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Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Feb 15 - 12:24 AM I found the old thread, minus a few posts, in the Google cache. I pasted it all together for now in a couple of very long posts. Tomorrow I may move these over to it, and if the original comes back, simply move the newer posts to the old. So either place will work right now, they'll fall into order when moved. http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=156419&messages=2 Decluttering or recluttering, both are work! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: pattyClink Date: 20 Feb 15 - 09:29 PM Another day, another 20 pounds of paper and folders purged. Boxes mounting up in the hall, closet almost cleared out. So many picture frames and shadowboxes never used, and a few paintings and tired old framed prints etc no longer on their walls. Things you never meant to collect, but quite a collection at this point. I put a few small ones up on nails in the now starkly empty bedroom, nice to have them in focus if only for a little while. Mom's plaque, a little award, St. Francis' prayer. I guess we are all museum curators, it helps to rotate the collection to get any enjoyment out of it. |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: GUEST,mg Date: 20 Feb 15 - 09:11 PM Dorothy..could you give us a recap on your housing situation..I try to follow it but missed something. You are living in two places plus visiting others it sounds like. Now you have bought a little house. Will that replace one of the frozen places? Or will you rotate among 3 houses? |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 20 Feb 15 - 08:48 PM Mill: Sitting home tonight with the car still stuck. Could not think of anyone who might be near enough to give me a ride to the cafe. One friend decided not to make the effort due to bad roads and Geri is still sick. R was not answering phone ... Oh well. The house offer has been accepted at $30,000! We are really excited about it. Close on 1 April. Other than that, I did little today - emails, FB, shoveled snow for a while but could not get car to budge. Tomorrow I will try to find something to put under wheels to get some traction. I had thought R would be down but he could not make it and has a toothache so will try to see dentist tomorrow. So, I am on my own and I need to get back to the city on Sunday. I need to make an effort! |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: GUEST,mg Date: 20 Feb 15 - 07:45 PM I am going through the last bits of junk..why am I keeping painting clothes when i hope to never paint anything again..why am i keeping a very few (like 5) books I will never read again...a few old electronics cords..do i even still have the equipment? I might have to pack up and move quickly as my rental cabin is on the market...moving will be easy..I am down to very very little. I am so glad I like reading Kindles and am not a clothes horse...less to store and move. Well, I am trying to get to Mystic this summer if I can work enough on the upcoming weekends...I have probably enough british airways miles to go again to ireland and could just go from there...i did not like boston airport at all..hear new york is bad..i would fly into providence and hear they fly into ireland..any suggestions about that or other better airports int he area? and chanty lass would you like to share a motel room?????? |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 20 Feb 15 - 07:14 PM Let's pick up our February 2015 conversation here, and if the newer thread comes back, I'll transfer it all over. NOTE: I found the missing part of this conversation in the cache and have dropped it in here on the bottom of this post so it makes the most sense. More info at the bottom of the thread. Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Dec 14 - 11:36 AM And the pantry door will close! It looks good, and has cleared out some bulk from the pantry shelves in the hall also. Wrapping, baking, cleaning. In the background a full backup of the C: (OS and programs) and D: (data) drives is underway (Norton Ghost). When that finishes I'll be ready for the next step, to put in the new SSD. That'll probably wait a day or two, but who knows, maybe there will be time before everyone wakes up tomorrow for breakfast then gifts. Have a great holiday, everyone, however you celebrate it! Those of you with the added magic of small children in the house, you may not have time to do anything for a couple of days except pick up the wrapping paper after the kids and pets finish playing in it. For the rest of us, enjoy those small beautiful moments during the days ahead and rest on your laurels for bringing your families along to this point. SRS
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 24 Dec 14 - 08:13 PM Mill: OH well! I never did trim those pots. I packed just about everything in the frig into large shopping bags and a couple small boxes and plus some bits of clothing, did laundry, remade the bed so it is nice when we get back and loaded the car and left about 2:30. The bridge was having some sort of problem and took an extra half hour. I stopped at a sort of home depot store but NO element like mine. But a large Norfolk Island Pine already decorated with 2" dark red balls was being liquidated for $10 so I brought it along! I had taken the lights off the one in the city and now the new one is here in the big window so R can see it when he arrives; he promised by 8! HAH! I also remembered that I had not paid for new drivers' license and stopped on the way to do that. Then stopped at a grocery for more stuff. Now all is unloaded and the frig is over-flowed and I have a box out in the cold area if building but need to find a safer spot as R says we have raccoons somewhere. If there is food, THEY will find it! Vanessa turned the kiln back on this am as it had not gotten hot enough, thanks to me not plugging the peep holes. It went off about 6:30 and I emailed her to come any time after 8 hours - time to cool. This load is her Christmas presents! We are hoping every thing will be OK! The fact that it was a second firing of same pots seemed to have reduced the odour and it has not permeated the living space, thankfully! I did smell it out in the other area and in the studio but not as bad as usual. Looking forward to four days of peace. relaxation, maybe some visiting or even visitors. Note: got an email that bro gave me a membership in NRDC for Christmas! (SHOCK!) I had to go to website to find out what it is: Natural Resources Defense Council! That is sweet! I shall email him and thank him! AlsoThis came to my attention yesterday. I have not had time to really look at it but it sure does make some sense! Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday.
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: GUEST,LilyFestre Date: 25 Dec 14 - 04:25 AM Merry Christmas!!! Michelle
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 Dec 14 - 01:20 PM I dug down below the line to refresh this thread. I had a busy day away from the computer, though we did refer to the kitchen computer a couple of times, but that was during a trip down YouTube's memory lane. My 26-year-old daughter had never seen the Tim Conway dentist skit on the Carol Burnett Show. Yesterday was about getting together with loved ones and sharing food and laughter. Our evening movie is one I selected this time - she also had never seen The Big Lebowski. It's one that parents of small children might want to watch after bedtime, but I spent my children's teen years introducing them to important films, and I think this is one of those. It's also very very funny. Fewer decorations this year actually fit into the "less is more" category of holiday cheer. I won't feel like it will be a huge task to put it away and what is out now will look festive for the next few days if friends come over. There is an ebb and flow to the year and in our lives, so this was a good time to celebrate things going well. I'm still looking for a new job, to dig myself out of a random basement assignment of 18 months ago that doesn't use most of the skills I brought to the old job. That said, I still have a job, so the complaint is tempered by understanding that I was more fortunate than a lot of people during a bungled reorganization of a workplace. Not everyone who passes through this thread is so well-situated, making the global distance that Mudcat.org traverses an obstacle to offering help when it is needed. It's a time when I wish the screen was a door, when we could step through to offer an encompassing hug, a plate of homemade cookies, or complete prepared meals so our friends can feed themselves without taking time away from pressing family matters or health issues. A portal to invite friends into our kitchens for a cup of tea or coffee and face to face conversation. Offering assistance to those in pain of all sorts - here's hoping the words in all of these threads have helped and that for everyone 2015 will treat our complicated lives gently. SRS
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: ranger1 Date: 26 Dec 14 - 02:10 PM Love you, Maggie. Hug and virtual plate of cookies accepted.
