Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014

Subject: Autumnal clearing out & fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 10:57 AM

These threads continue largely as an homage to Katlaughing who started them and in the end read along even when she wasn't able to participate, and partly because there are lurkers who occasionally report in that they have made progress on some small personal goal and want to share the news. The successful diet, the renovation of a room or a house, the setting of a personal goal and finishing the project (or being underway and needing motivation) - having a place to occasionally report back is helpful.

Susan has used these old threads to keep track of all sorts of her moving works in progress, Dorothy regularly reports in about the renovation of one house, one mill, and the search for the perfect piece of real estate with comfy digs. Linn has made headway on renovations needed in her kit home on a heavily-wooded hillside in New England. Michelle has hit a sweet spot with good health, a growing family, an active interest in quilting, and all sorts of cooking and canning that feed her family year round. Liz is clearing out estate items - something that when approached as a routine will eventually result in clearing out your storage areas and letting you see the surfaces of tables and counters again.

Others who garden, who are dieting, who are struggling with health issues and know that sticking with fitness programs and/or losing weight are needed can report in. Share tips. I sell lots of odds and ends on eBay, it's how I've cleared out the clutter of estate items that are too specialized to sell in a garage sale and are small enough to ship. I've talked several people through the early stages of learning about eBay. Not everyone can afford to bundle up extra stuff and donate to thrift shops, the extra income is a welcome windfall. To that end there are several of us involved with eBay and Craigslist and Freecycle (Susan seems to be the queen of freecycle swaps!) who can answer questions.

Here is the summer 2014 thread and anyone wanting to read backward will discover that most of these are linked to the previous thread.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 11:37 AM

This could lead to declutter if you do some swapping - Harbor Freight has great sales on the holidays and their web site has coupons. Over the Fourth of July I went by the store several times I got some free LED flashlights. When I got home the old D-cell flashlights were immediately dropped in the donate bin for the Goodwill.

This weekend they have some more small LCD lights free with another purchase. There's also a pair of multipurpose scissors that I need some for the greenhouse and garden. I would think twice before buying a cheap power strip, but glance down the page and you might be interested in the inexpensive reciprocating saw. I've watched for these sales because a friend of mine has one she uses in the yard - it saves a lot of elbow grease when trimming tree limbs or cutting up modest sized branches, old fence slats, etc. Linn, this saw is something that you in particular might find useful (if you don't already have one).

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 12:45 PM

I love the recap Stilly!

Today one half cord of wood has been delivered with one more to go. There is a 16 year old boy who helped to unload earlier which was a nice gesture but I was kind of disappointed to NOT get my upper body workout in. Maybe I'll get it on the second delivery.

I was not able to make my weigh in this week as I was out painting the barn quilts (which a local business has now requested that I make so they can sell them..YAHOO) however my scale reads another 3 pounds down. Since the WW scale and mine are super close, I'm going to say that I'm officially down 26 pounds. YAY! I am most happy with that! My hope is to be down another 25 pounds by Christmas. It's doable and darn it, I am motivated! :)

On the decluttering front, the second yard sale never did happen...life got in the way and that's ok. I have several larger items that I will sell on one of the many Facebook yard sale sites..things like a train table, changing table, a backpack to carry a child while hiking (plus the umbrella for it), etc.

Gotta go...Jeremiah just asked me to do a workbook page with him.

XOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 07:10 PM

I finished a circuit of shopping this afternoon and in the process I finally found a place with a good dog food brand that actually has three varieties that I can give to my chocolate lab. He's allergic to wheat and chicken that is so commonly found in most dogfood. The other dogs will eat anything, so I'll probably switch all of them to this one variety. I'll introduce them by mixing a little in with their current food so they get the taste of it. Who knew - the store is Tractor Supply.

While I was at it I found heavy-duty feed grade 2-gallon buckets to replace a couple of whimpey plastic buckets that are cracked and ready for retirement to the greenhouse or recycle bin. The dogs now have a new steel bucket for water (replacing a galvanized tub that has started leaking). There always seems to be a need for containers in the greenhouse, and they don't need to be watertight. I'll see if there is anything out there that can be recycled because I do try to send as much out of the house as comes into it these days.

Chopping veggies for the freezer this evening, then more eBay listings. Nice to have tomorrow off so I may put in a movie to watch while I'm doing all of this and work late.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: mg
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 07:41 PM

i AM going to round up every bit of old flashlights, parts and all, and check all the old batteries at work and home to see if any have a bit of charge, put them all in a bag and put in the free bag at the gift shop. I need good, dependable flashlights because I walk on a dangerous road at night. The ones that were best had the batteries locked in and were called fireman's flashlights or something like that. Easy to hold and long-lasting. I want more but stores seem to not stock them. Any ideas...they are designed to fit in your hand, sort of rectangular.

I am also going to add the tupperware diet to my evening food intake..just chop up allthe food you should eat for a meal or two, put in tupperware and eat like a forager..get those extra vegs and fruits and add some meat and cheese and nuts and bed of lettuce, kale spinach etc.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 08:15 PM

Mary, I stayed with friends in June (that impromptu stay in the Davis Mountains when my transmission was being rebuilt) and they have a lot of power flickering and occasional outages. I realized that they have switched to the most efficient flashlights (LED are now quite bright and they last a long time because they only produce light, they don't waste energy giving off heat). I've been able to participate in sales to get a half-dozen small lights to replace the clunky ones. My power is more reliable, but there is no reason not to also have a good supply of emergency flashlights.

The bucket swap has been accomplished. They're very pretty - these farmer's buckets come in bright jewel tones.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 07:55 AM

Good recap, SRS.

On the Hoarder TV shows, "I will use this later" means "I just want to keep this. "The janitorial service, which I called for help to do the heavy cleaning that went overdue after surgery recovery took longer than anticipated, seems to have us confused with the TV shows because on the day they saw the house for an estimate, I was still in mid-move-mode. They didn't seem to believe that a master plan was being executed-- 1/3 of the items in a 3-fam house going to furnish a 1-fam house. But we ARE using all the items I have carefully collected-- this house has been my hope chest!!! And there is a lot of dust and dirt under the stuff being removed that just "needs cleaned."

Problem is, time's running out on days before MIL arrives. The janitorial service referred me to a housecleaning lady who is apparently away this weekend.... more phoning to do.

OK. Recast job needed. Describe to new personnel in sq. feet and actual needs.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 08:17 AM

I had someone helping me for a while when the kids were little and I was working and in school. I opted for a "baseline" level of work she could help with. She came over every other week for four hours (we scheduled it so she would already be in the area because of another job to save her gas) and she took care of the floors, washed down bathrooms and the kitchen. We did our rooms ourselves, but to simply have someone come in and regularly run the vacuum and mop the floors was a luxury. Alas, she became ill and stopped working and I never went through the process of finding someone else I liked to do the same work. My sister has a service that sends a crew one morning a month. Though she is a busy executive type, she spends that morning at home supervising on general principals because she doesn't know these people.

Susan, something that occurred to me as I was shopping buckets yesterday was that these two-gallon buckets are actually about a gallon smaller than those flimsy ones I was replacing and they'll be good because they are quite easy to lift when they're nearly full. It seems that some of the standard sizes of accouterments for jobs around the house make jobs difficult because they're not to scale for the strength of the users. I still lug around all of the heavy buckets and boxes and tools, but I might work faster and more easily if some of these things were a little lighter. If you're still fighting with some of the "stroke brain" things to do with dexterity or strength when approaching these jobs as you move, take a look at some of the non-standard sizes I found at Tractor Supply. It means taking buckets meant for feeding horses and using them around the house instead. But heck - they're much prettier than the old Rubbermaid variety, and they are very sturdy.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Charmion
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 09:27 AM

Just don't make my mistake and buy buckets that are not wide enough to accommodate the business end of your floor mop.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 11:09 AM

We have no moppable floors. I have no pretty buckets. Issue is back, not buckets.

Also in our recap it is very important to know that what Hardi and I (and the doc at that time) thought was stroke brain was HYPOTHYROID brain, and that a relatively recent diagnosis 50 years after its onset is a daily issue of adaptation for me. Thanks to the new doc, I have all the energy in the world now and a clear mind to go with-- but my spine is fried and very fragile. 353 pounds of hypothyroid weight became 300 with the fall 2012 surgery, and thanks to the meds it is very easy to stay at that weight and lose slowly-- but again, the spine is the issue with activity level.

And today we discovered that quarterly meat sale is next week-- a huge amount of spine-stressing work in CLEANING WEEK.

So today we do what we can and then vamoose to a day AWAY. With a possible new bed to pick up along the way.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 11:17 AM

That's great about the new doctor and a proper diagnosis!

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 12:21 PM

I've been posting abt it for quite awhile. It's everything.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 12:25 PM

It has been several months since you were discussing it, though, and I think "stroke brain" just got stuck in my head. It is, unfortunately, a catchy concept.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 04:29 PM

I added to our stash today instead of removing BUT to be fair, we frequently use our toaster oven for toast and baking as I don't like to heat up the house with the regular oven....so anyway...you know things aren't built to last anymore. With that said, a good friend of mine posted a convection oven on one of the yard sale sites for $35.00. She had it for maybe 2 months while their oven was being repaired and then repaired again. I did some research about the quality, read the reviews, checked the prices and it normally sells from $120.00 to $145.00ish. Because she's my friend, she gave it to me for $25.00!!! It is in mint condition and I will store it away until our current toaster oven gives out. The new one came with several pans, a rotisserie, the manual and a pizza stone. Very cool and I am most happy. While we were there they treated us to stories about wildlife they encountered while living in Alaska for a year and then on the way out, the husband GAVE Pete a BRAND NEW truck tire (the size Pete uses on his truck....which are extra heavy duty to accommodate the firewood we lug around) and the rim....well over $300.00 worth of tire...and he just gave it to Pete. They had been trying to sell it for awhile and then got rid of the truck it had been purchased for (to use as a spare on their way back here from Alaska) so they just wanted it out of the shed. SCORE!!!! :) We have no need for it right now but there will come a time when it will come in handy!!! Then we went out for lunch and the best ice cream of the summer for our Labor Day treat/outing. We are now in for the day but have some catching up of things to do around here and then it's back into the regular school year routine. This year Jeremiah has to be there a certain early hour and we are all doing our best to adjust.

In other news, I swept up enough dog hair last night to make two small dogs, did a few loads of laundry and picked up in general.

Tomorrow I am getting my hair cut so that it actually has some style, highlights and a teal streak. Happy Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month to me! :)

Love to all,

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 04:32 PM

One cleaning woman wanted $20 an hour! The going rate here is half that plus tips. Fortunately a friend's helper is coming tmrw AM. It's abt 700 sq feet but because the celings are so high the vertical pix n kitsch make for mucho dusting.

Subject: Declut
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 09:26 PM

So I decided that since the Ohio house is about 1,000 sq. feet x 10' ceilings, which so far I have been able to keep clean when there-- except that there has been little or no dusting (central air = few shelves/horizontal surfaces/decor) and it's been too lightly used to vacuum the master BR-- that this 700 sq. ft. x 11 foot ceilings in PA can be my "training wheels" to get up to speed on being able to clean ALL of the Ohio house on my own, including vacuuming all rooms and dusting in all rooms.

I have a schedule/plan for each of the 5 possible cleaning days before MIL arrives. I have a paid helper for some of tomorrow and another day or days to be negotiated tomorrow-- and a few calls still to get back on other helpers in case tomorrow's can't schedule another time when we're here to help.

This AM:

Hardi and I took down all the uber-dusty, pretty, FRAGILE Priscilla curtains from LR and D... 7 pairs. A dry cleaner mistakenly washed them... and dried them too hot and damaged them. They're a cotton-poly blend, with the poly dryer-burnt just at the melting/curling point, i.e. to the point where I dare not wash them again. But I CAN run them thru the dryer one at a time on low, with dryer sheets to freshen them and get the dust out.

He also began decluttering his stuff in the DR-- bit of a packrat, the dear-- and by both our efforts the last of the Ohio boxes left the LR this AM along with a few loose items (floor lamp, a curtain panel matching one in Ohio, a couple of folding chairs).

We rearranged some upstairs-- where his tall BR dresser had been till it came down to the LR, now sits a lady's dressing chair, in a corner suddenly devoid of bedding and nighties that had piled up. A place to oil itchy legs YAY! We changed the king bed, and that netted me a mattress pad for the camper in Ohio also-- there were two on the bed for softness after surgery, that I do not need now that nerve tissue where I lie down has regenerated as much as it's probably going to.


Whew! TBTG for cell phones-- all of the afternoon's calls and posts happened while we got outta Dodge for a few hours and had a MUCH-needed picnic.

Tomorrow, the LR loses its nursing home look.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 09:49 PM

City:
Got back to the city about 6 pm and R managed to come home and we went out for a supper with very little interference from the phone. Now peacefully at home: R reading Stephen Pinker - almost to page 650!

Saturday was busy with "Maynooth Madness" which included a parade, highland games, a special art show in the municipal gym, the farm market. (I did not have a booth this week.) VERY busy. Then I went to the Art Gallery opening in Bancroft and connected with friends, part of the community centered around the gallery and my status as a new volunteer. Saw the art of a couple friends at the newly opened "A Place for the Arts" and delighted in the incredible progress in their abilities. Then back to M to visit with friends in various places and then to a potluck in the woods and met new people. Bed by 10 - exhausted.

Sunday was the big Dragonfly meeting and it went well, with the use of a talking stick. An agenda was developed for the meeting on 12 October (Canadian T-giving weekend). I did a "first": drove someone to the beer store and back. It gave me an opportunity to talk with him, emphasizing the importance of sticking to NOW and forgoing ancient history, of looking at the best possible ways of moving forward rather than getting bogged down in recriminations. It worked. I sure was uncomfortable driving an alcoholic to the beer store! He was sober for the meeting and behaved well.

A rest was in order after. Then two of the group came by the house for a visit and we talked about the way forward and other things. Another early night!

This morning, I got an early start and popped in to visit friends who were at bf. I had hoped to see their daughter but she had already gone back to the city to get ready for teaching on Tuesday. Now I was off track for the next chore but I wended my way south and bought a map of eastern Ontario! I went to look at the 1982 Westfalia van. R had talked with the owner about mechanics. I looked at the body and interior which are amazingly nice - fairly new upholstery and paint job. So I waited while R and the owner conferred and gave him a deposit. Now we must figure out how to transfer ownership etc. It is 4 hours from Montreal! I am thinking I would like to have an Ontario address and register and insure it there if one of my friends will share their address with me. Of course, then I would have to change all my other ID; that could be complicated. This requires thought by an uncluttered brain. Tomorrow, maybe.

Coming back to Quebec - I did not want to. I would be happy never to see Quebec again. I have greatly complicated my life by re-connecting with my life in Ontario. I, too, need to seek the best way forward.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 09:58 PM

Too bad about the curtains - I'm glad you're at least able to get the dust out of them with the dryer. That's a careless mistake for a commercial dry cleaner to make.

I nearly put my eye out this afternoon while trimming with the weed whacker. I usually wear safety glasses and I forgot (I wear regular glasses, and have to remember to change them out). POW! in the corner of the eye with a chunk of grass stem. I am okay, and I immediately headed into the house for goggles.

The garden is looking good now that I pulled out tall grass and spiderwort, and trimmed pathways between some crops. I need to cut up some peppers to freeze this evening, and tomorrow I'll pick a couple of eggplant to take with me to work. I accidentally cut down a poor poblano pepper plant that had been transplanted a couple of times and was covered in the grass. I have two other plants and will try to coax them into a fall crop.

Washing a few dishes and an early night.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Sep 14 - 11:35 AM

At sunset last night I made a few passes in the back yard with the mower to trim the grass in a zone out to about 15' out from the house. I don't water the entire yard, but I keep this green for the dogs. It looked lovely this morning at dawn. Yesterday I also ran the long hose back to the compost and watered for an hour or more to get it working. A wheelbarrow full of moist green weeds yesterday is what will help it start cooking now.

Still bringing lunch from home this month so I assembled some meal-like materials. I still have a bit of shopping left to restock the freezer for this month. It's still hot here, in the mid-90s during the day, but the quality of the light in the morning and evening is different and I'm beginning to feel like loading up on things that require longer cooking. Crock pot meals, braised and roasted meats, and baking. Mmmmm! I was officially "over" summer about two weeks ago. Now we just endure the last few hot weeks and pay happy attention to the signs of cooling and the arrival of fall.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 02 Sep 14 - 02:48 PM

I made a start on the sorting of yarn - oh boy is there a lot of it.
There are unfinished projects too.

I thought that I had bought two bins, but I found I'd bought one large and two smaller ones.

I should have bought lots of them - I might go and see if there are any left in the shop. The smaller ones are actually the better option, as I can move them when they are full - unlike the large one which is just too heavy.

I have some large clear bags for larger amounts of balled yarn - enough for a garment, the bins for cones, but a lot of stuff was left in the black bags - oddments which need further sorting   

I think I'll see if I can get a folding chair up into the roof space - then I can sit with a bag on my knee and sort through the contents to separate thick, medium and thin yarns. This is going to be my project for the cooler months, I can see.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Sep 14 - 03:34 PM

Fabulous day here...got my hair cut, highlighted and some teal streaks added. The streaks were placed on the side behind my ear...doesn't show as much as I'd hoped so my stylist sent the teal coloring home with me so I'm going to have some fun time!!! *GRIN*   I'm off to get dishes caught up and anything else that requires much water as we are supposed to get a doozie of a thunderstorm shortly and I like to have all that washing done. Even if it doesn't storm and we don't lose power it will be nice to have it done! Tacos are on the menu for dinner... I have 2 bottles of Pete's favorite beer in the fridge, some of Jeremiah's favorite kid coolers (a treat around here) and some Beringer's is chilling for me....just enough for a nice glass later on. Yum.

The heat is oppressive today and I have the AC on in the kitchen and 6 other fans circulating the air around so at least there is some movement. Since my instant menopause status and the meds I take, I just don't tolerate the heat well....especially not hot, stagnant air. ICK.

I'm off to do the dishes and get my little man from school!

Later Gators!


Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Sep 14 - 03:51 PM

City:
At the 5th grocery store, I finally managed to obtain choc chip mint ice cream. R finished what was here while I was away - and ate not much else at home! I had been trying to get the frig uncluttered but the bargains at the 4th store ... I shopped from about 11 to 2 so I have had a bit of lunch and am recovering. The heat and humidity are oppressive. The AC in the house is struggling. The K is impossibly hot; I will try organizing in "The cool of the eve" - if it ever comes.

We spent some conversation time this morning trying to get our heads around the logistics of our "new" van. Another complication in our lives. Where to park it -NOT in the city! I am hoping for up in Ontario in someone's safe yard. Then we can cruise northern Ontario for starters - a sort of getting used to it trip. It occurs to me that $4500 would pay for a lot of motel rooms. I hope the sense of freedom is worth it.

I am not doing a very good job of de-cluttering any part of life right now. I can say that I am feeling healthier, stronger, and happier, and my weight is not increasing.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Sep 14 - 04:41 PM

Helper Amber today was a dream. Young and energetic! We slew much dirt all around the dirtiest parts of the downstairs-- the perimeter full of dog hair and dead flies, many widowsills, and furniture set against the walls. Fam portraits down from walls, wiped, replaced. How dirty? Backs as filthy as fronts. Flies inside the glassed and matted frames. Ick!

DR rugs removed and rolled for move to K.

Bathroom woodwork and several louvered doors. The pre-wetted cloths were GREAT.

Thursday she returns for finish polishing and moving furniture while I vacuum rugs. Before then I will stage each horizontal surface and lay fresh rugs in DR and kitchen. (That will kick up more dust for a quick polishing. )

About two bags of trash created.

On my own I de-grimed under the cat box and the inside surface of a very dirty front door.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Sep 14 - 09:37 AM

Yesterday I shopped and found whole chicken on sale for about fifty cents off a pound. Four of them are now seal-a-mealed in the freezer, three of them cut in halves and one of them quartered. Gone are the days when cooking a whole chicken would feed the household for a couple of days at the most.

Garden pests somewhat decluttered - it is a weekly process to spray or pour water with soap to knock out ants and aphids, and follow up with dry puffs of diatomaceous earth. A fall garden can make a huge difference in the amount of preserved food in the house. It's almost time to make another batch of pickles. Okra is beginning to bloom and I'm planning to eat it as it comes in, in small batches, probably coated in Zataran's fish fry and fried, a gardener's guilty pleasure. ;-)

SRS

Subject: Decluttering
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Sep 14 - 09:55 AM

SRS (BTW), isn't this the first thread in the series that does not mention "declutter" in the title? I've always liked being able to filter-search up the list to review stuff-- any way to work it in?

===

Hardi has still not set a retirement date so it's still a few years off, but as we move some of the kids' stuff down to our retirement house in Ohio (vacay hse til then), their rooms are starting to empty out. I'm mindful of past landlord/tenant experiences... I always ran a "good stuff to know" list for the owner/next occupants, because there are many things about a house that you can't really understand until you've lived in it for awhile.

So I've asked the landlord's family (it's a fam-owned set of extensive farm holdings that happens to have as many houses as there are now adult sons) what the long-term strategy for this house is as I start that list-- and as we contemplate which appliances we might leave here... there is some duplication with Ohio-house appliances so I'll need to know ahead what to take, sell, or leave.

An example for the list-- after the 2000 fire the wiring in part of the upstairs was never replaced, so two rooms lack electricity. The rest of the upstairs outlets have wiring, but need the outlets themselves replaced. The landlord might remember that the two rooms "need wired," but might appreciate a heads-up on what won't be obvious till a new occupant tries to plug in their electric blanket.


My body must know things my mind doesn't know yet-- because my instinct is to start that list. It's like nesting before the baby arrives only in reverse-- I'm instinctively de-nesting.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Sep 14 - 10:49 AM

The title change was a bit intentional. I always trace the threads I know I want to visit again, so it pops up on my home screen. I hadn't thought about how people might filter these threads other than to tag them when they first turn up.

The daily temperature is still pushing to the high-90s, but the mornings have a *hint* of fall in them. My garden is starting to rouse itself and the fall crops are growing to fill places where spring crop plants have been removed.

Another eBay item listed and a couple of them have watchers. I was up early today and had time to put a new set of doll furniture up since I'm using a template for these that requires very little adjustment with each new listing. In the corner of the sunroom there is a file box full of padded envelopes awaiting their turn in the U.S. mail.

SRS

Subject: Decluttering
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Sep 14 - 10:58 AM

I Trace 'em only as long as they're current, otherwise my Traced list would be way too long. I try to keep it Decluttered! :-)

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Sep 14 - 01:10 PM

City:
De-cluttering my life by no longer going to the writers' group. The trip to the country on a Tuesday seems an added nuisance what with the 5 hour trips to Ontario. Plus, I rarely understand much and, although I like the people a lot, one of them is incapable of being quiet and her chronic comments add to my failure to understand. In my mind, I am no longer in southern Quebec. I will finish my commitments there at the end of September. In my mind, I am in Ontario. And, perforce, in Montreal.

The logistics of the new van need consideration. The logistics of Dragonfly are "not my circus, not my monkeys!" but I will continue to be supportive and see where it goes.

R just brought a piece of plywood for the K floor and that is a big improvement. It covers the section that has been deteriorating the worst. Such a shame. This would never have happened had there not been powder post beetles in the NON-kiln dried flooring. He thought he had beautiful cherry floors and, for a few years, he did. The ineradicable beetles have destroyed the floors, joists, probably studs.... That is why the reno is so major. Not going to happen soon.

Today I am gradually sorting out the frig and top freezer. There is more space and I will cook some and freeze some of yesterday's bounty. Beautiful breezy day with low pollution so I have doors open and am able to do some work in the back yard and in the studio.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Sep 14 - 03:17 PM

I posted but it apparently didn't stick.

Dorothy, re: the writers' group, is it your hearing, or the room acoustics, or the level of conversation that is the problem? I loved going to a group for years, until I got too busy (being a writer). And too too bad about that lovely floor. It sounds like those beetles are going to bring the house down.

Just back at my desk after another going away reception for a departing librarian. They're going at the rate of about 2 a month. The university powers that be must have noticed something is terribly wrong here, but the first step to fixing it is getting rid of the dean who dismantled our wonderful institution.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Sep 14 - 05:06 PM

Dorothy,

   That is my current motto: Not my circus, Not my monkeys. :)

I the first part of the day working in the kitchen and the second part at a friend's house catching up as she has been travelling extensively over the last few months. She made an awesome lunch, very Weight Watcher friendly that was both beautiful and yummy!

We had a great time! Bonus? She taught Jeremiah how to use a scooter and then let us borrow hers for an upcoming trip!

Next up? Yoga. Simple stretching out. Ahhhhhhhh.

XOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 14 - 09:20 AM

Last night's bread pudding took forever to set up in the roaster, but I had a bowl for breakfast and it was wonderful.

I'm loading up a lot of parcels to take with me to work today - 3 pounds of cucumbers for Dean for more pickles, six 4" vitex transplants for co-workers, and returning library books. I'll look like a bag lady heading up to the office today.

The days are still hot here, but there is a shift in the quality of light in the mornings now that tells me autumn is around the corner. Maybe it is the sun passing over and through the tattered leaves of the woods across the road. In spring they're so fresh and green and the light comes through accordingly, but now they're tough, darkening, some of them crisp from heat and ready to fall. The light that passes through those is more sepia, warmer, a different wavelength that registers in my brain.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Charmion
Date: 04 Sep 14 - 10:53 AM

Mango chutney and peach jam are on today's agenda, thus clearing the kitchen of a great deal of ripe fruit. It occurs to me that, each summer, I use something like five kilos of white sugar in August and September, and less than 500 grams over the rest of the year.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 04 Sep 14 - 12:05 PM

I went out to pick up the meds for my husband and went across the main road to visit a charity shop. I found five 'old willow' pattern small plates - the same as the set I had and only one of the small plates from that is left. They are the same make and identical, so now I have the six again.

I do have a posher set of 'Eternal Beau' pottery, but I like the old willow pattern for every day.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Sep 14 - 03:24 PM

Down 2.2 this week! :)

I'm off to put groceries away!

XOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Sep 14 - 04:16 PM

City:
I think the beetles are now confined to the K area though I don't know how. I have decided that this house is also "Not my circus..." A great mantra!

I am delighted with my plywood floor. R somehow managed to trip and turn his ankle last night. MAYBE he will come home with a saw and do what is necessary to make it safer for him. I carefully step in the right places!

Today I have worked in the back yard for pieces of time, rested, then gone at it a bit more. Actually making a difference. However, when I decided to move the poor rhubarb to a sunnier spot, I could not get the shovel in 3 inches! All gravel and no soil. Where it is was good but now, thanks to Manitoba maple, is too shady for it and for the herb bed as well. Not a chance the tree will be cut back soon. The whole yard is full of gravel from when it was a horse stable. Grass and creeping jenny do fine. Someone worked on the two side beds - both now shady. Thinking.... Maybe when R comes home with a saw, he can get rid of some of that tree. Maybe I will bring a pick back from the mill and sieve enough soil to make the sunny area useable - with added peat and manure. A COOL day project.

Getting hotter again so AC is on but I can go out for short times and come back in and cool off.

Going to start a pork roast with veggies. The K is closed off from cool part of house and door is open to outdoors. No exhaust fan.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 14 - 05:00 PM

I have to do some tree trimming this weekend, limbs leaning against the roofline in front. And the new reciprocating saw will be put to use to remove some cemented in wood fenceposts that no longer support fences. I'll cut them off just above ground level and use those (they are also the things used as landscaping timbers) along the fence to keep visiting dogs next door from pushing under the fence at a couple of places where the slats don't reach the ground.

Rum, it has been my experience that when I finally decide a set is so depleted that it can't be used, I donate what I have and then run across what I needed the next week at a garage sale. Never fails. You got lucky!

Making pickles this weekend. And jelly.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 04 Sep 14 - 05:55 PM

It was one of those fey moments - they must have been calling to me. I usually go to the clinic and back either on my bicycle and just whizz along, or saunter along on the most direct pathway - and today I did neither.

In addition, the plates were 50 pence each. I have seen them for far more, as it is one of those classic patterns which never seem to lose popularity.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 10:09 AM

City:
SRS: When I was environmentally poisoned in 2000, it created brain differences. I have trouble discriminating sounds - if there is more than one. Background music precludes me understanding much of anything. Movies are a struggle; R has to explain any finer points after we get home. If a person speaks to me directly, I can usually understand. If they put their hand on their chin, it changes the sounds. So do mustaches.

I hear too well and am hypersensitive to loud sounds, hence I no longer go to the cafe on Friday nights; since the beer and wine license, people speak loudly and so they turn up the music to compensate. It literally made my body physically hurt the last time I was there. I once had a brain damaged client (from hypoxia) who would come home complaining, "Those people on the school bus make my whole body hurt." I know how she felt.

My #1 son was bugging me about my hearing and told him if he spoke clearly and softly I would understand. He did; I did and he stopped bugging me. I can turn the TV up to no avail; the only way is closed captions, though I sometimes understand the CanadianBC news people. Temple Grandin explains the problem of auditory processing and discrimination in Thinking in Pictures. I believe it is a major cause of children with autism being non-verbal. If verbal sounds have no meaning because they cannot discriminate or process them, then how can they learn to use them? I have a book, Like Sound Under Water, which I bought in a grocery store bin; the name jumped out at me because that is how it often feels. A young mother explains how her, apparently non-autistic, toddler had to be trained to learn to discriminate sounds. She was fortunate to find this assistance.

Lots of people have trouble with auditory processing disorder (APD). I always had it to a degree but before the poisoning, I was a newspaper reporter for 6 years and understood easily. I was noted for the correctness of my reporting. I could not do that now.

The back yard looks better and I must have worked more than I thought because I am feeling it! R came home at midnight; I was in bed but awake. He came in and asked, jokingly, what's for dinner? I told him it was on the counter so he made himself a plate and sat on the bed to eat, telling me how good it was! When I phoned him just after 9, he had said he would be home "soon"!

I had almost an hour on the phone last night with my dear friend (1968) who is a rabbi in MD. This is the busiest month of his year - 3 weeks to Rosh Hashanah. It is uncanny how I think of him most at the time he is busiest. I had left him a rather plaintive, "I miss you" message a few days ago. We caught up.

Time to trim a few pots and and go to the mill. A two day craft show this weekend. The Roxham Woolgathering, at a marvellous old farm in the middle of nowhere Quebec. Hundreds of people travel 50 miles or more to come to the event!

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 10:43 AM

Thanks, Dorothy. I'm sure it took a while to sort out just what exactly was happening with your hearing after that started.

I'm hearing lots of people working outside, reminding me that I must mow parts of the front lawn that get sprinkler water and are now tall and green. The rest is dry and dormant brown.

I've managed another three-day weekend. There won't be another break till Thanksgiving. The cooler weather of autumn will give me more energy and I'll get more done on my days off (fall and spring are short here, don't blink).

Puttering today, and having lunch with a friend.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 03:43 PM

I stopped by the store "Tuesday Morning" today and found a lovely selection of holiday cards. They have some of the 3D types, with layers or attractive shapes added to embellish the face of the card. They were quite affordable - I picked up a simple card, 20 for $6, but some of the embellished ones were 10 or 15 for $6 and $7. Not overtly religious, with a good selection of "happy holidays" and not all naming a particular holiday. I've been using up cards over the years and am getting close to drawing down the backlog. I don't send nearly as many cards as I used to, sad to say I've lost track of a lot of people. I suppose I ought to Google a few of them this year.

At lunch today we had an inexperienced waitress. Lots of returns to the table with questions and a couple of mistakes on the order. I spoke to the manager on the way out, telling him we could tell that she's new at this but to give her more time. Jobs like this tend to just "click" at some point and become much easier. He said she's a college student, so she's probably busy learning new stuff all day long. I think there was a reason we were seated in her small section - they put motherly types in there who would be patient as she learns. That's okay.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 05:55 PM

Mill:
I am melting. 31C too hot to bother seeing what that is in F. Think I will go soak myself with the hose right in the building - where the roof used to leak so I know it goes into the concrete and disappears somehow. Cannot get to it outside due to large puddle. But first need to find something to keep bugs out as I foolishly left the portable screen door in the city. Supposed to rain tonight. Bugs know! So grateful for AC in car on way down!

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: mg
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 03:38 AM

Bugs are. Not pleasant. I have tree frogs getting in my toilet and shower..some say they drop down from vent..easy to catch..i dont mind them on occasion but dont want more coming..

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 08:29 AM

I have native toads and lizards and introduced Mediterranean house geckos around the house and in the yard eating pests. They occasionally get in and I can usually catch them. Sometimes not, and sometimes they turn up dried out behind some piece of furniture. More often I expect they find an exit.

Last night all of us had gone to bed and Cinnamon was asleep on her bed on the floor when she got up and stood by the door. I opened it and followed her into the living room where Zeke was eating something. Turns out he pulled one of 2 eggplants off of the kitchen counter. Busted by Cinnamon. Now I'm one down for the dish I was going to make, but I have more almost ready in the garden.

A day dedicated to generally decluttering, dusting, and vacuuming. And I've found a program I'm going to stream via NetFlix from the beginning.

