Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 May 14 - 02:34 AM

Yes, that's the annoying part Dorothy. If I'd know this was a possibility I'd have spent the money on fixing the pickup instead. It probably had another 50,000 miles on that engine.

Internet access is sporadic this week. We're taking turns, and I have plenty to listen to, but I decided to download a couple of documentaries overnight. It's set up and now to bed.

Doing a little puttering at this house, laundry (from the washer to drying on the line), and if I can find a rake I'll clear a path of the chunky rocks to that line that will allow comfortable transit in sandals. With limited wardrobe choices I'm doing laundry every couple of days. Glad I had a comfortable pair of walking shoes. Michelle, these friends are quilters. If I get any photos I'll share with you. There is a large machine for the actual quilting involved.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 May 14 - 08:22 AM

Yesterday had Jeri over for supper to help eat the puttanesca and (especially) the pistachio cake (which I "accidentally" served with "too much" whipped cream). Cooking (and especially shopping) for one is taking some getting used to... Then we went to the Nottingham library for friend Dr. Alan Eaton's talk on ticks and Lyme disease. (I hadn't known before I read the description of the talk that NH has the highest rate of Lyme disease in the country...and then found out that Rockingham County has one of the higher rates within the state, and Nottingham and a couple surrounding towns, the highest rates within Rockingham and Strafford counties.) Very informative and entertaining talk...plus we talked Alan into singing his "Tick Rap" since he had a ready-trained chorus.

Today I'm going over to a friend's to pick up where I left off (in 2009 after Tom's diagnosis of vocal cord cancer) on a t-shirt quilt made up of festival, pub, and beer (mostly Guinness) t-shirts. The Fishtraks recording studio shirt I got the night I met Tom will be the center. I don't actually quilt, so I'm cutting it out, laying it out, putting on the stabilizing backing, and other non-sewing tasks while Carol will do the actual sewing.

Yesterday I transcribed a new-found tape from the 1995 Chowder Fest -- both Tom and David Behm in their prime -- which another friend will digitize. Still hunting for a 4- track cassette player to find out what's on the other 3 tapes. (I'm hoping St. Patrick's day at the Press Room 1995.)

This morning I also started planning a recording project (me) and figured out my Atheneum set for this year's PMFF in September.

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 May 14 - 07:00 PM

Most of the pop-up camper's contents are moving to the vacay hse in August but a few things in it will stay here and a few things from the PA house are going to Ohio IN the camoer. It's becoming a nice chore a coupla times per week to go out to the recently - erected camper to sort these out and enjoy the memories. It will make great guest quarters for Ohio visitors and we'll still use 'er some too, eventually. So it makes decisions and allocations interestingly complex.

We made a neat imorovement this week to our settin' porch.... ran a polyprop overhead "cable" for dog tethers. Today for the first time both puppers were on it. This allowed ne to leave them safely entertained as I made trips out to the camper. Shouldda did it years ago! Cost about $2.

~S~

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 May 14 - 04:46 PM

Susan, isn't that how it works? The aha! moment that you wish had hit a lot earlier. And Linn, what a great idea - maybe instead of offering t-shirts to other Mudcatters I'll make a quilt topper with the folk festival shirts my Dad collected. Then it'll be a great reminder of him and a practical item to boot. I'll ask my quilting friend about it when I see her on Friday.

I have some nice wildlife photos this week, lots of deer in the yard this morning. I'm trying to tempt vultures close to the viewfinder with chicken bones tossed in the yard.

I hear some of the feral burros in the distance. It has been an interesting, if slow-paced, week.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 May 14 - 10:18 AM

I posted 3 photos of a cute cat enclosure on facebook. It's constructed of two wire hangers (completely untwisted), a large t-shirt, and a piece of cardboard. Very clever. Hold it together with a twist tie and duct tape and you have a charming hidey spot for the kitty.

I got some vulture photos, though I had to shoot them through the window of the door. As soon as I made any noise they were gone.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 May 14 - 03:07 AM

Finally home, and the dogs are lounging around the house with me. So good to walk in to a clean house, but it sure is musty. My car is still on the rack in Odessa, TX.