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 26 Dec 14 - 06:33 PM Mill: Yesterday was a quiet day of reading. and moderate eating. A little time on computer connecting with distant friends. Today we went to the Boxing Day Sale at the nearest Canadian Tire - Valleyfield/ about 30 minutes) . Unfortunately we did not realize they would open only at 1 pm - a reasonable thing for staff!! We got there about 12:15 and there were already people standing at the door and a moderate number of cars, mostly with people in them. Shock! SO, I took us for a drive along the lake shore which took almost enough time, then we read for a few minutes until everyone was inside. With some trepidation, we went in and were surprised to find it not a bit crowded. It is much larger than the ones in the city. R was enthralled so after we found the few things we wanted, I suggested he take time to look around and I went off to the other end to see what was in the housewares, of interest. Nada. R phoned to tell me he had to take something to the car so I took him the keys and then wandered and waited. Eventually we had ENOUGH - of noise and confusion, bought our few things and left. His first trip was due to finding something he needed that the staff had to take to the cash because it was small and expensive - a laser measuring thing which he has been wanting/needing and happened to find as he wandered. So that was good. My big purchase was more glass storage containers with lids. I love the ones I already have and now will have enough for both kitchens. Very good for traveling back and forth also - secure. I am still feeling good and my arms are gradually getting stronger as I keep remembering that I can now use them to lift higher and more. It is so special to me to be able to do that and to feel better in general. We have caught 4 (dear little brown country) mice and the traps are reset. We feel badly about killing the mice and I doubt R would but I am beyond enduring any more mess. That odour of ammonia was horrendous - and thankfully gone! We have had thawing weather for 3 days and will continue through Sunday so giving R a chance to bring in the hose he missed doing before the cold started, as well as a couple other winterizing chores. The temp will drop severely after Sunday. True winter. We finished up the chicken soup for lunch (4pm!) so I am thinking a chicken stir fry and salad for supper - about 8ish.
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: ranger1 Date: 26 Dec 14 - 06:51 PM I am very fond of wee mousies, however, I draw the line when they start messing where I eat, or eating my food. Or sitting up begging on the kitchen counter within inches of where I am making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. When I was rooming with two co-workers at the first park I worked at, we had a huge mouse problem and we finally all agreed on snap traps. Guess who got stuck with removing their little corpses? Not the two guys...
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: LilyFestre Date: 26 Dec 14 - 07:11 PM Pete and I have been sick for the last 5 days or so and today we are FINALLY feeling almost human! We had our Santa Christmas yesterday...Jeremiah got to open his presents from Santa but nothing from us, nor have Pete and I exchanged presents yet or visited with family. I think tomorrow will be the day when we visit with family. It was hard for me to not be with my mom on Christmas day (an afternoon event for us) but she knows we've been sick. We didn't feel good enough to go out and even if we could have sucked it up to go, I didn't want her to get sick either. Thankfully, Jeremiah has remained healthy. :) Susan, I had my port flushed earlier in the week...standard maintenance. My hematologist/oncologist retired so now all my port (or chemo care if ever needed) is in the hospital and not at the clinic as all GYN Oncology has been moved over. No matter, the people are still stellar..just new to me faces. The nurse did a great job and didn't bat an eyelash when I interviewed her about how long she had been accessing ports, etc. She wins my vote of confidence and she did a fabulous job....however, for whatever reason, I bled a lot this time and some of it seeped under my skin making a lovely purple ring around my port. Not painful, just ugly. Jeremiah kisses my *boo boo* every night before bed. So sweet. Michelle
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 Dec 14 - 07:34 PM Tami, I have a friend who used to live on the other side of our neighborhood who had a mouse problem but hated setting the traps. I used to go over and set them, then return to empty them. I also remove tarantulas from neighbor's houses (but they're alive and stay alive). Michelle, I remember various years when family members had to postpone the holiday because of flu. I don't think we missed any holidays that way, just luck, I guess. I've put up the flags for Invisible Fence, and as soon as we got near a flag and Zeke heard the beep he backed off - he has heard it and knows that when the girls hear it they jump and give a whimper and are clearly careful. He thinks they don't like the noise so he doesn't like it. Right now the collar device has a rubber tipped cover so it is only the noise, but in a day or so I'll take off the cover and we'll go into the front yard where he hasn't experienced those boundaries and let him get a zap. It takes a few days to train dogs when they're new to it, but Zeke has seen the collar in action so I think he'll be a quick study. It means I have to take him out on the leash for a while, though, each time he needs to go out. I'm going to blog this one. Paper and plastic picked up, cardboard boxes flattened for the trip to the garage or the recycle bin. Sometimes very large pieces of cardboard are handy, so since I'm thinking about sliding a large cabinet through the house soon the largest piece will stay in the garage for a while. SRS
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 Dec 14 - 02:51 PM Zeke's coat is so thick that I can't hear the beep from under his chin when he's wearing the collar. And I don't know if it is able to give the zap the way it does on the girls. I'll see how the day progresses, with various trips out with the leash. Papers in the kitchen are shrinking, shredded and filed and recycled. Work on the computer isn't going as I hoped - I need to get the SDD to be the boot drive, and it isn't yet. Still working on it. Today is cold and dreary, we had a lot of rain overnight. It's a great day to stay inside working on stuff. I hope everyone is enjoying the house-bound activity in your necks of the woods. :) SRS
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Dec 14 - 12:05 PM It is a fasting day (something I am glad to have as a fall-back for getting over the mega-calories of xmas day) so there is one modest meal in the middle of the day (500 calories). That meal is going to be split pea soup. It's a cold and overcast day, quiet in the house, with the radio and the sound of snoring dogs in the background. A good soup day. I'm still decluttering by zone - I worked in the sunroom yesterday, compressing clutter on my potting bench and removing most of the stuff set on the wheeled cart next to the bench (one of those heavy duty plastic kitchen-style carts - it came from the friend whose house was foreclosed a few years ago). Now that cart holds my outdoor bench cushions and the bench is loaded with organized hand tools and my box of seed packets. I took the bigger tools out to the greenhouse. When it is time to start seeds I'll be ready to work (and that time is very soon - I'll put flats of seedlings in my window till the garden is ready in a couple of months). Our cold season isn't so long or pronounced as what many of you experience. I have to be on my toes to be ready for that garden weather - I grew up 100 miles from the Canadian border so despite all of my years in Texas, the early spring always takes me by surprise. SRS
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Dec 14 - 08:49 PM Someone dumped a puppy in the neighborhood last night - the neighbors checked their outdoor camera and saw a car stop across the street and eject a puppy. Sweet little lab mix about 4-6 months old. They're clearly smitten, but travel a lot. I told them that if they travel I'll feed it. :) We'll see if we can find a new home or they'll take it to the Humane Society. Another evening of Lord of the Rings. I made the soup, it was delicious. Now I'll make a pot of herbal tea and kick back. SRS
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 Dec 14 - 12:10 PM I spent a lot of time yesterday trying to figure out how to get the signal from the old VCR into the computer, but had absolutely no luck with any attempts. I did it before, but for the life of me can't figure out what I must have done. I hate having to buy another piece of equipment (a converter) but I guess that's what I'll have to do. There are a number of tapes that are unique and need to be digitized. I could ask my ex what he did - I think he has converted some in the past. There may be a borrow-able piece of equipment available. Stray puppy hasn't had any takers so far, so I think the neighbors will take it to the humane society and tell them it is a stray. It was dumped - they saw the act on their security tape - but they don't know who owns it so it is stray to them. And the "stray" designation means they keep it at least three days before deciding to adopt or euthanize. It's so hard to relinquish an animal, even if it isn't yours, when you know that is a possibility. I'm maxed out on the pets I can keep here and can barely afford these three. I wish I could talk them into adopting her - with me as backup when they go out of town, but I don't think they're buying it. Though this is my holiday break it is a business day so I need to get some business taken care of. It's sunny so I should probably also take down the lights in the tree outside while it's fairly warm. I've spent my evenings watching the expanded versions of the Lord of the Rings trilogy - they broke each film into two disks when they added content, so it is actually like watching six normal-length movies. I also have around the house puttering and postal things to take care of today - I'd better get moving. SRS
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 Dec 14 - 05:15 PM I believe this is the longest run of posts by an individual on one of these threads in quite a while. We tried the facebook route overnight, almost had a taker on the pup, but she discussed it with her new significant other and decided she has so many irons in the fire that fostering a dog until she can move in a couple of months might be one too many. The neighbors are taking her to the Humane Society and will turn her in as a stray. They keep them for three days waiting for an owner to turn up, and then they decide to adopt or euthanize. I hope they would adopt this one out, and I hope the foster groups will plead for this pup - I'll let them know where she is now. She spent time with my dogs in the back yard - I have one very unhappy pit bull, she really liked having a new puppy to play with. The last couple of straggler parcels have been mailed, now to work around here some more. I have lots to do, just have to make up my mind to do it. SRS
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 29 Dec 14 - 10:25 PM Mill: Frozen world again. The thaw was nice - but very wet! There was thawing and raining and the roof still leaks in several places - not in the living area or studio, thankfully. I have not been out in the main part of the building but it could well be skating rink in parts. Beautiful sunny day today and it was nice to sit in the sunroom and watch the sun set. It was good to be able to go look through stuff in the unheated areas when they were a bit warmer. I continue to revel in my new energy level. So exciting to be feeling more and more like myself. I had not looked at most of these job lot boxes since we bought them las September. Found a couple throw rugs in stuff from that auction a year ago that perk up the LR a bit and one designated to go to the city to perk up the LR there. Went through a few boxes and sorted stuff to keep and stuff to go. Suggested to R that we need a new designated area for "stuff to go" as the previous one has been usurped. In reading The Brain That Changes Itself, R has started to understand his acquisitiveness and to think about it as a disease. I am hopeful. Lengthy "state of our relationship" discussion this morning resulted in some positive learnings/realizations. I am staying at the mill for a few days which will enable me to focus on some pottery. Newest wheel is in place in studio and older one moved out, probably to be sold to another otter friend for a nominal price. Studio looks good with all the finished pots on shelves. A friend stopped by this eve with a gift of cookies; I took her to see the studio and gave her a reject she just loved. Happy to find a good home for an elegant pot with a flawed bottom. She then chose to buy two bowls for gifts. She is a marvellous artist herself so it is always nice when she likes my work. Current temp 17 F with a low of 5 predicted.
