Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015

Subject: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 15 - 11:31 AM

Here is the last thread (minus a bunch because of the crash).

I've added "hoarders" into the thread title to catch the eye of a few who may feel they don't have a simple job of removing clutter - those who may feel they have to empty a warehouse-worth of stuff stored in their (or relatives) homes. Our declutter work is generally on a smaller scale, and may only be baby steps for those folks, but perhaps it will inspire the first steps toward recovery.

We've heard from a few new folks, and there are probably many other lurkers who get vicarious pleasure from the large and small successes people record here.

It's the time of year for me when my attention turns to my yard. I have a bunch of stuff that has piled up in the sunroom (things to sell on eBay) that I need to get to periodically. Rainy day work. And there is the garage and the greenhouse. I can park my vehicle in my garage, with room to move around, but when I was parking a truck in the garage it was a tight squeeze. I need to clear out some of the stuff I never use. Same with the greenhouse - I have way more of some things than I'll ever use.

So here's a fresh start, spring cleaning (if you're in the Northern Hemisphere) and time to toss out the clutter along with the winter buildup of dust and dog hair.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 01 Apr 15 - 12:46 PM

This should be an easy enough chore to get things rolling
and kick start the right frame of mind.....

but.....

Freeing up hard drive space of all the accumulated recorded TV series and movies.
on the various PVRs in our house,
that'll we'll never get round to watching...

I've let go of about 50 or 60 hours worth, but mrs punkfolkrocker refuses to budge on her recordings,
even though she has far less time than me for TV watching....!!!???

.. and it's mostly TV of her choice that 'needs' to be recorded...

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: fat B****rd
Date: 01 Apr 15 - 02:34 PM

Whilst nowhere near as busy as some of our fellow posters I have nevertheless disposed sensibly, usually, of much of the assorted clutter accrued by myself and my late and much missed wife, Ann, over twenty something years. A load of bedding which really was superfluous to the local BHF shop. They arrange to collect stuff and actually turn up, after a warning phone call, when they say they will. As the weather has improved a bit (for Scotland) I have finally started to clear out my shed. Ann was adamant that I needed at least three of everything and so, I must have at least 40 screwdrivers of various heads and a huge selection of screws and nails. As I have lots of wood and several projects these last will come in useful. It doesn't do me any credit but, I found an electric hand saw that I didn't know I had!
No complaints, unless you include arthritis, so must get on that treadmill to-morrow.
Take care everybody
Charlie fB

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 01 Apr 15 - 03:30 PM

I have a bit more space now - so I am setting up knitting machines to fill it up - I think I need to do a bit more work on the mental attitude before starting to clear out the rooms again.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 01 Apr 15 - 03:35 PM

Oh - thought it is the first - so I brushed the stairs. At least there are some small victories even with the knitting going on.

There is a brush on the shelves at the top of the stairs to facilitate the process.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 15 - 05:02 PM

I really do need to shift some of the eBay stuff out of here. The process is to photograph (in a way so there is a neutral background - I don't want to show off my house or have my arm in the middle of the photo holding up the item), figure out the packing, then list it. It piles up on the table where I do most of the photography and weighing/packing, so I have to clear the table yet keep things nearby so they don't escape back into the house.

There are thunderstorms threatening to pass this way - I will be annoyed if hail declutters my yard of the lovely daffodils that are just now in full bloom.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 01 Apr 15 - 06:03 PM

I have a SERIOUS "big time hoarded" that moved into my home while her son cleaned her home. Her home stuff is NASTY !

The "visit" of only three-days is turning into three months. My small home is turning into a collection of unmade beds. drying clothes in doorways, dozens upon a hundred more pairs of shoes....paper files from 25 years ago....(the shredder broke and her hands are bloody).

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

There is blessed lesson to be learned.....to make room .... 27 years of PC Towers and CRT monitors....
Will be dumped....HD' s and 5.25 with also 3.5 be salvaged.

To have a functioning office again ....will be a "re-birth"

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Apr 15 - 07:24 PM

Treadmill & recumbent bike today. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: fat B****rd
Date: 02 Apr 15 - 01:35 AM

Treadmill and gardening to-day !!. I got a dressy-up do in June and must get into my glad rags.
Charlie

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Apr 15 - 04:29 AM

Ontario:
Up at the crack of dawn yesterday - well, about 6:30! - I was exhausted by 9 pm. Checked emails drove to town, got certified check at bank and also a short visit with friend not seen in 15 years, , tea at Tim Horton's, sat in park and had a piece of bread with almond butter, went to lawyer, signed papers, getting to know you conversation with lawyer whose 5 year old son has Tay-Sachs, "come back later for key.

Looked for shop vac with hepa filter to no avail. shopped in two thrift shops and got some needful items, then later at another one - nice toaster oven for new house and 3 small glass bowls - I use them a great deal and they break. Young friend helped me to car and we had a chat. Stopped in at A Place fort the Arts and interviewed the volunteer on duty about it, got a membership. Stopped at Art Gallery and chatted with friend on duty there.

Back to Lawyer's - key and copy of deed!!!! Stopped for haircut, library card!!, stopped in to another thrift shop (furniture mostly) and chatted with volunteer about getting people to bring stuff there instead of sending things to dump. She needs a better sign; I will think about that - tomorrow.

Went to house, key did not work. Back to bank (vendor), "talk to lawyer or realtor', to realtor office, the woman on duty tried to contact my agent/friend, lawyer called to say she had no other key, bank has no other key, "Come back later". Stopped at cop shop for info re protocol of changing vehicles registrations and driver's license to Ontario. Went to get new headlight and talked about getting van repaired and safetied for registration in Ontario - "By May, please" (it is still surrounded by snow after sitting in the yard all winter!), also car safetied. This is going to be expensive and somewhat stressful but I have six months.

No word re key! Went back to house, nope, key does not work. But Kathy had said she had kept a key but where is Kathy! Saw a neighbour out in yard so went to introduce myself. "Hi, I'm Dorothy..." No name was forthcoming but he told me how terrible "that house" is; then told me how terrible his own was when he bought it....OK!

Back to library to ask if anyone knew if Craftsman (restaurant) is open yet. Long chat with friend, then Bev phoned, "not yet" also asking info re carpet store "that used to be..." - "gone";. I was hoping to look for flooring for K and bath. Guess that will have to come from Montreal. Also asked about locksmith - in case...

Went to Chinese R for plate of stir fried veggies and started back. Stopped by side of road and happened to see a deer run across the highway, missing a car by about 15 feet! Tried once more to reach Kathy, left message that I would bring a crow bar tomorrow.

Pulled into driveway, having driven fairly slowly, wary of deer on the move. R phoned and we caught up. Then he phoned again; he is de-cluttering that building very happily!!   Then I dragged my weary self into the house realizing I had left my jacket somewhere on this beautiful sunny and warmish day. Kathy phoned and, apologetic, and promised to leave key in the office lock box, "the code is..." so I can get it in the morning - freezing rain is predicted! Followed by rain. A great day to unload the car!

Dragged myself back out to car for computer, which I had taken along in case I had down time! Had conversation with host friends for a few minutes and called it "a day".

What did I de-clutter? A great series of small tasks, things on to-do list and more. Plenty of exercise and moderate food intake.    Most of all, I did not get in a flap over the key; just kept getting things done and enjoyed being in touch with my home town.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 15 - 11:25 AM

Those of you who are adding off-site storage to your decluttering efforts, how is that working out?

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Donuel
Date: 02 Apr 15 - 11:37 AM

Great weather for special garbage pick ups or to post a link to one of the free recycling websites.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 15 - 09:52 PM

We are just entering the best season for garage sales here in North Texas. There will be the perfect combination of pent-up supply and nice weather. Tomorrow is a good time to start swinging down neighborhood streets if there is a small sign on the corner. Treasures await - but the same policy needs to apply for new purchases - unless I find a missing part of something I already own, I usually discard something if a new item comes into the house.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: pattyClink
Date: 03 Apr 15 - 08:56 AM

Feeling overwhelmed with lots of priorities to deal with. I had to wait to do taxes until some forms arrived and now it's time to do some complex stuff and no Turbotax does not help. I really wish tax time didn't arrive at the same time as nice weather and yardwork and pollen and painting projects!

Off-site storage is working out great for me, I laid out planks along the perimeter in a U and another 'aisle' up the middle. Took a bunch of stuff over and it's all easy to find and deal with.

I'm a little freaked out about Mudcat right now.   A week ago I posted to a thoughtful little thread that skarpi had participated in, came back the next day and found it all erased. Yet on St. Pat's I checked in to find some vile garbage posted as a St. Pat's thread, and it remained and remained. Etc. I used to see this as a refuge from the world's insanity, but now I find I don't trust it and it seems like the Red Queen is in control. It really gives one pause.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Apr 15 - 09:44 AM

That's the ticket - make that space work for you, not against you.

Not all of the moderators read all of the threads, especially in the music section, so if you see a problem, send a PM to a mod. And the thing about disappearing posts is most likely the gremlin in the works and it happens to all of us. You hit send and it doesn't go. The trick is to always select and copy the text to your clipboard before hitting send, so you can reopen the thread in a new browser window and paste it again if it vanished the first time.

Tomorrow is a day in the garden, and if Sunday is rainy as predicted, it is for cleaning and eBay. And sewing. I need to declutter my list of things to do.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Apr 15 - 11:14 AM

Ontario:
Sitting in the Art Gallery of Bancroft on Good Friday. Reminded that this is the Bible Belt. There could be 3 bowling lanes down the main street! This will give me an opportunity to de-clutter the computer! One person has come in, another volunteer checking to see if anything needed to be done before tonight's opening.

Earlier this am, I measured the rooms, windows, doors at the house. recovering from, well from something. I really was at a loss for what to do next even though I had been planning for 6 weeks, I thought. The reality hit me and being elated is exhausting. But now - I even took a small rake to the emerging flower bed, I think. Snow season is evolving to mud season.

Yesterday I visited my friend in the Grove and 6 of her grands and the mom of soon to be 4 of them. The oldest(5) is a serious young man and we had some talks. I carefully explained to him that it is not his place to answer for cousin Julie and how it is not good for people to have others answer for them, and how annoyed I get when someone does it to me. This comes under the category of trying to de-clutter the world of at least one over-bearing male! He listens well - then makes up his own mind! I shall enjoy watching him grow - as I did his dad. I am SO back where I belong - home again.

It is wonderful not to be sitting in that chair in Montreal, to be out and about, talking with folks, renewing friendships, making new ones, walking around in, relatively, clean air! I was really floundering yesterday but looked at flooring, went to one solar dealer - and will not go back; anyone who is asked to repeat them self several times and still does not speak clearly, I do not deal with. He was kind of snotty, too.

Spent the later evening looking on line for flooring and will go look at some tomorrow on way to Montreal. The closest BIG stores are about 90 minutes away! Wonderful! I am not being picky about flooring; I am being frugal - whatever is cheapest and will do a proper job, and is reasonably OK to look at.

I am delighted that the modem works at the house so I can bring it back and forth from the mill in the computer bag. I think I will cancel the phone based one in the city and save about $40/month!!!

Saw two windows on Kijiji and emailed R about them but they are gone already. I will put an alert on for windows. This is about de-cluttering the house of blank wall space and letting the trees look in!

I am better physically (and, obviously, mentally) than I have been in over two years, at least. But I must continue to replenish the minerals as well as continue the MSM and glucosamine in order to maintain. I ate 3 plain sour cream donuts yesterday; they used to make me feel good but not now. I am wondering if sugar also inhibits the absorption of minerals - I really felt it last night. The handful of pills I took with BF(mostly good quality minerals) was rather daunting and, though I know none are bad for me, I am mindful of needing/wanting to get more from foods and less from supplements. There will be good organic food available locally this summer. NEED freezer.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 15 - 09:17 AM

Sugar is just destructive, the realisation has ben slow coming but it weems to be dawning now - Humans are not designed to cope with it - in the worst cases you eventually get blindnes, nerve destruction and gangrene, but the insidious weight gain, painful joints and lack of energy can feel just miserable.

I try to avoid carbs and feel so much better when I do.

We are at my son's home at the moment looking after the two older boys, 3 and 5 years old. The new grandson was born yesterday, and is in N-ICU for close observation for a few days.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 15 - 12:04 PM

That was Rumncoke. I hope that grandson soon goes home healthy and hardy!

I agree about the sugar, and it is addictive. There has been a lot of bite-sized candy in the office in a small jar lately - we need to shift our snacking to something more healthy.

So much to do it's difficult to settle on a starting place. I've just finished my cuppa tea so it's out to the yard via the laundry room to put in the sheets that will this afternoon dry on the clothesline. The duvet cover will go in for a wash and line airing and then back over the down comforter and into the closet for the warm season. I turned on the air conditioning for a couple of days during the week, but am now back to the big system set to heat if we have cool mornings. The smaller unit in the office and front of the house is on cool, but set so that it won't go on unless the house is over 80 degrees, so there isn't much activity with either of them right now. Spring and fall are the lowest electric bills because these don't run much in either setting.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 04 Apr 15 - 06:43 PM

Ah - sorry I did not realise that the little tablet thing had not got my details for here. We have been up at the crack of dawn with their two boys.

The baby is still in N-ICU but seems a bit brighter, more responsive and has now been fed properly rather than through a tube. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief to learn that.

Although he is several weeks premature he was over 7lb when born - he would have been a bruiser if he'd been allowed to go full term, but that was not possible due to his mother's state. Hopefully her condition will now improve.

We have come back home as it is now just a matter of wait and see how things go with them.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Apr 15 - 08:45 PM

Spent time cleaning in our bedroom (still have mountains of clothes to go through) and then time making Easter baskets for tomorrow.

:) Happy Easter Everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Apr 15 - 10:33 PM

Jeremiah is unaware that he was adopted and we feel that now is the time to share that with him. He is old enough to understand and formulate questions. I have seen several adoption story books that parents can use to help ease into the conversation or to explain how an adoption happens but none of them that I have seen fit our situation so I decided to write his story for him. I have a blank book and have added illustrations to make it completely his story. It took some effort and tears to make the story straight forward and concise but on the second draft, I got the flow right and both Pete and I are happy with the results. We are ready for the questions and are feeling good about sharing this with him. I'm a little nervous but that's to be expected. I only want for him to know that he was loved by his birth parents and he is loved, and will forever be loved by us.

Wish us luck!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 15 - 11:24 PM

What a brave and difficult, yet rewarding, thing to do. It can wrench his world around. Writing his story may be exactly the best way to do it. Be sure he also knows your story, and how precious he was to you and how afraid you were that you might not get to keep him because of your cancer, how hard you fought to do that right and well. And beautifully.

Rum, my son was in the NICU for 2 weeks, born full term (38-weeks) but with premature lungs. I expressed milk that they gave via stomach tube until they let him out of the isolet so I could finally handle him and nurse properly. For two weeks any time people touched him it was painful, and they'd had him sedated so he wouldn't fight the equipment. Nursing was something that we both enjoyed very much, finally getting the contact. It took a couple of weeks after we brought him home that he didn't scream bloody murder at being handled for small things like changing diapers.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: maeve
Date: 05 Apr 15 - 04:18 AM

Michelle- Blessings to you, to Pete, and precious Jeremiah as you take another loving step together.

Maeve

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Apr 15 - 11:54 AM

:) Thanks Stilly and Maeve! :)

We will not be sharing my cancer story with Jeremiah until he is MUCH older. He is only 5 and we think the most important things for him to know at this stage is that he has another set of parents who loved him but couldn't care for him and that we chose him because he is special and we loved him from the minute we saw him. :)

When he is older, we will share more. We want him to have a firm grasp on what it means to be adopted before he goes to kindergarten and children start asking him why he is a different color than we are. So far, he hasn't ever questioned this with us. I don't want a stranger or another child to blindside him or cause confusion for him.

Ever the protective mama bear,

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: maeve
Date: 05 Apr 15 - 12:25 PM

Wise parents indeed.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Apr 15 - 05:12 PM

Rain arrived overnight last night, I was hoping the forecast meant overnight into Monday. Oh, well. I do have plenty to keep me busy in the house. This cool and overcast day seems like the perfect occasion to make a loaf of bread and a pot of soup.

I was going to shop and deliver some donation items today, but instead I'll load them in the car and drop off after work tomorrow. And shop on the way home.

The closet needed a small rescue this week, after the wire links holding up cords that support shelves stretched open at the top of a stacking zipper enclosure. This plastic case hangs from my closet rod. The shelves pancaked into the bottom of the plastic enclosure, but I had a couple of small carabiners that came to the rescue to pull it all upright again. I probably ought to see if I really need or still wear all of those sweaters. I think a couple of them at this point are way too large.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Apr 15 - 10:32 AM

We've stepped back through the spring door into a late-winter look here. The rainy weather on Sunday was enough to keep me in my chair working on a lap quilt/comforter for my son. The one for my daughter comes next. It's a simple thing, a cover fabric (a woven flannel) with non-woven batting and then a cotton backing trimmed with bias tape. It's interesting how when you start working it looks like it's independent parts, but then you reach a point where it feels like a garment or an object, not a disparate collection of pieces. Now I need to knot the cover so the batting stays put.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Apr 15 - 03:14 PM

City:
last few days: flooring purchased, backer board purchased o replace really dreadful panelling in LR, laundry done, dishes washed, long drive back to city from Ontario, long Sunday as we went to pick up the Clay Play trailer and had a flat tire/no spare, in the middle of no where with nothing open, etc! Eventually got sorted and got it to the mill, did a few things and came back to city - plumb wore out and happy to have celery soup in frig!

Almost an hour on phone with once-adopted daughter yesterday during which I told her about her first year; no one ever had. Revelation after revelation. Today I contacted a therapist, with whom I am acquainted, who specializes in RAD; have appointment to phone her tomorrow.

Hour on phone with friend Amy resulted in a list of 3 do-do items for me. Her life is changing and mutual support occurred; I sent her link to a mudcat thread last week - where someone was leaving an abusive relationship. She found it really helpful; did not realize there were so many people in or have been in her boat. She has lived very isolated for most of 25 years.

Waiting for a phone back from Lowes so cannot use the phone for #3 - see if the thrift shop has a bed and can deliver so I can go back to the new house without R who is still too busy. I need to be there of Market on Saturday. Time to call Lowes back; cannot wait.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 06 Apr 15 - 06:41 PM

Little grandson is out of intensive care and is with his mum on a specialist ward. All continuing to go well he should be passed fit by Thursday. He wants to be held all the time, which isn't all that surprising really, but he has now begun to stretch out and look around.

Back home I found the restricted access to the kitchen annoying - a stack of tool boxes is in the way, but the lack of washing up needing to be done was quite a shock. I can wash things in an empty sink now.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: fat B****rd
Date: 07 Apr 15 - 01:01 PM

That's great news Rumncoke. I hope good progress continues.
Here in (quite often lately) sunny Dunfermline, I have been taking full advantage of the good weather and cut grass, pulled up weeds and dug out congested potential vegetable patches. There isn't too much left to de-clutter but lately I have sent my elder step-daughter a couple of Ann's Pashminas and given my grand-daughter some sheets. If I tell you she's a student the need will be self explanatory!. Finally I can get into mu shed without moving all my garden machines out but there ill always be room for improvement. Part of the fun for me is making out huge lists of "Thingstodo" so you can see I am having a full and interesting life. :-)
With all the gardening going on the gym has not figured too much lately but it'll always be there.
Take care everybody and best regards to you all (especially the Rumncoke family.
Charlie

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Apr 15 - 03:27 PM

I spent time in the garden this morning before heading to work. When I trim my pine trees I leave the branches on the ground under the tree until they dry out and then I pull the needles and leave them there on the ground, so this morning I scraped off the needles. The limbs will be chipped for mulch. The more needles on the ground under the trees the less grass in that area, and I like the idea of less grass and the look of pine needles.

I also planted a few of my tomato bedding plants in the beds I started digging last weekend. There is a lot more work to do, but it is finally started.

Housework is lower on my "to-do" list than garden work, so I don't have anything to report there right now!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Apr 15 - 05:21 PM

City:
Great news about the grandson! Of course he wants to be held all the time! PTSD affects infants also. He will need all the loving you all can give him.

Best laid plans and all that; With my list made up for things to do at the mill, today was the sentencing for the perp who attacked R and friend in 2010. So off we went to the courthouse - late and not knowing what room... Oh, but not today, tomorrow! But while we are here - he had not yet filled out victim impact statement nor had I as we had not been informed... Or did he not notice the letter... Four hours later, after two trips to the parking meter and two to the cafe... De-clutter my life??? Well, he is rather nice at times... De-cluttered our wallets!

Found a therapist, known to me, who specializes in RAD, phoned her yesterday and made appointment to call today - done! She will email me some possible therapists near daughter. Also gave me name of person at "post adoption services" down there. I can help pay for therapy if d is willing to have it and I believe she will be. At 50, she could still have some real life if she can get free of some of the RAD and fetal alcohol symptoms for which she has never had appropriate therapy.

Lark and I agree that RAD is the very worst thing that can happen to a child. Cancer only kills them; RAD does brain damage that precludes the ability to have a normal life. D told me she is afraid to leave the house because she no longer wants to inflict her unpredictable behaviours on anyone - or deal with consequences thereof. Alive but no life. Like much of what is referred to as "mental illness" she has struggled to control her behaviours and is now worn out by it.   

Sorted out delivery from Lowes for Saturday, 18th, so we do not need to worry about R's truck or renting one - major de-clutter! Too late to phone thrift shops today!

Box of pottery mailed from Malone, NYS was sent back here after I was told by "customer Service at USPS that it would not be and she would get it sent to my name at the correct address for son. 6 of 12 items broken to smithereens! It must have been dropped or thrown quite a distance. And it cost me $50 in postage for the return - twice what it cost me to mail it from Malone. Back to the wheel! Not the kind of de-cluttering we need!!

The new memory for computer arrived today but now I am going to veg out for a while and rebuild my energy before I try that installation. Two sets of feelings - re assault and re daughter have me at edge of tearful. When the sentencing is done, we will know what we are dealing with or, hopefully, not going to have to deal with for a while yet. If he is not sentenced to more jail time, we join the ranks of those who live with the knowledge that a violent, unpredictable person may have us on their list.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 07 Apr 15 - 05:54 PM

Started decluttering the yard of a winter's worth of doggie poo. My landlady waived the no pets policy for me, so I try to be a good tenant. Now that there are large enough bare patches in the yard, I'll try to get in some yard work after work. We had a lot of large branches come down off the big white pines in the front and they'll need to be hauled out to the back edge of the field soon. I also promised my landlady I'd clean out the brushy things that have popped up in her flower gardens. One of the gardens is now bare, but the other is still under six to ten inches of snow. I don't garden, but I'll make it easier for her to get out there.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 07 Apr 15 - 08:31 PM

Treadmill and recumbent bike plus major grocery shopping, hauling stuff into the house through some deep mud and putting it all away. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 01:14 AM

That mud after snow and ice - it's pernicious, isn't it? I think it is more than our imaginations, there are molecular things that happen to align the particles of dirt into more viscous mud after it has frozen.

Tons to do this week and I'm taking it one day at a time. This day is over. I may have to buy rolls instead of making my own for an office potluck tomorrow. There just isn't enough time in the day for it.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 12:18 PM

Treadmill, recumbent bike and very stretchy, yummy yoga today.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 02:46 PM

Maggie - up here it has to do with frost going out of the ground. So you've got thawing on the ground as well as in it.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Apr 15 - 12:12 AM

I just spoke to my sister, who tells me that everything bloomed a month early in Seattle, and that there is only 22% of the typical snowpack in the Cascades this year. Not so bad as California (with 6%) but still pretty bad. Maybe these long slow emergences from winter will help during the rest of the year for some folks.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 09 Apr 15 - 06:52 AM

Here on the South coast of England snow is rare. We had a light sprinkling one morning and it was gone in an hour. That was winter over with.

I am now seeing blossom on the trees and daffodils are beginning to fade a little after putting on a really fine show this year.

It is time to start washing windows and curtains.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Apr 15 - 02:44 PM

City:
Tuesday was back to court and the sentencing left us limp. In four months this sociopath will be out of jail and we will live looking over our shoulders for fear of what damage he might do next.

Trying to recover from that, I phoned my son; what started out as a good conversation deteriorated into tearing strips off me for ancient errors.

I don't remember yesterday but I can say that things are up to snuff. This morning I cleaned up tracked in dirt, careful negotiated the still deep snow to the compost, pruned the plants on the sunny side of the yard. Something I remember planting last fall at the sunniest end is coming up; maybe hosta or ???? The shady side still has several inches of snow.

Went for a few groceries. Got through to the very nice social worker in PA seeking help for dghtr. Very positive possibilities. She may even be able to help with finding birth parents if she wishes to do that. "Post Adoption Services" fifty years later!

Planning logistics of trip to Bancroft, ON tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Apr 15 - 05:42 PM

Dorothy, I'm sorry that the sentence is so short. I wonder if someone can meet him at the door in four months with more charges that weren't filed this time.

Thunderstorms predicted for tonight. I bought a few bedding plants on the way home and I'll put them under a potting table by the side door to keep them from being clobbered if it hails. I also have some 4" pots with dirt that I'll put seeds in and then move them out of the way so rain or hail doesn't splash seeds around or out. All of this of course will fill my garden. I'm still drawing down produce (frozen and canned) from last year and have plenty of empty jars for canning and pickles when the time comes.

I need to finish some sewing and some eBay work, but what I really need to do tonight is finish some freelance editing so I can start dropping the finished articles into the design software tomorrow. I predict an evening of working at the computer with the TV going in the background.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Apr 15 - 08:40 PM

City:
SRS: Sentences in Canada not nearly as severe as the USA. In this case, it was 5.5 years but time served leaves not much. We are in recovery.

Phone call at 8 am from friend in PA needing support consultation.

Almost two hours on phone with dghtr, sharing experiences of our lives. An email came in from SW saying she has found the adoption record. "Ask your dghtr to phone me." Dghtr was soon caught between fear of disappointment, and excitement. She will phone tomorrow and email me if it it worth my phoning her for update. I should prob phone in any case.

Then veg out to relax.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Apr 15 - 02:32 AM

A neighbor walked past the house this evening, and as we talked in the driveway it started to rain, so we ducked into the house. This gave me a moment to view it through another's eyes, and to my dismay every flat surface had stuff on it. Clearing the debris from this week will top my weekend to-do list.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Apr 15 - 10:15 AM

I made inroads on the counter tops this morning while I waited for my cuppa tea to brew. At least it can serve as a landing pad for anything I bring into the house this evening.

I woke up mulling over how to drop a document into InDesign . . . a sure sign that I've worked on this task long enough to finish it soon. Looking forward to the weekend.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Apr 15 - 10:18 PM

Freelance work this weekend when I can fit it in, and mowing for sure tomorrow. The forecast keeps shifting, but for now it looks like rain on Sunday, tomorrow is just cloudy. Tornadoes have hit other parts of the country this week, but we'll see a fair share of tornado watch/warnings as spring progresses.

The flat surfaces are high on the list also. So far only one counter is clear, the rest have stuff that needs filing or putting away in some fashion.

The dogs need baths, but I'm not sure when that will happen.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Apr 15 - 10:30 PM

Wait. There are flat clear surfaces that hold stuff up? Not in this house...LOL. Seriously...I need to be finding surface space too!

Michelle

---

The mudelves wish you a very happy birthday, Michelle!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 11 Apr 15 - 05:30 PM

If all continues to go well newest grandson and his mum will be released from hospital tomorrow, much to everyone's relief.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Apr 15 - 06:29 PM

You crack me up, Michelle!

Rum, when babies come home from the hospital it has been my experience that houses kind of explode with clutter. Tons of new baby stuff enters the scene and every waking minute seems to be dedicated to baby care instead of house care for a while.

My ex came by today and left half of a large filet of fresh salmon. Mmmm! My gas grill needs work so I think I'll break out the small charcoal one and have a fabulous dinner after mowing and before sewing. In order to finish some craft work I have a setup on Saturday evenings when there are four hours of television programming that I tend to watch. A small television is on the dining room table just beyond the sewing machine. Last week I did the long seams on a comforter, this week I'll finish trimming up some of the edges then work on knotting the cover and backing together. I have another comforter to make as well, so I forsee another few weeks of this arrangement.

Dorothy, I hope your plans for coming and going and moving are falling into place.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Apr 15 - 08:24 PM

Thanks Mud Elves!!!! XOXOXOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Apr 15 - 12:43 AM

I didn't get to do much sewing, but I did do a fair amount of grilling. Since I had coals ready after I finished the salmon I then put on some beef and a chicken breast so I'll have the meat for various meals this week. I like to take my lunch to work and often will take the fixings for fajitas, etc. Warm up the filling, have a couple of tortillas, and take some frozen guacamole that will thaw by lunchtime. Meat cooked over coals is the best flavor and makes lunch a treat. Fried rice also, with a little bit of grilled meat and some good diced veggies with the rice, it heats up well for lunch. There will be fresh green onions from the garden in that rice.

The kitchen is looking better, with a few flat surfaces that are no longer covered with stuff.

Today was pretty good. The front yard looks great and the stone front of the house is a mellow background for the green lawn and vividly beautiful iris blooms. I used the chipper to chop up a bunch of small limbs so now I have a bag of chips for the veggie garden. I will also mulch with some bags of oak leaves after I spread, water, and run the mower over them to reduce the chance they'll all blow away.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: fat B****rd
Date: 12 Apr 15 - 05:02 AM

Best wishes for your family, Rumncoke.
After a few days extensive gardening the rain has arrived forcing me to get the housework etc over and done with.
Charlie.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 12 Apr 15 - 05:34 PM

Thank you for the good wishes.
Fortunately my son seems to have avoided any hoarding issues - when bringing all the items required for the baby down from the attic room he was already plotting to get rid of them as soon as young Dylan has no more need of them. My daughter in law has been told very firmly 'no more babies' by the consultant she saw during this last pregnancy.

I actually held Dylan on my last visit - he is still slightly furry, having been induced early.

Now I have to get back to a more ordinary routine. At least I have managed to continue to return the milk bottles to the delivery man in some numbers.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Apr 15 - 08:49 PM

Last week my credit card company alerted me to a couple of suspicious purchases - they weren't mine. The new card should arrive soon, and I'll have to notify a couple of the places that charge the card monthly (NetFlix, for example). And today I shopped with cash, something I rarely do but it is a good exercise in deciding which things on the list are really essential and which you can live without when you have spent as much cash as you planned.

I set up an alert on my card so that any time I use it I get an email. If someone else uses it and I know it wasn't me, that speeds up the ability to shut down suspicious activity. I'll probably tweak the alert, set a dollar value, etc.

I've added compost around all of my asparagus and am daily adding to the plantings in the garden. Some of this is late. The yard has mature plantings now and some of the garden things come back on their own. Last year I put onions in several different beds to see how they would grow in each location. This evening I picked a few that I missed last year that came back this spring. I'll use them as green onions in fried rice.

The village has bins for commingled recycling and they fill up on the weekend, so I need to make a note for myself to take it over on Wednesday or Friday, the day after the bins are emptied. I have a supply that I'd liked to have dropped of today but I knew it wouldn't be easy to shove into the overstuffed bins.

I haven't decluttered so much as put things away this weekend. Nothing of any significant size has been transported off the premises lately. It's time to eBay some of it out of here (I do an "eBay garage sale" every so often with really low prices but sometimes am surprised that people bid them up).

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 15 - 02:28 AM

Working on a deadline to finish editing and designing pages for an online journal. The lion's share is finished, two that need more tweaking await tomorrow. The goal is to have this up just prior to a scholarly conference that starts on Wednesday evening. I didn't link this journal to my CV the first time, but I will this time and both annual issues will show up. (Virtual clutter/unclutter - online journals and citations).

We've had a lot of rain - I estimate four inches - too much for doing anything in the yard. I have 4" pots awaiting seeds - just as well I put off planting because the seeds might have been bounced out by the rain. I'll move them and plant in the next couple of days. There's more due this week. Feast or famine, classic Texas rainfall weather.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 15 - 12:08 PM

Temporary re-cluttering: this morning I put a mylar cover over the jacket of a favorite Middle East cookbook that I give to people every so often. Usually I order it and wait and then give it (like three last xmas, when one didn't arrive in time). A friend was asking for a recommendation and I decided to order a couple of extras. This way I have the leisure to wait for them and they're at the ready if an occasion arises.

The boxes in my sun room seems to be reproducing while I'm away. Time to flatten a bunch and take most over to the recycle bin (which was in theory emptied yesterday so should be easy to drop my stuff into now).

Note to self - avoid bottled fruit juice "drinks" with more than one ingredient. They sometimes have additives that don't agree. Like yesterday. My consumption of processed foods is very limited, and the list of foods to avoid is growing. I don't think America can claim to have a great food supply when so much of it has little chemical ticking bombs as sweeteners and preservatives and thickeners and color preservatives . . . Dannon yogurt has (but doesn't list, apparently) titanium dioxide to make it look extra white. I think toothpaste also does that, but I don't swallow toothpaste. I think an iteration of NutraSweet (aspartame) got me yesterday. They keep renaming things so they look innocent, but the gut knows what the gut knows.

Off my soap box.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,#
Date: 14 Apr 15 - 12:27 PM

Welcome to nanotechnology.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 14 Apr 15 - 01:18 PM

Yoghurt is dead easy to make - I had a couple of large lidded glass jars which I used to put on the cooker over the pilot light having mixed skimmed milk powder and milk together and then added a large spoonful of the mix from the other jar. By the following morning it had become yoghurt and was moved to the fridge. The other jar was emptied and left ready until needed again.

I bought one small pot of live yoghurt at the start, and only ever needed to buy one more after leaving the jar out of the fridge when away for a weekend.

These days I could feel virtuous for saving all the packaging, but back then recycling wasn't even heard of.

I used to be quite thin back then, now I think about it.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 15 - 02:38 PM

I make it when I have a good starter, but by the time I'm to the bottom of the tub, it isn't the best to use as a starter. I use a recipe from the book I reference above - heat the milk to the right level (I use organic whole milk), let it cool enough, mix in the starter, and the large bowl in which I make it is covered with a plate and the whole thing wrapped in a thick layer of towels. As you say, yogurt by morning.

Fascinating talk about getting enough sleep at noon on my local NPR station today. The Science of Sleep reminds us that of all of the activities we need to declutter, sleep isn't one of them. This podcast will be there for download for the next couple of weeks.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Apr 15 - 06:36 PM

City:
R: great news about the grandson!

An eventful weekend at our wee house! Now that most of the snow and ice are gone...
R was rather taken aback at first sight and I was stunned, "I told you it was a tatty little house!" He recovered and is embarking on making a silk purse out of the sow's ear. All I want is a roof over my head!

