted out my personal home page for my browsers. Chrome is logged on via Google and when I'm not on my home computer the home page doesn't link properly, I have to keep the file on each computer and click "open with" to use it. I have internet through a cable company and they give everyone a puny 20meg of space for web pages, but that is tons more than I need for the small htm file. I parked my page there and linked back to it from all of my browsers.

The freelance job just got bigger - it looks like about 10 hours spent there taking photos (in three different venues, including a drive across town to a stadium). And then the time to process the photos. It'll completely tie up the entire weekend, Friday night, Saturday noon - 8pm, and then Sunday to work on the photos. My quote won't be so modest as the first one.

The kitchen sink is clear tonight, a load of laundry in the dryer awaits folding as do two baskets-full in my bedroom. I'm headed to bed to read and will start by folding tomorrow, then working in the garden. And relist the futon on Craig's List. And do a ton of other things.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Feb 14 - 08:06 AM

Departing motel through a snowstorm around Akron and then it's clear to CR.

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Feb 14 - 10:07 AM

Susan: safe trip through the storm!

Terrific music by Harmonica Zeke last night but a sparse audience due to snowy roads. He played longer than required which was nice as no one showed up for open mike. Lovely Valentine's dinner. As usual, we shared a meal. Then home, to the mill, to read and re-collapse.

Nice omelet and small slice of organic ham with apples (cooked in frying pan with ham but no oil). Now R is reading Malala, the sun is trying to come through, the world is still white but no longer snowing, I have gotten rid of many emails and responded to one. Too cold to work in studio unless we get major solar gain - unlikely. R has major snow blowing job ahead; he is procrastinating. I will not do dishes again until we are almost out. I find that more efficient. Guess I will check FB and wonder what is going to happen next.

A 2-3 month old raccoon walked through my dream this morning! Just let me know it was there - wherever there is. That is all I remember of the dream cycle.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Feb 14 - 02:22 PM

Susan Just arrived. House in good order, dog is out reclaiming Dog World, and Hardi went to get gas for the snowblower which we're REALLY glad we brought!!! Dinner items saved in freezer are thawing, and the first pot of coffee is on!

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Feb 14 - 05:28 PM

I had a funny dream this morning - that my mother was here at my house and made herself a piece of toast that was liberally sprinkled with cinnamon sugar - and that my pit bull Cinnamon stretched up across the table and stole and ate mom's toast. :) My mother died seven years before the dog turned up, but it was an interesting dream.

Amazing how much dog hair has built up in the house during this cold weather. I need to give the whole house a huge sweep and vacuum now that hopefully they'll spend more time outside.

The futon had been relisted for about an hour and I had a call from a real person this morning. I pulled off the cover, washed the mattress pad, and got it ready to go. He was supposed to be here at 2pm but never turned up. All he needed to do was say he found a better price and not waste my time. I've had three calls so I contacted the next person. I'm asking very little for it yet people always want to pay even less. I suppose I could take less to get it out, but I've already dropped the price by more than half. (I just now went in and edited the ad to reflect that I've already lowered the price considerably.) The latest negotiation is in play, he's at work for a couple of hours. We played phone tag for a little because I kept setting my phone down and walking away and missing messages, as apparently did he.

Anyway, once this is out I'll move chairs into that room and make it into a reading room. Looking forward to it!

For the afternoon I'm working around the house. Did some laundry, and now I'm moving a TV small antenna receiver. It has been over the porch for a while and not working very well - I can put the coaxial cable by itself (without the antenna thing) up near the roofline and get a better signal. It's nice today so I've pulled out the articulated ladder and will climb up and move the receiver to the soffit at the side of the house.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Feb 14 - 08:13 PM

The antenna is up, gets all channels well now, except one main channel that seems to come in better in the evening. I was also able to program in a lot of local little channels that didn't even show up before in a scan of digital channels. Most of them are religious junk, but there are a few that play movies or a decent array of old network programs.

The futon is still here, I've had contact with three different parties but it has gotten late for moving a big piece of furniture. Will have to see what tomorrow brings. No dogs in it on the house tonight, I don't want to have to keep putting on layers of covers, and don't want to wash the mattress pad again.

Meanwhile, for health and fitness, today was a fasting day - with the nice weather I'm getting back on track. I had a small lunch, I'll have a tiny something here soon, and then tomorrow is a normal eating day. I was up and down the ladder to work on the aerial, washed the road grime from all of the ice off of the car, and spent time playing with the dogs. Tomorrow I'll do more heavy work in the garden and keep the phone handy for if anyone calls about the futon. Today was well-spent, getting ready for someone to pick up the futon, but tomorrow I'll spend even more time outside.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Feb 14 - 12:28 PM

I have a bin of useable dust collectors. When it's full I'll transfer the stuff to a box for the Goodwill. I suppose I could wait for a garage sale, but those are hard work and don't earn much money (relative to the time you spend fussing about, storing, or tripping over the items in question.)

Decluttering the fridge via a non-traditional breakfast of pasta and tomato sauce with big chunks of Italian sausage. I'm probably going to make a batch of beans (the kind served over rice) this evening, so yesterday I sorted and stored all of my jars I use for freezing beans. They're mostly straight-sided salad dressing sized jars, I recycled the mayonnaise style jars with a narrow neck (harder to get frozen stuff out without completely thawing first). Most of these will go directly into the freezer in those jars.

Laundry out of the way, it has warmed nicely (still a little overcast), now out to the yard.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Feb 14 - 09:50 PM

8F and dropping to -2 tonight. Lots of snow out there. We had blue skies today! Still at the mill. R cleared the driveway to get the truck in but we never went to the city for the truck. Quiet day at home!

This malaise is still in evidence. We cough in tandem and are still really tired; 10 -11 hours in bed and still tired. Not big appetites either. Both spent most of day reading. I finished what I believe may be the funniest book I have ever read: Skios by Michael Frayn, whoever he is! R has never heard me laugh so much reading. He continues to plow through Arctic Dream, which he loves, having read all of I Am Malala yesterday.

My weight is holding at or a little below the 155 I made it to -last spring I guess. I simply can not care until I feel better.

I did manage to go through the tons of glazes I gathered onto computer and pick out some to copy to a file to print out so I can sort and try making some of them on a warm day in the studio. Wanting a grey, turquoise, brown, sky blue and cobalt blue and .... Posted the heart bowls on FB. Trying to get my head around offering "clay play" during March break. Pricing is difficult for me. Need to put ad in paper SOON!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Feb 14 - 11:29 PM

I'm absolutely giddy about the prospect of finally moving the futon out of my front room. That room, about 14' x 12', has this huge piece of furniture that needs a wide clearance so it can be shifted into the lower position of a double (full-size) bed. This weekend I gave up on Craig's List - I frankly got tired of people asking, no matter how low the price was listed, if I'd take less for it. No. No. No. I'll give it away (and take a sizable tax credit for the donation) before I'll play that stupid game. It's in excellent shape, no cat or dog hair, no cigarette smoke or dust - and I'm sure some of those bargain futons they went for (after they called and said they'd be right over but then someone undercut my modest $80 price) positively stink. And no, I don't need a sob story about you sleeping on the floor. That's what air mattresses are for. S.A. is scheduled to come pick it up on Tuesday - and in my note (you set up the pickup online) I said they'd have to get it in the morning or I'll reschedule. No one has called or suggested we need to change the setup. Moving this out of that room is like clearing up a couple of spaces in one of those party favor puzzles with 36 spaces and 35 tiles. And the Salvation Army will sell it for what I was asking or a little more, and no one will haggle with them.

The color is kind of odd - white shows up as blue - but this room (upright piano on the right, Victrola in the back on the left) is of the futon. And if you aren't a friend on Flickr you won't be able to see it. (Here's a Guest Pass that might let a few more in. Sorry about that. It has to do with stalkers over the years). There is paint peeled off of the top of the pony wall and spindles - I need to prime and paint after the kids peeled that (ages ago). This is a wide angle on the phone so it looks narrower than it is.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Feb 14 - 09:51 AM

Salvation Army is supposed to be here between 9 and 11am. Good! And there's time to work in the garden this morning. I can plant the first batch of potatoes.

Fiddling with the phone voicemail setup. I went with default settings when I first got the phone but it doesn't read out the number calling before the message. And last night it didn't ring or let me know I had several messages. I hope that is a one-time glitch. I've fiddled with the settings to see if I can get those numbers read out by the voicemail voice before the message. I had to click through several times this morning before it would do that.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 Feb 14 - 11:41 AM

Yesterday's post did not post! I carefully did up the pages of glaze recipes so they would be easy to read when printed. In the end, I had 25 pages and managed to find enough white paper for the pics and off-white for the rest. Put in folder to take back to the mill for measuring and testing. It was a useful exercise although I surely will not use them all but it helped me clarify in my own mind what I do want to do - what colours and to what base glazes I can add what colourants for the desired colours. Very excited about some of them and anxious to get at it.

A clear indication that I am regaining energy - when something falls on the floor, I pick it up! Put the recycling out this am without hesitation. Brought in items that had been left in the car - some for a week or so. Feel prepared to get up to the studio and make large mugs, maybe small teapots and more.

It is up to 12 F and meant to rise to 27 today! So the studio should also warm up enough!!
I just went to bring in the recycling bin and ---it's snowing! lightly. May have rain tomorrow and Thursday. Messy but warmer is better!

Another good sign that I am feeling better is that the 99 steps to the toilet at the mill is no longer daunting. at least it has heat in it! I put on hat and scarf and - am glad it is warm when I get there and also glad to get back to the living space!

Yesterday, after our quick breakfast at the mill, I drove back in case R needed to talk on phone. I was greeted by a letter from the gov regarding my app for a "permanent resident card" (prc). Request for a copy of my divorce decree set me down with horror at - no idea where it is - that was in the 70's! A vision of having to go through the boxes of archives - no I have not done that yet!

Then practicality set in - focus, Dorothy! Where has it been in the past? My mind went all the way back to the 70's when "important papers" were in a brown envelope pressed against the front of a drawer in my chest of drawers. AH! Consistency is good! I "saw" it pressed against the front of the metal filing thingy where the file folders hold bills and - there it was!! YAY!

The decree, in French, and all the blank pages of my passport were soon copied and folded carefully into the too small envelope provided. and off I went to the post office, in the IGA, where, once again, that same man was mailing a billion brown envelopes. I did the needful shopping and only had to stand in line a few minutes in the end. I had stamps in hand and the nice staff offered to put them on for me. I thanked her and she said, "No! Thank YOU! have a good day!" She gave me such a nice feeling - a Pay it Forward feeling. I guess that mass mailing had been stressful for her also! She knew I had been waiting a long time and may have been delighted that I did not mention it. So we were both happy.

Then to the library where my fav staff person was friendly and we exchanged book suggestions, and back to the house and the second closest parking space. I felt accomplished and had a nice lunch and read a very short "Quick Read" book, tended to emails, responded briefly to a couple.

This morning, I had heated water ready and washed the accumulated dishes before my one piece of toast/tahini/apple brekkie (R had to dash away), took my supplements, dealt with emails, googled a friend to find out phone number - not a simple task as "Peter Sipkes" (the way I have always heard it - the last 40 years!) is actually "Pieter Sijpkes"! Once I found the correct spelling in the McGill U site, then it was easy! (A couple years ago we attended a party celebrating the 40th anniversary of his landing in Canada!)

Well, I best get on with it!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Feb 14 - 12:28 PM

It's snowing again...sigh.

I have to go upstairs and call The Press Room to reschedule the meeting Hutch and I had with the kitchen manager to work out the food for the memorial gathering on March 1st. And then I can continue to make phone calls (and send emails) to let people who don't monitor Mudcat or Facebook know about the memorial.

Got the trash (including all those cut up boxes) up to the road and hit the grocery store for a couple odds and ends before it started snowing. Supposed to get somewhere between four and eight inches. This is the third snowstorm in less than a week. (And another 40 buck plow bill...)

Last summer I acquired a pile of graph paper "Free" on the side of the road. A week ago last Friday I took it in to the printing company I used to work for to be cut and drilled for six small notebooks that need paper. Picked the finished product up last Friday on the way to the session.

Saturday I had to hit the floor running because I had to get a heavy old-style computer monitor out of the car before going to Portland to pick up the new computer. Figured out my strategy and went down cellar to extricate the box my old G4 came in. Had to move windows to get it out from under the stairs, then had to clean off the half inch of dust... Anyway, it worked...up to a point. I maneuvered the monitor into the box, slid the box over to the steps and thought I could life the box the few inches at a time to get it up the stairs, across the deck and into the house. Nah-uh. So...called my neighbor and she and her gentleman friend came down about 5 minutes before I had to head to Portland, but we got it accomplished.

Had no trouble finding the coffee shop where I met the fellow selling the computer -- but noted that Portland streets are just as sloppy with snow as Portsmouth's are. I only had to wait a couple minutes for Tim, but I spotted some incredible looking cream cheese filled coffee cake in the case, so got a piece to go. (And it was amazing -- wish I'd been able to eat it in comfort with a cup of coffee and a book or conversation instead of while driving I-95...) Couldn't stick around even though I didn't have to be at The Press Room until around 3PM for the sea music singaround...and it started spitting snow as I left Portland at 12:30.

Stopped in York, Maine to visit an antique dealer friend whom Tom used to work with...and the snow got heavier. Cesar was closing as I left.

You can read about the sea music sing on that thread -- a few people DID brave the weather and we had a lovely time.

I don't know if I'm just feeling beleaguered by the relentless snow (and the eternal round of clearing off the deck and the car just to have to do it yet again) or on the verge of being over-extended by all the stuff that needs to be done -- for Tom's memorial, to re-arrange the computer situation, to get the light bulbs changed in the bedroom, to get unconfused about the combination of needing to sign up for ACA insurance and then figure out what I need to do for Medicare that starts in June... And I'm still sorting and filing papers left over from Tom's medical stuff. And trying to track down some old friends of Tom's. And learning a few more of Tom's songs (or reviving a couple of mine that I finally have a venue quieter than The Press Room to sing them at). I don't seem to be accomplishing any of the things that I want to do including some of the stuff I'm feeling outside pressure about (especially on the music front). I just CAN'T do everything at once! And sometimes it seems as if just maintaining -- laundry, dishes, cleaning the kitchen counters, grocery shopping, getting the car's oil changed (yesterday), clearing up after yet another snowfall -- is taking up all my time.

Meanwhile, I've got to go make phone calls...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 Feb 14 - 07:30 PM

It sure does seem that all manner of "little" and bigger things clamour for our attention! I simply cannot manage more than one or two each day so that is what I do, just keeping ahead of the deadlines, as it were.

But today, the upstairs was still too cold to pot - for me. So I cleaned some stuff off the computer, did a bit more glaze organizing - into folders for separate colours, and sent a link to potting friend for her perusal. Then I moved a few writings to wordpress though I have no idea if they ever get seen. I really do not understand it and ignore all the emails they send me. but the brain is feeling more able today so maybe...

The sidewalk plow just dashed by so I swept the steps of the half inch that fell since the last time. I really am that desperate for physical things to do! Another good sign!