I hit something as I was exiting to get gas. It was about the size of a Kleenex box, the 120 tissue size, not the 250 or 360 box. It was just there in the dark, and as I got to the bottom of the ramp I thought I'd have to check my tire. But the car wouldn't move, the engine just revved. I put it in low and finally got it into the truck stop parking lot and ended up sleeping there till morning when I figured I could get it go to (it was like driving a standard without first or second gear). I got to Chevy (on a Saturday morning) but their transmission guy wasn't in. They said it was my transmission, but I told them I just hit something, wasn't it more likely a messed up brake or a line of some sort? No, they said. I called around and Aamco said they'd test, and he said my first and second gears were gone. They'd have to work on it the next week, maybe finished by Friday.

I called friends from the area - turns out they are 3+ hours away. He came up and picked me up, we shopped a little and headed to their second property in the Davis Mountains, the one that has a flush toilet and regular shower (they stay mostly on the other property but have no room for guests and use a composting toilet which they find some people don't figure out how to use very easily). They live a few miles away (as the crow flies) but it is about 30 miles by road. This was a huge favor they did me. We got together a few of the days, she works in Odessa and spends Friday evening through Monday afternoon there (works as a nurse night shift at the local hospital). I rode back to town with her today, and at Aamco the guy looked up from his desk "it isn't ready." I couldn't stay in the sticks any longer, I have dogs, a house, a job . . . I rented a car and drove the 7+ hours home tonight. Why didn't I fly or drive home before? The flights plus shuttles would be expensive and I didn't know how long I'd have to rent the car, so I gambled that it would be done in a week and I could just stay nearby. I hoped he might call earlier in the week and tell me it was ready. Didn't happen.

It seems that "there is something else wrong." When the transmission isn't connected to anything it works right, but when they connect up the wires, it doesn't work. There is something electronic wrong that made the transmission fail. "You mean like that thing on the road that I told you I hit?" Next week Aamco is going to have to consult with Chevy and do something about that electronic part that has been damaged. He said if they'd known this electronic thing was wrong Aamco wouldn't have touched it. Now they're stuck with it. The pricetag isn't going to be pretty.

I hit a small blockly object in the road as I was exiting in the dark where there was no overhead light to show the exit. This to me counts as "road hazard," and I hope my insurance company agrees. I asked the Aamco guy to document what he finds - I know what happened, but it needs to be shown on paper. And then I need to see if my policy covers this.

So that is my story. I left here on May 13 to see my son graduate in Tucson. Driving was going to be cheaper than flying and I could bring some of his stuff back with me and I planned to be home on May 17. Most of that stuff is still in the back of the car on it's rack and I rolled into the driveway early on May 24. I have to take this rental car back and get my car when it is finally finished sometime next week, I hope.

This was the slowest week I ever remember. The house was so remote that there was no cell phone (okay, I admit, I'm an addict and accustomed to being connected). They have one Internet plan for two houses so the Internet can't be up at both places at the same time. I got online enough at first to let people know what was going on and make sure my dogs were fed and my garden watered, but mostly I walked around, took photos, wrote, cooked, and slept. A couple of those walks were with the next door neighbor, we met on the road and started talking. He's a wildlife artist and definitely eccentric. The second evening I went out for a walk I think he was out waiting around - having someone to talk to who hasn't heard all of his stories was a real treat and I didn't mind being an interested listener.

It was good to have the downtime, but it's better to be able to "relax" by choice rather than by events beyond one's control. Staying with my friends saved me hundreds of dollars because there are no hotels to be had in the Permian Basin with the oil and gas boom. And those you do get (on the weekends when the guys head out of town) are inflated way above normal. Motel 6 usually comes in around $50 with taxes, but that one out there starts at $92 but they never have rooms.

These are good friends I stayed with, I enjoyed spending time catching up. I need to repay them for their kindness and their gasoline, for starters. I made a list of things that I can send out, and I'll send something for gas once the bills are paid for all of this.