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: LilyFestre Date: 29 Dec 14 - 11:01 PM Well, the Christmas Crud hasn't left us entirely. I'll be calling the doctor tomorrow for myself and I might make an appointment for Pete too although he doesn't seem to think he needs to go (never thinks he needs to go) but the wheezing he is doing while he sleeps suggests otherwise. Last night I woke up and thought I was hearing Jeremiah sleeping (through the monitor) but it was Pete wheezing! Our house is a a chaotic mess at the moment. Between Christmas at my mom's house (read as we brought home LOTS of presents) and not feeling well, things are falling a little bit behind. However, we have plans for when we are feeling more like ourselves. We took it easy today and plan on puttering around here tomorrow. I will be on dish and decluttering duty in the kitchen. I did declutter 3 bags of size 3T clothing today to a friend who can use them. I love being able to say, "No, I don't want any money for these, just pass them on when you are done." Michelle
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 Dec 14 - 11:23 AM Dorothy, I'm glad to read about your increased energy and working on things with R. Michelle, "wheezing" is never good. Do you have any albuterol there for just in case, before you get Pete to the doctor? I'm working my way through the Lord of the Rings films during my long break and will finish them today. I spent daytime hours yesterday trying to help the neighbors find a home for a puppy dumped at their house. She's a sweetie and at the end of the day they took her to the Humane Society. An hour later a friend on facebook got on touch and said she could pick up the pup - too late - but she is backup to foster the dog if she isn't adopted from the shelter in the next few days. I'm not going to tell the neighbors about that, they already felt bad about having to take a dog down there let alone missing a foster opportunity, but they aren't in a position to keep what will grow into a large dog at this time in their lives (they travel a lot - though I told them I'd be their backup and would keep her while they're away). He brought the information so we can track her online and if she gets a home here soon that is the best outcome. Still fiddling with electronic connections. For some reason I can't get my television sound to broadcast through my speakers like it used to. The older BluRay player had RCA outlets to feed sound to the amplifier, but the new one doesn't. I also have a few computer tasks (clean up passwords) and office stuff (filing, rearranging, etc.) Plenty to do here today on another cool and overcast day. Before the break ends I have to go mulch leaves one more time and mow the rescue grass (a native winter grass that looks like rye) around the yard. SRS
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: LilyFestre Date: 30 Dec 14 - 11:31 AM *My prior post should have said I thought I heard Jeremiah SINGING through the monitor but instead, it was Pete wheezing. I have suggested using the nebulizer but he doesn't want to. MEN!!!! Today I caught up with the dishes and laundry has been started. I made 3 different types of soup for the triple crock pot that I got for Christmas and LOVE (classic chicken noodle, curry chicken rice and beef vegetable). I made cinnamon buns for breakfast and corn bread muffin tops will be in the oven soon. A salad has also been prepared. It's a day of catch up kind of stuff around here. Michelle
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: W y s i w y G ! Date: 30 Dec 14 - 12:31 PM Three anniversary Misto's washed; one dried and filled. One for blend and one for EVOO, in PA. One for blend in Ohio. Color-coded with hair ties on hand. All will be filled and deployed by evening. I'm putting a motion-activated LED light in my always-dustiest lower kitchen cabinet. When cleaned, its interior gets painted light vanilla semigloss. ~S~
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 Dec 14 - 01:53 PM For those interested in shopping: I found the best price on Misto oil pump bottles at World Market, down to $10 now. World Market is also the source of a long necked oil bottle I use, attractive and with a great pour spout, for $6. I bought a bunch of LED flashlights over the summer and left them in various rooms and near the back door, etc. Some I got free with another purchase (paced so I got things I needed and the light) from Harbor Freight, others from Home Depot. They are energy efficient, light, and inexpensive enough that one can leave them in targeted high use places. I can't see the back of my computer or the front or back of my FM receiver in low light any more, for example. It doesn't have to be a huge light to do the job. SRS
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 30 Dec 14 - 07:19 PM Mill: Love the idea of a motion activated LED for closets! Planted all the bulbs in big pots; put a bunch of geranium cuttings in sand. Put new cube heater in sun room but I guess it is just plain cold out! Put the drapes on wooden rings with clips; so convenient and easier to push back to let in max sun. It was beautifully warm until about 3 pm, then the sun went behind trees and the heater back on! So I read most of day because it was so nice in there and a bit chilly in studio. Did check out a couple things in studio and purchased a new, minor but necessary, piece of hardware for one of the wheels when I went out hoping to find Geri. I wanted to give her some Zyflamend to see if it will help her shoulder but she never showed up at the resto and I came back to mill. Finished the Anticancer book - very good whether or not one has cancer as it focuses on improving lifestyle - food, exercise, attitude... The food is mostly what we eat but I do NOT get enough exercise and - winter in Quebec! Phooey! Returned 4 books to library but did not need any more. Stopped in to see friend at fabric shop; she had helped me weigh the last ingredient for that glaze last week and was glad to hear it came out GREAT! Finally I have a burgundy glaze that works! Need to make more pots on which to use it.I did NOT buy any fabric! Getting little things done/moved/organized. Not dealing well with cold weather which will continue at least a week, except Thurs when it may go up to 30F so it can snow on us again. Good way to start the New Year! (JUST this moment got an idea on glazing design with the burgundy and white glazes. Try to get some made for Valentine market. So exciting!) This will be an early night and I shall turn up heat in studio when I get up so I can get in there and WORK! Happy New Year!
