Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014

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.