He worked on the water and made some progress - with many trips to dollar stores and the wonderful hardware store with helpful, knowledgeable staff. He also stopped at the wood stove store and embarked on getting the very good stove into good shape. De-cluttering the wallet... We are ripping out the closets to make the LR larger and taking out a wall to make two BRs into one. There IS a sleeping loft!!! but the hole in the ceiling is where K cupboards need to be and will be moved to the LR with an attractive ladder rather than the one he, actually, found in the woods!

Best of all, the brooklet about 30 feet north is rushing along from a large swamp/pond to the west. As R was looking at it - exploring - he heard ice cracking and a beaver popped its head out of the ice and gave him a good look from about 20 feet!! Then went off a bit and looked some more.

On a beautiful warm Sunday, I de-cluttered my car!!!!! What a great feeling! Then started taking the ugly paneling off the LR. Unloaded pottery into the "back room" - which was another good discovery; R had to cut off the padlock and it is better than we expected. About 8x8, it was a laundry room/store room. As a store room, it will serve us well. The two ramshackle sheds may be salvageable and useful. There is also a ramshackle outhouse - nice to have so one does not need to take muddy feet into house. May need some serious attention; Still out in the snow area, we did not take a hard look.

I am trying to plan a K with counters and cabinets we already have in storage. I just drew a plan for the K counters. Now to find cabinets amongst the amazing number we bought for $400 last year that will fit the available space. The high quality counters seem to be a perfect fit. Fridge available in one of R's buildings and the electric stove we are using at the mill, that came with a "free" K - it took 2 people most of a day to remove it! There is a potential conflict between me wanting it DONE and R wanting it done his way. But he is SO happy, excited, and having so much fun!

De-cluttering starts with prevention in the first place so I am trying to be VERY careful about what is going into this tiny house.

At the mill, dishes were washed this morning after R brought me buckets of water, geranium starts were potted, the tender hibiscus was cleaned of bugs by a gentle R with toothbrush; it is covered with buds! R carried it outside last night to enjoy a warm spring rain which cleaned the leaves nicely; we put it back in this am in case of cold; we could yet have freezing temps but for now we are enjoying spring. In the city, dishes are washed, laundry tomorrow, now time to make soup.

My weight continues to be stuck at 160 - and I really thought I was doing better! My aches come and go and I have to keep on top of the supplement intake. I can be totally trouble free and ten minutes later - literally - be 110 years old. Like playing Russian roulette. I get cocky and forget to keep the intake of minerals up.

Most exciting are the flowers coming back up in the flower bed at the mill!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Apr 15 - 05:43 PM

City:
Triaging stuff to go to the wee house; R brought a small microwave home this aft - new in box and just the one I was liking on kijiji. Did a laundry and went to get tires changed; they were too busy so tomorrow. Stopped at Re-Store but nothing useful - need windows for east and west walls of BR so we can look out at the lovely western hill as it greens and let the sun come in at the east end.

My priority is the K but R is intent of everything but! re-arranging the plumbing to make it less apt to freeze - a good priority but puts useless to my good K design. Trying to have propane for back up heat when electric goes out. He is enjoying this new project so much, I feel run over - but terrifically glad he is happy.

We hope to take fridge, stove and bed, and more in a small trailer this week, leaving early enough Friday to get there by bedtime, she says hopefully! The appliances will go where ever they can be plugged in but at least we can cook instead of eating in restaurants - as nice as that is, it sure de-clutters the wallet.

Small pot of soup already gone so another for tonight. Time to come up with a third type? A good lentil/carrot/curry would be nice. Hmmm...

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Apr 15 - 08:30 PM

City:
WOW! ordered supplements by phone - a nice woman I could understand. She helped re-instate my account so I can order on line. It has been months! Lost all the old orders so I shall have to use the paper ones as reminders.

Black beans cooking for soup; I'll add the left over tomato sauce and some salsa. Rice cooking to have on hand. Loaf of frozen bread not very successful - French toast, I think. At least it is out of the freezer. Tomorrow I will do the choclatines and get them out of freezer.

Tried again to do an iron on patch on a pair of work pants that "are comfortable for working". Hope it works this time. I shall let it sit a long time before I touch it!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Apr 15 - 10:42 PM

I'm taking tomorrow off to play catch-up in the house and the garden. 50% chance of thunderstorms so it's a toss-up if I work indoors or out, but I'm hoping for substantial time outside.

I have put a bit of pressure on myself to conquer some of household clutter - there are a couple of folks from work who are planning to stop by a new store in my neighborhood and I told them they should give me advance warning and I'll give them a tour of the yard and neighborhood. I ought to have the house looking somewhat presentable on general principles.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Apr 15 - 02:37 PM

City:
GREAT day! My brain is working; my body is working! Out of house by 7:30 to get tires switched. Doing laundry so everything is clean when we get back. Still triaging stuff for this trip to Ontario. Put folding rack in back yard - in the SUN! - for drying a quilt. Staked a small cedar that had a rough winter.

Observe that the carefully nurtured grass was almost totally decimated by last year's work on the upstairs - stuff getting thrown down and a couple piles of lumber - that I am not moving! No grass is a good plan. Whole lot of day lilies coming up - don't remember where they came from but they will be going to be moved here and there. Also a bunch of them and some crocus showing in the front yard.

Watered indoor plants profusely - a week's worth. Tried to order a shop vac and learned - 3 calls to customer service - what is and is not possible! Cannot use Lowes card to order from Quebec! But can use another card. Realized just in time that we will not be traveling that direction - to pick up at store. But I know what I want so - next trip. I am impressed by the quality of staff at Lowes - those whom I have experienced have made life so much easier!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Apr 15 - 04:31 PM

Jeremiah and I spent a few hours working in the yard and on the porch today...cleaning up winter debris, sweeping, etc. It's beginning to look good out there!

:) Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Apr 15 - 04:47 PM

I spent the last week updating things around the house. If I buy an item for updating then never do it, what was the point? New LED light bulbs replacing conventional, new fridge water filter in place, new containers for things, etc. This afternoon I put in the new RAM in this computer -- it took a couple of tries to get the pairing right (there were two pair of 2gb RAM before and now I have one pair of 8gb RAM). I have also been getting shipping items ready to go. I've left myself a couple of hours for yard work.

Today is first day of cold turkey stopping sugar. I have various things ready for snacks that are healthy, and my biggest hurdle will be to resist the chocolates they have at work (that has been my downfall, those bite-sized candies we've brought in and stored in a communal jar). I have a couple of places to go do tasks that need doing that will remove me from the proximity of the jar for a few days.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 16 Apr 15 - 05:53 PM

Stilly, have you read "Sugar Blues" by William Dufty? It came out in 1975 and I think I read it in the mid-'80s. He blames most of civilizations woes on sugar, saying that it's an extremely addicting drug and wreaks havoc on the human body. It IS addictive (if you cut back, so will your craving), but I don't see any real problem in moderation.

I DO avoid aspartame and all other chemical no or low calorie sweeteners (if the chemists who developed them won't ingest them, I'm certainly not going to) and avoid high fructose corn syrup as much as possible. (By avoiding processed foods as much as possible.)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Apr 15 - 06:30 PM

I think I have a copy of that book somewhere and I have read portions of it - I usually avoid regular (daily) sugar, but this last year and a half has been stressful at work and the chocolate has been liberally applied in our office as a topical treatment. :)

Aspartame is toxic and most of the other low calorie sweeteners turn out to have negatives. Stevia is the one I use now if I use any (in tea).

Michelle, I'm beginning to see some flat surfaces that are unencumbered by mail, newspapers, containers that need to be put away, etc. How about you?

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 16 Apr 15 - 09:43 PM

I seldom drink sodas but I like carbonation, so I drink seltzer, usually unflavored. If I want flavor, I squeeze a lime into it and sweeten it with stevia.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 17 Apr 15 - 08:09 AM

I'm buisilly cluttering at the moment.

Inside, I have 3 lights to change over to LightwaveRF for LED. I should be able to get the bits in a couple of weeks.   Outside, I have replaced the front halogen floods with LED and the back passage to the field/garden bulkhead with 3 small LED floods (I think after my father fell and hit his head there, clearer lighting became quite important).

Pip decided we needed a new burgalar alarm. Cables for the old one had been bitten through by rats. The roof space is more secure now but I've opted for a wireless Visonic one just in case - that plus it fits Pip's desire for something easy to arm home and away.

My room is an increasing collection of tools I've not put back in the shed as I'll be needing soon, old parts I've not decided whethether or not to keep, a couple of new bits waiting for other new bits and a few boxes.

The "declutter" phase which will include some re decoration will follow - maybe May/June.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 15 - 08:15 AM

"that plus it fits Pip's desire for something easy to arm home and away"

Oh and mine that it seems "hackable" - eg. see here

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 15 - 12:02 PM

Jon, it sounds like switching is more involved for you. Here the bulb end type are made to fit existing fixtures, but the cost has been such that I've paced myself. When I started the bulbs were in the $15 to $20 range each, now I can find them for $6 to $7 each. Over the last three or four years I have gradually shifted lighting from incandescent and small fluorescent to LED. I have one room left, then need to look at a couple of more closets. There are still fluorescent fixtures in the bathrooms and garage that will require removal and rewiring in new fixtures.

Day two of no sugar. There is an evening event at which I will stick to savory foods at the reception. I'm also making a point of following some of the ideas from the podcast I linked to earlier this week. I am allowing myself one glass of wine per day, but making sure it is with dinner, not after. I usually drop off to sleep very quickly but I have been getting to bed too late so not getting as many hours as I really need.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 17 Apr 15 - 04:54 PM

SRS. My problem indoors is that I'd fitted a range of home automation switches that are incompatible with LEDs. Standard on/off light switches are not a problem. I'm doing this one to "justify" my keep but I can only afford to do it bit at a time.

Outdoors was a new plan. I've improved the area covered by sensors at the front and as I said above made sure you can clearly see your way round the back. I've used daylight (say 6000K) floods outside. I don't think they are for everywhere but there are definately places (kitchen was another) where wee prefer them to the warmer lights.

Sugar. I've gone from 2 to 1 tsp in my tea/coffee. I might go for 1/2 tsp next.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 15 - 06:25 PM

I have a couple of rheostat switches I installed but they work with LEDs (though you should look for those labeled to be used that way).

I'm going to look into the link you put up for the home security system - I could stand to have a camera on the front corner of my house. We get our share of people prowling around and occasional home break-ins. Putting up a camera that is out of reach and with a wide-angle to catch the street and the driveway would be a deterrent.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 17 Apr 15 - 07:08 PM

SRS. The alarm I fitted doesn't do a camera itself.

We have toyed with putting a good quality security camera that you can pan and zoom at the front of the house but the main reason has more to do with viewing visiting wildlife. It may well be my project for next year.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 18 Apr 15 - 03:54 AM

And just to continue my rambling... In the longer term, I will probably write an Android app for the lights, burgalar alarm, etc. I did knock up a quick demo that uses the Android speech recognition API to respond to voice but that's as far as I got.

I've tried to open this web page up for a while. It may or may not work (need web sockets) but if it does, you should get a "real time" view of things swiching on/off, etc. at home. The "about page" gives some details.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 19 Apr 15 - 03:10 AM

SRS, a bit more on cameras.

I've just had a look at camera support for the alarm panel I fitted. It can be done via the PowerLink modules. Camera support for the V2 looks a bit limited (I didn't look for a V3 list of supported cameras) and at least parts of the system seem to be based around you been connected to a 3rd parties management system.

If I was to do more with cameras, I'd be likely to be using zoneminder

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Apr 15 - 12:40 PM

Thanks for the links, Jon!

I washed the car yesterday, to celebrate turning over 100,000 miles. Washing one's car is a way to call up bad weather, and it arrived with a flourish. And I received a call from my friend Susie's grandson just as it was descending - would I go let her dogs out and feed them? She was in the hospital overnight because she fell. She was fine, but not home. I fought my way up the hill and took care of the dogs, but what a horrid time to go out.

Today I'll make a run and while out I'll drop off a load of Goodwill stuff. I'm pretty sure the recycle bin is full so I'll wait on that, but I take my newspapers (minus the slick ads) to the Humane Society where they always need clean paper to go in cages.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,MAG from library
Date: 19 Apr 15 - 05:02 PM

yesterday got around to finding the odd lightbulb for a lamp which i broke 2 mo. ago while in recup from the knee surgery (emoticon)

speaking of which: one friend said in a rather insistent way that i really should give, say, a coffee shop coupon to all the people who helped me out while i was down --- it's a long list.

I did get some cards to send; what is the proper etiquette here? We are talki ng over $200 in $10 gift cards, and i'm already short from the surgery.

finally ripped out the decorative strawberries i put in last year; boy did they take over!

got 4 different heirloom tomatoes; i love 'em; they really do taste better, but take forever to ripen. this way they get a head start.

finally called in an electrician for several small-but-collectively-problematic repairs.

big flower box has red snapdragons, white stock, a few red sunflowers (which i have to cover; crows got the first few that sprouted), dark itis, ... well.

edible box has: rosemary and sage all the time; angelica, real strawberries, ... gee, not much else.   one new bed is just fill of kress that i didn't plant. last year's must have seeded it.

well!

if you have read this far, thanks ...

MAG

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 19 Apr 15 - 05:18 PM

I would send them a nice thank you note and as you have surplus vegetables passing them on. I think no one should expect a gift card and it seems rude to hint.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Apr 15 - 05:50 PM

I agree - a thank you card, and if they come by during the summer when you have the garden going full-tilt, offer some produce (there's usually extra anyway, in my experience!)

I'm part-way through my errands. I found a back road that cuts out a bunch of lights and road construction congestion to get to the Tractor Supply where I buy my dog food. Came back to the house to grab a quick bite and get some stuff I forgot to take with me on the first trip. I've brushed most of the oak tassels picked up in last night's storm off of the clean car, now I need to clear out the inside as well.

Cinnamon is doing well after yesterday's trip to vet for our first ever experience of a "hot spot." In order to keep her from scratching I've put a thrift-store mock-turtleneck shirt on her, cut the long sleeves short, and tied it in a knot at her waist. I had to put a shirt on Poppy a couple of years ago when she had a stitched gash in her side, and all of them seem to understand that the shirt on a dog isn't a toy, it is to be left alone.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Apr 15 - 11:00 PM

The front yard got mowed this evening, and I made a pan of the taco mix that I use for various meals during the week. The kitchen needs some tidying. . .

It's time for another eBay push. Garage sale stuff this time. The sun room is filling up.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Apr 15 - 10:29 AM

Jeremiah and I spent some time in our front yard recently. We picked up some wind blown trash, collected random toys from the yard and made a parking lot for them....to be used whenever he is finished playing outside in the future and just some general clean up. On Saturday, I did some heavy duty cleaning in the bathroom including scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees and a bunch of laundry. Yesterday I went through a mountain of paperwork...tossed a lot, organized the rest into an easy to use, streamlined system. I'm hoping this will work for us. It took me several hours to get it all in order but wow...what a difference! Today I am puttering and am going to go through my CD's and get them organized a bit more (NO...not by alphabetical order or type of music or artist....at least not yet). I have a CD rack that is overflowing and the top has piles and piles of CDs on top....I want to dust them off and get them in some type of order and the top of the CD rack to be empty. My goal is to have more empty surfaces.


I'm feeling a bit more energetic these days..may be the warmer temperatures and sunshine (although those are both missing today).

Love to all.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Apr 15 - 12:24 PM

I just handed two boxes over to my postal carrier. This was dried organic oregano, basil, and mint for a friend in NYC and as many tablets as I could fit into a heavy-duty shipping box sent to Susan. The rest of the tablets from that box will go into the Goodwill bin and I can retire this box for storage somewhere else. More floor space clear in my office. I need to harvest a bunch of oregano this week so the supply will grow quickly again.

Another load of laundry has finished - my poor injured pooch is doing okay but I'm keeping the shirt on her most of the time to keep her from scratching her infection. She is healing, but it means extra laundry for a couple of more days at least.

I took today off for keeping an eye on the dog, working in the garden, and clearing out the sunroom. In that order. Which means the sun room may still not get a lot of attention. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Apr 15 - 02:05 PM

Detour through the kitchen - I had a defrosted chicken breast I needed to use so while it cooked for lunch (and leftovers - chicken breasts are huge these days) I finished cleaning the kitchen. There are flat surfaces that are EMPTY!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Apr 15 - 07:03 PM

Little house:
Need a name for it!
SRS: "hot spot"? skin/hair problems in dogs are often healed with vitamin A. One dog of mine had dreadful cysts and were totally healed with A. Might be worth a try.

We are de-cluttering: old carpets- two layers! dragged in to the back yard or, today to the way back shed. We had two glorious days but today is cold and rainy. Fire in the wood stove with scrap wood from along the road. Sat night we went to a fund raising dinner for Maynooth Madness, fun meal with a table full of good people and R won a bottle of maple syrup!!

I spent most of yesterday with a special vibrating tool taking the pieces of vinyl tile off the K floor; looks much better but a bit sticky. I was so tired and achy that I was not sure I would be able to move today; we went to the Halibut for the comfort of fish and chips and our wonderful friends there: Saidie the potter/waitress and her husband Toonla who came in to help close up and gave R advice re water and the owner Diane - hugs all around! I went to bed before 8! AND do not ache today!!!

This am at the art gallery volunteers meeting, someone asked about the Clay Play trailer. Excitement was expressed generally and I said it would come in warmer weather and I was hoping someone would paint fun pictures on it. Great interest! I am thinking about the need for a vehicle that will pull it comfortably. This is NOT de-cluttering!

We are finding the house has sunk a bit at one corner and I have a call in to someone to find out what is possible in the way of lifting it. The joists are very close to the ground! And the sill is doubtless rotting. A beam across the ceiling was cut at some point and definitely should not have been! A post will be installed after we ascertain that there is something below the floor for it to rest upon!

The loft is a wonderful thing. It will get some attention - maybe next year. In the meantime, it is suitable for summer sleeping for our camping type friends.

After several days of efforts, there is still no running water; consensus is that it is frozen under the house. So we wait. R wants to re-arrange the plumbing???? So it is all in one area and easier to keep from freezing. And we have a small elec wall heater for the bathroom where there is basically no heat. I think he is making a great deal of work for himself but he is like a dog with a bone; he wants to do it his way.

Today we checked out propane heaters - will stick to the crummy looking one we have! Need to get a tank and do some work on chimney. Good info from the plumbing/heating company this am. Also picked up key for mailbox - we need to remember to stop and look in it! There might even be mail!

We, mostly R, have been removing the closets to give the LR 2 feet more width and, hopefully, he will remove the wall between the two "BRs" tomorrow while I am at the art gallery. This will give us one small BR. The dust will have a chance to settle before the next trip.

In the meantime, the 900 pounds of floating flooring, delivered Saturday at 7:30 am!, will have to be brought indoors.

This project has certainly not de-cluttered our lives for the now but one can hope we will get it together so we can sit on the deck - in a screen tent! - and enjoy the beaver in the back yard and the mini stream in the side yard and the general peace and quiet of waking to the sun on the trees as they change colours. Currently we are watching for green!

It does get us out of the dirty city!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Apr 15 - 12:12 PM

Dorothy, I don't suppose you had this gem of a house inspected? It does sound like there is a very good reason why it was inexpensive. All of the stuff the previous owner knew that you're now finding out. But it does sound like it has potential.

Slow progress in the garden, but another batch of stuff was planted yesterday. And I finally emptied my wheelbarrow. It was full of compost when the rain hit last week and successive storms re-filled it after I bailed out some of the water. I suppose that is an informal way of making compost tea.

It seems like this is going to be a long week.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 15 - 10:22 AM

Looks like today is a day to make sure everything that is outside in the garden is fastened down or heavy enough it won't blow away. Thunderstorms are predicted and they WILL declutter your yard of buckets, black plastic pots (the ones plants come in - they're useful for other things), and trash cans (or at least the lids).

I saw an interesting add, via a subscription to CNet, about a kit to set up a home automation security system. I wouldn't mind having a light set up so I could turn it on with my phone if I realize I'm going to be getting home after dark, but I don't have a basement (where the water sensor is best suited). A motion sensor and a door sensor - they would serve as an alternative to a paid alarm system, but you'd have to do a lot of tweaks on your own to use with pets in the house, is my guess (versus having the company do all of that tweaking). Anyway, it is a wireless setup for the house to do on your own. This doesn't include a camera, but with a hub, perhaps it could be an add-on. Pulling up the house camera image to check on your phone, that would be useful. www.cnet.com/news/get-an-insteon-home-automation-starter-kit-for-99-99/.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Apr 15 - 05:28 PM

Thanks SRS, I'll put those to work at Ohio antiracism workshops.

In Ohio I'm very short on data and wifi so have not been posting much. This trip was shortened at the front end when the beloved van died the day of planned departure. Goodbye old Boondocker. It almost made it to 200,000 miles on one engine. Now we have a reclinerless smaller vehicle with a doggie hatch-den for Faulkner where he won't be able to see traffic whiz by.

Must say this house is excellently organized. On this trip, no brain fog. I did pick up a little bug and lost a day of keeping everything tidy but a quick hour took care of what felt like it would be impossible.

One of the reasons for extreme order here is that fam use the house when we're not, so straightforward storage and a little FAQbook for guests sets a clear standard. I'll also bring the better double bed down here to comfy-up the guest room. Back in PA, I'll BOLO a cheap pair of twin beds-- I have a source for bugless used bedding.

At the summer vacay visit, we will take the popup camper out of garage storage and regain half of the 2-car garage. Heaven!!! Room to park one car PLUS storage.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Apr 15 - 08:52 PM

City:
SRS! This house was affordable! I determined that whatever was wrong could be dealt with and it will be. We did have a consult yesterday re the fact that it is TOO close to the earth. Hans told us not to spend any money on it until we cut a hole in the floor and take a look underneath. Also, I walked around the outside - which was covered by two feet of snow earlier - and determined that idiots have piled dirt up against all exposed wood at the ground level, cutting off the ability to breathe, and creating a rot situation.

We are waiting for the thaw and expect that will allow water to run. I, or someone, will dig soil away from the perimeter of house. R will cut hole in floor to inspect lower regions. But, the bottom line is: the house was cheap enough that we will be content to get a few years out of it before it becomes one with the earth. AND, if we outlive it, we still have the option of demolition and rebuilding a house on same footprint which would not be possible with today's by-laws. We love our tiny stream and beaver pond.

We are undaunted. Our only regret being the need to come back to the city for R's work. I feel so much better up there, can breathe clean air - and de-clutter my lungs! R can de-clutter his mind and even ignores the phone for periods of several hours.

The carpets are gone, the closets are gone. The LR is roomy, the paneling is gone from the dividing wall between BRs but we have left the studs to support the loft until we ascertain more about the construction. The wood stove works well.

Today, on the way back, we bought a door to replace the back door - almost all (thermo-pane) window so we can see the pond and maybe even the beaver. And two large (yard square) Pella crank open windows for the ends of the BR so we can see the hill and the sun in the am. Total cost, including a nice K sink faucet - $140, at a demolition yard.

It is de-cluttering our bank account but I expected that. It seems we both rather like the challenge of making something out of nothing, creatively. The work is play for R. He is enjoying himself; it is therapy! We delight is each step forward, and in problem solving. The fact that I lived off the grid for almost 15 years, in rustic conditions, is useful.

Last eve, having gotten a late start back, we stopped for a meal and ended up waiting over an hour due to a screw up in the kitchen! (They only charged us $5 and it was an excellent meal when we finally got it!) I suggested - after 9 pm with over 3 hours yet to drive, that stopping in a motel close to this demolition company might be better than R falling asleep - and having to nap in the truck somewhere! So we enjoyed a night of comfort in a non-toxic room - baths, hot water, hot BF and our expedition to demolition. I even got a curtain rod I needed - free!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 15 - 10:47 PM

I understand, Dorothy. I love refurbishing houses, though haven't had much opportunity. This one was built fairly recently, in 1976, but hadn't been updated at all when I bought it in 2002. I did a great deal of the work inside and had a contractor level the garage floor and build rooms in what was the old garage, and build a new separate garage in the back yard. I did the painting and several hundreds of square feet of floor tile. I also tiled the bathroom tub surrounds with lovely Mexican tiles. There is more to do, and I need to remember to build in those projects each month. By now I'm so used to looking at the wall that needs painting that I no longer see it. :)

It also sounds like a prudent stop at a motel - sleeping in the vehicle for more than a power nap is downright uncomfortable if it isn't equipped with beds.

Cinnamon is cycling through the "hot spot" that hit her last Friday; I have to pick up more of the medicated spray because they didn't have the larger bottle when I was in last week. Knock wood - she seems to be leaving it alone, not scratching the area. I'm also low on peanut butter. One simply doesn't give one dog her pill in peanut butter twice a day and not give a teaspoon of it to each of the other dogs. One kid gets a treat, they all get a treat.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 23 Apr 15 - 07:58 AM

On hot water, etc. Central heating has been missing at home for a nearly 2 weeks. The part I think I need (3 port valve motorised valve is the most likely cause) came in the post today. I got the whole assembly but I'm hoping it's just the actuator that needs replacing. I'll find out when I take the top off. If the valve itself is sticking, I feel inclined to ask Pip to get a plumber in. To change it involves draining the system and (at least when I do that), hours of trying to get rid of air locks afterwards.

I've moved the new burgalar alarm panel into the attic and fitted a remote keypad (another delayed order btw. and when it did arrive, they managed to ship it twice - I might have spotted it at the time, 2 separate packages, but UPS for reasons only known to themselves decided to just plonk the boxes at the gate! - so one keypad to return...). much neater. Next bit will be to install the outside siren. I didn't want to do that until things had settled.

--
Pets. I think every cat and dog we've had has been capable of feeling left out - I think you've got to be seen as treating them equally! At least when reasonable - I remember Meg (a border collie we once had) gobbling up potato peelings as she didn't like the hens getting them (I can't believe she actually liked them herself)...

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 23 Apr 15 - 07:54 PM

Finally hauled the e-waste that has been sitting in the corner off to Best Buy for recycling. Yay! Took two bags of regular recycling and the falling apart plastic clothes hamper to the recycling trailer at the end of the road, have more to go, though.

In other news, my not inexpensive but very cheaply-made futon frame is falling apart yet again (the back this time as opposed to the bench). I'm not going to bother trying to reason with the company I bought it from this time, the last interaction was a horror show and it took my threatening them with the Better Business Bureau for them to do anything. I think I may be able to jury-rig a repair until I can afford a better quality frame, but that will have to come after a newer car. I could have bought one this month, but I am choosing to go to my nephew in Kentucky's high school graduation instead. I can sleep on the mattress on the floor for now, Austin Michael will only graduate from high school once.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Apr 15 - 09:39 PM

City:
I still wake up feeling good in the am and view it as a mini miracle after the two years I have been through. Still watching the mineral/MSM/glucosamine intake but needing fewer each day.

Today was one load laundry, dishes, groceries, and income tax - about 3 hours of eating brownies! It is ready to copy, write cheques and mail. No, not on the computer! Maybe next year. Emails deleted, long talk with s-in-l, looked through Kijiji for a small, CHEAP, truck to pull Clay Play trailer. Lengthy response to the minutes of Monday's meeting and a couple positive comments returned already!

Now for supper as R just arrived home.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Apr 15 - 09:47 PM

Too bad you're not anywhere near here, Tami, or the solid futon I had would be yours. It took up a lot of space, though.

This week has been busy and hectic. Nothing productive happening lately, but I have hopes for the weekend. I will make a trip over to the village recycle bins on Friday morning to unload my recycling before they fill up over the weekend.

My neighbor just called; her computer has died. It was a nice all-in-one, but the problem with those is that they're hard to fix. I suspect it needs a power supply, so I'll look it up and see what I can find out. I'd hate to toss it before trying to give it a new lease on life. For as much as she uses her computer, she could probably get away with a tablet these days.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 23 Apr 15 - 10:18 PM

I'm pretty sure I can do a long-term fix on the futon frame. Bought a piece of metal the same width as the broken piece. I'll cut it to size, borrow a decent drill, buy some heavy-duty bits and some wood screws, squirt glue in the cracks and clamp it, then drill some pilot holes in strategic spots and attach the piece of metal. And as an added measure, I'll use some zip ties for added strength.

I have my eye on a solid maple frame made here in Maine, just need to save up for it.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Apr 15 - 11:45 PM

I'm not sure how all of that will be sandwiched together, but it occurs to me that carriage bolts might save you some of that effort. They come in various lengths and you can buy a washer or two to use on the bolt to stabilize it. They also make some that are able to sink into wood to stabilize the head of the bolt.

Long bolts, washers, and nuts

This includes the "D" shaped one

They can have different amounts of threading on the bolts

The main thing is that you choose a length so the end of the thing isn't a place where you'll bang into it.

This may be old news, but every so often I have some project or other that isn't coming together and then I realize a bolt going all of the way through is the answer. That's how I assembled the potting table thing beside my kitchen door and another table on my back patio. I've posted photos of those before so I won't dig any out now. I put together my work bench in the garage with them, and I repaired an outdoor small table (made like a picnic table but only about 18" high and it's 24" square).

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 24 Apr 15 - 06:42 AM

Bolts won't work. Already discarded that idea a couple of days ago. I was my dad's handyman's helper from the time I could toddle after him, so I'm pretty savvy when it comes to fixing things, probably why I'm the maintenance ranger at the park :)

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Apr 15 - 08:40 AM

Sounds like you have it well in hand, Tami!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Apr 15 - 10:31 AM

Ugg! A rainy Friday, meaning that the yard will be sodden for work this weekend, but some of this just isn't going to wait any longer. This morning I'll let the rain slow and take my recycling out of here.

Good luck with the furniture repair, Tami.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 24 Apr 15 - 06:19 PM

Mill:

Stopped on way for good hazelnut bread - two loaves! We use so little bread, I keep it in Freezer so there is one for here and one for city. Stopped to fill tank as gas is much cheaper down here. Stopped at the car mechanic and ascertained thaework he had suggested I do on the car was cosmetic; I am not doing cosmetics on a ten year old car no mater how good it runs!

Picked up supplements at the post office, nice healthy lunch then the whole afternoon with pottery student. I managed to throw 4 mid sized bowls in a clay I have not used in about 20 years and decorae them as I usd to do, I hope. It took finding a recipe and a potter friend supplying the correct - obsolete - ingredient! It was necessary to use the wheel by foot as the switch on the motor is still not repaired. That's why I stopped at 4, lest I wear out the right leg! Good exercise though. And I am happy to have renewed this track in my life.

Cold and dreary day. Quite unpleasant, actually! Tomorrow may be sunny. I have organic potatoes which sprouted before we opened them which I plan to plant here tomorrow. Hope!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 15 - 10:50 AM

Horrid drive home through a thunderstorm last night, but the house and yard seem to be been spared damage, despite the tornado warning on the radio around 6:30 that named my tiny village as the area on the map where there might be cyclone activity.

The yard is now lovely (it's sunny and warm) and totally sodden so there won't be much work, but I have a couple of things I'm going to try in the vegetable garden this afternoon.

Yesterday I was looking at the "Today's Deals" on Amazon and found a Netgear switch that will work to finish wiring the data ports around the house. My router can hard wire to four rooms, but this will allow me to add six more outlets, including two areas in the living room (where the BluRay player runs on one side and a data port for visitors with computers is on the other). Most things run wirelessly now, but since I have Cat-6 running to rooms with phone plugs on the end I'm going to rewire those for data ports. I am doing this to finish a job I started a number of years ago, rewiring the house for phone and cable and data. I stopped on phone a while back when I cut that cord, cable isn't needed for the same reason, but data conceivably is still useful. I may finish the cable because that coaxial can run from the antenna on the roof to any room for any HD receivers in place.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Apr 15 - 02:10 PM

Note to self--

Leaving OH freezer unusually well stocked:
Two strip steaks
Package of liver
Whole pkg of burgers
Frozen veg
Hummus/pilaf from Yaffa
Skyline chili
Cheese curds
Donna Jean's GF maccaroons and kisses
Mystery soup
Portia's garlicky chicken soup
Alky ice pack
Oat, chix, porx stew w squash
Butter
Dave's bleu cheese dressing
Jaclyn's heluva good onion garlic dip

No egg beaters or frozen chicken-- bring.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 15 - 02:15 PM

Your box should have arrived yesterday, Susan. I got emails from the USPS from an alert I set up. I hope it wasn't like the boxes I found on my porch yesterday, way back against the wall but still quite moist from a heavy wind/rain storm. That was a first for me.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Apr 15 - 04:28 PM

It just arrived and luckily I had delayed my departure a few days for a number of reasons. The mail carrier plunked it into a puddle instead of putting it behind the newly reinstalled storm door. I heard the loud thump and got it unpacked before it all got soaked, and set the damp-edged lot by the heat register, still loosely stacked to keep them all flat. They will be used well. The slick white will make nice Camp signage in the guest areas as soon as I can get the printer here working, next trip.

Packlist for next visit--
Lemon juice
Printer cable
Double bed and duvet, sheets etc and rugs in Sailboats
Painted tiny-table (mottos)
Superglue
Glue gun and sticks
Long brown shelf and base shelves
Mom's indian art
Pink office rug?

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 25 Apr 15 - 05:27 PM

SRS, on cables, etc.

We just have the phone line coming in to my room. I cut the extension out and removed the bell wire when we moved to broadband some years ago. DECT phones work fine here and there is a phone in 5 rooms.


TV aerial cable splits 3 ways in the roof. They go to my room, the study and the living room. There is a further split in the living room tv and a network dvb tuner (hdhomerun dual dvb-t tuner). I added satellite last year.

The main run on our wired network uses a pair of cat5E/6 (I can't remember which) cables (main reaon was I run the cable outside and wanted some redundancy although it also gives more bandwidth) and link aggregation. It runs from a switch in my room to a switch in the study and from there to a switch in the living room. I use VLANs so our own and our guest subnets use the same cables. There is wireless in the living room and my room mostly for mobile devices in those areas.

If you'd lived in the UK, I could have let you have a 16 port smart switch for your network. I bought this TP-Link one but then decided it didn't really fit with my plans.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 15 - 06:50 PM

Jon, I was looking at the various types of switches and decided 8 was plenty, and I looked at some of the TP-Link models, weighing the features, cost, etc. There are five places where the data ports can be installed (in addition to where the four I have now), and I wanted a little extra capacity in case I add something more, so the switch I got will do that. I had a 66-block in place to run the phone lines because a friend had it and said it would be easy to use. It was, but it was big and clunky so I picked up a smaller switch that I used for a while until I recently took it down to move the shelf and everything in the hall cupboard where all of this lives. All of these wires run up through the closet ceiling into the attic and is a "star" pattern (versus a "home run" circular arrangement that old phone installations used to favor).