Hoping for rain today. I'm doing my laundry early and will hang out on the line this morning. Afternoon showers are predicted.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 11:49 AM

I had two days of very energetic cleaning help and Hardi and I have been working very hard to do our parts. Today is divvying up the Meat Sale. Only one item this time needed to be cooked before freezing and I did that already. Most of the rest will go quickly.

The cleaner and I made a deal that when I get back from Ohio she will come every month to boss me around and team-clean with me, till I can do it on my own. Yay!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 05:06 PM

I've managed to lure the rain into the area. We hear thunder and have got a few fat raindrops. The radar says most of the activity is still in the next county to our west. I had one last outdoor chore before the weather - I have a long branch trimmer to trim some of the branches on the vitex in the front yard. I'm seeing ants in the house and I think they were climbing the vitex and coming in the attic vents. It's that time of year.

I was outside more than I expected to be today and could make up for some of the things I need to do this evening, but Susie called to invite me out to dinner. She's wanting something mild so we'll head over to a French restaurant with a mix of mild and rich to choose from. I'm craving some of their French onion soup. We'll go out around 7 and by then the storm may have passed.

Several watchers on the eBay items, and I'll keep listing more. I need to look around and get a little more variety. It's mostly just antique doll house furniture now.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 08:57 AM

There is now a bid on one set of doll furniture. I think I've priced them pretty reasonably - I don't expect the final amount to end up more than the opening bid on most of them - so hopefully this will translate into more watchers and sales.

I have my first "schoolhouse" lily this weekend, and a couple of more stems sprouting. A friend at work gave the bulbs to me over a year ago. She said to plant them and forget them, they'd put up foliage then die, then come September when the kids are back in school, suddenly you'd see these lovely red flowers in the garden. The first has opened.

I need another cup of tea, and this looks like a good morning to walk the dogs. This is a "fasting day" in my alternate day fasting, and exercise along with the modified fast (one meal or a couple of light snacks totalling about 500 calories) is the way to make it work.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 03:45 PM

well this morning I had a garter snake in the bathroom. I went back into try to catch it, without letting it escape..but could not find it. A fish and wildlife friend from church came over and she could not find it either. I think it went back to wherever it came from and I am hoping it could not have slithered under door..which fits very tightly...oh dear.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 07:38 PM

Besides getting stuff accomplished to cobble this place back together so it doesn't fall down around my ears, I've been using the de-clutter thread du jour as my support group through Tom's illnesses and my journey into widowhood.

Sorry I've been away for a couple weeks; I HAVE been busy.

And, after I read the end of the last thread and the beginning of this one, I'll actually post a few accomplishments.

Right now I need to put the almost-chicken-stew in the fridge to finish tomorrow evening, and take a drink upstairs, settle in, and read and critique two pieces for tomorrow's memoir writers group.

It's been a lovely and accomplished day. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow...

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 10:23 PM

Same here. Things accomplished, and now a relaxing glass of Shiraz and checking in before heading to bed to read for a little while. I made two batches of mustang grape jelly this afternoon, clearing out the 2 litre container of juice and several smaller things from the fridge. I have batches of rice and of kung pao chicken to use for lunch this week.

I also finally found one of the longer running programs on television that streams from the very beginning via NetFlix. I have been aware of the program Bones but never watched it - I like to see a series from the beginning, to pick up the backstory and relationships. I watched seven episodes while I worked in the kitchen this afternoon and evening. I also made a loaf of bread during this binge of cooking and murder mysteries. Via disk I'm going to start watching The Big Bang Theory. The tasks I have been assigned at work are so colossally boring that that the others doing these jobs stream videos while they work. It's the only way to keep your butt in the chair and have something to focus on. Not the job I accepted when I was hired 17 years ago, and not the job I intend to do much longer if I can help it.

So, nice to get to meet new characters, this program has the same mix of drama and mystery and comic relief as the British mystery New Tricks. That works for me. A couple laugh out loud moments means they've really thought out the intricacies and can plan them in several directions. When did I ever laugh watching one of the CSI or Law and Order mysteries? None that I can think of. Though the Jeff Goldblum detective in Criminal Intent made me smile a few times.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 09:04 AM

I've only watched the first two seasons of "Big Bang Theory" but laughed my way through them and look forward to seeing the rest some time.

I haven't watched regular television since 1983 (when I couldn't schedule seeing one of the middle episodes of "Brideshead Revisited"), but my sister passes on full run of the show DVDs so I've learned the joys of binge watching. Loved "Boston Legal" and I'm currently through the first four seasons of "White Collar" which I've REALLY been enjoying.

Breakfast eaten, PMFF biz taken care of, I'll be off to my memoir writers group in about a half an hour.

Had what turned out to be a minor cat crisis this morning. Sabine has taken to sitting in the corner on the kitchen stove. I've been trying to persuade her that it's NOT a great idea, even if there are no burners on. This morning she was there (and in shadow so I didn't see her) when I took a pan off the front opposite burner to drain the pasta. Before I got the drained pasta back into the pan and onto the still hot but cooling electric burner, she started to walk across the stove and across that burner. She skidded slightly and, I think from the smell, singed some hair. I don't think she burned herself, but she DID realize that burners are sometimes hot. I sincerely hope this will dissuade her from perching in the corner!

She's been driving me crazy lately (and I shouldn't make it sound like an all day trip). She's 18, sleeps a lot, and no longer comes upstairs to snuggle with me on the bed. So when I come into the kitchen, she's very demanding and, understandably, wants to be petted, cossetted and cuddled. But she insists on being RIGHT THERE no matter what I'm preparing and fighting me for it. (Ever try to make a sandwich when the cat wants to sit on the plate, lick the mayo jar, lick the butter, stick her nose into whatever whatever you're cutting up to put in it, etcet etcet?) And then Rufus attacks my plate from whatever angle he can when I'm eating at the computer (as I'm really trying not to do, but it's not working). He doesn't even LIKE people food! And I realize exactly how close to the edge I've been since Tom died because it annoys me way out of proportion to what they're doing.

I hope I put both my patience and my vocabulary in a safe place and I can retrieve them both again some day...

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 12:12 PM

Home from a travelling weekend and puttering in the kitchen. I'm meeting my mom later today and we are going for a walk while Jeremiah has fun on his scooter.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 12:37 PM

Mill:
Linn! Your animals would annoy me to the point of OUT! Out of proportion? I cannot abide cats on the counter, never mind the stove. Having to push them away from my food? No way! However, Sabine's behaviour is disturbing for what it may mean about her physical health. It might help if you took her upstairs to bed with you? As one of my (large) dogs was physically deteriorating, I slept downstairs on the couch so I could keep him company and pet him when he whimpered in the night.

The weekend craft event was not a big success financially - even the people selling corn in the cob left early! Saturday was dreadful as it rained almost constantly. A few people came in between times and with umbrellas. I sold a few pots. Sunday was exquisitely beautiful but the crowd did not appear. Vendors did not do well generally, though it was way better than Sat! Viewed as a social event, it was delightful.

Unfortunately, as I finished a food break, sitting on a low stool in the sun, I fell over. Boom, just fell. ???? Scared me more than it hurt but I did pull something in thoracic region (heard it "crack or pop or something). The rest of the afternoon, I sat in a rather blue/black funk - in a chair carefully placed - trying to figure out what happened. Why?

I have become aware of not having a clear sense of my body in space. I bump things. A long talk with Connie last night - she had NO ideas. Equilibrium was the word that came to mind.

Vanessa was at the event and stayed to help me pack up and load the car. My small community kicked in as I tried to ascertain how much damage I was felling, whether or not R needed to come down from the city; how to deal with the situation of a car load of pots and shelves that I may not be able to pack up. The committee finally decided that Vanessa could pack and I felt able to drive. Sarah found V and Catherine insisted I let her know how I was doing down at the mill by myself. So it came to pass.

Then I had trouble finding a way out of the morass of cars trying to pack up and leave. The vendor who had been next to me suggested I let her do it. So, for the first time in my life... She somehow managed it. I was still too shaken by the fall - the emotional impact of it was worse than the physical. I will continue to make pots with the rather large amount of clay I still have and figure out ways to pedal them. No more shows - unless I have a helper.

I stopped on the way back to the mill to pick up homeopathic for my environmental from Vanessa's dad, had a nice chat with her mom while dad was out for a run. He also gave me something for the pain which seems to be helping. Then came to the mill and had a good supper and sleep.

V's dad did tell me he has heard the planes spraying chemicals during the summer so maybe I was not being silly when I felt I better get out of Dodge.

So, this, beautiful, morning, I checked glaze materials vs glaze recipes and placed an order which Vanessa will pick up. Told Cathy I was OK. Chatted with one of the Dragonfly persons. Started cleaning out a mess in the bottom of the frig which has been there for ages. I have not been here enough to deal with it.

I am feeling a little rocky, and my gut is unhappy, but I hope to be able to trim the few pots made yesterday before I fell. Then measure and mix as many glazes as I feel able - would like to do four....   Then drive to the city.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 12:52 PM

Dorothy, maybe there is more going on with your ears than just how you hear in different settings, maybe your balance is affected. A checkup with an ENT might be productive just in case this is the early stage of something.

My breakfast this morning included homemade bread/toast with some of the new batch of grape jelly - delicious - and it's so beautiful in the jar, a deep garnet colored jelly. I always get a thrill the next morning after canning when I walk into the kitchen and see the morning sun shining in on all of the jars on the counter.

Writing projects are occurring to me these days, for both blog and freelance. I need to do this for my sanity since there is nothing creative going on at work, so I need to clear off a few surfaces in my home office and set up files for notes - even though so much is done on the computer and is stored digitally, I need paper copies to proof read and make margin notes. And keep ideas, sheets torn from magazines or articles printed off the Internet.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 02:51 PM

Projects are proceeding but slowly.

The black lambswool crochet bolero is maybe half done. The black kilt was finished enough to pin on and wear on Saturday to go to the Swanage folk festival.

I realised that it is going to be ideal for things I need to drive to as the fabric is crease resistant. It means that the pleats are not quite as sharp as they could be, but being sat on is not a problem.

I use writing as a sort of therapy - I just write, rewrite and elaborate on fictional situations until whatever is bothering me is worked out through the repetition and resolutions I find. Then I dump the lot, leaving my thoughts more sorted out and my emotions calmed.

The black kilt is now unpinned and waiting for the last lot of sewing of the waistband and then fixing on the buckles and straps which it needs. It is beautifully heavy and swings at every step - there is over 8 yards of fabric, the longest length I've used so far. The band is strengthened with military style webbing to hold it as it oscillates.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 03:58 PM

Snow in the mountains and snow expected here tomorrow.

Did you get your gutters cleaned? Has your furnace had its yearly inspection?

LED flashlights have taken over. I put all the old stuff in recycle, don't burden anyone with the old stuff; old batteries can leak and are dangerous.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 08:06 PM

Full day. With snowy egrets. Even in South Mill Pond (where I've never seen them before) in the heart of the South End of Portsmouth on the way to the library for the meeting. The meeting was demanding...but in a good way.

Critiquing the other two selections was intense, both in laughter and in seriously (and not so seriously) discussing writing styles, word crafting and methodology. One person brought up the fact she'd like to share a piece with the group, but since it's intensely personal, she really doesn't want it to be critiqued, just accepted and another person told of a group where that's the general drill. So we're going to try it, at least for selected pieces like this one.

My draft of a draft of "You Can't Get To Heaven If You're Hit By a Tourist" (it's not even a draft, just me getting things on paper; submitted because one member really wanted to read it) was critiqued by the members of the group who missed the last meeting.

After the meeting I was going to go to the new Portsmouth Goodwill (where I hadn't yet been) and then go to a friend's, but she turned out to be teaching today, so didn't go there. When I got to Goodwill first I couldn't find my discount card (still have another place to look) but they looked me up, then I had a MAJOR disappointment. Found "King of Hearts" with Alan Bates in the DVD section for $2.95...checked inside (I've gotten burned before) and there was no DVD. Sigh. But that means it's out there and maybe I'll find it again at a yardsale, Goodwill, whatever. Then, on my way out, I discovered I'd locked my keys in the car. Not a problem. I have dupes in my billfold and also in one of those magnetic dealies hidden on the body of the car.

So instead of going to my friend's, I headed for the beach and the scenic route (or one of them) home. More snowys across from Odiorne and in the first salt marsh down at the beach in Rye. Even a Great Egret, which are not overly common around here, was in the marsh (and not in its usual marsh, either). Diverted up Washington Road to Rte. 1 and got a chocolate banana malt for lunch at Lagos Lone Oak, one of the few places in New England I can get a malt. Went back down to 1A, the beach road, and came inland and home via North Hampton.

Got home just before 3:00 and was too sleepy to read, so I took a nap. Right after I woke up and turned the phone back on, got a call from Nick Noble about the PMFF promo we're doing on his "Folk Revival" show in a couple weeks and then got a lovely call from my friend Jenny in Seattle. She used to be an antiquarian bookseller specializing in books of Asia so our phone calls also include great conversations about books and writing and editing.

Realized after the phone calls (7:30 pm) that I'm still not really hungry after the malt, so was satisfied with a very light snack instead of thickening yesterday's chicken stew as I'd planned. I also didn't have time to bake zucchini bread. Tomorrow...after my dentist appointment.

Very rich day. But no time to fill you in further of my adventures of the past couple weeks. Time to give Sabine some serious one-on-one and retire with a glass of wine and a book (and Rufus in the lap).

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 10:04 PM

I think I have an old VCR tape with King of Hearts on it. I just looked at NetFlix, it's in the "save" category, they know it exists but don't have it. I'll look around. I may have a DVD.

I'm nodding off at my computer this evening. Waiting on a call, but I may text and put it off till tomorrow. Tuesday is my late night so I could sleep in later tomorrow, but I want to be up early and get down to my GP office for the shingles inoculation now that I'm eligible. My mother got shingles and was lucky that it was diagnosed early - if caught early it is treatable. The shot doesn't spare everyone the condition, and not everyone who had chicken pox gets shingles, but I'll get the shot to give myself better odds.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 11:06 AM

An early pass through the garden yielded several eggplant, average ~ 10 ounce, a handful of Roma tomatoes, and one lovely okra. There are more blooms on the flowers now, I'm hoping to start getting enough to use for meals soon. I gave a few to my next-door neighbor who likes them boiled ("bowled" is the Southern pronunciation) but her husband only likes them fried. She'll simmer those to go with her lunch.

Ants in the house still, stalking anything trash-related that I miss. I think they were attracted by either the wrapping some fish came in last night (frozen) or a paper towel that had some bacon grease. These aren't sugar ants, they're the other kind. Annoying, but here one minute and gone the next. More diatomaceous earth puffed into the general area.

The call is in requesting the shingles shot. Apparently the doctor needs to approve it, but then I can walk in, I won't have to make an appointment.

Linn, I envy you your scenic drives. I have different routes to and from work that I follow on whim and in order to keep my brain engaged in noticing the differences along the route. Autopilot for 30 minutes each way isn't stimulating or necessarily healthy.

Alternate fasting day today - one small meal that I'll take to eat at work. I've been climbing the stairs more often in the building to build the fitness level. Every little bit helps. This is a good time of year for this, when I feel more energetic as the weather gradually cools.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 04:42 PM

New Hampshire is gorgeous, Maggie. When I was working at Fox Run Mall in Portsmouth (Newington, if you want to get technical), I was "forced" to drive past/over Little Bay and Great Bay, take the Spaulding Turnpike bridge along the Piscataqua River and over the mouth of the Bays.

Today, going to my dentist appointment, in taking the shortcut between Rte. 4 and Rte. 9, I drove past Mendums Pond and Swains Lake. Got to check out how many turtles were on what I call Turtle Rock.

Had to take a "faster" road home so I could get a few groceries, but then took back roads to Nottingham's center so I could vote in today's primary. Not much reason for us Democrats to go to the polls today, but I feel voting is important no matter what.

Then turn down my road which is 1.2 miles of dirt road through fairly thick woods before you reach my house just before the top of the hill. (Broken only by the Priest Road Cliffs, which used to draw a lot of rock climbers.)

Just started the dishes in the dishwasher and put the zucchini bread in the oven. This morning I had a nice long talk with a friend who lost her husband a couple months before I lost Tom. And I got directions to the studio in Worcester, MA to all those who have confirmed with me for the PMFF promo that Nick Noble will do on his "The Folk Revival" show on WICN on September 18th.

Right now the novocaine is wearing off and I'm not only getting a headache but my jaw hurts. Think I'll take some aspirin and return my sister's call.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 05:00 PM

The photo on my smart phone "home" screen is one I took with said phone, from the passenger seat in Linn's car, going across the bridge she referred to, while we were headed to lunch at Bugaboo Creek (the first time).

I can't get things in focus when I'm careful. Aiming a phone out the wind of a moving vehicle, and it's perfect. I suppose it's a lesson in trusting to the inevitability of happy accidents.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 06:52 PM

Some of these devices exist just to make fools of us, Jeri. Phone cameras are iffy creatures for capturing images.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 07:44 PM

City:
Sorting out life is a muddle right now. Sometime this weekend: Look at a property in Ontario that we missed last time thanks to lazy real estate work; I emailed and got better directions from a good realtor/friend. Figure out what to do about registering the VW van. I am thinking of "moving" to Ontario - shifting my address, car registration, etc. All I need is an address. ---Just phoned a friend there to ask about using her address and parking VW in her yard for a bit. She and husband can think about it and I will phone back tomorrow. I would like it in a safe place. Definitely not Montreal.

Changing provinces, like changing states, is not a small thing.

There was a heron in the middle of the road on Sunday, on my way from the Woolgathering! It deigned to move out of my way to a farm yard. Stood there looking at me as I looked at it. We had a gazing fest. Such an awkward looking thing when not flying.

I do want to be in Ontario for the volunteer meeting on Monday. All else can, I hope, revolve around that. VW thing needs to be done on week days. Need to avoid driving back and forth - 2 hours each way. (OK, I am thinking "out loud.)

So, I did get the pots trimmed yesterday but a long afternoon nap preceded that so by the time I, with great energy, started to get into the glaze making routine, I realized it was time to leave! So I came back to the city. Watched Big bang, gave up waiting for R and had left- over pork roast and veggies for supper, watched part of the news and went to bed. R came in after midnight, having supped at McD.

He looked for the trash this morning and I pointed out that it was still in the LR because I am waiting for the floor (plywood!) to be nailed down. HINT!! He was working on the electric at a building so a film company could film today. Did not have time to replace a light bulb in our K. He had to rush back up there. This "shoemaker's children" thing has gotten VERY old.

I think I accomplished something besides bf and internet today - a couple emails to folks and research "moving to Ontario" - but not much. I did carry the wheel upstairs and a small box of greenware out to the car. A long aft nap again, then I went to tackle the clay but one pot and three balls that refused to behave and I decided to give it up 'til tomorrow. There is still some discomfort in chest and I do not want to aggravate it. The two homeopathics are helping the pain and the environmental. I felt great this morning but the afternoon sleepies were major.

SRS: It does seem as though balance is off but only minimally. I am not going to subject myself to the so-called health care system until I have a better handle on the situation myself. I need to pay more attention to mini-incidents and when and where they occur. It could be food or toxin related. Or any number of things. I need to study on it more.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 06:46 AM

Good Morning!

Just checking in to say I'm blowing my diet this week all over the place..ARG....travelling was not well planned on my part....but today is a new day. :) I will be catching up on the dishes, doing some laundry, sewing and starting to purge some items around here that just need to go. Facebook Yard Sale sites are my friend.

Eyes all swollen this morning, the right one in particular is all gummy and red. Golden rod, while beautiful, is not my friend.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 11:19 AM

MIL arrived on time ydy in Rochester (nearest good airport, 2 hours each way). Hardi and I enjoyed an E. Nesbit audiobook on the way up and picked up a $1 lamp for a last dark corner in the rearranged LR. Short, glass, with shade, perfect.

MIL came in to see the house on the way to her hotel (she's pet-allergic and has set herself a 3-hour limit here to avoid excessive anti-histamine use). Most years we've made her bypass the house til the day after her flight, because I've still been racing thru it hiding dirt up to the moment she walks in. It's good to be thyroid-powered now!

She lived in much dirtier houses as a young mom-- next door to an active railroad and coal yard. She doesn't judge, but she does have real breathing issues now. This is likely her last visit here-- we'll go see her next year-- and we are especially eager to have her with us at the house as much as she can stand; she now needs a salt-free diet, so we stocked up on the steaks she loves as an alternative to restaurants.

We also have a lot of local field trips planned, for her to accumulate as many good memories of this special community as possible, and even the leaves are cooperating by starting the show a few days early. Her PT has fitted her for a bit more walking, and we may be able to borrow a walker-with-seat since my scooter is still in Ohio.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 01:14 PM

Made my list for the day early, as usual. It took me until 10 am to realize I'm having a "grief day". Probably because I don't HAVE to go anywhere today (nothing on the calendar) and there is nothing that HAS to be done today.

Good. Because I just CAN'T. Over the past couple days I was starting to feel a bit over-extended. An introspective day should reassure me everything is pretty much under control or as much as can be realistically expected.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 05:43 PM

City:
Thinking is hard work! I have spent most of today trying to figure out logistics of getting the van to where we want it - paid for and repaired. Thanks to the vendor! He is willing to take it to Bancroft to my fav mechanic - PETE! After I transfer money to his account. Then "all" I have to sort out is an address for registering and insuring it and my car and changing driver's license, health card, etc! All those little details... When I tried to confer with R, he was in the middle of.... So far, nothing is engraved in stone but I feel there are reasonable options. Between phone calls, I was on line, emailing, messaging, sharing... NO afternoon sleepies!!

Still hoping to go upstairs to make a few pots with fresh clay, giving myself the best chance of success. Watching the news at the moment.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 11:44 PM

Lots of little things out of the way. Fridge checked for containers needing emptying, and those are in the dishwasher that was emptied, reloaded, and now running. This morning I was able to spray a mix of compost tea, a little orange oil, and some Hastagro fertilizer in a gallon of water in a pump sprayer over the vegetable garden. Pushing back the encroaching ants and aphids. My next door neighbor has an eggplant that has been chewed to pieces - I think it needs more sun and is in stress, so the bugs attack all the more. It's only a few feet from my plants on the other side of a fence. It may be the source of some of the pests migrating to my garden.

Waiting on my eBay auction winner to pay. I think most of these small parcels will sell, and I still have several more small lots to list. All of this antique doll house furniture was in a large shoebox, so it won't clear up much space in the house, but my PayPal account will appreciate the traffic. Usually if you have a bunch of similar things to sell, once one or two have sold people start looking for your listings. I no longer offer to combine shipping, eBay makes way too big of a deal about it, but I will if items are purchased at the same time by one buyer.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 03:40 PM

Alice is seeing snow flurries in her Montana home on the range but it is still in the high 80s down here in Texas. A cool front supposedly came through (that's why it isn't 100 right now). I turned off the watering timer for overnight, fingers crossed we get rain in the next 24 hours. Michelle has been delivering firewood for weeks as people in PA get ready for winter. I'd love to have a wood-burning stove or a pellet stove to use in the cooler months.

It's nice to see the seasons begin to change.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 09:44 PM

I spent the entire day working on a mass production of some Halloween pretties to market hopefully within the next two weeks. Measuring and cutting fabric all day...I think between that and allergies, I am just about blind tonight. Arg.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 12:49 PM

The current trip and trailer-load to Ohio was planned the minute I knew the housemate had to go. It's been as intense as a military campaign and thanks to all the participants it is on schedule for all benchmarks to be manifest as planned.

This AM Hardi and I loaded the trailer. A few hoped-for items were deferred to a later trip but thanks to Hardi's handling of the heavy loading and his expertise in good weight distribution, all that remains to be done is adding the cargo net and heavy top-tarp once he adds a dozen screw eyes for the tarp straps. We're leaving the trailer attached to the van. Boxes to take inside the van are in there out of the weather-- I just need to add autoharp, some bluestone, and slide one big box around to its proper spot before departure. Add one small dog and driver day of departure-- Monday midday to miss all rush hr traffic en route, after cash stop at bank.

Till Monday I get to complete the current clng phase-- kitchen-- to be able to return in 3 wks to ordered cleanliness I can keep clean and orderly. Meat sale goodies are all stowed for Hardi's use and my return. To that end, ydy I did a long-deferred cleaning of the fridge. Today the clear drawers are being run thru the new dishwasher and I have condimentia to wipe, sort, stow. Sumpins gotta give there-- sm fridge w too many ethnicities' worth of jars. Some will have to move to second fridge in laundry room!!! Hardi will determine which.

I'm tired enough these days to sleep a lot better!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 12:57 PM

City:
SRS! Does it get cold enough for a wood stove? They are so cheery. But messy. MY bro has a beautiful wood stove in his huge K and his wife refused to allow its use - until the last few years. The price of oil... He has a fan system that pulls the heat to the other end of the house. A pellet stove is, of course, less messy and easier to manage. Bet you could get one on craigslist or...

I managed to throw a few pots Weds. Later in the eve, a few emails came in about Dragonfly. I was too tired to even think about them but hope to - later today. It is on my mind as I do other things so I am hoping ideas are perking away.

Yesterday, I went to buy another pottery wheel - my fav sort. After a long talk with the vendor, we agreed he would deliver it when his auction friend in Huntingdon has his open house. No rush; I still have not yet set up the last one; have no had enough time/energy when at the mill. This one is totally unnecessary but for $250... A friend just had one stolen; she may want this one or... .

Then I drove down to the mill - 90 minutes, stopping for a loaf of cheese bread for R at a bakery - too far for special trip but it was en route. After a lunch, I went into studio and perused the situation. Decided to mix glazes first as the area was ready. Measured 3 ingredients and looked at the 4th - something seemed wrong about the amount so I spent the next hour going over and over and over the numbers for each ingredient, using the computer calculator. Definitely a bad brain day! Finally decided I had them correct; the 4th had been terribly wrong. Finished that one - an almost full 5 gallon bucket - sieved twice. Then did one with only 3 ingredients; easily measured! Then it was time to pack up and come back to city.

I had gone down specifically to be with Vanessa so she could learn to load the bisque kiln and prepare glazes. She never showed. I did not load the bisque kiln. She really needs to learn - a lot. She seems to want to and I had been feeling badly that I was never there when she was. Oh well.

An hour of Big Bang and I felt better, then elephants on Suzuki. A program on condos in Canada - the significant problems thereof - should put anyone off the idea of buying one.   R came home by 8!!!! NO sense of time! He was surprised that I was home "already" even though I had phoned at 6 to tell him I was on my way - it is only an hour trip. Nice to have supper before midnight.

This morning indicates the need for a new modus operandi. Instead of him lying in bed until, suddenly, he "needs to get to the office" - without bf, I will get up by 8 and make bf and he WILL get up and eat BEFORE the phone starts ringing. Otherwise I shall grab it from his hand and flush it down the toilet!   OK, so I won't flush the blackberry down the toilet but - you get the idea!

Poor man spends the day putting out fires and there I am wanting to know when the roof will be repaired. He seems to have plan - but before snow???

The doorbell rang a while ago - while I was on here. The next door neighbour, a lovely woman, is selling her house and kindly asked to go into the alley between our houses. This is our alley but our gate does not open from the outside. Some work needs to be done on her house and the inspector is coming and - she very sweetly asked if we could move the stuff leaning against her house - doors, broken windows... I have now done that; it included picking up a pile of broken glass - a small cardboard box full now sits on our front stoop awaiting garbage day. That was good exercise.

One load of laundry is washed, dried and put away. The second is in the dryer. One very tired flannel sheet will be torn into "non-paper towels". I have a new set from a thrift shop. I'll let the bed air until later.

Now - maybe if I go work on pots it will help my brain sort out the rest of the van conundrum.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 09:01 PM

Spent today taking Mom to the doctor.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 10:49 AM

Hm!!! The workshop around which I built my whole Sept. trip's schedule was resked to the following week, so I get to delay departure by one day and spend it with MIL. We're really enjoying this visit, plus she has fab reno ideas/experience, so that makes Monday the day we can look at Ohio house pix and floor plans, YAY!

Makes a day I can run the sweeper around once more to make it better for me when I return, YAY! And maybe lay a carpet in the laundry room where the floor is COLD, YAY!

WINWINWIN and flexibly!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 11:56 AM

Michelle, I hope your mother is okay. There is a bug going around the office that a couple of people have suffered through and now one of them has a child (aged 11) who has been the the hospital because of it.

Dorothy, we get quite a robust winter here in North Texas. It's not like North Dakota, but from December through March it can be cold and windy, weather that would make a wood burning stove welcome. My friend Susie has an insert in her fireplace. I think my chimney needs work, I'm afraid an insert would rust out too soon. For now I have my fireplace completely sealed (I lined the insides and top with that pink board of insulation you get in 4x8 sheets at Home Depot) and the front has a piece wedged into the entire opening so it is a stone wall with a pink panel in front. My television sits in front and blocks the view of it, and last year at xmas as we opened gifts I streamed a NetFlix movie of a burning fireplace. :)

This morning is lovely and cool, our first day that really feels like fall. It's too early to last, but for a couple of days it is brisk. I had a window open last night and no ceiling fan and added a light blanket to the bed.

Cool weather makes me feel like cooking. I picked up a pot roast yesterday so I'll fix that and have it for leftovers for lunch during the week. I have to dice some more veggies from the garden to put in the freezer. I picked up sugar so I may make one more batch of jelly (2 so far). It's a great gift. I'll be making banana bread tomorrow evening to cool overnight and ship in the morning as part of a care package to my son who is now a week into a new job. There are several folks he knows from the university who relocated to Seattle for work, they have a facebook page for the group so I suspect those homesick puppies will be doing things together on their weekends as they adjust to the new climate and new life situations.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 12:08 PM

One load of wood delivered, off to do another.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 01:57 PM

Load 2 DONE! One more to go!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 02:22 PM

Just got home a little while ago from doing a yardsale loop and taking some photos in a little interesting cemetery on Packer's Falls Road in Newmarket.

Did get something practical at a yardsale, a couple brand new 8" trim rings for electric burners on the stove. Fifty cents each (buck total) to rejuvenate the stove top. But then spent two bucks on a blue stuffed dragon... I need dragons like cats need wings. (Cute, though.)

Also got some peaches at the stand down the road...and I'm about to gobble one of those for dessert.

I'd photographed the cemetery back in 2002, but with film. And, if I recall correctly, the processor screwed up the prints, so now I have some okay shots. It's an interesting family (Joy / Griffiths / Munroe) cemetery surrounded by a really wonderful stone wall (not surprising considering all the stonework in Newmarket) with a largish white obelisk in front on a mound and a bunch of various grave markers behind it. The REALLY interesting marker has a large hand pointing to the left (at a fairly ostentatious monument) and reads,

"A SUITABLE MONUMENT
   AND FIT UP THE LOT"
                      S.E.O.
         ________
[then lists a couple female Munroes one of whom may have also been a Joy]
         ________
I BOUGHT THIS LOT 1740

And on my way home, I stopped on Madbury Road in Durham just before it crosses Rte. 4 and took a few photos of Tom Hall Road. Ayuh. Just not MY Tom Hall! Originally took photos of this street sign back twenty or more years ago. They're back in my photo files (prints, negatives) somewhere, but now I've got a digital photo I can post at Facebook. I think this sign is actually a replacement of the one I photographed around 1990, and I don't think the old one had a "Yield" sign on the side of it.

When I got home and before I went into the house, I did some raking in the driveway. I've got to get all of the last season's leaves (that I had raked to the side of the driveway last Spring) cleaned up and dumped so Drew can do some more grading after last week's torrential downpour cut the Grand Canyon at the head of the driveway and another good sized gully down the turnaround. I've been neglecting this raking for most of the summer since it was either too wet or too hot to work on it. But I really need to get this done before this year's leaves start falling hot and heavy.

Should dry some sheets... Should get dishes out of dishwasher... Should clean up the kitchen... Should take out the kitchen compost (again)... I did get the chicken stew into the freezer, though. And gave Sabine some serious petting and attention.

Onward...

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 03:21 PM

Two rugs laid in laundry room. Office email project partially decluttered.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 05:06 PM

Third load delivered and unloaded. Lunch made. Paper clutter piles on the edge of the hoosier have been sorted with a good deal of it in the trash.

Feet up.

Ahhhhhhh.

Michelle who wore steel toed shoes for the first time today

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 05:58 PM

CITY:!
What a messed up day. Having arranged to meet V at the mill for some pottery work, I wanted to leave about 11 as she needed to get to work elsewhere by 4. So R brought me a cheque to put in the bank for the van. Stopping at a bank en route, after getting over the darn bridge took a while due to more construction, I was informed it would not clear until Friday; I wanted to make a transfer on Monday. "If you go to your branch..." She said it would be different. Back across the bridge! called V to tell her I would not make it. Stopped for a pee break and bought some groceries at Loblaws. Got to the bank and a more useful but equally distressing message. There really is no such thing as "my branch". And it made no difference except that instead of the 19th, it would actually be 22nd (5 business days). She would phone the other branch and inform them that I had been misinformed - which screwed up my day totally; I would not have come back but would have gone along to the mill and made other arrangements, as I shall have to do now. I phoned R to figure out a new plan. I guess we should have known it would take that long.