Odessa is awful. It's flat and dusty and stinks of oil. Every bush along the highway is crusted with plastic grocery bags. The town is full of oil field workers who have come in from literally around the world to do the roughneck work on oil rigs. My friend is a nurse in the orthopedic department of the local hospital, and she said the roughnecks get paid, they get high or drunk, then they drive and kill people and kill or injure themselves. It's hard to get anything done in town (like auto repairs) because the businesses are swamped and they have a hard time keeping employees.

This afternoon my friend dropped me at the shop where my car was not finished. I called one car rental place and everything was rented for the holiday weekend. I called another, and asked if they could pick me up. She started to describe how to find them, and I said "you don't understand, I'm not from here, I don't know my way around, my car isn't fixed, and I have to get home." She closed the counter and came and got me - this whole trip I was so lucky to have generous people there to help. It was about 10 minutes away from the shop, but it was a world of help that she would do this. I signed the papers and handed her a $20 (the largest bill I had - if I'd had a $50, it would have been hers).

I drove home, my dogs were so glad to see me, and after a shower I will sleep in my own bed. I'm still kind of wired from the drive and the caffeine, but this is my story.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 May 14 - 01:23 AM

Couldn't mow because it started to rain, but I did get a new spark plug for the mower. I need to use some steel wool to clean off the little wire fitting that plugs onto it.

First full day back after away for 11. I have a guest who came over for the weekend, and has been remarked on elsewhere, having a guest motivates one to pick up. I'd left the house looking great before the long trip and there wasn't much chance to mess things up in the 18 hours I was home before she arrived. :)

We had dinner that included broccoli and potatoes from the garden. I'd like to set up the crock pot for in the morning but figure the lightning in the area might not do it any good if we have an outage.

How is summer shaping up for everyone else? May feels like summer here in Texas.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 May 14 - 01:18 PM

Me again. It rained overnight so the yard is quite soggy. I'll work on things I can reach from the edges (standing on the driveway). Laundry is finished, and after all of this time away it is finally a work day in the morning. I'm going to ask to flex my time and work four 10-hour days a week. The university allows it, lets see if the Dean allows it. She seems determined to make people as miserable as possible.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 26 May 14 - 03:34 PM

I did a 4-day/40-hr. week back in the early '80s. Saved me a commute a week (60 or more miles) and gave me a three day weekend. I loved it. There were times it would have worked less into my schedule, but at the time it was perfect.

I goofed off on Saturday, and really didn't do a lot yesterday except watch the extended version of "Buckaroo Bonzai"...needed the R&R.

But I did get a pocket watch sold and also a repro medieval sword. (A friend had just brought it back -- he thought one of his RenFaire friends might want it, but they needed a theatrical sword, not one that could actually hurt someone.)

Whatever ate last year's ladyslippers came back for a few bites -- I found six flowers missing yesterday despite the feline spoor around. (Well, it's been raining at some point during every day for the past few days.) So I sprayed hot pepper water on the survivors. That should surprise whoever's been nibbling. Suppose I have to do it again today since it rained again last night, too.

Mostly today I've been concentrating on the boxes in front of the hutch so I can clean out that section of the hutch...eventually. I'm putting all the stuff for sale in bankers boxes and stacking them...elsewhere for the time being. I feel as if everything in the house is in transition. Maybe it is...

Interspersed with that is filling the planters on the deck with freshly mixed potting soil. And raking leaves into piles. (It's a little too windy to pile them onto a tarp and dump them downhill.) I've still got to dig up some of the perennial euphorbia to take to a friend on Wednesday. And I've got a neighbor coming to help me cut down some limbs and open up the back flower beds to some more light (they used to be full sun and are now full shade) and get rid of all the small (smaller than 6" diameter) stuff out back on the slope and maybe a couple larger trees like the one at the downhill corner of the house. That's the "enabler"...the means for the flying squirrels get into the house.