I have a couple of amplified antennas on the roof, serving three different rooms right now. One to the computer (that has a receiver so I use it like a DVR), one to the living room, and one to the kitchen. The coaxial cable that runs from the big antenna used to run from the satellite dish when I was paying for that service. I got rid of them, took the dish off of the arm supporting it from my chimney, and ran the same cables from the new omni-directional antenna.

This afternoon I started an experiment, using boiling water with some white vinegar added for extra killing power to use on weeds in the garden. I can't find 10% acidity pickling vinegar for a reasonable price (it can be found, but in feed stores at 3 to 4 times the supermarket price when supermarkets used to carry this stuff). So I'm shifting from straight vinegar to hot water with some vinegar. Hot water might be enough, but this is the way I'm trying it now. I'm also thinking about trying out a steam cleaner, simply hosing down the weeds with steam. This is an experiment, as I said, only conducted in one part of the yard for now.

Susan, you'd think that the postal folks would know better than to set parcels in puddles. I may have to put a raised bin of some sort on the porch that isn't in view from the street but that is clearly marked for packages.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Apr 15 - 08:11 PM

SRS, yes, when I allocated our dear late friend Edith's hand painted metal wastebasket-- that had once been the kind we all saw growing up next go Teacher's desk-- you'd think since it's under the eaves and dry, right at the base of the mailbox..... but this neighborhood has a different mail carrier about every two weeks-- I finally quit thinking a friendly chat with Speedy Delivery would bring sanity. I use the painted-green trash can with its giant red ladybug to toss all the stuff directed to the last 5 residents, some of whom I know had forwarding orders that were never followed.....

When I can I'll replace the original 1950s small mailbox-- there are hundreds of homes in this 'hood with exactly the same post and box-- with a big, rural-route type mailbox. If I work it right I can just swap the OH and PA boxes-- cuz we bought the one in PA! ;-) That's what I did with the hand-held showers!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Apr 15 - 10:20 PM

SRS,   I'm glad the tornado didn't touch down in your neighborhood! Scary stuff!

Today was opening day for the Little League season and Jeremiah is playing T-Ball this year! There was the parade of teams, the ceremonial opening, team photos, a chicken bbq lunch and then his first game! It was a long, busy day but so much fun!

I have been working on some lists myself. I am going to a quilting retreat so I spent some time today going through my patterns trying to decide exactly what I want to take to work on. For my birthday, my mom gave me a gift certificate to a fabric shop about 2 hours south of here (my all time favorite quilt shop) and we will be going there on Monday so I really do need to get my fabric needs list in order. Also, all the gear that is to go along. It's always a really fun time but we have to take SO MUCH STUFF! :) I think making the list and gathering the items is half the fun!

I am also working on some recipe lists/coordinating grocery lists to make some things that freeze well for the upcoming game days so I can just unthaw and throw in the oven. Crock pot ideas are flowing too.

My boys are sleeping and I am up doing laundry. Tomorrow I am working at a quilt show so I should be off to bed soon too.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 15 - 12:26 AM

My new large jug of laundry detergent took a header off of the laundry room shelf today. I heard the thump and got there quick enough that not much spilled out. It was on a low shelf but was still a mess to clean up. The laundry is finished and put away, and there is a throw rug on the laundry room floor to pick up any soap left behind (that is probably slippery otherwise).

I cleared up the potted plant area by the side door, moved pots and pulled weeds. It's too soon to put the cushions on the bench out there, but not too soon to make it look pretty for the season.

I cut and flattened a bunch of boxes in the sun room and have a collection of things to list on eBay. Filing of papers is finished, and ready for tomorrow, I have another set of job application forms to prepare. One of these days . . .

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 15 - 02:17 PM

The water with some vinegar didn't do much. I tried a strong mix (12/ and 1/2) on the back patio and it worked well. I'll find a source of inexpensive white vinegar (I bought 2 gallons for $2 or $3 somewhere but have to remember where that was) and try again with a stronger mix.

I looked at the model of computer my next door neighbor owns, and have researched recalls, forums talking about problems - it looks like these aren't difficult to take apart but the spare parts aren't easily found, and waiting on mail order just to see if something works means this will take forever to fix. I'll take my laptop over later and show her the options (since she can't view them on her computer). She's almost a candidate for a tablet and keyboard instead of a desktop computer.

Before doing more on her computer I told her I had to mow the front lawn, so that is finished, and I spent a few minutes digging in the garden (gumbo after the rain on Friday night) and put a couple of bedding plants in place. It's threatening to rain again. I dug up a few asparagus starts and will transplant them to the front bed later.

Winter sweaters and sweatshirts are put away for the season and I organized my work blouses/t-shirts by color. Rugs in the wash (including a large dustmop head that soaked up a lot of the laundry soap yesterday, so nothing extra was added to this batch).

The Netgear switch arrived today via USPS - one of those Amazon Prime Sunday delivery things, so I can put it up on the wall later this evening and plug in all of the lines that are inactive right now. It's like an old-fashioned telephone switchboard in my closet - if someone needs a dataport in a room that is disconnected I unplug one not in use and switch out the port. Now they'll all be up and running. Upgrading my house system for $22.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Apr 15 - 08:36 PM

Mill:
SRS: Thinking of you as I looked at the manual for the new TV - first ever - that R brought home (in the city. Have no idea how to get it to work. We are not getting cable or satellite so it has to be just plain. I will try again when I get back to the city.

I understood 15% vinegar is necessary for weeds. I had bought some on whidbey at a nursery but I do not remember using it!

I hear critters in the attic - right now! Probably raccoons. Darn!

I was going to go back to the city tonight but decided to stay. Student Ann is coming Tuesday am so I would need to come back tomorrow night.... Hope to get pots made tomorrow. And finish up some paper work - taxes and more. Maybe more sorting. Tuesday should be worm enough for outdoor work after Ann leaves. Maybe I can look for cabinets as well. YAY!!

Yesterday was a birthday for Rob: we had a nice BF, he repaired the switch on my wheel so I don't have to wear out my leg, we went to the country music event where we had goodies for lunch and I sang "my song" (the Frozen Logger - the only one to which I know all the words! Then found Geri and we went to supper then back here for choc mousse cake, Then I designed a K for the wee house - using the counters we have and hoping to find the right cabinets amongst the collection in storage here. We went over it together and R approved! He was researching mound septic systems - getting nervous palpitations as they seem to be complicated. About midnight we agreed that we would go to composting or incinolet toilet if our septic should fail. And a grey water system.

Today we de-cluttered in advance by not going to the auction! I tended to emails while R read. I also changed the sheets. I continually triage things to go to new house and to the city. Refilled supplements for next couple weeks.

The window manufacturing business is finally getting organized in the front end of the building and the wife stopped in to borrow sewing scissors. We agreed she would return them to exactly the same spot - and she did so. I was hoping to take her to meet Geri but - another time. They will be moving down to the area so I talked with her about that and gave her a local map. Also gave her tour of studio. She is an artist - paints nice pics.

A friend dropped by to wish R a happy B-day and we gave her a tour of the whole place. She helped R load a very heavy window and they left. I washed the dishes, heating water in the microwave as they had brought me two buckets of cold! Then went to supper with a few friends.

Scotch mist and due for some rain tonight and tomorrow. Not very energizing.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Apr 15 - 08:41 PM

Just researched the fertilizer we got at an auction - job lot - last year. It is, imo, hazardous waste with 2-4 D in it so it will be disposed of - ASAP - appropriately!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 15 - 10:39 PM

Dorothy, 10% vinegar is the optimum strength - any higher percentage isn't any more effective. I'm going to try a mix of 1/2 and 1/2 boiling water and vinegar, that's about what I poured on the bricks last week and it did a great job on the weeds between the cracks.

We ran over to the big box store and picked up a replacement hard drive for my neighbor's computer, but that wasn't the problem. This computer doesn't have a typical power supply, it is in an integrated part of the machine that is small and I don't want to start unpacking. The fan and heat sink are separate from the power in this one. We'll see about getting her a new computer during the week - much time spent trying to repair this one is going to cost as much as a new desktop (which is what she wants to go back to now). She has 15 days to return the hard drive and we asked, no restocking fee.

I have some ironing to do, and some eBay. I cleared enough space in the sun room to start working on some of the smaller offerings, and as they're photographed and packed for shipping, I will have more room for larger items.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Apr 15 - 06:36 AM

SRS. I've found TP Link to be pretty good value for money.

As for ports, I seem to use a few. At a rough count, I make it 5 "fixed" (I sometimes plug other bits in) in my room, 9 in the study and 9 in the living room.

I had 2 Rapsberry Pis in the study for a couple of weeks but got round to moving everything onto the newer one (a Pi 2) on Sunday. The old one had been doing some home automation bits and I got the new one to try to share our Epson Perfection v330 USB scanner. I'm sure I'll find a use for the old Pi...

I opted just to use the Pi to share the USB port. I'm using virtual here The scanner server (saned) runs on the always on server PC in the living room which (although it already does other things like Cups printer sharing and tv recordings, etc.) has plenty of spare capacity and runs on "idle" most of the while. The other PCs and Androids connect to the scanner server.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 15 - 03:42 PM

Jon, this might be of interest to you. A "go pro" style camera powered by Raspbery Pi.

Filing, cleaning, photography. Nice day around the house. More heavy weather on the western horizon, moving this way. I've started on the eBay stuff.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Apr 15 - 03:52 PM

Thanks, SRS. I don't think I'd manage that one even if I had a 3D printer but the article was of interest to me.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Apr 15 - 05:08 PM

Mill:
A sudden rush of blood to the head and I spent the entire morning working toward organizing the LR = dragged out the tilting bookcase and dragged in a large and better looking one, removed winter stuff, triaged stuff to leave permanently, stuff to go to city, stuff to go to Ontario and carried in four boxes from the auction 18 months ago and sorted into go, stay boxes. It does not look a great deal better but I KNOW it is! I found a nice tool carrier - with some tools - that I am claiming for my use at "beaver". I did make a oasis of pretty on the bureau and the top of the bookcase is nicely uncluttered. There is a small bookcase I may drag in later for below the window wall. One can never have enough bookcases.

Grateful for this energy!! Then went to lunch with Geri and good conversation. Came back and did a bit more. Now I am here and later ... well, who knows! I'll pot tomorrow when student is here and energizes me - the pots I did the other day will be good to show her my trimming method; glad I did not yet do them.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 15 - 11:39 PM

This evening I pulled out the various spare fittings I have for my house data wiring. I need a few more of the data plugs to replace the phone jacks (they fit in the same slots in the faceplates), and I'll pick some up tomorrow then plan to finish pulling a few more wires next weekend so the job is complete before the attic is too hot to work in.

Mostly I've binged on YouTube videos of various Smothers Brothers performances.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,MikeL2
Date: 28 Apr 15 - 10:59 AM

Hi

I am new to this thread.

My wife and I don't throw many things away and of course we really should get a grip.

So we have decided to try to get rid of some of our accumulated clutter.

Despite changes to our ago and shape we still have loads of stuff that is out of date or just won't fit any more. Lots of it is virtually unworn.

So where to start ???

I decided to tidy up my sock drawer. ( "from little acorns mighty oak trees grow").

So far I have removed nearly 60 pairs of old socks or ones that I don't like.

Tomorrow I start on greater things. My trousers and shirts are next.

Phew!!!

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 28 Apr 15 - 11:21 AM

60 pairs of socks! I struggle to find one pair. If I put 4 pairs for the wash, I'd probably wind up getting 2 pairs of odd socks back.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,#
Date: 28 Apr 15 - 11:29 AM

Bingo. MikeL2, send your socks to Jon.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Apr 15 - 01:07 PM

I must have done something right in Ohio with the limited Biscuit-dog training time I had, because right now I have old Faulkner-dog relaxedly guarding the room I don't want Biscuit in, and she's alseep on my feet as I type in a corner I am happy for her to occupy. No dog got yelled at in the making o this scene.

Hardi and I unloaded the cargo trailer yesterday, and my dog-running scooter is now back from Ohio, on our front porch, in time for warm weather dog-xercise.

Last night, only the truly-essential bags came in and were addressed this AM. Some key items found and restored to their usual place. Some not found-- so I went out to the porch where unloaded stuff went, to look thru the rest. More items were unboxed and delivered up-ramp by setting them up onto the handrail that leads to the front door. Some of those are already in and unpacked.

While I was on the porch, tho, I consolidated some boxes that had been gathering dust over the winter. Space is clear now up in the attic (former MudDorm) for all that cardboard, to pull from as needed for further packing. (Some nice big boxes, and I know where to get book boxes any time.)

I found the MP3 player data cord, but I'm still looking for the phone charger cord. Hardi has one on the DR I can charge on anytime, and it's OK to be less fone-wedded til mine turns up.

In Ohio I went for hours with no fone at my side. Where I LOVE having it handy is when I'm reading, for side trips looking up cool stuff I come across as I read.

Also not found is the external had drive I found in Ohio and thought I'd set out to come back to PA. May find it yet!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 15 - 01:33 PM

MikeL2, you found an excellent place to start. After sending a few socks to Jon, put the rest of the pairs into a bag and drop it off at the Goodwill or Salvation Army or whatever your local thrift/charity shop is called. Here if you have a lot of stuff for the shop you can arrange to have them send a truck by to pick things up, but that means you keep all of that in the house until you have enough for the truck.

My neighbor met me at Fry's Electronics this morning and we looked at the variety of computers. She likes Win7 but was not unwilling to shift to Win8.1. She saw that her best bet this time is probably a laptop and left with a lovely touch screen 8.1 Asus for just under $600. It's more computer than she'll ever use, but it will do everything she wants. In a couple of days I'll have time to get it set up for her, and she'll be good to go. She said she's been without a computer for 3 weeks and won't die waiting for a couple of more days. I told her I'd have to address it the next day, I am clearly an addict. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 09:10 AM

My husband came home early last night. His building was evacuated after a bomb was found in the building beside his. It is the second time in 2 weeks that a bomb has been found on campus.


It's just another very strong reminder about what is important in my life....it's my family and friends. All this clutter and stuff means just about nothing. It sure makes it much easier to get rid of things when your priorities are loud and clear.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,MikeL2
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 10:42 AM

Hi

I wouldn't want to send any of my old socks to friends. lol

Most of them either don't match or had large holes. ( My wife gave up darning socks many years ago ...thought does anyone darn socks these days??

When we get round to throwing out socks and we will distribute them to a suitable Charity as they are all in very good condition....some not even worn !!

Next though is one of my two sheds, but this time I will not throw out stuff from one shed only to put into the other....true..!!!

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 11:05 AM

I don't think we've managed that with sheds but we can fill them.

We used an old caravan that was here when we came as extra storage for a while. It was replaced a couple of years ago by new 12' x 8' shed. I fitted twin slot shelving at both ends with one end to take some largish (60l?) plastic storage boxes. For a while we seemed to have more space and things more accessible but come this Christmas, you had to pick your way through bits on the floor to get to the shelves.

Pip has since had a big clearout and you can access the shelves easily again but even without the obvious clutter, we seem to keep expanding. I've told Pip that if it keeps up, the next thing I'll have to do is put shelving up in thier bedroom, above the beds. I did that in my room about 3 years ago and am quite happy with it but she doesn't like the idea for their room.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 11:11 AM

Until people are ready to give up stuff, it is an insult to take it away or exert authority in the management of it. Maybe simply setting a good example will make a big difference.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 11:19 AM

Goodwill uses ALL fabric, I learned recently. Stuff that ought not sell is used to pack unsold other goods for shipment to other countries, that has not sold here.

I found my missing external hard drive (big joy), and the chlorine-pol suit I decided to bring back from the Ohio closet. Hardi and I had onverted a skirt into a suit NOT for chlorine, so that is now my PA "lake suit." In my Ohio closet, I found a top I don't love to wear that makes a great lake-top, and a pair of nylon shorts in the same color to use as a bottom, for the lakes there. The chlorine suit is now in the travel bag that goes on all trips, and lives in the car. I can also use it here for the occasional evening swims at the club.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 03:29 PM

The last two big blue Rubbermaid totes from what I salvaged from storage at my gran's were emptied out last night. Several items found their way into the trash or recycling, and the remainder of the non-book items went into a smaller box. The books were emptied out and gone through, several were culled out and a few are in the maybe pile. The rest were wiped down and will find places on the bookshelves after a bit of reorganizing. I suspect that a few more may migrate into the maybe or the cull piles. I'll consolidate a couple of cardboard boxes of items of a more fragile nature into one of the bins and probably give the other one away. We can always use them at the park.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 06:19 PM

I helped my next door neighbor set up her new laptop and left her viewing some Lynda software (from Lynda.com) that the university subscribes to. Windows 8.1 can be explained and she was enjoying the tutorial.

I have an old version of the same OmniPage software they use now at work, and I spent time this afternoon figuring out more ways to use it. The old version doesn't have the same options as the one at work, but I still learned my way around the general program better. Finding a way to do a quicker correction of an optical character recognition program is important considering the hundreds of documents that need to be scanned and OCRed. Now if I could just get Adobe to give me the same access to the transcript. I'll fool around with that for a while now.

The kitchen counter has been clear for a week now. I have a couple of things on it that are there as reminders of a stop I have to make on the way home from work one of these days, so I'll probably put them out in the car (Home Depot carries the wiring things I need to finish running data ports to the rest of the house).

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 06:34 PM

City:
Came back from mill last night, leaving in time to be here for Big Bang. However, as I was on the highway close in to the city, I took a notion to turn on my bluetooth and immediately it rang and I was on the phone for an hour and a half - managing to get out of the car and into the house and... - just in time. I wish I could feel I had made a difference but ... I just did not find the correct words - if there are any...

Yesterday the pottery class was excellent. A student I can only love And she agreed to de-clutter the studio ceiling of black mold when she has time. This is her way of paying for my time. I know I can trust her to do an excellent job. ----Now, it occurs to me to wonder if that is why I have been coughing ALL DAY for the first time in months. We did not wear our masks because it makes it hard to talk. I shall phone her and see if she is coughing also.

After class, I mailed tax forms, renewed Quebec health card, renewed local paper, had a visit with Geri and went back to mill for a meal. My energy level had dropped quite noticeably and I drove back to city feeling I was losing that wonderful energy of the last few days - the last thing I wanted to de-clutter!

Between coughing spells, I have managed to phone Lowe's and start the process of sorting out my missing pieces. The man, whose name I did not get, said he would phone back. I shall stop there en route tomorrow. Nothing quite like face to face contact.

I also managed four loads of laundry and remaking the bed, and ordering supplements on phone to ensure they are shipped by fed-ex, not Canada Post. More convenient. Found new batteries for TV remote! R may be brilliant but he had no idea that he could turn the TV on manually! Still trying to find the energy to make a pot of soup for R for the weekend as he cannot come with me. I did not have the energy to go out and find help connecting the new TV. I just now realized I might have the necessary screwdriver to add RAM to computer - out in the car. I don't cough when eating - so tempting...

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 07:22 PM

Careful getting a screwdriver near the RAM - it should be a matter of lifting a lever on either end and removing the old, then properly seating and pushing in the new RAM and re-fastening the levers. I hope the screwdriver is maybe for opening the computer cover?

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Apr 15 - 08:50 AM

City:
SRS! Thank you! I have pics and explanation, provided by my son - "yes, mother, you can do it" - an on line explanation. I use a dime to remove battery and a tinier phillips than I have yet found to undo 3 screws and remove... then I shall be at the levers! I may go into the computer store and beg a loan for five minutes.

Now, I am killing time until rush hour settles down, then off to Bancroft with four windows for "beaver lodge" in my little car. R is calling it B.L. due to our neigbouring furry creatures AND a beaver lodge is a pile of sticks... so is the little house!

Even R woke up early this am so I am ahead of the game - with time to stop at Lowe's and make the 6:30 meeting at A Place for the Arts in Bancroft. Black bean soup is in the fridge - four small containers so he can easily nuke one if he comes home tired and hungry. And some good cheeses. Laundry done, dishes done. I can leave now!

Oh, and it is a gorgeous spring day! AND whatever had me down yesterday is a mystery I shall contemplate over the 5 hour trip. Today, I am right as rain with a sporadic - not continuous, cough. YAY! I am thinking air borne particulate from not wearing mask in studio Tuesday. My lungs are de-cluttering!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 15 - 09:43 AM

RAM doesn't quite "click" when it seats but it does take a little more push than you might immediately think. But it doesn't take force, just a solid steady pressure when both ends are in place and you'll feel the little thump when it moves that last 1/4 inch into the slot. Look at the little slot that isn't quite in the middle of metal edge of the old RAM. Be sure the new pieces have the slot in the same position.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 15 - 01:34 PM

My mom always warned me (helpfully) that out of control laundry is indicative of bigger and deeper disorder. As usual she was correct, and I'm pleased to say that in these days of APPARENT disorder-- in the long process of eventually moving from a 3-fam PA house to a 1-fam OH house-- MOST of the issues turn out to yield to doing some LAUNDRY.

Cuz I been good about purging other crap as I went along. And I have even been known to get rid of stuff after washing it, cuz really, there isn't always room to put away every last stitch.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 May 15 - 11:01 AM

We finally have a workable forecast for the weekend, and the last heavy rain was a few days ago. Hopefully there will be progress in the garden.

My shopping list is growing, I've run out of lots of stuff, but I'll replace it strategically. I find I tend to shop a couple of times a month, not weekly or more often as when the kids were still home. Because I didn't want to make a trip just for my favorite bagels I made bread instead, and there are other substitutions in my kitchen. I haven't been over to the health food store to buy concentrated Stevia sweetener, so a little sugar doesn't hurt instead in morning tea. I've run out of asparagus to harvest in the garden (my main vegetable for several weeks) and nothing else is ready yet so I will pick up a few squash, broccoli, etc. Soon I'll be in the season of eating some out of my garden and canning the overage.

Still trying to get my attention back to eBay. Several things are set to list.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 01 May 15 - 07:44 PM

I got lazy after the snowshoe races were done and haven't run since March 1st. Signed up for a series of three trail races starting July 19th. They're 6, 9, and 12 miles. Best get training!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 May 15 - 09:44 AM

Bancroft, Ontario
SO happy to be here. It just feels better and better. I am sitting near the wood stove, looking out the back window at the "beaver pond" and the lovely hill, hoping to see a critter. YEsterday there were two Canada Geese. And Thurs night I phoned R so he could hear the spring peepers.

SRS: thank you again for good advice not in the online instructions. Last night, at the Gallery opening, I was chatting with another volunteer and found she has a computer business near the high school. GIS computers - Geek in Skirts/Shorts! Dynamic! I shall go look for her today and see if I can borrow a tiny screwdriver. The ONLY female computer person in town, she is supporting her - single mom - family with a thriving business.

On the way, on Thursday, I stopped at Lowe's and now I am waiting for delivery. Yesterday during my Gallery stint, I re-met a woman I knew long ago and her husband, son of the man whom we consulted we the sinking house. I asked Nathan about stove wood and he offered to bring me half a face cord to get me through the cool spring - thinking he can spare that from what they need. When I said I had been looking for ... phone number - both replied "3689"!! As soon as I heard it - Oh yeah! And I had not used it in near 20 years! N plays music with John. Only 4 digits? Out here in the boonies, we all know the first 3!

Friend Wendy stopped in to see the show and was delighted her painting - on silk and exquisite - was sold. She was off to work but took time to listen to my current malady and point out that it is all inter-related. As long as I remember to not slack off on the minerals, etc, the pain which I thought was related to the partial mastectomy ten years ago, is also gone. (Thurs eve during the members meeting at A Place for the Arts, it had me close to tears.) Wendy also suggested upping the NAC and adding spirulina and... - wrote it down! She recognized my cough as the lungs de-cluttering from air-borne particulate. Lessening each day.

Late in the gallery opening last niht, after the awards were presented and things were gearing down, I sat and chatted with a man - trying to hard to remember his name! - who was so sweet and supportive- I had forgotten that side of him. "Do you need anything? I have lumber." I may ask him to come by for a consult next time R is here. They may be kindred spirits.

So I was warmed last nigh by Nathan's wood perking away in the wood stove as well as all my wonderful encounters with my home community.

9:40 am - no delivery yet. Not a single vehicle has gone by since I got home last night! Guess I will bring in more wood and see if there is anything else I can usefully do while I wait.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 May 15 - 09:51 AM

Choices - is the name of one of the thrift shops here. It was the first one, I think, and raises money for health care. Posted on the wall as we enter is a chart telling how much has been raised and what it helped supply to the community - a great way to encourage donations. I took a few things there on Thurs.

I never paid much attention to the name or wondered why it was chosen. but it certainly is what we are about when we are trying to de-clutter.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 May 15 - 11:11 AM

We got so much great financial advice when my mom passed. A lot of it involved various future dates around our birthdays. I still had a degree of thyroid-related brain fog going on in those days and I was pleased to follow the great guidance, and use my best instincts to make good decisions with Hardi about any longterm implications.

So somewhere, in my head, I had what felt like a REALLY long time to wait before I should file for Social Security. But yesterday I took an idle moment to see how LONG I'd need to wait, just on a whim.

And I'm still gobsmacked to have found that I qualify NOW and could have filed 3 months ago to see a check arrive THIS MONTH! I can't quite wrap my head around this new reality-- that I've prepaid myself to stay on the planet, and that what seems to this raised-poor gal like a lot of money for ONE month will arrive EVERY month-- as long as I take care of myself!

So I'm no longer unemployed. I'm retired, with a part-time job taking care of this geezerette and her favorite geezer. I don't have to do that anymore as a volunteer!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 May 15 - 03:22 PM

Susan, the advice that I found most helpful about Social Security is looking into the benefits of waiting - you get a higher percentage each year you wait, up to about age 70. Another interesting approach that I heard about recently on an NPR program has to do with one person applying but putting on hold actually collecting their benefit. The percentage accrues that way, but meanwhile their spouse applies and can begin collecting the spouse benefit. I'm not sure if that can be done reciprocally for both partners, but it's worth looking into.

Today was shopping. I managed it on an empty stomach (yeah, I know, not the best idea, but I did okay). I had dance class and didn't want to eat first, and I left from there to shop. Four stops and I have most of it finished. I stopped at Walmart because I read they had Adams peanut butter, but this store didn't. I shopped at Winco and Aldi - and ended up buying the same brand of fresh mushrooms at both places. $1.48 didn't seem so bad at Winco, but Aldi had them for about 50 cents. Oh, well. It averages out to a dollar a pack. Not too bad.

The neighborhood is full of garage sales today, but I'm passing them up. I am sure I'd find things I'd like to buy, but not necessarily anything I actually need.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 02 May 15 - 03:24 PM

I got the same shock when I found out that I could have had my pension several months earlier - I should have had a letter, I was told - no, no letter.

My cleaning up of the kitchen is ongoing and I have now opened up a cupboard, found space inside and have nothing needing to be put in it.

I must thin out the plates to those which have more than just a couple of the set left. I have too much of almost everything, but the decision to throw away has to be a considered one, so I end up with something better than I started with. I have disposed of cutlery as I had enough for a small cafeteria.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 May 15 - 12:25 PM

Last night I did some cooking, creating lunches for the week and another brick of lasagna for some time in the future. I've done most of the dusting in a couple of rooms in the house and had a stuffy nose for the rest of the evening as a result.

Lots of yard work awaits, but I have to go into the office for a couple of hours as "flex time." Bummer.

Rum, you reminded me that I've been meaning to remove more of the mugs and such that I never use out of my cupboards. And I really ought to relocate the various Rx and general health-care items to a different place, they take up a lot of space in one kitchen cabinet.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 May 15 - 07:55 PM

Bancroft:

A nice quiet "do nothing" day. I thought of visiting friends about an hour away but was unmotivated, so I phoned and talked with, mostly the wife, for almost 2 hours. Almost 3 very good hours on the phone with my "daughter". And over an hour with troubled friend - hoping we made a bit of progress this time.

Never left the premises. Carried in the remainder of the wood so it would not get wet; felt like rain all day but has not yet. Sorted out a bit in the shed, dug a bit around the "foundation" -almost non-existent sills (can stick the shovel into the wood!) resting on rocks some places and concrete others. Solution will not be fun but I knew this could happen.

Read, computered and enjoyed looking out the window at the west hill, behind which the sun has already gone. Watched for beaver but no luck. Need binoculars. Washed my hair on the deck with water warmed in microwave. Arranged to pick up an on-sale shop vac at Lowe's tomorrow on my way, and a beautiful second hand screen door from Kijiji - I will pay for it and we can pick it up on the next truck trip.

I believe the new supplements are the reason I am much better today. And I managed to have 3 healthy and moderate meals.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 May 15 - 11:44 PM

A few more bedding plants are in place in the garden and I'm continuing my weed-control experiment with water and vinegar. I found some relatively inexpensive ($1.98/gal) white vinegar and mixed some 50/50 with water, heated to boiling, then run through a coarse sieve to distribute around the area where I want to kill the weeds. A kettle every day or two around the garden ought to help keep some of the taller stuff away.

Banana bread is ready to take to work tomorrow since I haven't taken anything in lately. The fruit in this came out of the freezer at the same time I retrieved ingredients for lasagna. I put the finished casserole back in the freezer (since it was thoroughly cooked I don't think this counts as refreezing some of the ingredients). There's a small one in the fridge to take for lunch. I also made bread, and I think I'll get back to the bread baking habit.

Trash out, laundry finished, kitchen clean. I have a bag of shoes that are popular brands that still look good, but my son doesn't wear any more to drop off at Goodwill. The guest room is back in usable shape.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 May 15 - 01:38 PM

I have GOT to get back in the habit of checking here every day. Actually, I haven't been spending much time here at the desktop computer, but what I've done this morning in the past few minutes while sitting here is change my wall calendar to May and sort a pile of papers to my left that I KNEW needed to be filed in several other elsewheres (and put the ones that go upstairs to be filed by the stairs).

I got the cycle started in the dishwasher when I walked past to get here.

While sipping coffee and waiting for my hair to dry, I read down the pile of free papers so the remains can go out in tomorrow's trash, put the year on the pages of my calendar notations that will go into a separate binder for "quick" reference (a copy of the digital file is already filed in front of the annual binders of "The Archives"), and started clearing off the "library & communications" side of the bed so I can change the sheets later.

Yesterday I got the new mailing address of a friend so I can send her a sympathy note. I just found out (from her when I asked how Roy was) that her long-time partner died last December. In a lot of ways, I haven't been paying close attention to a lot of things this past year -- his obituary slipped by me and I hadn't seen either of them since last summer. And I have some thank yous to write -- one that's been neglected since last fall and the other from just a few days ago. (More on that in a bit.)

Tomorrow is the third meeting of my grief group and I'm again finding it helpful. Friends have been asking me what I mean when I say that I'm finding my second year of widowhood to be complicated. Actually, I'm still trying to sort that out myself and I think the group (and the exercises) are helping me to articulate that better so I can address it.

I need to get to work this week (decluttering and cleaning in the house and raking the leaf mulch out of the flower beds and driveway outside) because I went out for a lot of live music this past week and took a 2-day mini-vacation away from the guilt of not getting stuff done around the house. (But my sister commented on the phone that since I returned, my voice sounds a lot less stressed than before I took the two days off.)

The live music ranged from a jazz guitar concert at the Portsmouth library last Sunday to a Joyce Andersen concert yesterday at the UU church "around the corner" (less than 2 miles away) from me in Nottingham with the Friday session, of course, sandwiched in between.

The mini vacation was a run up Rte. 202 to Gray, Maine (about 2 hours away) to visit friends in an antique cape jam packed with maritime and historical stuff, cannons on the deck, and two macaws to punctuate our stimulating and constant conversation. Camaraderie plus intriguing surroundings that don't leave me feeling guilty about work left undone. Great combination. And only away from the cats for one overnight. It was also inspirational -- I now know you CAN have a bit of floorspace and artful organization amidst what looks like random (though fascinating) clutter.

A couple of my accomplishments of the past year and a half is on-the-job training in the management of a non-profit board of directors (I felt comfortable in my position as president of the PMFF board for the first time at the last meeting -- after recruiting two new board members and a volunteer coordinator as well as starting some other board development that had never been addressed before) and realizing what management skills I've developed as the leader of the two sessions I lead (traffic cop, diplomat, and shrink). These really ARE accomplishments (I'm saying this because I startled myself with the realization) and an education and I had to do it without Tom's advice and mentoring, just trusting my own skills and remembering how Tom handled things in the past (when I really wasn't paying as much attention as I should have been).

I keep pingponging between feeling I'm doing pretty well and accomplishing a lot and feeling totally overwhelmed and beleaguered at all that needs to be done.

Right now I think I need to eat lunch and then go out and do something physical (raking) where I can really SEE what I've accomplished.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 May 15 - 01:57 PM

I just googled "antique cape" and came up with photos of shingled and clapboard houses. Some have the classic lop-sided roofline of the Cape Cod style. Is that what you meant? I couldn't visualize an antique garment (cape) holding everything you listed. :)

The job hunt has given me lots of opportunity to look back and see things I learned on-the-job, not formally, that are skills to market. Looking back to see where you've been does give useful insights like this.

I didn't mow yesterday after I got back from work, but I'll head home early enough this evening to mow (if it isn't raining). The back yard is a jungle again, but it is the front that needs the attention. And the weeds in the veggie garden - the soil was much drier for working in but with all of the rain the weeds have had a huge head start on me. I need to pace myself, do some of this every day, and I'll get to a fully planted garden before too much longer.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 May 15 - 03:22 PM

Had some water issues with the kitchen sink. It's almost working (no cold water yet) but it's working well enough to wash dishes of which I had a pile. ALL the silverware was waiting to be washed plus several dishes. It took me awhile today but they are done! Dinner is also done and in the fridge to warm up after a evening Tball game. Floors are swept, the chairs and table outside are in good shape (all washed up) so we can enjoy our coffee outside in the morning and listen to the birds sing. :) Two loads of laundry done today. I'm hoping to do one more small load tonight and then to throw the shower curtain and liner in to be washed and then will hang them back up wet to dry. :) Time to hop in the shower, pack the cooler and hit the road for our first away game!

Have a great night Everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 May 15 - 05:05 PM

There seems to -- finally! -- be green starting on almost every tree and bush. It's been a looong winter and I was starting to have my doubts, despite spring flowers being blooming and having seen a snowy egret last week in the Scarborough (Maine) marsh. We also just leaped from temperatures in the 40s (F.) to 80s. That's even warmer than the last warm teaser a couple weeks ago.

Yes, Maggie. Antique (meaning it was built in the 1700s or 1800s) Cape Cod-style house. In New England, we just refer to that style as "cape" -- there's a lot of them ranging from the 1700s to contemporary. Center chimney, regular roofline -- by "lopsided" are you referring to a saltbox where the rear roof is a shed roof going to the first floor? (Just googled "antique cape cod house" and one of the photos has a saltbox roof; most don't. Saltbox roof is more often seen on antique center door colonials.)