Now to see what mischief I can get up to on FB.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 14 - 01:04 AM

Okay - out of solidarity with Dorothy I'll leave the dishes sitting in the kitchen sink, pretend I don't have hot water. ;-) I don't have the energy to wash. It was my late night at work, and tomorrow is in theory regular time. I in fact stagger Wednesdays after my late Tuesdays. Today was a bear of a day - all hunched over the computer working on editing (the mechanical stuff) a scholarly article. They were so sloppy with their citations. Ugg.

Trying to get the dogs to settle down in the places I set for them after the futon went away and I moved a favorite chair. I may have to move the chair back for a while, or at least part way back.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 14 - 09:34 AM

It's an overcast but warm morning, supposed to be nice later on. I'm taking my personal laptop to work and I'm going to spend some time working on a table outside the library because I need some vitamin D production time.

I'm clearing out a nook in shelves in my office as a place to put boxes of note cards and xmas cards that I actually use. The items on their way out are Zip discs. I have a drive for up to 250meg disks and the only thing I do with it is backup my Quicken files. They are a durable type of media, but most of the discs I was given by a friend are 100meg. I'm going to sell the lot on eBay unless someone needs some blank disks. I started formatting them this morning. Last time I used them was back in the 1990s to back up my old laptop. Yeah, they're that old. But they still sell on eBay, surprisingly. I think it is because of their durability, compared to the old floppy disks, and the drives are easy to set up externally.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Feb 14 - 02:57 PM

By the time R got home last night, I was a fury of frustration - not enough electric! HAve to tun off a heater to use the microwave; cannot use the toaster oven ad the microwave at the same time.... I have said it all before but it was like he never heard me! No hot water! A kitchen that is falling into the cellar! WHEN will it get better?

So today, I determined to re-arrange the LR. First, move the two useless "heaters" into the stairwell. then move desk. I CAN do this. HAH! Desk is in several parts and very old. It now sits in an awkward state as one piece fell off its base and I ran out of energy. Sofa, TV, and two large chairs moved and ---I don't like it!!!! But lots of dusting and floor sweeping done.

A neighbour stopped in and I dumped on her a full load. She was very good! Darn! She is moving to the country. Would like to borrow the pick up. I shall miss knowing she and the kids are here, even though I rarely saw them. They are the only neighbours we do see! So she friended me on FB - on my computer - and I found out her name is not "Dupreen" as I have thought for four years, but "Teprine"! ????

I figured out how to share a wordpress blog to my FB page - a new one on environmental sensitivity. The computer work and glaze work of yesterday is feeling like I actually did something.

Meanwhile, the guys delivered two water heaters which are now added to the wreck of the K. Then, exhaustion hit and I felt REALLY sick - the water heaters SMELL! Really feeling sick I went across to the pizza place and bought a medium french fries and came upstairs - where it is finally warm enough to pot, but I came to escape the odour after turning the air cleaner to high downstairs. Ate most of the fries while reading; FF are something which make me feel better in certain situations; this was one of them. Went back down and the odour is better but still there. I came back up with computer just to be safe, I hope.

Too tired to pot OR finish the LR. But I no longer feel sick. So I shall sit up here and rest up for the next round. Maybe in time for the 5:00 news. It is warmer today and not raining - yet.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 14 - 03:14 PM

I saw my first blossoms of the year this morning on the drive to work. Buds on a couple of small trees/large shrubs, but outright blossoms on one old gnarled tree. White flowers, and maybe an old fruiting pear tree? I've watched my daffodils carefully, nothing as of yesterday, but they do a zero-to-sixty thing with those stalks and flowers that never ceases to amaze me each spring.

I left my office glasses at home today. Means I'll have a bit of a stiff neck by the end of the day, but one day won't kill me.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Feb 14 - 05:40 PM

Stilly, I'm not sure I want to hear about buds and blooms...it's (expletive deleted) SNOWING again! The good news is it was supposed to be rain. I'll take snow any day over rain on top of snow.

So...this morning I cleared off about 8+ inches off the deck and stairs. Not heavy snow, at least. Wanted to get it cleaned off before this afternoon's predicted rain came in. Believe me, it was REAL tempting to stay in bed with a book, a cup of tea, and a couple cats... It was more difficult to clear off the car, because my plow guy is running out of places to put the snow, so it was a little complicated to get to the car. But I succeeded and drove it into the plowed part of the driveway to clean it off.

Then drove to the road to collect yesterday's mail... Not only had the town plow pushed up so much snow against the mailbox that I had to wade up to my hips to extricate the mail, but he'd also knocked the mailbox off the post.

So....took the car back down the driveway and parked it in the turnaround area out of the way (I hoped) when my plow guy came to clean up and do the spot my car had been parked in. THEN I had to go in and call the post office to tell them to hold my mail until both situations are fixed. The carrier will know right away that she can't use the mailbox. Tomorrow I have to go to the PO and fill out the hold mail paperwork and collect today's and tomorrow's post. Arghhhhh. One. More. Thing.

But...to use up the rest of a head of cabbage I had in the fridge (and the last of the carrots and celery), I made a killer cabbage soup. Never used the recipe before, but I made a couple modifications. Used my veggie stock and chicken stock from the freezer (instead of plain water) and added garlic. It also has potatoes and bacon in it, and, after it's "done" the recipe calls for flour blended into butter to be added. Good recipe (especially with my modifications) but I haven't a clue where I got it. I think I found it while looking for a recipe to reproduce a Czechoslovakian cabbage soup served with a dollop of sour cream that I used to order at Allison's in Dock Square, Kennebunkport, in the '70s. This recipe is different from that one, but it sure is a keeper. I love cabbage...

So I decided I'd done enough work (especially the shoveling) today, so retired upstairs with a glass of sherry, a copy of the November Vanity Fair I'm trying to get caught up on, and a couple cats.

Then, around 4:00 this afternoon I looked out and discovered it wasn't rain... Put gear back on and went out and shoveled another 3-4 inches of (thank goodness!) NOT rain-sodden snow off the deck and steps.

Tonight's session in Dover was cancelled this morning in anticipation of freezing rain... so I don't have to feel guilty about not going. More book...more cats...maybe a snifter of brandy later. (Or else a margarita so I can pretend I'm at a beach somewhere warm with palm trees...)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Jeri
Date: 19 Feb 14 - 07:26 PM

I shoveled the porch, steps, and a path to the car this morning. Cleaned most of the car off and went to get an oil change. Came home and thought I ought to make sure they heating oil delivery guy could get to the back of my house where the hookup is. I then realized a few things: the guy who'd been plowing hadn't realized how much snow we'd get over the winter and the back of my driveway was full of snow, now up to 5' or more. The path to the back WAS blocked, and the snow at its lowest point (next to the house) was up to my thighs, and it wasn't all snow. Had a couple layers of ice crust in there, too. I got some of it, but will have to do this in successive trips. It's OK, though- I have oil and the guy comes on Fridays.

Tomorrow, I make Hungarian mushroom soup, originally the recipe was from the Moosewood Cookbook. I changed it some: no flour or milk or parsley, but more paprika and dill. You could probably make it without the sour cream, but the color is just too gorgeous not to add it (IMO). I once screwed up and used curry powder instead of paprika, and it was also great, but not as pretty.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 12:00 AM

We're not completely out of winter, another cold front is moving into the area tomorrow, but because it is the south, we will have high drying winds and high fire danger for a while. Those trees that blossom too early sometimes get zapped by a freeze and don't end up with much of a crop. But we had a few very warm days in a row and that's what tempted these trees to bloom.

I'm formatting disks now, getting ready to list a box of 20 100mb zip disks on eBay. Any files on them are very old, were put there 10-15 years ago by zip disk backup software, and I'm alternately doing quick and standard formats on them.

I moved a few things around this evening, a low set of shelves with LPs and DVDs is now backed up behind the sofa, giving a more open look. I started putting some of the stuff sitting out on shelves and tables away. Cleaned up the kitchen, scrubbed the sink and the stovetop, ran the dishwasher, and I'm going to run one load of laundry here in a few minutes. Trash day tomorrow.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 12:55 PM

I've just come to the conclusion that today is NOT a day to think about anything important, try to make sense out of my Social Security options (let alone my ACA options) or call ServiceLink to see if they can help unconfuse me, or do ANYTHING involving thought.

I'm feeling massively over-extended, beleaguered, depressed, on the verge of tears AND I need a nap. (Helping a friend on the phone until late and then woke up too early.)

Which is what I think I'll do. (Take a nap.)

My plow guy will come tomorrow with his tractor (he just cleaned up where my car had been a little bit) and try to move all the snow next to the deck and the house and dump it down the hill so there will be room for my car to turn around and to put more snow when it snows again -- which will probably be tonight and tomorrow morning, if it's not rain or "wintry mix"...

But before I take that nap I have to get the ladder out in the bathroom and pound the trim piece at the top of the shelves on the side of the sink back in to place so the damned flying squirrel that was loose in the bathroom last night can't get back in there. (It's not so much the flying squirrel as Rufus trying to get to the flying squirrel dumping things out, scattering and breaking the contents of the shelves, etcet etcet).

Wish me luck...at getting the necessary stuff done so I can turn off my brain and take a nap.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 01:56 PM

Linn, sounds exciting, but I agree, sounds like a nap needs to come soon.

Dry wind today, so I moved my trash cans to where I hope they'll stay and not roll around the yard or out into the street and beyond the property.

The kitchen was looking passable today and the living room finally looks a bit more airy. Looking forward to getting more done over the weekend.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 04:09 PM

Puttering around the house on this late afternoon and spent all morning at a quilt class...a fabulous quilt class...wish it would have gone all day and into the night. *Big contented happy sigh*

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 07:15 PM

OY VEY! At the mill, we have lots of space and the snow blower. In the city, just the front steps! So, while I certainly relate to Linn and Jeri's snow congestion, at least it is one thing I do not have to fight. For which I am very grateful. No buds either, though.

After a rest yesterday, I did almost finish the LR and it's as good as it gets. The desk still needs attention but whatever hit me yesterday, robbed me of all energy. While I was "resting" I decided to sort the box of "archives" I had been using as an "end table" and got through 12 inches or more before I could not do anymore. There are now piles of papers on the newly opened space on the LR floor. I found interesting papers that I want to read, look at, google... A big pile of gardening info that simply got stacked and returned to container. There is lots more at the mill; I will take this lot to the mill and put it all together so - someday, I can look at it or someone can heave it! Saving out the bit on pruning lilac which needs to be done in June in the city "front yard", a space about 3x10! hue lilac, nice mock orange, a couple small evergreen shrubs and a few perennials and bulbs. Might see some action about April!

Also a pile, as I continued today, which I refer to as "my life". I hope to sort out my life at some point - just for me. It has been so scattered. Shock of the task was finding two editorials I wrote in 1999, castigating the Ontario govt for canceling the spring bear hunt. Very shocking as now I am encouraging Ontario friends to try keep the Ontario govt from having a spring bear hunt! Realizing that those editorials were written from the viewpoint of the community I served as the newspaper reporter.

I found the first page of an article on "Keeping and Discarding". I think the second page is at the mill. I have been hoping to find this part for a long time. Now I hope to find the other part! There is about 6-8 inches left here, yet to go through but the energy has fled.

All in all, I believe the dust of moving stuff around and what was in the papers has caused my state of unwellness. So, I shall hope for a better day tomorrow. No hot water as Bruno is now sick with whatever R and I had, and are still getting over. Maybe next week???? Meanwhile, in addition to the fact that the K floor is now making ominous sounds, there are two water heaters to deal with and stuff from the laundry room is cluttering the K also trying to stay ready for the time when one or two water heaters will go through the trap door into the cellar, she says hopefully. At least if I fall through the floor, we will HAVE to do something about the K!

I struggled to stay awake all afternoon. Could have taken a nap!? Now, I shall eat something and watch TV until R gets home - whenever! Maybe peck away at the sorting or googling. Might even write something as memories surface.

It was warm enough to pot but NO energy. Rain.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 07:57 PM

I was feeling very VERY down today, more than any time since Tom died -- not enough sleep, beleaguered by the weather and the mounds of snow, many many (oppressively many) other contributing factors. Basically Just. Too. Much.

So I did the major thing that need to be done -- dragged the ladder into the bathroom and secured the trim piece above the shelves to keep the flying squirrel out of the house (and Rufus from scattering everything on the shelves around the bathroom in a search and destroy mission).

Then I turned off the phone and took a nap. That helped. That really helped. Woke up feeling much more able to cope.

Turned the phone back on and immediately got a call from THE BEST PERSON for me to talk to right now...as I was probably the best person for another friend to talk to late last night.

Equilibrium has been more or less restored. Glass of wine and a dinner of something other than cabbage soup almost consumed.

Also made the decision NOT to make a decision on Medicare...just take what the government offers and defer a decision on Advantage, Supplemental, etc. until later. Still have to call ServiceLink (NH's elder services organization) for advice on ACA (which I'll only need til June) and Medicare Part D...but not today.

One of the other contributing factors to my mood today was a year ago yesterday Tom was in the ICU sedated and on a vent. Because of predicted bad weather, I spent the night in an uncomfortable chair listening to him breathe and trying to sleep. I went home the next morning with what I thought was a cough from the dry air in the ICU, but after a nap, realized it was a full blown cold and was sick as a dog for a couple days (while Tom was sedated and on a vent and wasn't even aware I wasn't there). Pretty much the beginning of the downhill slide in Tom's health...

Sometimes grieving sucks, too.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 14 - 01:18 AM

Linn, it's a process, and it's different for everyone. Marking those moments by looking back help you deal with it but also hurts like hell. Good job with the squirrel access point.

I cleared the dining room table by putting stuff away after finding places to put some of it - in other words, I didn't want to just rearrange piles of stuff. It is looking better.

Of course, after several times declining my offer to take the futon up to her, my daughter texted today to ask if I still had it. Nope, and I don't have a way to transport it any more. The old Norwegian habit of making an offer three times has about run it's course (though I probably already did ask her three times, over the last year or more.) It wasn't the most streamlined futon, it had a huge footprint, so to speak, so it needs to go to a home where it will go into a bedroom, not join a bunch of other furniture like the room where she would put it. They'd kill themselves tripping over the back of that thing.

Freelance work tomorrow and Saturday. I've gotten things set up this evening, an extra memory card and battery, and now I'm off to bed. I've been reading The Hobbit a few minutes each night, sometimes more. I've read it how many times now, yet it still is interesting and fresh. They're in the barrels now, in the river. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 14 - 01:23 PM

When I walked into the living room this morning with fresh eyes the room looked better, more airy. Progress!

I still have a cluster of furniture in one corner -- the couch sits in front of a long coffee table and those are adjacent to the rocky fireplace hearth where the television sits. There is also a cabinet with the various devices (receiver, DVD/bluray, CD player, turntable, etc.) to the side. Since I have my DVD and television set to go through the receiver for my own version of surround sound, it all needs to be in this same general area, and I like the lower position for the television on the hearth - I sit on the sofa and look straight at it instead of looking up if it were on a cabinet top.