Oh, and I took some stuff out of the freezer and put some stuff into the freezer... And made a bread pudding for breakfast for most of this week. (Tomorrow morning on my way over to work on the T-shirt quilt, I'll stop at the walk-in and get my fasting blood work done. One more thing checked off the list and it will make my doctor happy.)

Linn

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 May 14 - 07:08 PM

Bread pudding - that sounds good! I might do that.

It finally warmed up and the sun came out so I dug up and transplanted more oregano, then transplanted two of the poblano peppers I heeled in for a few days 2 weeks ago. The extended vacation caused a change in some of my garden plans, but I can adapt. I moved some mystery plants from the compost (some kind of cucumber or squash or melon) to a bed in the front, and I harvested garlic, leaving behind those hard little corms so they come up again next year. I thinned the cilantro some more and transplanted a couple of errant basil seedlings.

I'd love to list some eBay stuff, but I have to take a day or two sometime soon and go get the car at the repair shop, so I'll wait till I have my car back first. I can write the listings and save them.

I'm looking into solar panels this year, I'll be doing that research this week.

I've had a bit of a rest from the garden, and I came in to get those vinyl miniblind slats that are extra to use to cut and stick in the dirt so I know what seeds are in each pot. I think Maryanne suggested that use a while back. The seeds are late, but they'll still have time for crops.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 May 14 - 10:04 AM

Country: TRouble accessing mudcat for a bit. Then no access to internet for a day or so. Weather, I think.

SRS: Such an adventure. Sounds like a slice of my life at some point!

Linn! Lots of interesting projects! Very inspiring!

I have been having some good days. Think the nux vomica is helping; I was not bothered by the odours at the cafe on the last two Fridays; did not need to put mask on. The weather took a turn for the better. Last Tuesday, I bought two "buckets" (of front loader) of soil to fill the raised frames. Ended up having to move about 10 wheel barrow loads - wore me out completely! Still need to do more, hopefully today as it is quite cool (about 50F).

Mostly, at the mill I have been puttering about looking for things, sorting things, finding things... I have put in a lot of time and energy but have to think hard to realize that progress is being made! Drapes on LR at mill on a nice wooden rod (yard sale); rods found for K and sun room windows to improve the blocking of sun on hot days - we have had some, sorting of bins into categories to improve organization of what is where. Still things avoid being found!

Sat eve, the writers' group held an "open mike" of poetry and prose at the Cafe. The owner was pleased with the turn out and invited us to do it each month so the next one is 28 June. Now we need to write more so we will have new stuff to read. I took to reading through my journal (1979 into late '80s) for ideas. Wrote two "poems". Also shared a social commentary piece based on Rapunzel. I thought it a bit "preachy" but it actually got a few laughs - delivery is so important!

Creative writing is not my forte, I prefer bare bones reporting of events. Last Tuesday, the chair assigned us to write with lots of description; I thought through that concept and many non-possibilities for an hour and finally decided I was falling asleep - from the wheelbarrow exercise - and went home, to the city, early.

Today I found the 3 spiral binders in which I logged weather and events during my 10 years in the wilds of Ontario - OH! and OH! etc but I tucked them away for later - where I can find them. That is the closest I have come to keeping a journal more recently -1989-99! Mostly weather, garden and events in brief.

Ah, the wheelbarrow beckons!

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 May 14 - 07:55 PM

Today I left the house early and then ended up having to wait 45 minutes to do the paperwork for the fasting blood work I wanted to get out of the way. By the time I got out of there, I was running late, but grabbed some quick McFill on the way to the post office to get a copy of Tom's CD and copy of Dave Hallowell's "Tom Hall - Musical Life, Musical Community" off to his classmates for their 50th reunion of their Bates College class of '64.

Called my friend and said I'd probably be late, but actually made it there on time. Dove into the T-shirt quilt project that had been on hiatus for 5 years...since Tom's vocal cord cancer diagnosis. Spent a bit of time trying to remember my system for cutting out the squares, but got them all cut out today.