Did some raking earlier, but the slight breeze was proving problematic. Stopped working in that part of the interior of the turnaround and moved some branches and raked (with my hand) some of the succulents on the bank (the rockery). I'm going to go back out now and do a little bit of other raking and bring the rest of the groceries in from the car.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 May 15 - 06:01 PM

Yes SRS, I was aware of the SS being higher if I wait.

Since my longevity is not all that assured, we (me, Hardi, tax lady, & my son) decided I'd file today to attack credit card debt, and then fund Ohio house repairs until Hardi eventually retires. It's not like longterm investments that can be used up if you draw down too fast or too aggressively. I consider the early pay of this benefit to be a powerful incentive to keep this recipient kicking as long as possible, and before long this will be my garden fund!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 04 May 15 - 06:11 PM

Not much decluttering going on at home, but I did get rid of a bunch of antique paper clutter and abandoned lost and found items from several years ago at work today. We have files and files of current interpretive programs and outlines dumped randomly in a box on the desk of the little porch office that no one ever uses (MINE NOW!) and several file drawers full of obsolete park records going back to the late 70s and early 80s. I emptied one out by dumping the entire contents of a huge expanding folder containing water quality records for our little corner of Casco Bay from the mid 80s. They were all copies, the original info long ago sent to The Friends of Casco Bay's Baykeeper program. Next rainy day we'll organize all the folders on the desk and put them in the drawer.

I also consolidated two boxes' worth of invasive insect handouts into one and culled all the firewood handouts to leave at one of the parks that has camping. We don't, and we don't allow wood fires in the grills, either, so no need for us to be holding onto things we'll never use. In the process, I laid claim to a copy paper box to help my organization efforts at home. Perfect size for storing my comic book collection, and that will free up a plastic stackable storage container to hopefully consolidate some of my cross stitch supplies.

On the fitness end, went for a run this AM for the first time in two months. Felt amazing afterwards and I'm already looking forward to my next run on Wednesday.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 May 15 - 10:59 PM

Tami, excellent work, and once you have cleared out that place make sure your name is on the desk so no one else appropriates it! It must be tempting to browse through some of the old records.

Susan, that is a very sound reason for deciding to collect now. It's one that has been discussed on the Suze Orman lectures on PBS, if you ever listen to those.

Linn, on a side street in a nearby neighborhood there is a house with shake siding and a Cape Cod saltbox roof. They have a split rail fence out front and it looks like it was picked up from the a rural property on the Cape and dropped here in Fort Worth. Clearly someone who couldn't leave behind their roots when they moved here!

Today I left work early enough to be able to trim and mow the front yard. With all of the rain we've had this spring, it needs to be mowed twice a week but I struggle to manage once. I also started on the back yard again, which has grown to jungle height.

How did the game go, Michelle? Does Jeremiah like T-ball? My kids didn't play that, but it is popular in the schools here.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 04 May 15 - 11:31 PM

The desk isn't mine, Maggie. I'm claiming the whole office! I do a lot of the weekly and monthly reports and things can get noisy in the main part of the cabin when we're all up there. Too many distractions and voila! the income report suddenly doesn't match the deposit and that's never good. Or I get 3/4 of the way through adding up the monthly public use and someone talks to me and I have to start all over because I can't remember if I added that day or not. No one else seems to want to take up residence out there (I suspect because there's no computer), so I figure I might as well.

And yes, the some of the old records are interesting. Most of them are telephone logs and reimbursement requests and other boring minutia from a not terribly well liked interpretive specialist who hasn't worked there since the late 1970s, though.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 May 15 - 10:21 AM

Last night I went for my first extended scooter ride, up our road. It was fun.... but I kept having the bizarre physical sensation that I might now be beyond "just scootering."

LAST year, it was finding that I was "beyond" aquajogging-- my body just WOULD not go to the pool. Not ready to hop on a bike this year, but maybe that walker has to move to the front porch, to go walkering up the road a little bit. It IS set up for that-- has an onboard backpack for water and a jacket.... hmmmm.... scootering some days, walkering others?

So the spontaneous morning walk was to walk the scooter up our long driveway and up onto the front porch, fitting a new piece to the front storage, then up the ramp to find I'd forgotten to leave the front door unlocked for myself-- so back around the whole long way back to the back door, with a pause at "my" "new" car to swap visor pockets. Especially enjoyed NOT having any issues with walking on uneven ground-- this bodes well for more walking everywhere!

Long time coming... didn't know I'd ever get to this phase!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 May 15 - 12:53 PM

Rain forecast here for the rest of the week. My front yard looked lovely as I drove away this morning, and next time it's dry enough to mow it will be ankle deep again. In the spring it's easily possible to mow twice a week, a great workout for the "fitness" component of this thread.

The bag of shoes has made it to the back seat of the car, so they are one less bit of clutter in the house. I passed an interesting-looking thrift store I hadn't noticed before on my drive home yesterday. Some of them give you a discount on your shopping if you donate something so the shoes might come in handy.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,wysiwyg corrupt cookie
Date: 05 May 15 - 09:43 PM

I decluttered an SD card's worth of memory off my fone and gained a new lease on fone life with a complete reset.

I listed an old favorite desk on FreeCycle.... sniff!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 May 15 - 01:06 PM

I have some excess sturdy binders to donate, none (so far) are as large as the ones I sent around a couple of years ago, no metal piano hinges so far. But if someone is needing some standard size (mostly about 2") 3-ring binders, there may be some available to send out. Let me know today, they are doing this work this week and every day stuff is sent to the recycler at the end of the day.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 06 May 15 - 01:55 PM

We could use them at the park, Maggie. Especially now that any office supplies come out of our park's operations and maintenance budget.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 May 15 - 03:17 PM

I urgently need binders.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,MAG at library
Date: 06 May 15 - 04:49 PM

'puter net connection worked for half a day and went down again. sigh.

thanks for the advice on the thank-yous, all.

I too have more oregano than i know what to do with most friends who garden also have a ton. sage seems to work well as a leafy veg when stewed w/ other stuff.

edibles box now has angelica; sorrel and chicory are going. i mix them w/ a box of store-bought greens; otherwise they are a bit too much as my salad. dandelions got a head start when i was incapacitated; will i ever catch up? did try eating a few; getting them young is the key. another front yard leafy green.

put down a 50 lb. bag of pool-grade diatomaceous earth last fall to get the ants under control. i had to quit putting seeds in the ground, they were so voracious. seems to have helped, but some are still there. anyone know where i can get bulk boric acid?

moles last year took out every scrap of green fennel; a mentioned to a friend that it got eaten and she gave me a bunch of bronze fennel (which is not the good kind); i sert the bag beside the driveway and the next morning every scrap was gone, right out of the bag. is this something i will never be able to plant again?

bit the bullet and bought a 50 lb. jug of sluggo for the slugs and got rid of a lot. and a few found refuge in some pots. more bulbs gone, leaving only slug trails.

anyone know about a kind of expanding concrete you can put in concrete cracks to help break it up? tree on patio needs to go; has done a number on the concrete.

if you have read this far, thank you ...

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 May 15 - 05:28 PM

Pool grade diatomaceous earth is dangerous, Maryann. It's full of impurities that can be dangerous to you. Only use the food grade when you're treating anything in the yard or garden, the pool stuff is only for the pool.

You want to break up the concrete more and eventually replace it? Maybe you could use some of it as recycled concrete pavers.

I found where something had been digging around my potato plants - dug so fast that it threw dirt up on the sunflower leaves nearby. Not sure what to make of that. Ants are a huge problem around here lately, and I'm using sugar and borax (simple syrup - 1 cup water, 2 cups sugar, 2 tablespoons 20 mule team borax). Put out little glossy cards and a puddle of the mix and the ants take it back to the nest and kill the others, but it is slow.

Do you have a dog, or someone who can provide dog hair? That's what I'm going to pack in around my potatoes to discourage digging (it might be squirrels).

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 06 May 15 - 05:41 PM

The 2" and 3" binders would be perfect. Probably wouldn't use the others at the park.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 06 May 15 - 07:00 PM

Well, yesterday was mostly a lost day. I woke up way too early and couldn't get back to sleep. I was totally useless, brains mushy. Some things HAD to be done, though, so I got dressed and put my contacts in and bagged the stuff (and wrote the check) to leave at the head of the driveway for trash pickup. Then continued to the credit union and paid the mortgage. There! That was two biggies crossed off the list.

Tried to nap when I got home. No go. Ended up reading. By the end of the day (after again trying to nap) I'd finished "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed. Saw the film at the library a couple weeks ago.

Realized I'd be dangerous on the road, so emailed ahead that I was probably not coming to the grief group meeting last night. I'd realized, too, that the longer I was upright (at the computer) the less well I felt, so went to bed and read until 8 p.m. when I turned out the light and fell right to sleep.

Woke up rested today and feeling human again. Can't figure out why sometimes if I'm sleep deprived, I'm just fine, while other times I'm totally nonfunctional.

So I had to get a bunch of stuff done today to get more or less caught up. Made scalloped oysters with the oysters I'd put in the freezer when I got sick after Christmas. Bought them to make oyster stew, but figured scalloped oysters were better at this stage of the game. Then I finished the bread pudding I'd started (tore up the bread) on Monday. Got the shaved steak separated and put in the freezer. By then the kitchen was in total shambles. Sigh. But I'd gotten a lot of the dishes out of the dishwasher and put away.

Wrote the thank you letter and the sympathy note and wrapped them in cards which I'll mail tomorrow. A friend called and that took care of a PMFF email I'd needed to send. Verified his emceeing duties (different from last year) for this year's festival by phone rather than email, and then had a very productive conversation on several other festival-related matters. (One more thing crossed off the list.) Changed the pillow cases -- I can work on moving stuff off the bed and changing the sheets tomorrow. Decluttered a couple magazines while waiting for my hair to dry. Then, late in the afternoon, went to the store and found out what a lovely day it had been weather-wise. I didn't get ANYTHING done outside today and there's lots of work to be done.

Got another long email reply to write...and the other emailing (another long chatty, plus sending some requested information to several people) will have to wait until tomorrow. Oh, and I've got to do the online paperwork for my tooth extraction in a couple weeks.

And the day is almost over. I'll get that email written, feed the cats, and head upstairs to read by 8 p.m., I hope.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 May 15 - 12:05 AM

Linn, I think today more than made up for anything that didn't get finished yesterday! And getting enough sleep is critical to feeling good. I keep reminding myself of that as I sit up late watching or reading, using those activities as escape from unhappy days at work. Not the best solution.

The next few days all have substantial chances for rain, so I'll plan to work around the house more. Maybe it's time for a project again. Painting a room, perhaps, or tearing up the ugly bathroom vinyl flooring.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 May 15 - 08:55 AM

Cleaning out the dead van resulted in so many CDs and cassettes that the last week has involved plugging away to sort them. Some go to new car for Hardi, some stay in "my" car for long road trips (incl .cda audiobooks), some go to Ohio where there's no live TV (just DVD), so the boombox that plays MP3 discs as well as cassettes is going to Ohio to augment ear entertainment there.

I'm considering doing AirBnB in Ohio a few times during the longer Fall visit. (A good friend is having fabulously happy times hosting people thru that program, and has let me know everything I need to know ahead of time.) There should be a lot of road cyclists wanting to be on the area's very long bike path, and I know how to feed 'em cuz I live with one. I already have the perfect sign to use as my ad-- a dog riding a bicycle-- cuz they can bring a dog as well. A bed we had planned to take there anyway will cushy up the available room, and I have a half-bath I can use to give the guest first dibs at the loo. The place is ready and so am I.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 May 15 - 08:55 AM

I'm sitting here in tears, devastated. Just found out that my very trusted, very competent, and nearby handyman retired over the winter. Leaving me with a pile of small but very necessary jobs that I can't do myself but MUST get accomplished.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 May 15 - 09:28 AM

So.... ask him for a referral? Via a thank-you note?

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 May 15 - 10:16 AM

Linn, did he tell you he retired? Perhaps he still will do a few jobs for friends, off the books, to supplement social security?

I'll take a large tote bag to work with me today to bring home more of those binders. The faster I move them out the better.

I've made myself keep the kitchen tidy for the last couple of weeks, and am trying to not simply stack things a little further away, but actually file, recycle, or store whatever as it is in the house. The hidden threat to the house looking good resides with eight of the 12 canine feet that live here. Two of the dogs have heavy coats that are going to start shedding big time any day now. The pitbull loves to be brushed and feels left out if I only work on the other two, so after holding them in place and using the furminator on them I use a simple brush to go over Cinnamon's skin (while she leans against me and wags happily).

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 07 May 15 - 11:12 AM

Linn, you have friends with skills. We work cheap and it makes us feel good to be able to help you. All ya gotta do is ask.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 May 15 - 12:08 PM

But it's also important to grieve the loss of a trusted man who got you through tough times. Grief is grief.

-----

In addition to three FreeCycle drops tomorrow-- microwave, plastic cups, egg cartons-- today I surveyed the boxes accumulating up in the old MudDorm. I prefer not to break them down flat cuz it's easier to pick the right size if they're just stacked intelligently. A big one also went up today. There's lots of room to hold more as long as I keep them organized.

I'm saving newsprint, too. I found a flat box to catch them, opened flat, as the free Pennysaver arrives each week. I've also kept the unprinted stuff from Goodwill buys, and clean chart paper from workshop-scribing, for the packing layers my hands will touch when I start using all this paper-- ink, uck! But I love being pennywise, and using the money these packing materials would cost, for ice cream cones! We kept the boxes that moved us here for a long time before giving them away... it's great to know so far ahead, now, that I can just accumulate them as we go, several years before Hardi retires! (It's very healing of chaotic childhood moves.)

And I'm already planning to take the good glassware to Ohio this fall. We haven't used it since the kids moved out, here, but we have nine, there!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 May 15 - 12:35 PM

I would flatten those boxes, but by doing that I have probably ended up with way more than I need because they don't seem to take up so much space. I no longer keep gigantic boxes that come my way, I can buy the size I need if such an eBay need should arise. It's the smaller boxes of various sizes for eBay shipping that accumulate in flat stacks because I use them so often.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 May 15 - 01:18 PM

The giants are great for lampshades, or-- flattened-- they make great mirror boxes. And those smaller boxes are great to hold small items safely, inside larger boxes of similar items-- for example, A BOX FOR jewelry and accessories: Necklaces carefully folded, each, into paper to prevent tangles, together inside a small Amazon-size box; loose pins in another small box; the rack they are all on and will be on in Ohio; of that in one larger box labeled HOUSE: JEWELRY/ACC.

For books and files, I have a great local source for small-enough-to-carry but all uniformly sized. Since a lot of the eventually-moved stuff will be heavy and in those, I'll be able to label them like I did when we moved here, for easy finding of garaged stuff.

I already went thru some of the oldest of the older archived boxes I wrote about when these threads were young, but the remainder is destined for a garage spot; their labeling is already accurate. On top of those will be younger archived material-- to continue handling like the older archives.

Now, happily, I have a great fone app to list contents of each box when we get to that point-- the last move-- which I can email myself for a running inventory keyed to box-label number. With this system, the movers will know which boxes go into the house (and which room), and which ones go into the garage (and which wall). I moved us here that way, combining two large households and two large offices, into a house and a church. Only one box ever went missing, and this was due to a teenager who lied about a box in her room we never opened til she moved out-- missing deep dish pizza pan, voila!

When we leave here, a lot will be yard-saled and/or donated to the annual church yard sale... a lot of which is already designated. In Ohio, when the better stuff arrives there will be a yard sale there.

I love it that my S$S will pay me to "retire" Hardi, and move us. This is the sh*t I'm GOOD at!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 May 15 - 04:44 PM

What my handyman retired from is from his job (handyman) to supplement social security. He retired from his career job just before I did in 2012. Now he intends to get stuff done around his own house. I replied to him asking for recommendations for a replacement AND whether he'd consider doing a few simple odds and ends for me.

Interesting day. I ate lunch (salad and chicken) on the deck. Found a cheap replacement a couple weeks ago for the umbrella table that blew off in the windstorm, so actually had a place to do this. Then (because I can't look anywhere without seeing something that needs to be done) I dragged a couple good-sized branches off the side of the driveway and out of the way down the hill, and raked more leaf mulch out of the bank and then out of the center of the turnaround. Nice thing about this work is I can actually see what I'm doing. I'm far far from finished, but at least I can see progress.

Then I took the letters to the post office and, on my way home, stopped at the town offices to get an answer to a question.

Got back home to fill out the online forms for my tooth extraction by an oral surgeon later this month. One of those forms where I had to keep running back and forth to my purse for various information and upstairs to fill in the details of the few meds I'm on. Checked my email and got a message that the person who said she would be the volunteer coordinator for the PMFF had second thoughts. Ye gods! One. More. Thing. Just can't deal with it right now, but I emailed my former board member who was involved and asked to make a phone date with her.

Meanwhile, Sabine came up to my leg repeatedly and tried to climb (with her claws) into my lap. I kept shooing her away and she kept coming back. I lost it. I just lost it and screamed "No! No! No!" Just one thing too much today.

Then the phone rang. My former board member saying to ignore what the other person had said. Just put it out of my mind. And we have a phone date for Sunday night.

I'm an emotional wreck. I've been on a rollercoaster all day. And to think last week I came home relaxed and refreshed from a two-day vacation... Sigh.

I'll go to see "Mr. Turner" tonight at Portsmouth library.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 May 15 - 04:55 PM

Maybe Sabine was trying to tell you that spending a few moments with a purring cat would be therapeutic? It sounds like you're getting a lot done, so there isn't a point where an outside observer can suggest anything more than to take a deep breath every so often.

Lunch at that deck table sounds wonderful!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 May 15 - 08:36 PM

Mill:
Bummer! Last post went missing. Monday was a long driving day: I stopped at Lowe's and acquired a new Shop Vac and HEPA filter, finally! The small vac was on sale; the filter cost as much as the vac. Have not yet taken it out of the car to start that de-cluttering in each abode. Then an hour or so later, I stopped to pay for a nice screen door which we will pick up on the next truck trip. Spent a good half hour chatting with the gentle man who enthralled me with family history and more.

Eventually made it back to Montreal with too much help from Tim Horton's - stopped four times: large soup -good; chicken sandwich - good; 6 donuts and ate three in short order - suffered for it on Tuesday; dk hot choc- mild cramping by the time I pulled in. Addictions are a terrible thing and the excuse of driving, having to keep going?, has to stop.

The two things Wendy suggested I add to my regime have been very helpful but Tuesday I was back to - could hardly walk; I am totally thinking it was the donuts- wheat and sugar. I spent a good chunk of the day changing my address and phone number on credit cards and whatever else I could think of. Also did laundry and dishes.

Weds I was totally terrific. Cancelled land line and phone-based internet, a lengthy procedure! Then drove to the mill, had lunch with Geri, threw four tea pot bodies, then could not throw a spout AT ALL! Loaded bisque firing and started it. Got back to the city late.

Today, another good day, I drove to the pottery supplier for more clay, ouch to the wallet! Then down to the mill where I checked on pots that were, and still are, drying! Instead of trimming pots, I found summer clothes - suddenly much needed! And put some winter clothes in storage. There are finally leaves on trees!

Beautiful rosy glow in the sky just now!

SO, I reduced some expenses, de-cluttered the K table of phone and modem! Increased my cell to unlimited minutes and LD in Canada and USA - cost still offset by savings. Received a phone call from a wonderful Koodo person who explained about the use of internet on phone and assured me I would not go over the alloted amount, took the block off it and sent me an email explaining what constitutes one GB, with the assurance that if I go over, just refer to this email which states I will not be charged. NOW- I have no idea how to access anything! The reason I had it blocked was because when I first got this phone I was charged for it even though I had no idea I had used it! (They credited me.) I have a sense of freedom - WOW, I can PHONE people and not worry about the cost! What a sense of freedom!

The woman at Bell tried very hard to tell me that it would be better to keep both modems - If I go over on the portable it could cost $25 extra. But, gee whiz, I got rid of the one that cost $40/month so, the way I do math, I am still ahead. However, this did prompt me to wonder about using the phone for some stuff.

Tomorrow my student is arriving about 9 am (staying here tonight as I would never make it by 9 am!). She will motivate me to trim pots and glaze. Maybe I can even throw spouts tomorrow!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 May 15 - 08:25 AM

Woke up this morning in really good spirits. Just a good, positive mindset and actually feeling more ambitious than dragged out. Especially after the emotional roller coaster of yesterday. And sort of what I wished for on the shooting star I saw last night on the drive home from Portsmouth.

"Mr. Turner" was a very well done film, painterly in composition, meaning every scene looked like a painting. Inspired me to look up more background about both Turner and the film even though I'd heard several interviews on NPR recently.

Came home to catch the last hour of Nick Noble's "The Folk Revival" WICN radio show. (Listening to far flung radio on my iPad has changed my life.) Nick had already played a song from Tom's CD (Outward Bound) which I missed but he then played "All For Me Grog". Nick does a great job of keeping Tom's voice alive.

Press Room session later today, of course.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 May 15 - 11:02 AM

Spent this morning picking up after another thunderstorm. It didn't hit here till quite late, but it came through the region early enough to knock my favorite prime time entertainment programs off the air. Some channels here have a backup place to broadcast, but this one doesn't. So I watched the local folks chase tornadoes several counties away, then we got our own drenching at bedtime. It popped a few circuits (the gfci variety) that had to be reset.

I mentioned elsewhere that on Wednesday the main instructor for my dance class was absent and there were only two of us who turned up for class with the substitute. Variety is good, so I don't mind this. The other student, very new, made an offhand remark about my being there despite not being very good at it and that makes her feel good as she learns. Geez. I need to practice enough to master these steps and she'll have to work to keep up with me. She has suggested there is a club and I don't want to be a member! I have class again tomorrow. We're shimmying this week. ;-)

Sent a polite reminder about a freelance invoice I sent last week. That is always the hardest part of freelance work, asking people to pay afterward.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 May 15 - 11:37 PM

Aha! Incentive to clean and declutter! A friend called and asked if she and her sister can spend three nights here at my house in early June. They'll be on a road trip from Arizona to South Carolina, stopping here to see family. They are 80 and 82 respectively, and though I told Bette to warn her sister that they'll be "slumming" (her sister has always had a lovely large and elegant house) they will be welcome and comfortable. I think they're hoping for a family gathering as well, so I'll be busy in the next few weeks.

I lugged home the rest of the 3-ring binders this evening. Now to see what boxes I have handy.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 09 May 15 - 06:18 AM

Fitted the RS-232 thing into the alarm panel and am experimenting with it. I'm at a point where I know enough to be able to write an Android App that would Arm/Disarm and report some status but I still have a long way to go with both the protocol and more importantly, getting it clear in my mind what I really want to achieve. With these sort of things and ideas, the mind itself can be quite a clutter!

Other home projects are a bit delayed for one reason or other. ETA for my final sort out after all jobs done is probably late June now.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 May 15 - 10:42 AM

This morning in the shower I was mulling all of the things that should be done by the time my friends visit. I should put a grab bar in the shower. It would be nice to have the old vinyl off of the floor and tile down. Better still, have a new low-flo toilet in place. Maybe I can at least manage the grab bar. :) Clearing stuff in the guest rooms. One room won't be difficult, the other will have a lot of stuff lined up along one side of the room. My dining table has projects on it but should be cleared off (much of that goes in the cluttered second bedroom I just described). My work is cut out for me.

John, I've thought it might be handy to learn to write a couple of small apps for around the house. I have one that runs my blue ray player (downloaded from Sony) and another that runs the Fire TV stick (downloaded from Amazon). But there are other addressable devices around here, and one I'd like to add - a lamp that I could turn on remotely. If I'm getting home after dark and forgot to turn on the lights in one room I want to make it look like someone is already home. This would involve an addressable on-off plug in the wall with the lamp already plugged in and on.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST
Date: 09 May 15 - 07:09 PM

SRS, I guess there a few ways you could go. The old standard is probably X10 which sends signals down the power line but Iv'e found it slow and have had reliability problems with it. The "poshest" might be z wave (look it up, guest posts here bounce with more than 2 links) which works on a mesh type network. Then are are things that use your home wireless network but the ones I've looked at seem very tied in to you using their proprietary systems and sending data to them...

My own current choice as I think said above somewhere is lightwaverf which works with our LED "conversion" and (UK wise, US might be different) works on the 433mhz bandwidth. I think they do have an android app and controller in their range.

For me though the main device is probably an rfxtrx433. It talks to a lot of 433mhz devices so you can sort of "mix and match" your devices. (eg.Garden temp sensors here are Oregon, power sensor is OWL, and innside theres still some X10 and homeeasy). There is off the shelf software open source and propriatary that can use it. My own dabblings in python that speaks to one borrows heavily from the free open source domotiga   - that is written in a version of BASIC but it's a pretty simple "translation" from what they have worked out into python.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 09 May 15 - 09:02 PM

Oh and on the learning to write bit. Android code is mostly Java (there are ways beyond my ability to compile native code for speed but it's rarely needed).

From my own VERY LIMITED dabbling, I think the hardest bit I've encountered to get used to is its sort of asynchronous nature. You mustn't and in some cases can not tie up the UI. If a job (eg. my print program which was once on the play store, which does a few network tasks), you need to put things out to another thread or use AsyncTask. It's sort of start something going and wait to get notified it's happened rather than simple "straight line" and I find that can be difficult to get my own head round at times.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 09 May 15 - 10:48 PM

We made a big decision today and have started a plan to get the house in order for a home study. Today we focused on the porch. I must say, we did a GREAT job. Team Lawrence works so well together!

*Big Smile*

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 09 May 15 - 11:16 PM

Oh and agian, SRS. I'm not sure where you are with coding but my own preffered package for (non Android) Java is Netbeans. For Android though, you would probably want to look here my own Android set up atm is an earlier Eclipse based one.

It's all (at least with the ones I've used) very good free stuff. The only place I think a cost   becomes mandatory is to publish on the Play store. You have to pay for and sign up to some sort of developer licence for that.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 May 15 - 11:56 PM

I haven't done any coding, per se, but I have access to a lot of folks who do this at work, and plenty of online tutorials. It's still a thought, no more.

Michelle, what is a home study?

Clearing the dining table is a good starting place in preparation for visitors. (Easier said than done!) I'm finishing a comforter, and after that, there are beading projects to finish or put away. The sewing machine goes in one of the guest rooms so I need to organize it when things are put back in there.

More storms tonight. We've had an amazing amount of rain, the drought for now has cleared from this region.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST
Date: 10 May 15 - 05:14 AM

Michelle- Wow! Good for you! Best wishes heading your way.
Maeve

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 10 May 15 - 06:53 AM

Well good luck if you do give a go, SRS. If you do, one Internet resource that I think is excellent that you'd probably bump it to is StackExchange. It doesn't aim to be a tutorial but it can answer questions like "how might I say in Java display an integer as a hex string (base 16, eg 255 is FF in hex)" and "why is this failing on Android?"

It's maybe for a bit further down the line than just getting started and writing your first "hello world" program but I find it can save a lot of time. I usually find someone else has already asked my question and at least one other (and there can be more than one good solution) has answered it. I think the inexpert me has only provided one possible solution to a problem but the count of times it has helped me out runs to several hundred.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 10 May 15 - 07:56 AM

Had also meant to say form the little I know about you, I think you would do well - probably better than me. I could of course be way off but I think you might enjoy the challenge of a problem and following it through to a logical solution.

Me, I'm quite sporadic and very limited (eg. I'd never consider writing a spreadsheet let alone get involved with operating systems) but sometimes find the sort of "I'd like this, I want/need to go my way and yes, I believe I could do that".

It's that sort of drive and determination that keeps me going whether it was say doing the abc converter on folkinfo (now at mandolin tab), having our "windmill" run at a few speeds and change direction of rotation, Android printing to a CUPS server, etc.

I need the task I believe I can solve and the desire to see the (small) project through. For home stuff, I'm not that good at putting the finishing touches btw. I can loose interest after the sort of "yes it sort of works" stage.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 May 15 - 10:16 AM

The task of this week is to finish clearing out the attic stuff in the way of setting up my moving supplies up there. Yesterday I went thru the saved newsprint yesterday and have a large, flat box to store the newer papers as they arrive, and when that's full I'll stop saving it till I notice the level going down (as I use it now a little at a time). The full boxful should be plenty for the eventual Big Move.

Other packing materials often come my way-- such as bubble wrap-- an I'll designate a box to catch that kind of stuff. I decided NO PACKING PEANUTS. Yeah they're great for packing. They suck at unpacking!

Then I'll stack the remaining boxes by size, leaving room for more of each size to join them as they come along.

After that it'll be to hot to excavate my archived files, but I can start on clearing out more of my upstairs office stuff-- passing along items that go with jobs I no longer hold, and finishing emptying the long shelf in there that goes to Ohio in August.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 May 15 - 11:52 AM

I think Maeve has hinted more the direction I thought you might be going with a home study. Good luck with that - you'll sail through.

We've had a non-stop thunderstorm over us for about the last 12 hours, and it is heating up into tornado watches this morning. This is the Gulf of Mexico moisture being pulled toward the Rockies for that huge storm the weather service predicted for the weekend. I hoped it might mean activity further north or west - places that are still hurting for water. We are saturated.

Today I'll finish the comforter that last night I worked on to tidy the binding around the outer edge. Now the knotting with yarn and maybe I can put this in the mail next week. Meanwhile, I'm sure we're under flash flood warnings and though (knock wood) I've never had water in the house, this kind of weather is the sort that might make it happen. I need to be ready to move furniture out of the lowest level in the den.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 May 15 - 08:24 PM

Yes! Maeve knows! We are hoping to add more little ones to our family. :) It takes time and we are at the beginning again....but the decision on our part has been made. :)

Today, however, we didn't do anything towards our goal. Today, Pete and Jeremiah spoiled me rotten and I mean ROTTEN. :) I loved every second of it! LOL Pete made my all time favorite breakfast of Eggs Benedict complete with asparagus from our garden which we ate on the porch surrounded by a beautiful bowl of purple pansies from Pete and a yellow lily from Jeremiah. Then we took a short trip to JoAnn Fabrics for a few things I need for an upcoming quilting retreat, a ride in the country, a stop for a little ice cream and then we picked up some Chinese food and had dinner on the porch. It was a BAD day for healthy eating but I thoroughly enjoyed it. :)

I did do a few chores...swept the porch, did some laundry, straightened up a little bit but mostly I enjoyed my family. I hope that all the moms here also had a wonderful day with their families.

Much love to you all!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 May 15 - 11:45 PM

Totally sodden day here today. The thunder has finally moved far enough away that we don't hear it now, but come Tuesday heavy weather is moving back in. We had several inches of rain today.

I cleared out a cupboard over the dishwasher, reorganizing some of the bottles (vitamins, OTC medications, cold remedies, fiber capsules, hand lotion, tubes of various ointments, poison ivy treatments, etc.) and making room above for storage. Not sure what will go there yet, but i needed to clear out old bottles, toss lots of empty Rx bottles, and more.

I've made stuff for lunch this week and today since it was Mother's Day I made a small apple pie. I also made a batch of pumpkin and rice flour dog treats. Most of the evening was on my feet but it paid off. Now to soak my feet and trim my nails. Relaxing before bed.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 11 May 15 - 12:30 AM

"today since it was Mother's Day I made a small apple pie."




Just curious on this. is it a US tradition?


For apples btw. Pip stews some of our own apples and puts it in the freezer. It later gets turned in to crumbles, pies, etc.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 May 15 - 01:14 AM

No, but since it is a greeting card holiday and my kids weren't here to do anything special with, or just for a visit, I pampered myself with an apple pie. My son did call and I spoke to my daughter yesterday, but we're in different towns/states these days.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 May 15 - 02:30 PM

Whew! It's orful hot up in the former housemate quarters which was the former summer master bedroom which was the former MudDorm! It sure doesn't look or feel like any of THOSE iterations any more!!! Ah but we have all the pictures.

Hardi took it over as part of his home gym, long ago. His heavy bag and boxing gloves are up there along with his Nordic Track ski-er and my Cardioglide with resistance cables (and Hardi's painting equipt.).

I took down my favorite curtains to wash and pack, with a coordinating antique quilt. I found and secured all the loose curtain rods. I set up a trash box for my next workday up there. I moved stuff away from the center of the room towards the walls, making a row of stuff I can sit to sort. A lot of it is $$ papers-- we used to have a household administration dept up there til I took the table to Ohio on the first trip!

There's about one box of stuff to gather, pack, and label. A few items to bring down to put away. About one small trash barrel's worth of trash. A bag of clothes to pack for Ohio. A clothing rack to allocate. A Band sign to foto and preserve. A print from Sorcha to allocate.

While I was up there with Faulkner keeping me company I was struck by the realization of how many Catters, friends, family, and parishioners I've survived. Eerie!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 May 15 - 03:52 PM

Busy at home day. Jeremiah doesn't have school today so it's nice to not be running back and forth to town. He does, however, have a baseball game later IF the rain holds off.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 May 15 - 09:52 AM

Closet declut:

5 sundresses bought before surgery to stay as cool as was then possible-- straps too long now to cover bra straps now that I have a better bustline due to newer bras with better fit. Hardi is shortening these straps and then we will shorten them to shell length cuz I have one I already shortened and lovelovelove that one. All my cotton knit shells are too big and stained. I can pitch them even for housewear and have pretty AND cool summer tops YAY!

A recent insight thanks to sessions post-surgery: BEFORE the surgery, after thyroid treatment began, I lost about 20 pounds, spontaneously. About twice what I usually lose during vacay's increased activity level. I now lose at about that rate every time I go to Ohio. This means that I can look forward to an annual drop during my extended fall visit, of about 30 pounds just by increased activity plus a Leptin reset. It also means that with a modest increase in activity in PA, I should be able to continue a steady, slower loss. And SS will pay me to do it!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 May 15 - 11:33 AM

I always thrive from an increase in activity in the spring, but this year has been so wet I've been stuck indoors. I'm hoping by this afternoon it will be dry enough that I can mow, at least out front. The back is a huge job that will be mowed in stages.

eBay listings going up today. The first one went live last night. I may make a run down to the village recycle bins this afternoon because there is more cardboard here than I need.

Zeke the chocolate lab found and devoured a brand new bar of olive oil soap in my shower. The rat spent the night out in the garage because I didn't want to hear him salivating from an upset stomach. He'll probably be farting bubbles today. I need to find some kind of soap holder to suspend from the towel rack in each shower to prevent this. Last month he ate a new bar from the back bathroom. He just hops into the tub and grabs it. Grrrrr.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 12 May 15 - 11:41 AM

SRS - sorry, can't help giggling over your misfortune. I hope Cinnamon gave him a severe and disapproving look.

Oh, and 200!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,LilyFestre
Date: 12 May 15 - 12:05 PM

Farting bubbles!!!! LOL!!!!