Trying to make the best of the day, I stopped and bought a couple dozen packages of "Indian" - meals that keep on the shelf and are great in a hurry over rice with yogurt. From there, I decided I was close to a library and found a parking spot but looked for library card before getting out of car. While doing this a BMW backed into me twice. I got out and chatted with him as he was parking in a drive. "My driveway" he noted and apologized- and cheerfully told me he could not help me find my library card. I gave up the search and got back on the way home. Stopped at IGA for more yogurt and some other groceries; cashier informed me that the air miles card had enough points to give me $10 off groceries - next time!!!! I had about given up on it as useless!

By the time I got home (4), I felt I had been run over by a large machine, repeatedly. Discomfort in chest has returned to painful due to yesterday's moving of stuffs. BUT, the closest parking space was available and I got everything into the house and put away, made myself a nice pot of green tea and some lunch and am basically in collapse mode. At 2 pm, I was still thinking of getting home and throwing some pots but now ... I may recuperate in an hour or so. OR not.

The most exciting bit of today was a wonderful hero! One of my pet peeves are "BUTINSKIS", those drivers who fly past in the left lane, knowing they are going to butt-in further along. They would never do this in the grocery store; why do they believe they have this right on the highway. Years ago in Toronto, I was rushing to get back to a really important workshop and ---YES! I am making it! My exit was "Right there"! The Buttinskis flew by and butt in. The next quarter mile took an hour instead of 5 minutes.

So on the approach to the bridge, this was happening and I was considering - either be a Buttinski myself or move into the left lane and keep them from flying past. In the rear view mirror, I saw a little blue car pull into the left lane and sit there, moving slowly in sync with the right lane. A long line of would-be Buttinskis built up behind it and, at the appropriate place, the little blue car and all those behind pulled into the right lane because they had to!!!! MY HERO!! I would have loved to meet that driver. Maybe next time I will have the guts to emulate them!!

So that is my bright and shining light in this otherwise messed up day! And the $10! Now, where is the little blue purse with my 3 library cards??????????????

Before I left this morning, I did trim and put handles on the 9 pots thrown a couple days ago. Maybe Weds, V and I can load the kiln and mix another glaze or two. I did give her a sort of practice suggestion to help her start throwing pots that might not be "the murder weapon"! (lighter in weight)

SRS: my son had the TV in front of the fireplace for years but last winter enticed him to use it. It might be a cost saving to get a liner put in the old chimney and a small insert. The Whidbey son found it cost effective to put in a Vermont Castings gas fireplace. It is amazingly cheery without the mess. They have two incomes but never do anything without careful research.

R and I talked about "roof" this morning. There is a possibility that he may take the reasonable route of hiring an actual roofer for the job! He went up for a look this morning and "the hole is bigger". I think he is finally impressed with the need to get it done before the snow come through it. She says, hopefully.

Ok. 6 pm news and, then, maybe I shall feel like throwing a few pots. Nothing at all on TV so it is that or SIT all evening. And look for library cards.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 06:07 PM

Laundry day. We had a bit of rain and still fairly high humidity so things will take a lot longer out on the line.

Linn, I have a bunch of photos from over the years in cemeteries, including family plots. I've also visited interesting local ones in various states where I lived.

Michelle, steel toed boots are great for garden work also, especially if you use chopping tools like a mattock.

Pot roast braising on the stove, laundry on the line. There is a fresh breeze this afternoon, not too humid after all. I have a batch of juice from last summer thawing to add to this year's juice for one last batch of jelly. Once I have a few of these things ready to go to keep me in the kitchen for a while I'll stream a more episodes of Bones.

Dorothy, our house isn't plumbed for gas, but there is a line through the neighborhood, so if I got it ever (to cook on) I would also consider a gas burning fireplace.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 12:55 PM

Stilly,

   Mom is going to be ok. :)

Today I helped to unload another load of wood and will be leaving shortly to help unload one more for today. I booked a few more orders and caught up on all business paperwork. :) It is a GORGEOUS day for delivering wood...bright blue skies....65ish...perfect!

I have been revamping our budget and tightening the belt even further and have been working on some menus of healthy meals that are relatively inexpensive to make. I'm open to suggestions if anyone would like to share. I tend to make simple home cooked meals that don't require much fuss or exotic ingredients. We also eat in 2 shifts at dinner time so I like to make things that are easily reheated. :)

I am feeling accomplished today. I see a walk and some yoga in my future. And dishes. And laundry. Those two things are a constant which means we are blessed to have food for our family and clothes to wear. :) I will not complain! :)

Love to all,

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 01:29 PM

Michelle, rice and beans is good for tight budget times (it's a favorite so I eat it regularly anyway). I keep empty salsa jars with good lids and after making a batch of beans I freeze most of the batch in these jars. I have a rice cooker that I make a couple of cups of rice and during the week I'll put a frozen jar of beans in my padded lunch bag along with a container of rice. I warm the beans in the jar in a microwave and warm the rice in a bowl then pour the beans over. On a larger scale to accommodate the number of people you're feeding, it's a good source of healthy carbs, protein, fibre, etc.

My kidney beans have onion, peppers, tomatoes, lots of seasoning, cilantro, ham hock and usually I cook, crumble and add some venison sausage or Italian sausage. At the end of cooking sometimes I add a couple of tablespoons of capers.

I also cook and freeze black beans to use in other dishes. They are great to extend taco meat, for example.

This afternoon I have cleared out my tea cart. It is like this (if the link expires it is the kitchen cart from Sam's Club) except I put the bin/shelf on top. I put the middle and bottom shelves in upside down to give my pots down there a little lip to keep them from falling off when I move it. The top bin is full of jars and boxes of all sorts of tea and today I got rid of a large box of Lipton that has languished, unused. I'll take it to work to the less picky tea palettes. That made room for a jar of Market Spice Tea (from Seattle, a famous cinnamon and orange tea). This was a large bag of decaff now transferred to a sealed jar. It didn't get used because I preferred the caffeine version, but I can't drink that after about 3 in the afternoon. Now I want this for an evening tea.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 02:12 PM

LF, the Sophie/Spenser thread is full of info on tight-belted handling of quickly-reheated meats.

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=96933

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 03:39 PM

And that grilled cheese thread has some good comfort food ideas. Many of them are also inexpensive.

This afternoon I'm working on various food types to use for lunch this week. Beans and rice, some pan-fried potatoes, the pot roast from yesterday. I save a lot by not buying lunch.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 05:10 PM

I noticed a couple of times that there was water in front of the washing machine and just assumed there was a slight leak.

Nope - precursor to a major blockage of the waste water drain.

So I moved the dish washer and a cabinet, got stripped off and down on the floor with a drain cleaning spring thing - boy was it blocked, it took half an hour of prodding, turning on the tap, drain filling again, prodding again, until eventually it started to flow away.

When the water level is at the right level it glugs and gurgles so I hear that whenever the water is running away. Silence means that it is coming up and regurgitating into the conservatory.

Once the drain was unblocked I spent half an hour in the shower to get rid of the smell before getting everything back into place.

Today I have been mopping and wiping the pipes which had backed up and overflowed, plus doing washing of all sorts to give the drain a clear out.

With the house being over 100 years old I suppose I should be grateful that the blockage was nothing more serious, not a collapse or anything, just the long run all along the back of the houses which is level enough to let the water stand for too long.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 06:26 PM

My drains run a lot better now that my children, both with exceedingly long hair, live in other places. Even with filters to catch it, hair still slipped through. The first sign here is usually when the washer drain overflows.

A brick of mashed bananas is out to thaw so I can make banana bread for a care package I'll mail tomorrow morning. Various other things will go in the box, a jar of homemade jelly, the guitar stand he left behind, a few odds and ends to pack around hard things. I'll visit Big Lots and get some of their dish towel sets. You can never have too many dish (tea for you in the UK) towels.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 08:49 PM

Quite some time back I bought a vanload of cotton to save it from the dump - it was very cheap, 'singles' of unbleached natural cotton.

It makes the best tea towels as it is so absorbent. I combine several threads and twist them together then thread up my little loom. It is a toy really, but I can make wool scarves and cotton tea towels - maximum width is about 2 ft, which is plenty. If I could do twill weaving I could even make my own fabrics for kilts, but that would take rather longer to achieve.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 10:48 PM

Ontario
I never found the energy to pot yesterday. Just read and computered and read some more- til 1 am to finish the book and be assured the main character was OK. R came home about 10 and we had buttered chicken; the sauce was from a package and HOT so we had a lot of yogurt with it.

Stayed in bed relaxing/talking until 11! BF and more talking - sorting out some issues around the van. Then I packed up and came to Ontario. Tried to go see a property we thought was interesting; I walked and walked and walked. Had no intention of taking my car down that "road". I never got to the cabin and coming back I counted 1200 steps or about 2400 feet or almost half a mile. I told R he was welcome to walk in to see it but I have no interest in a property that far out of the way - would need a 4x4 and a atv. The woods were lovely and it was a nice walk!

Came along to my friends and we chatted all evening - about dragon fly and other things. I think we finally hit on a solution to one problem regarding DF. They need to follow through.

My chest discomfort was pretty bad yesterday and last night. Staying in bed this am helped as did the homeopathic pain pellet. Much better now.

Remember that 8 qts of humous of 3 weeks ago? Rice topped with stir fried veggies, topped with humous is delicious!

Bed is lovely.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 07:39 AM

Had a great day yesterday when a friend dragged me to the Apple Festival at the Alfred, Maine Shaker Vilage. Will tell you more about it later.

Discovered later last night that the fan in the Biolet wasn't on...and noticed neither little light is on on the two electrical outlets in the bathroom. Overhead light works. Must be a breaker, but it was too late last night to investigate.

This morning I find that the little fridge in the bedroom seems to be out, too. Nothing else upstairs that I can find. This is weird because the lamp that works on the same outlet DOES work...

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 08:19 AM

Okay. Just got the breaker reset for the bathroom outlets -- it wasn't the breaker indicated on my chart. (Haven't a clue what that one is for. And I looked. Spent a lot of time running up and down the stairs.)

Small fridge in the bedroom still seems to be out, but that may be a different issue entirely. I'll have to move the wicker rocker, unplug it, then plug it back in. It's in the same outlet as a lamp that's working just fine. There's always a possibility it's actually ON but just a lot quieter than usual, but I don't think so. I'll figure that out later. It might too be an indication that the freezer needs to be defrosted.

Yesterday was just lovely, thanks to my friend Gail who called me yesterday morning shortly after 9:00 and forced me to either give in to my inner sloth or overcome my inner sloth... Whatever, she got me out of bed, away from my book, ignore whatever else I'd planned to do yesterday, get dressed, and on the road to her place in South Berwick, Maine so we could go to the Apple Festival at the Shaker Village in Alfred, Maine.

What a gorgeous day -- bright sun and blue sky, autumnal temperature (but the sun was warm) -- and a really enjoyable event and afternoon. I'd never been to the Shaker Village in Alfred even though I lived practically next door in Springvale in the the '70s. (I HAVE spent time at the Shaker Village in Canterbury, NH.) I forced Gail to buy a copy of "Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable" in one of the jumble sale tents, we lunched on corn chowder (bacon!) made by the museum staff (we got the last two bowls; good timing), and bought and split a blueberry crumble on our way out. Split it at Gail's house so as not to discombolulate the nice lady taking money (as a previous customer had). Single ladies gotta stick together to buy stuff in manageable amounts... (S'poze I could put some of it in the freezer.)

Also when we got back to Gail's, I got the T-shirt quilt out of the car and showed it to her -- it's about as big as her bedroom, so that was fun. She's going to make me an oversized pillowcase to keep it in when I put it on the couch. (She's a quilter with a real talent for putting fabrics and colors together.)

Going to take my tea upstairs now that the bathroom problem is solved and sip and read a bit before showering, washing my hair, and getting on with the stuff I put off yesterday.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 11:07 AM

Okay, breaker in bathroom off again. I think the issue is the tray of the Biolet needs emptying. Or maybe the humus is too dry. I just checked the appropriate page in the manual and will go fiddle with extracting the tray. I've got the number of the national sales rep if I run into a snag or a mystery.

I think the problem with the little fridge in the bedroom is the freezer needs to be defrosted. I've pulled the plug on the fridge and, at the same time, tested that socket in the outlet and it's okay. The fridge door is now open, a towel on the floor, and a basin and the airline tubing at the ready...

Ya know, I really did NOT need all this aggravation today, especially more than one hassle at a time.

Will also get the PMFF program completed and off to the printer.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 02:11 PM

This morning I mailed a care package to my son, newly relocated for a job. I spoke to him last night, introduced the concept of calling home on the weekend - not texting or emailing, but calling. He seems amenable. His apartment is spartan, he said he has a bed, a desk and a chair. I packed the priority mail box with the banana bread bagged in inside a new bread pan and some new dish towels, and the rest is odds and ends as they would fit in to completely fill the box. I don't want to interfere with the adventure of gradually furnishing his apartment himself, but I'll send along useful things that I have here (decluttering into a child's home is perfectly sound - a lot of things I have in duplicate because I meant them to have them when they needed them).

Linn, I hate that in and out back and forth to the circuit breaker box dance. I have to do it every so often. Every time I think I have everything labeled properly, it turns out one if them is really something else after all.

Dorothy, those woods you walked in sound lovely, but I agree, if you're too far back and require an all terrain vehicle part of the year to enter and exit, it stops being a relaxing place.

Rum - weaving your own tea towels - why am I not surprised? I have a friend who crochets small washcloths she gives to people. I use it for something that keeps it dry, in my dressing room, but the idea of a homemade wash cloth still appeals.

Michelle, I bet those wood orders are coming in fast and furious now that your first frost is imminent. What a great, if repetitive, workout!

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 03:40 PM

Lvg tomorrow after lunch with mom.

This trip is all about books/media and landscaping.

Van is loaded of all I can lift myself, including a lightweight bookshelf I pirated from the laundry room (which I can replace with a smaller, wire unit from the upstairs bathroom). Hardi will load some bluestone for a path from garage to front door. I positioned my napping recliner in the back so there IS room for a dog crate. I have a wad of Mortite to affix the GPS's base more securely onto its dashboard holder, and some camping foam to block out the bright dashboard lights for night driving.

Found a lovely lap dulcimer we had been given tucked behind a piece of furniture-- polished and packed in freshly-laundered quilted case for niece and nephew to enjoy. Autoharp is home from church and ready to load. Rest of music kit loaded.

Yet to do today/tmrw AM is laminate some signage to take, pack meds and electronics, refill water bottles, then give the downstairs a quick pickup/swiffering before leaving. We're ding out tonight with MIL, so no kitchen chores for me!

~S~

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 05:56 PM

Up and down the stairs to see what's what isn't the half of it...

I still can't get the front piece off in front of the cleanout tray under the rest of the toilet. In theory, that should be dry humus, but, well, it might not turn out that way.

I emptied the rest of the unit (yes, that's exactly as bad as you think it might be), sliced up a couple fingers while I was at it, and cleaned everything up so I won't be embarrassed when I call my handyman. (And he won't have to deal "it" -- I certainly wouldn't ask anyone else to deal with "it".) He should be able to tell me if I need to call the electrician back as well.

In between all that, I got the PMFF program wrapped up and sent off to the printer. Cleaned a bunch of other files off the old computer including my catalog of gravestone and related books and transferred them to the current computer. Oh, and I've been defrosting the freezer in the bedroom mini-fridge. Brought the commode back upstairs for the duration, threw out a bunch of stuff in the cellar while I was down there. Found a bunch more scrap metal to take to Harding. Oh, and finally had a chance (while I was sitting down catching my breath) to go through the mail from the past couple days. (Most of which got added to the trash which is collected tomorrow.)

It's almost 6 p.m. and I just ate lunch... (maybe I should call it supper). Think I need some more blueberry crumble and ice cream.

I think I'm going to ache tomorrow...

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 10:23 PM

Thanks for the recipe ideas and links for even more ideas....very much appreciated!

Wood orders ARE rolling in....we are booked until mid-November!

I had a ME day today. I went to Ithaca and did some shopping (Jeremiah has been invited to his very first birthday party so I had fun shopping for a gift for his little friend) and because September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I had a manicure (HUGE TREAT) and my nails are now TEAL, done in gel polish which should last until October. I also have a purple ribbon painted on my left pinkie nail for Survivorship and a gold one painted in my right pinkie in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (also in September) and a very sweet young girl named Natalie. I attended my local Relay For Life bald (right after treatment had been completed) and on my first lap around the track this beautiful little 10 year old blonde cutie patootie came up and held my hand while we walked. She was celebrating her 8th year of survivorship and was eager to support me in my journey. We've become good pals. :)

I'm tuckered out. Sweet dreams Everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 02:04 AM

Sounds like quite a day, Michelle!

Exciting evening here - my ex called to say that our son called to say his car was stolen in Seattle (he started a new job last week). It was parked on the street or in a lot, I'm not sure, and on Saturday it was gone. Then today the ex got a thing in the mail - the car has a TX license and the impound lot sent notice to the registered address saying 120 hours is all he has to claim his car or they sell it at auction. He had a permit to park where he was (we spoke tonight). He spoke to the impound folks (he has until tomorrow to meet the 120 hours). The police had no information about this (they're supposed to be told if cars are towed). Sounds like an overly ambitious tow company (like that doesn't happen, eh?) saw an out of state license and thought they had easy pickings.

He'll be able to park at the garage at work and leave it there, once he gets that set up. Meanwhile, it may stay at my sister's house in a quiet neighborhood. There are regular news stories out of Dallas about all of the dirty tricks tow truck operators pull, and the deals they make with local businesses. Why should tow truck drivers be different in another large city? If you google "tow truck scams" in any given city, you find some interesting reading.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 04:55 AM

I find that the things I make myself last for such a long time - they take time to make, but then I have them for decades, or I sell them and have money for things my pension would not cover.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 04:45 PM

Dentist and peridontist today looked at this sore spot in my mouth and find nothing particularly wrong. Advice is to give it a couple of months and if it hasn't cleared up, go in for a deep cleaning to see if there is a tartar or bacterial component to this. At least I know it isn't something big I shouldn't ignore.

Puttering this afternoon and evening. And a nap.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 05:44 PM

Since my run in with an abscess earlier this year I have been using a mouthwash - cleaning teeth after dinner then mouthwash at bedtime. My dentist has told me that my gums are better than they were - whatever that means, but it can't be bad.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 07:12 PM

Must have stepped wrong on my right knee late yesterday afternoon. Woke up in pain a number of times overnight and then at 5 a.m. when I couldn't get back to sleep.

Didn't realize until I went downstairs a second time this morning to get the trash up to the road for pickup that I can barely walk.

Got some organizational stuff done while seated, then went upstairs to find a comfortable (well. less painful) position for the knee and read for awhile.

Since nobody brought me supper (lazy cats) I threw some cauliflower in to roast while I whipped up a cheese sauce. Now I'll take my bum knee and a bowl of ice cream with a fresh peach cut up in it back upstairs.

My handyman is out of commission until at least next Monday. I'll call the electrician tomorrow and see about that end and see if there's anyone else who can help me with the other problem. If not, well, I've got a workaround. Besides I'm pretty much out straight with the pre-PMFF craziness.

I'll look back at this someday and laugh...

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 08:38 PM

I let this be a fairly lazy day. Taking sick leave, two doctor appointments, that's enough. Long nap this afternoon, just for the heck of it. But that makes one feel groggy, and it took me a while to get motivated to be productive, at least a little bit. I did a couple of dog things this evening - policed the back yard - it needed it - and put a load of dog bedding from the garage in to wash. I'll put that back tonight and tomorrow do another load. There isn't quite a need for bedding yet, it's still pretty warm, but one of these days they'll want to start lounging on their cotton scraps of stuff out in their stall. We went for a walk this morning and they were pleased with that. Now that it's cooling off we're walking several days a week.

I have some mending to do also, but I'll stream some NetFlix while I do that.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 01:58 AM

One of the hairiest days I've had since BTT (before thyroid treatment), but safe n sound in Ohio after B&E. ;-)

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 09:50 AM

I am feeling uber lazy myself but have no reason for it. I hope you are feeling better Maggie. My reason is that I am feeling overwhelmed by a few things, most of which are things that need to get done and done NOW.   My instinct is to say F*ck It and do none of it. Yep. And you know what? Sometimes that is just what needs to happen.

Michelle who is feeling kinda pissy this morning...can you tell?

BLAH.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 01:01 PM

;-)

I am feeling today like I need to update my office glasses and regular glasses, but there would be no point. My eyes are feeling fuzzy because of my allergies and until this clears up, new glasses might not be the right Rx.

The days are cooling, though we're still up near 90 today. I'll walk the dogs before I feed them when I get home because the street won't be nearly so hot as back in July and August. Trying to get more exercise for all of us.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 09:07 PM

City:
SRS reminded me to phone son; Susan reminded me to print out some maps!

Volunteers meeting on Monday was chaos so I told the group I gave last month's a 9 but this month's a 2. I pointed out the problems of trying to hear and understand when there are two or three conversations on the side and suggested those making reports come to the front. The next presenter came to the front and the secretary gave me an enthusiastic hug at the end. Lying in bed this morning - until 11 am in total exhaustion - it occurred to me that a circle or horseshoe arrangement would facilitate attentiveness. Next suggestion...

In the afternoon, I worked on the van, paid for it with a bank transfer, checked logistics of registration -wrong as I found out during nice conversation with insurance guy, gave income statements to the credit union as a move toward a property loan, flew out to the Grove to visit my friend there, only realizing it was Monday rather than Tuesday; On Tuesday she would have been at the library but Monday she and her sister were busy in their antique shop. Short visit but they had a great weekend sales wise.

Eventually wended my way back to "home base" and vegged out for the eve.

Tues I drove by a small house on an acre that did not look too bad. The price is close. The yard is nicely treed and it is surrounded by woods but on the edge of a sort of mini-village of a few houses and a fire hall, about 25 min from town. Then drove on to the Gallery to do my volunteer training. Diana, whom I have known since 82, and I went through the old volunteer instructions and made changes to bring it up to date. She showed me where everything is and how to get in, etc.

I left about 1pm and headed out to look at a property in the next county but only about 25 min from town. It is 8 acres with a tiny cabin, septic and drive and a cute outhouse. Ready to build... It was lovely woods and smelled really good. Then I headed back to Montreal

As I travelled, I realized it was still early enough for me to cross over into the USA and back into Quebec (saves an hour driving) to the mill, and saving a trip down today (an hour each way). I did that, and loaded and started a bisque firing and was in the city just after 9 pm. I had suggested to V that we do it together today but, having read on FB that she had gone to visit her g-mere, I figured she would not be back. Sure enough, she phoned about 1:30 today - from Quebec City to tell me she would not make it. SO glad I did it yesterday!

Coughed all night until early am I got up and took a pellet and then slept some and sent R off to bf with his bro and stayed in bed until 11. I think it was from the dust in his hair. He came home dirtier than usual and neglected to wash off his hair. (He does not have a lot so he can just wash it with a wash cloth.) Tonight when he arrived, I told him, unequivocally, he was going to take a bath or shower before bed. I am not going through another night like that. I washed the bedding today and remade the bed. He hates water but.... I have had it. Better he should wash that I should cough. So there. He is in the tub. I just tried to phone son. Usual no answer; they are rarely home.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 02:03 PM

That tip works for lots of allergies, Dorothy. In pollen season if you go to bed without washing hair, you end up with pollen on the pillow case and it builds up.

Working some late days this week so didn't do much when I got home yesterday. eBay appears to be stagnant at the moment, so it's time to reprice things. I moved stuff off of my kitchen table (the various doll house furnishings) by putting them back in the original box. It seems just about as full as it started, even though I've sold quite a few pieces and have many others packed and listed and ready to ship if they sell. It's a bottomless box of toys.

Trying a new dog food for the chocolate lab. He's still doing some scratching on the food I've been using for several months (I tried giving him some of what the other dogs have been eating since last week and he broke out in more scratching). This latest I picked up last night is a limited ingredient grain free food.

When I got back to my car last night after 30 minutes in two stores I realized I didn't have my ignition key. I thought it was maybe in my pack, then I looked behind the car and saw it on the parking lot, a bit dinged up from being driven over, but intact. The remote start lock/unlock part is in a different pocket. Until they do the recall work on the ignition I take the ignition key off of my keyring and use it. GM says they don't even want the opener part dangling from the ignition key when it's running.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 08:42 PM

Up early to go to the aid of my daughter and son in law. They were off to Croydon to try to get a permission for son in law - an American, to stay in the UK permanently.

They needed some proof of income papers stamped, and their branch had refused to do it. The clerk in my branch, even as I explained the problem, offered to print out and stamp the required documentation. I went outside for a few minutes to await their arrival and give them the good news as soon as possible.

With all the paperwork in place I delivered them at the railway station and some hours later heard that all is well and the permission obtained.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 05:49 AM

Unable to go back to sleep, I remembered a bag of clothes Hardi had retrieved from seller's deep storage in the garage rafters. I'd not had a chance to look thru it before we left last time. I was hoping it would be men's tee shirts. Hardi burns thru a lot of these.

To my chagrin, most of them were the outgrown (I hope) clothes of their daughter. One more example of the children's memories not available for THEM to decide over. Childhoods discarded by parents in alcoholic chaos. DamndamnDAMN. I spent some time thinking about getting them to her. .. I know which school she's in. Decided it would be too hard on her and sent up prayers instead. Another ACOA in the making. So sorry, Bailey. Go on and grow up. It gets better!

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 11:19 AM

Nice surprise this morning when my phone made the "ca-ching!" noise of an old fashioned cash register, the signal from eBay that something sold. The second of two silk screened t-shirts a friend makes. These were spares that I figured might sell vs donate to Goodwill.

Light drizzle this morning. I was out in the garden pouring soapy water over my okra to push off some of the ants. This year ants have been a plague as they devour the tender new growth on various crops, in particular the cucumbers, eggplant, and okra. I followed the soap with some puffs of diatomaceous earth.

Susan, I found a box of sports plaques and photos in my attic a few months after I moved in. During my research on this empty house (that had been on the market for about 18 months) I discovered who the previous long-term renters were and interviewed them to learn about the condition of things. I was able to take that box over and restore some of their sports-related history.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 12:18 PM

City:
Sometimes history is good and sometimes ...

Last night R came home about 8, in time for Big Bang which he now enjoys as much as I do. Salad for supper and WASH hair, beard, face - if I do not stipulate each part... He was in bed by 9:30 and I not far behind. We DID get up at 8 this morning and he did manage to have bf with minimal phone interruption! We agreed to try to see the little house this weekend. I have emailed credit union, and the man who will deliver the fifth wheel (pottery!) and the son of a troubled friend, hoping for guidance. Still need to do RE agent and call son. Washed dishes, emptied compost bucket, changed the AC to heat - 57 in here! Closed up the holes in the "window" with the styrofoam that was there for winter. Van has been delivered to mechanic in Bancroft. We can visit it on weekend.

Feeling much better today. It is no longer an effort to get out of bed and my shoulders are doing better. Yesterday, I went to the mill and did a bit of organizing, trying to get up energy for pottery work. V arrived and I told her she was a "nudge". I went to the studio and we talked about stuff. I wanted her to learn to mix glaze but only had one respirator so I suggested she bring one sometime so we can do that. We took the exterior shades off the windows and put them away for next summer. Now we need the solar gain and light! She moved a 50 pound bag for me and threw some pots while I tried to figure out glazes. I threw two duds into the scrap bucket and cleaned the buckets. After she left I mixed a new, bigger, batch of teal blue, realized it has high clay content so MAYBE it will work on the over-fired pots. I did not feel, however, like glazing so left it for next week. Mixing the glaze took almost two hours so I came back to city in time for Big Bang.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 01:19 PM

SRS yes I have been able to forward some of what was left but take my word for it.... srs alcohol issues.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 01:37 PM

I was comparing notes, not questioning your judgement regarding that particular family. Treasures in the attic.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 03:53 PM

Thanks. Lot of feelings up.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 07:05 AM

Due to a glitch with the garage key I was not able to unload the trailer into the garage till yesterday, but it's all in there now. First batch of stuff has come in-- a few small bookshelves to hold the books I brought.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 11:45 AM

I helped to unload a cord of wood yesterday, after having spent the morning on a mountain top painting a barn quilt in the shape of a teal awareness ribbon. It's not a classic quilt block but it IS indeed a block. I painted it on honor of Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, for myself and for the mother of one of my high school friends who has been diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer and has opted to not have it treated. My friend has been staying with her mom now for about 2 months and hospice has been set in place.

I went to visit my friend and her mom last night...I have been dreading it. I went because my friend is stressed to the max and is lonely as she really doesn't know many people here anymore, her mom doesn't have a tv and internet service is sketchy at best where she is. Knowing that I was going to see someone dying of the same thing I had left me in a very introspective mood yesterday so painting was the perfect thing to do...at the perfect location too. Isolated. Beautiful. Quiet.

The visit went better than I anticipated but has left me feeling somewhat numb.....odd...but it is what it is.

Today's wood order has been rescheduled by the customer so we hve the entire day at home. I'm glad for this as Pete has a sinus headache and I have a ton of laundry to catch up on. It's windy and cold here...the dryer will warm things up as will the cup of coffee I have here in my hands. Dishes and floors are onboard for today as well as some frogging time on my newest quilt.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 02:00 PM

I'm glad you made the trip to see your friend. And I'm sure the feelings about and from that visit will evolve as you think about it.

Cleaning up around the house, laundry, vacuuming, and filing. Lots of filing. I sorted out my pantry shelves in the hall and made room for two cases of mustang grape jelly. I'll be sauteing and freezing some slices of eggplant and making a couple of more jars of pickles.

A friend is supposed to be coming over to poke around in the creek for fossils. The day is overcast but it doesn't show a chance of rain, so it should be safe. We get flash floods sometimes that tumble the creek bed enough to make it good picking when the mud and gravel dries out enough. When he's finished fossil hunting we'll and go eat lunch. I have fossils sitting on window sills and piled around the doors - I walk the dogs down there occasionally and come back with more. My neighbor found an ancient shark tooth fossil last summer.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 01:17 AM

Lunch was nice, and then this afternoon I did some work for work before switching over to streaming NetFlix and then working in the kitchen. Three more jars of pickles, a tray of frozen slices of peppers bagged and now a tray of sauteed eggplant in freezing before bagging. I'm making a big effort to process garden produce while it is still at its peak. My fridge has more room lately.

Dishwasher loaded and has run, clothes washer ready to go. Tomorrow the dogs all get baths. This household is a clean machine.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 01:56 AM

We're having a bit of a diet spruce-up around here, as well as getting some much needed decorating done.

Mr. was diagnosed with diverticulosis (or little pockets in the colon), he's young to have got these (42) so that's rather unfortunate. Still the good news is that he's embraced a predominantly "plant-based whole-food diet" - not strict vegan, but we're cutting out all red meat, high fat and highly processed foods for him, as according to general mainstream advice those are all bad news for his condition. So it's whole-wheat products like pasta and bread, whole-grain pilafs and salads, bean and vegetable stews and vegetable curries etc. now for him, this is all the kind of stuff I like to cook for myself anyway which is helpful, and in under a week he reports that his pain levels have diminished from a 10 to a 3, which is excellent.

We're also losing a bit of weight, I was anyway as I've been making an effort to minimise added fat, reduce portion sizes and eliminate calorific puds and snacks, but he is now too which has also pleased him as he's put on a bit in recent years.

Bathroom has been painted lavender (though I think it looks a bit marshmallowy to be honest) and the woodwork done in cream. At least it looks fresh now.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 07:51 AM

Sounds like a good reason for a healthy diet and weight loss. Do look into the literature about cutting fat in dieting - this is largely found to be a myth. Getting enough healthy fats are necessary to good digestion. I have several friends who have or were treated for diverticulitis. The most recent is my neighbor across the street. I have hesitated to take her produce from my garden lately because I know she's not cooking much lately, but now there is this. Can you suggest a healthy meal from fresh organic produce? I have tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, eggplant, okra, and herbs. I'd love to take her a prepared meal she could simply heat up, but it now needs to be diverticulitis approved. Spaghetti and sauce for example? Meatless is better, do you think?

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 10:22 AM

It's been just under a week since the diagnosis, and he hasn't had his follow up consultation yet, so the advice we're going on is generic advice from places like the NHS website, web MD and the Bupa site. All we've done so far is to switch him to higher fibre wholewheat products, cut out the red meat (he still plans to eat fish) and fried foods.

In the past, some of those vegetables you mention (notably the tomatoes and okra) would also have been on the no-no list, because they theorised that small indigestible seeds would get stuck in the pouches / diverticuli and cause infection, however this theory has more recently been ditched as they've not found any substantial evidence to support it. It's possible your neighbour may believe she can't eat seedy foods, and I'm also unsure as to what kind of other advice she may have been given by her own doctor so I'd find out from her what she thinks she's 'allowed' - we're cutting out red meat as most articles suggest it is linked (though I'm unsure how), as is alcohol and caffeine, but I've known other people with diverticulitis who've continued to eat meat.