Grocery shopping on the way home.

I'm beat. I have trouble standing for that length of time, even leaning on the work table. Between that and the work I did yesterday, I ache and am physically very very tired. But that's probably good...that much closer to getting into shape.

Retiring now with a book and a cat...and a gin & tonic. I think it will be an early night tonight. Got another jam packed day tomorrow.

Linn

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: GUEST
Date: 27 May 14 - 10:09 PM

City:
Managed only a couple more loads with wheel barrow and gave up. Did more sorting and organizing. Realize that since the move last June, I have been sick - until mid march- so I am basically unpacking things that were packed in a hurry. All this would have been done last summer if I could have. Now it is warm enough in the building and most stuff is now in the more accessible and brighter area.

Made about a dozen bunch for small jars and two teapots - love making little jars, not keen on lids so it was a good feeling to finally get them made. Then rewarded myself by throwing two large bowls. Then packed up to come back to city after early supper and writers' group.

Load of laundry in and now to dryer.

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 May 14 - 10:52 PM

We know that was Dorothy, sans-a-cookie. :)

I figured out the label removal for the New Yorker covers. The dryer doesn't work very well but the iron, set at about "3" (below steam) does the job quickly. I wish I'd known this years ago before so many covers lost bits of their ink due to the old labels.

Two more people from my department have new jobs and will leave at the end of next week. I have inherited the job one of them was doing, but of course no pay or title change.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 May 14 - 09:08 AM

I was at work very early (for me) today and this week. Shifting to a summer schedule of longer days four days a week, without the official say so, to see if anyone even notices.

I started a new nighttime policy for the dogs: if they want to come into the house overnight they can, but when someone says they want out at 3am they're out for the rest of the night and will sleep in the garage. Zeke has been acting like there is a revolving door lately and I'm tired of being awakened two or three times. Cinnamon knows if she wants to stay put she has to hold it. Poppy has followed Zeke out a couple of times and been left outside. They can do the math, so it'll be interesting to see what evolves. :)

Poppy and Zeke are blowing their winter coats like I've never seen before. I brush and brush and next time I look Poppy, in particular, looks like an explosion of hair again. My declutter work needs to include a fine-tooth comb soon. The furminator thing works on Zeke but not on Poppy. I have to pull out the tufts from her coat my hand.

I'll be spending some evenings with the iron and the magazine labels this week. When that project is finished I'll have my dining room table back.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 May 14 - 04:40 PM

Don't know how I lost my cookie! Must have been that trouble on the weekend. Maybe next time I will remember that the separation of sections mean my cookie is lost. Too bad I don't lose the ones I keep eating!

City: Also lost the words - a bunch of lids for those small pots!

Late night last night as R did not get home 'til near midnight - hungry, of course. I was struggling to stay awake and about to give up. Then the house phone rang about 7:45 am. He forgot to plug in his cell. He had to rush off so I went for a de-tox bath. I keep hoping it will help my brain. Last night I understood no one at the group. The auditory processing disorder can be very frustrating. I hear but do not understand. Only since I was poisoned in 2000. Sometimes it is better than others but often it is like last night. Not life-threatening but ...

Talked with my friend/health consultant in PA for 2 hours after the bath. She helps many people with health issues - lyme disease, fibromyalgia and more. I wanted to inform her of the help I seem to be getting from the nux vomica as she might be able to help others with it. But she had no suggestion for my neurological problem. Neurons not working because toxins affect them. Before I was poisoned, I was a newspaper reporter and understood everything in any venue including meetings of 300 people. Last night I did not even understand the woman sitting next to me. Maybe I can try googling it again.

Now I have been on line most of afternoon although my goal was to make pots. Not happening. I found a few more glazes to test and lots of interesting other items. SOON, I need to weigh out and test some of these glazes! That is all set up in organized fashion at the mill.

Chilly, rainy day. I turned on small heater in LR and studio in hopes it would get me moving. Not yet!