Out in the garden the broccoli is finally growing and this weekend I'll make more progress in the new beds. I saw a plan for a movable PVC pipe and plastic cover that might be good in a couple of parts of the garden as a test. (Thanks, Michelle, I think it was a Pinterest link you posted on facebook.) The wheels are always turning on ways to make the garden work better, it is just a matter of finding a) the time and b) the money to put some of them into place. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Feb 14 - 01:47 PM

The day is grey and drismal. Temp about 35F. I suppose we shall go to the cafe and then the mill later but right now, I feel OK but not full of energy. Know I foolishly have dust allergy reaction but am taking what will help. Finished latest novel after brekkie; will not read another by this author; the ending was not the end of the story and left it all up in the air. Phooey!

Then I spent an hour on the phone with my dear rehab friend in NYS. Cannot visit this weekend either but we "solved all our problems on the phone"! Believe that...? Well, we talked about things and that helps clarify.

I finished that box of archives but did not throw out much more. There were so many interesting memory aids - letters, newspaper clippings... Last night I googled, then messaged a woman on FB. All these years later - maybe 20?- I find her even more interesting. I have a few more people I want to re-find, subjects to google. Found a pivotal letter from 1977 that could make a difference in how a family member feels. Will scan it and send to #1 son and wife to see what they think. In all, it was an enlightening and useful exercise. Now I am anxious to do the boxes that are at the mill.

Now I will move on to FB and see what is new there. I find I am using it with more discrimination and it is useful. Maybe a nap, too.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 14 - 05:43 PM

Struggling through this day, two power naps so far. The eye-strain and mental anguish of close editing. Good thing it's Friday, but I have to work this evening (and the good thing there is that it's social, I'll be taking photos and talking to people after a day hunched over the computer.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Feb 14 - 10:43 AM

Today is unique for February in Montreal - SUNNY! and 39F!!!! (Sunny at this time of year is usually COLD.) So - list of things to do - take out compost wile it is warm! Go to market for this and that.

We are in the city because when R showed up to head to cafe, he said he still has things that need to be done in a building where major renos start Monday. Although he sold the building, the new owners are permitting him to remove everything removable because they are gutting the building. SO, I said, let's come back and GET IT DONE!

I did nap from 4 until R came home at 6:15 and we set off. The furniture moving on Weds/disturbing of dust without wearing a respirator was un-utterably stupid. So I am back to the environmental cough - all night last night. Cough less sitting up but had terrible spells at the cafe and would go outside to cough then put on mask inside. Sometimes there are thing in the air there that exacerbate my coughing. But the music was good and I almost felt like dancing, but not quite.

R is much better but Bruno is very sick. What hot water??? A hot bath would be SO helpful...

So brekkie was nice French toast made with "Muesli" bread. And R is off to get things done and I am drinking green tea and getting ready - mentally and physically - to wash the dishes with the pot of hot water. Have not coughed since I got up. I may try to get the desk together. So nice to have sun pouring through the sheer drapes! Upstairs will be toasty. Hope I find the energy to get to the pottery. Step one: get dressed.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Feb 14 - 02:52 PM

Did the dishes, went out to take a walk but there is no place I want to walk to! So I walked up a block and down a block and cleaned the melting ice away from the front steps and chatted with a man from across the street who announced, "summer is coming!" I did not realize he was such an optimist! However, I can report that the buds on the lilac are swelling! It should not bloom before May but it is alive and well.

It is windy, like a wonderful spring day; a little harder and it could have blown me over. That was the determining factor in not walking further. I was blown over and rolled into the street in 1978 and it was somewhat traumatic. I love the wind, love to feel it and hear it but treat it with respect.

When I took out the compost, I could mostly walk on top of the snow but I sank a couple times - up to my knees. Not much sun out back.

Going to consider else on list of TTD. Mostly thinking of focussing on checking out more of the things I discovered in the archives. And enjoying the sun pouring in the front windows. And being warm enough!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 14 - 07:59 PM

I worked off of a list today, first spending a hour weeding and planting a few bedding plants (things that are fine if it freezes again). Showered and headed out in time to work at a freelance photo gig, then from there headed back to town and stopped in several stores for things on my list. I didn't get back out to the garden again after I got home, though I did water a little bit out front. The rest will be for tomorrow.

Tonight I'll download today's photos from the camera to sort and I plan to finish working on them in the next couple of days.

Also this evening are a few more chores that I won't necessarily finish but that benefit from slow and steady attention. I'm still putting away things that are sitting out on surfaces in the living room, and I'm trying to make the best use of the cupboard space that has opened up with the culling of stuff sent to the Goodwill.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Feb 14 - 10:51 AM

At Camp Ridgebury last week we decluttered refuse left by the sellers (whi h included an elliptical and weight bench-- good deal!). Of course we kept all the fitness stuff. From the bagged trash they left we filled a recycling bin and 4 boxes for Goodwill. There were 2 or 3 items we kept for the house. The rest of the trash was bagged in some of the bags I'd packed our stuff in when we used them to line the cardboard boxes going on the open trailer. We also recycled our cardboard boxes, as well as the 8 they left.

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 14 - 11:05 AM

It was early to bed last night and I woke up before the dogs this morning - that doesn't happen often! Cinnamon was not happy about being roused from the foot of the bed so early, poor dear. Supposed to be nice again today, and I've been working around the house this morning and will head out into the yards in a little while. My weekly organic gardening radio program is on right now (I have pointed out to him that he does this program at a time when lot of people should be out in the yard, not in the house listening to the radio!)

A load of laundry is going, and it looks like spring cleaning is beginning. I've put the mattress pad in (usually gets washed a couple of times a year) and pulled the duvet cover off of the down comforter. I'll put it back on and store it until next winter. It got quite a lot of use this year. I haven't used the clothesline for a while and I forgot to take the clothespins down last fall, so I'll probably pull that old batch down and toss them or see if any are still usable. They get kind of tattered out in the weather.

I've cleared off more stuff from the flat surfaces in the kitchen, trying to either recycle, shred, or file. I think I've spent as much time indoors as I can stand on this pretty day so I'll get my gear together and work on the potato beds and get some more herbs planted. I'm always trying to get rid of the lawn/turf and have a couple of beds that will be ground cover. Oregano is good, as is thyme, and it is the thyme I'll start with. I have a few bedding plants to put in, and I can simply transplant more oregano from the kitchen garden down to the curb garden. If I can convince this to spread onto the existing lawn and kill it off, I'll let it. :)

This is a fasting day, and this begins this year's push to reach my target weight. I gained back about five pounds during the winter (I haven't stepped on the scale, I can tell by how snug some of my trousers are) and need to take that off, making a total of 20 to lose this year. I lost 35 last year and wondered how the alternate day fasting would work once I reach my target weight. I think it would simply shift to a two days a week fasting to keep from adding on weight and continuing to try to eat as healthy as possible. For anyone dropping in now and not aware of the routine, this information from Dr. Michael Mosley on a UK program called Horizons gave me the information and inspiration to use this method of weight loss. It helps to get some good exercise every day along with the fasting.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Feb 14 - 11:43 AM

Dishes, laundry and vacuuming completed this morning and soon will be on my way to sew with a new friend I met at the sleep study. Tomorrow brings a checkup with the gynecological oncologist. Thankfully this checkup is now down to twice a year. Hematology checkups are every ten weeks. Goals for this week include bagging up clothes that don't fit for now and to begin using my new membership at the Y. I'm getting over a nasty chest cold so it will be an ultra slow start but at least it's a start. :) They don't offer my beloved yoga but that's ok, I need to just start moving more than I currently am. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Feb 14 - 05:16 PM

Convince oregano! Even in cold central Ontario, it took over the world, with no help at all! I have found that hard to grow plants at zone 4 are invasive weeds at zone 6 so suspect that it could work the opposite, that dif climes can make things harder to grow even though warmer. Gardening is a fascinating science requiring a great deal of In Tune with Nature!

I rounded out yesterday with two more shopping mini-excursions. Then stuck to the computer as the shopping used up physical energy. Cough got worse in late afternoon and most of night. Very tiring. I added a blog on baby animals/spring to wordpress and FB.

Woke up this morning realizing I had actually slept and felt well. This morning's porridge had a good amount of frozen small fruits added. Very nice change from the usual apples and cranberries. Another sunny day at 29F.

Today the cough has been episodic. There was a major group of students visiting Quaker meeting this morning and some stayed for potluck. Lots of good energy. I wore mask as the venue is toxic due to cleaning materials. Took it off to eat and coughed badly.

But I also coughed though most of the hour of worship even with mask on. A friend noted she had found a cough medicine that works and although I believe it is important to cough the stuff out of the system, maybe a rest would be good also. I'll call her.

I had not been to meeting in months and had lost touch. One younger Friend has moved close by and said he would call me and visit. I told him there is a potting wheel and his partner perked up significantly; she has taught pottery! So I may have two visitors! we talked about taking walks and my problem of needing a destination; he said he would choose a destination. I also noted that I thought of going to the Botanical Gardens -way in the east end - if I knew how to do it by bus. They knew. We never use transit. It would be a good thing to do on a decent day before warm weather.

We also talked about my archives and how the Quaker grapevine worked after we had a serious accident in Saskatchewan in 77. He was intrigued with how people connected before email!

Then off to the west end for some packets of ready to use Indian foods as we were almost out and romano cheese - one specific shop. Then, my route home went past Home Depot and we have several new flowering and foliage plants. Spring is not coming quickly enough!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 14 - 11:11 PM

Long day today, and I'm headed to bed early again. I finished the beds for the potatoes and planted six of them (complete with a slurry of mackerel in the hole under each one) and I planted the thyme and some Swiss chard. I did a lot of puttering - including picking up dog droppings and moving the kitchen waste to the compost (under the dog droppings).

The onions I planted a couple of weeks ago are taking hold and I picked up another bunch to plant somewhere this week. I think perhaps around the thyme, that will take a while to fill that bed.

Tomorrow I have to work on the freelance photos a bit before I head to the office to finish editing the last two articles for a scholarly journal. My oatmeal is in the crockpot and will be ready in the morning, and I'm not sure what is for lunch, but I AM sure it will be a long week.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Feb 14 - 10:47 AM

Hanging out in the gyn/onc office wearing a pretty but drafty gown waiting for one of my favorite oncologists!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 24 Feb 14 - 11:18 AM

Hit bottom this morning. Even though I slept at least part of the night, I started coughing violently as soon as consciousness returned - my head hurt and everything else felt lousy. So I though ir time for a cough suppressant - just to get a break. had a small brekkie and, after checking the internet, put sage and ginger in a saucepan to simmer, green tea and juice of a lemon in the tea pot. Now they are finally together and I have high hopes. I have not been coughing a lot since getting up. But I only got up because I cough less sitting, even less standing! But too tired to stand.

Last night I walked briskly the few blocks to Pieter's where a full house enjoyed, enthusiastically, the Steven Barry Blues Band, a Montreal icon for over 30 years. An amazing venue, "Pieter's Bank" was built when banks were beautiful: domed ceiling, oak moldings, huge arched windows. He lives there and also has community events - performing and visual arts. Sometimes just a few friends for supper.

Pieter was delighted with the guest we brought, our round-the-corner neighbour, a guitar teacher, is the son of one of R's - and P's - longest friends.   So Jim got to meet a man who knew his grandfather as well as his dad and uncle.

Did not get to walk home as I had left before R and he brought my car so he and Jim would not be late. There was a piece on the news last night about "sitting disease"; I certainly have it! OK. I shall walk somewhere this afternoon. 19F with chance of flurries. Drink tea, finish novel and walk! before the flurries.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 14 - 12:21 PM

My back is reminding me this morning that I'm out of shape as far as garden activities. The potato beds were a conditioner for the season (we used to go on a longish steep hike early in the spring to get into condition for the season ahead - it usually meant sore muscles for a few days). Yesterday was a fasting day in which I did all of that work, so hopefully I've kick-started weight loss for the year.

I slept like a log last night, and because I went to bed so early I woke before my alarm. I was up before the dogs again, and Cinnamon again didn't want to be nudged out the door. I set the washing on delayed start for a load of laundry and that has just finished drying. I'm all caught up on yard, garden, laundry, and trash today.

Good luck with the exam, Michelle. I always keep my socks on during doctor office visits, it seems to help because they keep those exam rooms too cold.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Feb 14 - 05:10 PM

I keep my socks on too! The room is chilly but the table they use is heated from underneath where they keep the instruments warm. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 14 - 10:52 PM

Still working on freelance photos. That is a known payment so I need to finish this and then get back to eBay stuff, that is piling up.

I've been putting away more stuff in the living room. DVDs were stacked by the television instead of on their shelf, CDs on the cabinet instead of in their shelves, etc. With each new cleared surface the room looks more elegant. I moved things out that need work (I have to replace a couple of switches in my tall pole halogen torchiere lamps) and that don't really have a place to live yet - meaning they may not stay here at all.

I have slowly been taking things back to my friend who lost his house to foreclosure a couple of years ago. Last month it was a large framed photo of him with his late partner, and now I have a few decorative items that, if he wants, are his. If they have to go into his storage locker, no point in sending them over. He is paying back a loan he took against his 401K - when that is completely paid back in a few more months and he has his full salary (his employer withholds the loan until it is paid back to his retirement account), then an apartment in a bit higher price range will give him a chance to put more of his nice furniture and cooking stuff to use. But after that point, he needs to unload the rest of the stuff from the house. One of the biggest growth businesses in the US these days is storage lockers. I resolved when I moved into this house that I wouldn't use one any more (I did have to after my parents died, and after the divorce). I wonder if there is a way to invest in other people's bad habits? Are storage locker business stocks publicly traded? I'll have to check my mutual funds.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Feb 14 - 10:18 AM

Drizzle today, excellent for the garden after I've planted things. I have a couple of more things to poke in, but may not get a chance until later in the week. And I need to cover the faucets one more time, a freeze is forecast later in the week.

I'm liking the look of the living room, but I need to work on the wall of shelves now. There is a mix of objects that is on display/stored any old which way. I could go back to a mix of books and stuff in there, and I could even move my cookbooks all in there and free up a set of shelves in the kitchen. They'd just be in the next room, I wouldn't forget where they were, but they're the messiest of my books, not meant for display, they're entirely utilitarian. Must think about this.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Feb 14 - 12:58 PM

Been getting a lot of the final details for Tom's memorial taken care of. Friends are being amazing.

I realize though that I need to get this accomplished so I can start getting on with some things...or maybe just stand in a daze for awhile. I feel "stuck", sometimes not able to get out of my own way. Yet when I read my lists I can see the mountains I have been moving.

Just got a major kerfuffle regarding leadership of "the legendary Friday night Press Room Celtic/folk sessions" sorted out...turns out it was a misunderstanding, a matter of semantics. Good, clearing, conversations all around and taught a lesson in the difference of a word's meaning in the writer's mind with the possible perception of that word by a casual reader. The misinterpretation was made in print two weeks ago and will be corrected in print this Thursday. The conversations cleared a little air and removed a weight that was dragging me down a bit.