I am prepping for an upcoming quilting retreat. I am doing my best to not overpack!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 May 15 - 12:26 PM

I'm forever farting bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 May 15 - 02:16 PM

This morning I was on an eBay roll, but I waited too long to approach the yard - hoping for dryer turf (my next door neighbor was smart and mowed despite the soggy conditions) it is now drizzling. If it doesn't do much I might mow this evening. I harvested a big armful of oregano that is now rinsed and resting on a large tray I keep for this use. I may pick some more (I have several large trays for drying herbs, and I have clear counter and table tops let them sit on). A couple of weeks ago I mailed a bunch of dried herbs to a friend so I'm rebuilding my supply.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 May 15 - 05:29 PM

City"
I do get chuckles here, as well as reminders! "An armload of oregano"! Today I went into the back yard and there are signs of life in the oregano and the sage and the one remaining lavender! The grass had gotten a bit high and I took the reel mower to most of it, pruned some dead wood and enjoyed the leaping of the four clematis on their new-last-year metal trellises! The Manitoba maple has become a monster and shades the sunny garden way too much. The rhubarb has mostly succumbed but hopes of the tree removal - with all R has on his plate ... SLIM to none!

The Solomon Seal, which he risked poison ivy to get for me by the sideo f the road somewhere in Ontario a few years ago, has become a two foot diameter clump. Very handsome and some will eventually go back to Ontario. The shade garden is again overrun with lily of the valley - indestructible! After it blooms, I shall pull a bunch. Day lilies, astilbe and hosta are in too much sun - the only vacant spot I could find for them last fall - to save their lives. Thriving!

The other day, I weeded the thriving flower bed at the mill - so wonderful that most everything survived - protected from the north wind by a concrete wall, things are blooming like mad. An elegant row of dwarf purple iris were delightful.

My latest herbal remedies are working gangbusters. Last night after a busy day - driving to the mill, stopped at a thrift shop and found a chair for Geri, took it to her. She was delighted so we moved chairs - one went out the door and two changed places. A cup of tea and then we went for lunch. Finally I made it to the mill and the mugs were still too damp so I threw a few small plates, trimmed a few mugs, pulled handles, trimmed lids and, in the end, left the rest to dry more. I was hoping to fire this week but - next week after I get back from Ontario.

Driving back to the city, I determined that I was not sitting all evening and since we never get to bed before midnight anyway, I was going to the Wheel Club for Hillbilly night. R came along and it was a wonderful break, good to see the people. I spent the eve "hiding from my fan club" as I told Jeanie when she came to see if I wanted to sing "my song". This one man, very nice, can be very insistent but my voice was great on Sunday and went strange again on Monday.

I am really getting desperate to find a second song - that is right for me. "The Frozen Logger" is my one and only! Nothing else seems quite right for me - esp for this venue which is strictly country prior to 1966! Since I play no instrument, I often end up a cappella - elsewhere, not the Wheel Club - "just give me a G". So many terrific musicians! Resolved: go more often now that I am feeling better.

Out front, I cut back a whole bunch of lilac shoots to clear the deck for other plants. It is blooming but not prolifically although it is two stories high. Resolved: cut it WAY back after the bloom.

Put the shop vac together this afternoon and am prepared to use it about 6 pm- then leave so the dust can settle elsewhere than my lungs; we are off to a movie! I even found something different to wear.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 May 15 - 09:33 PM

I finished listing the last of the doll house furniture that came from a friend's estate. It's tedious to measure every item, but that's the best way to sell this stuff to collectors. There are some also general household items listed and a couple of more things to put up tonight, once I research them.

Dorothy, the oregano harvested today is a tiny amount of what I need to move out of the way in the kitchen garden, it's taking over. So I'm harvesting it now and I'll dig some later and move it around. It makes a terrific ground cover.

Over the winter I bought some high volume SD cards for the good camera and I need to take a lot more photos of the comings and goings in the garden. I have a book in mind.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 May 15 - 12:44 PM

Just listed on eBay a pair of new shoes that my son refused to wear for graduation and now has outgrown. There are a couple of more items to list later, but I think I've waited about as long as I can for the lawn to drip dry from yesterday. I'll mow now before the next storm arrives in a couple of hours. After I finish my cup of tea.

I'm investigating Glucosamine products to see if I can fend off what feels like a bit of arthritis in my hip. Do any of you have any experience with it? There are a few varieties, in particular, if you've given it any thought. Dorothy, you're always reading those labels - what do you know about it?

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 May 15 - 02:05 PM

It was drizzling as I mowed the front, where I finished. I got a little bit done in the back and had tipped the mower to scrape out all of the caked on grass underneath when the rain started in earnest.

Now for more work in the house. I've relocated some cookbooks, tossed a couple I will never look at, and am considering what needs to go in the cupboard over the dishwasher. I feel another purge-the-cupboards episode coming on.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 May 15 - 08:34 PM

City:
SRS: I have been using Natural Factors "Flex-able Glucosamine Sulfate Jumbo" 500 capsules of 500 mg for about $20CAD. I order most of my supplements on line; it is generally cheaper for good quality. I use plain GS and separate Natural Factors MSM as I often do not need both. MSM is good for pain as I found after my fall last year. I use the pendulum to determine daily need - sometimes more than recommended, sometimes less, according to what I have been doing and/or eating.

I still have not done the vacuuming. We went to a movie last night at McGill U, sponsored by "Whole person care". Le Herisson (the hedgehog) was in French with English subtitles; subtitles are great for me due to my auditory processing disorder - I rarely understand any dialogue. The movie maintained the spirit of The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, one of the top novels we have read. It was flawlessly produced. I skipped the discussion part as I did not want to have the strength of feeling dissipated.

Today, having morning life invaded by bro, I took R to his truck and continued on to the mill, stopped at thrift shop and picked up some useful pieces of clothing for each of us, trimmed and threw for almost 4 hours, then lunch with Geri whom I found in the thrift shop looking for a book and jacket for impending trip. After lunch/supper, I went back to the mill and found a possibly suitable spare jacket and a couple books, dropped them at her house and came back to the city. Happy with my day's accomplishments.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 May 15 - 10:22 PM

I will forego the pendulum, but thank you for the information on Glucosamine Sulfate.

Moved a few ornamental bowls from a kitchen cupboard to the plant area of the sun room where they can do useful service in attractively keeping water from draining out of pots onto the window sill below. Evicted a couple of items from the eBay area to the Goodwill bin.

I have a couple of pieces of software to install, and there is some eBay research to do this evening, then an early night to get to work early tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 14 May 15 - 06:37 AM

Got out of work a few hours early yesterday and put the time to good use: trip to the dump (I only go when my 30 gallon barrel is full, about every three months. I compost almost all organic material and recycle everything I can), trip to the recycling trailer, trip to the bottle redemption center, swept the kitchen, made dinner, and walked the dog (and took lots of photos at the same time). I meant to go to the laundromat and do the dishes, but by the time Bandit and I got back from our walk it was 7:45 and I'd run out of steam. I have all the laundry loaded in the car, so maybe I'll just stop by on my way home and get everything started and then go home and get the dog.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 May 15 - 09:07 AM

I spent some session time last night discharging on the feelings associated with saying goodbye to loved items, because that's what I'm doing with my share of the furniture this 3-family house holds, for the items I know will not fit in Ohio. These feelings came up when one item I gave was not received with the appreciation I had anticipated, so I was checking my expectations.)

I had an interesting sponraneous result this AM.

I didn't wake up eager to purge stuff-- I hope that's coming soon.

I woke up wanting to walk.

Just sayin'.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 May 15 - 10:39 AM

City:
Ah, Susan! It is hard to give up dear things and it certainly helps if the recipient is delighted. Many years ago, the phrase:" If you don't expect anything, you won't be disappointed!" came to me in a "flash of light". Still not easy!

The pendulum, SRS, is working with one's inner self to determine the need. It is not a ouiji board! It has saved me money as I only take what I need, not what the company "recommends", or more than rda if that is what body needs. It is part of how I have been able to heal myself over these last few years. R laughs his head off; he is a "scientist". I don't use it around him. But I once had cause to use it in front of a PhD non-believer and I saw his mouth open in astonishment as he saw it change direction. He could see how steady I was holding the string. Each of us draw our own lines. Scientists tell us vitamin C does not work - Works for me - gangbusters. Some do not believe in herbs. Their loss.

Years ago in Ontario, I planted oregano and it took over the world! What I have here is too well behaved.

Off to the mill to pick up things I want to take to Ontario. R's truck is indisposed so we will not take anything big; just what fits in my little Scion. Maybe I can trim yesterday's pots and do more sorting while there. R is desperate to get away - to "Beaver Haven", he dubbed it this morning.

Beautiful Day!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 May 15 - 12:03 PM

DP, "delighted" would have been way beyond my hopes. Just letting me know it arrived would have been.... at the other end of the spectrum. But thanking someone ELSE for it was not on my list of anticipated outcomes! ;-) Next time SUSAN goes to the pot office!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 May 15 - 12:04 PM

LOL, POST office

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 May 15 - 12:49 PM

I just spent another hour further un-making the former sleeping attic that was a housemate's space for awhile-- cleaning up the hidden parts of her mess-- and organizing my MOVING BOXES to make room for more boxes as they accumulate. UCKY!!! But one more trip up there on a cool day will finish whipping the boxes into shape. I COULD have stayed up there longer.... but you know, my back was sore, and I have a walking date or this evening to see how far I can get!

I cleaned up a spilled pile of bulb-starter mix, first, and I brought down the accumulated linens from up there to wash and put away. Biscuit was kind enough to "bless" the space for me just before I stopped-- another time I'll watch her cues to knock off, more closely.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 May 15 - 12:04 AM

This evening I took about 45 minutes (until it was too dark to see safely) and mowed more of the back yard. I have about 3/4 of it left, but this at least gives shorter turf around the back porch, a path to the back, and a route to the compost and the clothesline area. Like there'll be dry weather for hanging out laundry any time soon. . .

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 May 15 - 11:40 AM

City:
Waiting for R - the story of my life! I could write a book! All ready for trip to Bancroft except putting food in cooler - which will serve as fridge until an electric one arrives. No truck this week means no fridge... I've lived without before. Only hoping for running water this month! But we have the stream!

Trip to mill yesterday: managed to find a place to get the oil changed quickly and no fuss; usual garage is booked until next week and I just did not plan ahead. Too much else on my mind.

Also trimmed lids and garlic pots - hoping some of the lids will fit! Got creative putting air slots in pots. Watered indoor plants really well and closed some of the drapes to cut down on heat. Caught Geri as I was leaving, to wish her a safe journey this week also.

Then back to city to watch Big Bang, have supper, do a load of laundry. About 10 pm, I was suddenly nauseous and dizzy. Made it to the bed; lying down I was able to assess the situation. Asked R to bring me a cup of warm water with a tiny bit of apple cider vinegar. I felt the malaise leave. Must have eaten something. Totally fine this morning. ACV is definitely good for food poisoning and the like. I took a small bottle with me when I went to Mexico years ago.

I guess I have said it before but my level of feeling good has increased so much since starting the herbal for lymphatic congestion that I am elated. Instead of wanting to go sit down ALL the time, I look around for what else to do. Just need to put the laundered sheets back on the bed when they are dry and hope for R to come soon. The traffic will be very nasty later in the day for this big long weekend.

I was afraid we would have to stop at Lowe's to pay the bill as my bank would not add it on line. I phoned the local store and got through eventually to a nice man who told me the secret formula; so that bill is paid and we can take back roads. R really needs this break and I need to be "home".

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 May 15 - 12:05 PM

Dorothy, I looked up "lymphatic congestion" and landed on an herbal treatment involving a plant I grew up calling "Bedstraw." Galium sp. There are a variety of them, one that grows in my yard every spring. Interesting. It's tall and happy with all of the rain we've had this year.

It's raining today. Again. Heavy rains predicted for the weekend. It looks like a great opportunity to work in the house some more.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 May 15 - 12:40 AM

A nice surprise this evening, one of the items on eBay sold already. That probably means I asked too little, but since I wasn't sure if it would sell at all, this is a good compromise. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 May 15 - 05:02 PM

I have assayed the tasks around the house to make it look good for company in a few weeks time. Bathrooms and kitchen are at the top of the list, and I think spending time heating and removing old caulking compound in the bathroom at the back of the counter top will give a fresh look (after I clean off the mildew behind each faucet fixture). A trip to Goodwill netted me a couple of attractive soap dishes, a shower caddy (to keep Zeke from eating my bars of soap!) and a couple of decorative vases.

The kitchen counter caulk needs replacing also, and today I also picked up a couple inexpensive oval plates to use for stuff (soap bottles, sponges, scrubber pad) beside the sink. There were old plastic produce trays in use before. 58 cents well spent. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 May 15 - 10:44 PM

This evening it took about 90 minutes to heat and scrape out eight feet of old grout. It's hot work with the hair dryer blowing against the wall to warm the grout compound, but that does make it a lot easier to remove. I'll go over the area this evening with bleach and tomorrow see about re-grouting the area. I didn't take a "before" photo, but I could stand to do this in the kitchen and master bathroom also, so have other opportunities.

The garden is soaked, we had several inches of rain last night, but I pulled a few weeds and spread a bag of wood mulch over one bed. I've pulled the grass from around a bunch of self-seeded basil seedlings to get my hedge started for the year. The onions aren't very big - they do better with less water.

I cleared out the laundry room a bit because I'm tired of having to move laundry baskets every time I want to turn on the dryer. I have to keep a small trash receptacle up there (to keep Zeke out of the trash) but with that and the baskets, it was awkward. It looks better now.

We have less chance of rain the next couple of days (20%) so perhaps it will dry enough to mow. I'm continually having to figure out how to get that done with the lawn literally growing too tall overnight. Mid to late week we're in the 60% chance every day. El Nino at work.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 May 15 - 11:12 AM

Beaver Haven!:

LONG trip on Friday. R was not ready until 2 pm and traffic was already built up so we took an alternate route out of town - an extra half hour but got onto a highway rather than a parking lot. R slept for a while so I stayed on the highway until he woke up - he prefers secondary roads. We sure got it! Ended up on a dirt road that I wondered if ever.... Finally came out to a paved road. We have now SEEN that part of Ontario! Went through Merrickville- an old town making the most of its gorgeous stone buildings and position on the Rideau Canal - a destination to which we will return when we have more time and it is not a holiday weekend.

Stopped for supper in Perth about 7 pm. (Had we taken the highway, we would have been here by 7 pm!) I was really hungry and we had a mediocre meal but OK. At 8 we were back on the road - DARK and RAINY and trafficky. This would have been fine on the highway but on the secondary road, the headlights of oncoming traffic - lots of it - made it impossible to see the road at times. I discovered that even on the little travelled last lap, headlights of the vehicle behind made life a misery - I would slow down until they were forced to pass! When someone was in front of me, I stayed WAY behind so they would not suffer my lights. Arrived about 10:30, exhausted but happy to be here,

So, We spent a day just being here, visited the Art Gallery where R become involved in a lengthy discussion of something esoteric. I went elsewhere - library, coffee shop for 3 Morning Glory muffins and hoped it would soon end. My auditory processing disorder makes it impossible for me to participate; I really have little idea what people are saying.

Not a great deal practical was accomplished other than grocer shopping, and we went to the open mike about 20 minutes out of town where I connected with a few people I knew before and sang my song. I found out it was strictly "over 50" and not happening again until September. Good to be able to talk with people who know things as the sound system was so bad even R could not understand. "Now I know what you are dealing with all the time."

Sunday, R worked diligently on the water system and I worked on clearing soil away from the house. I can only work in half hour to one hour segments with rests in between but feel better for doing it and my right knee seems to be the better for being active. He got the pump working then found numerous leaks. About 9:30, he thought he heard fireworks but when we drove into town there was NO ONE there. Someone must have done their own somewhere nearby. So back home to hit mosquitoes - the doors were open all day and the "wonderful" screen door kept falling down.- an early night.

So after a nice BF, we are back to our tasks. We do have running water but leaks need to be addressed. We also have some flowers of some sorts coming up - and tons of couch grass and other weeds.

Warm muggy day - the sort when "that's not rain, that's the excess humidity falling!"

SRS: Glad to hear bedstraw is good for something! It is probably in this "cleaver's combo."

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 May 15 - 03:44 PM

Beaver Haven:
Still pecking away at removing dirt from against the sills. The east one seems fairly solid. I actually managed to get down on my knees to work --- AND get up again! More than once! The more I work the body, the better it works.

R is pessimistic about the beaver. It has not repaired the dam so it "must have moved on".

A wonderful wind blowing through as the rumbling of a potential storm has been going on for near an hour.

While I would like the water to run at least minimally, I am hoping he will be able to take a break to visit some friends today.

I managed to organize the storage area yesterday and have poles for screened tent ready to re-construct next time I come. The mosquitoes and black flies are becoming abundant.

Saturday we missed out on an auction but found a "Storage Surplus" - sale of odds and sods. When I walked in, the first thing I saw was a set of four goblets - "I made those!?" Told the guy in charge; asked for a deal. He gave them to me. The woman for whom I made them was a good friend who died a few years ago. This man had helped her husband move and had a great deal of my friend's unsold arts- crocheting and photos as well as some of her collection of pottery. He was selling the stuff for Bob. So we had a nice chat.

We also bought a beautiful large salad bowl - a small chip on the outside of the rim but lovely brush work - by a nearby potter. I recognized the brush work. A potter's work is personal. I was delighted to get these goblets back. They have a beautiful (to me) honey amber glaze that I could not sell in the 80s but Heather and I liked it. Maybe I will try again; It looks rather like the dark clay is dipped in honey. Could not sell shades of brown back then no matter how beautiful I thought it was.

Today we went to the hardware store and while R was deciding what would do the job I had a great talk with a campground owner who offered free canoeing and kayaking! Also a long discussion on his township council and its failings. And who to talk to to get things done correctly, etc. And he offered me a kiln.

The rumbling has stopped; no rain yet. I must remember to unplug things if we leave, or a storm comes while we are here.

R seems to be happy - working away and solving problems, with no one telling him what to do or how! Mumbling to himself the whole time! Guess I shall go dig some more.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 18 May 15 - 04:28 PM

I love brown and earth-tone pottery, Dorothy. One of my absolute favorite mugs is a reddish-brown glaze with a dark-colored animal figure (a goat based on a rock painting from Arches National Park in Utah) on it by Ann Schunior. While everyone else was exclaiming over the blue mugs, I was going for the brown ones. The mugs with the African animal motifs are perfect with that particular color glaze, reminds me of the photos I've seen of plains animals in silhouette against African sunsets.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 15 - 05:58 PM

Dorothy, there has been a tornado warning issued for your area. Get to a news channel on radio, internet or TV. Soonest. BM

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 15 - 06:12 PM

Dorothy:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/tornado-warning-expands-to-bancroft-hastings-highlands-1.3078359

BM

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 15 - 06:17 PM

Would anyone who is in touch with Dorothy on Facebook please let her know about this. Thank you. BM

The place they have there has no basement.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 May 15 - 06:25 PM

Done, Guest.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 May 15 - 06:28 PM

DP was last active on FB 4 hours ago so is unlikely to see the warning there. If u have fone for local contacts, suggest you try that, BM.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 15 - 06:40 PM

Thanks, Susan. It'll likely end up being a bad wind storm or hail, but better safe than sorry. I'll try Robin's email.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 15 - 06:59 PM

The tornado warning was reduced to severe thunderstorm warning by Environment Canada. Sorry to sound the alarm. Thank you very much, Susan. BM

PS Sorry for any inconvenience.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 15 - 07:25 PM

The thing about high winds and tornadoes is that while they may lift and remove your personal clutter, they're bound to leave someone else's behind in its place. In no particular order. Or structure. Thanks, #. We're still under a week or more of "spring weather" here ourselves, and it seems to stretch in long strands of storms from Texas to Ontario and Quebec.

Getting back to alternate day fasting, finally. The stress of the end of the semester is finished, making it easier to work on other things. Summers on campus are sometimes a bit surreal, there are few people around and it's peaceful. Hot and peaceful.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 15 - 10:53 PM

I had to change the lawnmower oil (it had been forever since it was last changed) and then fix the handle (a knob popped off and it was coming apart). But I finished the front, though there may be spots I missed. I left the streetlight side of the yard till last. Now a chicken is roasting, to use for meals this week. I dropped on a handful of garden herbs and things I pulled by accident (a few small onions came out with handfuls of grass).

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 May 15 - 02:38 PM

Art Gallery:

Thank you, dear friend, for your concern. I did see a notice on line and pulled plugs on everything before leaving to go to dinner. All that rumbling and all we got was a rain storm on Selby Hill - about 10 min. I suspect our little house would be gone long since if it were not in a protected area. But tornados are peculiar. I once sat on a porch chatting with someone while the rain poured down. The next day - five miles away there were large trees snapped off like toothpicks and a barn without a roof. We do have tornados!

The house now has cold running water. I am doing my volunteer stint and R is working on - I don't know what. He said he wanted to get a lot done today. Maybe hot water. There is a leak in the hot water lines - somewhere - so he plans to put in totally new lines - plastic so they don't break when they freeze, he says.

Supper last night with our friends in Lake St. Peter. We took the chicken and pie and they gave us a nice pot of oregano which is already planted in front of the house. It did not rain at our house or at our friends.

Ranger: I think I will try some interesting uses of that Honey Amber. The Gallery Gift shop has a bunch of my pots: dark clay with transparent turquoise glaze -their choice. I am tired of looking at them! Time for something new.

Back to Montreal tonight after the volunteers meeting. NO back roads! Hope to get there before 11.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 May 15 - 01:08 PM

City:
Glitches galore. Maybe lists are a good way to de-clutter - R came to pick me up without changing clothes and a bit before the mtng ended; did not come back for 30 minutes. He thought the meeting would go on but it had ended 5 min after he left. He took time to close the upstairs window - a task as he had to go up a ladder through the attic hole, etc! That is a project for the future.   One thing and another we were late getting going and arrived at 12:10, the last hour being challenging. Bed felt good - I guess since I was asleep in no time. A checklist by the door would be a good idea. Verbal does not make it! And we forgot to pick the lovely rhubarb.

We do have cold running water in the bathroom and a functioning toilet!!!! The nice faucet we had bought second hand leaked as badly as the one he took out. When I go back, I will take a new one we have at the mill. I should be able to install it. I've done this before.

My volunteer day went well, interesting conversations with various people. The meeting went well but my auditory processing was in the sub-basement. I told the secretary I was looking forward to the minutes to find out what happened.

Today, after a good bf, I took R to his vehicle and did some groceries, unloaded car and loaded the washing machine - which is now ready to go into dryer. I am still reveling in feeling good energy. Now, having left the portable wheel at Beaver Haven and it is late to go to the mill, I wonder what I can do today. If I sit too long, I feel wretched and joints start to ache. ....

Our brief summer is over and the weather is cool and windy, and dusty. But blue sky and sunshine is nice.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 21 May 15 - 11:46 AM

The adoption agent is coming within the next month for the first of three home study visits. This time is just paperwork so the house isn't her focus but it still needs to be super clean in my opinion. I am beginning that process today. Talk about motivating. Clutter will be picked up or tossed in fast order in all lived in rooms and then a deep cleaning will take place a week before she arrives and then minimally again the day before she gets here. Things are moving way faster with this adoption and we are so excited!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 May 15 - 05:37 PM

☺
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Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 May 15 - 10:08 PM

City:
Exciting times, Michelle!

Not wanting a reprise of yesterday, I dealt with a few details/emails and phoned a woman about a screen door. She had not put a measurement! We had a nice chat and then she phoned back and said it was my size so I headed for Lancaster, Ontario - about an hour. Well, except for construction! So I phoned from the first service centre and told her I would not make it before she had to leave. She said she would leave it out back and if I liked it I could leave the $20 in the "red mail box by the back door".

No longer in a rush, I had a talk with a nice young woman in the Ontario Tourism part of the centre, telling her about Bancroft and the Gemboree, adding to her knowledge of the area. Picked up a few pieces of info. Then on to Lancaster and an ATM and bought rope, went to the address where Fern's husband was cutting the blooms off the rhubarb. He helped put the door on the roof and left me alone to tie it on - my way - commenting that "you have moved a few things". It is a ratty old wood door but interesting and will do the job.   

Then back to Quebec and the mill where I unloaded and sorted, watered plants - the bucket I left on the front step was full of water- and looked for clock works - I have a bunch and plan to make a couple clocks but needed to know the size hole I needed to make before firing. Finally found them after looking through everything several times - right there!

Loaded the kiln then discovered I had neglected to put handles on the 4 teapots! Also had forgotten to load them into kiln or I would have discovered it sooner! So I wrapped them in wet towels to re-dampen them so I can put on handles tomorrow. There will be enough pots for a second bisque firing. I redeemed myself by throwing some salad bowl sized bowls and a couple mid sized. Finished before 6, started the kiln, and came back to city to watch Big Bang x3 tonight! and delete emails, etc. Well pleased with a productive day.

A beautiful day, too.

R just phoned. He is running out of gas somewhere in the Laurentians! With any luck he will make it to Lachute - AND get something to eat! He went north on a road instead of south! He is towing a Subaru Outback someone gave him. Hope it is worth it! I thought he was doing that this morning - but best laid plans...

Yesterday, two of his guys dismantled a 10x13 garden shed - the one we bought for $100 and a mug! It cost $340 in labour to take it apart and is now ensconced on a flatbed trailer to be towed to Bancroft by a gas-guzzling flat bed truck (de-clutter the wallet) - loaded with a fridge and K cabinets, sofa, love seat, and... whatever will fit - when R has time to make the trip. In other words- moving clutter from the mill to beaver haven! HMMMMMM???? It's rather nice with only 3 lawn chairs, 2 TV tables and a bed!

Good news - R has found gas and is on his way. I am SO glad I do not have to go fetch gas for him - wandering around the Laurentians in the dark is NOT my idea of anything to do.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 22 May 15 - 07:09 AM

I've finished my play with the alarm for now. The (hacked - Visonic don't publish it) description of the protocol wasn't as complete as I'd expected but it contained enough for my needs. I'm not entirely happy with my use of XPL but it was the easiest route for me to take as my existing programs work with that without modification to code.

(My main server just passes this text format around to other stand alone components that interface between it and hardware, eg. my new alarm program is a sort of Visonic to/from XPL component. I just "invent" a schema and add an entry to one database table like:

schemaid: "visonic.jf", description: "Visonic Alarm interface", address type: "ac", nodisplay: "address,unit", action:"update".

And in another say tell it that commands are "Arm Home", "Arm Away" and "Disarm".

And that's it. The server then knows enough to work with it.).

Here is a snapshot of my simple PC based control panel which communicates with the server. I'd maybe like to separate security items out to a new tab but it works as is. I can see event changes eg. an alarm motion sensor is tripped and I see the current status of the alarm panel (eg. is it armed) and the sensors (door open, tamper alert, battery low, etc.).

I can also use this data in my scripts so if say the front room sensor was tripped when the alarm system is in armed state, I could turn the lights on in there and tell the camera to start emailing pictures. As it stands I can also arm/disarm the panel from there but I'm not sure I want that..

I've got one outside light to change (I thought a bulkhead would be right but it didn't really work and have a 10W flood to go there instead). After that, maybe I do have a big clear out and take a break. I still owe Pip for some of the stuff I'm supposed to be paying for (in the rush to get things done, I got ahead of my own finances) and maybe, while there are not really many lights, etc. here, maybe as a bit of a home project, I've had enough for a while.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 22 May 15 - 12:24 PM

The crib has been disassembled....whew...what a job! The carpet has been vacuumed and the new big boy bed is assembled and awaiting fresh sheets to come out of the dryer. There is some major clean up and rearranging to be done....probably will happen today and tomorrow and that room is DONE! YES!

Pete is home for a long weekend (YAY!) and he built a rabbit hutch for the little bunny we found on the side of the road. It's a sweet little bunny condo!

I am feeling accomplished and ready to tackle more on my to do list!

Have a great day everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 May 15 - 11:15 PM

I'm impressed with all that people are doing. Jon, you never know when that setup is going to work in your favor. A co-worker had a scare this week - her house was broken into while she was in it. She ignored someone ringing the bell then knocking, and when she finally headed toward the front door, she realized they were trying to kick it in. She retreated through the bedroom (locked that door) and into the bathroom (locked that door) and called 911. When police arrived he was leaving, and tried to run them over. He was shot but got away, to be captured later in the parking lot of his apartment complex. The trick is figuring out how to make the house look too robust, not vulnerable to a burglar who chooses randomly (it seems) from houses on a street he chooses to travel down.

I have an ice axe near the door (mine is like the longer one in that photo) - I think I'd shout through the door that if they enter they'll get their effing brains blown out. That bluff is probably enough to stop most burglars - but if not, the ice ax is a wicked weapon and I know how to use it. And 911 is on speed dial.

Four bags of clothing are in the car to be dropped off at a thrift store donation center tomorrow. There are a couple of books I missed and probably other items as well. My daughter and I went through donation items that came from her brother's room and she kept a few things, and I kept a couple of shirts he doesn't wear that I like. The rest is out of here. I'll work in his room some more this weekend to make it ready for guests, and I expect there will be more trips to Goodwill soon.

Must work in the garden, but more rain is forecast. We haven't had any really hot days yet, probably breaking a record for cool days this time of year. I'll do what I can - I've usually had my first sunburn by now, but I've barely seen the sun this spring.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 May 15 - 01:11 PM

I had plans to hand two boxes to my mail carrier today, but the post office has thrown a rub in the works. There used to be a great desktop application that let me print a label with the barcodes and tracking numbers, then I could affix stamps and mail it that way (you always have to hand a parcel to a real person). The updated application now only works for businesses that have postage permits, so I can no longer print for parcel or media packages and pay with stamps. I have a couple of boxes ready to go and I'll have to wait till next week and take them to the post office.

Today is drizzly but I think I'll be able to weed some in the vegetable garden. I'll take out a garden shear and cut some of the grass around plants if it is too muddy trying to pull it out by the roots.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 May 15 - 08:31 PM

Mill:
Waiting for the glazes to dry in the loaded kiln, thanks to my super boo boo of over firing the bisque The pots still took glaze but are taking forever to dry. I spent about an hour and a half trimming the pots I threw Thursday - nice bowls. Then built up the energy and inclination to glaze. Took me until about 5! So I did not finish until 8.I got so "into it" that I was just focussed on trying a couple different things - then had to run and get the dish pan and pour glaze into it as the bucket was not big enough to dip the big bowl. I guess I need to find some larger round containers - Dollar store!

Now I need to prepare something to eat on the way back to the city, close the kiln and get on my horse and go.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 May 15 - 09:00 PM

Four loads of laundry done, dishes done, a long hand written letter to a dear friend, awesome dinner made and enjoyed (Steak on the grill, roasted asparagus and mushrooms with balsamic sauce, summer squash with red peppers, wild rice and a pineapple angel food cake). Floors swept, counters cleaned off and now to find a little something else to do before bed. I am fired up and knocking things off my ta-da list! We WILL be READY!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 May 15 - 01:47 AM

It was a busy day here as well, mostly spent indoors because we have a full weekend of heavy weather to look forward to. Two parcels are ready to mail next week, several bags of stuff dropped off at the thrift store donation center, though I did go in the store and find a few things that go with sets I've been working on here (glassware, mostly). Bought dog food, and now need to tend to the dogs - two of them are shedding like crazy.

I baked bread for BLTs - the first large garden tomatoes are ripe. I have the lettuce and bacon at the ready. I made a banana cream pie because I had two large ripe bananas to use and I haven't made a pie for a while and this is one of my favorites. Meringue looks a little odd, it pulled away from the crust, but it tastes wonderful.

I've set out materials for tomorrow to decide which grab bar to put up in the hall bathroom. After that I'll return the one I didn't use (I picked up two lengths to avoid having to go back to the store later if I changed my mind about one) and get some paint. The bathroom could use a touchup. All of this is getting ready for guests in a couple of weeks - taking a look at the house through someone else's eyes is a great way to see chores needing doing.

Thunder in the background tonight, and a tornado warning until 4am. There is nothing like waking to a storm and the tornado sirens to make Memorial Day weekend memorable.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 24 May 15 - 04:05 AM

Your way ahead of us on tomatoes, SRS. Ours haven't produced their first flowers yet. Still, we're on course for our own growing season. As usual, we are growing std/salad ones in the greenhouse and a few outdoors and cherry ones in hanging baskets. We don't grow a large (as in beefsteak) one. Lettuce are "pickable" now. Not fully hearted but we will start using them now rather than buy from the shops.

Had rhubarb and apple crumble for tea last night. The apple was frozen (in stewed form) from last year but the rhubarb was fresh from the garden.

I've still got a few veg plants indoors and am hoping a particular nurse comes to do my back this week. I gave her a couple of plants last time I saw her but said there should be more after I sorted out what we were going to plant. Either way, I think I need to shift what remains (I think a couple of cucumbers, 2 types of tomato, 2 sweet peppers and 2 basil) this week.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 May 15 - 11:54 AM

I had WAY too much fun Friday with my honeh at a local festival that was JUST my size and speed! Took the walker for insta-seating, and clocked about a mile in about two hours of music, he althy food, people watching, photography, and a little romance. At the top of the bridge I just HAD to explore, my hip muscles (chronicall weakest) clanged a final warning that they were DONE, so we took turns pushing each other back down the bridge ramp towards the car for a little muscle recovery, laffing all the way. It was a great day for learning as a couple what I can really do this summer, and it was the first activity from the "Honey Let's Go" folder whicht resulted from a mailing of ad papers I went thru Thursday afternoon while he was stuck at a meeting.

Once again we learned the hard way: how fast a little hill climb can use up the muscles-- just like a scooter battery-- so future expeditions will mean any hilly parts go LAST, and preferably towards the car!

Only needful item I hadn't packed: 1 hair tie. The walker basketry easily held everything else needed. What a great night's sleep I got! Next venue needs wider paths so we can walk side by side. Probably a bike path, so I can also calibrate the pedometer that is so far not making useful data. Faulkner will come, since his sore back and mine need about the same amount of walking.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 May 15 - 08:12 PM

Today was a much slower day here. Jeremiah was up with nightmares early this morning. Pete got up with him first and then went downstairs but I could hear something weird on the monitor so I went in to check on him and found him under his covers, trembling and whimpering. I snuggled with him for a bit, sent him to the potty and tried to get him settled back into bed but no luck. The poor child was shaken. I sent him downstairs with his Daddy where he stayed for maybe an hour or so before he went back to bed for a bit. Pete being the wonderful human being that he is, let me go back to sleep and I slept WAY in....think 11:00!!! So....today I mostly just did dishes and cooked for both today and tomorrow. We are going to have a little picnic at home. :) Yep. Today was a lot of porch sittin' with Pete as we watched Jeremiah play with his freshly filled little pool. Life is good. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 May 15 - 08:22 PM

Finding the studs behind the wall when there is tile on the entire wall is a trick, and I first resorted to measuring the other side of the wall (with marginal results), then trying to tell where the studs are from along the very top of the shower stall (but run into the horizontal members). I'm going to have to run this grab bar from the very edges of the short wall because there will be studs behind the corners where the wallboard behind the tile meets. If at least two long screws hit the studs on each end it should be okay, and where there isn't a stud I'll use those plastic things that hold screws tighter into sheet rock. I picked up a masonry drill to go through the tile and viewed a couple of YouTube videos to form a plan how to drill but not crack the tile.