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 May 14 - 10:59 AM

I still haven't managed to get to a grocery store this week, I've been drawing down stuff from the freezer and eating produce from the garden. I did get to the feed store for dog food and I mowed the front lawn and part of the back last night. The mower sounds and runs much better with the new spark plug.

This morning on my way out to work I swung by the city hall recycle bins and tossed in some paper and cardboard. I don't want to fill this rental full of stuff and mess it up, I'm waiting on news of my car; I don't think it will be ready by tomorrow so I won't be making a large round-trip in a day drive quite yet. The mechanic at the transmission place gives no news about when the work will be finished. I am assembling a care package to send to the friends I stayed with.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 29 May 14 - 12:47 PM

Thanks for the label removal tip, Stilly! I, too, could have really used that in the past. I'm sure I will still need it.

"Goofed off" yesterday. That was in my plans even if it hadn't been a rainy, cold (48F!!! end of MAY, fer-pete's-sake!) day. A friend just over in Maine is out on a workers comp injury, so we went to lunch at a really nice little breakfast and lunch spot in South Berwick. Then we went to Wentworth Greenhouses... And I had $$$ with me (from selling the pocket watch). Was a semi good kid. Bought two tomato plants for the deck (that's sort of the reason we went), but then also got a few of those twirly plant supports and an adjustable hand rake, a pair of gloves while not as strong and as much of a second skin as the ones I got from Smith & Hawken in 1986, these are closer to fitting that closely than anything else I've found. I hate wearing gloves and I really need them with all the rocks, roots and thorny growth I've got around here.

Could have stuck around with my friend for the rest of the day and gone to see "Seven Years a Slave" at the library, but didn't really want to be out all day and night. So I went home and later settled into reading. And then I wrote some poetry. The first in a long time and the first since Tom died. About grieving, of course. Turned out to be a really good night, though I cried a lot. Hard to explain that to anyone who hasn't been through it. Tears ARE good. I may cry often, but it's for very short periods of time. And it makes me feel, well, better, I guess. And closer to Tom.

Got a lot of today's work done already since it was phone calls. Plumber still won't call me back. And my handyman doesn't seem to have an answering machine. I'll try him later. Don't want to order the composting toilet until I've got it worked out with him.

Just made a spaghetti sauce that has fresh tomatoes in it but no tomato sauce. Lots of Italian sausage. Discovered I have no dried oregano or basil, so I have to make a short run over to the Mustard Seed a bit later. After I add that seasoning (it was okay for lunch but will be better after I add them), I'll put half of it in the freezer.

Also need to bring up some more pots from the cellar, mix the potting blend, and get the tomato plants and the lettuce and other herb seeds planted. Get rid of a few more piles of leaves. (Now that's a project that may well never be completely done...)

I've just done enough sitting around.

Later!
Linn

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 May 14 - 02:20 PM

Linn, let me mail you some of my garden's oregano and basil. I dry it and have tons of it around right now. And if you need some thyme on your hands, I have some of that to dry later on this summer. The thyme bed is getting established this spring.

I also have some more seeds to plant. I mix up my own potting soil out of a good brand of bagged compost, a bag of topsoil (usually has a lot of sand), and mix in the usual soil amendments I always add to my garden. Sometimes I add a little peat moss to give it a nice consistency, but not much, because it isn't a "living" product, peat moss is generally sterile.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 29 May 14 - 06:09 PM

Thank you -- I'd love some of your oregano, basil and thyme. Until I get those tree limbs removed, I don't have a good spot anymore for herbs. Most of the room on the deck goes to tomatoes, lettuce, chives and nasturtiums. (Damn. I didn't get the tomato plants potted today...)

Last year I never got around to planting basil, but I got wonderful basil at the farmer's market. Didn't dry any of it, though. It all got made into pesto for the freezer.

I DID get a lot of leave mulch pulled out of the back beds and "lawn" today. And moved some more rocks around. And moved a few other things.

I ache. And I'm tired. So I'm not going to the short films at the Portsmouth library tonight. I need to finish changing the bed and then get into it. Finished one book this morning, so maybe I'll get to sleep early tonight. Who knows...