If I had your produce I'd have a go at a vegetarian gumbo, as the plentiful soluble fibre contained in the mucilage that okra releases, would be good for smoothing the flow of waste through the colon. Other substances with plenty of 'soluble fibre' have a similar effect, such as oats, leeks and pears. Indeed all vegetables are good really, so you can't really go wrong there. Herbal supplements such as 'slippery elm' and 'aloe vera' are also suggested for the same reason. I'm sorry not to be much help, the web can be very useful and very confusing.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 11:31 AM

That's a good start - thanks! Her husband has a normal diet, but I don't want to take over something she can't eat also. I don't know if she would want to try to spell out everything she can or can't eat. But the whole grains and oatmeal give me some ideas.

The kitchen was looking pretty good this morning. My tea is brewing and the day awaits. Hanging laundry, mowing, and making a test run with the new reciprocating saw. Also need to take care of some chipping of small branches.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 02:25 PM

Well, darn. I dropped my silver/chrome wrist watch on the tile floor and the back popped off. Nothing I tried would get the back into place (I've opened them regularly to replace batteries, so I have to assume something was chipped or bent in the fall). I tried pliers and a protective surface but managed to not get the back on and to crack the crystal. Inexpensive watches are too cheap to repair, I think, so I've found the same Timex men's dress watch on Amazon and ordered it. I always wear a watch and feel naked without it. At least the Amazon one cost about $5 less than Target, where I usually buy my watches and replacement leather bands.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 08:31 AM

Many years ago I had a houseguest with diverticulitis - brought most of his own foods but I used to eat early in the evening. He found a large pot of my coconut flour and home made yogurt in the fridge late one night and ate the lot.

Coconut has a lot of fibre, and he spent most of next day in the toilet. By evening his trousers were falling down as his belly was so much reduced. He was really embarrassed, but he took the recipe for the yogurt home with him, and a bag of the coconut flour (I used to get it from work).

He never ate anything with fibre, his diet was all refined white foods.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 09:46 AM

Yesterday was a lovely warm day so at about 3pm I started washing the dogs. It only takes 10-15 minutes per dog. It's more work on the blue heeler/catahoula and the lab because they have complex fairly heavy coats, and the pitbull with her flat smooth coat could practically be given a once-over with a soapy washcloth. They don't get baths as often as they used to, the vet said once a month was too often, so they get them quarterly now. I'll be brushing them a lot this week to finish the job.

Laundry out of the way, a lot of filing finished (I cleared a couple of flat surfaces in my office). Shredding finished and all out to the curb for the morning trash pickup. We get twice weekly pickup but I only put it out at most once a week since most of my stuff is recycled or put in the compost. Today is a high in the mid-80s, a considerable improvement over our usual summer and early autumn weather. Time to see if I can get a few fall crops in the garden, and time to start trimming things that are spent after a season of producing.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 11:49 AM

This weekend was good for all of us. We did some wood but also had a day off where we lingered on the couch, took naps, puttered about the house.....it's something we all needed.

This morning I am catching up with the weekend dishes, floors, bathroom, etc. You get the idea.

It's gray, colder and rainy here today so I'm in the mood to cook. I already have my preplanned dinner for tonight so I am going to make a big pot of chili for tomorrow's dinner and a few lunches to boot. We have an abundance of stew meat in the freezer and while I love stew, sometimes it gets old. So...I'm going to tenderize the meat and then add it to a bunch of onions, peppers and beans. Mmmm. I love beans. Let's not forget the tomatoes! It's perfect for our healthy eating and even leaves room for a treat of cornbread. YUM.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 12:05 PM

Good point about the yoghurt Rumncoke, I have wondered if Mr has enough 'healthy gut flora' or the right balance, maybe a probiotic would be a good thing to aid bloating issues, alongside the fibre of course.

He reports that today his discomfort is down from a 10 to a 1. That's in just one week of being on a high fibre / reduced fat / meat free diet after many months of suffering increasing pain and bloating. Initially I thought we might have to try him out on an elimination diet to see if he had any specific sensitivities that were causing something like IBS, but so far a low-fat plant-based whole-food diet seem to be doing the job. I'm pretty pleased to see such a positive reaction so quickly, we thought this could be a real problem.

In other news I've lost ten pounds.
Only ninety five left to go... o.O

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 03:47 PM

Nothing on the calendar today except my memoir writers group which I cancelled. After the past week and especially the four days since Thursday, I desperately needed a day to NOT GO ANYPLACE.

My handyman DID call me and we talked about my bathroom problems and the fact that I have way too much on my plate right now to even think about fixing them. Thank goodness for workarounds! (And it gives him a bit more time to heal from his surgery.)

So...I got the batteries changed in both the driveway unit and the base unit of the driveway alert. And that fixed the problem. When I'd set the alert up in June, I used batteries on hand. The driveway sensor had acted flukey once before and then a week ago, after I noticed it stopped working, I brought it into the house until I bought new batteries and replaced the whole shebang. About a week ago, the alert woke me at 3 a.m. Figured a cat walked over it on the table. Was almost back to sleep when it sounded again, so I went down to investigate. The red light was flickering (it had been out completely), but even if I passed my hand over the sensor, it didn't work. Turned the base unit off and went back to sleep. Finally got batteries Friday, had a minute to change them this morning. The 9-volt in the outside sensor definitely needed to be replaced. Glad I did it before it had a chance to corrode the doomaphlagies inside. Works fine now.

Let's see, what else have I done today? (Besides posting the song list from Saturday's sea music sing, sending out thank you emails to those who participated in Thursday's PMFF promo on Nick Noble's show, sent further info about the concert tribute next Saturday, etcet etcet.) Ran the dishes through (and now I think the heating/drying function isn't working right...sigh), called Goodwill to find out about my lost discount card and verify they take computer monitors, sort some papers and CDs from yesterday's promo and get them filed, and then went out and filled two trash bags with stuff from behind the deck so it can go out in tomorrow's trash. Mostly cutting up an old piece of vinyl flooring. Also moved some other stuff to the front of the house...first stage in taking it down the hill to the lower cellar door for storage in the cellar. Oh, I consolidated a few more piles of leaves in the driveway and flower bed so they can be disposed of the next time I have a few minutes. I still have to finish the PMFF badges including the new batch I got today for volunteers.

My sister hasn't been answering her phone for the past few days, so that raises my stress level at least on a subconscious level. She often does this, but she's got a bunch of physical problems and lives alone, so when I can't get through to her for a little while, I get concerned. If I call church or my great aunt or somebody, she'll go through the roof.

Anyway, the past week HAS been a bit, uh, tightly scheduled. On Thursday I drove to Worcester, MA (2 hour drive) to participate in a 4-hour PMFF promo on Nick Noble's "The Folk Revival" show on WICN that took the form of a session. Or at least as close to a session as you can do in a radio studio. Got home about 1 a.m. It was great fun! Then on Friday after picking up the PMFF programs and getting them to the person who needed them (and having a mini meeting on the bench in front of the Federal Building), and a meeting about Sunday's promo, the regular Friday Press Room session. Then marathon day on Saturday. Started out at the Portsmouth Farmers Market, then visited with a friend for a couple hours, then took a chocolate-banana malt (lunch) down to the beach to make sure the ocean was still there, then went to the Press Room for the monthly sea music sing. And, as if that wasn't enough, after the singaround went to Cafe Nostimo to catch one set (I thought...) of a friend's gig. Ah, well. I got home before 11. Sunday was a radio show on WUNH with that same friend to do another PMFF promo.

Yeah. Glad I didn't have to go anywhere today.

Gotta bag some more stuff for tomorrow's trash and then I'm going upstairs to finish a book. And maybe, at the risk of annoying her further, call my sister again.

Tomorrow I'm taking Carol out to lunch for helping me with the T-shirt quilt. Maybe I'll get the badges done after I get home. Or maybe I'll get a start on them later tonight. Who knows.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 06:16 PM

Today the lot and its current plantings got measured so that when I get back to Hardi we can dream landscaping dreams. We are agreed on certain lawn demo now sked for tmrw w young Richard.

One fast-growing weed tree is getting yanked, and some uglyass plastic faux brick lawn edging around the front beds goes, as well as the white rocks that were used as anti-termite "mulch." The rocks will move to a future-planting area whose grass needs to die a graceful death under plastic. We'll prob spike in the crappy edging around 'em in that spot so the rocks don't get into the mower.... cuz the budget for a mulch edge is short.

But the beds will get new shredded rubber mulch, and so will the grand old maple whose feet are getting mowed raw all thru the grass. Which is harming the nutrition and water stream to the big ole crown.

I have been scootering the whole sprawling 'hood for garden ideas to share w Hardi. With camera. I also joined a gardener's forum that allows pix so folks can help each otgervplan and implement.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 07:00 PM

You're all very busy and productive! I'm at work today, doing some mindless scanning work and watching my NetFlix videos of The Big Bang Theory. I have them in queue so I can watch the program from the very beginning. I just reached the end of Season 1. This is not the kind of job I had for 16 years and I don't appreciate having to resort to tricks like watching videos to keep me awake while I do a few keystrokes every so often to identify and move completed scans. Ugg.

Headed home soon, where I do hope to be a little bit productive. More filing. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 23 Sep 14 - 05:57 AM

I suspect that just so many people do not eat enough fibre.

Also that a lot of indigestion is lack of hydration - simply not enough simple water and far too much drunk as soda.

I do doubt that the low fat no meat is responsible for the rapid improvement. There is no reason for it to cause the trouble in the first place.

I did the Atkins diet and lost 14 inches off my waist - or rather equator - and my whole metabolism changed. It is low carb, but heavy on fresh salad and veges, so lots of bulky stuff.

I emptied a cupboard in our bedroom for my husband to put his shoes and spare clothes in - nothing has happened so I will be giving the room 'a do' - washing the curtains changing sheets seeking out socks - and putting things in the cupboard. That will take care of the rest of the day.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Claire M
Date: 23 Sep 14 - 07:14 AM

Hiya! Mmmm, banana bread. Could eat courgette pasta till it comes out of my ears. Oh, no, I love coconut. Tried some lychee water (all my flatmates said it had leeches in) & rhubarb & ginger cake trifle, the exact colour of my hair (@ the moment anyway). Rhubarb was raw, / maybe my flatmate just didn't like it. The same thing happened to me. My loo looked like a dirty protest.

Laptop had had it. Someone taught me how to start it up in safe mode, I had no idea what to do, I think he had less. He insisted I delete lots of files, the lots of files inc. my care plan, which was/is quite important (but it has had some big changes anyway – good ones – so it's not too bad. New laptop talks to tell you it's updating. Frit me to death.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Sep 14 - 10:07 AM

This summer has been a running battle against the ants. If you see a few in a stray part of the house you can't ignore it - they're the scouts looking for something totally inappropriate for ants to gang up on. And they come from odd directions. The walls must be filled to the top with ants is all I can guess.

Last week there was a long line through the hall into the laundry room, up the dryer and into the trash can where I had deposited part of a chicken carcass that I hadn't emptied to the big trash can outside by the garage. I vacuumed and spritzed with diatomaceous earth and finally got rid of a few million ants. Last night it was the same near the back door - they had found their way into an antique trunk and through the apparently not airtight lid to Zeke's food and had swarmed the container.

Again I got out the vacuum and the DE and then I poured the contents into a plastic bag and put it in the freezer overnight. It has DE (feed grade - it's in their dog food already) and dead ants. I'll put it in what I believe is an airtight food container once it has thawed then feed the dogs this morning. A little more protein in the food than it was originally rated.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Sep 14 - 11:17 AM

Yay for DE!

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bettynh
Date: 23 Sep 14 - 11:59 AM

My favorite story involves ants in Africa that flatten a house. It's available online here but you have to scroll down to the story "The Grass is Always Greener" in the album "A Winner and Other Stories"

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Sep 14 - 01:03 PM

City:
Caution re DE. My health consultant points out that it may have a high aluminum content . She knows one person who suffered aluminum poisoning as a direct result of ingesting it.

Extremely interesting NYT article on Lithium found on linelast night

The admin of Ceramic Recipes posted it as lithium is a possible glaze ingredient. I have always avoided it but this article points out its positive effect - in miniscule amounts.

We went to Ontario Friday night - a long dark trip. I drove 6.5 hours, arriving after 11 pm, exhausted. That extra hour on a very dark, deer infested night was too much! We saw two deer by the road and and were aware that moose might also be about as we got further north. Les usually sees a couple on her way home from work at night. Sun night R hit our first raccoon - we looked for it but it had gone - with a severe headache, at least.

I was wasted all day Saturday as we drove around on the area studio tour, meeting new artists and renewing some friendships. One friend has evolved to painting huge flowers that give O'Keeffe a run... The day ended with a potluck at our friends. A fun event from which I creeped to bed about 7 pm and stayed collapsed until morning, when we got up and continued the tour, attended the local Climate Change march, after a nice lunch at our fav eatery, then went on to a new tour in a different area, meeting more interesting folks and finally making it back to town for a supper at a local eatery. Then a long visit with a friend I had not seen in almost 25 years.

An interesting story as it has brought many thoughts to the surface about how people live their lives. M was a close friend whom I would visit in the early 80's and we would have a cup of herbal tea in her lovely home. I saw her once after the demise of her marriage and she was distant. Sometime in the last few weeks, people have told her I was "back" and she had phoned twice to our friends to tell me where she is. Sunday eve, we found her and she was delighted to see me. She offered us a beer - not herb tea! We caught up on her life, and second marriage. R and I have talked it over thoroughly: It is almost as though the life she had when I first met her was not "her". This life is her true life and she is very happy. She was never an herb tea person but tried to be for her first husband. There is a whole story/essay here about women, and men?, living the wrong lives - for them.

Whichever life she is in, she is still M and we are still friends. I suspect, however, that she shut me out all those years because she was afraid I could not accept her "true" self. I will see her again.

Yesterday, R went for his first view of our "new" van and chatted with the mechanic about it while I did a volunteer stint at the Art Gallery. R is well pleased with our purchase. Then we had a light lunch and headed back to Montreal through beautiful weather and changing trees. R drove the early part and I only had the last two hours as we arrived back just as it was dark - at 8 pm.

A friend in Ontario has offered us parking for the van in her back yard! We doubt we will register it until spring. I do think I will change my residency to Ontario, probably in the late winter. This weekend I was telling people, "I reside in Montreal but I LIVE here!" We continue to look for property. The one we wanted to look at was sold already. I already was planning how to live there!

This am, I took R to his vehicle, stopped at the Sally Ann and got a new turtle neck for him and a lovely new pair of winter woods boots for me ($15!), then returned books to the library but it was closed. I may look some more for misplaced library cards and go back later for more books.

My email is not happening this am and a call to tech support elicited the info - there have been many problems with apple computers in the last few weeks. She gave me phone for Montreal Apple store - the line is BUSY! Hmmmm. In the meantime, NO email. I'll make celery soup.

A diet that moves through the system swiftly and efficiently is best for D. Probiotics are magic for bloating.

I continue to get help from the homepathic meds. Shoulders still become problematic at times though, driving last night, I found changing the position of the seat eliminated the bulk of the discomfort. Thankfully!

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 24 Sep 14 - 05:47 AM

Working in the bedroom generated a whole lot of other things to do, so as it is raining today I will be up there again and probably generating a lot more things.

I have begun to throw away books - I have to accept that there are some things which it is not my responsibility to archive for posterity, such as 'Games for the Dragon Computer'.

The shelves are looking barer already. I might even be able to dispose of a bookcase or two. The house will never blow away. It doesn't need so many books to hold it down.

There are things such as Pepys' diaries, which I have on my Kindle, and on the PC. I do not need all those volumes on the shelves, nice though they are. What I need is space.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Sep 14 - 04:30 PM

There are different grades of DE. The stuff for pool filters is polluted and not to be used in the garden or anywhere else. The feed grade stuff is what I use in and around the house and garden - and it should never be inhaled.

Those old tech books for computers, for old software systems, they get dated pretty fast. I've recycled a lot of those rather than taking them to the half-price store to sell. I'm sure they'd just toss them into their recycle bin.

Today my daughter was on campus for a meeting we both attended, then we went out for lunch. Her treat this time - she came to my house for her birthday, and this is our belated celebration of mine (we are a week apart). It's finally good weather for eating out on the restaurant patio.

Not much to report as far as accomplishments around the house. I've spent the last couple of evenings watching NetFlix - it's nice to veg out on a series that is new to me. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Sep 14 - 09:19 PM

Front beds clear of ugly was-white rock and uglier edging. Were 4' deep and now 6' deep front go back.

Some of the rock filled in a gash left by stump n root removal. More of it formed a very wide, irregularly-curvey tree ring. Beds and tree ring get filled with mulch tmrw. Concrete swan will preside over rocked-in gash.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Sep 14 - 10:18 PM

Jeremiah and I played hooky today and went to Family Day (half price day) at Sally's (Salvation Army) for cold weather clothes, a picnic lunch and playtime in the park. For just over $34.00 he got 2 fall jackets (one for play and one for school), 2 pairs of jeans, 2 pair of nice athletic pants, 11 shirts, one really nice shirt for Pete, a new bag for me and a teal teddy bear that he picked out for himself.

Hot Wheels in tall grass = jungle exploration.
Story time under a shady tree with freshly picked Honey Crisp apples....heaven. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Ed T
Date: 25 Sep 14 - 04:46 AM

Warning clearing ones self at a grocery store could attract, rather than repel some folks:


Clearing out oneself at a grocers 

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Sep 14 - 12:28 PM

Not exactly topical here, Ed. And hasn't everyone at some time or other hustled away from the scene of the crime, so to speak? I heard an interview with author Mary Roach about her book Gulp and she gave a figure of average flatulence - as I recall it was around 15 to 20 times a day.

We are finally into autumn temperatures here in North Texas. Crisp mornings, comfortable afternoons. Still using the ceiling fan at night, but that should end soon. I should start opening the window a crack in the evening.

Nudging the garden along into the second good growth season, harvesting a few okra every day, still finding a few cukes, but usually too big for pickles. They are really good at hide and seek.

Sounds like an excellent shopping trip, Michelle, as does the jungle exploration expedition.

Tomorrow is Friday. Always a good thing!

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Ed T
Date: 25 Sep 14 - 03:50 PM

So, what exactly is topical on this thread, as it is my first visit here, (in an honest effort to plug a humourous link) and I cant get the gist if what exactly is "topical".

The op mentions gardening and dieting-but, as I looked over some posts,it seems much more more broad. Is it more like a running diary of what a few posters did all day, ( I did notice what seem to be advice on how to keep awake at work, which could be useful).

I am not knocking the thread, just am puzzled by what it is about, as the title does not tell me much?

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 Sep 14 - 03:55 PM

City:
regaining email took most of the day and lengthy phone calls. Then it came in duplicate and stuff I had already seen and deleted...

Yesterday, I went to the mill to "do a glaze firing". Stopped at thrift shop and then another thrift shop and then a visit with Geri which led to lunch at an eatery. By the time I arrived at the mill, there was time to do some organizing in the studio, bring in a few plants and leave! The shops netted a good supply of turtlenecks for the winter, a couple nice shirts for R which he may someday be couth enough to wear, a marvellous china turtle - no one needs it but it is about 15 inches long and has a lid, is blue and white and ----I could not resist it, a couple square glass plates with textured bottoms that I may use to make some hand built stuff, and a folding wooden rocking chair that is very comfortable. Stopped for a few groceries on the way home and got $10 off for my air miles - that's a first.

Our second meal of celery soup last night. TV, computer, reading, bed! Did not sleep well and R moved my car this morning to legal side of street. I "slept" in, took de-tox bath and have been reading and computering. Did go bring in some of stuff from car and moved it to tomorrow's legal side. Half price sale at Sally Ann tomorrow; maybe R will have time to try for some jeans. He needs some that look decent. Will make cauliflower-cheddar soup shortly, to use up milk before it spoils. Still rather tired. Maybe a walk around the block on this beautiful day...

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Sep 14 - 04:44 PM

Ed T, several years ago Katlaughing started a thread that evolved into these. We have kept them going because every so often it becomes clear that members and lurkers benefit from it, and for some regular posters, it becomes a place to catalog forward movement.

Most of us have fitness goals, so this wasn't only for clearing out the surplussage in our homes, garages, yards, workplaces, etc., but also a way to cheer each other on. We've had some remarkable progress here, and this group was a core that saw Michelle (LilyFestre) through the surgery and chemo of ovarian cancer. A spouse was lost last year. People are retiring, are moving, are doing things where it helps to drop in and report progress to others who are interested.

We lost KatLaughing last year in the summer, and she didn't post a lot near the end (we didn't know the end was so near) - but we knew she read it. So for a lot of reasons, this set of threads has become habit.

I've tried to tie the threads together so if you go to the top of any of them there is a link back to the previous one. I run them quarterly now, not monthly - thinking up a clever name that fits in the number of characters is not particularly tasking, but it begins to feel trite.

There are a number of people who have participated, accomplished their goals, and moved on. There are others who I expect one of these days will get serious about the piles of stuff they have previously described and will decide to come over for moral support or ask for a few tips on articles, books, program, or suggestions on where to start.

My house is much less jammed with furniture than it was when it all started. I've learned how to sell on eBay, I've donated, I've listed on Craig's list, and I've given things to people who needed them. My children are at a point where they take things I've held for them back to their homes. I still have lots of hobbies and interests and the tools for those interests that take up space. Organizing, thinning, swapping out one set of tools for another - it's all part of what these threads are about. If upon occasion someone reports a headache, flu, upset stomach, lower GI, etc., it's part of the process. We've shared links and health tips, remedies, and more. I do believe, though, that you posted the first outright fart-only post.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Sep 14 - 05:37 PM

Thirty-five bags of mulch later, it looks like a different house. The rich brown color I choseis a real contrast with the years of living in an almost topsoil-free region-- it looks from a slight distance like rich loam.

What we did was use the Rubweberific thickly up against the house, and a thinner layer coming forward. Ditto at the base of the large tree, which we surrounded with an irregular oval of white rocks. (The trunk and spread of the low sub-trunks branching off are ovoid.)

For this ring we followed the line where exposed roots met grassless ground-- about 4-5 feet from the trunk all the way around. Huge. I can tuck a bit of moss and rock-garden plants into these rocks, and memory stones freely available in PA of which I already have a bunch collected.

We used similarly-textured/colored pine bark towards the front edges of the beds and behind the tree's ring of white rocks (re-used). And raked it back to blend with the Rubberific. More coverage-- bags twice as full/heavy of the cheap stuff to add depth. Bag cost is 2/1 but coverage cost is more like 4/1 pine vs. Rubberific.

At the base of the tree where the dirt had eroded away as the trunk rose, where thin grass had just made a dustbowl, we tucked more mulch and smoothed it between the massive roots so that now you see the roots rising up as if from rich soil.

The front beds had been 4' deep front to back and are now 7' deep. This makes the existing holly bushes a backdrop of the right height with plenty of room for colorful lower plantings in front of them. We added a few red metal garden ornaments waving on stakes. One bed also began its curve around the corner of the house toward what will be axside bed later-- probably lilacs and hollyhocks against the house and a small freestanding arbor with benches.

I'm just in love with that under-the-tree backdrop we made. I can watch for light colored smallish pots/unusual containers and yard art. On spring and summer visits I can just plunk waterable seasonal annuals.

Next purchase is low plant-hangers to set between the hollies and a bit forward of them. Hanging baskets for color. Maybe a fern or spider plants.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Sep 14 - 12:00 PM

Sounds beautiful - though I would be very careful with mulches containing anything other than chipped wood. Planting anything into that mulch may result in dead plantings because of hydrocarbon breakdown leeching into the soil. Setting colorful pots on the ground under the tree and on top of that mulch is a good idea.

Kitchen cleaned up before I left the house this morning so I have a clear surface to inspire me to get a lot done when I get home later. Time for the next push of eBay listings and having a couple of clear surfaces to work on or stage photos for auctions. I heard the head of eBay interviewed on NPR yesterday. He said it is down to only about 30% of sales going as auctions, that the other 70% are listed as buy it now. I've trended more that way myself with some things, but when I'm not sure the market value of something, auctions are a good starting point.

Looks like Linn has a busy musical weekend. Have fun, all of you who get to attend those events!

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 26 Sep 14 - 12:18 PM

I lost 6.4 pounds this week and also dropped off a big bag of goodies at the Salvation Army. :)

Today I am busy making memories...I'm taking Jeremiah and his good friend to meet up with a friend of mine and her 5 girls and we are going to Animal Land, a small local zoo. It's a glorious day and I can't wait to pick up the boys!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Sep 14 - 02:42 PM

I relisted an item today and switched it from auction to fixed price, raised the price and added "free shipping." eBay charges a fee to list a buy-it-now price, and they charge more fees later to do with the sale and the PayPal fees. It is a nickle and dime operation, but in the end I have a bit left in the account. We shall see if this makes a difference.

Michelle, those are golden days that you spend with the kids when they're little on this kind of a field trip. Have lots of fun!

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 26 Sep 14 - 06:04 PM

My husband is listing things from work on eBay and using the buy it now with free shipping as most things are over the limit of what can be listed as postage costs.

The fees are costing less than the loss there would be on the postage.

Today I was looking for curtains for a neighbour and turned over a heap in the corner of the kitchen - no suitable curtains, as the ones in the heap were the sort to put on poles not rails, but there was a bag of odd socks - some of them pairs to ones I have in the odd sock drawer.

As I wear them in pairs, take them off in pairs and wash them in pairs I am rather at a loss as to how they become separated, but they do.

The colder nights have brought mice into the house, poor things. They are so destructive so we have to set traps for them. A bit of a 'Twix' bar as bait and they meet a swift end.

A few years ago a mouse destroyed my lovely red cloak with a hood. I should not have left it lying around, of course, to get damaged, as it is such a large item. I must make another but there are no fabric shops nearby now. I do have an entire bolt of light blue - I could try dyeing it - hopefully crimson would be the result of using red on it.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Sep 14 - 09:58 PM

Country:
Put a load in washer and then dryer this am; it will be in the dryer when I get back on Sunday. Washed dishes and went to SPCA to pick up 5 pigeons to bring down to rehabber kind of en route - just a few miles off track. Stopped at the nice bakery but no choc mousse cakes so I went on the a farm market that is non-toxic and bought a basket of apples. Carolyn was a nurse and found her work environment too toxic so she moved to the country; she grows fruits; her blueberries were a treat!

Arriving at mill, I unloaded and had lunch and lost all my energy so I finished the novel I started last night and went to the grocery for real food - a chicken with potatoes and carrots is in the oven and the broccoli and carrots I did in microwave are eaten. At 7:30 R said he would be along down but he may have stopped at the cafe for music. Tomorrow is big day but starts in afternoon so I can prepare in the am. I have a few nice peppers in the garden; brought in some house plants, more tomorrow. I suspect I shall be energized by needing to demo at the event tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Sep 14 - 04:59 AM

SRS thanks for the heads up. A lot of folks seem to use Rubberific here with no adverse affect. ... is this because they clear the area to be planted well, exposing bare earth, before digging the hole? The back area most thickly covered will be getting no new plantings. Those are planned fir the mostly-pinebarked areas. (I'll also check with the gardening forum I joined.)

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 27 Sep 14 - 08:15 AM

How do you lose six and a half pounds in one week LillyF? I can't imagine doing that. I thought that only ever happened on TV? o.O

My weight loss has been modest paced but I'm cheered this morning by discovering I've dropped a dress size this month. Woo! I can now rummage through my old clothes (actually including clothes I've never even worn at all, due to impulse buys in charity shops) and find a few skirts and blouses to put on instead of just living in T shirts and leggings, which are of course very forgiving of lumpen shapes :-/

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Sep 14 - 09:57 AM

We're to cooler weather now, good for getting out to mow, walk dogs, and more. So I need to resume more physical activity. Today is a modified fast day (500 calories only in the middle of the day).

Did some tidying on Susan's thread - and I sent a PM about that.

Rumncoke, what is your husband listing? I've never seen an upper limit on postage, if you use the eBay calculator and plug in the numbers. Some you can't ship via one service or another if they're too large or too heavy. I have my chandelier set to ship via UPS because USPS won't take a parcel that large.

My listing from yesterday (where I shifted from auction to buy-it-now and "free" shipping) sold overnight to someone in the next town. I don't hand-deliver; I did it once and it was a waste of time and gas. It all goes in the mail. So the next few auctions expire I'll shift them to buy-it-now also.

I need to do a vacuum of the entire house, to determine if there are any more ant corners. Vacuum, spritz with DE and that usually takes care of it. Sometimes going outside and adding a few puffs to the garden or wall there discourages further travel through the walls.

My ex told me about a place that cleans Persian carpets. I need to call a friend who sells antiques who also told me about a place, and see if it is the same place, or decide between the two - and finally get one of my three very old carpets over to see what they can do. It's a start.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Sep 14 - 10:39 PM

How did I lose 6.4 pounds in one week? Honestly, it's just the rollercoaster way my body loses weight. I lose a little, gain some and then drop a larger amount. I am following the Weight Watchers program....works well for me.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Sep 14 - 10:58 AM

I needed to mow yesterday, but the thing about summer in Texas, the grass mostly goes dormant. The places needing a mow are the ones that get extra water, so I had to work my way around the front and the back to spots that get water (near the soaker hoses around the foundation, places watered for the dogs, etc.). Now the laundry is in and will get dried in the back. I usually do laundry on Saturday, but I mowed in the early evening and raised a lot of dust. Too much to still have any laundry nearby on the line.

Must address bills today, and I have information printed out and will call the insurance company. The bill seems to have gone up more than it should for this year. My son is no longer on the bill with me so they'll probably say it is minus a multi-car discount, but I hope to convince them to actually go back to the price they quoted when we were both on the policy, or I will call around and find other prices and switch.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 28 Sep 14 - 04:56 PM

I think that the problem is mostly with books - in the UK some things can be sent fairly cheaply but get over a certain size or weight and the cost rockets or you can't even post it using that tariff - or in some cases not at all, due to the length or the weight being outside the allowed value.

My daughter came round to help sort out her old bedroom, and began to appreciate just how much stuff there is in there to be sorted through. We made a start and she took quite a few treasured items home - plus found some things which would be really useful but we filled a large bag with rubbish.

We seem to have had just the three mice in the house - which seems strange, but the tempting chocolate bait got them very quickly and now it is still there untouched.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Sep 14 - 10:07 AM

Mission for today: Create 4 quilt blocks for class I am taking (hope to have 28 by Thursday) and to drop off a few bags of clothes that Jeremiah has outgrown at a local thrift shop or drop box...whichever I find first, clean off changing table and get photos as I think I have someone interested in purchasing it! (and dishes, laundry, floors, find table top, etc).

Let the day begin!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Sep 14 - 11:33 AM

Last night I sauteed a couple more eggplant slices and they went into the freezer on a tray lined with waxed paper. I'll bag them this evening. I can use them that way in layers in lasagna or I can dice them further and drop them into spaghetti-type sauce to add an extra level of richness. This evening I also need to slice and dice peppers for the freezer.

I made a dent in the dusting and vacuuming project in the living room (including the changing of a vacuum cleaner bag in a device that has ended up being a spare and may get shipped to my son to use), now I need to move on to the office, where I have noticed a few ants. This year has been so odd - neighbors also remark - these aren't fire ants but they are about that size. The don't seem to have discernible mounds that can simply be treated (organic methods, of course!) I use diatomaceous earth, and neighbors up the street have had good luck around the outside of the house with simple buckets of soapy water (dish soap).

I tossed and turned last night, so slept late this morning. I suspect the cause, which is entirely avoidable from now on. I'm to the point where I am eating fewer and fewer processed foods because they're like drugs - they have side effects.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 Sep 14 - 02:01 PM

Mill: Guess SRS can remove the aborted non-post! I have no idea how that happened but it seems to be in sync with my current energy level - it suddenly disappears!

Very little done on Friday. Saturday am was spent on a state of our relationship forum. Then off to the local high school, venue for the day's events. I was to demo pottery but there were no people so I threw only 5 pots, which about suited my energy level. A couple youngsters appeared for one session so that was more fun. There was also quilting, wood turning, and ukelele making. These wood turners are terrific. R and I attended a major quilt show in Ontario last week so we are now experts on quilts; my quilting friend gave me a detailed tour. It was quite impressive.

Sat eve was a folk music concert - French and English. Unfortunately, someone had decided flashing patterns on the back drop were a good idea. Five minutes and my brain told me to get out of Dodge. I asked but turning it off was not an option "Everyone is enjoying it". Sunday, a friend informed me there were other complaints but no one else had to leave. I consider them fortunate no one had a seizure. I sat in the car while R enjoyed some of our fav musicians. It was over an hour before the flashing stopped in my brain.

Sunday I finally got up the energy to do a large pile of dishes in the eve. Not much before that. Today, R left early for the city (9 am is our "early"). I am supposed to be glazing and loading the kiln. Yep, really getting that done... I decided to re-arrange the jury-rigged elec in the studio. It took me an hour to find a screwdriver and affix something to the wall for starters. Then it was lunchtime. OK, I did some work in the garden and picked the available peppers. trimmed, weeded a small area and brought in a few house plants. And tried to sort the dried oregano from its stems. ANY IDEAS?