I picked a bright yellow for the walls in there to compliment the blue Mexican tile on the shower surround. I forgot to pick up trim color, but I'll probably make that a bright white. I may have some around here already, stashed in that kitchen cupboard where all the the paint cans lived for a long time.

The space I cleared in a kitchen cabinet above the sink is where the white ceramic dishes are now going to live. Small baking dishes, some with lids, and small ramekins with heavy-duty plastic covers that I use for butter. There are probably a few more pieces around that will move up there also. The island has one of those corner cabinets that has two doors near the sink and one on the far side of the counter that is large and I usually forget what is stored there. That's where they used to live and is why I often forgot to use them.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 May 15 - 12:11 AM

The grab bar is up. It took a number of tries to get the holes through the tile to the correct size so the screws could pass through but not put pressure sideways on the tile (screws are supposed to cut into the wood as they pass through, but that had to happen behind the tile). It looks like a grab bar in a tub, not ugly, not attractive. Functional. I think it took longer to assemble all of the bits and pieces to do the job than to actually drill the six holes and put up the bar. I used a silicone sealer on the screw holes to avoid any water problems.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,wys sans cookee
Date: 25 May 15 - 11:39 AM

Because of White Privilege, I can commemorate Memorial Day (including knowing and teaching its Black origins) with a snazzy ADA scooter paid for by others, instead of mourning a family member shot by police.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 May 15 - 12:12 PM

The origins were discussed, I think, in the Ken Burns series The Civil War, but it has been a while. Might have been a follow-up program. It's coming back to me as I consider where I saw it. If I come up with a link I'll share it.

Many years ago (21, to be exact) I was visiting the town of Salladasburg, PA, where my family have history (my grandmother's side of the family settled in the region circa 1850). On the hill above the town there is a graveyard where my grandfather is buried. It was the end of a long day and I wished I could drive my truck with the UHaul up the hill to visit my grandparents (my grandfather had the usual military star on his headstone) but I couldn't remember if there was room to turn around and the road was a skinny dirt road not suited to backing down a mile with a trailer in back. One of these days I'll get back there. It's a beautiful place.

This morning I started taking things off the walls in the bathroom to paint. I'll scrub dust off of the trim then mask it off and get started. It's a small room so I'll probably use a brush or a small roller. I have a huge mirror (4' x 6') that is going to stay in place, no way I'm taking that down to paint behind it, though I'm the one who put it up there (I moved it from in the dressing room when I first moved in - and moved other large heavy mirrors around as well, to places where they are going to stay put). This does bring back the early days when I first moved in here, though. Nice!

I have a couple of more boxes of things to prepare to mail to friends. I may use up all of the proceeds from the eBayed doll furniture on postage this week, but it should provide nice surprises for a couple of friends who could use a pick-me-up.

Since it is Memorial Day (observed) I may barbecue if we get a gap in the rain: I'll thaw something or pick up a piece of salmon if I go out today.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 May 15 - 07:13 PM

City:

Went down to the mill yesterday but got there about 3:30 and tired from the day before, so I just unloaded the kiln: two VERY nice bowls in the new style, the rest of the load was mediocre - sort of OK. At least the glazes stuck and nothing ran off onto the shelves so no monumental mess to clean up!!! I thought of doing another firing today but did not even feel like the drive. After I sorted out the kiln, I went to lend Geri a book and we went for supper then I came back to the city and fed Robin when he got home. Very nice to have small containers of soup in fridge - added a nice salad. I went to bed about 10:30. Woke R later so he could get to bed!

Today, I did not feel like the drive but then had to work at finding things to do. Mowed the small mowable bit of grass, cut some with K scissors, pulled down and cut back a bunch of Virginia creeper - torn between whether or not the neighbour would like it better... But there is another climbing plant that is evergreen and has gotten to the top of the wall in a couple places; it takes priority. I also moved some of the pile of old lumber that was blocking the view of the flower bed. watered the indoor plants and washed the windows in front and back doors!! Made celery soup, talked on the phone with Connie, sent a comprehensive email to a friend re the protocol for Lyme Disease - and got an excited "thank you" back; they have been using a part of it but not the whole - break the biofilm, kill the bacteria, eliminate it from body.

Made appointment to have car safetied in Ontario on Thurs and one to meet with solar guy on Friday. Realized that it might be helpful to get the hippie van registered so there is a spare vehicle for times like this past weekend when R was working on water and, although I was no help - he prefers to do it himself, I could not go anywhere lest he need to go to town for something. I shall phone tomorrow to see if I can light a fire under my sweet mechanic to get the van repaired and safetied.   My insurance agent will love me! My wallet might not! The van might be easier to use when I do the Farmers; Market as well.

I want to focus on more of this new glaze; these two pieces are really special- unique! Geri loved them. I'll try to post a pic on FB soon.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 May 15 - 12:03 AM

The first coat of paint is finished in the hall bathroom. I'll cut in around all of the edges after I do a second coat (assuming it is needed). When I moved in here I did a lot of this work, but priorities were different then. We had two bathrooms with sinks and toilets but the tubs were barely usable. One was full of debris from tearing out the old tile and putting up the green board, and the other just had the greenboard. We'd taken out the old ugly glass sliding doors and hadn't tiled the walls yet. I got the first few tiers up in the hall bathroom and we were able to use the tub for baths. It took a while to get to finishing the second tub tile surround. When I painted I did the big work but never put in a new color of trim, so all of these years it was the old paint still in view. I will remedy that this time.

There is a chance of rain every day this week, getting heavier late in the week. The gift that keeps on giving - it is taking care of much of the drought, but at the cost of the soggiest yard I've ever seen. I realized today that I have two squash plants growing in the tall grass in my back yard! They are seeds that escaped from the compost, no doubt. The squash in my garden looks miserable but this is thriving.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,wys sans cookee
Date: 26 May 15 - 09:45 AM

Yesterday also included a nice 1/2 mile walk in a local park not in our fishbowl. I also had taken my scooter to find areas in that park worth another few walks. One is planned for Thursday.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 May 15 - 07:28 PM

Unbelievable. My favorite local weather source shows more storms headed this way. I need to get a move on to get home ahead of the wind and rain. If you want to narrow it down, look at the Tarrant County radar. In the middle of our square shaped county you see Fort Worth, with a red circle for the loop highway around town. I-35 runs right through the middle top to bottom. I live very near where the bottom part of that loop highway is intersected by I-35. It's also near the weather radar, so it always has a bit of activity in that area, but later today I fear another red storm zone passing over the top of us. My yard is so squishy that you can hardly stand to step off of the pavement onto the lawn.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 May 15 - 10:23 AM

So sad this morning to learn that Art Thieme died. He had MS and some years ago he and his wife moved into a nursing home. Mudcat members twice raised money to send him computers, and the first time it was our beloved Katlaughing who spearheaded that. I'm glad Mudcat as a group was able to help Art share his music with the world. He converted all of his cassette disks to CD and sent them to the Smithsonian (at their request!).

We had more torrential rains overnight. It's a lovely clear morning now and my front yard is again in desperate need of a mow, but the grass and soil are too wet. Maybe tomorrow, if it doesn't rain again tonight. The back yard is a jungle - I've given up on most of it until this rain event passes. I mow close to the house, paths to the back gate and the compost and the garage, and paths to the garage, and one to the fence where I say hello to the neighbors.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 May 15 - 11:14 PM

And again it is raining. We're mentioned in the list of communities particularly vulnerable to flash flooding. This weather is expect to continue for the next 10 days.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 May 15 - 03:07 PM

I'm in the midst of decluttering the paper trail documenting (for memorialization) the violent and degrading deaths (at the hands of mistake-making badge-wearers) of more than 60 Black women (at last count; it was "a mere" 22 last week). I am no longer surprised at what human beings can do to one another.

This is all in preparation for a meeting at church to pray for the families who endure the anniversaries of their losses each year-- as well as being reminded on a regular basis of more, similar deaths every time one hits the news, which, TBTG for the justice side, is happening more and more often when these deaths occur. They continue to occur. I will document each one that comes to my attention as we go forward.

All those wombs, erased from the planet. All those generations never born.

These losses now have names and pictures. In slavery times they were invisible to most white people. Slow rate of change!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 May 15 - 11:30 PM

I'll finish painting the bathroom this weekend. I've tracked down a louvered vent cover to replace the rusted one on the ceiling now, and tomorrow I'll pick it up. No point in sanding and repainting this item that costs $7 new. Tonight's storms are now passing over the area, so I'm not opening the paint cans. It went on okay earlier this week, but took a lot longer to dry than I expected. It looks like the rain chances drop to about 20% over the weekend and in the foreseeable future.

I've finished carrying home disassessioned books I retrieved from the recycle bins at work. Several good-sized stacks. I'll redistribute them soon, one way or another. It's nine days till house guests arrive. It looks like the rain chances drop to about 20% over the weekend and in the foreseeable future.

The local power company is sponsoring free home energy assessments and they come through and caulk windows, spray in insulation, etc. I suspect I'm probably up to speed on most things except the windows. I could use new windows, but for now, I'll accept the offer to caulk the gaps. The front door has a gap with the edge also. I suspect they'll scratch their heads when they see my fireplace, blocked off completely with a sheet of insulation.

All of this wet weather seems to be contributing to aches and pains - partly because I can't get out and get my usual exercise. Perhaps this weekend I'll be able to contribute to the fitness component of this thread.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 29 May 15 - 05:52 PM

Well - I am onto the bedroom.
I have unearthed loads of clothing and fabric. I was almost distracted from the work by all the lovely bits I collected for patchwork, but I managed to put it into bags to move to the craft room for later in the year.

I devised a new, possibly impossible to achieve pattern some years ago and have been wanting to try it out - first I will have to find the shapes I made for the pieces, which I hope are in there somewhere.

I found the vacuum cleaner and did the stairs - they are scheduled for the first of the month, but I am getting ahead with the housework now that the kitchen is staying clearer.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 May 15 - 06:50 PM

Beaver Haven:
And happy to be here. Car now has safety check and needs new windshield - next Friday appointment. Begged that van be certified also so I can make ONE trip to Service Ontario to register the two and apply for health card.

bought a nice old wood wardrobe ($20) at thrift shop today but need to find truck and two strong bodies to move it tomorrow. Hope to achieve that tonight at the Open Mike. Great fun last night at another open mike - chatting with folks I had not seen in years.

Met a neighbour/township councilor at the grocery today - I have known him for years and not seen him... It was great to touch base. He and wife live on the other side of the beaver pond and he tells me there are also otters and, of course, blue herons.

Took the Limoges luncheon set we bought a couple years ago to my friend with antique shop. She loves it and we need to work out a price. We cannot remember what we paid for it but I think 50% of what she gets would be reasonable - whatever it is. She will search it on line. What do you think, SRS?

Many visits - with volunteers at Art Gallery and at A Place for the Arts. Looking at things which need to be clarified, a Chamber of Commerce doing a really poor job and how I can light a fire??? Tourism is the major source of income for this area. I keep thinking of things that need to be written about and forget to write them down before I forget!
            
Met with a solar provider today and he gave me a pessimistic picture of all the regulations which now need to be met. But we shared lots of health care ideas. Checked with local bank about a better exchange rate but I will have to do that in Montreal.

Getting closer to official resident status in Ontario. Comfortable in ratty little house. Loving the fresh air ----AND off to tonight's open mike!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 May 15 - 12:39 AM

Trying this again - I had too many tabs open and accidentally deleted my answer.

Dorothy, you can find wholesale replacement prices for china at Replacements.com, where they list prices of individual pieces in a given line. Kovels.com probably charges to use the online price list, but if you visit a bookstore you might find something in the annual price list they publish. Photograph the page with your phone camera and have it handy for future reference. The library is likely to have the book, but several years old. Tastes change, and so do prices. And of course, what the guides list is not necessarily what the market will bear. And of course, check at eBay. A Limoges search on sold items comes up with over 1000 bits of information. You can sort this list to narrow the information down to your pattern.

The humidity is at 80% right now and showers are in the forecast after midnight. The storm headed this way is over Lubbock right now. Color me really tired of thunderstorms. This has been the wettest month ever recorded in North Texas, ever. Any time of year, any year. Yuck. I know the 1980 heat wave was remarkable, with 42 days in a row over 100^o. 2011 was a bad one, with the benchmark being the number of days over 105^o - not as many as in 1980. (I need to search for total records for the year, I'm finding stories from July and August 2011 that weren't at the end of the heat wave.) The argument over the years I've heard (and have made) about the badness of heat versus cold is that you can put on clothes to deal with the cold, but the heat is there and you can't do much about it. In the summer I set my AC at 80^o and run a ceiling fan and sleep with a sheet only. But now, with all of this wet, it is more penetrating because the temperatures are relatively cool and the air compressor in the AC (that removes moisture) isn't going to kick in unless you set it to a very low temperature. Then it is cool and clammy. Seattle is cooler as a climate goes, but generally it isn't this wet. Summers there are nice because the daytime temps aren't too high and it doesn't rain all of the time. Here right now is it warm and very wet, making it quite a miserable feeling. It is probably a typical tropical climate that someone else experiences all of the time and doesn't think much about it. It's all what you're used to.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 May 15 - 09:36 AM

Took delivery of new fone ydy and spent most of the day learning/configuring it. Almost like it try. A few software upgrades to use to replace the workarounds I had been using.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 May 15 - 10:18 AM

My phone was upgraded to a new operating system last week. Pushed out by AT&T. I'm still getting used to it. Some things work better, some look odd. I've replaced the keyboard I was using to an app I bought for the phone before this (you seem to own purchased apps in perpetuity, they follow your phone number).

The rain that hit Lubbock last night arrived here early this morning and it's still raining now. So no yard work, and if I paint, I'll have to run the AC and keep the house really cool. I'm noticing that the baldcypress in the back yard has put on a ridiculous amount of new growth this spring. The baldcypress at the front curb needs to be trimmed out of the street and the front walk.

The dog hair is everywhere, so after I get home from dance and running to Lowe's in the next town south to pick up a ceiling louvered vent (the only store that has them in stock in the area) I'll brush the dogs and then vacuum. It's a week till guests arrive, so I must start putting things away in earnest now.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 May 15 - 01:57 PM

Yesss. ... BOLO for a lot if typos from this fone. It's now auto correcting where it used to just offer options. :-(

And it moved my ~ to a bad place!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 May 15 - 08:31 PM

Last week I made an appointment for a home energy audit through a regional energy delivery company (they work with all of the various companies - but are the way the power actually reaches the house). They came over today and now the windows have a rubberized strip in place to lower the air leaks, and more importantly, they put weatherstripping around the front and side doors, and I can feel the difference there already. They also sealed the air handlers on each air pump. All of this after they covered the vents, seeled the intakes, and ran a fan to "pressurize" the house to find the leaks. My electric bill has been pretty reasonable since I switched from the big electric provider (kind of the default company, with all of their high rates and fees and charges). Now it should be even better.

The dog hair around here is astonishing. I need to brush the dogs and vacuum the house. I wish I could vacuum the dogs. . .

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 May 15 - 11:34 PM

Beaver Haven:

Managed to get the little wardrobe to house! I thought it would fit in the car and asked if there were people who could carry it out. They did but it did not fit so I asked them to just leave it outside while I sought a truck. There was a truck and trailer in the parking lot and I had seen the driver go to the restaurant so I started across to see if he would be willing to help - whoever he was! However, someone shouted. The husband of the manager said he would help so they loaded it on his truck and he followed me out to the house and we managed to get it inside. It was not TOO heavy! We had a little chat about mutual acquaintances and he went on his way with my great thanks. It will be quite nice when I put a fabric on the doors - where there were once mirrors.

I started out this day with a trip to the Farmers' Market, walking around touching base with everyone and purchased a loaf of cranberry orange bread for R. Stopped at a friend's art gallery/ junk shop and she had a sturdy card table for $5! I need one or two more for next week''s market. And bought two books at another friend's yard sale - a Norman Doidge, the brain that changes itself.

Went up the hill to my friend's BIG greenhouse for the first time and had visit between customers. Numerous visits with friends around town and out to the auction house - auction over but nice chat with the auctioneer, catching up and discussing the sad state of the local Chamber. This is becoming a strong letter to the editor, with encouragement. Need to talk to a few more people.

Lunch about 3 at my fav restaurant - but a bad choice of food! Good pea soup and Jim's delicious home fries; I had to take a nap when I got home! But it sufficed for supper. After my nap, I managed to plant two dahlias, 3 geranium and a tiny tomato plant, and pick some rhubarb. Then the bugs chased me indoors. A few came in with me but they have been eliminated. I managed to finish the "7 day" book from the library so I can return it tomorrow before I head back to Montreal. Now it is bedtime!

In spite of 15 year absence, I am totally a part of this community, finding ways to be useful, supportive.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 31 May 15 - 10:27 AM

The bedroom is upstairs - so carrying the rubbish out is far more taxing. I should have taken that into account rather than just carried all the bags down, moved things to where they should be - doing for more than my normal number of trips upstairs.

Today I am exhausted, but progress is being made.
I will rest, and tomorrow start again.

There are so many things to throw away, but it will get done, bit by bit, and as the carpet emerges I can organise, maybe put up a clothes rail as a temporary measure to have somewhere for all the clothes when they are washed.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 May 15 - 11:02 AM

Finally the rain has cleared and the day is sunny, warm, and fresh. Where to begin? The lawn needs mowing, the gardens need weeding. The bathroom still needs painting and the guest rooms need to be put in order. The back yard grass is knee high, to be tackled in several sessions. The front can probably simply mow, it has been two weeks since I was last able to get out there.

Yesterday I finally realized that some of the puddles on the garage floor are not from the continual rain dripping off of the car. There is transmission fluid dripping. I'm coming up on a year since this transmission was rebuilt, so on Monday I must get it over to the transmission shop while it is still under warranty. This is so annoying.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 31 May 15 - 11:52 AM

Still keeping with the Couch to 5K program. Just started the 4th week and ran a solid five minutes for the first time last night. The program is a mix of running and walking, easing into solid running, and takes about 9 weeks. The 4th week consists of three minutes of running, 90 seconds of walking, five minutes of running, 2.5 minutes of walking, three minutes of running, 90 seconds of walking, and finishes with another five minutes of running. I was doing well until the final 90 seconds - the last two minutes of that final five minutes of running were all uphill.

I have a six mile trail race on July 12, I probably won't be able to run for the whole thing, but I know I can finish it and in a reasonable time (for me). I'm already seeing health benefits - some weight loss, feeling more fit, and in a better state of mental health. I even went out and spent an ungodly amount of money on a pair of serious trail running shoes. I went to an actual running store so that I could get properly fitted. The kid who helped me is also running the same series of races I am, and did the snowshoe races last winter. Gave us something to talk about in common and gave him an idea of what I needed in terms of shoes.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 May 15 - 12:14 PM

Sounds like you're on your way, Tami, and it's excellent to run into someone who knows exactly what you propose as far as the exercise and shoe needs.

The rain seems finally to have stopped the daily torrential storms and now I need to get back into my mowing fitness routine. I can mow four times a week - twice in the front, twice in the back - for a good cardio workout. It'll be heavy lifting at first because the grass is so tall, and if it stays hot and dry like a normal summer, it drops back to once a week in each yard, then to just trimming edges near the garden (that gets watered regularly) until the fall rains.

The kitchen is clean, the laundry is finished, and now I'm going to stagger my activity. Paint the bathroom ceiling, then let it dry for a while as I mow out front. Come in to do a second coat on the walls, then take the weed whacker out front and get control of some areas that have gone untended for weeks. Repeat.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 May 15 - 03:42 PM

The bathroom ceiling is painted. Now to the yard. I did have to scrub paint drips I'd stepped in off of my feet. There is a plastic drop cloth and sheets of newspaper around everywhere in there.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 31 May 15 - 05:10 PM

Plans come and go don't they?

What I think was a tentative for much later in the year (if at all) a couple of weeks ago has been done. Willy Weasel's (the ferret that found us and we took in) space outside is now on a floodlight with a PIR) so another "completion" of the outside lights...) Pip got the bits so I just fitted them.

Having said I''d take a break and having said I'd clear my debt with Pip first... I do feel inclined to do the bathroom to LED this coming week...

(Pip would by happy either way btW).

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 May 15 - 06:59 PM

Jon, plans have certainly been flexible lately with so much forced indoor time!

Today I came in for a cool-down and spent a few minutes culling paperbacks that I've read and won't read again. I see a trip to Half Price Books in the near future.

Bread is rising, a chicken breast is baking, and I have the ingredients thawing to make my taco/burrito filling for lunches this week.

I'm going to pull out a couple of jars of green tomato relish to take next door - she very helpfully mowed a part of my front yard this afternoon, a big time saver for me! Back out to mow.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 31 May 15 - 09:11 PM

City: Nice trip back on drippy day. Went to mill and was loading the kiln when Vanessa came and watched and chatted. When finished we had tea in the sunroom and Geri came along. V & G left, I started kiln and met G for light, late lunch at resto, then back to city. Off loaded car and watched big bang and now CSI - whatever that is. May quit and read book

Put R's exceptionally filthy clothes through very hot wash and a rinse with tea tree oil, hoping to kill possible pathogens. Now another cycle from start with HOT water. He was cleaning out a shed in which raccoons had been living; we know what could be in their excrement and - taking no chance.   

I see a new-to-us pottery casserole on stove - exceptionally lovely and hand made, obviously from a thrift shop. Well, I did break the lid to my fav one a few months ago so maybe this is a new fav.

De-cluttering is tough! I dropped off a bag of stuff at a thrift shop this week but things add on faster. I shall persevere.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Jun 15 - 10:02 AM

THe new fone has a built-in pedometer function, so the FitBit we were trying (unsuccessfully) went back to Dick's with a full refund to pay on the fone's cost! THe new fone also has a louder speaker, so I can carry my online radio wherever I go on the property.

I eyeballed the little tree farm the landlord has started, and its tractor path is calling me. Not yet-- I hurt my sole-- but soon. MY scooter can carry me to the mouth of it, and I can park there (off-road) to walk in from there. With a good walking stick to lever myself back uphill to the scooter. And maybe to lever myself back up if I sit on the edge of the track for a break.

I love it when a plan comes together. An anticipated Thursday visitor will be here after a good week's clear-up of the LR, but we will do our visiting on the back porch we've been clearing of its winter detritus, and we should have the chicken-wire up by then to re-route the nesting and pooping birds that moved in after the cat ate too many mourning doves last year. This year's residents are loud, messy, and don't play well together either, so we're gonna change their flying route (they have ittle ones to feed).

But prep for her visit also coincides with a lot of laundry, so with the fone worn as I wear it-- I should get a good count on how much activity is racked up so that in future, I can know what I'm getting (even if I leave it on the charger all day as I often do, instead of wearing it). That will be useful to report at my next doc visit.

I don't aim to step, yet, to the usual goal of 10,000 steps per day. My unit of measure is, what will result in a good night's sleep? For me right now that's about 2,000 plus a few stair climbs.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jun 15 - 11:39 AM

I hadn't thought about a phone app to count steps. Let us know how well that works (and if it is hard on the battery).

Yesterday I finished work in the front yard and last night I had the worst leg cramps I ever remember having. I'm sure it must be not enough salt/not enough water - some combination of dehydration. Ugg.

Today I have to take my car in to see if the dripping fluid is transmission fluid (they say it could be power steering, same color, but since I have 1 week left on my year repair warranty, I'll try the transmission check first). I'll rent a car because at minimum they'll have it for a day and I need to be able to get around. That transaction happens in a little while. This car is taking on lemonish qualities. . . I'll clear it out a bit so as not to be embarrassed by all of the stuff piled on the seats and the floor (mostly reusable shopping bags - I never know what size or how many I'll need, so they all live out there).

Then, home for more errands and to paint some more.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 01 Jun 15 - 11:53 AM

Aye SRS, I gather you've had things pretty rough with the weather lately!

I can't remember if I said this before so apologies for a possible repeat but I can like it when Pip gets "rained off". She usually has to create something to do and once in a while that something is baking. Last rainy day produced a batch of cheese scones and I love those!

---
Last week, Pip had the health services remove whatever was fitted under her bed. I can't remember why she didn't like it other than to suggest she found it awkward. The removal created the problem that she could no longer move the storage boxes under the bed and I think the bed became even harder to move.

I wound up fitting a set of castors to it, 2 braked and 2 plain 50mm ones. While I was at it, I also fitted the Shepherd ball type castors to a chest of drawers.

It's not the first time I've put castors on a bed in that room. I'd fitted some 75mm ones to one of the beds before but they had to go for some reason. It's difficult, a small room and my parents preferring separate single beds. Sometimes they have had to swap beds, eg. Pip after her hip replacement could only access a bed from one side for a while and Peter through the legacy of a stroke can at times be weak on one side.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jun 15 - 12:27 PM

Jon, who is Pip? And Peter?

The car wasn't in as messy a shape as I thought. A few drink bottles into the recycle bin, shopping bags in a neat stack, and empty the trash bag. The trick will be to remember to hold onto my parking sticker with the rental and then get it back when the car is ready.

My neighbors are doing a power wash of their lovely concrete back patio. I would love to power wash my driveway, my patio, my house . . . I suspect they're moving out algae stains and bits of moss.

I still have boxes for people. Maybe today. Susan - PM - if it goes book rate today where should I send it?

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 01 Jun 15 - 12:43 PM

Sorry SRS, I thought it was known here. Pip (real name actually Elizabeth but Peter's father who's daughter is Elizabeth decided "two Elizabeths in the family would not do... and for some reason used Browning's "Pippa Passes", shortening it to Pip) is my mother. Not a regular here but she likes folk music, tried to take on the Annexe for a brief while and has met a few "Mudcatters". Peter is my father.

I did post a couple of pics of us all to the sorcha obit thread (she stopped with us for a few days) but that thread seems to have suffered with the crash.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jun 15 - 05:07 PM

Two boxes shipped, expected delivery next week on Monday. Susan, I sent it to PA, that's the last place you said to ship, but it has been a couple of weeks since that message.

It's warm out - mid to high 80s. And it's finally feeling a bit dryer. All week is supposed to be this way. I'll give a couple of more days for drying in the garden (minimum) before I start digging, but I'm going to start some seeds today.

More paint going on, and books being culled so others can go in their place. Maybe a trip to Half Price books today. These are all small jobs, the biggest part of any of them is getting started and working till I finish. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Jun 15 - 08:44 PM

Dishes and laundry are mostly done. I've been really tired the last few days...not sure if my thyroid meds are out of whack again or I'm just tired. I fall asleep really hard and fast all over the place in the last few days.

Anyway.....the house is in decent shape and I am getting things ready to go away for a few days. My Nana has decided on permanent residency at a nursing home nearby and has asked us to do what we will with the house. So....this first visit to her home will involve a realtor coming to do an estimate on the house, the gathering of Nana's clothes so she can have her own things here and some of her possessions that she wants close by. It will be just my mom, aunt and I working on doing this. I am feeling strangely numb but I wonder if that's in preparation for helping my mom and aunt through as I know this is not easy for them at all. I think the thing to do on this visit is to get Nana's things (clothes and a few personal items she wants on hand at the nursing home) and for us to remove all valuables. The house has been empty for some time now but a neighbor goes in daily to switch lights around, pick up mail, etc so the house looks lived in. Once the real estate sign is up, I think more people will be taking notice of the house and the goings on/not going on. Because everything in the house is going to be divided between my mom and aunt, I hope they will do a walk through, make some lists and go from there. I think there are only a few items they will fuss over and honestly, either way, the items will stay in the family and that's the important part. Nana recently told me to also make a list of anything I'd like and if it's not on the lists that the other two make, then I can have whatever. I've been thinking and thinking about what I might be a good remembrance for me. For example, my other grandmother left her entire estate behind for me but of all the fine china, antiques, jewelry, etc...the things I like the most are a music box that you play by cranking the handle...it was a wedding gift her parents brought to this country from Wales in the 1800s with the wedding card still attached....lovely calligraphy in tact and a set of old metal teaspoons. I used to crank the music box when I was a child and it played so beautifully and it would echo through her house. And the measuring spoons? My nana taught me how to bake....she always had me measuring. Anyway....my nana that is still here...she lived far away and so we didn't make memories like that. Some of my most favorite memories are of playing cards with her...we still play cards at the nursing home. So.....I have asked for a quilt that is on my grandfather's bed that was made by my great, great aunt. I have also asked for my grandfather's desk for Jeremiah. I don't know...I hate the whole idea of asking for things but in some strange way, I think it gives my Nana comfort to know that she has something that I love and she can share. She made it very clear that her organ and music are to be mine. We have a history with the organ starting way back including the both of us playing it, her playing it with my Fresh Air Fund children sitting on both sides of her singing their little hearts out as she played and there were times where I'd play my violin while she played the organ. We had some good times doing that. :)

Maybe all this sleep I am doing is helping me to deal with the stress of the upcoming trip. I am worried about my mom who I think is already grieving, although Nana seems to be doing quite well. Nana made the decision to stay at the nursing home, no one talked to her about it or tried to coerce her. She told me she feels like a weight has been lifted from her shoulders and I am happy for her. She is well cared for and is nearby so we can see her often. My mom sees her almost daily and always takes her fresh fruit, a drink and whatever else Nana asks her for. She has a phone and calls my mom every morning with her request....lately she is on a popsicle kick. I love that we can do those things for her as we see many who have no visitors or nearby family.

So.....that's where I'm at. Not much progress being made at the house...or not as much as I had hoped for by now. Given the situation with my Nana and needing to get her house packed up, we have reset our initial home study until the end of the summer.

Susan correctly once pointed out that I come from a line of very strong women....I'm thinking that now, it is my turn to be the strong one.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Jun 15 - 10:21 PM

City:
Back from the mill, a long day of phoning Koodo to sort out recent bill then drive to mill with stops at two thrift shops, looking for another card table or two - no joy. Put a bit of heat on! Then a nice bowl of veggies and, finally, got into the studio about 4 and worked on glazing for 3 hours, loading the kiln and leaving it open to dry glazes while I had a nice salad. Closed kiln and drove back to city. Took this mornings load of laundry out of dryer and put another load in washer, made up bed, paid a bill on line and checked accounts. Now I am here. Dishes, done this am, are put away. I am still delighted to feel like doing things rather than having to push myself every inch.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jun 15 - 10:50 PM

Michelle, it sounds like your Nana has things well in hand. My mother was a psychiatric social worker and used to tell us about the inner workings of things going on in peoples lives. It sounds like your Nana has done a "summing up" of her life and is making sound decisions for herself. Your mother and aunt aren't at that stage of their lives and will suffer until they come to terms with it all.

My great friend Elaine is 100, and over the years has given me various pieces of handwork. Knitted shawls, crazy patch comforters - maybe 10 years ago we were talking, and she commented that I'm like one of her kids. I told her that what I'd really like as a memento, is that when the time comes, would she leave me one of the beautiful hand-made quilts she made over the years? I've known her literally all of my life, and spent several years caretaking at her house while she was away helping her daughter raise children and go to the university (a couple of those years in the UK). The room I stayed in had one of them, as did all of the bedrooms, and she has given a lot away. A few weeks later, right on my birthday, a box arrived with one of those quilts. She wasn't leaving it to a will, she sent it to me then. It is a wonderful household item that I treasure because she made it with her hands. That's enough.

The second coat of paint is on the walls in the bathroom. Some touchup needed tomorrow (where I bumped the ceiling), but I'll be down mostly to painting the trim. This bathroom has the same old paint on the trim that was there years ago because I never completely finished painting when I moved in. Now I will. The job that will wait until after company leaves is to put down a new tile floor.

I've been putting away things in the living room - and I need to up the pace on that so that it's ready for company before they get here. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jun 15 - 10:23 AM

Yes SRS, I am still in PA and thank you!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jun 15 - 01:34 PM

Day two of the rental car, and a diagnosis from Aamco: the seals on some lines on either side of the transmission are leaking. Not technically "in" the transmission, but usually covered under warranty. He has to call the shop in Odessa to get their approval, though. Great. Either way, it needs fixing.

This morning I spent a few minutes to start painting the trim in the bathroom. This way when I get home I'll have the visual reminder and can be sure when the paint dries it looks the way I want. Guests arrive on Friday so I need to finish and let the paint smell vanish. The bathroom floor will get tiled soon, but not until these friends leave.

Warm and sunny summer weather finally. I'll be able replant in the veggie garden soon, but I'm giving it a little more time to dry out and I'll add compost and soil amendments since there may well have been some leaching out of nutrients.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Jun 15 - 10:08 PM

City:
Went to mill via the two thrift stores - no card tables. Stopped at the meat shop for some goodies. Opened the kiln and found one glaze needed a different firing schedule so I took out a few pieces - from the very hot kiln - and re-started it. This meant not working in the studio so I mended 4 pairs of R''s jeans with 33 cent thread that kept breaking. Got tired of re-threading the needle and left two pair for another time. Refilled supplement supply. had lunch and supper and read- finishing current novel just as the firing was ready to be turned off. Back to city in the long shadows of the setting sun. Sorted socks and put clothes away, finding space for all. Phoned R to make sure he was not asleep in truck as he was last night - when I phoned at 11:30 he had been sleeping for an hour or so; drove home and fell asleep without making it out of the truck! I was somewhat annoyed; he simply does not have the wit to come home before he is exhausted. THEN he needed to eat because he does not have the wit to stop and eat! So I fed him. So tonight I have phoned him to check up. Will phone again in a while.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 15 - 11:42 AM

Summer work hours (4/10) have begun.

Shorter hours in the evening at home mean I have to be a bit more organized. I painted trim and I made some spicy beef taco mix for lunches this week. Sometimes when you have less time it means you prioritize better, I'll have to see if that happens.

Still waiting to get my car back.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Jun 15 - 01:10 PM

My injured foot is finally healing, now that I identified two causes of re-injury, fixed one and set aside the other for later attention-- a pair of shoes with insufficient walking support/firm but padded sole is swapped for the airy SAS sandals. For the first day in many, my my foot is not getting worse all day after a good healing sleep. Yay!

I found some missing financial data I needed. Computer issue. Yay!

I made a great gluten-free wrap for lunch. If you put a THIN layer of cheese between two layers and nuke it about 30 seconds, the cheese gives the wrap the stretching gluten would give. So one big wrap becomes a half circle to fill and roll. Viola! (Holds a smaller protein portion than a whole circle too.)