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: LilyFestre Date: 30 Dec 14 - 08:34 PM We've been using a Misto for years....love it. Michelle
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 31 Dec 14 - 01:48 AM Finished the Lord of the Rings. It's good that each film, now longer, is broken into two disks, giving viewers a logical stopping point if they need one. Which I did. Today I watched the entire last movie, but I started a lot earlier in the day. Didn't get a lot done during that time, but I'm glad I did it. I was disappointed that even in the longer version they short-changed the hobbits by truncating the story after the king was crowned. Oatmeal is in the crock pot, sleet is in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Definitely weather for working indoors. I won't complain too much, the cold here is nothing like the rest of you are experiencing for a lot longer each winter. I'm not acclimated to the cold any more (and this alternate day fasting can mean I feel cold more because of fewer calories.) I have a pile of papers here to attend to first thing in the morning. We'll see what happens after that. SRS
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 31 Dec 14 - 08:33 AM Mill: Lay in bed this mornin watching the sky get lighter. Sun seemed to be comin up so I got up and made B, transformed the futon to day mode and sat down to eat, having seen light snow falling in while in the K. NOW! Boom, the sun is up and clouds are scattered. But it must be COLD as the heater keeps going and going - sounds like an airplane taking off! It is the sort one might see in a garage or some such space. R tells me we will someday have quieter heat in here. Cannot hold a conversation and be warm at the same time! I am grateful we only have mice and NOT tarantulas! Teo more bit the dust while R was here and no more since, and no mouse sign! Off to turn up heat in studio.
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 31 Dec 14 - 08:59 AM Mill: On second thoughts: it is going to be difficult and costly to get the studio warm enough to work - for me. Plan B - I'm thinking about what that can be! Need to do something...
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 31 Dec 14 - 01:36 PM I'd rather have the tarantulas, Dorothy! They generally stay outside, they are beneficial in that they eat a lot of bugs I don't want in the house and they will eat mice and such. Did you know that a tarantula can live as long as 35 years? Cleaning today, I think, and I'll see what I have time for when I finish. SRS
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 31 Dec 14 - 04:00 PM Kitchen is looking better, I've cleared counters and scrubbed down with Formula 409, then put back just what belongs. Some papers that were sitting on the counters have been filed or scanned and tossed. It's time to pause and make a run to the village recycle bins. The predicted sleet never arrived, so the drive is safe. I am thinking about just one declutter thread for the year - any observations pro or con? SRS
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: LilyFestre Date: 31 Dec 14 - 06:03 PM A thread for the year sounds good or maybe quarterly? It's nice to have it all in one place to look back over. Anyone have any traditions they do on New Year's Eve? Michelle
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: W y s i w y G ! Date: 31 Dec 14 - 06:17 PM I say continue a quarterly thread. One annually is too much for fone or tablet. ~S~
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 31 Dec 14 - 10:09 PM Mill: Quarterly I really do not care what tarantulas eat, they are really creepy - to me. I suppose one can get used to them. Then someone on line was mentioning scorpions. ARGHHH! Reminds me that there are parts of the world to which I do not wish to go! New Year's Eve tradition - home with a good book! Maybe some good music, too. Spent some time tonight on the phone with a couple friends doing the same. R is in the city dealing with a VERY large party renting space in one of their industrial buildings. Hope he can come down tomorrow. My plan B ended up being a super job of sorting and organizing sewing stuffs and separating out a number of unfinished projects, finding a small table for sewing machine and getting set up. Removed dead elastic from a pair of slacks and ---pooped out. But they are on the table with new elastic, ready for the morrow and new energy. I actually ended up with four empty plastic bins that I can now use for sorting other stuffs. 19F tonight going up to 45 on Sunday then down to minus 5 on Monday night. What a roller coaster! May it be a good year for all!
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 31 Dec 14 - 10:29 PM Okay, we'll go with quarterly - I wondered if there were any devices other than computers being used to access the thread. I've finished the kitchen and moved on to finish the dining area. One big bag of household glass, plastic, cans, and cardboard recycled this afternoon and more stuff ready to go out tomorrow. I need to mop the kitchen then vacuum a couple of carpets and then stop. My goal is to have a great looking kitchen and generally tidy house when I get up tomorrow - it is my gift to myself. I have a spare vacuum cleaner that I'll list on eBay, if it looks like they sell there. Otherwise maybe Criag's List. It's a small apartment type (easy to pull around, not upright) and only used a little bit, but is one too many for the household. Also there is other stuff for eBay to put up tomorrow. While I was in the sunroom this evening (where the eBay stuff lives) I found a trail of ants into one of my plants so I set up a couple of cardboard tabs with ant bait. That is disappointing - I hoped I'd knocked them off this fall. Not a very exciting evening at home, but not bad, either. Sleet is predicted for overnight and tomorrow, so best to be home with no travel plans. A couple of glasses of wine for the festive nature of the evening, and I see some old movies on TV that I can let run in the background. Have a safe and sane evening, everyone! (And Dorothy, I agree whole-heartedly about drawing the line at scorpions!) SRS
Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Jan 15 - 12:43 AM Here is the next thread in the series, from January through March, 2015. |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Dec 14 - 11:25 PM It's a squeaker, but the new shelves will fit. I have to move the power strip on the wall up a few inches (my router and modem are high up on a shelf and this power strip is also for a lamp in there). It will be a process of extracting the shelves when I need anything, but it should hold all of the canning jars plus some of the more frequently used equipment. Or perhaps jars in the back on the bottom and a lot of stable (as in, it won't fall when I move the rolling shelves) stuff on the rolling shelves. My theory is that if I can get all of this stuff put away, then I can clear the kitchen more easily because I won't have as much in there to fool with. And then to the kitchen table, and finally the dining room table - domino effect decluttering. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Dec 14 - 07:59 PM It doesn't seem to matter the quality or the form, if a food or product has coconut in it, I break out. Finished the last short shopping run, I hope I don't have to go out again for a couple of days. Now to work around the house. And if I have time, the pantry. I'm also set to upgrade my computer hard drive - probably the least expensive but most significant upgrade in that I'll be going from the hard drive with moving parts to a hard drive that is solid state. Only the C: operating system and program files will live on it, data is elsewhere in the computer. While I'm at it, I need to tidy the stuff around my computer desk, clear up some of the password files that are old and not up to snuff, and probably get rid of a whole bunch of online accounts I never use. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 23 Dec 14 - 03:52 PM City: SRS! Even R did not think to try to remove that piece. We can check when we are down for Christmas weekend. I did turn the oven on again and there was no odour!! Have not gotten around to trying to replace oven element so planning weekend meals - not in oven! Bought some chicken breasts which I can do in the toaster oven. Hmmm! I have crock pot there which I might put to use. The remains of last weekend's chicken is in a large pot becoming soup. Hoping some folks can visit while we are there this weekend; I put out the word on FB to drop by. And we hope to visit our friends in NYS. I went to Market this morning for veggies, the good chick breasts, a gallon of fresh apple juice and some brie. All is in the cold room(laundry) packed to go to country. Several gallons of water and a gallon of distilled water also by the front door and another gallon almost ready. Now, the pots that did not get trimmed yesterday because I ran out of energy need to be done yet today. Hope everyone has the best possible holiday and weekend. |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: wysiwyg Date: 23 Dec 14 - 03:29 PM SRS, re: Isn't coconut oil all the rage now? And it's in everything. Yes, it is on the upswing because the buzz is on favoring it. I'm sorry that's an allergy for you. Unfortunately, you're probably as sensitive to the cheaper, lower-nutritive-quality version. (I use the best of the best-- one small splurge.) Michelle, "port"? (Are you sick again?) ================ Kitchen decks cleared for Christmas cooking which, for us, is AFTER Christmas. On the stovetop is the soup I finally got made from the t'giving turkey carcass-- Black Bean Mushroom Turkey Soup. No meat pieces IN it this year because I plan to serve it tonight with some leftover sausage fine-sliced into a large salad with the homemade mustard dressing we need to use up. (Next time I serve the same batch, I have cooked turkey to thaw and add.) I also have all the dishes washed and partly put away, and ALL the handwashing done and counters wiped. I miss my busy man! TBTG this year I can cook! Two years since I got out of the nursing home, and still healing. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Dec 14 - 11:32 AM Cleaning house today, wrapping, setting up some projects. Moving furniture, organizing my pantry, cooking cooking cooking. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Dec 14 - 12:21 AM I hope all of you get over this soon, Michelle. Dorothy, we had a mouse that it turned out was living in the fibreglass insulation inside the stove that packed around the oven under the burner area. You know how you can lift the burners to clean? If you take out that sheet metal piece and look around the vent area I think you'll find it is full of mouse droppings. The long break has begun. Time will fly in no time, but right now, it looks like a wonderful long period of time to be productive. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: LilyFestre Date: 22 Dec 14 - 10:44 PM Port accessed in a new place today with an unfamiliar nurse....anxiety a bit high but all went well (well..ok...bruising today...but still ok). Six rather large bags of Sizes 2T TO 4T delivered to friends who can use them. YAY. And tonight the winter plague has hit the house. Pete wasn't feeling well yesterday or this morning and is now sleeping (since 8:30), Jeremiah wanted to go to bed without dinner (not feeling well) and my throat has been hurting since around 3pm. And I know we are all sick when the adults in the house opted for a bagel and hot tea for dinner instead of a beautifully roasted chicken that was already prepared. Night all. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 22 Dec 14 - 03:45 PM CIty: Felt really good at the mill. Accomplished many little things and some big ones. Kept going all day, each day as though I were all better. R finally showed up at 1 am on Sat. Sat we had a quick BF and he went off to the auction house to pick up stuff he bought two weeks ago. Another Auction started at 11 am and when he was not back by 1ish I went in. In the meantime, I was working on getting things done in living space and studio. We have MICE! So we spent time cleaning up the under-sink cabinet where they had a toilet tissue nest and the stove drawer AND under the burners where they had another nest of the insulation from the stove. R cleaning out that part. By Sunday eve: we had spent time at auction, cleaned the entire living space - floors, stove, cabinets, discovered the bottom element of stove does not function so R took it out and I have it in my car to find a replacement. R also took an air cleaner apart to find why the switch does not function; something broken, I need to order a new switch assembly. He managed to put a new sponge on sponge mop - and wondered how many are thrown out due to difficulty. R is patient and competent; he loves repairing things. Discovered the seriousness of mouse problem when I turned on oven on Friday to cook a chicken and went to do something on the nearby counter and HOLY MOLEY!!! the ammonia fumes forced me out of the room! Coming out though one of the burners. So everything is clean and the burners are covered; hole offering pathway to stove has a motorcycle license plate over it! Pans in drawer are covered or turned upside down; holes in sink cabinet covered with wood, AND there are 4 traps baited with cheese, one in the drawer. Sorry mice but this is beyond my level of endurance. Trip to the library, two more glazes mixed, R showed me how to use his gram scale as mine had been knocked to the floor and even R could not find a missing piece. Glaze firing loaded - all but two of Vanessa's pots went in. Included were two small pieces to test new glaze batches. Then we came back to the city last night. Cannot be there with firing going until the exhaust fan is installed. We did buy a few things at the Sat auction. My share: a lovely cut glass bowl -$5! and a small, about 12 inches high, lamp with lovely white/opalescent/dk pink flowers stained glass shade ($10). Most attenders were in the buying/selling business. Several whom we know slightly. So after these good days, I was hoping the energy would continue but thought I better do a detox bath this am right after R left. Did that and not much else since; Soup lunch and R came home for good clothes. Been on internet and emails all afternoon. But I think I am getting energy back so I shall go see if upstairs is warm enough to work. |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Dec 14 - 12:52 PM I'll ship a couple of missed gifts and cookies tomorrow when I have time at home. The cookies weren't baked until last night, and no chance to mail this morning and either way it will arrive after xmas. Tomorrow will be the usual race to tidy, decorate, cook, and do some sewing ahead of guests on Wednesday and Thursday. And I begin the dog training session - teaching Zeke to respond to the Invisible Fence. I'll pick up Home Depot utility flags (10 for $1.65, I'll by a couple hundred and return any I don't use) to mark the boundary of the yard, and I'll have to keep Zeke in the house for the next couple of weeks. Should be interesting. Very interesting. I need to take him out on a leash when he enters the yard so I can teach him the response to the noise and then the zap of the collar. The girls already understand, so they'll probably be a great help. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Dec 14 - 09:16 PM Isn't coconut oil all the rage now? And it's in everything. I have to read labels not just for food but for soap, shampoo, lotions, etc. It's a huge crop, probably like sugar cane, corn, etc, probably hard on places that used to grow more variety. Two batches of cookies finished. The burners on this stove are so much hotter/faster that I had to keep turning down the burner - where I used to make krumkaka with an iron over a burner on medium high, now it was just above medium. I singed quite a few. They taste okay, but are considered overcooked by connoisseurs. :) One more batch of laundry, early to bed, and then one day more of work before the long break. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: GUEST,mg Date: 21 Dec 14 - 07:48 PM and boy do some medical "professionals" owe great apologies for destroying the local economies of some places that produce coconut oil..or used to... |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: wysiwyg Date: 21 Dec 14 - 06:52 PM SRS, I haven't learned enough to recommend that blend. I CAN recommend the Enig text to learn about it.... and I suspect there's a third oil that would substitute, in her view of balanced hlth bennies. But rice-- pls read consumer reports on arsenic in rice. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Dec 14 - 11:23 AM I have a pan of chicken stock cooling for use this week (I'll make rice with it). Laundry almost finished. Some lights up and I'll put out more decorations - carefully placed to be out of dog reach. It'll be interesting doing gifts - I'll try Liz's trick of gift wrapping a large box to put gifts into and keep the box up out of the way until the dogs have been let out for the morning. I have an idea for storing canning jars in my pantry - I have to do some measuring first - I may make headway there today. It's another heavy overcast day and I find moving furniture and generating endorphins is a good way to counter to SAD blues. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: LilyFestre Date: 20 Dec 14 - 10:02 PM My boys went to town to do some errands so I took advantage of the quiet. I put on some quiet Christmas music, put up the nativities, wound the garland up the rail, hung the stockings, put out some do-dads, packed up stuff that will come back out in January and am now going to settle in to do wrap some of Jeremiah's gifts. I still need to do my Christmas cards and find some time on Monday to wrap up gifts for both Pete and my mom. That won't take long as the grown ups aren't getting much this year but Jeremiah? Well....let's just say I did my best to keep it under control. I didn't go hog wild but I can see how it could happen. I started shopping for him in late September getting the larger items that we had decided on for him (big Lincoln Log set) and some rescue vehicles, slightly larger than normal HotWheels. But then I found the Five Below store and stocked up on some games, more cars, puzzles (which he loves), etc. The only clothing item he is getting (and needing, really) is socks. I have some candy for his stocking, some black scratch pads that he loves and a battery operated toothbrush. I personally don't like them...feels like a bee is in my mouth but I've read lots that supports the idea that a child's teeth will be cleaned better with such a thing. It's worth a try. The other thing I got him that was kind of last minute is a set of full sized headphones for when he wants to play his alphabet games or watch a Scooby Doo and Paw Patrol you know!!! Time to get busy. I'm having fun! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 20 Dec 14 - 09:26 PM So, a half sesame, half olive oil mix would be good for stovetop cooking? I am allergic to coconut so that is out. I have a misto bottle that I put oil in and pump to spray onto baking pans and occasionally a skillet. I've used macadamia oil, it is good, healthy as far as Omega 3, and high heat, but it is about $10 a small bottle. I buy my olive and sesame oil from a Middle Eastern market where the imported oil is bottled from locations as small as a single village, not from a giant industrial conglomerate pooling oil from all around the Mediterranean to sell to the states. Another pan of tomatoes was sauced this evening and it is cooking down now. They were kind of dry, so I'm not canning, I'll freeze this batch. Home grown tomatoes for sauce - I am so spoiled. Getting ready to make cookies, I'll start with spritz because my daughter has imprinted on them as THE best and classic xmas cookie. And krumkaka, in a day or two. I'm not making the whole batch I usually do, or if I make more, it will be to give to neighbors. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: wysiwyg Date: 20 Dec 14 - 06:47 PM Yes mg we eschew soy. Americans eat way more than native Asian consumers, and Consumer Reports has a scary detail about rice and arsenic in their current article on sensible approaches to gluten free products. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: GUEST,mg Date: 20 Dec 14 - 05:54 PM you know about soy products and the thyroid i presume wonder how much is behind the thyroid epidemic of problems |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 20 Dec 14 - 05:17 PM Shopping for xmas eve ingredients is finished - every year I make a Puerto Rican dish for my ex, and my kids help, so they learn the recipe. There will be just one kid here this year. I found a couple of things I forgot to put in a package, so I'll mail them early on Monday and hopefully they'll squeak in at least before week's end. It's a heavily overcast drizzly day, there is a somber mood over the house. Time to put a movie on or watch to one of my NetFlix comedy discs. They've been here for a long time, I need to send them back and set something else (I stream mostly these days). SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 20 Dec 14 - 02:03 PM Whew! Gift loaves of bread successfully launched via postal carrier this morning. Now to concentrate on stuff I need to take care of around the house. There is a great deal to do. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: wysiwyg Date: 20 Dec 14 - 10:54 AM DP, re: Need to upgrade the record keeping! My eternal weakness. No! You need an INTERN!!! ;-) Part of yesterday's weekly-when-we-can day off focused on reorganizing the kitchen for the new food program I MUST be on and Hardi CAN be on, without inconveniencing his diabetic program. Mission accomplished, in true couple-mode. It was his idea to go a little farther afield than we often do, in search of the UNtoasted (relatively flavorless) sesame oil for this Mary Enig Recommended All-Purpose Stovetop/Brolier Oil: 1/3 sesame oil (we got refined/high heat tolerant) 1/3 coconut oil 1/3 EV olive oil (splurged on organic EVOO cuz I needed a dark, pretty glass bottle for the countertop) This not only gives a great balance of nutrients, but keeps the coco oil liquid-- year round. Said blend has now been put into said pretty bottle, labeled and ready to go, with its former contents stored alongside all the other oil reserves in a cool dark place for later use. Also got a smaller dark glass bottle to take to Ohio for the same blend there-- former contents-- balsamic vinegar, which I use when sauteeing liver, which my fud peeps highly recommend and which we love. We also VERY happily found that in the several years we have not been at our favorite Oriental market, they had restocked our favorite masala, and got a BIG new jar of it. The company changed the recipe a tad since our BEST favorite from them, but by now I have cracked the code for what to add... so will just add some of that component to this jar (we have it in bulk), and Bob's your uncle! Another recent find-- been there all along, who knew! Spinach/Baby Kale mixed green. Here come the salads! Both are inimical to good thyroid function, so will cut with romaine, even tho my doc is always happy to adjust dosage as our food programs shift. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 19 Dec 14 - 03:50 PM One box in the mail, two more to go in the morning after I do more baking tonight. I'll do some modest holiday decorating, but I need to be careful that I don't put out what amount to expensive chew toys for the dogs. :-/ Dog training will commence with the holiday break - I'll train Zeke to the Invisible Fence (the girls have been trained for years). I'm still working on getting an extra collar unit, but for now will train him with the one I have. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 18 Dec 14 - 09:41 PM Mill: Too bad I have not lost ALL my cookies because I sure have not lost any pounds! I fear I have gained a few back. Here I thought I was doing better. Weather forecast impelled me to come down here yesterday for appointment this morning. Knee high snow and the two foot ridge left by the snow plow, compelled me to walk in from the road - about 150 feet. Several times. (Exercise!) R had left a message re snow removal with a neighbour; this morning I phoned the guy and he "had not listened to messages" but would have "someone there by noon". Yesterday, I had lunch at rest. with Geri, et al and came back to mill with lots of energy and got all glazes ready to use. I could have kept going and mixed a glaze or two but thought it best to go to bed and do things this morning - which did not work as phone did not get signal here and I had to go into town to call re plowing and pottery. Went to dollar store for more iron on patches as I used up the last batch. Instead of having pots un-boxed and on shelves in studio, I arranged to meet client in a parking lot at 11; she had to go to work. It was only raining a little, and not TOO cold. she picked out four pieces and I went back to mill. The someone did arrive and cleared the yard nicely so I could get to studio and unload. Only dropped one box, breaking 6 nice mugs. Phooey. I no longer get upset. Just shrug my shoulders. Another "Oh, well" moment in life. I did start the kiln at 8:15 am, thinking I was going to the city. but all of the above, and more, intervened Now it is cool enough to start glazing but not tonight. The firing did not, as I feared, stink up the building, thankfully. A glaze firing would have been intolerable. After the yard was cleared, I went to the library, the fabric store (just to say hello to my friend, the owner but I DID look) and the organic butcher. I started to go back to city but phoned R and he said he might come out tonight or tomorrow so I turned around. Did not see Geri's car in town so I came back to mill, had a visit from Vanessa and we opened the kiln a bit more, then I had a good supper of Lentil stew and curry sausages! Then a short nap and now I do not have that glaze making energy. No sign of R so maybe I will have an early night and get to it in the morning. OR maybe he will show up at midnight. Oh well. I now know it takes the bisque firing 6 hours to cool enough to remove pots. I spent some time tonight looking at glaze notes and figuring out some mysteries and deciding what I would like to accomplish tomorrow - in glaze mixing. Need to upgrade the record keeping! My eternal weakness. Discarded two notebooks and consolidated info; could do more. Always! |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: wysiwyg Date: 18 Dec 14 - 08:19 PM The CROCK POT - CASSEROLE COOKER Hardi got for us is neat because it's easy to tote it to a parish supper, and pretty for serving there, too. Also a great size for dinner plus leftovers, for two. I want to try cornbread in it. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 18 Dec 14 - 08:04 PM I forgot about an afternoon reception for a departing co-worker. Fairly healthy fare was available, I skipped the cake, but did have a few chocolate m&ms. :) I need to bake up a storm tonight. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 18 Dec 14 - 02:10 PM A friend of mine had a double-whammy of flu and strep throat - she has grandchildren who bring home the bugs. Michelle, I think you'll find that the first (and possibly second year) of elementary school is one where they commingle germs and it seems like the kids are sick all of the time. The group gradually forms an immunity to some things and outgrows habits the allow others to happen and it gets much easier after that. I took a case of mustang grape jelly to work today and have distributed most of it. Tomorrow I'll bring in green tomato relish for those who express an interest in it. I was surprised by a coworker who came in to offer a gift this morning - I think it has to do with when her husband died about 15 months ago. At that time I dug out photos that I'd taken and one of them was his favorite image of himself (he was a physics professor here on campus and had spoken in a library lecture series). I had an extra jar that I gave her in exchange, and she's on the list of those wanting a jar of relish. The last couple of days where "normal" calorie-wise, but today is a fasting day. You take them when you can get them this time of year when there are meals served for staff here on campus. I'll climb the stairs a couple of times also put a little fitness activity in the day. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: LilyFestre Date: 18 Dec 14 - 10:08 AM I was up late last night (midnight-ish) sorting a 32 gallon tote of paper clutter. A good chunk of it went in the trash and the other has been fairly well sorted. I have a little bit more to do of that today but otherwise, that is DONE! Thank goodness as it has been sitting here staring at me for far too long! I paid bills this morning and dissected a child care grant so it will best meet our needs for $2015. It's hard to believe that as of August, we no longer will have a need for day care! My plan of action for the rest of the day includes doing up the dishes, cleaning up my counter top and then cleaning off the lip over my sink. I have 4 large totes of Christmas decorations sitting in my kitchen and one thing I love to do is put up the nativity sets. One goes in the kitchen and the other in the living room on top of the piano. Oh the piano. I'm going to have to do some cleaning and moving of stuff there as well if I want to put the nativity set there!!! The lights are on the tree but it's been crazy busy here and we haven't gotten the ornaments up yet...well...there are 4 ornaments on the tree. Jeremiah picked out 3 a few weeks ago at a craft store and then he was given a special early gift of an ornament of one of his favorite cartoon characters to hang on the tree. I kind of like the tree with just the lights but I know I will love it just as much with the ornaments which will be fun for all of us to do! However...the ornaments will wait until the weekend when we are all home and can do it together. Jeremiah is still not 100% and has a recheck at the doctor's office tomorrow. I won't be surprised if they run another set of antibiotics and steroids. Stay warm everybody! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: wysiwyg Date: 17 Dec 14 - 09:07 PM No, mg, don't think so. 'Know Your Fats." ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 17 Dec 14 - 07:57 PM Cold sloppy weather today. I need a nap, but think I'll simply make an early night of it and get an early start tomorrow also. I just can't get up the energy to spend all of the time baking, so I'll take tomorrow and ship on Friday. The dogs are in at night now so I haven't put out any decorations in the house so far. I'll have to be careful to choose things that go up and out of reach, or else things will get knocked over or chewed. When I was a kid there was the one-two punch of pets - the cats would knock things off of the mantle or tree and then the dog would chew up whatever it was. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: GUEST,mg Date: 17 Dec 14 - 02:28 PM I am a fan of Mary Enig..have not heard of her in a while..is this a new primer? |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: wysiwyg Date: 17 Dec 14 - 01:44 PM We stewed some Granny Smiths in a neat crockpot-type electric casserole Hardi bought while I was in Ohio. Very neat item, esp when hooked up thru a timer for starting while at work, etc. Thanks to the prompting of my gallbladder I'm in the midst of a total overhaul of my food program, which has been hard but is working better all the time. It's based on how people in the US ate and had strong health before the US Ag Complex propagandized the whole food industry for the profit of the few corporations that control our fud supply. Right now I'm studying Mary Enig's primer. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 17 Dec 14 - 12:29 PM I didn't sleep well last night - though I would have if the dogs didn't have an agenda concerning protecting the yard. Every hour or two someone burst into my room excitedly informing me that they NEEDED TO GO BARK AT THE BACK FENCE. NOW. I've learned that it is prudent to roll out of bed immediately and respond to these requests else Zeke jumps up on the bed and knocks the wind out of me. Going to the latest Hobbit release this afternoon. I expect to be assailed by creatures that did not inhabit Tolkien's small novel for children, 2.5 hours to cover the last few pages of the book. I'm taking socks because theaters are usually chilly. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Dec 14 - 10:29 PM Dorothy, you've lost your cookie! |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: GUEST Date: 16 Dec 14 - 09:18 PM City: When I used to shop in upscale stores (60s), I found that I was a 12 at Sears and a 6/8/10 in the more expensive clothes. I tried on a 6 and it hung on me! I figured those who could afford high priced clothes were being coddled. My cough is back. I hope the homeopathic I picked up yesterday, after a week without it, will get it back under control. At least I did not cough all night last night but most of today. Feeling OK but not terrific. Mostly resting today. Hot bath about 11 am and then quiet time but did not need to go to bed. Trying to keep the eating down the last while but today I "needed" more; after a bowl of broccoli, a cheese bun topped with cheese and salsa and toasted finally settled me down. That was lunch. Now.... Made a pot of stewed apples, moved car - and that is about all. Internet, reading, news, Big Bang... brief visit with neighbour, consult with Vanessa re pottery and the dreadful state of the parking lot at the mill - knee high frozen snow. Phoned R to inform; he needs to get someone with heavy equipment to clear it. |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Dec 14 - 06:52 PM Job interview concluded, and I think it went well. I celebrated afterward with a large bowl of ice cream. Now to resume my healthy eating for the rest of the month. :) Tomorrow evening I'll plan to do a bunch of baking and I'll mail on Thursday. We've reached the point where the kids are all grown and in my family we won't be sending individual gifts to each kid, etc, just a family gift. That makes it a lot easier. It got cold today and tomorrow rain is forecast, so it'll feel more holiday like to get all of this work done. I wonder how people in Florida and Southern California ever manage to really get into the holiday spirit with all of that warm weather and sunshine? SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Dec 14 - 11:31 AM I'm sure sizes have shifted over the years - I suspect what is called "10" now in the US was probably a "12" when I was growing up. And there is the truism (I'm not going to research it) that Marilyn Monroe was a size 14. The idea that anyone could fit in a size "0" is logically ridiculous, a mathematical non-starter. I have a lot of projects on hold till I finish a big project today. Sending my holiday cards, preparing to mail parcels, getting set to train one dog to the Invisible Fence - all needs doing, but it can wait till tomorrow. They have made so much noise in the basement on a building project that I'm taking today off. Yesterday we listened to jack hammers only a few yards from my desk, through one thin wall until we couldn't take it any more (ear plugs and head phones weren't enough) and today some kind of compound being put down before a concrete pour that will smell bad. All of the department adjacent to the work site has abandoned the office for other locations or taking the day off. I'll be over there later and may step in to get a few photos, but mostly it's just a day for my project. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Rumncoke Date: 16 Dec 14 - 09:32 AM It is interesting that at 159 lb a size 10 almost fits - back in the days when I weighed 147 lb I was a 16 at first, then when I left home and was more active I went down to a 14 but did not lose weight. Of course those were the UK sizes at the time, but it makes me feel better about my size now to know that the US sizes have to be larger than I have been thinking they are. I am busy making hats at the moment. |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Dec 14 - 09:53 PM Wild guess, that was Dorothy. :) Weight tends to plateau so I'm not expecting the last 10 pounds to drop off. And since this is the holiday season, I'll be lucky if I can stay at this point for the next few weeks. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: GUEST Date: 15 Dec 14 - 03:48 PM City: YAY! SRS you broke 160! I am hoping I might have but sometimes it seems that, even though I think I am not eating much... Yesterday, we had a quick BF, went to pick up the bubble wrap - two big armloads! Then went to Quaker meeting; it was great to visit with people after meeting, over tea and snacks. A friend of about 40 years, our two sons(each) are about the same ages and we were single moms in the 70s. She had a good job as a librarian and stayed put in Montreal while I rolled all over the map. He one son has pancreatic cancer; what do you say? I feel so fortunate. I want to phone her ---- and do not want to/know what to say... She is almost 80 and getting frail. Once a Raging Granny, she says her activist days are over. Now this. I drove R back to his vehicle and went grocery shopping and picked up that great apple juice at the Market and some reduced fancy cheeses. Then home for a snack and computer. R came home before 8 and we watched Home Alone - much enjoyed! I love to see a child showing power and initiative and creativity - yes it is a movie but it shows kids that a kid can do. I gave R custody of the computer and he fell asleep in the middle of the news (10:30) so BED! Late getting up - after 9;I wonder if we have sleeping sickness. For him, it is not wanting to get up and face the day. He worked all weekend and is still at, or back to, square one due to the snow conditions. As we got ready for BF, the man from the Pizza across the street knocked on the door to tell us my car was in jeopardy re snow removal so R moved it while I made BF. After he left, I assessed the day and decided to take a hot bath then, after recovery, go to fetch my homeopathic. After the bath and a short time in bed, I felt good and put the bedding in the laundry and had lunch, went off to get the pills and returned in time for R to pop in looking for good clothes so he and a lawyer friend could go work on a banking problem. As I was giving him fresh clothes, A shadow at the front door! A good looking, well dressed man - his friend had to be invited into our maelstrom. As I mentioned just returning from getting homeopathic med, we had a great conversation about environmental sensitivity and alternative healthcare. What a delight to meet someone who is on same wave length! Off they went I am am here. Second load of laundry is in, a couple nice blouses are found and ready to be ironed - now that I know where the iron and board are! The iron parches got done yesterday. I sorted out some of clothes this morning and feel I may get more done today. Break time right now. |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Dec 14 - 01:06 PM Tried on some of the size 10 pants from a bin in my closet. I can fasten one pair, most of the others I can pull on but not fasten. There were many years when I never weighed myself, those years when I was fit and slim. Only now am I figuring out the weight numbers that go with the clothing sizes. :-/ I was down to 158 this morning. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Dec 14 - 10:56 PM This weekend I was less productive than I hoped for, but it wasn't completely wasted. Tonight I finished emptying the fridge of unused or out-of-date things that have taken up space for way too long. Out to the compost or the curb it all goes. I wasn't watching television this evening - I just looked at the listings and see that The Vicar of Dibley: The Christmas Lunch Incident was on tonight. That is one of my all-time favorites. My daughter and her boyfriend live in the county north of me, and used to spend Thanksgiving and xmas making the rounds - they drove to his mother's home in the county west of here and had lunch, then to his father's home for something in the middle of the afternoon, then drove here for a later dinner. They were absolutely stuffed by the day's end, and I always told them they didn't need to eat anything when they got here. They always did, or took leftovers home. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Dec 14 - 01:09 PM Oh my aching arms - I raked all along the front curb (the widest part of the pie-shaped yard) then muscled the mower over the top of them. Warm and heavily overcast - it feels like rain is coming - thunderstorms, to be precise. I have a little bit of running to do today, so I'll get it in now before the storms cross over the area (according to the weather radar they're 30-60 minutes out). SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 13 Dec 14 - 07:07 PM City: And once again this thread reminds me: there is a big International Folk Dance party tonight and I must decide whether to give up my parking spot so I can go. .... Light BF for R today and my usual then he went off to get things done. Of course we did not get to the cafe last night as he was doing things and came home about 8. Gave him a nice salad and it took him an hour to eat it. When I brought the next plate of food, he was totally asleep! (10 pm) I told him, "Go to bed" and he did. He can have that supper tonight. I had also made myself a small plate but saved it for lunch today. I feel as though I am eating less but forget the scale - at the mill. And after posting yesterday "eating fewer cookies", I ate some cookies! I walked to library today and brought back 3 novels and one book on food allergies and one on disciplining children. Spent part of aft on FB and deleting and part on little things around the house - apples are washed and ready to cut and cook, mini ironing board and iron are found and ready to do iron on patching, needle and thread ready to mend night gown. Pots still need to be trimmed; I realized I would not get to it yesterday and wrapped them well. Maybe tomorrow. An hour phone talk with Montreal friend last night - we made a new list of things to be done - plastic on windows so pollution, and cold!, stay out, clean Bathroom of roofing tar so I can take a hot bath without being poisoned, get the BR cleared so it can be used. These are all R-do things so it will take time but I have started suggesting and need to be patient while he deals with all the other things on his agenda. Hannah, same age as my son (55 today - Hannah; son's was on 5th), has been telling me how to run my life for about 40 years! She, like my son, has good ideas so I enjoy her support and, sometimes, brow-beating. Another hour phone call with dear friends at a distance this morning, just catching up. Not going to dance. Keep my parking until tomorrow when I will go pick up a big lot of bubble wrap from Craigslist/free then do some grocery shopping, maybe get a small poinsettia, plastic for the windows, good fresh apple juice.... And hope for parking when I get home!! |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Dec 14 - 01:30 PM I decided against the dance class this morning - too much stuff to do - but I have the practice music now and will work with that. I'm thinking about moving furniture. Big pieces, things I have to empty to move. It feels like time to streamline a few rooms. Yard work on the list today - enough leaves have pile up that I need to mulch again. I am daily glad that a few weeks ago I built the fence thing on the dog stall in the garage - I can now open the big door and go get the mower without having to put Zeke in the kennel first, meaning there are a lot fewer steps involved in a large number of tasks. I'm down a couple of more pounds, so mulching with the mower today is a good way to keep up the exercise and continue the weight loss. Next week is going to be one for the calories at work, I'll pace myself, and try to not let myself get hooked on sugar again. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Nov-Dec 2014 Declutter & Fitness From: wysiwyg Date: 13 Dec 14 - 10:25 AM Ooops! Forgot to post the link to the foto referenced in the last post. I'll throw it in when I get a chance. The children's/cottage garden is a planned 20x20-ish foot area on one side of the front yard; the other side holds a majestic tree that will provide shady sitting for visiting with passers-by, and eventually woodland/shade plants; we want to eliminate as much mowing as possible, over time. Separating these two sections, there's an existing concrete, straight front walk from front door to sidewalk. We plan to replace that with a meandering gravel path after we're all done moving in (when Hardi retires), but for now it's great for unloading! I got the idea for the children's garden from seeing how sparse are activities for the kids in that large neighborhood. Once they're old enough to leave their own yard, there's not much for them except trouble, and pedophiles, especially for the boys. We got a lot of longing glances from kids passing by, when I started work out there with helpers in September. This suggested that a cottage-garden (with little paths snaking thru to pick peppers, see new things coming up, etc.) would offer a chance to involve neighborhood families in a TV-less, healthy, ongoing activity. So I've drawn a plan for a centerpiece, for that section of the property, of tall, flowering plants. That's what my $50 bought-- a place to start that whole thing up. There is already a children's table and chair in the now-existing bedding area right in front of the kitchen windows. They fill a gap in the existing plantings of hollies. The spring plan for the rest of that hlf of the front yard is to kill off a lot of crabgrass by the lasagna-gardening method of layering newspaper, compost, and bark mulch. This will outline the whole, eventual planting area and I can start to lay out the paths, yard sculpture, etc. On top of that mulch I can scatter potted plants when I'm there, to play with color and texture ideas before we live there fulltime and I can put in annuals and perennials. Each subsection of that cottage garden can be tilled and planted as feasible, but in the meantime, under that bark mulch, Mother Nature will be getting most of the soil amendments all ready. And all that will be my PT over the next several years-- my activity-level-increaser as we get to know neighbors OUTSIDE in the fresh air! ~S~ |
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