A wonderful post on clayartworld perked me a bit. Here I go again. If I can just get the elec done and the pots ready for decorating... (Trying to encourage myself by breaking the task into small parts!)

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Sep 14 - 03:01 PM

Tomorrow is booked for clearing weeds and debris from the people/dog patio and tske measurements for its planting scheme. Also nipping ag panels into smaller gate-sized sections for easier opening. The garage will also lose an appliance-dolly's-worth of books and media since the shelves in the house are now prepped to hold them. That makes this the afternoon for errands and groceries and grabbing a burger at Sonic between stops.

The patio garden is going to be so cute. I have a family heirloom woodstove my mom used to cook on at Camp that a later generation planned to junk when they put a modern kitchen in. I nabbed it then, and it's sat in our PA laundry room holding tools ever since. I plan to put an herb garden in it spilling out of the open burners and oven, right outside the kitchen door. It has no value as an antique-- nuttin fancy-- and it will anchor the cobtainer garden in that patio. Another anchor item will be a moss-lined granny cart with flowers bursting out of it. Then I also have beaucoups black nursery pots for tomaters and stuff to scatter about on different levels away from BiscuitDog.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Sep 14 - 01:10 PM

Oregano herb off of the stems: I dry it completely, then, while wearing vinyl gloves from a restaurant supply store, I grasp the top end of the sprig and pull the leaves off against the grain from thin to fat end of the sprig. This gets the leaves and little leaf stems and the bare the stalk intact and out of your herb container. It takes no time at all to do this to batches of oregano I pick and dry here in my yard.

It is sad to read that the school venue didn't attract many people to the demonstrations. I imagine that in off hours the school is off the beaten path, and for many current and former students it represents only its educational role, not that of a welcoming and diverse public space. I have always thought that we waste a lot of space and dollars by not putting the Open Schoolhouse program into effect everywhere.

I cooked up a few pints of Roma tomatoes last night, and now have some juice in the fridge and another pint of sauce in the freezer. And a buildup of peppers. I didn't wash the dishes last night or this morning so tonight or tomorrow I'm going to have to tackle the steam juicer and food mill stacked up in the dishwater.

Nothing much more will probably be accomplished until next weekend. Looking forward to a rainy day on Thursday, and that will moisten the garden soil enough that by the weekend I'll be able to easily pull some of the weeds that have grown large. A couple of my fall tomato plants have grown large, but two others seem stunted. I need to clear the weeds, mulch, fertilize, and pamper them to coax some fall fruit.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Sep 14 - 03:57 PM

City:
Thanks, SRS. I think your oregano must have tougher stems! I just end up with tiny bits of stem. I only take the tip ends so the stem is fragile when dried. Maybe I can just smash them up and when they are cooked... OR, there being plenty of oregano, compost the leaves and stems that refuse to part company gracefully.

It did help to break down the glazing into mini-tasks. I put a big fan in the doorway to pull dust out and SAT on a chair to sand each pot - no matter how hard I try, there are tiny glitches/rough spots that would make it unpleasant - esp on handles. Then decorated most with green grass, then OOPS, needed to wax bottoms before glazing - usually done before decorating! Then dipped all in the new white glaze which did not seem to be as overly watery as I had thought. Loaded kiln with room for only one very small piece left over. There was no very small piece so started the firing. Then trimmed the bottoms of the five largish pots thrown on Sat. Loaded car and left just after 6.

Home in time for Big Bang. R was home! We waited until BB was over for another chicken dinner - the third from Friday night's roast chicken; one to go. Then TV until he fell asleep and I suggested bed was an option.

Today, after a nice bf, R arranged that I deliver a gallon of fresh apple juice to a friend of Geri's who had won it at the Sat concert. She came back to the city on the bus. She lives in a large old apartment house in a marvellous location for someone using public trans. It was fascinating to me to hear about the community of her building, where she has lived off and on for 40 years. A totally dif world to me.

A writer (75), Ann Lloyd facilitates poetry and writing workshops in the vicinity. She gave me a "book" she put together which is absolutely dynamic: Lurching into the Looney Bin is a guide for all as we grow older and may end up in a retirement home, esp due to decreasing mental awareness. It is designed to remind ourselves and caregivers about what is important to us. I would love to purchase a zillion copies to spread around. Full of art, poetry and wise remarks.

I stopped at a pharmacy, checked my bp - a surprising 146/80 which I need to deal with, and replaced the eyedroppers which the resident rat chewed up and came to the house for a good lunch while reading the book, followed by cookies. No matter how good a meal, I have this craving. Perplexing.

R and Bruno came and looked at the roof. B says he can do the job in 2 days. Did not say which two! HOPE! After the roof is done, I will lobby for a clear out of the upstairs (unused) BR, and heat therein. I would love to waken in a room with windows on the upcoming dark winter mornings! Also, having the TV in the BR would mean I could turn it off when R falls asleep - without getting out of bed and getting him awake enough to go to bed!

THEN, we could reclaim the DR and maybe even invite someone to supper.

Anyway, I stripped the bed and laundered the sheets and will re-make the bed in next burst of energy or before bedtime, whichever comes first. Time to walk to library on this lovely day.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 30 Sep 14 - 04:34 PM

Getting a bit more batch cooking done since Mr received his diagnosis and decided to eat more healthy veggie brews. Based on what I've got in the freezer, or am adding to the freezer, I've started composing a week's worth of menu plans to play on repeat for a bit. We had frozen cornbread and veggie chilli today, and there's still enough frozen for the next couple of Tuesdays. I've taken Cajun style black-eyed beans from the freezer for Wednesday (and there's a couple more batches left for future weeks) we'll be having those with brown rice, jerk tofu and greens. Tonight I've made bean burgers to have with chips (home made rustic style) and salad on Saturdays. I need to make a batch of lentil and mushroom ragu for Thursday spaghetti. Not sure what else I've got listed, but it's good to be able to get organised.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Sep 14 - 06:32 PM

City:
The house next door, "identical" in theory to R's but with at least $100,000 in reno, just went on the market for $575,000! The pics are extensive and beautiful! And all we are getting, hopefully, is a roof that does not leak.

Nice walk to library. Now to look up high BP.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 01 Oct 14 - 06:59 AM

The trap seems to have got rid of all the mice we had - just three.

I don't like killing them but they are so destructive, and the smell of them too - I have to get rid of any clothing with that odour as even multiple washings doesn't get rid of it. One year they got upstairs and made a nest under the drawers where I kept my clothes. I moved everything, got rid of anything cloth - so many clothes went - tried deodoriser in the drawers in the hope of reclaiming the leather items - I still can't use the drawers nor anything I kept with sentimental value.
These years there is usually a trap left set throughout the Winter months, though since the cavity wall insulation went in there have been far fewer mice getting inside.

The weather is forecast to change by the weekend, with lots of rain and wind, so perhaps we have now really come to the end of Summer. I hope it will take the leaves off the horse chestnut trees. A leaf miner pest has been spoiling the leaves of more and more of them, so they look ragged and brown. Unfortunately the pest is increasing in its territory year on year and in some places there isn't a single tree unaffected.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Oct 14 - 02:31 PM

City:

It is really happening! The roof repair is moving along!! I was going to go to the country but am staying home in case .... I cleared anything that might have been damaged by mere men. The last time B worked upstairs, he managed to tear a silk quilt. I went through the roof over that. Why would anyone put a ragged piece of wood on a silk quilt???? So I moved everything - I hope - and covered the bed with plastic and styrofoam. They have to go through the BR to get to the roof.

Just computering and reading as I do not have anything else to do. Dishes are washed; laundry up to date. Plenty of cooked food in frig. May go for a walk just to get out of house.

The roof should only take a couple days..... I am hoping to get R to help me sort out the BR next week so we can use it. It is SO discouraging to wake up in the dark - at 9 am! ANY progress at all is encouraging.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 14 - 02:38 PM

Dorothy, I'd love to see the house next door if you can post a link, or PM that address so we can search for it.

Two going away activities for one of my department co-workers this week. One today (a lunch) and one yesterday (a cake). I mistakenly ordered a cheese-filled dish (we were at a Mexican restaurant) and may regret it later. I'm beginning to think lactose intolerance is becoming an issue.

Had to battle with tiny black ants again this morning. I used a sharp knife to slice off a couple of pieces of chicken for a late snack last night and left the knife on the counter. These ants were all over it - they seem to go for protein or fat. They swarm through the walls and over the counters - I washed them off and spritzed Diatomaceous Earth over everything.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Oct 14 - 05:03 PM

Today with fabulous helper Richard I cleared up the weeds and debris in the patio area, which brings me to the last week of this 3-wk visit to our eventual retirement home. I have done every garden-prep task I had set myself.

We also measured for continued planning of that area's eventual container garden and compost bed.

One week left to go on this visit for unpacking. Richard kindly brought in the book boxes today also.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Oct 14 - 07:35 PM

Starting to add exercise into the mix...whoa baby, my body has changed over the last 4 years in a BIG way.

Today? First time back in the yoga studio in a long time. I had to talk myself into going because I am starting over at square one. No matter. I went anyway and did everything that I could, making adaptations when necessary (oh how I love my yoga strap). I left feeling incredible. (60 minute class)

YAY ME!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 02 Oct 14 - 05:53 AM

When I go out to jump on the trampoline I also do some bending and stretching which I can't do on the floor - the apron of the trampoline is quite flexible so no pressure points on the hips and knees and no bruises. As each bit of me begins to seize up I add in a little more carefulness, but at 63 I can still do a parachute roll.

I will, eventually, have to get a new trampoline I think - the metal triangles joining the apron to the springs are rusting, though I might be able to find something to hold just a few of them if they fail, there is a lot of pressure on them. No sense taking chances. Everything else is fine, but all made things have a component which will eventually fail.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Oct 14 - 09:18 AM

I used to enjoy the trampoline in high school, but over the years have decided that they are too commonly set up in back yards where kids can jump with abandon - until they crash off and break something, hopefully not their necks. If you're worried about the metal triangles replace them now, don't go crashing through and THEN decide to update them!

Decluttered the wallet as is usual this time of the month, but this time I decided to pay off a couple of large bills that put pressure on everything else. Now to rebuild the nest egg . . .

Over the last couple of weeks I've been taking what is amounting to a mental health break from the Internet. I'm only on facebook a couple of times a day, a few minutes at a time, and visiting several other sites less often. It helps - I get the news in the morning, I don't need to read or hear the same thing a dozen more times during the day.

The alternate-day fasting is back in full now and I can feel it working. I took the evening wine out of the daily routine, making it easier to stick with the fast for two reasons. The wine is calories at the wrong time of day, and a glass of wine does go best with food and it's too easy to add a little snack that ends up being enough to jettison the good work during the rest of the day. So wine is out for the time being as I work on both health and weight goals. I am climbing the stairs every day at work now, and I need to get up the nerve to go use one of the computer stations at a treadmill.

Good job getting back into yoga, Michelle. I recently suggested to my brother he try it after he described some back issues. He said that similar exercises have helped, and he may go ahead and take a class.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Oct 14 - 12:00 PM

One garden task was a hard decision.... the redheaded neighbor child next door had grown up playing with our house's previously resident children and had a hard time recognizing change.... Nearly a year later he still haunted this tree as an almost-playground, in his wizard costume, like a TV I could not turn off in our picture window. 

When the wizard's wand gave way to toy gunplay with friends all over my maiden landscaping efforts.... biracial play on the heels of a no-bill from the Crawford grand jury-- Well I knew it was time he and the tree made a life transition... thus the timely arrival of St. Francis whose race, btw, is depicted here very non-specifically. 

Francis is flanked by a dog that carries a double reflection.... evoking both our dear sweet Faulkner and dogs used to intimidate protesters in the MLK era. Francis' dog is perfectly relaxed and safe to all.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Oct 14 - 05:26 AM

I got the book/dvd/vhs boxes unpacked ydy and tbtg the bookcases I'd brought swallowed em up fine. Each item was cleaned of PA frackdust as I went, using baby wipes to avoid putting all that dust into the Ohio house. This completes the transfer but not the cataloguing of my entire antiracism/multicultural training library. I may get to that before I head back to PA....


I'm finally in a normal.for.me sleeping pattern at least a week later in the visit than usual.

Nice visit last night with a new Ohio friend, dreaming garden dreams in the twilight.

Ammo and recognition plaques turned up in Richard's exploration of the garage rafters and seller's fone numbers were provided by neighbor, to notify. Porchstep pickup before my departure next week is possible or I'll give the ammo to copshop and use walnut plaque bases for a craft project. Stuff folks could use has already been given away as it turned up.

I got more curtains up ydy. Always good to go up the ladder 8+ times for 3 panels, but the goid news was that nonremovable hardware that had accumulated layers of paint did accept the rods.... I had thought I'd have to scrape.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 03 Oct 14 - 09:24 AM

The garden is not visited by children, at least not unsupervised or unexpected so there is little danger of an accident.

The replacement of the triangles like for like is not possible - it will require a whole new trampoline, but I thought that if just one or two rust through I could improvise something with a metal bar and some kind of fixing.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Oct 14 - 10:46 AM

It's a blustery, chilly day here in north central Pennsylvania...the kind of day that suggests it might be time to dig out some pants and long sleeve shirts. Before that happens, I'm going to spend the day in the kitchen which looks like a tornado has hit. It's amazing to me how fast that happens. Life has been SO busy that I am very thankful to have this morning at home to get caught up. Later, Jeremiah and I are meeting my mom at McIck for coffee and to hear of her latest travel adventures...this time it was to New Hampshire. I am looking forward to seeing her and I know Jeremiah will be excited. We've both missed her.

Back to work I go!
Enjoy your day everybody!

Michelle :)

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Oct 14 - 07:16 PM

Yesterday a big wind and rain storm blew through the region and we had the day off because the campus was closed, as were local school districts. Lots of cleanup and lots of folks without power.

I have power, but no energy. I need a project to motivate me, after spending too much time plunging into watching several seasons of Bones. It is a funny and charming program - interesting characters played by interesting people. I still have a couple of seasons to watch before I catch up to the current season, and in reading about the program I've picked up enough (while trying to avoid spoilers) that I know I want to wait until they've completely resolved the current season's opening cliffhanger situation so I can blow through those episodes all at once. There are lots of other things to watch in the meantime, and I find that viewing some of these programs is a way to keep myself in my chair and on task for boring jobs at work.

This is a fasting day, I had a small meal at lunch and will do something with vegetables for a small dinner (to total 500 calories today). I need to finish taking of the weight that I started losing last year. I'm tired of being a bit stout.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Oct 14 - 10:34 PM

We got a Goodwill rug on our last trip here with an unusual color combo and graphic pattern. Then realized that sellers had left an art piece (created when they'd first staged the house and put it on the market) out in the garage that coordinates perfectly. I'd used it in there to block up a window! You know, a canvas on a stretcher with bland paint daubed on to represent a large painting yet look neutral and impersonal? So I threw it in the room with the rug to put it up sometime.

On this trip I brought the great cot I used to use Boondocking-- now I travel with a small recliner instead for car naps. Set it up in the bedroom vacated by housemate.... youth bed voila! Exactly the same width as the art piece. Which I just hung as a headboard, about a foot and a half above the pillows.

In the same room I redid yesterday's curtain job, since I finally found the set niece Stephanie had picked out for "her" room. Room includes toybox, sm rocker-recliner, side storage with lamp, cube bedside with lamp, musicians' stool, amp, etc. And my autoharp and the AntiRacism library and movies.

Under-cot storage, bagged linens and feather comforted for cot. Spare kids' clothes in closet. Closet's low shelves-- youth fiction. On wall behind door, a bulletin board in need of TLC now covered with fabric left by seller. Flanking that will go two soft-sculpture arrows my mom made , which I use as pinboards. On the bulletin board (at youth eye level) now is a painting Hardi's daughter made in school years ago.

Two of the curtain panels need some shortening next time Hardi's here with machine.

It's almost completely "de-housemated" in there. Lovely morning light. I also rock and read in there after showering. Very nice vibe.

In the middle bedroom I got a room darkening curtain up. More goes later but needs sewed first. Also dejunked it.... buncha stuff needed to be stored in garage and went out one handful at a time all week. That room has a sun-bulb in it and ice-blue shiny paint, for winter gray days. Its closet holds our nephew's inflatable bed and a twin bedroll, so thstt BIL/SIL space or whatever.

Add kids and stir!

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Oct 14 - 12:02 PM

Sounds like you're finishing that job, Susan.

Yesterday I found a job opening at my university that was first open last summer. I interviewed, but wasn't the one selected. Evidently whoever was selected didn't work out because it is open again now, four months later, with a slightly different title and they refined the job requirements a bit. I'll be turning in my application on or before Monday.

It's a lovely autumn day, brisk, bright sunshine. The kind of day I crave, to afirm that summer is finally over. I need to get out in the yard to do some tidying after last week's windstorm and to finish some earlier projects (chipping branches, using the new reciprocating saw to take out some redundant fence posts from when there were back to back fences along one side of my yard. I dismantled the slats, but not the uprights).

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Oct 14 - 07:16 PM

Helped to unload 2 cords of wood today...WOOF! It was slow going at first...yoga left me feeling some unused muscles and sore-ish but throwing all that wood got the kinks out and I feel GREAT! Good thing as there is another cord to toss tomorrow...this one cut 3 inches longer than normal....doesn't sound like much until you figure out how much oak weighs to begin with.

No matter...I got this!

:) Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Oct 14 - 08:55 PM

Ontario:

The house next door.   The beautiful gate is ours! The only beautiful part of the property.

Just when I think things might get better... I have been having a great weekend and phoned R a few minutes ago: The roof was wide open, the rain came down in torrents, the bathroom ceiling is on the floor, water is everywhere, R needed a piece of plywood and took one from the K floor and then fell through to the cellar.... "I'm having fun!" says he. "I am not coming back until things are fixed", say I.

SO I shall go to the mill tomorrow and stay until the mess is repaired. PERIOD! Weep or laugh?

I guess I will get more pots made. I gave most of the current lot to the gift shop at the Art Gallery today. Vanessa phoned Friday to tell me she unloaded the kiln and my stuff looks great!!! YAY! Could she do a bisque firing? - yes. So Friday I did my volunteer thing at the Gallery, supper at fav eatery and conversation with Michelle. Then the opening of the wonderful art of Arne Roosman - posted on FB. I even managed to get someone to record it with a smart phone - with the help of a HS student! YAY!

Sat: visit to Farmer's Market, dropped off painting to the artist, stopped to see a friend only to find he was just operated on for melanoma of eye, lunch at fav eatery and visit with Ramona, then took pottery to Su to see what she wanted for Gallery, visit in Grove with friend there, back through town for a few groceries, back to friends home for dinner and then excusing myself to total exhaustion - computer and that phone call. Holey, moley!

Tomorrow I will head back to Quebec via a simple homes tour and look at a couple properties for sale. Asking everyone I know to watch for a shack for me.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Oct 14 - 11:23 PM

That house next door is lovely. Interesting decor, a lot different than what one would see here - clearly regional tastes make a difference. I suppose the exposed brick makes that house quite chilly in winter?

This was a day for chores and running a few errands. Nothing worth reporting out. I am going to work on the resume a bit tonight and print it out to read over in the morning. As I was thinking about what to do today, what plans to make, I realized that the empty nest is rising up to meet me.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Oct 14 - 03:57 PM

I have finished revising the resume and letter of interest for the job that opened on Friday. Now to print it out to rest and give it a final proof read, then send this puppy in!

Next, to review some of the materials that I went through when the job was open before, a refresher and to determine what kind of training I would have to request. If I am interviewed again, I think if I know how to easily address areas where I need more training, it makes it easier to see how many other skills I already have. They took out a requirement that the applicant be familiar with PeopleSoft software that is used for personnel management, budgeting, and all sorts of other internal workings. The people who designed it put in stuff they wanted but didn't consult those on campus who would also have to use it, so they are madly trying to hire folks with PeopleSoft skills. I'm glad to see that this job no longer requires them.

I'll go walk the dogs now and do some more chores, then take a fresh look at these pages in a few hours.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Oct 14 - 06:02 PM

Had a bit of a stress meltdown from living in two places plus thyroid dip. Hardi and I are discussing that I might extend my Ohio stay a bit till thyroid levels out for safer driving.

The new plan would be to stop all projects til I've given the house a good cleaning-- clean and straighten and photograph all that before bringing in any more from garage, or trying to fix/upgrade anything.

THEN once I've done that, re-evaluate project time vs social time cuz I got a wee bit squirrelly here alone!

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Oct 14 - 08:33 PM

I dragged a pile of branches out of the way in the front yard then took the dogs for a turn around the neighborhood. They enjoyed that, and getting dinner when we returned home. It sounds like a possibility of storms with hail tonight so I'll turn off the sprinkler timer (set to water tomorrow morning) and when the dogs are in for the night move the car into the garage. Zeke runs out of the open garage door otherwise, and then I have to let him into the car for a ride into the garage.

The resume and letter are awaiting my attention - one more read through then those puppies are going into the the HR system. Fingers crossed!

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Oct 14 - 10:24 PM

Unloaded 1 cord of firewood this morning and spent the entire afternoon and most of this evening sewing.

It's been a good day!


Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 05:42 AM

Best of luck SRS!

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 06:15 AM

Monday morning and it is pouring with rain - but I think this is the first time this year - that I can recall - when I have wanted to go outside to exercise on the trampoline and found that it was too wet - usually that would not stop me going outside, but the surface of the trampoline becomes slippery enough to be dangerous for me these days.

I have 'only' pulled muscles in past years, but every year I get that bit more rickety, so despite my work history involving testing to destruction, I find a reluctance to try the same thing on myself.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,#
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 11:07 AM

"The resume and letter are awaiting my attention - one more read through then those puppies are going into the the HR system. Fingers crossed!"

Best of luck, SRS.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 11:11 AM

Headed out of town today with a friend to see Theresa Caputo, The Long Island Medium, in action. It's all in good fun but I can't help hoping someone comes through for me tonight. :)

Working around the house to have the basic chores done before I go. We are planning a mammoth delivery to Salvation Army this weekend. Goodbye STUFF...hello free space!!!!

Hope you hear something back about your resume really soon Maggie...best wishes from me too!

<3 Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 11:45 AM

I worked through a couple of proofs of the pages then sent them in late last night. It's all digital now, no paper involved. I saved my Word files as PDF so they wouldn't wrap funny on someone else's computer. One page resume, one page cover letter, one page references.

It rained last night, but not a lot. I forgot to turn off the watering system so got an extra dose this morning. I'll turn it off for the time being since the days are much cooler and the garden doesn't dry out nearly as fast when the highs are only in the 80s.

I'm beginning to think it is time for another clutter purge. I've sold some small stuff on eBay, but mid-sized that is usable but yet worth shipping will be donated this month once it is identified.

Rum, I concur on not using the wet trampoline. Moisture adds weight and probably affects how everything that is connected around the edge works, possibly weakening fabric, etc.

Thanks for the good wishes and crossed fingers! Change isn't easy, but it is often necessary. This is one of those times.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 12:39 PM

MILL:
Arrived back about 7 last night but I had basically been driving since about 10. The "simple house tour" ended up being one amazing log house that is huge and wonderful but unfinished. Not simple. The second was an even larger, straw bale house, that is one of the most elegant of homes! Built by a home designer, cabinet maker... Sorry, no pics.

Then I went looking at the most down to earth - almost in the earth - props for sale. long story. Later.

Now, off to catch up with life here. The kiln load was very nice. The teapot, ordered a year ago, has a crack in bottom...

SRS: hopefully a part of Nicole's reno was insulation!

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Oct 14 - 02:38 PM

Plan to extend Ohiotime in place-- now sked for November 6 departure via overnight(s) w/son n DIL then home to PA that wknd.

I was able to catch up on laundry tdy-- one of my most important signs my life is out of whack is clean laundry not put away before next load of my clothes goes into the wash. I was waaaay behind.

I found a free wifi source but it's problematic so looking for another tmrw.

Today I discovered that my cordless driver/drill WILL work on the kitchen's hardwood cabinets, yay, so when special-order knobs arrive in a few days I can pretty up the kitchen and prevent finger marks from ruining the cabinets' finish-- I do not ever want to paint them!!!

I also unpacked a bag with some wall art and put up some of it-- a soft-sculpture arrow my mom made that I use as a pinboard. I put it up where I hope to cut a door someday to make a master bath setup.

Catching up on dishes, etc as well. No vac or dust today-- dust-sensitive visitor due tonight who prefers I leave it where it lies if there's not a few days for it to settle.

Added a bunch of social stuff to sked. No longer good with so much hermit mode! .

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Oct 14 - 02:51 PM

Dorothy, it's difficult to imagine where insulation would go - those look like external load-bearing walls.

My pattern as far as work around the house in the evenings this semester seems to be let stuff pile up in the sink dishwater during the week and maybe clear it out midweek, or mostly leave it for the weekend. I need to switch over to rinsing and putting in the dishwasher, then I won't have the mess in the sink. I'm going to a talk this evening, given by an old friend who is in town for two days. No chance to visit other than tonight. When I get home I may need to wind down - perhaps I'll put everything in the dishwasher then.

This weekend I'm going to go through the VCR tapes one more time, to see what I can cull from there that is now available streaming or on DVD. There are still several family ones I need to digitize. I'll bring a bag of the cassettes to recycle here in the library, we have a bin for e-waste and old technology.

My activity is still more outdoor than in, but I know the cooler weather is here for some of you and the indoor stuff is probably prominent. What is everyone up to for the fall? Do you have any projects planned? I need to move stuff in my son's room, left behind from his return from school and not taken in his move to the Northwest. That room is the guest room, so it needs to be back in shape, but I'm not going to simply load it into the other bedroom (my sewing room and daughter's bedroom when she's in town). That's my first autumn chore, for when the weather turns bleary enough that I'm not tempted out of doors.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Oct 14 - 05:32 PM

You insulate load-bearing walls that lack an easy cavity from the inside-- with high-R-value board behind new sheetrock, losing a couple of inches of floor space.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Oct 14 - 09:20 PM

mill:
SRS: Susan is correct. I hope Nicole did that!

The rain continues in Montreal and the roof continues and the disaster continues and I continue to stay here! Threw 4 teapot bodies, numerous spouts and lids this morning and hoped they would dry enough to trim but - tomorrow. Also made a Cross -rough looking brown clay, about 12 inches tall, tied together with "vines" and standing on a small "hill". Took a pic which I will send to my friend. She gave me no idea of what her daughter might want so I decided on a "rugged cross". If it is not suitable, I can throw it back in the bucket. Or maybe I will just finish it if it holds together. Very creative project. I rather enjoyed the process.

Went to library and got a replacement for lost card and 5 novels, including the newest Louise Penny, which I am about 1/4 through. I needed something to read while I had supper! Midwives by Chris Bohjalian does not hold my interest.   

Starting to find winter clothes and putting them aside to take to city and to the weekend in Ontario. - Again on Friday! R hopes to go this time. Canadian T-giving/long weekend. And putting away summer clothes. Beautiful day today so I had studio door open and nice breeze.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Oct 14 - 04:53 AM

Thanks DP. A contractor told me that trick when I asked how to handle the ground floor, barely-insulated addition that was affected by our 2000 housefire, which *mostly* affected the second floor of that addition. (His rebuilt area up there became the Mudcat Attic Dorm. ) I had used the first floor as a summer bedroom and, at another time, office, and I was curious if we could affordably get year-round use.

Since that house is a rental, the moving or removal of the existing but disconnected baseboard heating system nixed that-- that had been piped under the floor. The erosion of soil into the underfloor cavity not only made that piping inconvenient to access, but no moisture barrier had ever been used.... that would all now need to be excavated.

That whole addition was first conceived as summer-only farmworker space, tho later there was an attempt to use it as a separate apartment for a farm mgr. Its foundation is only a thin layer of stacked stone, which is pushed farther away from the sill plates by soil movement every year.

This used to bother me (in terms of supplied clergy housing), til I read that Desmond Tutu once was housed in an unheated garage. There's a perspective correction!!!

Well, the whole addition leans more each year, and will probably crack off entirely in this decade. ... so no, not our bucks!!! ;-)

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 08 Oct 14 - 10:27 AM

There was mention on Radio 4 today of blind Willie Johnson the blues gospel singer who lived in the burnt out ruin of his house as he'd got nowhere else to go. Not even a hospital would take him when he was ill.

The weather is still dark and wet here and we tested the heating last night, but our cavity wall insulation keeps us snug. Our bill for gas is far smaller than for other houses this size, it is even smaller than my daughter's one bedroom flat. The roof is insulated, the windows are double glazed, the French doors, back door and one window are inside the conservatory, which saves heat loss from them.

I am working on a full length cloak at the moment, even though I ought to be working on some knitting machines for other people to earn money. I have some material 90 inches wide and want to cut the cloak from one piece - easy enough - make the back to my height, gather the fabric a little across the shoulders and cut out a piece in front slanting outwards to where it is long enough to reach the floor. I think I need to take out about 18 inches along the bottom each side of centre front.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Oct 14 - 05:54 PM

Mill
After yesterday's great day-- It poured rain in the night and off and on all day, and wind. I surfaced about 9 am and brought toast and tea to bed, with Louise Penny. Finished the book about 4, interspersed with computer stuff. No inclination to do anything else. Elec went off 2X briefly. Started a Gail Bowen - either read or stop pretending I'm awake! High in the 50's the rest of the week. More rain but some sun tomorrow but more wind also. Warm clothes in the am might get me moving. Have to finish those pots so they can start drying. Today - I just do not care! The heating season has begun.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 Oct 14 - 09:26 PM

60 Minutes of yoga....hip openers. WHOA.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 05:21 AM

We have sun, but the wind is ferocious today - I think it is a day to potter around doing the housework, picking and putting.
I looked out of the kitchen window and the apple trees are suddenly half naked and a heap of leaves has appeared in the corner of the fence.

Autumn has now arrived.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 10:46 AM

"Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 Oct 14 - 09:26 PM

60 Minutes of yoga....hip openers. WHOA.

Michelle"


I'm starting doing this DVD routine, though any 'weight loss' experienced isn't likely to come from exertion, it is a good way to centre and release tension and quieten nervous energy - which can sometimes lead me to mindless munching, or eating too quickly and therefore too much: Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss

Otherwise I've been packing out the freezer with Squash and Lentil Patties, sixteen of them as I like to cook in larger quantities - it works out cheaper and easier in the end. I used our first little home-grown pumpkin from the garden too, which was pleasing. They were easy to make but a bit messy! Low in fat (especially as they are baked), high in fibre and tasty too. According to one site I visited, pumpkin is often recommended by US dieticians for weight-loss as it's low in calories but otherwise very nutritious, full of vits A, C and B.

My mum taught me to get into the habit of always having a bowl of hot washing up water to hand while cooking, so cleaning up is quicker because you wash-up as you go. It certainly makes sense though unless you have a double sink, you have to run outside to strain boiling water! I think I may have to get a plastic bowl to go into the sink, to alleviate that problem.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 11:31 AM

It isn't really cool here yet, but I've been thinking about making some lentil soup one of these days. I have a couple of recipes. I make split pea soup often but I've never made lentil, though I get it seasonally at a Lebanese restaurant near where I work.

Rum - what is that cloak for? To wear, as part of a costume, or for someone else for one of those uses?

CS, I usually have a plastic dishpan of soapy water in one side of my double kitchen sink. It does help if you can quickly wash, rinse, and drain stuff while you're working so the cleanup isn't huge. My porcelain sink has a hairline crack in it - I think the contractor's assistant stood in the sink when he was wiring a fixture overhead and it has been there for years, gradually getting longer. It doesn't leak. I don't really like this sink and I need a new faucet, so one of these days I'll replace the entire thing, sink and faucet. I'll go with a steel sink next time.

Susan, what you described is exactly what I would expect for insulation on load-bearing walls. The exposed brick means there isn't sheet rock and insulation, and one doubts then that there is any other place to put that insulation, unless there is a double layer of brick with an air cavity between, which would in its own way act as insulation.

Spent yesterday hunched over a computer and scanner finishing my end of a local history project for Special Collections. Now I'm going to be editing and designing a book. I'll come up for air and check in when I can.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 12:09 PM

The special-order kitchen cabinet knobs came in YAAAAAY! I'll take the cordless with me go pick them up, so I can get a bigger drill-bit. I had not yet cleaned the kitchen, which is handy since there shall be sawdust. So today's rainy-day task is set. The whole kitchen needs decluttering-- unpacked boxes to go to garage and misc hardware all over the island to clear up, then clean.

I not only got both arrows up yesterday, I got their pinned-up contents sorted and mostly put onto them. The kitchen cabinets have a huge running-footage of overhead display space, now looking bare and wasted; so except for a few really precious cards left on the arrows, there is now a pile of cards awaiting my next tall visitor-- and lots of open arrow space for new items in the coming year. Never enough tack-space!

Finally sleeping well as the new thyroid dosage saturates my cells-- several nights of 8-10 hours' sleep, Mmmmmm! The length of time it took to get the effect confirms that I upped it just enough and not too much. Hardi has shipped the supply left in PA that had been based on the first plan to leave today.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 05:23 PM

I did some bigger grocery shopping this week, finding great sales on pork loin, ground turkey, bottom round roasts and lean hamburger. :) Feels good to get stocked up a little bit. Soups too. I love tomato soup...that's always a hit with me but Pete likes a variety so the sales today were perfect.