I used birthday bucks to add a baby gate, matching one I was using elsewhere, to divide off the DR that previous tenants' dogs scented for all future dogs. Rug gone, padding gone, underlayment treated with enzyme, still detectable to cat and beagle noses, so-- off limits. The archway to the DR is two gates wide, so Hardi will attach each to a wall and they'll meet in the middle. Rigid enough to not need center support.

Now that I can WALK, the beagle resumes exercise and housebreaking. She knows the drill, it just needs me able to beat her speed when she indicates needing OUT. Post-crate!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Jun 15 - 10:31 PM

City:
Went to the mill via picking up a carrier of 3 tiny raccoons at the SPCA and delivering them to a rehabber, then stopped at the bakery and bought a very expensive and tiny baklava, then to a potter but he was not home, to good butcher shop for a supply of natural meats, locally grown, back to the bakery for a frozen choc mousse cake and to the mill. Put stuff in freezer, checked the kiln - No joy there. Sat down and thought about it over an avocado salad.

Decided it is time to use my newly emerging energy to fall back and re-group. Dump all the not so great glazes, find a new good dark blue, email the woman who provided elegant teal to see if she has solution for blue...

Loaded needed items in car, had a visit with window maker, went to see Geri but not home so I left a bowl and two books at her door. The bowl: she saw it and said she did not mind that things had fallen in it and stuck during firing. It took me a couple days to realize that I could give it to her rather than put a plant in it!

Back to city about 5 and made cauliflower soup, watched the news, Big Bang, worked through 90 emails, responded to two. Got in a to-do with a woman on FB. Ready to give up on computer for tonight! Time to phone R.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Jun 15 - 11:08 PM

I met up with a friend this morning and had a nice workout at the YMCA. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 01:07 AM

Susan, I had a new pair of Reebok walking shoes and finally realized that there was some kind of modest lump under the innersole that was giving me a bruise on one foot. I was nearly crippled after walking the dogs in those shoes for several weeks. The lump between the shoe sole layers was barely detectable, but enough to cause a gradual injury. I tossed those shoes and haven't bought that style since, being a bit gun shy from that experience (though I used to wear that style all of the time).

The bathroom is being reassembled. I have to give the tile a good scrub tomorrow - I left that till last in case I needed to scrape off any dry paint drips.

I pulled more books out of the shelves in the front room and am going to put some of the library discards in there. I have some maps that were plates from books that may go on eBay, they're strikingly colored and very old. A couple of the smaller ones may go on on the wall here.

This was a fasting day, it went pretty well. I'm doing this alternate day fasting for now until friends arrive for the weekend. Then next week I'll go back to it. It's time to make the last push to get to the weight that was my "normal" weight before the medications knocked me for a loop. I'd say there are about 15 pounds to go to reach that point.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 08:54 PM

Beaver Haven:

R could not come; too much to do. Got home about 3 am; I did not wait up! But still tired than has been usual of late; maybe the heavy looking sky. And the 5 hour drive. Stopped at a bank to pay parking ticket which resulted from the 345678 city changing the signs . After 5 years of being so careful not to park there 9 to 12, I parked after 12. When I got home from weekend away =A TICKET!!!???? It is now 12:30 to 3:30. If I spoke French I would go to city hall and raise the roof. I paid it; theft by government!

However, in the bank, we discovered my card had expired. They had apparently sent me a new one in April - to correct address. The delightful teller fixed me up with a new one and the ticket was paid - with mutual comments.

No stops at Tim Horton's. I ate cheese and two of the donuts I bought yesterday. True confessions! I am SO addicted! And they really do not taste that good. Tomorrow I shall have to deal with the goodies next door to the Art Gallery.

This move and the trips are de-cluttering m bank account, the one thing we do not want to de-clutter! I have stopped eating in restaurants for the most part. Supper tonight - broccoli and chicken; plain yogurt with a dollop of black currant jam for dessert. Early night.

Subject: When is it NOT "Hoarding"?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 07:26 AM

When is it NOT "Hoarding"?

A potential housecleaner once came to give me an estimate, and gave himself a full tour of ALL the nooks and crannies in this 3-family home which two of us now occupy. I had described what he would find, and the sound reasons for it, very clearly. I used to run a housecleaning business, so I thought I was speaking his language...

But our culture's current media focus on hoarders overcame everything I had told him. He opined that estimating the job I'd requested (ground floor only) could only be done after we'd filled a large dumpster with our stuff. Eventually, angel cleaners materialized, until my rehab allowed me to do it myself. But he left me in the lurch for the impending MIL visit.

The day he came for that estimate (I was not home), the LR held half a cargo trailer's worth of packed containers for the next month's trip to Ohio-- as I had described. So yes, it did make the LR/DR look different from the "usual" pastor's LR. The other half-cargo was on the porch (being the more cold-resistant stuff), waiting to be loaded. There was an open box I was still filling.

The REST of the house, as I described, was in the process of an eventual move to Ohio.

He was SO OFFENSIVE with his reaction that I decided to write,

"When is it NOT "Hoarding"?

1. It's not hoarding if you can find exactly what you need in less than 5 minutes, blow off the dust, and use it within the hour.

2. It's not hoarding if there are no obstructions between you and the sought item that need to be moved for you to get to it.

3. It's not hoarding if there is no "science experiment" or evidence of vermin when you pull out the sought item.

4. It may be an unexpected warehouse masquerading as a house, but if you shop from it instead of spending money to purchase new, identical items-- guess what? It's not hoarding.

5. It's also not hoarding if-- every time you "shop" from your "warehouse"-- you mark (as you go) those items for discard that you know (now that you have actually purchased a house) will not fit in your next home-- and donate them or give them away to people who need them.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 11:50 PM

Sounds like you didn't find the right company to work with. Knowing what is there and that you do or will use it does count for something.

The trim on the hall bathroom is finished, the shower curtain is up, and the mirrors clean and in place. I vacuumed and mopped and picked up this afternoon and for a "work in progress" it's looking okay. People will be coming and going, this is a base of operations, they didn't come to see the house, they came to visit with friends and family.

This evening I made a loaf of bread and we have tea and coffee to go with it for breakfast. There seems to be a pending nationwide shortage (short term, one hopes!) of eggs, but I bought some today so I see French toast in our future (I have 1/3 of the loaf I made last weekend, perfect for French toast). I ran some errands before they arrived, including a trip to Home Depot to return things I ended up not needed for the bathroom paint and upgrade. This visit was a great excuse for going ahead and doing this job. The last part of this (well, of this stage) is to get tile for the floor. I'd also eventually like to replace the sinks and cabinets and put in a new low-water loo. But those are for the future.

Dorothy, I'm enjoying reading about all of your comings and goings for the new house. I winced at the parking ticket - they should have had a grace period after changing the signage!

Linn, I hope you're feeling much better and the medications are all working? And Michelle, I know you're moving mountains, as usual. And doing it beautifully. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,#
Date: 06 Jun 15 - 10:29 AM

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/are-you-a-hoarder-check-these-5-signs-1.3100372

I couldn't be arsed to read the article because I've become fed up with stories that start with "Six things you should know" etc. However, there it is.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Jun 15 - 10:32 AM

It's not just that I know what's there and use it. It's that keeping that stuff to begin with was sensible strategy, not hoarding. It's not a way of unhoarding-- it's the dignity of poor people making smart decisions about actual resources.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jun 15 - 10:39 AM

I'm slowly disaccessioning piecemeal, eBay style. I've identified a couple of more items that were purchased and not used, so they are on their way to new homes. Some of this comes out of my son's bedroom, things brought back from college in the same packaging it went there in. The poor person's way of decluttering is to sell it, not toss it all at once or go through the work (and small return) of a garage sale. No matter how low the prices, people want to dicker. I tell them no, come back on the afternoon of the last day if that's what they want to do. All in all, the eBay route works because as I find things I list them, I don't need to store a bunch of stuff somewhere until there is enough for a garage sale.

I agree, #, some of those lists are practically useless. But for some reasons, lists are popular.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jun 15 - 05:52 PM

Darn, I just zapped my entry. I'm indoors cooling down since this is a June day acting like a typical June day. Hot and muggy. I've used a spool of line in the back yard with the weed whacker and refilled it to start on the grass in the driveway. I also need to trim a path through the vegetable garden to lay hose for the soaker hoses since it is finally drying enough to put the garden on a regular watering schedule.

I have more eBay things to list, and am generally puttering around here, indoors and out, with guests who are staying here but who are out entertaining themselves with friends and family. We'll have a chance to visit in the evening. A goal this weekend is to fill a large trash bag with the clothing that isn't in good enough shape to wear, it's rag quality. Some of it was in fact saved to use as rags, but you only need so many. Others are things the kids outgrew and never got rid of. There is scrap cloth from sewing that I haven't used in years. I'll take this over to the thrift store that advertises it has a contract to recycle fiber, I don't want it in the landfill. That'll make room in some of the drawers and shelves in the guest room/craft room so other things can be put away.

Back out to trim the side yard and driveway. It looks like a jungle out there - I don't mind that, to a point, but I want a park-like jungle. My spare tomato cages are all tangled in weeds, resembling a junk-yard-like jungle. :-)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Jun 15 - 11:50 PM

Beaver Haven:

Sent the article to R.

Sold nothing at the Market today but had a nice time visiting. Then to grocery for good bread and ice for the cooler. Deposited same appropriately and visited at art gallery. Visited my friend up the road and she gave me a notice about the Public Open House re the proposed Quarry ---- which would be just up the road between here and her home. They only want to take out one million tons a year! And quarry "below the water table".

Went to Thrift Warehouse and checked the auction. The other bidder on the pic we want for Maynooth had raised it to $125. (An original painting of a building that burned some years ago and the newspaper article about the fire.)   I conferred with the staff about when it really ends and finally got clear answer - today at closing. So I stayed until 5 pm and raised it to $130 so we have our pic. I could not reach the woman in charge of our operation so went ahead on my own. I got a voice mail from someone that she was too sick to talk!

Came home and had supper and read as had no signal - until a few minutes ago. Phoned R and read him the notice. He checked on his phone and called back but no new info. He plans to check on the consultant, may phone them to get more info. We knew this was in the works but hope the neighbours will get together and fight it. The effect on the water table and the effect of dust on public health are major considerations. This is tough in a small community where people involved are neighbours and, often, friends. I hope it does not become nasty.

Past bedtime!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 09:57 AM

DP, your typing is fine but I consistently read your reports as Beaver Heaven, and I hope it is!

The hoarding characteristics linked above are from the view of intervening professionals. My view answers a question some folks I this thread have wondered about, and is for regular folks and not professionals. The points listed apply not only to my one bad experience, but-- apparently-- to others; my FB group is resonating to them deeply. One member is applying them to her impending majority -downsize!

I'd love others' additions to those points.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 11:12 AM

Beaver Haven: (is heaven to me!)

Another take on the subject.

Susan's remarks are clearly reasonable. Back in 1970, just before Christmas, our flat was ransacked. Everything, that had been well stashed in the closet and drawers, was all over the five room flat. It was hard to pick the way down the hallway. The only comment I remember from the useless police was, "Why do you have so much stuff?"

We never heard from the police again but a business on the other side of the back alley phoned and told me they had my "important papers". They also had a box with family napkin rings (silver) and a few other small items - not my engagement ring (which I was saving to sell when I needed money or the expensive turn table for which we did not yet have operative parts.) The thief had, at least, had the decency to put this stuff in the trash and the janitor rescued it for me. I still have that same envelope "important papers) and it is still tucked in a certain spot that I KNOW.

So, it is when others do not see our "stuff" as we see it! On the other hand is the once told story of my mother's home - with paths through it BEFORE anything is pulled out of closets and drawers..

At Beaver, I am trying to only bring into the house, store room and, later, studio, objects which will have places/uses, including decorative. Small is beautiful but, for me, only if it is not cluttered. "A place for everything and everything in its place" was an oft repeated comment by my father. I once had a frequent visitor who deliberately put the salt in the "wrong" place!

Beaver has a long way to go and very little is here. Until the floor is leveled and new floor in place and there are different K cabinets and.... It will stay VERY minimal so there is little to move around as tasks are being done. One step at a time.

Today I go off to visit friends in the next county.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 11:21 AM

An armful of scrap fabric has been added to the large trash bag of fiber that will go to the thrift store, perhaps on Tuesday. I set aside a couple of incomplete projects my daughter was working on and she can pronounce them dead and toss them (isn't everything your child makes priceless?) There are a few of my Mom's garments that I will never wear and I can't imagine taking them apart to use the fabric for something else, so they're going to Goodwill as garments for them to sell.

The dew has dried from the lawn so I'll mow this morning. And I have a number of items to list on eBay this afternoon when I come in to cool down. I need to set up the chipper and create more mulch from all of the small branches piling up in the back. Today might be the day to pull out the reciprocating saw and cut up some of the piled branches in the back that are too big to chip - this is bulky waste month for my street (they pick up big stuff quarterly). Lots to keep me busy.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 02:09 PM

Another big point to add would be, just as with any addiction-- CONSEQUENCES. If it's not causing issues at work, in health, or with the law/code authorities, it's not hoarding.

There's another legal principle at work here, against the cultural fascination with hoarders, and that is the rule known as quiet enjoyment. Neighbors (absent a home owner's assn agreement) are not entitled to interfere with another neighbor's quiet enjoyment of their home. An example of this legal principle can be seen in some tenant's rights case law where landlord access and control are inhibited by that right to quiet enjoyment of their home, of a resident in lawful possession of a property. (Checks and balances thing.)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: mg
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 02:28 PM

I think another factor should be if other family members are not disturbed by it.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 06:18 PM

We just returned from the initial packing/closing up my Nana's house. She is incredibly organized in so many ways and it has inspired me a great deal to follow in her footsteps. Today it was a drawer and a few cupboards (Followed by an invitation to a baby shower).   I took a little nap when I got home and am on my way to do some more work. Thank you for the inspiration Nana! :)

XOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 07:50 PM

That's good! You're lucky - how many of us have had to sort through undifferentiated stuff, good things mixed in with old boxes and trashy stuff. Estates are difficult if you're already on an emotional roller coaster. In this instance, you can still get information and stories about any treasures you might come across.

I've planted all of the leggy bedding plants that were waiting for the rain to let up. The front lawn is mowed, and I'm going to make a push at doing the back now. I'll rake the down grass and use it in the garden, along with a bunch of bags of leaves from last fall (commingle the stuff and let it compost in place in the paths between the plants in the garden, to be part of next year's soil).

My visiting friends are out doing a family meal this evening - I was invited but am so sweaty and still inspired to work in the yard that I begged off. I've been a friend for years and could stand back if any family issues came under discussion (there has been some discord in recent years) - but it is probably better for them to be alone amongst themselves and hopefully sort out some of the tough stuff.

I decided to stay home today, I had some shopping I could do, but it wasn't urgent. I'll wait till everyone has left in the morning tomorrow then make my rounds. Drop off donation stuff (at a couple of places) then buy a new electronic timer thing to add to my watering system (it has four spigots, but only two have timers, though you can add two more if you can find them). I've worked out a way to get the water where I need it with hoses around the house and this timer set up. I actually have more stuff to take out of the house tomorrow than to bring into it. Yes!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 09:27 PM

Beaver Haven:

I tried the scythe on the lengthening grass/weeds but it needs sharpening and I was not in the mood for that job so off I went - an hour making the acquaintance of a man at our wee Highland Grove museum, an original square timber school house with artifacts and books. He informed me of the Strawberry Supper near end of June. Then to my friends' antique shop for a visit and to Elephant Lake to visit with older friends I had not seen in five years - we spent five hours catching up, with supper in the middle. Now I need to sort out the clutter of info and remember what I might have agreed to look up and share... In their mid 80s, they are considering the possibility, or need?, to de-clutter their lives by down-sizing from their large home and adjacent rental cottage, on a cliff high above the lake - not in a good area for finding employment. That might be hard to give up but the increasing cost of health insurance for their winter in Florida means hard choices might be needed. They are still vibrantly alive.

An early night! I am plumb visited out!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 09:39 PM

I'm back home after my quick jaunt south for my nephew's graduation. Cottage got a panicked quick cleaning when I found out last minute that my landlady had made an appt. for the guy to come assess the place for the new heating system. I really wish she'd let me know more than a day or two in advance when things like this are happening. Especially since I have to arrange to have someone the dog knows really well here when strangers are in the house. Luckily, Jason was pet-sitting. The only drawback is cleaning up after his stay - my paper towels are never where they're supposed to be, I find empty soda and water bottles all over the place, and he bags the dog poo and leaves it on the porch instead of scooping it up with a shovel and hucking it off into the woods (or at least putting the bagged poo in the trash can). Oh, well. He was able to do it, so I can't complain too much.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jun 15 - 05:41 AM

Tami, pls read my post above about quiet enjoyment of home and tenant's rights.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jun 15 - 11:09 AM

Looks like a box was left on Susan's porch on Saturday and a porch is headed for Tami's house today. Use any of those binders you need and donate the rest locally. A heads up - there is a random book in each box, out of my donation stash, so I could keep a straight face if asked if those media parcels contained books. :)

My weekend visitors have headed eastward on their adventure travels - breakfast with a friend in Dallas, then to Jackson, Mississippi and the following day to Atlanta, Georgia. They'll do some travel independently for a couple of weeks, then rejoin for the trip back to AZ. I don't know if they'll come through here in a few weeks, but I'm set if they do.

There are a bunch of limbs in the back that are too large to run through the chipper so I'll cut them up and take them to the curb. This week is bulky waste, and while the regular trash guys might have picked them up, I didn't have time till today to cut and move them. I mowed part of the tall weeds yesterday and would like to wrap up this set of days off with the yard looking good for me. I enjoy having a park-like view out the front and back, but it has been more of a jungle lately. I'm also setting up the garden irrigation hoses today.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,MikeL2
Date: 08 Jun 15 - 11:24 AM

hi

After weeks of rain and poor weather the sun is shining this week.
So I have been de-cluttering the garden. Got rid of many old plants and lots of weeds. I cut,rolled and fed the lawn etc.

Then I decided to de-clutter the large shed - I have a small one as well.

I completely cleared out the large one throwing away or re-cycling some things to family and friends. Having done that I now need three more sheds to keep things tidy and know where to find them....lol

Regards

Mike

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jun 15 - 02:01 PM

Thanks SRS, will spelunk porches! One has been un-navigable, so that's probably where it is, making a decline of gates the next project of the day!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jun 15 - 03:03 PM

Altho my sole is still sore, walker in has continued. At the park where we had our memorial day picnic, I used a satellite pic of the path to estimate how short sections of it could work with car drop off. Last night we used our respective pedometers and cameras on the first stretch, about a quarter mile, taking pix of flowers to identify. But for my foot I could have doubled the distance. But now that I have that section measured I can fairly accurately determine the rest of the distances. I color-coded the paths on my tracing of the satellite pic and when I am done will turn the finished notes over to the park so they can post them.

I'm hoping other area seniors-- that park's little town has multiple subsidized housing units-- will benefit and maybe the local senior center will make a field trip there, knowing how doable and pretty it is. The landscaping there needs weeding -- an easy volunteer project for seniors who now lack garden plots.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jun 15 - 04:16 PM

Good work, MikeL2! It's like you have a new room or shed when you clear it out and can use it more efficiently!

On my way out to work in the yard I again had to struggle with the sliding glass door. I muscled the door out of the track, laid it on its side, then knocked out tons of mud dauber nests from the top of the frame. I had to dismantle one of the bottom rollers to clean and oil it to get it moving again. It's now up and in place, but good lord what a tough job putting it back. Gravity helps with the removal, and putting it back involved bricks and then (when I got smart) lumber remnants to use as shims to gradually it up to the level of the frame so I could nudge it back onto the tracks. This repair may have cut into yard time, but it is such a pleasure to not fight with that door.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 08 Jun 15 - 06:03 PM

Box has arrived. Thank you, Maggie! One of the Maine Conservation Corps kids stationed at our park was asking about binders last week. And as we no longer use a central supply warehouse, the cost of office supplies is now deducted from our operations and maintenance budget. We will make excellent use of them!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Jun 15 - 08:46 PM

Beaver Haven:

Decided to stay all week instead of tripping back and forth to Montreal. This meant I needed to let Vanessa do a firing so she could have her pots for gifts. I left her a detailed message which she did not follow, etc, etc. She phoned to tell me she had turned on the kiln and then I was not able to phone her back to inquire. Her failure to communicate, to perceive the need, .... An infuriating and frustrating afternoon for that part.When I finally reached her, I insisted she drive back down to the mill and make sure that what she had in the kiln of mine was not pieces that would be ruined. Last week's fiasco needs NO repeat. She could not find the kiln wash which was less than a foot away from the shelves!

Terrific visit with friend, catching up with each other after 15 years. I find our relationship intriguing. When I saw her in town a few weeks ago, she was adamant that I must stop in, so I did. She lives in the nicest house in town, has a high-powered lawyer as a husband, was dressed as for an upscale Toronto office when she opened the door. And we had a wonderful conversation for over an hour - from my environmental to her sci fi reading to the state of the town budget. I am gathering info, learning about what has happened since I left and looking for what my role needs to be, what I might be able to write about with the possibility of submitting to the newspaper.   

Managed to wrest the safety certificate from mechanic this morning. I fear he is losing it. He did the inspection last week but I needed to replace cracked windshield. Having done so, I went in this am and he said but I have to inspect it first! I reminded him that he had and got the certificate! Then I begged him AGAIN to repair and safety the "hippy van". Told him if I had to get down on my knees to beg, he would have to help me up! I will check tomorrow and the next day, if necessary. Looking for an opportunity to confer with his son, or try for a different mechanic in future.

Then went to try for car insurance. Peter took in in hand and said he will call me. I really want to have all my ducks in a row so I only have to wait in line once to get all done at Service Ontario - "Service" being bit of an misuse of the word.

Feeling that was in good hands, I stopped in at a friend's computer workshop to borrow a small enough screwdriver to change the RAM. She was very sweet but things did not go well and I left after about an hour, having had a visit but no RAM at all now.

Did a few other minor things, looked for a small screwdriver at the hardware store after a conference with #1 son. Came home and worked on trying and trying and... to get the RAM seated, with Troy on the phone in WA. Finally told him I needed a break. Had a bite to eat and tried again. Finally got the old RAM seated and may be able to do the new one later but I needed to get through the emails and do some research while I have a working computer!

The grass here is getting close to hay. I may find the right energy to sharpen the scythe tomorrow. Today it was wet from last night's downpour.

SRS! No end to what we can do with some ingenuity and determination. Congratulations on the door job!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Jun 15 - 09:16 AM

You don't need a screwdriver to exchange the RAM in your computer, but you probably need a flashlight to see what you're doing. And you're not likely to suffer any after-effects (I am stiff and achy today after struggling with the door and mowing and weeding . . . but mostly from the door.)

It feels like I'm too strong for my own good right now - I haven't adjusted to the strength I need to open and close that glass door. I sent it flying last night when I fed the dogs. It moves easily with the pressure from one finger.

Though there is a chance of rain today, we seem finally to be into normal summer weather and it's time to set up the hoses and sprinklers. I'm up early today to work on that and get a few things put away from yesterday. I was surprised to find I left the garage door open last night, so I'm glad everything is still there to put away. Usually when this happens a neighbor would have called to tell me.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,MikeL2
Date: 09 Jun 15 - 11:37 AM

Hi

Thanks SRL.

I don't think I would tackle sliding doors these days. Always have been bit clumsy but now at my age I would probably smash it somehow...lol

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,MikeL2
Date: 09 Jun 15 - 11:39 AM

doh.....!!! meant to say SRS

Subject: How to Move
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jun 15 - 12:23 PM

HOW TO MOVE

When we were called to this community over 20 years ago, it was not a sure thing that we would stay long-- with a clergy move it never is. So it was handy that an old weather-tight sleeping attic was here, that we didn't need for the kids. Up to the attic went all the boxes worth re-using. Some were used for household purposes, and some given away to others who were moving, as we relaxed into our placement here. Most of the empties were gone when we had the fire in 2000 that gutted that attic (along with our stored possessions).

Later that attic became the FolkieDorm, our summer master BR, a housemate's space, and (after my surgery) a workout room. The center is still exercise equipment, but the wall spaces are now back to their earliest-with-us usage: our own personal box store.

Today I print the signage I will pin to the walls, having used my fone to list the sections so I can paste text into signs. I have sections for:

Appliance boxes (broken down flat)
Large egg boxes (lightweight bulky kitchen stuff)
Small egg boxes (china to then stack into larger boxes)

Skinny picture boxes of various sizes

Square-bottom and cube-shaped boxes

Large lampshade boxes

Misc rectangle boxes of various heights (one size too heavy for books)

Flat USPS-mailer type boxes to protect fragile art pieces then placed into larger boxes

Open-top banana-type boxes with:
Packing newsprint
Packing bubbles
(These open boxes make great "drawers" for underbed storage)

Most of these boxes are assembled open (without tape), so I can see what they are.

As more of their types come along, they'll be stored completely flat, in between them. I can keep a running inventory on the signage as we get closer to the final BIG move in a few years. Because the open boxes are not taped, it will be simple to break them down flat if space gets tight.

The last type of box will be book boxes, for which we have a great free local source. They are erctangles small enough to hold just enough books/files for ME to tote myself, and I won't need to get those till the real moving date is scheduled. They'll probably be sent to the rooms with books, not up to our Box Store.

A litter box and frequent trips up there by dogs and cats have been keeping it all free of rodentia. It has a window or fresh air anytime.

With these boxes at our disposal, the next big decluttification will be the unheated spaces in the addition, that have served as attic-type storage-- and where a certain male packrat has completely blocked in my archive files, which now need a big purge as described in earlier threads. As I get to the archive purge, I'll be laughing my ass off at all the filing time I never spent on their contents!!!

I'm betting that the declut of those two rooms (picture a large, packed storage locker) will be a winter 2015-16 project. The space freed up will store all the stuff I'll prepack for the planned spring trips to Ohio, as well as potential yardsale/donate stuff for later. The summer and fall trips will set up my Ohio office, and there's a tall file cabinet blocked in, in the cold rooms, which I will want there soon.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 09 Jun 15 - 12:31 PM

"You don't need a screwdriver to exchange the RAM in your computer, but you probably need a flashlight to see what you're doing."

Well some PCs did use the Dual In Line package for RAM and one way of removing these chips is to carefully work bit at a time each end with a small plain screwdriver but you would have to be looking at something very ancient to encounter that. It's far more likely that if you did find this type of chip on your motherboard that you are not looking at RAM.

This article may help Dorothy.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jun 15 - 08:54 PM

Tonight we walked the next section of the park path, and mapped the benches. A new porch swing in a frame has been installed since we were there last, so we sat there and rocked for a bit. The total walk was a half mile, about what I had estimated from my Google Earth sketch, with benches all along it. Next time I can go walkerless on these first two sections, at least.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jun 15 - 08:22 AM

The binders arrived!

SRS, your choice for my set was perfect and provides a solution to a nagging problem-- I have two pix of deceased African Americans, to whom a memorial project is dedicated. The only pix of them available are B/W. I can print these on a transparency sheet and affix them to the woodgrain-colored binders to give them less of a death-image look. The pix were taken in LIFE.

The sad thing is that the project will easily take up and overflow the space in those gigantic binders before long. :-(

The narrow ones will allow me to separate our Christmas and Advent music into two binders.

The mid size binders will hold my office archives, post-purge.

The box goes to my Box Store described yesterday.

Most of the binders' old labels BTW come off with Pam.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jun 15 - 08:39 AM

Those boxes I shipped in are meant for shipping books - if full a normal human can still lift the box, and if it is bumped or jostled, it is sturdy enough to take it. I recycle them from the library.

Dog sitting starting late this week, with a convoluted schedule during that time. I'll have to be organized to get everything done in a day. Her pack is about to be reduced by half - two of them are going to a new home with the sister of the best friend who worked to originally find new homes for all of the pets of a deceased co-worker. They have moved a lot in the last couple of years, but each time they are loved! They will have a new canine companion, and Susie will keep the two smaller dogs (who may come down here to visit as one solution to all of the running next week). Splitting them up is sad, but at least the two who are best friends are going together.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jun 15 - 04:35 PM

Thanks SRS. It is about the same size as I use for book boxes.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jun 15 - 06:03 PM

Oh I know! When packing books, most of the strength of the package comes from the books themselves, and leaving no voids. Once on the truck, unlike mailed boxes, they're generally manhandled, not machine tossed. But this one extra strong box, SRS, will be perfect for our antique Morocco-bound set of Dickens. The fragile books themselves will need all the support they can get. They sit in a small bookcase with space behind it for that box, broken down flat, to employ when that case is packed which will be one of the last pieces (and its books) to leave this house. That box will also hold some newer antique books, a wonderful 8-9 volume set of world history by Olive Beaupre Miller, now probably irreplaceable. Every page has intricately drawn colorized plates depicting cultural treasures from every era, except unfortunately Africa.

Thanks!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Jun 15 - 06:50 PM

Beaver Haven:

My Macbook requires removal of the battery and then three tiny screws to remove a metal "L" before I get to the RAM. I still have the old RAM in as I need the energy/patience to try again! But now I know how it feels/looks when they are in place so maybe I will not be unscrewing ,screwing in replacing battery - oops! Not quite right, start all over again.... It seems to require just the right tilt and pushing VERY hard until the RAM is firmly in place.

Finally remembered the day, 40 years ago, that #1 son was in a fire starting/water boiling competition at the Sherbrooke (NS) loggers games. About 11 years old, he focussed so totally on attempting to get his fire going that he did not notice that 1st, 2nd and 3rd had managed it and one kid had stomped off in a rage. I gently informed him that the contest was over - and I was SO proud of him for persevering patiently. I need to do the same.   I hope I gave him fire starting lessons after that!

Main project for last couple days is writing letter to the editor re this proposed quarry. Just getting info has been daunting and I keep finding out little tidbits and changing the draft letter. First draft has been acceptable to both Robin and Mary. This aft, I visited someone whose lovely south view would be destroyed if the wooded hill becomes a slash of quarry. Property value - nil!

Checked on the Van these last two days; it has been looked over and and this am there was a list of what needs to be done and Pete found the VIN and started checking for parts!! I found the papers needed to seek insurance and to register it after it is ready - in the van! Happy that this is moving forward.

Not inspired to wash (declutter!) the windows between sporadic downpours. Put a fire in the stove early this aft and shall probably keep it going tonight. I hope it is still colder inside than out in mid-July!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 12:21 AM

AH! Macbook - a foreign machine in the world of Windows users. But not insurmountable. Be sure you have a small container to hold any screws that are removed. I thought you were talking about the box of air with components around the edges. Still, I've taken apart laptops and they aren't that difficult. They have more screws and smaller parts.

Halfway through the week with a compressed schedule, but some nonsense came up today about filling out forms to show time spent doing specific tasks. Still looking for another job on campus.

Tonight I helped Susie get set up on her devices at her house. She fell again at work, has two black eyes, and is going on a trip for 10 days. But at least her phone is secure, the voicemail is set up, and her tablet works.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 09:44 PM

Beaver Haven:

I finally sent off the letter to Editor this afternoon after removing the diatribe about the ridiculous wording, or lack of, of the notice of this Public Open House. R's paragraph about what could happen was awesome. Crushed aggregate quarry- NOT in my front yard!

Other than that, I just talked to a few people and took info re hippy van to auto insurance guy so he can start working on that as well. Prognosis is that parts will take a week to arrive so it will be a while longer.

Now, I am concerned that we have removed those closets and that is a "renovation" that we probably should have gotten a permit to do. I may have to throw myself on the mercy of the building inspector and get help applying for a permit for the windows we need to install and rebuilding the garden shed. I have no idea how this operates. Down at the mill we got a permit good for a year for whatever we do - for $30! Here it costs $150 plus a percentage of what a contractor would charge for the job. We have no idea how long we will need to do things with R having so little time to be here. And we really do not want the building inspector anywhere near our house. Between us, we know as much or more about buildings than the average building inspector. Also do not want a $300 fine. Life is fraught with hazard.

I pulled some weeds, planted a couple more geraniums in their pots, staked the HUGE comfrey plant. I found that geraniums do best if root bound so leave them in pots in the ground. May dig up a small comfrey and take it to Market to sell or give. We have two huge ones which I will divide at appropriate time. I am the point of feeling like washing the windows, clearing the one garden area and throwing some pots - tomorrow. Maybe even putting up a screen tent. Still cool in the house but warm on the deck most of the day. Tonight it is warm enough not to have a fire in the stove.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jun 15 - 11:55 PM

Practicing daily the steps for our short beginners number at the Hafla on Saturday. And Moonglow (with a BA in Theater Arts) is going to do my stage makeup. I'm told that if I don't wear any I'll kind of vanish in the bright lights, so I asked her if she'd do it. I think she's looking forward to this! She also dances, as does her roommate, and they'll both be in the audience.

Tomorrow the dog sitting adventure begins, with the possibility of two of them going to a new home soon. We weren't able to have a visit with the woman and Susie before she leaves for this trip, but it'll work out. Four dogs is too many for Susie, and the woman who would adopt them needs companions for the dog she has. Her sister was the facilitator of the adoptions of all of my late co-workers pets (she passed away at age 44 from cervical cancer). If there are only two at Susie's house I may bring them down here to spend some time, let them play with my pack of three - Laborador retriever, American Staffordshire terrier, and blue heeler mix. I suspect all four of hers at one time would contribute to a bit of a riot back there in the yard (or it would look like I'm running a private dog park). The two destined for a new home are a sweet Golden retriever and a Heinz 57 named Puddin and Bug. Who knew, over the years when I stopped in Mako's office to compare notes on our beloved dogs, that we'd end up with all of hers over here and in my life now. So sad to have lost Mako to something as nasty as cancer.

I was able to sort out most of Susie's electronics. Her iPad now is set up the way she wants, and I had her put on a passcode to open it. I also had her set up a code on her phone, and we set up her voice mail. With the tablet and phone running she was able to take the bulky laptop computer out of her luggage.

Here at the house tonight I started setting up the sprinklers and hoses for the summer. It is time - the potatoes were looking a bit parched. I'm using stations on a sequence of short hoses, and I'll use soaker hoses in addition if I need them. They get buried in the weeds and grass and after a while it's impossible to move them if necessary. All of this will be on a battery operated timer system from the back yard. I have a small analog timer for hoses in the front yard, to run on the soakers around the foundation. Watering in a hot climate is an art form - delivering water where and when needed without wasting any.

I have a watcher on one item on eBay - I lowered the price a couple of times but now I'll leave it where it is. These things eventually sell. I have more household items to list, also some maps and books.