Have been having some actual FUN -- went to an old friend's house concert Saturday night with Jeri. Brought back a lot of pleasant memories of the Sunday hoots at The Stone Church in Newmarket, NH in the early '80s. And Jeri and I went to see "Winter's Tale" and will probably see it again on Wednesday (and then go out for a repeat of the steak dinner we had a few weeks ago). Last night after some scheduling difficulties, I took the putanesca and some fresh grated Romano over to a friend's in Portsmouth, and she provided the salad, wine, and garlic bread. We had a delightful evening of conversation, dog petting and, yes, dinner.

Been spending a lot of time on the phone lately...me providing talking therapy for a friend who needs it and several of my friends providing the same service for me.

Plow guy brought his tractor with a front-end loader over Saturday night and dumped a LOT of snow (building up next to and in front of the deck and next to the house) over the hill, so there's now places to park (and places to put more snow...).

GOT to go spiffify the house a bit (if the phone will stop ringing) before the Thrivent rep comes to tell me about my inheritance from my mother's annuity.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 Feb 14 - 02:59 PM

Phones are marvellous. I need to remember to use mine more often now that I finally have cheap LD.

Storage units are a wonderful thing! And they do seem to proliferate! I do think they also have ups and downs according to the economics of their immediate area. I had a personal relationship with the wonderful one on Whidbey and it sometimes had no openings and other times lots. Time of year might also make a dif.

Yesterday, I managed a en minute walk around the block. The wind was biting. Antihistamines gave me the break I needed from coughing!! Took one pre dawn to finish a night's sleep and now am back to herb tea, nasal wash to clear sinuses and moderate coughing. Oh, Joy!

First thing this am was a determination to get indoor/outdoor thermometer functioning. Walked to Canadian Tire (6 blocks) for batteries. Still no success. It occurred to me as I walked that I used to have so much to do I was always in a hurry and had to train myself to slow down. Now, I was walking for batteries because I needed SOMETHING TO DO! Stopped at a grocery en route and bought a couple things.

Checked studio and electric off so turned it on and then trurned it on again and re-adjusted what is and is not plugged in. Ready to scream!!! But that will not help. Suppose R comes home to night and finds a pottery wheel in the middle of the LR? There is room now.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Feb 14 - 03:31 PM

We stopped at the Goodwill nr Camp Ridgebury a few days before we took garaged stuff iver there, to pick up a set of dishes. While there we spotted a small recliner proportioned just like my favorite post surgery one.... small for a short lady who now has a lap? So we bought it to carry home in the freshly-emptied van and for the first time in years I have chairs that don't hurt both at home AND for vacay!!!

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Feb 14 - 04:54 PM

Linn, the "talking cure" is just exactly that - talking to a few good friends can easily be as helpful as professional counselling.

I moved a few more things out of the living room or around the living room this morning. If I can keep from pushing piles into other rooms and actually put things away then I'm accomplishing a baseline of good space and unclutteredness that is my goal for this house. But one room out of 8 means I have a lot of work ahead of me. :-/

I think I need to revisit the hall pantry and see what else can be put in there or to see if there is stuff in there that I don't need to keep. Thing is, this time of year it's pretty quiet, but when the garden is going full-tilt I use all sorts of boxes and containers and storage that I don't want to lose sight of.

My kitchen garden is looking good this morning, and I'm going to work on highlighting a path into it and partitioning it a little bit to make it look more intentional. It's the patch outside the kitchen door with lots of herbs plus things like strawberries, onions, garlic, and Swiss chard. Broccoli is in there also right now. I talked with my kitchen guru yesterday to see if he has any requests - he likes the steady stream of zucchini and cucumbers. I'm going to relocate the cucumbers - I learned my lesson about just how far they spread and how much they climb last year.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Feb 14 - 07:30 PM

Two good days in a row. And I figured out how to run an extension cord to the second floor and put another heater up there so yesterday I did a couple hours potting work. Of course, we are missing a heater downstairs. Oh well!

This morning's crisis was water running across the K floor. Fortunately R was still here - in bed as I was making BF. Almost two hours later, the drain from the sink was thoroughly cleaned out. He says it was 5 years overdue but I have been exceedingly careful not to have anything go down - with a fine strainer on the side I use. I did try to clean it a month ago with vinegar and baking soda but there was no hot water. That might have helped. It did do lots of gurgling and bubbling. I suspect it has been neglected about 10 years. It would be OK now but he seems to have flushed a part down the toilet so it drains into a bucket until that is replaced. Mathieu brought a piece but it was the wrong size. All this and no hot water as Bruno is still sick. I never had a blocked drain before - any place I lived. Of course I did 15 years without running water so no drain to get blocked!

So today, I got stuck on FB as there was considerable stuff needing special attention. Made celery/cauliflower soup for supper - whenever R gets home. And some brownies of unique composition; the jury is out; I had one and it seemed OK. Now for another.

Cold day and grey but no snow. Going to the country for the weekend; supposed to be just below freezing, maybe some snow and then sun on Sunday. That would be nice!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Feb 14 - 08:04 PM

The brownies are edible - but only if you do not expect brownies! Back to the drawing board, so to speak.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Feb 14 - 10:35 PM

Rescue of "brownies"= cup of cocoa, cup of icing sugar and enough 35% cream to make a thick icing. R declared it delicious. The "brownies" were cocoa, rice flour, 1 egg, honey, veg oil, slivered blanched almonds - dry as dust and no flavour at all. A learning exp.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Feb 14 - 12:56 PM

nice to know everyone is busy! Hopefully well??

My third good day in a row, however, after R dashed away w/out BF this am, I rolled over and went back to sleep. Then stayed in bed until I felt like getting up - 10:40! Rarely do I do this but it was cold, even in bed and I was contemplating life.

5F and sunny - cold! Looking forward to 25 F tomorrow and light snow, then down to 18 and sunny on sunday but I get to dance to good music at Grouyan Gumbo concert in the afternoon.

Backwater Blues at the Cafe tonight so must be on time! I did not trim Weds pots yesterday and had to remoisten them this morning to trim today. Warm up there now! I already read and commented on a paper written for Sociology, on the occupy movement, by son of a dear friend in Ontario. This is the first day I have had the energy for this important task.

No hot water in sight and no plug for drain so sink is still draining into bucket. At least in the country, there is no sink and no running water and the hot water pot is on the stove. In other words, the system is in place! Now I shall heat water so I can wash hair, etc. Dishes can wait. And get things ready to go to country. Hope my plants have survived two weeks!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 14 - 01:24 PM

Dorothy, I read about "value added" frosting to do with some scones a few years ago - orange and cranberry scones got more orangey if you added some OJ to the icing (just powdered sugar and OJ, as I recall, and a speck of salt). I think you stumbled onto a good fix for otherwise non-exciting baked goods.

Yes, have been busy. Not on my own stuff, just work stuff, it seems. But Saturday is supposed to be a nice day before our next cool-down, so I'll get some beneficial nematodes and get the garden soil ready for planting in the next few weeks. They knock out the cut worms in particular, and kill some of the larval stages of pests that are now in the soil.

Allergies are in the background, threatening to burst forth as the season warms.

One room is beginning to look like a grown-up's living room. Now I have 8 more rooms in the house to make look grown-up. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Feb 14 - 01:59 PM

I think I just saved a friend's posterior (and justified my, uh, "archiving" of obsolete technology). He needed an old Mac SCSI keyboard to do a job and I said I'd check my pile (boxes, stacks...) of techno-crap. I thought I had one...not in the techno-crap boxes, but leaning against the bookcase (with a bunch o' stuff piled in front). Dug out the flashlight and peered...there they were. Extricated both of them without mishap. (Meaning nothing toppled over making a yet bigger mess requiring immediate clean up.)

I'll take both of them to him at today's session. I think they're both in good working shape, but I'll take both just in case there's a glitch with one of them.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 14 - 02:45 PM

Every time I think I've sorted through all of my old technogear, I find another place where I had stuff stashed. That's why I'm formatting old 100meg Zip disks (to sell on eBay). Now you can use inexpensive flash drives to hold tons more than the old zip drives. Just have to keep them in one place and label them.

I remember when I found my first flash drive - the technology was new, and that ~ 250meg drive cost about $50 (on sale) back in the late 1990s.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 14 - 12:59 AM

Do we want to keep going for another month, or start up a new thread? Quarterly isn't bad, this isn't super long.

March comes in like a lion - a frigid lion this year.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 14 - 12:09 PM

Finished my tea (it's a fasting day), read some email. Now to put on the boots and head into the garden. Later, I have a shopping list. And I have to pay bills and do my income taxes.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 14 - 06:46 PM

The wind picked up a little while ago, but I don't think the cold weather is due until after midnight. I finished weeding a couple of herb beds. I want the bed at the curb to fill up with oregano ground cover. I'm phasing the oregano out of the kitchen garden and instead putting in little zones of stuff - garlic, strawberries, chard, and for the time being, some onions and broccoli. Later on the basil will sprout after the onions are out. There is some lush cilantro in a corner that smells wonderful. I put some more onion sets in the bed where I put in thyme last weekend. I might as well get something else out of the bed while the slow growing herb spreads out. I also put some asparagus roots in a new bed out front.

I've changed out of the steel-toe boots, put away the wheelbarrow and gear, and I think now it's time to walk the dogs. They haven't been out of the yard in ages.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Mar 14 - 08:10 PM

Brownies with icing are quite tasty!
Wonderful crowd at the cafe last night; great music. COLD at mill when we arrived but it heated up OK and with help of whatever that thing is that I heat in the microwave, the bed/futon warmed up reasonably. Quiet day: went to library where R added to his book and magazine collection (Arghhhh). I borrowed two books. It did not get that warm today. No sun either. All the plants in the sun room survived and some are thriving. The fushia baskets are growing nicely but no buds yet. Two cuttings are actually rooting in a cup of water.

Had the yummy celery soup for lunch and I have computered most of aft - managing to get myself into a couple people's bad books; R and I agreed not to respond to irrational response from sil. Otherwise my comments have been well rec'd. I have not looked lately in the last hour; I was ordering heritage veg seeds in the hopes I will manage to have a beg garden. I may need a truck load of soil due to the tons of river rock that was dumped here to keep large trucks from sinking in. But maybe I can find a corner where there is enough soil. After the snow goes - in April, she says, hopefully! OK, maybe sooner.

Time for a meal.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 14 - 08:41 PM

I was distracted and didn't walk the dogs - a neighbor walked up and she had a new baby in a tummy pack! I'd missed her entire pregnancy (hadn't seen her out walking) and now her son is 7 weeks old. Great to visit, and I sent her home with some cilantro and garlic.

I see one of my items on eBay has a bid, and I have a batch of things to list. This will create a little momentum for me.

Linn, I hope you'll report in when you're ready after the celebration of Tom's life - I suspect you've had a day of high emotions and will probably sleep like a log tonight.

Rain is supposed to start after midnight, but I did some hand watering this evening just to be sure that new things won't dry out in case we don't get the rain. I think it's about a 50% chance.

Several episodes of neat are on broadcast television this evening. I'll use it as motivation to clear out a bit in my eBay area while I work. But first - finish paying the bills.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 Mar 14 - 07:37 AM

Emotionally drained (but in a good way) and moving a million miles an hour. Since there is NO quiet place in Portsmouth for conversation over food (at least that I can afford), an old friend from the Whittier (Reg. Voc Tech -- where Tom taught) Class of '84 joined me at the house after I picked up a pizza. I hoped that several hours of conversation and reminiscences would slow me down enough to sleep. But then after she left, I Facebooked for another hour or so catching up on friends' photos and comments on the memorial. I didn't have any trouble falling asleep, but I awoke at 4:30 this morning unable to get back to sleep.

I'm tired...but THIS Sunday (unlike last week) I AM going to the event at Nottingham's Blaisdell Library -- local historian Dennis Robinson's talk on "Treasures From the Isles of Shoals".

I've posted Dave Hallowell's WONDERFUL short video (shown at yesterday's memorial) "Tom Hall - A Musical Life" on the Curmudgeon Memorial thread. There should be a video of the entire proceedings (some pretty amazing music as well as tributes, stories, photographs) posted by Stephan Smith at YouTube within the next few days. I'm looking forward to watching it as I "missed" a lot of it because I was talking to people in the back, being hugged, etcet etcet.

My vocabulary is failing me (I sincerely hope my vocabulary and my badly chewed up brain are somewhere safe...where I can retrieve them someday), but it was an amazing afternoon.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 Mar 14 - 07:53 AM

I also just posted a link (in the Curmudgeon Memorial thread) to the article in this morning's Portsmouth (NH) Sunday Herald.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Mar 14 - 07:07 PM

I hear occasional vehicles crunch and slither past on the street out front. I sit at a T in the road, and it is possible for cars that are supposed to stop the intersection to slither into my front yard instead. I built the berm and rock wall because of that possibility. Fingers crossed it is never put to a test. The street is a sheet of bumpy ice from freezing rain that might not thaw till Tuesday.

Sold an item on eBay that will ship tomorrow. Working on several more and tonight I'll turn on the Oscars in a couple of rooms and go back and forth and watch them while I work. I'm not good at sitting down for really long programs, especially if they have commercials. Right now I'm formatting old 100mb zip drives to list on eBay, then to the packing and describing. And clearing more in the sun room so I can work there.

I put pea soup in the crock pot this afternoon but it is a very slow cooker and everything was done but the peas were pellets. I put it in a dutch oven on the stove for 20 minutes where they could actually simmer and now they are mush. Dinner of hot soup and maybe salad or a toasted bagel. I got a lot of work done in the yard yesterday and was able to treat it as a fasting day: exercise plus fasting equals weight loss. I think the next couple of days will be too cold to for it. But I'm getting slowly back on track, 20 pounds to go.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Mar 14 - 10:24 AM

After a do nothing day on Saturday, I got up feeling GOOD! on Sunday. Not a grey day but a wonderfully sunny, and COLD one. I washed hair and dishes before breakfast - porridge. R stayed in bed, reading, until I was getting ready to leave for dancing. After a celery soup lunch, he announced he needed my help to unload the trailer. So, "it won't matter if I am a little late" and we unloaded about 20 LARGE - patio-door size - windows in heavy wooden frames. Yes! He needed help! only took about 10 min.

Then I dashed away to dance most of the afternoon to the wonderful Cajun music of Grouyan Gumbo. I felt so good - physically, mentally and a peace and joy in the spirit. It feels so GOOD to feel good!

However, as I did my computering in the morning - on line bill paying and deleted most emails, checked FB briefly to find an incredibly irrational - to me- post by my sil's sister - oh well - and an alert from Kijiji re a pottery kiln for sale. SO, I say to myself - "You already have four, don't even look at it!"

But of course I looked and did some research and -- So we drove an hour to the lovely home of a lovely French Canadian couple in their 70s. R always tries for a better price, being a died-in-the-wool-Scot. This time, he said, give the man the money and we'll figure out how to get this up the steps - from the beautiful basement up a beautiful finished wood staircase with a bend in it. They phoned a young neighbour who came over and he and R carried it out with no problems.

I felt a bittersweet delight in this event. The kiln is 31 years old and brand new. He had bought it when he was taking classes and enjoying it so much and set up a studio in his home but never got to use the kiln. It was still wearing some of the factory labels. They showed us one small pot - exquisite! - he had made and I feel a sadness that he never was able to pursue it completely.