I won't lie...yesterday's hip openers were difficult for me. Afterwards we did some sun salutations....both A and B varieties. I go through the A Suns ok but the B version has some rapid floor to standing back bends and back down again, plank, downward facing dogs and then more floor to standing backbends/warrior I and I found myself getting dizzy so I stood and bent into a forward fold, dangling my arms to let the blood flow into my head. After class my instructor came over and said, "You did a good job taking care of yourself today." I said thanks and also thanked her for not making a big deal out of it...that's the last thing I want. And this is why I have always loved yoga...it's about finding my own edge...not about keeping up with the guy next to me or the long and lean chickie in front of me who could bend herself enough to fit in a tampon box....it's about doing what I can do. It's been a good 4 1/2 years since I had a solid yoga practice...which by the way, was not easy at first and there are poses that I had hated and then came to embrace and love. And so I am starting again and while it's not easy, I still love it and will continue to find my own edge. :)

Weigh in today: Down 1.8 PLUS I had a wardrobe change....too cold for my shorts...so I weighed in with pants and figured I would break even with the extra weight of the pants.....nope....down 1.8 even with the wardrobe change! I also introduced myself to someone in the group who has about the same amount of weight to lose as myself...difference being she has already lost 163 pounds!   We had quite a bit in common to talk about and she was glad I pulled a seat up next to her. I love making new friends. :)

Jeremiah doesn't have school tomorrow or Monday and if the weather permits, I'll go for a walk while he rides his bike on a nearby trail tomorrow.

Have a great night everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 08:23 PM

Knobs picked up and kitchen center toured to SEE options in knob placement-- template marked with better hole to use. Got drill bit.

Got other supplies. Stopped at new Wifiland spot for dinner and Dropbox updating. Awful seating... very sore back but very accessible spot. Came home and unloaded half of purchases to work on knobs in a little while. Got boxes out to garage despite back. Time for nsaids and break.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 09:01 PM

Mill:
R reports it is still not safe for me to go to the city house. Roof still not done; rain still coming down in sporadic torrents! Finished the four teapots today. They look good. hopefully they will be dry enough to fire when I get back on Tuesday - from Ontario again. Gradually moving summer clothes to storage and winter clothes out. also bringing in outdoor things for winter. The "rugged cross" is iffy but I will continue to nurture it as an interesting project. Top element of toaster oven is caput. Will watch thrift shops for another. Wondering why yesterday was such a NO energy day - just the weather? else? Same bf both days. May have slacked off the homeopathic; will be sure to do 2/day henceforth.

Hoping R will be able to go to Ontario tomorrow. A Dragonfly meeting on Sunday and I signed up for Market on Sat. Car is loaded except for clothes. If R can go I shall have to drive the hour to Montreal to pick him up.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 09:43 PM

Still running the air conditioner and ceiling fans here. A bit under the weather this afternoon, so I did just a little puttering around the kitchen when I got home (though I did go out to pick okra - if it isn't picked every day it gets too big to eat). Dishwashing running, ready to watch a little TV then an early night. I did eat dinner - this is a test. Lunch kind of roared through the lower GI this afternoon - if dinner has the same effect, I may just stay home tomorrow.

Today is day five of the listings on the job I applied for. They are required to leave it up for at least five business days, so I'm interested to see how much longer it stays up. The first time they didn't manage to take it down until long after they'd hired someone (who apparently didn't work out) and I wonder if this time it will be smoother. And hopefully faster to learn who gets it.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 11:01 PM

Six knobs later, I am really fed up with the nice but brainless Lowe's salesman who sold me a second not-big-enough drill bit. I had to ream out all six holes, stripped many screws, and blew 2 battery pack charges doing it, but I do like how they look so far.... 15 to go.

I could finish at least the lower cabinets tonite if I'd had the right damn bit. Maybe the uppers too. Oh well. Another day, another trip to Lowe's. Fuckit. I'm taking my own damn scooter this time. Theirs are about half the speed of your average grocery store scooter and it's time mine got out for a spin! Lowe's is just around the corner.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Oct 14 - 11:19 AM

Around the corner they are but curb cuts on the way yo Lowe's are few, and fsr between. I finally found a route with only one stretch of road where I can't ride facibg incoming traffic. Def need to remake scooter flag tmrw.

Warm enuf? Not with wind chill but I did miss the cold rain.

So to be sure of success I bought 2 drill bits in larger szs. And a case to hold them and the driver bit. New szs should help with a number of little fixes planned.

All the lower cabinet doors now done. Uppers should go well after a break.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Oct 14 - 11:34 AM

Mill:
Turned on the computer about 10 to see if there were any lost dogs in the area; there was a beautiful golden and a pug out side the sun room. They are still there and I am no closer to finding out why. Why here! There is no one nearby. Guess I need to get dressed and made an effort.

Doing to be cold in Ontario tomorrow - Market? maybe not. Down to 32 tonight and 23 tomorrow night.

Email from R that he is exhausted (5 am). Still do not know if he is able to go with me.

Have no idea how to go about finding who owns these dogs. No vet nearby. No rescue that I know of...

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,#
Date: 10 Oct 14 - 12:31 PM

Do either of the dogs have tags?

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 10 Oct 14 - 12:44 PM

Nice easy drinking bottle of Merlot for tonight. I think I have finally discovered that it's possible to drink moderately, rather than all or nothing! It's quite an important bit of 'decluttering' for me, behaviourally anyway. I'm glad to have found some middle ground with the booze, middle ground is inevitably the best kind with most things I think, certainly better than swinging between extremes. We have a drink together once a week on Friday evenings, as well as a few snacks to go with. I'm more than happy with this routine.

Just waiting for the (half fat for what it's worth - but this is 'treat night') garlic bread to bake and then the gnocchi will go in. Then I'll crack the Merlot open. I discovered at the last minute that the pasta sauce I ordered wasn't in stock (we get our groceries delivered so it's not always possible to predict what might happen last minute) so I've knocked up a home-made garlic pasta sauce, bubbling like crazy now instead of the slow reduction I prefer, but I'm sure it'll be good enough! It's quite unusual for me to order in bought pasta sauce anyway, I only really wanted it for the little plastic tubs which are just the right size to freeze 14oz can-sized (drained weight) quantities of cooked pulses in!

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Oct 14 - 12:59 PM

All cabinet doors now knobbed. One looks off center. May move it.

I forgot abt a smart thing I did... bought one extra for an odd cookie-sheet-sized cavity between one cabinet and stove. In case we want to add a dummy front there someday to match a narrow cabinet on the other side of the stove. Won't know for sure till we pipe in the gas stove and check the final fit-- on another trip.

Next is drawers pulls. Not today. Have to see Lowe's template when back in stock. Prob have to make one from scrap plywood but prefer not.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Oct 14 - 07:04 PM

In the course of decluttering the kitchen I came across hardware and tools to knock out a couple of nagging fixes-- adding hooks to a nightstand to corral pesky charging cords... putting a bigger screw eye into the door frame to anchor a tighter bungee storm door closer.... collect up the twenty 3" square ziplocs the cabinet knobs came in, to present yo Hardi for PA hardware sorting... put away a nonfunctional paper towel holder now that I figured out how to fix.... a third mounting bracket surfaced for a front door bell (mini ship's bell) to mount tomorrow with Richard... in time to add washers to tmrw's Ace or Lowe's list... an Ace cabinet pull to exchange... a set of screw anchors to hold the damn mirrir tiles behind the sink if Richard can reach back there (faux window for windowless corner sink)....

In short the kitchen island here collects the same kind of crap the one in PA harbors: work interrupted by rethinking the plan.

But there is a surprising degree of structure here after only a few work-camps--- I know instinctively where to put stuff away.

One project tmrw is re-using found shelves to establish power tool storage un the garage. Things are getting untidy out there and I already can't find my damn jigsaw. Hopefully by the time we return the rental model, we'll find mine!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Oct 14 - 12:11 PM

I spent yesterday cooking....a pork tenderloin, fresh squash (made lots of extra because I love it....had some for breakfast this morning), two BIG pans of apple crisp...YUM.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Oct 14 - 01:20 PM

I had my nose to a grindstone at work yesterday, didn't post much - the method to get through these tasks in the department where I was placed is to put on headphones, pull up a NetFlix video, and let it play in the background while I perform a repetitive task to save files for someone else to use. In this case I was going through Word documents identifying all of the locations of some exotic fonts. Once I know how many and what types I need, I'll import them into my computer and get to work on layout of this book of conference papers.

Evening meeting on campus, followed by a drive home to beat a thunderstorm passing through the area. I was within a mile of the house when the heavens started to open.

Today the itchy eye runny nose of autumn allergies are in attendance. It is a cool day after the storm so I'm in the house puttering. I have to get some t-8 bulbs for my hall bathroom, I thought it was getting dim, and was apparently down to the last of the four until yesterday when it went. One of these days I'll replace that fixture but since it works for now it stays and I'll simply replace the bulbs.

My son's room needs to be converted back into the guest room. Right now it is loaded with stuff that returned with him from the university last summer. He didn't need this in his new apartment, or didn't have room to take it, so it can be put away or repurposed.

So, laundry, cleaning, and work on that room today. It is a fasting day and I'll make a late lunch of some sort. I didn't buy any new pants this summer, I was able to use pants I had, but I hadn't been wearing some of the smaller size 12s for the last few months. I've been back on the alternate day fast and am now in some slightly snug jeans again.

CS, I find that all-or-nothing consumption pattern with chocolate, some ice cream, some sweets, etc. That's why I don't have them in the house much - I suspect we all have things that don't seem to hit a brain "off switch." It's good if you can set up a routine that does that for you. I took alcohol out of my diet altogether for now in order to have the discipline for the alternate day fasting. It's too easy to defer the fasting day till tomorrow if a couple of glasses of wine have muted the desire to maintain a dietary routine or reach a goal. With as difficult as things are at work, if I can't be successful in reaching some of my personal goals outside the workplace, I feel pretty miserable. So for now, the wine is not there to soothe away the workplace stress at the end of the day (which I do miss) but I hope to counteract that by finishing projects important to me.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 11 Oct 14 - 06:05 PM

The fabric I have used for the cloak surfaced when getting all the fabric together - I tend to make things which would be out of fashion in any century.

I think it needs a couple of pleats on the shoulders.

Other things which have surfaced recently were two sets of hooks for kitchen utensils, so I have fixed them onto the wall and the edge of a set of shelves, so I now have 18 hooks rather than only 6 - they were immediately filled up. I drilled a hole in the handle of a spatula, so as to be able to hang it. We have a set of drill bits ranging in size from tiny to oh wow, so there are few jobs we don't have a drill to fit. Also several drills from dainty to this will fix it, and a set of disc cutters. My husband has rebuilt the conservatory, the front porch, boarded and lined the roof space, fitted a TV antenna large enough to give us a good signal and done numerous jobs around the house over the years. We tend to do things ourselves. I got my very own electric drill as a 21st birthday present and could not see anything at all strange in that.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Oct 14 - 06:41 PM

I was upset that girls could only take Home Economics in junior high and high school when I was growing up. I wanted to take shop also, and today I have a drill and a few saws and a bunch of types of hand tools. It's good to know how to build and fix things.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Oct 14 - 09:41 PM

Great workday with Richard. Mirror tiles anchored, table swapped and one stowed, doggue escape prevention installed, shelves up and my damn jigsaw found-- as I knew it would be once I rented one.... a real coup was reclaiming a garage corner. It held seller's TV stand. I decided I wanted the space more than the furniture and directed its removal. "OK," sez Richard, "But where do you want it though?" I replied, "Wellllll..... that's the oroblem....." "Can I have it"? he asks. "Van's open! " I shoot back. It is a great piece and he is a young man just getting out on his own and setting up his first away-from-home nestcwith girlfriend. I'm thrilled they can use it. And the seller's presence here vanished, just like that.

I mean, what do we *think* was going on in a garage man-cave with all windows blocked, a lock on the door, a bathrobe, a VCR, DVD player, and TV? Ewww. I got 1/4 of "my" side of our garage back!

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Oct 14 - 06:58 AM

TBTG for my wonderbrain on thyroid meds. It works while I sleep.

Bacground-- here at Camp Ridgebury we happily forego live TV. No fear-mongering permitted here. But a nice end to a work-camp day (which must end by 3 if at all possible) is a satisfying DVD, after a group cooking session and supper. With little or no talking except when someone calls for a discussion break. After the movie is a good time to clewr up tools and dishes, and have a nice, long shower before a bedtime sit out in the patio.

So we got into that pattern during the first work camp here when we got the keys in Dec. 2013, using a laptop. But a nice Freecycle TV came our way and the sellers left a DVD player and VCR that probably still work that have just been waiting for a trial hookup. And wonderbrain has finally chosen the perfect spot-- the doorless music/office/guestroom closet! I even have a stand here for the heavy TV, that will fit below the existing shelves, and my storage cubes already in that closet will slide under the tall stand. It all adjoins an outlet, LOL.

Richard.... come back, Shortcut Man, and put it all together! I have an Anti-Racism library to catch up on!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 12 Oct 14 - 12:07 PM

Just remembered that I need to take my thyroxine - the reduced dose, after what must have been a slight overdosing for a very long time is causing a few problems. I know I took it yesterday, but forgot to record the fact.

I can't write stories any more - no more overstimulated brain cells, and my dreams are quite mundane too.

I had to do cookery and sewing at school, and neither has been much use to me in later life, as the techniques were both basic and over complicated. Working it out as I went along was a far better option.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Oct 14 - 12:51 PM

This morning I tested a peach coffee cake recipe. I baked it in the roaster oven because the stove oven has been acting up at times. The roaster took a lot longer, but it is out and cooling and smells wonderful. If this test project works well I'll make another and take it to work this week.

I've decided that part of the reason I've been reluctant to take the mower out front to mow parts of the lawn that have grown (it goes mostly dormant in the summer heat) is because some of the shrubs are in the way. So I'll trim some shrubs before I attempt the mow. I'm thinking that next weekend would be good to invite over a few gardening co-workers to dig up some of the things I otherwise need to transplant or pull out. Earlier this year transplanting would be difficult because of the dry heat. I need to get the rear in gear to clear up the house some (at least the public rooms and the hall bathroom).

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Oct 14 - 12:59 PM

My younger daughter likes to cook. The school course she took was no good, as the instructor was poor. Rumncoke's complaints applied at her school.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Oct 14 - 05:57 PM

That cake was good, but very rich.

Working on a plan, making a list of things I need to do in the next couple of years that I might be able to do in stages. New flooring in the bathrooms, new lo-flo toilets, paint, some more tile in the sun room. However, the list (and the research) can wait till this evening- I need to do a little trimming before the sun sets so I can put the branches at the curb or haul them to the back for chipping.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 12 Oct 14 - 06:17 PM

A lot of recipes are low fat high sugar these days - I much prefer ones with a bit of age on them, as the results are usually more palatable.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Oct 14 - 08:13 PM

I made a peach coffee cake recipe from Williams Sonoma but I changed the strudel recipe, didn't make as much. I used a 1-pint jar of canned peaches, it was just enough for making rows of sliced fruit across the top of the cake.

The reason for making a plan for the next stage in the house is to give me something to look forward to, but also to recognize that if I reach a point when I want to retire and if I want to sell the house and move, I'd like to have all of this finished, not waiting to be done. Making a plan that is reasonable and doable is the best way I know to get out of a deep funk.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Oct 14 - 09:18 PM

A peach cake? That sounds YUMMY! Pete packed up a picnic lunch for us and off we went to one of my favorite state parks for a BBQ and some playground time. I also found an oak tree where Jeremiah and I had fun collecting acorns. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Oct 14 - 09:57 PM

Ontario: Someone finally picked up the dogs on Sat and I got on the road. About two hours into my trip, a neighbour phoned to find out where his dogs were. I hope the rescue woman gave him an education on letting his dogs run loose. I will be paying him a call when I get back to Quebec.

I had hoped to get to the Art Gallery before 4 but a 30 minute wait in line at the border - having taken the "short cut into the US for a few miles and then back into Canada - and there was no longer any hope. HAving realized the car needed an oil change I stopped at a quick place in Cornwall, ON. While they changed the oil, I weeded their bed of small evergreens. I got some exercise on a lovely day and the manager thanked me profusely.

Having apparently run out of clean underwear and no way to launder at the mill, I stopped to purchase some new ones in Belleville, ON. After arriving at destination, I found several clean pairs in the bottom! OH well! I have plenty now! But 3 pair that I saw as "M" were actually "girls age 8-10" so I will give them to Les to give to her friend with a small girl.

Arrived in time for YUMMY supper at fav eatery before heading for my second home! My hosts had to work 'til late. Spent 90 min on phone with health consultant who believes I have Lyme and sent my a protocol which may be difficult to obtain. Tomorrow. Right now I am plumb wore out from the Dragon Fly meeting which lasted ALL afternoon. interminable and moderately successful.

Then dashed to the Grove to visit briefly with a friend I had not seen in years before she goes back to Toronto area. The whole extended family was involved in getting Thanksgiving dinner on the table! Well, the grandparents (91 and 87) were sitting in a corner out of the way! Wonderful to see them also. Did not stay long just met her two little boys(2&4) and drove back to Tim Horton's for a sandwich and back up "home" to re-collapse. That was about a 50 mile round trip! I will go back over tomorrow to visit with the mom at her antique shop - closing for the season.

Listening to the soft, gentle music of Jay Linden. "Something Better to Believe" brought me to tears the first time I heard it.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 14 - 11:14 AM

I bit the bullet and stepped on the scale this morning. I'm back to where I was last year when I was doing the alternate day fasting. It came to a halt when the really cold winter hit my metabolism, and I didn't follow up very effectively earlier this year, though I didn't gain back a lot. I now have 20 pounds left to lose to reach my preferred weight, with five pounds of wiggle room (so I'd probably be content to lose only 15).

I brought the rest of the coffee cake to work this morning and cut it into small pieces with the warning for others that it is rich.

Heavy rain overnight so no need to worry about watering for the next few days, the cooler temperatures (highs in the 70s and 80s) will not dry the potted plants and the garden so much.

Waiting anxiously for a phone call or email requesting participation in this job interview process. I was interviewed when this job opened a few months ago, I hope they do the same again this time. The listing has been open long enough that they can close it if they wish, and move forward with hiring. Sometimes it takes a while to get enough applications, so there is no predicting when anything might happen.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 14 - 08:43 PM

I cleared out a lot of old email at work today, and bailed out some of the extra stuff in one of my gmail accounts. That is overdue!

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Oct 14 - 09:56 PM

Ontario: Morning rehash of yesterday's contretemps at yesterday's meeting with two folks. Good to get a bit more clearness. Then helped friend with how-to re supplements for what ails her. Then off to visit friend in the Grove, good visit with artist friend in Town, then out into the country to see a couple not seen in years at their beautiful self-built home and organic farm. Wife is in 9th year of remission from a cancer that was supposed to kill her. All accomplished with alternatives, diet, supplements. She is so healthy! Working as a visiting nurse and doing incredible painting on silk. Simple supper and not at all simple conversation. Terrifically enjoyable. I celebrate her life and their beautiful relationship. Back to the house and more good conversation. Now, time to relax and consider tomorrow's agenda and the trip back to the Mill. House in city is still not habitable.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Oct 14 - 10:09 PM

TV hoisted yesterday and vcr hooked up by Richard. Multiple trips to RadioShack for conversion/adaptor crap to make dvd connect to co-ax tv by Susan. Hookup of dvd player, RF Modulator, little cables, and co-ax by Susan. 'Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith" watched by Susan for review and cataloguing, by Susan. Damn nice letterbox picture on Freecycled dinosaur of a TV, with free players left by sellers. Very inexpensive to make it all work and it all sits inside the closet where it will soon hide behind a theater curtain. Plenty of room for 2-5 people of various sizes if music gear stowed in other half of closet.

Another easy fix this week in middle bedroom-- the shallower sewing table let me push the bed over a foot, making the dbl bed a true walkaround. To complete that I get to spluge on just one pretty register cover cuz el cheapo as left by sellers got caved in long ago. None of the other registers are in traffic paths so I just need the one.... and maybe, depending on price, a second matching one for the small, only bathroom-- where a change-out would make a big eyecatcher.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 11:38 AM

Last night I pulled all of the beads and findings out of a desk where I had them stored and loaded them into one of the plastic lidded boxes my son used for going to and from school during his university years. Several were left behind here, so it is time to repurpose things. Right now the box with the slightly organized contents is on my dining room table. That seems to be the largest flat surface where I could set up for periods of time, though we are approaching the holiday season so I'm considering if there is someplace better to set up the beading accouterments for now.

Beautiful sunny fall day, too bad I work in a windowless basement.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 02:44 PM

Checked off of the "to do" list - I went by the GP's office this morning and got both the shingles and my annual flu shot. One in each arm, so I may be a bit achy by the end of the day, but glad to have both out of the way. Right now a friend is battling a bout of the shingles - something I'd like to avoid. I had a robust case of chicken pox as a child, so I'm sure it is a possibility (and even with the shot it isn't 100% gone, but one has a better chance of not coming down with it). And since I work on a campus, every year we have an infusion of new germs as the freshman class arrives.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 07:18 PM

I don't think I've seen "The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith" since I saw it in a theater in the '80s. If I recall correctly, it wasn't available on video when Tom and I had Cinematheque and specialized in foreign films, classic films, and totally off the wall films.

I've been trying to get back here to read and maybe post, but the past few weeks have been really jam packed.

The Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival was a resounding success this year (our 15th annual) and the weather could not have been better. I got through Tom's song at the tribute to Tom and to Bob Webb, but choked when Hutch sang "The Parting Glass" -- all I could hear was Tom leading it at Jay Smith's memorial.

Then two days afterwards was Tom's birthday and, not wanting to be at home that day, I had a two day getaway to coastal Maine. Took the Casco Bay Lines mail run cruise delivering mail and cargo to a lot of the islands in Casco Bay. Then, since I had just finished the day before reading Linda Greenlaw's book "All Fishermen Are Liars" and it took place in the Dry Dock pub, I HAD to stop there (second pub down from the ferry terminal on my way back to the parking lot) for lunch. Then poked around north through Freeport (stopping at a couple antique shops and noting the location of Tami's road for the next day) and on to Brunswick. Ate supper at Bombay Mahal, where Tom and I had eaten 16 years ago. Found a moderately priced (cheap doesn't exist) motel at Cook's Corners and the next morning poked down Harpswell Neck, Orr's and Bailey's Islands, and Cundy's Harbor. Got into a couple cemeteries I did rubbings in 16 years ago and took a lot of photos (after finding a place to buy batteries; sigh). The poet Robert P. Tristram Coffin, his wife, and his daughter are in Cundy's Harbor (or East Harpswell as it's sometimes called). Finally extricated myself from Brunswick (after going around in circles for awhile) and made it down to Freeport to see Tami who had just gotten back from the Getaway. Got home in time to heat up the leftover chicken saag for supper, tie up some loose ends on the phone and in email, and head over to what turned out to be the last song circle in Dover run by my friend Mark Ryer. The cats figured my leaving again was some kind of a sick joke... Glad I didn't know that night that the session was going to be the last. He just announced yesterday (I hate it when Friday the 13th falls on a Monday...) that he and his wife are moving to Rockland, Maine.

That was just one more thing this weekend. My right hand woman on the PMFF board told me at Friday's session that she was resigning. She's burned out, but will still help me with scheduling and will continue to do the website, newsletters, etc. Glad she made the decision before she lost the joy and accomplishment -- and, actually, rethinking the board and duties and a few other organizational things will make it a more healthy board and probably an even better festival.

In between I've started doing some serious work on selling things, including researching asking prices and identifications. Anybody interested in a pair of 19th century French duelling epees? Very nicely balanced... While consulting with the antique dealer/friend that Tom worked with for many years, I got back in to the old burying yard in York Village and took some more photos. Haven't had time to post them at Facebook yet. And went up to the Nubble and took some photos of the lighthouse and the wild ocean that day. Windy... Also took a major load to Goodwill, then drove to a friend's in Tilton past some gorgeous autumn scenery to unload a bunch of stuff with her, including a bunch of cassette tapes for her "new" car.

Got laundry done including the shower curtain, got the litter boxes changed (when did it start getting dark so early?!?), and got the flowering thyme stuffed into a jar and covered with vodka for flowering thyme liqueur (should be ready by Christmas). Didn't get the Splendid Table's Heirloom Tomato Soup made today, but I can do that tomorrow before the electrician gets here.

Also been hacking away just about every day at collecting piles of last winter's leaves and dumping them down the hill, raking the current crop of leaves off parts of the driveway, and trying to move a mess o' stuff from behind the deck to the front of the house to the lower level where the cellar door is. Very uneven ground and can't do it all at once. Also cut a small tree down on that level that has been annoying me for years. It had reached the bathroom window on the second floor of the house. Got it GONE!

Other thing I didn't get done today was change the bed, but I think I'll go up there now and at least change the pillowcases before I settle in and maybe finish the book I'm reading. Or call a friend in Seattle. Or do both.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 08:18 PM

Mill:
Got back just before dark - about 6. Got moving bfore 9 this morning and visited mechanic about repairing the van, stopped at the Art Gallery to check the volunteer schedule and phone the coordinator to put my name down for 18 Nov. The 16th is a craft show up there, 17th the volunteers meeting. That may be my last trip before snow flies - HOPE it is before!

Hoping to go back on Saturday with R so he can see Arne's art show. Sunday is a memorial for a Gallery volunteer and Monday - the volunteer meeting! Then no more until November. These trips are tiring and expensive, I also have feelings about using so much gasoline.

However, it was exciting to go into the Gallery this morning and see my pottery beautifully displayed in both the glass cases and a couple other spots! I have no idea what Su did with the other pottery that had been there. Hope some sells to help pay for all the expense of these trips. One long term volunteer/friend came in with her co-mother-in-law and they noted the pottery and "I have one in that colour!" said the "co". My friend had given it to her years ago. They also liked my new glazes.

Then had conversation with the new very young (23) volunteer who was on duty. A wonderful addition. Diana was celebrating her 81st!

Drove by the possible property on the way south and looked at it harder. It is interesting and the location has a nice feel even though it is dreadfully far from friends. Spent most of the trip thinking about what needs to be done and asked. If it really was a gas station, is there an tank in the ground which has to be removed in an environmentally safe manner? Could be a BIG problem.

Got off the 401 when traffic looked to be halting and took the side road along the St. Lawrence, through nice little towns and then crossed into the US sooner, at a smaller crossing, hoping for less traffic. It worked and I did not seem to lose any time. Both border crossings were painless.

Now I am plumb wore out and ready for bed. After a good bowl of broccoli and carrots. And a small raspberry yogurt.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 11:07 AM

Mill:
feeling desperate need for hot bath but none available SO alternatively - Hot rice neck warmer on sore leg and now on neck. Also 2 MSM. Better than before. Now, gut indicates need to declutter. Next step: echinacea/ginger tea. I no longer feel desperate; just not so great, not like jumping up and DOING things. So relaxing and contemplating healing. Cloudy and a downpour a while ago; may be more. A nice day to stay inside and see what - little things - can be done. An online program about cancer and why/how it is being badly treated; might be good when it gets to the root causes - environmental mainly. Emails re useful things. Tea feels good going down! Going to be an OK day....

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 01:57 PM

Dorothy, I thought of you last night when friend in Washington state reported the frightfully cruel act of a new neighbor who put up traps to catch two raccoons on property behind his yard - they animals were trapped by feet and crying out. He was unable to help them, and bemoaned the lack of courage to take his shotgun back to put them out of their misery. He has reported the neighbor to every agency he can think of. He recognized one of the animals, one who came by regularly. The fool next door left dog food out in the yard and complained that the dog was "attacked" by the coons.

I've figured out a look for the hall bathroom floor, as the first part of my list of things to work on in the house. Tile on the diagonal, and getting enough extra that when I finally get around to taking out the ugly cabinet in there (with two sink tops) that I can tile under that area. Planning and saving to do this project is going to help shift the overall mood.

Linn, selling stuff on eBay (or other web sites) is a good winter activity. Staging it now so you can simply get started is a good idea.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,LilyFestre
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 07:03 PM

Tumor marker checkup, goodbye to my oncologist who is retiring, some shopping, late lunch at our favorite Thai restaurant...stick a fork in me, I am DONE

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Oct 14 - 11:59 AM

Busy day, Michelle!

Yesterday I mailed one more small eBay parcel that sold this week. I have more to list over the weekend, but the weather is so lovely that I won't feel bad if I delay it until cold rainy days and simply follow my own advice to Linn.

It's a celebrate your boss day today (another informal Internet holiday, I suspect) but as I was looking through a drawer this morning at home I came across a small pair of pierced dangling earrings with a small black fossil in each. I have never gotten around to wearing them myself despite having purchased them over 10 years ago, and my supervisor loves rocks and fossils (I've brought her several in the past). So these are now wrapped in a small box on her chair for whenever she comes back from the meeting she is in. A very nice way to declutter!

Susan, it sounds like you found all of the working parts for your little home theater there in the garage - is that the case? The items were left behind by the previous owner? I always like to reuse things found in situ to build something new. For example, there was a falling-apart redwood picnic table and benches in my back yard. The previous renter's dogs had chewed it a lot, but I took the planks and built a work bench in the garage, attached to the back wall. As battered as it is (but still strong and durable) it looks like the garage has been in place for a lot longer with this weathered work bench. I used part of a heavy-duty plywood plank for the top, left over when my contractor used part of it for a window seat in the house) and held the whole thing together with carriage bolts and little angle supports. This is the time of year when I get charged up about working in the garage, when the temperatures are nice, so I should go clear that off this weekend so I can work on it. With the tile project coming up, I'll be getting out the wet saw and tile cutter, and I can use them in there. (First I have to scrape up the old vinyl linoleum and adhesive. Maybe next month I can start the new tile? Or buy paint? This is a bit run on . . .

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Oct 14 - 12:29 PM

Mill:
SRS: That is a dreadful tale! Animal cruelty is against the law. The law is not working in this case. Your friend might find Michael Fitzpatrick on FB - on - oh one of those islands near Seattle- and a very strong animal advocate who might be able to give your friend support in finding help with this neighbour.

Raccoons have a zillion nerve endings in their hands and feet. To even think of them trapped by those parts is exceedingly painful!

Stayed up late reading - almost 3 am! So, delighted to wake up feeling normal about 8 am. Loaded a bisque kiln and warming it very slowly so those teapots do not explode. Big fan in door to pull air out of room. Almost 70 out but raining rather steadily. May yet get sun.

I put the washing machine through a cycle empty; Hoping to do some laundry but the last time I used it after a long time, the orange water did a number on some whites. May have been rust from the long sit or just a build up of whatever turns the water orange. My plan is to put some throw rugs through next, then a load of clothes. There is light along the horizon!

Did some reading on the Paleo diet last night and going to make a stab at it (not strictly) so off shopping today. Also to library and thrift shop - look for another toaster oven as this one is half kaput.

No word on roof or state of city house. R is too busy with other things to even notice. I sent him an ad for a house for sale nearby - "A livable house! Buy it quick!" It is a lovely fantasy - a decent detached house with nice yard. Taxes are probably astronomical. Oh well.

Off I go, foraging.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Oct 14 - 06:48 PM

A friend from work was following that Paleo diet (his fiancé is on it, so by default, he is also). It didn't seem to cause him any harm, and was probably very healthy.

Looking forward to the weekend, I have a few projects on my list, some of them with exercise (mowing, etc.) Today is a regular eating day, tomorrow a fasting day. I'll make a lunch with lots of veggies to bring tomorrow, and will get out for a walk or stair climbing. I am so close that I am motivated to be under 160 by early November when my annual physical is scheduled.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Oct 14 - 07:38 PM

SRS, we gor the TV via PA Freecycle and brought it down here in August, after saving it (WITH remote, yay) in our PA laundry room for ...... well, it felt like forever. It's an example of using empty PA storage space as a hope chest for the eventual retirement house. I just didn't want ANY TV here for a long time. Also we were pretty sure the components in the garage had not survived the winter....so the fact that all 3 items work fine is a SCORE!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Oct 14 - 02:22 PM

Seem to have lost the post from earlier this morning. The gremlins have been hungry lately.

Signed up for a Defensive Driving course a week from tomorrow. My insurance has gone up because I am driving a much newer vehicle now, but I can push it back down by a couple hundred a year if I take this six-hour course. It costs $25, not bad. In the past some of these classes were as expensive as the actual savings you were going to get on your insurance.

Had an interesting meeting on campus this morning. I'm working on a book of conference papers for a linguistics professor and vice-provost. We managed in about 45 minutes to sort out a lot of stuff to do with this book, making it much easier to work on now. It's also interesting to discuss the kind of editing - leaving most word choices in place, but fixing grammar. These are writers whose first language is not English, so the grammar goofs are understandable. The word choices (or the use of more than one when one is sufficient) is showing more of the thought process and he decided that can stay. I'd love this to be my last big project for this department.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 17 Oct 14 - 06:06 PM

Mill:
Sporadic rain continues so no laundry. Bisque firing fine but not unloaded. Lots of little things done but no biggies. Agreed to do local Christmas Market in Dec. Made a attractive flyer for the Nov Ontario Market but may have to mail them as I guess I am not going there until then! That did take a while! Visited Geri briefly and spent time in library picking out books. The last trip netted two I decided not to read - out of 3. Now I have two decent ones in waiting.