Linn

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 May 14 - 10:29 PM

City:
Finally a good day for yard work - dry and neither too hot nor too cool! Managed to replace a couple supports for the clematis. Still need two more good ones. Weeded flower beds and cut the grass with kitchen scissors! It was too long for the push mower which needs oiling anyway. I forgot the scythe in the country. There is not a great deal of grass but most of it is trimmed. Will try to finish in the morning. My back got tired! Rake, shovel and fork are in the country so on list to bring back so I can finish tidying up. Need to trim back more Virginia creeper! The flowers and rhubarb are doing well. Still hoping for reno this summer so a row of stella d'oro will need to be moved. May be room for some of the pepper plants I started also. Might have to move the small herb bed too- sage, oregano and one lavender; the other lavender and the thyme died this winter. Guess they took umbrage at being under 2 feet of snow.

Also cleaned up a section of the K that was bugging me and did two loads of laundry. Wanted to use the "umbrella" dryer but the tube for it to sit in has disappeared. Guess it will not happen this year. If all goes well - does it ever??? - a part of the back yard will become a sun room during the reno, she says hopefully.

Also deleted lots of emails, signed a few petitions, phoned a woman in Ontario re raccoons and read half a novel. Triaged more stuff to take to country to clear the house of non-essentials. A very good day!

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 May 14 - 08:19 PM

I went to campus for two hours this morning and took care of some stuff and had the rest of the day off. Grocery stores beckoned after being back in town for a week. I'd bought dog food but not people food (the freezer is full, so this isn't a problem). I'd run out of a vitamin D and K mix that I started taking a couple of months ago. Since then my hands have mostly cleared up. I've also been taking a higher dose of Vitamin D alone (about 10,000 I.U.) so it could be either thing making the difference.

After I started this I wandered off for a while to do some reading and comparison. I found more information about sensitivity to Sodium Lauryl (or Laurelth) Sulfate. And that it is in toothpaste. So I looked at my Colgate, and there it is. I've been so careful to avoid it everywhere else and here it is in my mouth several times a day. Sodium dodecyl sulfate is also from coconut, and several other detergent/surfactant products. (I've read that the Rembrandt toothpaste doesn't have SLS).

Vitamin K is mentioned in several instances to do with bone health (preventing or slowing Osteoporosis). Lots more reading to do, now that I've opened this can of worms, but the main thing I meant to share is that my hands appear to be clearing up, either from the higher doses of D or of the introduction of K. Oral Vitamin D May Help Prevent Some Skin Infections.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 May 14 - 10:03 AM

Lovely overcast day for gardening. Finish my cuppa tea then I'm into the yard for the day. I hope spring-like conditions are finally here for everyone north of the equator who reads this thread!

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 May 14 - 08:23 PM

The mower is cooling after I ran it out of gas. In a few minutes I'll turn it over and remove the blade for sharpening. Every couple of years I replace the blade (usually after hitting enough solid objects hidden in the lawn to mess up the edge), but I think this one will benefit from a few passes of a file.

Laundry is ready for the line and I think will dry in the hour or so before sunset. I tumble it in the dryer on air for a few minutes to fluff it up after the line. I ordered some heavy duty clothes pins when I got home (my friend out in West Texas had a great sturdy brand) and the ones that came were something else, just plain ol' clothespins. This is a company selling through Amazon that will give me a refund and pay back the shipping, so I'll try again and keep using the old pins until then.

I haven't done much clearing out lately but after I finish in the yard and have a late supper I'll declutter some more labels from the New Yorker covers. Still no word on when the car will be ready so I'm not listing anything on eBay until I get it back home. I don't want to have to leave just as something is ending and not be able to ship as soon as they pay. In the meantime, I have a care package under construction for the friends who I stayed with for a week.

SRS

Subject: RE: Spring Cleaning, Declutter & Fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jun 14 - 02:40 PM

Here is the next thread for summer 2014.