Also, he bought it in 1983, the same year I bought my very much used, much loved, finally disintegrated in the NW, kiln. I remember the wonderful anticipation of awaiting the arrival of that kiln and our joy and trepidation as we studied how to use it and then got into it. The friend who fronted the money and in whose laundry room she and I installed it, is now a marvellous potter, thanks to her allowing me to set up in her family room for a few years!

So I remember all this and feel sad for this man who just gave up completely. We suspect health problems must have intervened and now their home is sold and they "had" to sell the kiln. This is another occasion in which my lack of comprehension of French has left me with lots of unanswered questions. In spite of my failure to communicate, they were quite clear about wanting to visit my studio. So we shall have to set this precious kiln up and start using it so, if they ever manage to visit, they cam see it getting the use he once dreamed of giving it.

So, I am excited, amazed, enthralled by the incident - I did not purchase a kiln, I rec'd a baton to carry on. So this morning, I turned the heat up in the studio so I can get some pots made and get ready for the next farm market, and in a month or so, to use the brand new kiln! Oh, the kiln - over $1000 new, was $200. I hope I can pass on my riches to the younger generations.

Now, I have had BF and the studio is warming, I shall delete emails, skip FB and get to it.

Also thinking of Linn as she sorts her way through joys and sorrows. What a wonderful event to celebrate the life of a much loved character!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Mar 14 - 10:53 AM

Forgot to mention: -1F here this morning. Hoping for a high of 10! At least it is sunny!!

Now - check heat in studio, she says hopefully!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 14 - 06:27 PM

Dorothy, if they don't have to travel too far, or if they can do it only occasionally, it would be a wonderful gesture to give him time to work with you on some pots. To take home or to sell, or just to have the joy of doing this thing he loved. I'm glad the kiln went to you. Sometimes purchases are just like that, they seem meant to be. My sister bought a house in North Seattle that she saw during an open house. Later when she spoke to the owner and made her offer, I think the thing that most convinced the woman to sell to my sister was that they both loved the garden with the fruit trees and vines and my sister would keep it going, and make it better where she could.

No fasting today, but I am doing the routine of the large meal early in the day and making dinner small and fairly early. I have pumpkin bread baking (to use up some things that were around here) and will take a loaf to work tomorrow. I stayed home because it was just too cold to put the dogs even in the garage for the day. Overnight is supposed to be yucky but tomorrow is my late day at work and things will be clear for that drive, and the week will now get progressively warmer. (I heard on NPR just now that Washington, D.C. has just had its 25th weather event since last November. Weather that involves people changing their routines or businesses or schools closing, etc. It's a lot worse than we've had it here, but I think everyone has had it worse than what they're accustomed to.

eBay parcel shipped today, more underway for listing tonight or soon. And I'm still clearing out in the sun room and elsewhere, making better use of storage or discarding things that I never use (but kept because it was "perfectly good" or "I might use it some day.") Gotta get over that mindset.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Mar 14 - 06:54 PM

I spent today organizing in my sewing room...very enjoyable way to spend the day!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 14 - 08:20 PM

You've become a sewing dynamo! What's your next project?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Mar 14 - 10:47 AM

Ohio church friend has suggested a roomie YAY who is a semi-retired potter YAY who has an elderly dog in need of a midsized Dog World YAY!!! Have sent her pix I already had YAY and will meet her during April return YAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!

Lenten bizzies are off and running a day early... I was up a tad too early tdy, so started some lent-prep bulk cooking. So.... BTW it's the first AM the kitchen has been warm enhf for being IN it in weeks.... thank you Todd for 2 svc calls ydy. So.... Hardi comes down to say that one of our dearies has had a stroke. All stop..... nononooooooNO!!!! ... so I send him in off to the ER w message about how I can help family help his recovery (I discovered with another dearie, TBTG, that "I speak stroke"), because his communication center was hit hard (it has to be a top concern of him and fam), and my time with John taught me all about THAT. And prayer msgs of course and went back to loading that crockpot. And a nap.

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 Mar 14 - 10:51 AM

Laundry in, trash up to the head of the driveway for pickup, SCSI mouse found so my friend can do a job (he only asked for a keyboard last week...), dishes out of the sink and into the dishwasher...

And only two errands on the way to meeting a friend for lunch at a new Mexican restaurant in the Fox Run Mall area (not in the mall, across from the side of the mall).

I'm a margarita purist, but I may sample theirs anyway.

"Recovering" really isn't the right word, but I AM recovering from the intensity of Saturday's memorial for Tom. I think the most moving thing that happened that day was, as I was leaving, Cat who has been our server at the weekly session for the past two years or so, embraced me (again) and excitedly exclaimed, "I heard him! I heard him! I heard Tom talk and sing!" She hadn't known him before he lost his voice...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Mar 14 - 10:52 AM

SRS: they are too far and he has really let go of that part of his life but I shall be sure to get the kiln in service just in case they make the trip!

The studio did not get above 44F in 4 hours so I gave up and turned the heat back down to keep it above freezing only. Did FB, phoned Geri and met her at the restaurant for a nice visit. Then packed up and came back to the city in time for International Folk Dancing which went OK. I did not have to wear my mask as the man who wears stinky stuff was not there. I left about 9 and came to the house where R was sitting shivering!

The heater had gone off and he did not think to turn up the oven and sit in the K! So we went out to eat, ending up at Tim Horton's for soup, sandwich, hot choc. Across from a hospital, at 10 pm - it was very busy! Came back to the house and reconfigured the heaters re available electric, made sire the heating pad was warming the bed, watched the news and got into a mostly cold bed! SO thankful for the heating pad. Maybe I will bite the bullet and buy an electric blanket but it is almost spring??? It's up to 6F this morning! supposed to get up to 0 for the weekend!

BIG NEWS! Bruno is here this morning!!!! Well, he was until he and R went off to another building to get something. Goal for today is the hot water heaters installed in the cellar and, possibly, a better washer and dryer which R has elsewhere. This washer overflows if we do a large load and the dryer switch sticks - R once dried sheets for 8 hours! They did not overheat but they were warm!

B has also promised to finish the apt in Ville St. Pierre (VSP) so we can move into it while he does the major job of ripping out the old K - right back to bare walls, to get rid of powder mill beetles - and puts in a new one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am lobbying for a sun room to be done at the same time. Those windows we took off the trailer? R has about a hundred more in a building he has sold, and from which he is removing everything useful the new owners do not want.

I am not keen on living in VSP - partly because it is a whole new part of the city to me - down by the railroads and the highway. Mostly because moving is such a pain although we shan't move a great deal but it is second floor (not so great), but bright with big windows facing east, new everything. Hopefully it will only be a few months. Parking is dicey, too. Yet another adventure. Nice that R will have staff do the heavy work. Move is a four letter word.

Here, I shall have to move plants from vulnerable parts of the yard. May be a good idea to finally buy a garden shed for the back corner - to store stuff during construction - and after. I do NOT want tools in the K cabinets!!!! The trade school has them for $1600. I need to check the size re fitting through the space between this house and the one next door.

Something akin to gentile living would be refreshing. We had it at the cabin and I have grieved greatly over leaving that beautiful place.

Maybe I can get upstairs warm enough to work. The circuit already quit once today. ELECTRIC will be part of the building project; not much point at present. OR maybe I shall just go upstairs and wrap up to keep warm and bury myself in a good book.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Mar 14 - 11:50 AM

We're on the warming phase after this latest cold spell. My garden looks more battered than usual - broccoli looks semi-wilted but it took all of the other cold stuff. It got way low this time, perhaps 9^o is too low for even cold-hardy plants.

Election day, and staff meeting day. It would be nice if we could vote on some staff policies at work (dream on).

Good news on the possible roomie, Susan. Will she be caretaker at the property when you're not there? Dorothy, how long will you be at the mill, are you still considering moving? Andrea, how is your house and garden doing? Did you have any flooding this winter? We haven't heard from Penny S. in ages, I wonder how her house is coming along? I heard about the storms and high tides/storm surge in the UK - is that all passed and is there a huge cleanup?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Mar 14 - 07:22 PM

SRS, I spent today sewing with 5 friends for the entire day. Today I worked on a quilt called the Layer Cake Lattice. I got maybe 2/3 of it finished.....it's all done in civil war reproduction fabrics. You saw a photo of the Woven Star quilt on FB....that is done except for the addition of the prairie points (which I hope to have pinned in place either tonight or tomorrow) and then the final border. I also signed up for a few things today: a jelly roll challenge, a Disappearing Nine Patch class (which I already know how to do but it will be fun to do with friends and a series of three classes to make a Swoon quilt. I am really enjoying my sewing so much! :)Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Mar 14 - 08:47 PM

I am not doing a very good job of keeping myself straight here!

We are generally at the mill weekends and mostly in the city during the week now. But today, in the midst of the chaos of the water heaters being installed, with the trap door to the cellar open and who knows what odours/molds... emanating, and the city house COLD! Everywhere! I absconded back to the mill where I can be warm and the air is safe with the air cleaner going 24/7. I cannot bear to lose the good health I have had for a precious six days.

On the way down, I stopped at the garage and made an appointment for very minor repairs tomorrow afternoon. May also check out the sheds at the trade school. Then, if the job is finished in the city, I shall go back - to hot water, a sink in the powder room, and a better washer and dryer in the laundry room. And a large pile of laundry! My first priority might be a nice hot bath and hold the laundry one more day!

On the phone this eve, R informs me he has fixed the electric on the second floor and may even be able to get the baseboard heat working up there also! Then I shall be able to work! Also helps that the weather is going above freezing for a few days, from Friday.

Here at the mill, the studio was up to 50 tonight which means I did not turn the heat down as low as I was supposed to. Also means I should be able to get it warm enough to work in the morning! 12 degrees warmer outside tonight than it was Monday when I could not get the studio above 44 with the heat on high. More insulation in the ceiling and walls on the agenda for this summer and another window and door on SW side for light and the eventual ramp so it is accessible. Also a deck out there so I can put a wheel outside in nice weather. But not until we have the new K in the city!!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Mar 14 - 10:27 PM

SRS, the plan is to find a reliable and trustworthy housemate who is fine with us being there only a week or so at a time per season. We have taken vacay til now as all or most of the 4 Sundays Hardi gets all at once, but will now be divvying it up into smaller chunks.

S/he will also have to enjoy the occasional MudGather and our visiting godkids (niece n neph). And maybe some wknd visits when we aren't there by fam members in need of a getaway. So chemistry will be important.

In exchange for hardly any rent, we will hope they'll stay on top of grass and snow removal (tiny yard--- machines supplied), but the main thing will be just not to leave the property unoccupied. Someone to call us if the house's systems break down is a huge favor they can do... like if a pipe breaks or the fridge craps out. They don't need to DO repairs, just let our chosen svc people in and report back to us on work quality.

So, interviews as to mutual expectations.

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 14 - 02:22 PM

Handed off a large tile (says "marble," but may actually be something else) 14" square to my friend who it originally belonged to. "Oh, it is a beautiful piece!" he said as I handed it over. It'll go well with the table that needs it, and it's one less piece I have to worry about. I still have one that I can use as a centerpiece on occasion. These were saved from the 30-yard dumpster that I have referred to elsewhere.

I still have a package sitting in my sun room to ship to my brother, and I can either send it to him in California and he can take it to his beach house in Washington, or I can simply wait till he's in Washington and send it to him there. I think the time is about here for that trip so I hope to be minus one tripping hazard soon.

I've given some thought to this particular thread's length - I think starting a new one to mark the beginning of spring will keep us from having a slow-loading unwieldy thread.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Mar 14 - 08:01 PM

Still at mill: This am: Up, turn up heat in studio, BF, not warm enough yet, emails, not warm enough yet, some FB, warm enough, threw 6 largish bowls in scrumptious dark clay, lunch, car repaired while I did bit of groceries across the road & left them in cart while I fetched car, stopped at trade school but friend was not there ( who teaches the class that makes the sheds), long visit with farm market friends and picked up a loaf of zucchini bread for Bruno, short visit with Vanessa at cafe/youth project she coordinates. It just opened last week and looks terrific! The pastry chef is to write home about: I wanted one of each but settled on a choc/almond croissant of melt in the mouth quality. Had to tell her the kiln story; she is anxious to get back to potting; getting the cafe open was stressful.

Finally got back to mill about 4: phoned R and ascertained the house is not fit for me to go back to so I shall stay another night and go back to city after writer's group tomorrow. Will take some wonderful pastries to R. Turned the pots over and later, realizing the energy to trim is not in me, wrapped all in plastic 'til tomorrow when I hope to throw more and trim today's and the more before 5 pm. No excursions planned so I shall have the whole day to pot - as energy lasts. That is exciting! This has been my 7th good day in a row. I am trying to be very careful about where I go and what I breathe. I really did not realize how sick I was until Sunday when I felt terrific and - that is how I am meant to feel every day.

R reports: hot water is functional, heat is on upstairs and electric circuits are functioning properly, sink in process of going in powder room, washer and dryer are leaving and being replaced AND whole place looks like a construction site! I may be busy on Friday! I phoned a nearby friend last night who said I could bring the laundry over there! So sweet! Last spring when I was concerned about moving, she offered their truck. Another friend traded truck in on a car because he was tired of people wanting to borrow it.

Current temp:minus 4 F but going up to 19 tomorrow and above freezing on Fri and Sat!! then upper 20s for a few days. Spring may yet come! This aft was sunny and warm enough to feel hopeful. The sun room was marvellous until the sun dropped. When I look out and see bare ground instead of white stuff...

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Mar 14 - 08:25 PM

Woven Stars quilt top is finished! Tomorrow I hope to finish the 15 remaining blocks for the next quilt and get the washing cut, if not on. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Mar 14 - 01:56 PM

Made the appointment for my regular mammogram. I've put it off - it's not painful, just uncomfortable. And another thing this morning, I turned in an application for a job that is very similar to what I did for the last few years in my current department. The new job is a different department, same university. I was moved from my old job when they decided to make that job "librarian preferred" (English majors need not apply).

My poor broccoli is dead in the ground, as is the chard I planted a couple of weeks ago. A 24-hour period of deep-freezing that reached a low of 9^o was too much for otherwise cold-hardy plants. I'll replant on the weekend.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Mar 14 - 06:41 PM

I always feel like a meatball when I get a mammogram! Hope all goes well Maggie!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Mar 14 - 10:39 AM

From talking with friends and your comments here, I think my recent mammogram experiences are soooooo much better than everyone else's!

Granted, I've had those "worse than the dentist" experiences in the past, but since I've started going to Women's Life Imaging in Somersworth, NH, the experience has been entirely different.

First of all, the johnnies are big enough to cover me up. The room has low lighting, and the equipment they use not only is pleasant room temperature, but I don't have to get into all sorts of physical contortions for them to get the shots they need. They seem to squeeze with the least necessary pressure -- I've never found it uncomfortable. The tech (and everybody else) is friendly and even takes time to explain why I have a large deep lump in my right breast (and what its composition is) from a seatbelt-caused hematoma about 8 years ago. (When I had two cars totalled in two weeks.)