Waited for Fed ex so did not go to city. The tracking said Monday but the last time it said that, it came on Fri and caused a real nuisance. This aft, I just happened to come out of the building in time to see the fed-ex truck and waved it down. The driver said our number faced the wrong direction. "It faces the direction MOST people come from!" He said he would have turned around and also would have left package on door step!!! YAY! From now on, I use this address - and find a container to put by doorstep in case of rain or snow.

Tomorrow I can start regime to rid myself on Lyme, she says hopefully.

Now, do I sit here on computer all eve or do I gather the energy to mix a new glaze, unload kiln, maybe even do some glazing.......

The sky is glowering. The forecast: more rain. Sun on Sunday! No report today on roof - supposedly completed but it has to rain hard before we are sure it does not leak? or state of toxicity in house from particulate or odours. R was going to open the second floor doors last night and turn on the air cleaner downstairs. Maybe tomorrow I can go there but I am not willing to compromise my health...

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 17 Oct 14 - 08:09 PM

that is scary thinking that one person should follow another's diet. people all have different metabolisms and what is right for one is wrong for another. Husbands and wives need to realize this and make accomodations for each other's needs.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Oct 14 - 09:23 PM

"Diet" is perhaps too strict a definition. It is a way of choosing the foods and they both choose foods that they like and that work for them.

Today I subscribed to Malwarebytes for their annual anti-malware scanning program that includes real-time protection. It's for three computers so I'll use it on the big office computer, on my laptop, and in the kitchen. Any other computers in the house are fine with the free coverage, they're not used much. It works out to $8 per computer per year.

I've decided this weekend that I need to get a couple of inexpensive fixtures and replace two, one is old and the other never worked right. One on the patio, one over the kitchen sink. I'll use existing wiring, turn them off at the breaker box, and replace them. Projects like this aren't expensive but make such a difference every time I have to turn on the light or enter the dark space and have the motion detector notice and light up. I also have to buy and replace a couple of small halogen bulbs.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 18 Oct 14 - 12:29 PM

Tidied up the cupboard under the stairs, now we have somewhere to store our pumpkins for the winter! When we stored them in the shed, they got nipped and went to mush, which was a disaster for the shed!

Just popped a veggie lasagne in the oven, I defrosted some - formerly bulk-batch cooked - chunky mushroom and tomato sauce last night, and just now made a five minute bechamel sauce to go with it. Packet lasagne verdi sheets and a handful of frozen ready grated cheese on the top. I like ways of having fresh meals, without too much fuss. It makes it so much easier to make lasagne if the 'meaty' layer is already prepped and ready to go, otherwise it tends to be a bit of a slow - and mess generating - dish to make from scratch. I'm going to have to make a pumpkin and spinach lasagne sauce for the freezer next time, to make use of the last of our chard before it finally dies back and one of this year's pumpkins.

I must grow more veg next year, it's so nice to be able to harvest your own stuff.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Oct 14 - 09:44 PM

My tomatoes are finally producing again, and I'm planning more green tomato products, particularly the green tomato relish. Okra is coming along, peppers, and eggplant. Cukes are about kaput.

I worked on home improvement today, picking up a new fixture for the back patio, a new fixture for over the sink, and a replacement bulb for uplights over the mantle. I replaced halogen lights in the porch light beside the driveway - they had both burned out, now only one is working. I'll give it a try again tomorrow - there are two lights on this one fixture. I took down the patio light and caulked the junction box so it will be stable - it was pulling out of the cavity in the brick wall. I'll give it 24 hours to harden then put up the lamp tomorrow. I'll wait till morning to put up the light over the kitchen sink, when there is light on that side of the house so I can see what I'm doing.

If I was still having a couple of glasses of wine or scotch in the evening, I'd have probably spent this much money during the month. For the time being the alcohol is out of my routine, I'm losing weight easier as I want, and I am redistributing the cash.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,LilyFestre
Date: 19 Oct 14 - 08:13 AM

Lots of sewing going on here...my first craft fair happens in less than 3 weeks!!! SO much to do and I'm having FUN with it all!


Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Oct 14 - 12:04 PM

Have you ever been watching a program and seen a garment or necklace, etc, that you loved the look of? I saw a necklace like that yesterday while watching Bones on NetFlix and kept going back until I could find a point to stop the screen for a really good look at it. They've had her wear this necklace on several occasions. It's alternating freshwater pearls (the voilet variety) and what looks like smaller round garnet or other very red bead. This is a project I'll work on with some inexpensive freshwater pearls I found at Michael's a while back. I have the red semi-precious beads already also.

The morning was overcast, but there is still enough light to work on that fixture over the sink. And in honor of that, I'm going to wash and scrub everything over there and let the whole counter and sink area look new and shiny once the light is in place.

Today comes laundry, I was too busy yesterday with the running around shopping. We still have line-drying conditions. Today also I need to list more eBay and identify stuff for the thrift store donation. And finally, I need to do more virtual decluttering - my web browser bookmarks, and in particular those through Google toolbar, are a mess. They are duplicated via nesting lists that I need to sort out.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Oct 14 - 09:37 PM

Yes and when I do I take a picture.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Oct 14 - 10:20 PM

Mill:
I have been to the city and back again.... I underestimated R's opimism about the state of the house and, needing a hot bath for de-tox regime, I drove into the city yesterday afternoon - and back again this afternoon - to the safety of the mill.

I did get my bath, and went downstairs leaving the relatively clean and still hot water in the tub. R came dashing in dirtier than ever and announced we, if I wanted to, were going to a memorial for a friend's dad. I suggested a bath so he did. He enjoyed it so much that we managed to get to the venue about 20 minutes before the end (8pm) and after the music, etc. But there was still food so I did not have to worry about supper.

This morning, he proudly me showed me the totally de-cluttered shed. "Now can we tear it down" - a totally unsightly concrete block monstrosity. Not yet. OH ^&*(! He kindly de-cluttered the flower beds of heavy boards some idiot had put on top of plants. Part of the back yard looks better and part of it is cluttered with stuff that was in the shed. The foot high maple tress I was nurturing, and had marked, are gone. OK, I can find trees elsewhere. But I sure would like a little respect. The incompetents he hires are totally clueless.

He thought I was joking when I suggested we buy that livable house! I assured him I was not. The house next door is sold already! If we spent $100,000 fixing up this one, we could sell it for a good price. Oh, but then it would be livable! Well, nothing is going to happen before next spring. I am hoping for a move to the upstairs BR after the bathroom ceiling is replaced and the - now huge- hole in the K floor is covered with a larger sheet of plywood.
(Did I mention R moved a piece of plywood last week and fell into the cellar?)

So the odour and dust drove me out - my eyes were stinging and I had the protective mask on - and poor R felt badly but he is doing his best - but why does it take a full day to cover a hole and what on earth was he doing in the cellar - and the open cellar trapdoor made it difficult for me to get the two loads of laundry done and I finally left with the bedding still in the dryer and phoned him to remind him that he was going to have to make the bed.

Please, the next time do not be optimistic. Be realistic. I need to be safe. Well, it was nice to see him after about 2 weeks. He commented that he missed me; maybe he will get the things done so I can get back! Except for the distance (99 steps) to the toilet, I much prefer the mill - big windows and the quiet, plants outside instead of a bus stop.

So de-tox is at a screeching halt. Connie informs me de-toxing is a full time job and I need to devote a few days to it. Maybe I can get the glazing done tomorrow and a firing.

My adjusted diet is good. The novel I just finished had a main character who was changing to a healthier diet. His positive attitude was encouraging. Also watched several episodes of The Truth About Cancer, which has been mainly about the food effect of the immune system.



!

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Oct 14 - 10:50 PM

I finished replacing the defunct porch light out back, the new one looks good and works properly (motion detector dusk to dawn). I replaced a bulb - again - in the double light beside the driveway door. The one replaced had a cracked ceramic end; both work now.

I put in the light over the sink - it is lower than I planned so at some point I may take it apart, cut some of the down rod off (once I can figure out how to rethread it at the cut point) and raise it a few inches. But it works where it is, and I may grow accustomed to it, just below eye level. It looks interesting as an attractive nickle-plated task light.

Both of those old fixtures are in the trash, which is out at the curb. One load of laundry finished, the second load underway. I mowed the front lawn and pulled a couple of large hands-full of a burr grass we have down here that grows in one corner of the yard. I also have some puncture wounds to show for my trouble.

Usually after finishing charismatic projects there is a recurring little ripple of pleasure later when you glance your handiwork. I'm hoping this kind of activity will be cumulative, and the pleasure also.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Oct 14 - 10:28 AM

Mill:
Frosty morning and the sun still has not asserted itself. The sky is white.

I am still in get-ready-to-face-the-day mode. Had BF, read a while, deleted emails and wrote two. Brain storm that some of the cabinets we have hanging around here could replace the missing one in the city K until the reno actually happens. R concurred, when I checked to see if he found his long johns this am. No but he is warm in the coat I took in on Sat and carefully pointed out to him. HE did not find the lj's because the light in the BR was removed to the Bathroom ceiling area.... I just this moment realized there is another light I can put in the BR - it is about four feet away -in the LR! We do get into not noticing things....

Now that there is space in the back shed, I will suggest HE get a couple plastic bins and HE clear out the useless objects cluttering up some of the K cabinet space (including his "camping equipment") BECAUSE "I will be happier if there is more space and I am darned well not doing it." HE has made it quite clear that nothing will happen before NEXT spring. So I am grasping at straws for an improved "home".

FYI: When we came here about 4 years ago, R had not lived here for several years due to taking care of dying parents for over 4 years. The K cabinets had never been sorted out since a fire next door had streaming water pouring in between the walls, into the K cabinets and everywhere. The cabinets I did manage to empty came at the cost of water pouring down my front out of some object that had held the fire hose water for - a long time! Since the fire was a "criminal act", the neighbour's insurance did not pay ???????? R, in the midst of the parent's "suddenly" being ill and needing care (in their 90's) as well as the chaos of he and bro's business, can be forgiven a great deal.

I put on heat in studio and upped the heat in here. Soon, I will get a rush of energy and start getting things done, she says hopefully.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 20 Oct 14 - 02:12 PM

I have been looking for the wires for the digital camera.

I remember very clearly telling myself to remember where I was putting them, I looked in that drawer three times, did not find them - fourth time I looked in the box and there they were, not behind it, not under it, inside.

Duh

Senility is creeping up apace I think. Ho hum - well I can now download and charge the camera. I moved the pictures onto Photo bucket and selected a couple to show the floppy cap image - some TV show about time travel to romantic Scotland, and people want copies of bits of the costumes.

It seems that my cap is suitable so I just need to make it the right colour in a lighter yarn than the one I made for myself as a 'proper' cap not a floppy one.

I do sometimes worry - just because I can make something - should I?

It is just a big floppy beret, but it is a copy - I don't usually do copies. Should I fear for my integrity because someone wants me to copy something rather than create an original item?

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Oct 14 - 03:36 PM

That is a good question - just because you can do something, should you?

I suppose if you improve upon the floppy beret, different fabric, accents, then it isn't the same as copying.

This is an eating day and I forgot my lunch, so I walked about a mile round trip over to a little pizza place where I had a coupon. I need to make something this evening to take for lunch the rest of the week. And I need to shop on the way home - I'm out of pita bread and need to make more babaghanouj.

Yesterday I tracked one of those grass burrs into the house on a shoe and it stuck to a corner of carpet, where I trod on it barefoot this morning. I stopped, backed up, found it, and while retrieving it from the carpet pulled it out of my thumb (drawing blood) and discarded it in the trash. Those are such nasty nasty nasty little seed heads.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Oct 14 - 06:41 PM

The last week and a half was a complicated week and a half. Too complicated to post or even mention at Facebook. A roller coaster. Nothing horrible and a few things really good, but...well, complicated. Wrote about it, though, so I think I've learned a few things. I thought after the Maritime Festival and going away for a couple days around Tom's birthday that maybe life might smooth out a bit. Somehow I don't think that's going to happen.

Today started too early (I'm not yet caught up from not getting off the phone last Thursday night until 2 a.m. Friday morning) but had an interesting memoir writers group this morning. Called a friend from the library parking lot -- she'd had shoulder surgery last Thursday so I was checking to see if she needed anything or just wanted company for a bit. Ended up picking up some Chinese on the way over, so we ate then I took her out to do some errands, including introducing me to the farm where she gets raw milk and cream, eggs, and other produce, etc.

I'm beginning to think every main road in New Hampshire and Maine is under construction. And most of it involves sitting in a long line waiting for the traffic to come from the other direction. EVERY road. Sigh. Finally got home around 4:30. (Left the house at 9 a.m.) But...got to listen all day to the two Cosy Sheridan CDs I got Saturday night at her concert at Red & Shorty's. It's really nice having her back in New England after so many years in Moab, Utah.

Broke another tooth today (actually, that's the first in over a year)...the front fell off. Yes, I was eating lunch, but I don't think I'd actually bitten anything at the time. Not exactly out of sight, but not prominent (thank gawd!) either. (Sort of in the front of being on the upper side -- not obvious but if someone were looking, they'd see it.) Maybe that's why I'm a bit bummed today, though the day was actually pretty good. Still tired, though, and still waiting for the electrician. It's only 6:29 and I'm trying to stay awake. And I can't go under-react with a book upstairs because I'm waiting for the electrician. Can't call anybody...because I'm waiting for the electrician. Can't make supper...because I'm waiting for the electrician.

Stilly, before I get to work selling stuff individually online, I need to call a couple dealers in and just convert some cubic footage into cash in bulk. The leather top hat case and the 19th century French duelling epees are in a friend's antique shop, I'm waiting for a check for the top hat (which went to a friend along with the deerstalker, and he'll probably buy the circa 1914 London-made tailcoat to go with the hat).

Well, the electrician is 40 minutes late, so I think I'll make and eat supper and then retire and wait for his phone call. It's going to be an early night tonight.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Oct 14 - 10:36 PM

I found an email today for a bill that I paid on the first but somehow never went through. I tracked down the couple of places it could have shown up, finally called the company, and asked if they could see that I at least attempted to pay it on the first? No sign. But since it isn't next month yet and they were asking now for 2 month's payment, I told them I'd pay this month's bill tonight and wait till next month to pay next month's bill. I'm not going to tolerate a bum's rush from the cable company the first time in decades that the bill seems to have gone astray.

Pizza for lunch, pasta for dinner. This must be my metabolism looking for comfort foods. :) We had a few cool days, good for cooking, but it has been warm again for a while and that just doesn't make me feel like messing up and heating the kitchen. Dinner tonight was a couple of containers of sauce - two different types of spaghetti sauce - combined. Over linguine.

Linn, there is no one best place to sell all of what you have there, so I'm sure you'll be making executive decisions about how to sell things the whole time you're working on it. Figuring out where your buyers are, and how to get the item to the marketplace or shipped to a buyer. It's higher math.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 05:16 AM

Some designs are just - to me at least - totally simple.
The floppy cap is utterly basic, and it has to be for what it is.

The cap in 'Outlander' is a large soft beret, one disc an inch or so wider than the measurement ear tip to ear tip, and then a ring reducing down to the circumference of the head and a straight band - possibly double with a cord through it - to allow for customer error in measuring and making it slightly big in case it gets put into the washing machine and shrunk a bit.

For extra volume there could be a straight bit between disc and ring - and there is the calculation of the initial felting which will reduce the size from what I knit. Perhaps the challenge of the calculation of the size is enough to make it interesting.

I can't start the knitting now, I have two electronic knitting machines to clean. I already checked their patterning is OK but they are really dirty, and I need to get a spare part too - I'd better get on that, otherwise we'll be waiting for it to arrive before they can be given back and paid for.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,Lilyfestre
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 12:32 PM

Sewing, sewing, sewing....


Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 02:00 PM

Today I decided I needed to offload some garden produce so brought eggplants and peppers to work. There are lots of smiles - who doesn't like getting free home grown produce when it's offered? I'm taking some upstairs in a minute, climbing the stairs in order to get a little exercise today.

Still warm, in the 70s right now, up to low 80s. Feels like summer in northern climes, no longer like summer in Texas, but not cool enough to have the heat turned on or to feel like cooking up a storm. I'm still grazing until cold weather hits.

Looks like there will be a couple of automotive days soon. I'm taking that defensive driving class on Saturday, and I need to schedule an oil change and replacement of the broken inside door handle. The oil change is free at Chevy, they gave me coupons to last for a while, and I'm sure the cheap plastic piece for the door will cost far more than I like. But easy exit from the vehicle is a safety feature I want intact. Anything done at Chevy generally requires an appointment and a few hours or a day off from work (I liked visiting the Goodyear shop near me after work and leaving 30 minutes later, everything taken care of, and I always got calendars from them).

Getting to the point of setting aside a few garments from the work apparel rack in my closet. The pants and top are getting to be too loose again. They didn't go away last year when they were too loose, so were handy this year, but I hope to get to a point where I can donate them. I have gotten rid of all of the two larger sizes that I was wearing when I started this project a year and a half ago.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,LQF
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 06:48 PM

It was 27 degrees this morning when I took Jeremiah to school.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Oct 14 - 12:26 PM

Neighbors are out of town for a week so I'll keep an eye on their place, mow the front lawn if it gets tall. I can use the exercise! Since it is cooler and has rained, the lawns are growing again.

I need to prepare another care package this weekend to ship to my son. I have the box for it and the frozen mashed bananas so I can include another loaf of bread. And I'm going to look at paint colors, see if I can't pick up a quart or two and paint the hall bathroom.

I need to vacuum, then put the vacuum cleaner away, I've been tripping over it for the last week. Before I start that, I need to dust. And put stuff away - I wonder if this is anticipating a surge of fall cleaning?

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 14 - 02:10 AM

I've begun ordering a few of the things that will be xmas gifts this year, a couple came in the mail today. I have a traditional place to stash gifts, but these days I could leave them out sitting on the kitchen counter, the recipients are rarely here any more. Also, the stack gets smaller as the gifts tend to be smaller, often electronic.

Heading to bed, listening to the gentle swishing sounds of the dishwasher.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 14 - 01:29 PM

Looks like we're going to have a warm Halloween this year. I generally turn off the lights and bring the dogs into the house so they're not alarmed by the foot traffic in the street. Some years I get no one ringing the bell, other years it's a zoo out there. Halloween on a Friday night may mean more traffic, so maybe I'll bring the dogs in but turn on the light and hand out candy. No decorations, my kids have grown and moved to their own places to decorate.

What are the rest of you doing for that holiday? How will Jeremiah dress, Michelle?

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Oct 14 - 02:16 PM

Mill:

No kids= no holidays. I tried in PA for Halloween once. A few kids came but they grew up and I usually managed to be not home. I cannot bear to give kids candy or other junk....

I have word the K floor is now sealed. I can go back to the city. It' s nicer here but I miss R and it is mutual. He is going to be run ragged until the end of Dec., he says. He will put a piece of styrofoam over the hole in the bathroom ceiling so it is not cold. As soon as I assess the situation and deem it OK, I shall start, again, the protocol for ridding my body of Lyme. Numerous emails back and forth as I explained to Connie that she knows what she is saying but I do not. My last email stated what I now believe to be correct protocol; waiting for affirmation. I will need to stay in the city until I get past the first few days.

Finally did glazing and firing yesterday. Glaze firing came out fine! I can take the woman who ordered a teapot last September a choice of four in the right clay and colour! What a relief that will be. But, having done that yesterday, I fell like doing nothing much today. I did find some warm socks and winter boots and clothes to take back to city.

Darn, it is drizzly again and I need to put stuff in the car. Soon, I guess, before it really rains.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 14 - 06:13 PM

I'm heading out soon, the eclipse is just starting and the weather has cleared. It takes a while before you can see much, I drive into the sun on the way home, so I'll detect it (no, I don't look at the sun when I drive home, but a glimpse happens on occasion).

Need to spend tonight cutting up produce to freeze, there's quite a buildup in the fridge.

Up on the sixth floor the eclipse is underway. I was able to use a pinhole to see it very clearly.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 23 Oct 14 - 06:18 PM

Oh grief - Halloween. I'd forgotten about that.

We never used to get bothered by kids at the door, but somehow they have got it into their heads that it is an olde English custom and a way to get free sweets, so there are more and more of them every year.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 Oct 14 - 09:39 AM

In the 34 years I've lived in this house we've never once had a trick or treater. And Tom had nary a one in the years between building the house and us getting together. I think our driveway is much too intimidating. I always buy a bag of candy (making sure it's something I like) just in case... But even when we specifically asked our up-the-hill neighbor's kids to come down, they didn't. (Although Druinn LOVES our house...)

Anywho, our tradition has been (at least since Jeri moved six miles from us) is to invite Jeri to dinner on trick or treat night so she can avoid the little beggars. Tom would make stroganoff or Székely goulash or something else seasonally appropriate. Unlike trick or treat night when I was a kid in Milwaukee, the date of trick or treat night is subject to the whims of the town fathers (and mothers), so we're never quite sure what date it will be close to traditional Hallowe'en. This year Hallowe'en falls on a Friday, so I'll be at The Press Room session. If they choose that late afternoon for trick or treating, I'll have Jeri over another night for dinner.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Oct 14 - 10:26 AM

My disfunctional workplace has traditionally held monthly or every-other-month staff meetings, but they haven't had a real one now since about March. Today there was a notice that we have a meeting on Oct. 30. I daresay it may have a bit of the feel of the trick part of trick-or-treat.

Last night I performed an important small declutter - I got a plastic tub of hot water and soaked my feet while I watched television. Layers of dry skin from all of my running around in sandals and sockless loafers all summer soaked and scrubbed off, stuff that just doesn't go in a regular shower and even though I wash my feet. The pumice stone did a good assist, as did the nail clippers. My feet feel wonderful this morning! I always know I'm going to enjoy the foot soak and the subsequent comfort, but I'm not good at remembering to pamper myself. While I'm at it, I've begun using a anti-fungal cream meant to kill the fungus under the nail on one toe. It's something I have to do twice a day for the next couple of months - good luck with that - but it is far preferable to taking an oral medication that is preceded by a liver test. That always struck me as absurd, taking a medication so powerful it can compromise a weak liver just to get rid of a funky toenail. I'll take the slow and safe route.

Defensive driving tomorrow. These classes are usually boring but useful - there are things to be reminded of every so often that help us be better drivers.

I haven't been a very good housekeeper over the last few weeks. This weekend is supposed to be quite warm, into the mid-80s, so I expect I'll be lured into the yard again and heck with the dust kittens.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Oct 14 - 05:32 PM

Defensive driving was actually fairly interesting. I scanned my certificate when I got home, called the insurance company, and emailed the file to the woman I spoke to. It'll save about $15 a month. It'll save me about $700 over the next three years, having taken this course.

At the classroom before the session started they had a box of donuts and a box of kolaches with sausage, so I picked up one of the sausage rolls and ate a couple of bites before deciding that the spice was too strong in it. Within an hour my skin on my upper arms started itching. My scalp was itching by the time I got home. The only other thing I had this morning was a bowl of bran cereal, something I eat every so often with no side effects. Lunch didn't make it any worse, but no better either. Who knows what was in the meat or roll, but I've taken a full dose of Benedryl and already feel better, though a bit sleepy.

Some of my physical ailments this last three months started around the time the mouth/gum stuff after that half-crown was put in. The specialist I saw said I might wait a few weeks and decide about going in for a deep cleaning. I am going to schedule that next week - I'm still experiencing difficulties and I wonder if it is progressing beyond simple mouth pain. If there is still adhesive that I'm apparently allergic to stuck under my gums, then this isn't going to go away.

It's really warm out there now, so I'll wait till tomorrow when it's cool again and approach the veggie garden with clippers to get rid of a lot of the tall grass. I think right now I need a nap.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 25 Oct 14 - 06:13 PM

The last tartan kilt is rather a disappointment.

The first time I washed (by hand) it a lot of stuff came out of it - the water was black for the wash and all the rinses. I have washed it 3 or 4 times now and the same thing happened, the fabric is now far lighter in weight than when it was sewn, far more flexible and it is possible to see light through it. The colours are actually not greatly altered, but it is disappointing when I thought I had a good Winter weight garment to be considering putting it away until the weather is warmer.

I will have to take another piece of fabric off the pile and make another kilt for the cold weather.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Oct 14 - 07:52 PM

That was a lot of fabric sizing or something! I've never seen anything like that happen before.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 Oct 14 - 09:17 PM

City:
Came back Thursday eve. Could not take hot bath due to workers on 2nd floor, door open, a bit chilly! Actually R was home when I arrived and we zipped off for a quick supper and came back to watch TV - David Suzuki and The Doc Zone were interesting. R managed to stay awake thru most of the news. I gave out before 11.

The roof is complete and not leaking. The Bathroom ceiling is closed up. B and a helper have been working on the fascia and ceiling for the second floor porch - called "gallery" in Quebec. Had to remove wood from flower bed again. Missing K scissors and bread knife. What is it men do not understand?? These are MY TOOLS. I don't take their tools!

Fri, I did some de-cluttering of frig as two weeks absence .... I put all the dead veg in bowls and put them on the floor as I did not want to go out while the guys were working on the scaffolding. Igor the Rat found the cauliflower interesting and dragged it toward its "home" but it was too big. I have left it in a bowl on the floor for it. Someone may as well have it. I had brought all the dirty dishes from the mill to wash here as it is more convenient. So that was three drainer loads. And did a load of laundry.

We went down to the Cafe Fri night and enjoyed some excellent music and not too loud! Stayed over at the mill and rushed back to the city as R had a 10 am meeting. He was a good 20 min late. We stopped very briefly on the way as a member of the cafe gang had broken the lid for her teapot. I had a spare which was only a bit loose. She was happy!

Today I had good energy and went to the Market for veggies, cheeses, good chicken and sausages and a few things from the bulk food store. Had a good lunch veg/sausage lunch, made a double batch of choc covered candied ginger as we were right out and tried choc/almond bark, and made a pot of celery soup. Another load of laundry. All computering done - emails, enough of FB, etc. Oops - want to research Paleo diet some more...

Having read something neg about "frying" meats, I took the casing off the sausage, broke it into pieces on top of the veggies and microwaved it all. The sausage was well cooked but I had to take it off and put the veggies back in for a few more minutes. Seems an exc way to cook the sausage though.

Hot bath today. Prob another tomorrow as work will prob resume on Monday. When this job is done, there is a roof job at the mill for B. The window manufacturer who was supposed to move in to a large space there is finally getting ready but the roof needs to be leak free! I was hoping work might move on into the upstairs BR.... All I want is a shelf and a clothes rod and a rod for a curtain to close off the closet.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 25 Oct 14 - 09:44 PM

From the structure of the fabric it looks like a hand woven twill. It could be of some age - and the kilt is still wearable, just no longer heavyweight.

I have never seen a similar alteration before, it is extreme. The washed out fabric is very soft and comfortable to wear, the original was slightly rough so it could be seen as an improvement.

At least I have almost unlimited fabric available, and I really like sewing, particularly the hand work of pleating a kilt.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 12:29 AM

Benedryl worked on whatever the itching was, but it also knocked me out for a chunk of the afternoon. Looks like tomorrow will be a busy day for playing catch-up. I also have another resume to send out for a different job that opened a week ago. And to finish a request for an adjustment on the requirements on one job that opened in early October but seemed to have a flaw in the description. It may be only an exercise in writing a nice memo, but they can only say no.

Really warm here this weekend. It feels like we're back in summer again. Time for the ceiling fan, and to take the thin blanket off the bed tonight.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 09:30 AM

I picked up a few paint color printouts at Home Depot yesterday - they don't do nearly the number of helpful color palate suggestions that they used to. I have a few older ones I kept when I started painting a few years ago, so I'll refer to those also. First project is the hall bathroom.

This week I'm going to spend some hours each day to relocate myself at work (in the library), moving up to a floor with windows and see if that helps get out of the funk I've been in. I can't see the weather, I don't have a sense of the type of day, and I don't think taking vitamin D is enough to counter that dungeon environment. To this end I'll pack up my laptop and a set of portable desktop materials to pack and take with me each day.

Today will be some good sunlight exposure - I must rid the veggie garden of the tall grass. I think the itch reaction from yesterday is completely gone, I'm pretty sure it didn't come from anything I touched here, it was something I ate. With all of that Benedryl I got a good night's sleep!

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 10:57 AM

Crazy busy with sewing here. My kitchen is a disaster area at the moment and I am doing tons of laundry today. I also have the table cleared off and cleaned, the countertop is clear and clean, floors have been swept in the hall and kitchen and all Halloween cards have been signed, addressed and are ready to go.

Jeremiah was sent 3 large boxes full of clothing from one of Pete's coworkers. I'm sure they are already washed and clean but I like to do the again anyway. :) Some of the things are too big or will be for next summer so there will be some sorting and packing away (labeled) for the next season....hence the big amount of laundry today.

I had a tumor marker check up on the 15th and am happy to report that all is well on that front. I had some other tests run and the results aren't where they should be but with an adjustment in medication, things should shape up fairly soon, I hope.

I have been extremely tired lately, sluggish, etc. I thought maybe I was just being lazy but in reality, my thyroid is WAY out of whack and underactive. Now mind you, I already take meds for this but as it goes, the thyroid levels change themselves around and this is one of those times.

Normal TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is anywhere
between 0.27-4.2. My test result came back at 26.38. Houston, we have a problem!

I know Vitamin D is the trendy new thing that is supposed to fix many ills and so people are buying it over the counter like crazy but mine is beyond the over the counter fix, kind of low. Normal clinical range for vitamin D is 30 to 100. Mine is sitting pretty at 14.1 and has been flagged. I'll be getting high prescription levels of Vitamin D for a few months.

With these corrections, hopefully I will be having more energy in the near future!

Maybe those dishes won't look so daunting...LOL

Happy Sunday!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 12:27 PM

City:
Speaking of vit "D" - R was home for a little while after BF. (R came home, apparently, about 2 am and at 4:30 I got up to turn off the lights and found this pile of dirty clothing on the sofa sound asleep!) Happily, he took a notion to look into putting shelves in the collapsed K cupboard - measured! He also took the stove drawer outside and dumped all of Igor(a)'s nest in the trash. That's were the vit D was! Igor(a) LOVES anything with a rubber dropper. It managed to get this bottle off the K table to its nest in the drawer! Early this morning, I heard thumps and got up to find the container on the K table that had contained 5 avocados was on the floor and only one avocado in sight. This critter is growing strong on the pickings around here. I have now nailed a board over the hole I believe was being used for this thievery. I have not thought of a way to keep it out of the drawer so I but a newspaper in the bottom. I have never used that drawer; it was such a mess when I arrived I just closed it and forgot about it. No wonder Igor could move into the "Vacant Apt".

I HATE yucky messes, esp cleaning them up. I feel like I need hazmat gear. R LOVES cleaning up messes!! YAY!!!! (clay is not a yucky mess.)

R also banged the lid of my nice compost container back into almost perfect shape ( a piece of cast iron was dropped on it!) so I cleaned the bucket, a moderately yucky mess, and it is almost ready for use. I shall still give Igor choices in a bowl on the floor before casting things out to the bin. I re-arranged and cleaned some of the dreadful K table - one end is tools and stuff. Put a bread bin on it that I shall use for supplements. Later, with a couple newly cleared shelves, I can empty the plastic bin that is cluttering up the K and fill it with summer clothes to go to the mill for storage.

Anyway, R's activity encouraged me and I have only just sat down after a morning of - GOOD energy! - getting lots of little things done in the K. The idea of two more rat-proof shelves has given me hope! My friend Tina says hope is the greatest thing you can give someone. I have even decided that R can clear a couple other shelves into boxes for me and then I will feel as though I have something resembling a workable K. So I stewed the tomatoes he brought home, telling me he likes stewed tomatoes. Also cooked some potatoes for morning home fries - for him. Next I shall stew some apples. But first, I shall go to the store for some of those covered glass containers. A real treat! - as I think they will be better than re-cycled yogurt containers - We can SEE what is in them.

A decent day in the city. Not raining. And having energy is a terrific treat.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bettynh
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 02:17 PM

Dorothy, when I have kitchen invaders that have gnawed their way in, I use can lids (or flattened cans if the hole is too big) to cover the hole. The critter won't be able to chew through metal, especially if the edge is on my side.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 02:51 PM

I got a poke in the eye with a sharp pine needle this afternoon, and suspect a scratched cornea. I've rinsed it with warm salty water and it if isn't feeling better tomorrow I'll go to the ophthalmologist (my annual checkup is next week, but I imagine with an injury he won't want to simply move it forward). I remember my daughter getting sand in her eye and the test for the scratch was a drop of something and a black light. She wore a patch for one day and had drops. I'm not going to the ER for this today, it is annoying and blurry but not horribly painful.

