Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014

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