I actually look forward to my mammograms. Oh, it's also the first place in the Seacoast to offer 3D mammography. And it's a nice drive over there on mostly back roads.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Mar 14 - 08:21 PM

Left the Press Room session about two hours early, handing the gavel (figuratively speaking) over to Bruce -- I had (and still have) a raging headache and the general consensus was that I looked as bad as I felt. I got a couple songs in, though, even though my voice for some reason or other is not exactly optimal today.

Ach!

I'm going to take some more aspirin and give them the opportunity to work...

G'night.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Mar 14 - 10:55 PM

I suspect there is some after-effect of burning the emotional candle at both ends, and now you're feeling the effects, Linn. Get lots of sleep, eat healthy foods, breathe, and get some exercise. Read lots of good books.

Today I hefted a large box full of photos and negative envelopes (had filled a full file drawer) onto a book truck and seem to have pulled some abdominal muscles. I have the hot pad thing in place right now, and I think it'll be an early night. I'd given my photos to the university archivist, but when I turned them over there seem to be too few boxes. It turns out that this file drawer was in storage over the summer and if I hadn't asked for my file to be delivered to my office (even though I didn't know if I had a use for it) they might have been lost. I opened the bottom drawer the other day and there the were!

One reason for an early night is I'm rereading The Hobbit and I'm up to the point where they have found the back door to the mountain and Bilbo is creeping down the well-hewn hall. There are only 80 pages left at this point, and there is a whole bunch of banter with the dragon coming up. It looks like Jackson is going to base the entire last movie on about 50 pages of the book? What a lot of made-up stuff he must be planning for that flick.

I need to work on the garden - replacing plants killed in the 9^o temperatures early in the week. Fingers crossed we don't have any more severe freezes. It's nice this evening, not getting much below 50, so the dogs are out in the garage. Just reminds me, the heater is still on out there. I'll turn it off in the morning.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 11:41 AM

This morning I must confirm my suspicion - I have slowly gained weight during this cold weather. I donned a pair of jeans I haven't worn for a while and they are very snug. They're still in the size I've worked to reach (down from larger sizes I wore last year), but they're tight. My job has been so sedentary lately, and I haven't had excuses to climb the stairs (six flights) - I must make myself get up a couple of times a day and climb them, if for no reason than to get out of the basement to see what the weather is doing. This weekend is supposed to be chilly again (not so freezing as it has been, but a clammy kind of cold down into the high 30s). Not conducive for active yard work, so I'll at least keep the meals modest. One day it will eventually warm up around here. I think we've had almost 60 nights of freezing temperatures this winter, something that is almost unheard of in our southern clime.

It's a major cleaning day, something I decided this morning when I looked around and found enough for several loads of laundry. I can start storing the heaviest sweaters, so they need to go in on ultra-hand-wash (I love that setting!) and I need to change out blankets (launder before storing for the spring, etc. Like I said, it isn't warm yet, but it is time to put away the really heavy-duty cold weather stuff.

Must make some of my robust whole wheat loaves of bread. I have never been happy with small loaves, they don't bake as well as the standard size. I can keep it going for about a week without suffering in quality, and anything left goes into a batch of bread pudding or a snack for the pooches. Bread isn't counter to weight loss if it's healthy and you don't eat too much. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 12:20 PM

Linn: what SRS said -but if you have a headache, soft music could be healing? :My son's wonderful new CD The launch party was last night on Whidbey. I was there in the spirit.

I may or may not have managed that link! The music is entirely composed by Troy. How wonderful I feel about what has come from the purchase of the $50 guitar 40 years ago! His music has sustained him through many rough years and now he is happily retired from that "day job" and a full time musician. It makes me SO happy. (He was an air traffic controller.)

I so relate to the job problems. Been there too.

Delight in Michelle's quilting!

Posted on FB the other day about Suite Francaise by Irene Nimirovsky, a page turner, novel. R is also finding it excellent reading; he generally does not do novels although he is also reading Skios by Michael Frayn - because I laughed out loud through the whole book - satire! THAT would be good for a headache!

Thursday, I managed to throw a bunch of pots and trim the ones from Weds. Went to my writer's group and back to the city with the assurance that the cellar door was closed. It was. And the place is now without water heaters everywhere; there are two in the cellar functioning!!!! Oh JOY! Hot water is a wonderful thing to have!

There is now a washer in the kitchen which makes it challenging to get into cupboards. Newer washer and dryer have not yet appeared; old ones are clutter. It will be a few days. R offered to take laundry elsewhere and do it. I could not get my head around that but now I have. When I get back to the city on Monday, I shall sort out two separate loads and entrust them to him, hoping to see them again - clean and dry. I do not want to enter the building where he will wash them.

I am in my 9th consecutive "Good" day and very solicitous of my health. I do not want to go through this last 9 months again - ever. I am coming out of the fog, waking up, wanting to get things done.

Friday, I was getting ready to come to the country "before rush hour", about 3 pm. I realized that leaving then, I would get here about 4:30, eat and then feel as though I had no time to get work done and just read until it was time to go up to the cafe. HAH! I went upstairs and worked until 5:30, threw some nice stuff, trimmed the old stuff, cleaned up and got out of the house by 6, returned books to the library and hit the road. Got to the cafe in an hour and enjoyed beautiful music. I saved 40 minutes travel time as well as joyfully getting pots made. R arrived late. We were asleep just after 11.

Quiet morning. nice omelet. warm enough in studio and I shall go there once I figure out what else today might hold. Emails are done.

I have gotten some helpful feedback from clayart group and feel uplifted, encouraged... My clay life is waking up and I looked at pics of neat pots I once made - why not again! The Paragon kiln guy wants a pic of me and my NEW/old kiln to go with the piece I wrote about acquiring it - for the company newsletter and home page! Arnold is such a sweet guy.

I am feeling life is possible. Grateful for my protective mask that makes it possible to go in iffy places. And for the humans who are understanding and supportive - even if what they understand is to let me alone when I am "like that". I recently thought a sign around my neck would be a good idea - "Beware: NOT having a good day." At the cafe. At my best, I am not very friendly after 9 pm; while others kibbitz and say long good byes, I slip out the door to get home to bed. I have been like that since very young; not to do with toxins.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 05:20 PM

I decided to do the "fill the plastic bin" routine again. A couple of weeks ago I was able to unload several perfectly usable items that I haven't used in years. I've started with a lamp shade and will go from there.

Yesterday a shopping trip bagged me a dozen chicken breasts, 10 went into seal-a-meal bags in the freezer. I can sometimes use one of these large breasts for 2 or 3 meals, depending on if I cut it up in a dish. And today I found some frozen cod and flounder at the local Fiesta grocery. They don't seem to have the sodium stuff added that holds so much water. It's difficult to find unadulterated frozen fish any more these days.

More laundry to do today, and eBay stuff to list, all indoor activities. I picked up plants for the garden but I'll wait till tomorrow, hoping it will warm up some. I've also picked up corn gluten meal, that I'm planning to use with an extra flour sifter, to sprinkle over the ground after digging up beds and putting in the bedding plants. Sprinkle corn gluten meal to keep weed seeds from sprouting then put down mulch over the top of it. An organic gardening method developed over the last couple of years. The corn also acts like a fertilizer for the garden as it breaks down.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 07:40 PM

Dorothy, I didn't check it out last night when I had the headache, but I did just now. So far I've only listened to the first cut, but I think I'll probably buy the download to my iPad. Thank you!

Just did a wee bit of fridge declutter. Where does this stuff come from?!?

Spent another day more or less just being. Worked a bit on "The Archives", talked to my sister who has been unavailable all week, and to a couple other friends.

I was blindsided by my emotional and physical reactions this week. After accomplishing so successfully Tom's memorial gathering (which has been more or less hanging over my head for three months), I expected to go into another stage of mourning...but I didn't expect this. I think I'll call the social worker at Hyder House and see about their grief counseling ... Last time I talked to her she said she thought I was doing fine (and I thought so, too). Now I'm not so sure...

Missed seeing the Berrymans tonight and an after concert gather at Harvey Reid's because I can't quite cope with more than one person at a time right now...still...and it's starting to annoy me. I can't quite bring myself to start writing thank you notes because it's just a bit too emotionally wrenching. Last Saturday was a wonderful experience but I'm on sensory and emotional overload.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 08:00 PM

I had a headache yesterday too. Today, it switched sides and is worse. It's always worse on the atypical side.

Please don't think you're not doing OK because you want some help dealing. It's OK to ask for help, and it's OK that life is hard now. You'll get through it, but you have to GO through it. You put a lot of the shit off so you could deal with what you had to do, and now, you don't have to put it off. Boom!
I'm pretty sure you know this, so consider I'm just agreeing with you.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 08:51 PM

Jeri, yup.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 10:43 PM

I agree with Jeri (who said it more succinctly than I usually manage). I think this kind of thing goes in waves, and you had a high tide wave hit this week.

The work I took care of today didn't take me outside but I've walked around the house so much that I feel like I've covered a couple of miles. Lots of laundry, cleaned the kitchen, cleared out a deep corner cupboard that had a lot of stuff I hadn't seen in ages, including the plastic lid for a pyrex bowl that I feared I had accidentally tossed in the recycle bin. A bag of those containers is now in the pantry, ready for freezing stuff from the garden next summer. I can re-use it, but that doesn't mean it needs to be all stuffed into that cupboard.

Max sounds good on his WPSU Blues program tonight. Dorothy, I haven't listened to your son's music yet, but I like his web page. I'll tune it in tomorrow when I'm staying put for a little while.

I've gone through the house this evening looking for clocks to reset the time. I wish we'd just stay on the same time all year.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Mar 14 - 02:03 PM

A couple of things here haven't sold after repeated listings on eBay. I'm going to list them for .99 and if they aren't gone after a week, to the Goodwill they go. Since they're packed and weighed I might as well put them on the bargain table before sending them to the thrift store.

I made another pass through that big cupboard, from the other side where there is also a door. Found another item for eBay (who knew they made percolators of glass, plastic, and a special metal basket for the microwave?) and more plastic for the summer produce freezing bag collection. It's nice to be able to see what's in there now. I also went through the cupboards in my dressing room and pulled some items. I suppose the things that are on that countertop can go in those cupboards.

The sun is out. Maybe I can undo some of the damage from the last hard freeze, and finish the top-dressing over my potato patch. I picked up seeds yesterday and am contemplating the best way to grow cucumbers without taking over everything else in the garden. And a good space for my zucchini.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Mar 14 - 11:01 PM

The last of the dogs' bedding is in the dryer. I swept their stall, filled one of the dog houses with a few pillow cases stuffed with old towels and some loose old sheets and rag rugs. A large comforter is in the dryer now and will be folded and tucked into the front dog house (Poppy claims it, and if Cinnamon gets in there Poppy sits and barks at her.) All of our bedding is fresh and ready for spring. We went for a walk this evening, didn't travel far, but it was so nice to get let them get out of the yard.

The garden is watered and tomorrow I'm going to take a flour sifter and some corn gluten meal and sprinkle it around the garden where I planted the potatoes, then put down some mulch. This will keep weed seeds in the soil from sprouting. Don't use this near where you're going to plant crops with seeds. I'm also contemplating how to build a wire structure for the cucumbers to climb this year, well away from the house.

Chamomile tea for the evening. I am so glad I bought a bag of loose chamomile at the Middle Eastern market where I get my olive oil, tea, flat bread, etc. This will last for ages and cost only a couple of dollars. The regular grocery store tea bags add up to a small fortune.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 11:32 AM

Linn: you are doing just - as well as can be expected - just fine! Grief counseling might help. But this phase is predictable, if not fun. I am thankful you seem to have a terrific support group. Most have have found that the grief never really ends and it will hit us from time to time over the years but you are in the early stages and self-care is primary. You seem to be doing well in that dept.

My son Troy was born a special person. I thought I was a "perfect mom" until the second one came along and I realized that what I had a was a "perfect child". He does have his down times but generally, he just has a beautiful spirit. It was special for me to live on Whidbey those three years and hear how wonderful my son is! As my 50th wedding anniversary approached, I finally was able to come to terms with my anger and distress over "that man" by realizing I had two beautiful sons - so let go of all the rest of it. One of those magical moments of letting the light in.

Anyway, I hope some of you enjoy this new CD.

I did little on the weekend, other than help R deal with the computer, delete emails, visit from the man who is trying to form a cooperative nursery in the field here at the mill, finished a novel, checked the clay supply and realized the time is now to start using the different clay and trying some different glazing ideas. I received a lot of kicks of encouragement from the clayart group this week. Sent a photo of my NEW kiln off to the manufacturer. Went for dessert to the new cafe that Vanessa coordinates - the pastry chef is not doing a thing for my weight; melt in the mouth delicious!

It is to go above freezing today, the studio is warm and a bunch of pots await trimming. Off I shall go, after putting out buckets to catch the drip off the roof. Trim pots, throw last bag of dark clay, clean wheel in prep for dif clay. Then go to city for dancing tonight.

Any further organizing around here can wait until the building is warm enough. Another month or so.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 11:39 AM

Have to go out and clear snow off the deck and car before heading to Portsmouth for some errands and a visit with a friend.

Had to schedule it for today as the prediction is for 8-10 more inches of snow on Wednesday and Thursday. At least the roads should be clear by the time I have to head to the Press Room session in Portsmouth on Friday. (To and from Portsmouth is about a 45 mile round trip.)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 03:41 PM

MORE snow? Really? It just doesn't stop this winter!

Finished another project at work, a big one using new skills, the first of several projects for that library division. It's good to put these things behind me, though I'd like to put the entire library behind me one of these days.

It's gorgeous today and supposed to be even better tomorrow. We have Friday off, but the weather is not as lovely at the end of the week. We'll see if I can resist taking tomorrow off.

I have an eBay project spread out on the dining room table in the front room (I use part of that as a formal dining area but it also works as a clean and uncluttered surface for projects). This is one of the sales items that I'm slowly but surely listing and moving off of the mid-century modern dining table piled high with stuff in the sun room. I think I'd like to swap out the tables, especially if I could find some chairs to go with the mid-century one.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 10:58 PM

I have the amber glasses on this evening to hopefully bring about an earlier bed time. I hate this week or so right after Daylight Savings Time goes into effect. I have stuff I'd like to do around the house, but for now, I'll work on getting the sleep cycle into gear.

The dogs enjoyed staying in the garage last night since it was finally warm out there and on freshly laundered dog bedding. It was like a campout for them! I hope they'll be content to stay out there from now on. They've gotten pretty spoiled over this cold winter, but I could stand to have less dog hair all over the house for a while.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Mar 14 - 10:16 AM

About 3 inches of fluffy white stuff out there this morning -- and this time I had to clear it off the car (yesterday it melted before I had to go out) so I could take the trash to the head of the driveway.

Planning today to finish a book ("Venice Noir") so I can sell it and start clearing out this room -- shuffling stuff around, taking some chairs to the cellar for the time being (and checking for some chairs for a friend), and basically working towards a new computer configuration AND extricating the LPs in the backless closet so I can call a dealer in.

Bright sun today, but 8-10 inches of "wintry mix" due tomorrow and Thursday.