A loaf of bread has finished, as has a chicken breast to use for dinner and a couple of meals this week, and I'm going to make a batch of beans this evening. I also need to do something with tons of produce in my fridge. Laundry underway. I've (despite the injury) pruned the pine near the driveway that was partially blocking the view of the street, and I've poured several gallons of soapy water around the foundation to try to discourage some of the ant activity that has been so annoying this year.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,cookie lost Wysiwyg
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 06:44 PM

SRS, my cookie's lost so can't PM. Thanks-- the gmail attachments arrived!

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 09:52 AM

You're welcome. FYI, Susan sent a citation she was wanting to read but couldn't access from a home computer without having to pay a high fee per piece. It was for an article available free through a library database (that the library pays megabucks to access). I found it, downloaded a couple of files, and emailed. If any of you find yourselves in a similar situation, let me know and I can look up and possibly send the PDF of a book or article. That's what friends are for!

I have a mid-afternoon appointment with the eye doctor. I am experiencing a generalized itch and puffiness today, not quite as pointed a painful spot as yesterday. Very watery. It needs checking, and possibly soothing eye drops.

Over the last couple of days I've enjoyed reading the Mudcat thread about Vegan Mudcatters. I have cut way back on the amount of meat I eat, and am to the point of trying to find organic sources. It's spotty still - I can go to the high end market and find organic chicken, but finding lamb or beef isn't as easy, or is so expensive to be prohibitive. There are a few old-fashioned butcher shops around, I will check them one of these days. I tend to use meat as one ingredient in multi-ingredient dishes. I made beans yesterday and the only meat was the ham hock, I didn't add any Italian pork sausage (though if I have venison sausage I like to add that). This summer I decluttered my upright freezer of things old and freezer burned as I added this year's produce. I'm using a seal-a-meal system now to keep the produce in better shape over time.

What are the rest of you doing as far as what you know about diet in the modern world? I know there are health issues being addressed by diet, and health issues being addressed by medications. Have any of you managed to shift the diet to the point to get off of medications? I added that link because decluttering the unhealthy foods from our diets may be something you want to discuss over there at more length. I've traced that thread, and today I ordered a copy of the book that Chanteyranger recommended (written by his sister).

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 11:50 AM

Regarding diet, the one thing there seems to be a very clear correlation with for me, is dairy and asthma. I initially gave up dairy some time back, along with meat, when I went 'macrobiotic' for a few months. I didn't expect the result, I wasn't looking for it or hoping for it, in fact I'd never thought about it. But my asthma symptoms cleared up, almost entirely - apart from a week when I had a bad cold, when they returned quite strongly, but went again as soon as the cold cleared up. I stopped using both inhalers.

After I reintroduced dairy at a reduced rate, the asthma symptoms returned, also at a reduced rate. So I started using inhalers again, but less frequently. I've since decided that the asthma - and the cholesterol - really isn't worth it, so I use subs for the most part now. Cheese can be an occasional temptation, though it's becoming less and less so, mainly because I know when I've eaten it; half an hour later my lungs begin playing like an accordian. So it's pretty much on the banned list now, along with milk and butter.

Also prior to the point I went macro, I'd started developing rheumatic type pain in knees and hips, to the extent that I would walk downstairs sideways to prevent knee pain. I hadn't got to the point of seeking medical intervention, so no meds stopped, but that went, and never returned. Which I was most thankful for. There's a less clear correlation there, as for one thing I'm eating more fish of late, but I suspect there may have been a link with so-called 'inflammation causing' foods which I now eat little of.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 12:07 PM

Today I dusted and vacuumed the nursery, packed up ALL the clothes that no longer fit Jeremiah, packed up equipment and toys no longer used and made space for all the newer, bigger clothes that he has. I also found 2 large shopping bags full of clothes that will fit him now through the winter that I had picked up at Sally's but forgotten about (thank you chemo brain).

While doing up the mountain of dishes last night, I was washing out a collection of coffee cans that I will now take to Jeremiah's preschool where they will be put to good use. Anyway, so I'm peeling the lids off of all these things and found one that was full of old grease.....*GAG*....it smelled HORRIBLE. Later last night I asked Pete to please dispose of any coffee cans that he uses for that kind of thing. I got a blank look. He said he didn't do that. Apparently I did and had forgotten about it and it got set aside with the other coffee cans.

Again, thank you Chemo Brain. I am amazed at the things I forget. I wonder what I have forgotten but will remember later...hmmm.

It's sunny and warm here so I have several windows open and some fans blowing in fresh air. Tomorrow is supposed to be 74 degrees so I'll do it again tomorrow. This coming weekend, they are predicting snow and who knows how long it will be before we can open the windows again for a few hours. I love fresh air, don't you?

Have a great day everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 12:08 PM

I just thought of another shift in diet, I rarely eat sugar now, though when I was younger I think I may have been actually addicted to the stuff - inasmuch as I frequently experienced powerful cravings for sugar-dense foods, several times a day. The sugar-injection (so to speak) of a couple of sugar stuffed chocolate bars, would leave me buzzing like crazy for an hour or less, and then would come the low. Boof! So mood and energy swings all over the place for quite a few years. I weaned myself off the stuff, and feel much more level as a result. Both mental mood and physical energy is far more steady without the white stuff. If I do have sugar, it's usually in the form of homemade puddings. Puddings with wholegrains, fruit, oats and nuts, and such good things that help to give the blood a bit of a mattress. I also make use more 'natural' (I know it's a bit of a nonsense word) sugars like maple syrup and honey. No meds stopped, but I don't get sugar cravings or the resultant mood swings any more. Minimising sugar in my diet, has certainly impacted on my health positively so far as I'm concerned.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 01:29 PM

" ... because there are lurkers who occasionally report in that they have made progress on some small personal goal and want to share the news. The successful diet, the renovation of a room or a house, the setting of a personal goal and finishing the project ... "

I just wanted to announce (shout from the rooftops!) that, just over a year ago, I set myself the goal of sorting out my grossly untidy, junk and book filled Edwardian semi-detached hovel in Manchester, UK, and I'VE FINISHED THE PROJECT !!! I can't believe it! I must say, I'm very pleased with the result. It's gone from 'squalid' to 'immaculate' - and it was worth the effort (not to mention the money!).

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 01:41 PM

YAY Shimrod!!!!!!!! That is FANTASTIC!!!! Good for YOU!!!! :)

XOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 07:15 PM

City:
Shimrod: what Michelle said!!

Oh, how I wish! But the fascia is coming along and the gallery ceiling. Workers just left and it is dark so I shall look in the am.

Yesterday, I did the library, Picked up the glass storage containers, and a few groceries. When arriving home, R was "waiting for you to feed me". I was ravenous. We had celery soup which entails a piece of toast topped with cheese and, today, some pieces of skinless sausage.   Then I was wiped out and started falling asleep bout 7 and went to bed at 8. ????

This morning did not go so well either. R had to rush off so I had my standard toast/tahini/ stewed apples. Then a hot bath so I guess it was not unreasonable to have no energy til mid aft. Read, computered, stewed a small pan of apples, cooked a spaghetti squash for which I have an idea for supper. Supposing there is supper tonight.

R came in at 6:30, just after I put the squash in the oven so I fed him celery soup - what else!? And cheeses and lemon cranberry bread and he left to work some more. If he gets home before I fall asleep, maybe we will have a squash concoction.

Speaking of diet: I have come to the conclusion that I am not going to be vegan in this lifetime, regardless of the apparent hypocrisy, noted by some, of being an animal advocate and still eating them. I am, however, endeavouring to find meat that is raised in decent conditions, with reasonable success.

Sugar: Definitely addictive. have not bought any (white) in about 20 years. I do, however, use honey on occasion and more rarely we may have maple syrup on buckwheat cakes. (A qt lasts about a year.) BUT, we do buy foods that contain sugar - such as chocolate mousse cake, cookies, ice cream... I took a look at diabetes 2 diet and saw that the foods most likely to help avoid it were the ones we eat most. I rarely bake but if I do I cut the sweetener by 50%.

Paleo diet: the latest, it seems, in "healthy" diets. meat, veggies, nuts, seeds, fruits. NO dairy, potatoes, grains or legumes. Cheese definitely creates mucous. Yogurt does not seem to. Wheat is prob not good for most of us. OK! I love cheese and will not deprive myself totally. Use very little wheat, almost no potatoes; they are for R. Legumes? Hard to live without - Humous and our fav Indian meals.... I got through one week with none of those but will continue to examine the day to day use of all. Thank heavens choc is OK! I think, for now, I will increase veggies and fruits, nuts and seeds - and hope I do not gain weight.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 11:33 PM

Excellent, Shimrod! Would you like to give us a bit of the story of the kind of things you did to finish this job? Tip the house and let everything flow out one side, have a big sale, donate to a thrift shop, rent a large trash bin, or some or all of the above?

CS, I also noticed that reaction to sugar - it was something that would hit the same time every day, the need to eat a candy bar, etc. And the tired feeling 20-30 minutes out. I also had to wean myself from that kind of sweets habit.

I cut out a lot of dairy from my diet years ago, when I was drinking milk, eating a lot of things that weren't that healthy. I settled later on the idea that cultured dairy products didn't seem to be has hard on me (sinuses/congestion/headaches). Milk now is for my morning oatmeal or bowl of bran flakes, I sometimes make bread pudding. Having the fat in the milk actually makes it more digestible, from what I've been reading in the last few years. I read labels, if I'm going to use something like cream cheese or sour cream, I get the real thing, but I don't keep it in the house all of the time.

Went to the eye doctor today, he could see the abrasion from the pine needle yesterday and said it looked fine. I have some drops for the next couple of days, just a lubricating formula to make it feel better. Apparently it doesn't take much if you get a poke in the eye by something with fungus or bacteria on it to end up with an infection, so they didn't think I was silly to go in today.

Tonight I cooked up several eggplants, in something I haven't made for a while: eggplant parmesan. This is just the slices breaded and fried in olive oil (I usually use cheaper corn, but I thought I'd try it this way this time). I freeze them and then later will make a plate of pasta and warm a couple of these parmesan slices to go beside it and top it with homemade marinara sauce, all of this made from stuff out of my garden. Not the pasta, but the sauce. This is for quick meals this winter.

Finally, here is a TED talk that all of you might enjoy. And use as motivation to get a good night's sleep.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 02:59 AM

I planned my house improvement as a 7 stage project:

1. Severely prune the book collection and get rid of as much junk as possible.

2. Install double-glazing in all of the windows - not just half of them.

3. Get the electrical wiring checked out and renewed where necessary.

4. Get the loft converted into a storage space for any stuff which escaped stage 1. above.

5. Get the two spare upstairs rooms (now free of zillions of books) re-decorated - now I have a spare bedroom and an office.

6. Get the backroom, and hall and landing re-decorated and move furniture from the front room into the back room.

7. Get the front room re-decorated and buy new furniture for it.

All seven stages now completed! Yipee!

The most difficult stage was, of course, stage 1. I just looked at the books, though, and thought, "if I live to be 500, I'll never read all of these!" About a third went to charity and two local book dealers bought the rest (I probably got about 20 pence per book). Much of the rest of the junk went to charity. Ruthlessness is the key!

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 10:01 AM

YIPPEEE is RIGHT!!! Way to go!!!! I love the idea of breaking it down into steps...I should do that for my own house. I keep saying...Little by little.

Well done!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 11:05 AM

City:
YIPPPEEE again! And again, I wish... Autonomy was a part of the key to success. I have never lived quite like this. I have a lot of stuff but it always felt a controlled situation. My home looked good - to me though not to my minimalist son. So this morning I said, about a pile of paper on a LR chair, "Is that all for the recycling?" Negative. My hope was that it would at least be moved. I strive for small pockets of restrained chaos. Then put on blinders until I cannot take it any more. "Home Beautiful it isn't." "No." I did not shout, "Then DO something!" Sometimes I feel I am going to die in a house that is a total mess and it is depressing. Other times: does it really matter? Darn it. YES!

Well, the roof does not leak and I am not going to fall through the K floor. The repairs to the Gallery are extensive but may be finished this week. Then with any luck we will be able to use the upstairs BR. Then I shall make a new list of priorities for the K table.

The reason Rat has free use of the K is that the floor behind the cabinets is deteriorated - by the powder post beetles. Short of a complete reno - back to the brick wall - we need to co-exist. This am R said, "I left a napkin on the table last night. Did you move it?" "No, but Igor loves napkins." It had a phone number on it but he managed to find it in his phone after I gave him the area code- different from usual ones. I looked in the oven drawer but since it was emptied and I put newspaper in the bottom, it has not being used for storage. Another avocado was taken off the table last night; I forgot to store it in bin. And the napkin!

In 1977, I found that although milk makes me nauseous, whipping cream does not. I used apple juice on my granola. Now I use plain yogurt as juice is too sweet. In 1982, I did a year or more of no wheat and no cheese. Did not seem to make a difference but I know I am sensitive to wheat bran - itchy eyes - and I hate white bread generally so I keep wheat to a minimum. No sandwiches, generally. One slice of 100% rye for bf is usually all of bread for the day. But humous has been important - on salad or with corn chips when on the road.

I was going to visit friend in NYS today but I got in the car and stopped for gas and decided it was too nasty out - not so much cold as dreadfully damp. So I came home and phoned her to cancel. Now I am trying to figure out what I can DO. The upstairs is useless until the work is done. Go to the ...???? IF I sit here all day I shall be stultified.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 01:38 PM

"Sometimes I feel I am going to die in a house that is a total mess and it is depressing."

Yes, Dorothy, that's how I felt for years. Then, about a year ago, something snapped! It's got something to do with being retired. I've now got the space and the time to explore who I really am. For most of my life, I've had fairly low self-esteem but on retirement I got involved in environmental campaigns and have been more successful than I thought possible (and had a lot of fun). So I suppose I thought: If I can do those things, I should be able to at least sort my house out ... and, of course, I was able to. Perhaps I'll have a go at mastering quantum mechanics next! Uuuum ... perhaps shouldn't get too ambitious!

Yes, Michelle, breaking it down into small steps does work - but you've got to be persistent and stick at it. Please have a go and let us know how you get on.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 03:22 PM

Dorothy, how long do you suppose it will be just one rat? Sounds like it's time to get a pit bull or other terrier - they are natural at killing rats (that might be too large for most cats).

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 09:40 AM

Yesterday I went to York, Maine to borrow a 4-track cassette recorder from Harvey Reid and Joyce Anderson -- leave it to Harvey to have an archive of obsolete technology! (And a place to store it!) I'll get it to Dave Hallowell on Friday and we can finally (I hope; we've hit snags before) find out (and digitize) what's on the mystery tapes taped off the board by Tom Smith the sound guy from 1995. I'm hoping it's St. Patrick's Day at The Press Room -- and that Jay Smith's voice might be there, too.

Yesterday, too, while I was in York, I stopped at York Hospital's financial office to give them a copy of Tom's death certificate. I'm still getting tiny bills of amounts left over after Medicare and insurance paid. Good grief! It's two weeks shy of a year since Tom died! And he hadn't seen his cardiologist (the origin of the bills) for at least a month before that!

Right now I'm waiting for an antiques dealer friend whom I hope will take some cubic footage off my hands in exchange for some small green pieces of paper.

The 19th century French (or Continental) dueling epees and a leather top hat case are at another dealer/friend's shop.

Tomorrow my neighbor WILL get the huge old computer monitor out of my living room and to Goodwill (who will take it without being paid to do so).

I've left calls with both the electrician (who still hasn't made it over here) and a real estate broker friend from whom I need some advice about disposition of about 25 acres of land.

And a bit more PMFF board biz this morning.

Progress...

Life is like those little games we had as kids, the ones with the numbered squares and one empty square. Only I've never had the empty square... Hoping to achieve that soon.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 02:17 PM

I think that Chinese puzzle with the empty space is a metaphor for the whole declutter movement. :)

Today on the local NPR station Chris Baty, founder of the NaNoWriMo movement, is being interviewed. Some of you will remember that Katlaughing participated in that at least once, possibly several times. Her last book was written during one of these challenges.

I'm thinking that might be a very good thing to do right now, as I contemplate the whole empty nest syndrome unfolding here. Having something to create is helpful, whether a quilt, jewelry, paintings, crafts, etc. For a wordsmith, stories are a creation. Organizing my thoughts to put together some of the stories that for years I have threatened to write - I'm considering it. Kind of short notice, but what the heck. Here are some tools to help for those seriously pursuing it. I hadn't heard of the Scrivener software - it sounds interesting.

I've been thinking a lot about character development lately. Some of you know that a few months ago I started watching the program Bones on NetFlix, from the beginning. I had never watched it, except to see a few this year when the television was left on in the room and repeats came on - they finally convinced me to explore the series. By watching 9 years of a program over a fairly short space of time (perhaps 9 weeks instead of 9 years) the character development is interesting. And that particular program is much more comprehensive that many a mystery/police procedural. Each episode is free-standing, yet each one adds to what we know about a lot of characters. Contrast this to something like the CSI or Law and Order programs and you learn very little about them beyond the job. The Good Wife is written with some of the same characteristics as Bones as it uses nuance and depends on the viewer's memory and knowledge of previous stories to understand the full extent of the most current episodes. I like episodic novels in the same way - Raold Dahl wrote collections of short stories that, by the time you finished, you realized was actually an episodic novel. With all of these examples in mind, perhaps it is time to take the plunge. And, if nothing else, I would end up with a set of short stories that I could consider sending out individually for publication. This is something found in literary novels - writers like Louise Erdrich will often run a single chapter as a story in The New Yorker.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 07:36 PM

City:
Shimrod! Wonderful!
Linn, You have made amazing progress! And continue to do so!
SRS: No room in our lives for a dog. I am not about to have to walk a dog on icy city streets in cold miserable weather. I do suspect more than one rat and I suppose I am being too kind. I actually leave a pan of whatever veg or fruit trimmings would go into the compost. I have gotten used to putting things away - except when I forget. It has chewed holes in most of my pockets to get tissues so that is no longer a problem. In other words, a rather OH WELL, approach to the rat situation. The reno that I was hoping for last April may not start until next April. That's the way it is.

On the plus side: another day on the gallery and it will be beautiful. R has OKed in theory my hope for a minimal closet - rod and shelf and rod for curtain - in the BR so I can move our sleeping quarters upstairs where there are windows! And a closet and bureaus. I plan to move the TV there also so when R falls asleep... Just this PLEASE before he sends B down to the mill to repair the roof there.

R mentioned moving to That apt in VSP for the reno and "I don't want to move to VSP". No further discussion yet but my idea is to just go to the mill or to Ontario or some of each. MOVE is a four letter word and I see no point in moving to a second floor apt in a crummy neighbourhood with no parking. IF he misses me enough, he will keep B on the job until it is finished???? Possibly we could have a small frig, microwave and toaster oven upstairs and eat out at times. I could cook at the mill and bring it back.

Detox bath this am took until about 3 pm for recoup. I went back to bed and could not even read. I have been experiencing strange symptoms the last several mornings - akin to niacin flush. I have been leaving out various supplements to find the problem. Today I had only taken the nux vomica. SO, no more of that for awhile. Had a good lunch of chicken/brussel sprouts/spaghetti sauce at 4 pm. Hope tomorrow is a GOOD day as there are a few errands now needful. Maybe even drive to the country to deliver a couple pots.

Even though I left a note in an obvious place, I had to go take stuff off the flower beds again this eve.

I have solved the cold feet by putting the heating pad in an old pillow case and put it on the floor under my feet! Time for something good to eat - stewed apples and almonds... warm.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 11:38 PM

Ugg - Dorothy - I hope you come up with something less benign that "oh well" as far as those rats!

I picked up the car this evening after a couple of recall repairs, oil change, door handle repaired, etc. Costly, as usual when one goes to the dealer. Ran a couple of errands, and then, because I hadn't heard from her in a while, I stopped by Susie's house. I think it was quite timely for both of us. We seem to both be experiencing an autumnal funk, and ended up making a pact - we'll plan to do something for a few hours every week or two. Start with 30 minutes at her house working on something that needs doing (clearing off counters, doing dishes, vacuuming, etc), then heading to my house for another 30 minutes. The idea is to work together to tackle things that have been neglected when we're by ourselves. After an hour spent this way, we'll spend time going out to a museum or a movie or lunch or something - a social opportunity that we both need.

Also, I'm going to get a recommendation from a friend for the cleaning woman she employed for years (that friend moved away recently but made a point of finding new jobs for this employee). If between us we had her spend 4 hours every week or two at each of our houses, it would help keep up with the tedious stuff. We live in the next town over, so by coming up with two houses on the same day, it makes it easier for her to say yes (we hope). Spend $50 for house cleaning each and we might get at least as much bang as if we were going to therapy. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 09:41 AM

City:
SRS: Just having a house in good enough shape that someone else can clean it sounds great! And sharing with someone else is terrific therapy.

The hoodie R had on yesterday - which made me start coughing when he took it off last night - now has two large holes in the pocket - the one he put the naan in that he did not eat for supper. Not that it matters but it sure gave me a good laugh. He had left it on the LR floor. What does not make me laugh is his failure to comprehend, or acknowledge, that the thing was covered with dirt/dust/propane fumes... So when he took it off, all this swirled and I coughed - for a while. I don't mind that he wears clothes to death - which is why a few more holes don't matter - but we need a mud room or air lock - he laughs. My dust allergy is not going away.

With all that, why would I mind a rat or two...   

The back fascia is complete and they moved the scaffolding to the side - without painting? The ceiling looks lovely with nice tongue and grove boards as it would have been originally. Needs to be painted light blue - traditional. (just quickly phoned R to so inform him.)

Having an OK day. Need to go do errands.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 02:37 PM

Rats carry some seriously dangerous bacteria - Weil's disease or leptospirosis can kill you or result in kidney or liver damage - just from handling something they've pee'd on or clearing up a nest or poop off the carpet.

Here in the UK having rats in the house is one of the reasons that the authorities can enter by force if necessary. I have just been reading the posts about the rat and having three fits. You really do not want rats in the kitchen or anywhere near food or water you might consume or wash in.

We get a few mice each year, but they are soon dispatched by some metal traps which are highly effective and efficient. I expect there are sized up ones for rats which are equally as effective.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 03:39 PM

City:
Rumncoke: I am listening to you. I just do not know what we can do. This is one of those situations where one simply carries on because there do not seem to be any options. The reno that I have been expecting and which is critical to the situation has been derailed, perhaps until spring. Rat only arrived last spring, when I thought the reno would get started and solve the problem. Your comment has really kicked me into a state of "There must be something we can do". I have been "using band-aids" for so long, I just got used to it. Your concern for disease has been in the back of my mind all along; I just try to keep things clean. I have to admit my feelings for all creatures great and small does include rats --- although I would prefer not to live with them, or mice or any of the other critters we do not really want inside our homes. But I cannot kill them. .... OK, I have thought of two possibilities. Each requires paid labour. I will broach the subject to R. with a firm recommendation that something MUST be done. B told R that his wife would have left a note.

Work to exclude the rats would also mean my having to go to the mill for the duration. Such a nuisance.

Well, on the lighter side, my car is legal for another year and my bank account smaller. I picked up lots of veggies at the Market and a big basket of Quebec cranberries and a lovely jar of honey to use in cranberries. I sent off the mail-in rebate re the new snow tires; it was all in French so R had to fill it in. Clothes are in drier. Long John season has begun. And I am ready to hibernate!

B is ripping out the old, rotten sills of the upstairs windows and putting in concrete ones. Too bad we do not have new windows to go in. This was not part of the plan. (WHAT PLAN!) I suggested he put heavy clear plastic on the exteriors for now. At least something is getting done.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 04:15 PM

Like I said, a dog that likes to hunt would be a good start. How about borrowing someone's dog for a while? Do you know anyone with a young pit bull who would dispatch those rats? Two of my dogs kill rats. One is a mixedbreed blue heeler/catahoula, the other is an American Staffordshire Terrier. The terrier breeds are working dogs, the short coats are meant to stay clean when they dig or burrow after vermin. They like their work.

It looks like Halloween and Saturday are going to be cool, but not cold. I need to check the yard for tripping hazards, because with the triple witching effect - Halloween/Friday/nice weather, I probably will have trick-or-treaters coming to the house. Unless I turn off lights and hide out.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 06:00 PM

in my part of us you can not get home insurance at least for renters if you have a pit bull.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 06:02 PM

City:
So, SRS, I, who do not like to do harm to any animal, will get a dog that will catch and chew on this poor innocent rat!

I thought of two solutions and ran them past B as he was leaving just now. He is willing to go into the cellar and put hardware cloth/mesh over any openings. THEN, he tells me he has found the hole where rat gets in! (And did he block it? NO!) I will check it tomorrow in daylight.

THEN he tells me there is a plan afoot to do the interior reno in January! (Would I be the last to know?) This means I need to dig up a whole bunch of plants and move my "junk" - "That's not junk that is flower pots!!" What part of "plants need to be moved before the ground freezes"...?

I, who do not like to do harm to any animal, consider strangling B? or maybe R? I NEED TO KNOW! I need hope, light at the end of the tunnel, and to be consulted about the what and how of it. Have not accomplished much else today.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 05:42 AM

There is no problem for me in caring for all God's creatures and having to get rid of a rat in the kitchen.

Once the place smells of rat - or mouse - the problem gets harder as others will detect it and follow the trail of the first ones. Even if you block up the holes they will try to get in by gnawing, and they are persistent and determined. They also do so much damage. Over the years mice have destroyed things I valued, and there is still mousy odour in places which I find sickening. It will only go if the furniture and carpets are stripped out - and that would be very expensive.

Years ago now my first husband thought we had mice and put down food for them, which caused an argument - and then I found a rat in the food cupboard. I went ballistic.

Here in the UK the council will come and get rid of rats, as there are laws which insist on them being dealt with.

You can't keep a place 'clean' when there is something running around on the works surfaces, over anything left out, contaminating the entire room - anything it touches which you then use or eat could result in you becoming seriously ill. You'd need to sterilise everything and anything using hydrogen peroxide - bleach is not going to kill everything.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 09:56 AM

Of course you can get insurance if you have a pitbull. I have insurance and have a pitbull. Lots of people do. They're bred to hunt, they're not bred to fight other dogs. Terriers - think about it. The entire set of dogs in the terrier breed is a form of working dog.

Sorry, I have no sympathy for rats that are coming into the house. And for every one you see, there are probably dozens outside waiting to come in. I could mail you some of the dog hair I've brushed off of my dogs - that also works to repel rodents. Once they know a predator is present, they stay away.

I figured out the problem with the drip behind the toilet tank in the master bathroom. I turned off the faucet the other day and it continued to drip, but after I flushed to empty the tank, it stopped. So I'll take apart that line this weekend and replace the washer or whatever is in there.

Heard from a coworker in my department yesterday - she has been asked to start writing for the library for about 25% of the time. What I used to do, and was suggested a few months ago that I should "pitch" such a job. Apparently I'm supposed to guess about that need, but when they identify it and offer it, they give it to someone else? I need to have a talk with the woman who oversees this and ask them to play fair - don't make me guess and make a pitch, just ask if you have something that needs doing and let me say yes or no, don't tiptoe around. Would I have taken an offer to spend 25% of my time in this new task? I don't know. I want to move out of this current job completely, not just by 25%.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 11:29 AM

Dorothy..I am only saying what I would do in your shoes, not making a recommendation..but I would rent a room with a friend somewhere, tell R I would continue to have conjugal visits, dinners, social engagements, but that I would have my living quarters elsewhere, presumably under doctor's orders. I am sure most doctors would recommend not living in a house in constant state of carpentry and repair with your chemical sensitivities etc. If money was short, I would look at assisting someone in caring for an elderly relative perhaps..people always need a break in that area. I would make a firm decision, announce it, do it, and return when things were up to a standard OK for my health. No return until it is done and adequate, not promised only. I would do it calmly and in a friendly manner. No arguments, pleadings, one more chance etc. I would just do it. But that is me...whatever works for you is best.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 12:49 PM

I just decluttered my car..paying off a big visa bill from a real estate situation..car was good but i was not going to drive it for another year at least and even then not on longer trips, which is what i really need a car for..do fine here with walking and bus...could have sold it but gave it to portland rescue mission on the day i got a letter from them asking for cars..their people fix them up..mine was losing power but was basically in good shape...will give a lot of homeless..almost typed in hopeless..people a thanksgiving dinner so i feel i did the right thing rather than sell it. money for insuring it even parked and not driven donated to doctors without borders.

the more you can get rid of often..not always..the easier your life gets. i am down to one broken accordian and a couple of costco tables and that is about it. there is nothing more i want except perhaps an alarm clock that does not infuriate me.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 05:13 PM

City:
I appreciate greatly the thoughts that are helping me sort out what I need to do. It is so easy to get bogged down in a situation and not be able to see a way out. With so much brain fog afflicting me as a result of environmental issues, I often just sink into just coping with what is.

I had firm talk with R last night about excluding rat. I was hoping there might be some action today but B never showed up. This means that not only did nothing get done on the house, I also did not get do any pottery because I expected him to be working up there. Unfortunately, my energy level drops by this time of day - if I had any - so I could get a couple hours work done now, but cannot. Maybe R will have time to do something tomorrow as B will not be back until Monday. For both R & B: "you can' pin them down, they're just like air." Who wrote that?.... HAH! A line from The Talking Atomic Blues circa 1948.

I did move the plants that needed to be protected from future work. And laundered the bedding, cooked a large pot of cranberries - for use with poultry and in porridge. I still need to do a bit of moving stuff in the backyard. Tomorrow?

We looked at the exterior area of a house for sale nearby. I told R , "It looks like heaven to me." Even if it is 100 feet from the RR tracks and a train went by while we were there. The interior pics look good. Nice yard and shed and PARKING! Another subject for serious consideration. I would LOVE to just move there - I think - and let this house get reno'd and sold for a big price. We need to look at possibilities. OR just dream?

Then I picked up a few more things at the Market - the famous Atwater Market.

In any case, y'all have strengthened my resolve to be rat free. I have never felt so lacking in autonomy. Not too many years ago, if the roof needed new shingles, I did it. If the chimney needed repairs, I tried it - and decided it was better to pay someone and spend my time making pots! But it was my home and my money. Now it is R's home and I don't have enough money for it. So I got bogged down, feeling powerless.

I think of this thread a great deal as I muddle through my days. I try to get things done, feel as though I will have something positive to report. MY trips to Ontario helped me feel better in a lot of ways but now I am here for the winter, mostly, and have to figure out how to deal with it. Without rats!

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 10:39 PM

Dorothy, I'm glad this helped! And blocking those holes is a good start. I'd put some steel wool in the mix - supposedly rats and mice don't like to chew through that.

This evening I drove to the airport to see a friend who was on her way to somewhere else but had a long layover. Since this airport is a major hub I've been able to see quite a few friends this way over the years. Getting home was a challenge, there was an accident to go around, and I did worry about the dogs out in the back on Halloween, but it doesn't look like there was much traffic. No one when I got home (around 8) - I think people headed down to the city hall a few blocks from here. They pull out the fire trucks and do games and have candy. Probably a better option than door-to-door in a neighborhood where a lot of people turn off the lights and hide out.

Fixing a toilet drip tomorrow, and while I'm at it, I'll do some more pricing on new commodes. If there is any expense involved for the repair (beyond about .89 for a washer) I'll look at stepping up to replacement.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 07:53 AM

Hey SRS - the entire inner dooh dads for the cistern are not expensive and easy to replace. The grit from the pipes used to kill ours off regularly and they were an easy fix as long as you put in the chokes to reduce the water pressure if it needs it - otherwise you get 'monsters in the pipes' groaning and thumping.

The water company flushed out all the pipes and did some work and that has reduced the problem considerably.

You might need to measure the old one for size, but just have a look on line to see what is available.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 03:01 PM

Exactly. I'm looking for a low-flow model, one that will fit well in the space.

I should probably start another thread, it has been three months.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 03:36 PM

City:
R set the live trap for Rat - an avocado for bait. So that is ready. After bf, I drove him around to try to see if he could pay a long overdue ticket and get driver's license re-instated. Sat morn!!?? NOPE! So he had a choice between being stuck somewhere with bro or me driving him places and waiting in the car - as every place he goes is too toxic for me. He opted for staying home, cleared that shelf for me - which is now full of food stuffs and there is a small pile of stuff for thrift shop. The plastic bin is empty and out of the way, ready to go back to the mill for sorting and storing stuff for the winter. Shelves for the empty cabinet are in the works - will help clear the counter.   Then, after a nice celery soup lunch, we watched Betelgeuse - a good break.

With yard things that could be done before dark, R has opted to read, and prob fall asleep. Good. I will quietly computer and read. Someone posted re snow on the West Island but none here. Friends in Ontario posted pics of snow - a couple inches. Also snow in the Laurentians yesterday. Chilly out but dry so far.

The outside hole is more in need of concrete blocks than steel wool! Maybe tomorrow. So much needs to be done that it is hard to remember it all. OK! make a list... Done.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 08:21 PM

Twarn't flu the last two wks after all... no wonder I could not shake it! Effing gall effing bladder!! That'll make getting home fun! :-(

~Susan

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 08:46 PM

The next thread.

SRS