Eating a delightful breakfast of French boule toast and yesterday's leftover soft cooked egg (with a touch of mayo and sprinkling of pepper).

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Mar 14 - 10:56 AM

Two days in a row of warm sunshine, something I haven't seen for weeks.

Linn, are you ready to start selling things on eBay? Do you have an account? PayPal is linked with eBay but it is also used free-standing, so if you don't have an account go ahead and set it up through eBay. They must link it to your checking account so they can extract any fees you owe, but once you start selling if you keep a balance in PayPal that isn't usually an issue. Any purchase comes first out of PayPal and if you don't have enough it will go to checking unless you've added a credit card and pointedly tell it to draw from there instead. You may find a time in the future when you choose to make a credit card purchase via PayPal is offered, but I think you need to have the card associated already to do it easily. [Read: there are a few steps to getting set up to use eBay and PayPal.]

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 14 - 12:01 AM

Wind is very high tonight, the report said to fasten down light objects. I'm leaving the trash cans behind a fence, hopefully that is enough. The air here smells like burning grass, but the fires are a hundred or more miles away.

A bit of shopping with a gift certificate tomorrow. Essentials. I am trying to keep most of the movement of stuff out, not in. I still find the space in my large living room remarkable, once I got rid of that futon and moved things around. But in addition to reducing furniture is the effort to remove things from flat surfaces. I'm not doing that 40 bags in 40 days (if for no other reason than I'm not Catholic) but I suspect for some people it is very useful. If I were to take bags into my kids' rooms I probably could fill them. Maybe next summer before my son moves to Seattle I can get him to go through the stuff. My daughter is a hopeless case, and with every visit she always finds materials she can use for current projects. Her bedroom is a virtual storeroom.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Mar 14 - 12:05 PM

CITY: The impending snow got R out the door before breakfast! Muttering about doing this and that and I did hear a washing machine in there... I still have one in the middle of the K which I wiggled out of the way this morning so I could do dishes and wash two white buckets to go to the glaze-making area. I seem to always need buckets! I also moved stuff to clear a path for the newer washing machine. Hope springs eternal... and the laundry is becoming desperate.

I arrived home Monday night, after a couple good hours dancing, and the mail included my permanent resident card (PRC) in one envelope and my notice of appointment for citizenship in another! So Tuesday morning, I went to the office of the Quebec health dept. to obtain my health card. NOT so simple. The last time, they told me I needed a PRC but now I have "taken so long" they want proof that I really live in Quebec! R has to make a sworn statement that I live here and they want my income tax assessments for the last 3 years! I think of Linn! When I moved back to Quebec from Ontario in 1986, I changed my driver's license and got my health card in the mail without even thinking about it. How things have changed! Certainly not for the better.

The woman was very nice but the longer we talked, the worse it got. Where were my children? When did I visit them? People try to get health cards without living here. So I spent the morning there - almost two hours, then went to the market for bulk food and cheese, to the library for books and home to recover. And that is about all I did! Such a let down.

At least I can visit my friend in NYS without worrying over coming back across the border. But I do want to stop worrying about "what if I fall and break something?" The only reason I would go to the hospital. I have been wanting to ride a bike along the canal for exercise but concerned that I not fall. Happily, my weight has stayed at 155 so now that I am feeling better I can, again, work on moving it downwards.

Gave R a salad about 4 when he came home, also bent out of shape by bro who has the sensitivity of a (it would be an insult to name any animal, or even a stone!) R went off again and came back for a late supper. Had to leave in the middle for a alarm at a building. Returned and, as I reheated his supper, told me how he confronted the prospective thief - which turned out to be a very large raccoon! Then we watched the news.

I am stymied for a few days in my health card project. The house is a disaster area until I can put the laundry room back together when/if the better washer appears. The upstairs studio is warm, pots need trimming this afternoon - hopefully so they can dry before Friday. I did not throw more pots at the mill before leaving; ran out of steam. But I think between what is drying there and here and Vanessa's, we have a kiln load - will fire regardless! If the roads are clear, I will go down on Thursday to fire so I can do two glaze firings before the Market on Sunday.

It has been nice to have warmer weather! Even a sunny day.

My citizenship appointment is 3 April. Finally after 46 years! I could have had it in '78, but could not bring myself to affirm allegiance to an earthly being (the Queen). I have had cause to regret my adherence to truth and honesty. Even Quaker friends do a "You what!"

I wonder if I will be able to vote in the provincial election on 7 April!

Well, it is after noon. A pot of celery soup would be nice. Then trim pots. No sign of R.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 14 - 01:36 PM

That's a big step, Dorothy, but it sounds you're ready, and have been for a very long time!

Picked up batteries today, and will use the external flash I haven't used in ages to do a bounced flash to for photos of an important document that we have in our collection. It's encapsulated in very shiny mylar so I need to do what I can to avoid reflections. I realized this morning I need a flash stand because I can use my old large flash in conjunction with a wireless setting on the new camera (in a "slave" setting) - but only if I have the stand. I can get away without a stand today, but I just dropped one in my shopping cart at Amazon. I may have a stand at the house so I'll look around first, but they're inexpensive if I need to replace it.

I'm enjoying learning more about my camera - I've been using them successfully for years, but I can do a better job. Now I'm looking at storage space (hard drives) to replace a couple of smaller drives I've been using with the computer. These camera images are huge and need very large files to live on. It is more of a virtual clutter/declutter situation here, and the time that goes into researching if I can use my old enclosures with the new much faster higher-capacity drives, etc.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 14 - 05:14 PM

I don't like daylight savings time but I do like having it still light when I get home in the evening (like would happen as the weeks pass anyway). I need to water the garden and I'm working on the hose layout for the coming year. I could probably stand to declutter some of the garden stuff that I haven't used in ages, but it seems as soon as you toss something like that you think of a new use and it's gone. I'm doing mental designing for the cucumber patch, so nothing goes until I have a support in place for the chaos that are cucumbers. They were climbing the house last year, cluing me in that I'd planted them in the wrong place. One thing I did declutter last year was an extra mattock I gave a friend in partial payment for some work he did here - I saw him earlier this week and he pointed it out - still one of his favorite tools. Mine also.

I do this every year, as it gets to better weather I'm tempted out of doors and forget all of the house declutter. I am easily entertained in the garden. And now that I'll be poking around to get photos of my plants and of bugs and more. I'll try to keep up with the house declutter, but no promises. I was one of those kids who didn't often have to be told "go out and play!"

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Mar 14 - 08:32 PM

Negotiations with potential housemate are going well. New dog joining our pack Saturday-- she'll be my travel dog and Faulkner's junior partner. Beagle/Basset mix = Bagel = Ms. Biscuit.

I suspect her weight equals to the pound what I had removed surgically.
She's a LOT more fun!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 14 - 12:29 PM

We get Friday as a holiday (Spring Break) but I took off today also to give myself a four-day weekend. It's a nice day, not as warm as Monday, but I'll take it. And it's the first day off in ages that didn't have to do with staying home as a defensive posture against bad or icy weather.

Last summer I visited a neighbor who had a Mexican plum sprouting in a flower bed where she didn't want it. I worked for probably an hour to dig out two sprouts and a 2' horizontal root from an adjacent tree that I planted in my yard. The leaves fell off and it looked dead for months. After the warm days this week I see small leaves sprouting! I have chicken wire around the plant to keep the dogs from knocking it over for this growing season. Once this gets established there is a larger tree I'm going to take out that isn't thriving and is in the wrong place (I learned this after it was already set in place or I could have moved it.)

Decluttering the garden of weeds today, using corn gluten meal. Where there is relatively bare soil in existing beds I'll pull any small weeds, sift over some corn gluten meal, the put mulch over it. This keeps the weed seeds in the soil from germinating. The mulch keeps in moisture and keeps the beds from being a bright mustard yellow from the corn.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Mar 14 - 12:58 PM

Ah, Stilly... Still can't do much of anything outside here as it's still covered with snow.

And more is falling today (on top of yesterday's "wintry mix" of rain, freezing rain and sleet.

I was just able to join a grief group this morning (6 week), but tonight's first meeting was just cancelled because of the dangerous driving conditions. Even if it stops this afternoon, the temperature is in the teens (F.) and the leader is afraid of black ice. I guess there is a major accident on Rte. 1.

But I CAN get some stuff done here in the house. Got the last of the Christmas stuff put away and the boxes stowed in the just-cleaned-out bedroom closet. Have a few more things to put in there to open up some more floor space in the bedroom.

Hope to cull some more stuff for Goodwill and better organize the stuff I intend to sell. (No, I haven't actually embarked on that...need to set up a sales-only gmail address and set up MY account with eBay/PayPal; Tom had wanted me to use his, but I'd rather have it in my name.)

Dishwasher unloaded and zucchini bread made. Need to neatify the kitchen. And maybe finish filling out the passport app now that I've found out what year my dad was born.

If MrSippy doesn't deliver vacuum packed barbecue (THE BEST!) and visit today, maybe I'll watch a movie (prolly "A Thousand Clowns") this afternoon.

Oh, I hope the snow won't be enough to require the driveway to be plowed... (Forty bucks each time that happens; it's been an expensive winter.)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Mar 14 - 03:09 PM

CITY: Chaos starting to really grate on me!! But yesterday's storm - although R left in am with intention of getting a washer, it did not happen. Contents of laundry room is mostly in LR. I cleared a path yesterday am for the "new" washer, then had to move stuff again so R could see the TV! The washer in the middle of the K adds a few steps to each trip from one side to other! Guess I need the exercise! Today he is otherwise occupied so... I gave him a bag of laundry and some detergent. With any luck he will do it and bring it back; HE is the one out of clean socks!   

Made the celery soup yesterday; nice meal but we like it with a bit of sausage so I went across the street to see if the butcher had any - it has MSG in it! My first and last time in that shop. So walked a few blocks to a large grocery, just as the snow was starting. No sausage there fit to eat either. Not wanting to move the car nor walk any further, I had my soup without and put Ikea Swedish meatballs in with R's. The soup requires a piece of toast topped with provolone in the bottom of each bowl. Yummy! Other than that, it is merely onion and celery in veg or chick broth. Very quick.

Not going to go to writers' group tonight; the roads will be clear but the drive into the mill -NOT! If things stay OK, I shall go down early tomorrow with a shovel and clear enough space to park and carry pots in so they can dry and get fired Friday night. I would like to have a few more of the white and red ones for the Market on Sunday since that was all that sold last month. Maybe a few green ones as well.

Before I go to country tomorrow, I intend to buy myself a good snow shovel and put a big sign on it "DOROTHY"S - DO NOT TOUCH!" R went off with my in-car shovel this morning and the real one for this season disappeared months ago. Not going anywhere today- no shovel to dig out car! If R wants orange juice, he better bring some home.

I did get most of pots trimmed yesterday, working in short blocks of time. Want to do more today. Energy level is not high last couple days, even though I feel fine. Cough came back on Tues and Weds but has diminished again today. I wonder if the fragrance at folk dancing caused it - nothing else I can think of. Using the kick wheel on the weekend and Monday and dancing Monday night did make me a bit stiff but OK now. Just tells me I need to do more - of both.

Phoned my 88 year old friend of over 50 years this am, in PA, but she was on her way out the door to acupuncture! So had a very long chat with rehabber friend in NYS. Good lunch but still not jumping up to get to work! I want to start my new heritage seeds - the peppers - but the soil in in the country. I am really late but maybe in the fall we will be able to have a greenhouse to keep them going a while longer.

Sunny and 16 F today with hope of 30 tomorrow and 36!!! on Saturday. More snow next week! March in Montreal.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 14 - 05:48 PM

Linn, check to see if Tom had a balance in his PayPal account and transfer it over to your bank account. Maybe there is a little windfall. Having a sales-only email isn't a bad idea. I have it to go my main bill paying and business account and am used to it, but with email so easy to set up (and keep track of in Thunderbird) you might as well have a few.

Applied for another job, one that has been open for a while and one that fits my qualifications, though I know there will be a learning curve to deal with if it is offered. So far the applications turned in this winter are in limbo, the job listings are still open.

Cool sunny day today, chance of rain tomorrow. Puttering around the house now that the application is in.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 11:24 AM

CITY: Not sunny but bright and neither raining nor snowing. 17 F with a high of 30 today and better tomorrow then down again - to a minus one F mid-week! Whew!

Finished trimming yesterday but did not throw any new. The energy just was not available. Did not go anywhere - no shovel. R did forget the laundry - "It's in the washer!" So I shall have to fetch it on my way, after picking up a shovel at Canadian Tire (which sells everything, not just tires).

There is hope. There appears to be agreement that we will move to the apt in VSP (part of Montreal) when it is ready. "Bruno says he is making it nice for you." Then B will work on reno here - ripping out old K to bare walls and putting in new one - "8 weeks". HAH! We shall see!

Anyway, off to the country shortly to shovel snow and fire pots.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 12:03 PM

After mowing yesterday I have a bit of a stuffy nose. I'm sure the mix of dust and pollen is taking its toll. I'll mow the front this afternoon but for now I'm letting a decongestant kick in as I work on a smallish eBay clearance (instead of bothering with a garage sale I'll simply list a bunch of odd things all at .99 auction prices.)

It's lovely today, tomorrow rain is due, so this afternoon I also need to get some of my seeds in the pots I've set up and make a run to get more top soil to mix my own potting mix. I keep a large bin of it in the greenhouse and have run out. Finally it is feeling like spring may stay, not go back to a nasty freeze.

SRS

Subject: Enter Miss Biscuit
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 12:32 PM

The shelter being overcrowded, and my having appeared yesterday aftn to visit her to exchange Biscuit-scented items to aid introducing Faulkner to her presence in his territory, I gave in to the shelter staff's plea to take her early. So I brought her home before prep had been completed. What a rollercoaster yesterday was!

She's fretted loudly and F was doing his best to show her the ropes. I think she is less socialized than we thought, but we have two weeks before it's final and I am plannning to ride it out. No accidents so far.... but she srsly needed to chill and I almost gave her a chill pill. It got better in the evening when Hardi took F upstrs and I gave her an offlead tour of the dnstrs! Since she got home she's eventually self-soothed off to napland. Too briefly!

By mid-evening she'd hit her limit of fretting: as soon as Hardi turned out the lights for a little TV watching, she crashed on my lap and began dreaming all her adjustments. Then she happily went outside with Faulkner (thru the kitchen door out to DogWorld), and was put to bed in the laundry room with her own bed and kitteh company.

The highlight of Day one was definitely that lovely BIG snoring lap-nap. Close and calm bonding. She's about the size of what was surgically removed. (It's better for that weight to be alive, loving, responsive-- and have its own legs!!!)

That sleep and bonding definitely allowed some mental re-sorting, because there were no overnight accidents despite plenty of room and a long bedtime drink. She was completely calm when I let her out and then into the kitchen while I made brekky. Then she sat herself quietly in my recliner while I breakfasted with Jesus elsewhere, Faulkner betwwen us in case of crumbs.

After brekky, she cheerfully yielded the recliner till I was settled, and went right back to sleep belly to belly.

She stirred at sunrise to alert on the sound of birdehs calling us from the ramp, where I'd already planned a good romp with the two doggehs... combined with "who owns the door" 001.

Later it will be even warmer for a yard orientation on the 25' lunge line.

Off to a good start-- basic household structure and territorial constraints.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 02:25 PM

CITY still:
I would not mow without wearing a respirator. The result too horrible to consider.

I am recovered from the most recent coughing; I am suspecting a food.

However, the real reason I am back on line is the JOY of no longer having a washing machine in the middle of the K!! R went to Canadian Tire for a couple things in the flyer, including a new scale for me. He got a rain check for the scale - only 9.99! Returning home, he backed the trailer up to the front stoop and wrestled the washing machine onto it, and the water heater and a large pc of plywood which were on the stoop since last week. SO NICE to see useless objects leave. I suspect the metal went to the scrap yard. It is amazing how much lighter life feels. Maybe there will be a newer washer soon. I have never looked forward so much to doing laundry! It is stashed everywhere!

I made 4 containers of humous and that left in the blender went on lettuce for lunch, with a few corn chips. Cooked the chick peas yesterday. Tried a new method: added the tahini (1 c) and lemon juice (1/4c) to the chick peas (2c before cooked) in the pan and mixed well, then put small batches into the blender. Worked better but could have used more lemon, maybe even 1/2c. Good though.

Once again we have a critter eating plants and - pulling the garbage bag out of my nice stainless step-on can! Definitely not a mouse! I expressed hope that the new K will be tight enough to prevent these incursions. Assured.

My car is shoveled out - by R. But he refused to buy me a real snow shovel; he does not see the need so I shall do it myself, as intended. I really do not care for the little collapsible one for real work. I do not believe I have ever seen a snow shovel in a yard sale or at an auction???   

Now I feel like finking out and leaving at 6 to be in time for the cafe and then load the kiln after. Yeah, that will work. The pots are drying nicely here, in front of a heater. I can stop on the way for a shovel and a bank deposit.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 05:31 PM

More small estate items listed on eBay and I'm working on a high dollar one now. If these small things don't sell in a week they're going to the thrift store. Nothing seems to be particularly charismatic so far, few looks in the early hours.

I mowed the back yard yesterday, and in a few minutes I'm going to mow the front, then lug some cinderblocks to the front to build an enclosure around my front faucet. I have an electronic sprinkler device to attach to the faucet that will be used to time watering by zones, but I don't want it in view from the street. I'll be picking up new soaker hoses this year and stretching them around the house soon. I tossed a bunch last fall that were kinked and had multiple patches.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 09:54 PM

Okay, the big item, the chandelier, is FINALLY listed on eBay. Took me long enough.

The front yard is mowed and I took time to trim away a Salvia greggii that was severely damaged by the hard freezes this winter. I have seen at least three others that will need to be removed, or cut way back to see if they grow from the roots.

I finished reading The Hobbit on Thursday and have started The Fellowship of the Ring. The only way I'm going to get through these three books anytime soon is to set aside regular reading time. Once I finish these, I have the director's cuts of the films to watch. I am on a mission. :) I saw the first two Hobbit movies and was under-impressed with everything that was added into them, and this is what pushes me to reread all of the books and then to wallow in hours upon hours of director's cuts of the LOTR movies.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 11:06 AM

Looks like my organizational and decluttering energy is back after a two week retreat into grief rebound. (But I am meeting with a counselor next Tuesday and starting a 6-week grief group next Thursday -- can't hurt.)

This morning I sorted through a two and a half foot high pile of rubberstamp catalogues and ephemera from the 1980s and tossed everything except the copies of National Stampographic (and the couple copies of Rubberstampmadness misfiled there).

Yesterday I stored a couple boxes of photographs temporarily (gets them off the bedroom floor!) in the closet, got the last of the Christmas decorations stowed in the boxes in the closet (and out of the guest room!), and put a box of letters and saved email printouts (I TOLD you I'm a compulsive archivist!) in chronological order. Also pulled some information from those missives and inserted them into the yearly archived calendars. And updated 2007.

Today is the monthly sea music singaround at The Press Room, so I'm done decluttering cultch for the day. And tomorrow I'm spending with a friend and we'll wind up at Great Bay Sailor's pre-St. Patrick's show at The Press Room, so that's a social day rather than a work day.

Oh, and Trevor finally relieved me of the roll of leather hides I'd had for him in the backseat of the car for the past several months. Yeehah! AND he was thrilled. (He's an artist who does amazing masks and things of molded leather.) Got some more art materials that need to find homes, too.

Linn

I feel accompl

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 11:34 AM

Sounds like some very productive decluttering - isn't it nice when it moves along and is appreciated (not clutter) by someone else?

Laundry in, and a friend is headed over to pick up two of the pots that were originally at his house before the foreclosure. We figure they're so heavy that they won't be carted off by anyone at his apartment building. We're going to dig up a rooted sprig of rosemary and I have cilantro growing in a patch that will contribute to the second pot.

Rain is due to start this afternoon and I have jobs in the house lined up. More eBay items to list in my week-long eBay garage sale. And I am rereading the Lord of the Rings and want to get Frodo on the road today. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 04:57 PM

Whoosh! I ran errands and pressed my luck just a little too far. The stop at the ice cream store was when the drizzle shifted to rain and when I came out the rain was heavy. On the way home it turned into a deluge. I got very wet from the car to the house. All said, though, this rain is very welcome.

Back to work around the house. One load of laundry is done, linens and one more to go, and I really need to sweep and vacuum and dust.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 08:01 PM

Country:
Saw a free plant on craigslist yesterday - in Montreal - only ten minutes away so I emailed and picked it up - tall forlorn looking palm; I put it upstairs and fed it; we'll see - and made a stop for deposit at nearby bank. Did not bother with snow shovel.
Nice evening at cafe but did not feel like dealing with pottery when we got to the mill. Accepted there will be no new pots for this Market. Loaded today and will turn it on before bed. R loaded pots back in car for me so I am ready to leave at 8:15 am.

This morning I did not feel like getting up at 8 or even 9; I was still dozing and dreaming and told R off for trying to waken me. He was up and active before me for a change. I made a nice omelet for a 10 am breakfast with muesli bread toast and a shared almond croissant from a tiny cafe in the city. I left 5 small pots there 2 years ago and she has them displayed nicely; People look at them and think they are beautiful but no one buys them! But she is happy to have them and I was happy to purchase the delicious croissant. That was a stop on way back from plant pick-up, close to house but not a direction I go usually.

Today we went to lunch at the new cafe here. Vanessa was working and her parents were there so we got to meet them. R and the dad talked non-stop! The mom and I talked as well but I was having difficulty comprehending with all the background noise. Bought two pastries for tomorrow. This youth training project is worth supporting and they have done a beautiful job of it - V's baby! Terrific food and beautifully displayed local products.

Oh, the laundry R took to wash is still in the washer. May see it next week sometime! May see the newer washer next week sometime. May not!

DID find the papers needed to convince the health ministry that I actually live in Quebec - Revenue Quebec income tax assessments for last three years were in my filing cabinet, which is down here to make more room in the LR in the city. With any luck R will fax those and the paper he needs to provide - to certify I live where we live! - to her and she will send me the health card as promised. ASAP. I am reaching the point of fearing I will get sick/break something/... one day before I finally get the card! They do not refund!

Making a one pot veg/sausage/apple supper. Veggies did not cook in oven so moved it to stove top, in large cast iron frying pan. Getting hungry! Going to bed early so I, hopefully, feel like getting up as necessary!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 11:52 AM

Cold and windy today, after a heavy rain yesterday. I have a couple of things to do for the garden (spread beneficial nematodes) but most of the day will be spent indoors.

Sold an item on eBay, I've listed it several times at higher prices and was tired of looking at it. I listed it for a .99 start auction and it sold for $8.00, which is what I listed it for a few weeks ago. Another item that didn't sell is going to the Goodwill bin. It has been around too long, and when my Dad sent it years ago he said it was to test, and if I didn't use it give it away. I guess that's what I'll end up doing - Goodwill can sell it to someone who takes a look at it and things "I wonder how well this works?" Hint: it doesn't have an auto shutoff and the pot is too small to make very much tea.

Must move the car out of the garage and unload the topsoil and garden stuff from the store I picked up yesterday. Hail was threatened so I moved it indoors quickly. One thing I picked up is a faucet stand with a hose caddy. I'll set it in concrete and run a hose to it and this will be my tap for the vegetable side of the house. I'll need to find a high pressure hose to run from the house spigot to this. It's going to be a fancy setup this year. I wish they'd put a faucet on the driveway side of the house. I've been able to remedy electrical shortcomings (putting in outdoor plugs) but to remedy plumbing shortages means breaking the foundation - expensive.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 04:23 PM

Breakfast for lunch for my one meal today (a fasting day). I'm not quite as snug in the work pants this week as I was last week, so getting back to alternate day fasting seems to be working for me again.

I found a couple of books to list on eBay, if they don't sell, into the bin they go. I'll get more there even at low prices than my local half-price bookstore will offer.

I've done some scrubbing in the bathrooms and kitchen, and I ran a cup of white vinegar through my electric kettle to clean out the limestone crust. I poured that hot water and vinegar onto the seems between the bricks in the back patio area, to see if I could kill some weeds coming up there.

The house is chilly, I need to put on socks with my shoes, and the dogs may come in for the night, but they will have muddy feet. Ugg.

Mudcat is certainly faster today! Max has cleared out a few cobwebs and slow circuits, apparently!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 05:18 PM

On second (and probably 52nd, if I'm honest) I've decided to get out of the eBay used book sales. I looked through a few representative authors, they just aren't selling, even the really good ones. I'll take them to the half-price bookstore this afternoon to get them out of here. I've sold a lot of books online, and back when I had full sets of favorite authors from my Dad's house, it went well. And sometimes special bundles of books.

Since I've cleared out a box of books in my office (waiting to be listed) I've rounded up a huge gob of dog hair pooled under a small table nearby.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 09:25 PM

Country: After a peculiarly almost sleepless night - got up at 5 am and turned off finished kiln and closed windows ( opened to let fumes out); it was 0C in the studio so maybe my subconscious was insisting on this move but I still did not go to sleep for quite a while. The heat was off because the kiln was on but really needed to be turned back on!

Managed to get up just after 8 am and get ready to leave; R woke at last moment and offered to go with me so we were a little later getting to the venue for the Market but he carried the boxes in while I set up. Again sold several red and white pieces as well as several of another newish combo - cobalt blue decoration under pale green glaze. So the just bisqued pots will focus on those two modalities for next month. Sylvain took a photo of me, and pots which he will post on FB and I will share to my page.

R came back and helped pack up and we went to restaurant, then home as I needed to collapse. Soon to bed with hopes of glazing tomorrow.

After a seriously thawing day on Saturday, it turned quite cold again but SUNNY!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 10:21 PM

Pulled out stacks of old New Yorkers. People buy them for the covers, lots of them on eBay. I'm going to try a few, see if they sell, otherwise, pull off covers and sell them all as a batch and recycle the guts.

Dropped of paper and cardboard at recycling and took a box of books to the half-price store, and probably got about what I would receive if I bothered to list them. But a heckuva lot easier and faster.

I think the spring cleaning impulse to get rid of stacks is setting in!

I hope the performance and singing went well, Linn, and am glad you're headed into some grief counselling. All of this will work together for you.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Mar 14 - 12:02 AM

Though I'm doing a LOT better emotionally than last weekend (and earlier in the week), I figure the Grief counseling (the woman works at the hospice where Tom died...she came to his memorial gathering on March 1) can't hurt...and the grief group, too.

Today a friend treated me to a delightful meal at a place I certainly can't afford, and then treated me to a Press Room pre-St. Patrick's show by a group of friends. I had planned to go to this performance before she suggested it. Other friends asked how I was doing...Tom and his band (which in later years included me) were the evening Press Room St. Patrick's entertainment for 33 years... I had no emotional/memories problem at all, actually. Their repertoire as well as style are very different from Tom's and his several bands. I enjoyed it and the whole day.

Tom lost his voice in 2009...so his last St. Patrick's performance there was 2009 and we hadn't attended since then for various reasons. I've already dealt with that loss...

I really should shut this off and go to sleep...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Mar 14 - 08:23 AM

Actually, I think 2010 was the last year we were at The Press Room for St. Patrick's...Bob Frost had put together a group from our session "family" from 2010 until 2012, but I seem to remember Tom not feeling well one year and me being sick as a dog the next (and, of course, without me to drive him, Tom couldn't go.)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 14 - 01:00 PM

Two boxes, totalling 15 pounds, to the post office today. The anchor has set sail, overland, to my brother, and an eBay parcel is shipped the next business day as promised.

I'll drag the chandelier box from my kitchen into the sun room because it's kind of crowded between the small round table and the microwave. I've let the table pile up with stuff again, time to clear that so I can sit down and eat, not just perch a plate on the edge.

There are looks but no watchers so far on all of the eBay listings. A lot of people wait till the last minute and pounce, so as long as there have been any looks, that is a good sign.

I may make one purchase soon. My paperback copy of Fellowship of the Ring is falling apart as I read it. I purchased it back in college, and who knows how many times I or others have read it. All of the volumes are in the same sad shape.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 14 - 01:13 PM

Let's get a jump on spring. Here is the next thread.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 01:53 PM

I chose this old thread to post in now because a legally-significant batch of posts are upthread. I'll need to print all of that plus this post.

The housemate with great references did not work out. The first of what would become so many red flags included declining a sleepover whike i was here, before moving in, to see if we'd get along before brekky. She seemed to have good reasons for all such decisions and we did a small dogworld project together instead to assess chemistry. That went pretty well and it's the last thing that did. Every "do not move this item" was agreed then disregarded. Instead of walking into a retirement home in progress as described above left in vacay-house mode, we arrived after 8 solid hours of driving unable to find items needed for immediate use by two people with different and serious health issues, broken items hidden, security measures removed, scented cad
ndles everywhere making plans to host a chem-sensitive friend, carpets soaking wet and all the clng products the sellers had used on it for years, in the humid air and pumping thru the whole house via central air. It's one of my health issues. No sleep that night. Everywhere I looked was oversized furniture and decor with our stuff buried. She had helped herself to garage storage we'd planned to use for offload what we'd hauled on this trip. She had not used the mower we purchased for our use and instead contracted someone we do not know.... on a property that had been cased and entered by unknown persons during my first trip here.

It was all that and more. It felt like arriving-- not at our own dear little live nest but in a badly run BnB from hell, with no hostess on hand, and the broken hall light fixfure making it hard to find the AC controls was unexpected from a person here to notify us of house trubble in a timely fashion... she later said it had fallen on her head the day she'd moved in.

I'm pretty sure a head injury did not cause her to forget and transgress every agreement and boundary any person in their right mind would have respected or asked questions about. I did however find unopened as well as empty containers accounting for what looked and felt just like an elephant in our living room.

Happily, she completed her move-out ydy with minimal damage to doorways.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 01:58 PM

Prufreeds on fone impossible

mower purch for HER use

chem-sensitive friend visit impossible

it was worse than I can enumerate today. Today's focus is on VACAY and birthday!!!