Lots going on here in the Texas Prairie.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jun 15 - 12:05 AM

P.S. - too bad you're not nearby with the comfrey, though it probably isn't adapted to this climate. I've heard of lots of benefits from it. And the building inspector - if your work isn't visible from the road, you may be able to make your changes discreetly. The couple that bought my father's beach house reached a point in renovations where the construction was visible and a building inspector noticed and made them stop work and get a permit.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Jun 15 - 09:15 AM

Beaver Haven:

This wee house is 20 feet from the road and VERY visible. The windows we want to add will be very visible also. It will be a while yet. R, of course, is not concerned. It also occurs to me that the interior work can be done invisibly and we might save enough - not getting a permit for that work - to pay the fine if it coms to that. The windows and garden shed will be very visible.

Another rainy day and cool enough for a fire in the stove - or go back to bed with a book! I have chosen the fire and the possibility of making some pots right here in the LR! The floor is still chipboard so... And I am fairly tidy, not spilling much water or clay. Of course, i managed to upset a half bucket of water in the K a couple days ago. Stood there wondering where I had but the sponge mop. Oh, well. Dry now. The water went somewhere.

Comfrey can become a weed in warm climates. My gardening friend in PA has at least a hundred feet of plants about 3 feet apart. And more all the time! Mine are humungous - over 3 feet tall and about that in diameter. Next spring there will be a clean out! I need to make a printout of the benefits to go with the plants. Next trip I WILL bring a printer for here. That was the purpose of the new one but I looked at it as I left the city this time and thought, "not this time". Mistake. Need another tV table as there is no place to put it. I'll run out to the Thrift Warehouse later this am.

Fire is perking so I NEED to wash inside of this back window and set up wheel. Get to work!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jun 15 - 04:54 PM

No word from the possible dog adoption parties, but my friend didn't have voice mail set up on her phone for several weeks after she first got it when her family changed companies. I finally did that for her before she left. I'm going to do some decluttering for her while she's away - noting permanent! just organize some of the stuff she was complaining about and leave the stuff that was culled in boxes for her to decide if she still needs. I suspect it will go in the garage.

Have to pick up antihistamine on my way home from work tonight so I can clear my head. I've tried to get by with Sudafed and it isn't working. This is a declutter job for today - the bleary vision and stuffy nose.

Rain is forecast over the weekend, but I don't think it any way shape or form like what we had last month.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jun 15 - 11:37 AM

My initial daily step goal of 2000 was easily passed yesterday in various exploits, my foot appears healed, and the new goal is 3000-- cuz 2000 isn't keeping me asleep any more.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jun 15 - 02:04 PM

I have decided that during the next 10 days Susie's dogs are going to learn to wait to be fed, like my dogs do. Her dogs jump and push each other and try to jump up on the counter to get their bowls - the inmates are running that asylum. I've already got them sitting longer when I tell them, and using rewards (a piece of two of dog food works just fine) I'll get to where they wait to approach the bowls. It may take some one-on-one work with them. She always thinks it's a neat trick when she's down here feeding my dogs because they do it for her, so it seems the least I can do, to bring some order to the canine population.

Dorothy, is there a lawn between the house and the road? Have you thought of putting up a fence or planting a hedge?

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jun 15 - 01:12 AM

I can offer a fitness report this evening after attending the hafla put on by my dance studio. Well attended and with quite a variety of acts, I took my first turn ever on the stage. The beginners have a very short piece, only a couple of minutes, but it's a big step. My daughter came down and did the makeup and had a box of bangles to use along with my own items. I haven't seen photos yet, but she made a video that she'll share with me when she gets home. We went out for dinner and in general had a great evening. She and her roommate (who also dances) got some ideas about future performances they might want to do and costumes to make.

Tomorrow should be quieter, with time to get out in the garden, mow the lawn, putter around. And maybe take a nice afternoon nap.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Jun 15 - 12:17 PM

Go Maggie, GO!!!!!!

XOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jun 15 - 12:34 PM

Thanks, Michelle! I'm expecting the video to show me doing the steps, but not necessarily in sync with everybody else. But I think we all had a few wobbles up there. :)

This is one of those days when I have a lot to do, but it feels like enough at the moment to drink a cuppa tea and enjoy the fact that my washer is doing all of the work on the laundry, I don't have to wash it by hand or take it out somewhere. I vacuumed everything last week before my company arrived - and a week later the drifts of dog hair are piled up as deeply as ever. I've been brushing them but am barely keeping up. With Poppy I pull out clumps by hand, she's a shedding mess as she blows her coat.

gnu over on the Mother of All BS thread announced that he listed something like 47 items on the local version of eBay. An impressive output of energy, and perhaps I can do a fraction of that this evening.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Jun 15 - 10:02 PM

Beaver Haven:

did not get much done after the Farm MArket yesterday - mainly bitsy errands, food shopping, lunch! Could not live without a brownie after luch so I drove in to town (5 minutes) and the shop was closed!!!! But, being it is next to the Art Gallery, I was going to pop in there and realized Sara would be busy closing. As I walked back to car, I was summoned plaintively, desperately! She could not find her key! Did I have one???? So I fetched key from car and we locked up.

Sold nothing at the market but had good visits and bought a corkscrew willow for out near the pond. I tried to plant it today and could not get shovel through the matted vegetation. The fork would go in but would not lift anything out. I'll try to find a different spot tomorrow. By the time it occurred to me to try elsewhere, it had started to rain again.

I put chick peas into crock pot last night and turned it off about 2:30 am. Went to make humous this morning but the blender was missing rubber gasket! Off to hardware where they had replacements! And also some heavy duty velcro, the stick-on sort. MAde humous, used the velcro to put up the fabric screen door. Nice to have the air - warmer outside again! and the light!!! And more view. Washed a few windows. Cleaned up dishes and sink area.

Checked FB to see if any messages or crises. A friend in NYS was in a state near hysteria. I phoned a mutual and left message. When I managed to get through to mutual, she had phoned the other and calmed her down and offered reasonable solutions. In the meantime, I had phoned R to see if we could lend her the little travel trailer - take it to her in NYS as she cannot cross the border - messaged the poor woman and suggested she needed to calm down and tell FB friends just what they can do to help. She had been quite incoherent. Hopefully, we have her sorted out and the mutual, who knows her much better, thanked me for the heads up. Concern for her bi-polar problem. FB is good for something. phoned R back to tell him it was under control.

Also got a message on FB from a nearby friend wanting a teapot and mugs. I will arrange a way for her to see what I have if she cannot get into town before I leave for city. She lives in the far boonies. In the morning, I shall dig through boxes and set out stuff in store room. I have only seen her for a nano-second in last 15 years. Will visit after the black fly season!

Check FB one more time for messages and then read until sleepy-time.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jun 15 - 10:22 PM

Dancing next county over Sunday nights is now part of my step program. The pedometer didn't register them right, but my muscles know the truth!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 01:36 AM

Finished some small health and safety projects here. Changed out lightbulb on the back porch (the one triggered via motion detector, so I like to have that working) and putting up a grab bar in the master bathroom. Not as large or as long as the one I put in the hall bathroom, but one to grip on the climb into and out of the shower. It's time to have those in place.

Several loads of laundry finished, and more fabric into the bag being taken for recycling soon. Getting ready for the next round of guests - mudcatters arriving next weekend. Means I'll be running the vaccum again. I spoke to my son this evening - he has lived in an apartment in Seattle for nearly 10 months, and when I mentioned vacuuming the dog hair here he told me that he has only vacuumed his apartment twice - each time when he was expecting guests. I told him he should have guests more often. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 03:15 PM

Bought a second eight-cube storage unit a couple of weeks ago. I took everything out of the first one, flipped it on its side, and stacked the second one on top of it (they're modular, so they have hardware to attach them together). Bought several more of the cloth drawers made for these units and cleaned out a bureau drawer by sorting socks and underwear into a couple of the new cloth drawers, allowing me to utilize the bureau drawer for larger items that have been stored in a plastic tote on the floor. And I still have an empty row of cubes to put things in, as well as more display space for cherished objects still stored in boxes.

Next Monday, the new heating system is being installed, a heat pump, and the inside unit will be attached to the upper wall above the old Monitor heater that is being removed (hopefully sooner rather than later). I have a trunk that will go in the heater's spot and will store my spare bedding in that instead of stacked on top of the bureau. In the space vacated by the trunk, I will put the hamper that fits nowhere else in the cottage (and maybe another small bookcase or CD storage unit).

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 03:32 PM

I'm trying to visualize some of this, and I know you have a futon, but have you tried a plastic zippered under bed storage system? I have at least one in each bedroom, and it's where the extra blankets are stored. In summer I pull off all but a thin thermal blanket and put the washed and folded regular blankets into the bag. If could could fit something like this under (or behind) the futon, this might give you room for something else in that trunk. For example, I got tired of all of the bins of dog food sitting in view next to the door, so I pulled out one of my antique trunks large enough to fit both and store them inside. Now that trunk looks interesting next to the back door, but it actually is doing an important job.

I'm sure WalMart and K-Mart and Target and Sears and all have these kinds of storage bags.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 04:51 PM

Not really any room under the futon, especially since I'm still sleeping on the floor at the moment. Believe me, I tried when I first got it.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 06:34 PM

Number 10 cans under plywood can get a mattress off the floor in a pinch, and create under-bed space. One at each corner plus one right in the middle, and mandarin oranges from those big cans freeze well.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 07:19 PM

Not enough room for that in my cottage, Susan. I'm just going to continue to save money until I can afford a better futon frame. For now, I'm fine.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 10:36 PM

Beaver Haven:
I am thinking of a number of two drawer units with plywood on top and then a mattress to provide good storage space here. Will be watching for suitable objects.

Long day at the Art Gallery today, after a morning stop-in visit with a friend. Our tech support at the Gallery, I had t phone her for help later in the morning when teh internet refused to connect. She stopped by between other work and fixed it. I suggested at the afternoon committee meeting that we could be getting our service through her; positive response. Chat with volunteer coordinator in the am and I started putting together a kit for her to take to the Market on Saturday to increase public awareness of the Gallery. Also brought this up at the aft. mtng with positive response and help offered. AS I am going back to the city tomorrow, a friend will continue the process; we agreed to a container so this can become an on-going project at other community events. Isla will do a geat job!

Long chat tonight with that friend who wants some pots; will leave the shed unlocked; she can lock it when she is through.

I love being here! Walking back to my car at Foodland tonight, someone walked past, "There's Dorothy Parshall". The other folks who had gotten out of the same car stopped and the told me why I recognized them - Antique store in Maynooth. Brief chat.

Time to phone R and hit the sack.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 11:02 PM

Puttering in the kitchen today, made some BIG changes that I've been wanting to do. Took Jeremiah to a sports camp today which he loved but it runs until 8:30pm. I picked him up, went right home to a very hot, hungry, crabby man. The little man followed suit. Crab apples...both of them. They are both now sleeping. THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT. I'm off to do up some dishes.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jun 15 - 12:34 AM

What big changes in the kitchen, Michelle? I love the possibility of making changes in the kitchen!

I'm doing a lot of running this week, taking care of Susie's dogs then coming home and being mugged by my three who want to smell the others on me. I took Zeke with me to do some running this afternoon (buy dog food - the feed store welcomes well-behaved dogs on leashes) and when I stopped by his old house, where the girls now live, he raced through and out the back to the pool. Once I had him in the water, he was in heaven and I threw a toy for him for about 15 minutes.

This evening I worked on laying out my hoses and sprinklers, and one side of the driveway is okay but the other is still a wet muddle with more work to do over there. I haven't laid out the front and the other side yet. That's coming up this week, but we may have a tropical system washing through, possibly drenching us in the next couple of days.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jun 15 - 09:31 AM

I'm sure they didn't have Tami in mind, but Tropcial Storm Bill is headed onshore in the Texas Gulf even as I type. It's raining this morning, 80% chance of rain today and 100% overnight and tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Jun 15 - 10:54 PM

I went to my first Zumba class today! I did my best, sweated like a maniac and got my ass handed to me on a silver platter. I was sore before I left the building...tomorrow is going to be a SLOW day. It was fun but whoa.....it was a tough class for me. I did it though and am pretty proud of myself for giving it my best!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,#
Date: 17 Jun 15 - 10:17 PM

http://blog.storage.com/storage/the-best-decluttering-tips/

I found that on Facebook. I guess many of you have seen it, but there might be something useful in the link for those who haven't.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 17 Jun 15 - 10:52 PM

I thought for sure that I would be paying for my Zumba activity today but I felt FABULOUS this morning!!!! I spent the day swimming with Jeremiah. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 18 Jun 15 - 01:28 AM

That's good news, Michelle! Congratulations!

People are making sizable fortunes on offering decluttering advise. Mudcat ought to package tips from these threads and make a mint. :)

^*^

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jun 15 - 01:14 PM

I found out the other day that my limits had changed due to the walking I have been doing. They were out of the scooters which I really prefer, because using them frees me up to walk in FUN places with my HUSBAND. But by the grace of God I got those *&^*^ groceries, tho it was really too soon because I was in a lot of pain that night and the next day-- the last cross-store jaunt through the huge store was a few too many!

I also prefer the scooter in large stores, because standing time is never going to be good for my back. With the scooter I can take my time looking at stuff and not just grab stuff.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 19 Jun 15 - 09:58 AM

With company coming the kitchen is the first room to put in order. Clean the sinks, wash the dishes, clean out the refrigerator. Comfortable beds and a clean kitchen are essential, everything else is a luxury.

^*^

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 Jun 15 - 02:31 PM

Today I worked in the living room. I had Jeremiah sort out some of the toys he no longer plays with and he did a good job helping. We spent the rest of the day planning a Father's Day surprise for Pete! We are both very excited and looking forward to celebrating the awesome dad that Pete is! <3

Michelle

PS. Anyone else celebrating Father's Day? Traditions?

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Jun 15 - 04:06 PM

The Library! Left modem at Beaver! What an inconvenience! I have spent time in Tim Horton's parking lots using their wifi and the Little Green Library. Gathering info re proposed quarry and trying t get it so R can read it at home. My letter to editor was published somewhere a few days ago. Someone messaged me that they had sent it to "all their members" . I d on't remember her but she was "glad to have you back in the area"! Someone sent me a link to a professionally done web site "No Place for a Quarry" WOW!

I had a phone call early this am from one of the perpetrators, a dear friend but the environment takes precedence for me. He was very sweet, as as always, and I told him his "consultants" are totally culpable, explaining how the "notice" was inflammatory. He was disappointed that I did not come directly to him but I had not felt comfortable doing that after my long absence. After the call I realized that other people have acted as though I was still part of the community so he is probably correct. When he first told me who it was, I automatically exclaimed, "One of my favourite people!" And amazed myself by closing with "I still love you, Louis!" Prob amazed him also. Basically, I was apprehensive about trying to talk with him about this and causing a contretemps.   I said we would be there for the Open House and he asked that we meet him for a tour the next day. And would I please write something after the meeting. I am stricken by the power of (my) pen?

Any how, laundry and dishes are done, I got a bunch of books out of the house and down to storage at the mill. Collected a bunch of small boxes, that my supplements come in, to take to my antique shop friends - great for packing the small pieces of china they sell on Ebay. Talked to the folks at a garage near the mill about what is wrong with my car - clutch slipping, we agreed. I would have had it repaired next week but a mid-week holiday (St. Jean Baptiste Day) would make it iffy and they assured me it would be OK for a "few weeks" so after the next trip to Bancroft.

Watering plants, weeded flower bed at mill, trimmed grass at house, cleaned kiln shelves, washed bad glaze off the unfired pots, thought about what to do next. Need to make teapots. My friend in B-corft reports they had fun shopping in my boxes in the shed! And a pic indicates they bought two teapots and a couple mugs! I guess I need to learn not to hate making teapots. Maybe if I do a bunch?? OK, heading in that direction.... YEsterday was too hot but today is fine....

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Jun 15 - 01:21 PM

Down 2.2 pounds this week. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 11:00 AM

Yesterday I applied Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) products to any containers that might hold enough water to spawn mosquitoes (declutter mosquitoes!) They have been a problem this year. Mosquitoes have gone from merely being a nuisance to the spreaders of serious illness, so keeping them away is important. The next step is to sprinkle granulated garlic around the house, also to repel them.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 22 Jun 15 - 09:48 AM

It is a buggy time of year, with a number of them making their way into the house. Bt is for outside ants, Diatomaceous earth will have to knock down the indoor population. Also, a bowl with an inch of apple cider vinegar and a drop of dish soap was covered with plastic wrap held in place by a rubber band. A few holes pierced in the plastic has created a fruit fly trap.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Jun 15 - 10:37 AM

Yesterday I emptied one bookcase and after moving a dresser about 8 feet down the hall, I moved the bookcase to that spot, dusted it, went through the books, got rid of a few and reorganized it...putting them all away. Floors were swept and then Jeremiah and I organized his books also putting a few of those in the give away pile.

Today we got a new kitten. A neighbor found a pregnant mama cat in her driveway about 2 months ago and we decided to take one of the kittens....a little calico kitten with longish fur, and mostly black. I just got home with her about 15 minutes ago and am letting her get acclimated to where her kitty box and food are (in the bathroom). The door is shut and the light on....now to meet the other cats...I expect some hissing and showing of who's boss from the adult cats and kisses from my big dog who loves kitties. :)

Zumba tonight. Mercy me. I'm going to try it again!

Have a great day everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,MA, at library
Date: 23 Jun 15 - 04:40 PM

the borax and sugar barely made a dent. will try again, in much larger quantities.

the ones displaced from before have tried to renest in my mailbox, in my potted lemon tree (outside) ...

put everything in the freezer that had been there a year or more in the turkey pan, intending to see if anything was still any good. has now sat for 3 days. (sigh) probably no good anyway. need a deep freeze.

knee replacement still giving me problems ( swelling, inflammation, pain, stiffness) so have joined a chronic pain and chronic anxiety therapy group. really a bummer this time of year. barely got my greens seedlings in; expecting 100 degrees+ this weeken d, so didn't dare wait any longer. deep watering NOW.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jun 15 - 09:05 PM

Decluttered our Saturday Night Service today.

A persistent problem made more difficult as all Band members have aged is moving all our stuff out back for the Lawn Mass in the summer, and back in again after the service. We solicited volunteers, but in this aging parish there are few who can do much on a regular basis. So a change has been coming, and in the end it was quite simple.

It started with my permanently damaged spine prompting me to try playing standing up. I mocked up a stand at home that seemed promising and tried it last week in the parish house. What go tme was how sore I was each week after 3 hous of sitting in a bad chair and then being opinned behind he autoharo stand by all the equipment surroiunding me. It was vey weird playing and singnig while standing butby the end of the servivce i was woring pretty well.

So what I decided is that since my main instrument is y voice, all I REALLY need to move outdoors when there are volunteers to set us up is my tiny amp, a music stand, a mic stand, a folding stool to perch on while singing, and the ability to move from there to a chair in the congregation during the long parts with no music.

With that in mind I arranged all my gear modularly to be able to move it as little as necessary. I took back the use of a folding screen to screen it all off in a corner of the parish house, where we will hold the service those weeks that there are no volunteers available to help with law setup and teardown.

Then to facilitate orderly teardown (for which there are usually 5+ eager volunteers who want to work too fast for us to supervise effectively), I took pix of each of our arrayed stuff-- what goes where and how it goes-- for ease of access and minimal use of space (because it is space we share with community groups).

I'll print the pix in B/W to tape over each station, slap some color-coded tape on each person's batch of stuff, color code the signage-- and Bob's your uncle.

Then there are the binders that house the ministry I coordinate of "We Remember 260 Black Lives," which will be moving to the deep window wells set above our stuff. (One piece of display art is already attached to my screen.) The binders we play from are spilling out of a large plastic bar/food service cart, and I have my eye out for a bookcase for those.

All this will guide our in-the-church stowage once he cool weather is back, too. I'm keeping that 4-panel screen for my own ministry display use, and Hardi is planning to fix is one broken panel (and perhaps add one to make an odd number) for better accordian-standing solidity.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jun 15 - 11:03 PM

Maryanne, I missed what you're trying to eradicate? Ants? Roaches? There is a recipe for ants (the commercial product is Terro) simple syrup - 1 cup water, 2 cups sugar, 2 Tablespoons borax (and don't overdo or they ignore it). Don't let the syrup boil much or the liquid is too robust and ants walk across it, can't sip and take it back to the colony. And a question about your knee - are you drinking enough water? I wonder if retained water as the year gets warmer might be more noticeable after surgery?

Good luck with the new kitten, Michelle. I usually find that a new and younger animal entering the home energizes the older ones. It's good for them. (Did you ever read any of the James Herriot vet books? I remember a particular essay about introducing a young pet into the home and having an older dog that seemed to be fading decide to get up and eat.)

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 08:54 AM

Drawing down the canning jars on pantry shelves and containers from the freezer during the fall, winter, and spring have concluded. Now is the season of fresh produce and beginning to freeze and soon some small batches of canning. So far this hasn't been a very good gardening year, but the growing season is long and fingers are crossed. There is no gain or loss in the household math, the only difference is where the jars live and whether they are empty or full.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 10:14 AM

Mabel, the new kitten, is doing quite well. She is exploring two rooms of the house for now. The cats are slowly introducing themselves and Maggie has tried to make friends but the kitten is afraid of her (to be fair, Mags is 120 pounds of woof). Jeremiah is in love with Mabel. She snuggled in his lap last night while he sang "Soft Kitty" to her. LOL It was beyond sweet. :) Today Mabel is jumping, climbing, sniffing and following me around. It's all good! I was up 3 times during the night and each time I found her curled up on my sewing basket. I stopped to love on her and she purred and purred. I may be a bit in love with her myself!

Zumba was better this week as they had the AC on. It still was hard for me and my leg muscles were crying within 10 minutes but I pressed on. I do adaptations when I get too tired and then dive back in to do the best I can for as long as I can. There are women there of all shapes and sizes and abilities....I really like that about the class. Like last week, I came home and collapsed in my chair for about 2 hours, I was feeling a little dizzy and nauseous.    I made dinner before class so all that had to happen was some warming up. Pete kindly heated dinner up for Jeremiah and himself and let me just chill out. No dinner for me...ugh...just couldn't do it. I'm pretty sure that this week and last I had a touch of heat exhaustion. Oh well...it's worth it to me and it passes within 2 hours or so. I'm proud of myself for doing something that is challenging and have started a photo album to show (hopeful) changes in my appearance over time. I think it will be interesting to look at a year from now.

It looks like it's going to be a beautiful day so after our basic chores are done and we've had some lunch, I think we may go swimming. :)

Enjoy your day!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,MA, library
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 06:13 PM

Acme, I got that recipe from you much earlier in this thread -- do i really have to boil it? thought i just stirred and set out.

I thought my cat Scamp needed a friend, he was so clingy -- unmitigated disaster. having to share me almost ruined his personality, and he still wakes up from sleeping on my lap snarling --

other cat ran away when i moved, rather than come with -- fortunately i k now the guy who bought my house, and he has adopted. you know how cats are w/ "their" house.

yes, Scamp is still very possessive.

got about half the greens transplanted and will keep the rest in the house until it cools off, or rains.

happy June, all.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 09:59 PM

The recipe is a simple syrup - dissolving alone might mean your supply crystallizes sooner, or isn't the right consistency. You are in charge of that experiment!

That's a great solution for the cat - the new buyer got all of the toads, birds, lizards, and whatever that live there. Why not a cat?

The studio where I take dance classes has ceiling fans, and even with AC it doesn't take long into the class before someone flips the switch. There is also a water cooler that is an important part of making it through the hour.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 12:28 AM

We have always been encouraged to take water bottles with us. There is a kitchen in the building and I suppose people could get a drink there if needed. I always take 2 bottles for drinking and one frozen to keep them cold.

We didn't get to the pool today but instead sorted out tons of magazines (dusted covers and sorted by type of magazine), found a better place to store them, did some dusting and major cleaning of my work area in the living room. It looks pretty darn good and is MUCH more organized.

I also had a nap today. I didn't plan on that but Mabel curled up on my chest and started to purr....that was it for me.

She is SO cute and has such a playful personality.....we have all enjoyed her today so very much!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 08:07 AM

You took a cat nap. :)

Over the years I have culled lots of magazines and am still probably keeping too many since much of the material is available online now. Rather than find the recipe in my paper copy of Martha Stewart Living I look it up online.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 05:17 PM

Today in between antiracism activism details, I made progress on digging out from home stuff left pending during various family and parochial crises.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 08:59 PM

Well - having a rush of blood to the brain - I have got rid of a drinks cooler cabinet and a chest of drawers, and plan to move fabric up into the loft to make shelf space.

There is a rail for clothes, which is spare, and things my daughter left behind to sort out too.
Another, larger set of drawers might go - I need to empty one bedroom almost completely for my husband to make into an office as his business is going under. Not looking forward to him being at home all day, but there is no work for his little company.

My magnum opus of writing down all the songs I sing is nearing completion - but it has been so for the last year or more and keeps on growing. I have already had to take apart the book I made and add in more pages, remake it with a larger cover and a stronger thread - actually it is fishing line, as the original cotton could not take the strain.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 10:31 PM

Having a full-fledged office at home should help your husband feel like it was simply downsizing, which it sounds like it is. Saving money by closing a commercial office but having a functional one at home, where he can work. I would be lost without my office at home, and I have an employers office I go to as well.

Things I have a difficult time letting go of are bookshelves and dressers. They do so many things, and can be repurposed. But there are some small shelf things at my house that haven't done anything useful for years, no matter how I think about using them, and they probably should go.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Jun 15 - 11:56 AM

Beaver Haven:
Lots got done over the last while. Suffice it to say, I left Montreal with laundry and dishes done and anything I would have liked gone - not mine to do. We were going to bring the truck and trailer holding the garden shed but, after much prep, R realized the plug from trailer does not fit truck. So we came in my car, via some secondary roads which only added an hour. Arrived in time for the Weds night concert - terrific Celtic music on a beautiful evening. Got some food at Foodland and nuked it there so we could eat in the car near the stage.   

Yesterday, we went to see the quarry site and talk with Louis re the proposed quarry. Our friend, Gary, mechanic for the company, went with us - in Louis pick-up truck which was so big that when I went to get out I had trouble getting my feet to the ground and R had to help! L said he keeps steps in the back for his mother! I have never seen the likes of it.

R is convinced it will not impact us but I am concerned for others - mainly re noise - and for the impact on the habitat/environment. Louis is very convincing in a very gentle way. Smart man. The open house last night drew a huge number - parking was hard to find and it took 15 minutes for the line to move into the building, I never figured out why. Rather than a meeting where people could ask questions - as many wanted - it was about a dozen "stations" staffed by the experts so people could look at maps and charts and ask questions individually.

MY brain quit but R was busy for 3 hours, talking and listening. I connected with a number of people, including the daughter of a recently deceased artist friend. She was as hot about the quarry when she left as when she arrived. Others were still dubious. And my friend Mary is too upset to talk about it today. Cross-the-road neighbour has property up for sale.

This morning, I slipped out, breakfastless, at 8:15 and spent two hours at Service Ontario. I managed to get a health card and registration for the car. YAY! My turn took 30 minutes and I felt for all those who were waiting! But in the previous hour, only 8 people had been served. Poor young woman deserves gold stars for sitting there all day dealing with these things.

Now for lunch and a trip to Egan Chutes. R is working on the house a bit. Tonight is open mike and tomorrow I will be at the Farm Market - so this is a play afternoon!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,A. library
Date: 26 Jun 15 - 04:18 PM

(I'll get the 'puter hooked up soon; i really will ...)

solution seems to be working great; small dishes, one large one where they are just swarming. adding some water every day.

our heat wave here in Portland continues unabated, along with our less-than usual drought. continuing to deep water every day. (in eastern WA., where I used to live, these temperatures were normal. and 0 humidity.)

at least w/ the heat, I am staying indoors and getting picked up, a bit. can't-have-anyone-over syndrome is in full swing.

:)

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 27 Jun 15 - 09:27 AM

This morning after letting the dogs out I went back to bed and had the strangest dream of walking through a house I was convinced had belonged to a great aunt and went on the market for a steal. I didn't know how much it cost when I bought it and seemed to have a spouse who didn't care either, and when I finally actually walked through it the house was the size of a barn with rooms running into each other like a huge complex attic. This seemed to be a mashup of a couple of other odd building dreams I've had in the past - there were aspects of the rooms that were familiar and I remember from other dreams I wouldn't have thought of again. To my dreaming self it seemed like a fascinating project that would result in an elegant space (but without level floors) and lots of great furniture finds dug out and restored. To my waking self it was an insane project. I think this must be cast as a low-level nightmare.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Jun 15 - 10:51 AM

We went to a downtown-wide jazz festival last night. Somewhat to my disbelief, I was able to walk to every venue we wanted to visit. Part of the reason was that I have made sure to know my limits and NOT PUSH PAST THEM. How that played out ydy was that, knowing how far I went earlier this week before sitting to rest for 90 seconds-- and noting the absence of the free trolley shuttle-- we opted to eliminate a potential 'one last venue,' and instead opted for a longer stay at another venue. For us it was better to have gone the long way around between venues in favor of more-open way thru crowds-- a series of short walks in place of one too long walk.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jun 15 - 12:13 PM

♫ I've got a little list ♫ that is growing. All of the usual suspects are on it - plumbing repairs, painting, flooring decisions and tile shopping. Gardening, gardening, gardening. eBay sales, and organizing the eBay work space. ♫

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 28 Jun 15 - 12:01 PM

The first batch of canned diced tomatoes is resting beside the stovetop. A bag of old cloth items that are going to be recycled is filling up. Old favorite but not-wearable-in-public t-shirts, old sheets, mangled jersey garden gloves (there are a gazillion in the house, no need to keep the decrepit ones) and various things that have been hiding in plain sight are examined for their eBay potential then going in the the donate bin, the recycle bag, or the trash.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST,MA, library
Date: 28 Jun 15 - 06:29 PM

When I was growing up in South Jersey there were quarries all over the place (builders in north Jersey ...). They were very bad about the holes they left: big hazard. At some point they had to start saving the arable soil and sculpt the big holes that were left. Created at least one nice recreational lake, fed by a natural spring.

Try to at least make sure they won't leave a big mess.

sugar/borax solution is still attracting tons of ants.

I keep acquiring more and more plastic tubs to store stuff in. I seems like such a good solution, but I am running out of space in the garage to stack them ...

now that I have a lot of greens transplanted into my big raised beds, something is chewing the bejeesus out of them.

snarl.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 15 - 06:52 PM

Over the course of several months I have visited several Goodwill stores in town and picked up the expensive acrylic storage jars with a metal hinge and clasp. A couple of them need gaskets, and I'll eventually find those. Many were intact, and none of them cost more than $3, about 10% of the cost at the Container Store in town. I freeze grains, beans, etc. for a while before I put them into storage jars to keep at room temperature.

Today's visit to Goodwill was to drop off only. A large bag that I finished filling with some ancient tent, tarp, and camping sleep pad stuff from the garage. A lot of this is going to go straight to the fiber recyclers, but some of it is simply items that were mismatched here, outgrown clothes, etc.

After sweeping the back patio the concrete was hosed down and outdoor patio furniture is due to be rearranged and a couple of pieces are coming out of the garage.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 Jun 15 - 12:13 PM

Beaver Haven:

I am not saying a word- wondering when R will say it's time to leave. Neither of us want to leave , but he will "have to". A crisis in Montreal came to a head on Saturday. I think he turned off his phone. The crisis did not go away and he still cannot sleep well... My best suggestion is to let it all go and we can live in our little house on my pension. Email them - NOT my circus, not my monkeys.

Well, we had our lovely afternoon at Egan Chutes and a terrific open Mike at A Place for the Arts. Saturday was the Farm Market (sold two pieces) and a potter friend visiting told us that a wood fired kiln was being unloaded that morning at Madonna House, a Catholic retreat centre up the road an hour. So R went up to that and then started looking at the museum - then the first phone call came and spoiled the day.

He picked me up at the market and were looking for lunch when he saw an antique shop he had not been in. I went in and visited with my friend, the owner, for a bit then sat in the car and read. Then we went to Canadian Tire and bought a dolly suitable for moving boxes of pots - on sale! Then ... By the time we got home, lunch-less, it was time to drive to the Grove for the Strawberry Supper. Nice to see the folks there - the little boy I have know since he was 2, with his four children! And the 92 year old former reeve and his wife looking pretty healthy. And my friend with the antique shop asked if $150 would be OK for the Limoges luncheon set; I asked if they would not prefer to sell it first but she was adamant about giving me a cheque - next time I see them.

I was at the car for something, after we got home, when a passing car stopped and the driver was so excited. "I have seen you 3 times this week and you are my next door neighbour!" She had been at the Open House, and at Maynooth on Saturday aft when we stopped to chat with friends in front of their art gallery - there were 3 other persons and a dog sitting on the sidewalk visiting-- and she was one of them. Now she caught me! R came outside and we talked about her lack of water and he told her we would come up in the am.   

We did and he spent about 3 hours getting her water and the cellar lights activated, Then she took us to lunch at our fav restaurant, giving R an opp to update the owner, a township councillor, on the open house (he was working) and Sue a chance to meet Jim and Ramona and another segment of the community. She does not get here very much. We got home about 4, delighted with our neighbour - we think mostly alike on mostly everything!

R finally got around to working on our sinking house problem. I stayed out of the way and put on protective mask lest I inhale any dust; read and computered as signal finally came through with clearing weather. I also went out for more ice for cooler and some snacks for supper - cabbage rolls and samosas.

After cutting a hole about 5 feet by 15 inches along the back edge of house, it appears the concrete foundation, such as it is, has sunk - due to being in a swamp! He is not seeing this as much of a problem and thinks we can put down flooring in the LR, bathroom and K but may need to so something dif in the BRs. Not nearly as bad as we thought it might be!


The hole also revealed a water pipe; we need to figure out how to protect it in the winter - better than it was. But now we know where it is!

So, I have sorted out papers and know where the next needful ones are - for the hippie van which we hope will be ready sometime this week so I can register it and bring it home. Paid bills on line. Mostly organized to leave when the word is given. The dragonflies have been out in full force, gobbling black flies! I LOVE dragonflies!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Jun 15 - 12:41 PM

Progress is happening in my kitchen!!! A few years ago, we were given a microwave that hung on the wall, over the stove. It died last year and so it was just hanging there. Over time, the weight of it began to pull away from the wall taking 4 of the cupboards with it. The cupboard doors no longer stayed shut on their own as they leaned forward so much. Pete did a temporary fix of using boards to prop the cupboards up but even then, there was a tiny leaning...enough that the doors would swing open. Not ideal but it worked and make things sturdy and safe. Yesterday we emptied the cupboards, took the microwave down and he secured the cupboards to the wall where they belong...no leaning! I cleaned the empty shelves and did some rearranging of canned goods now that the cupboards are sturdy enough to hold a heavy load. I did some sorting of dishes and cups (how many coffee cups do two people NEED?) and kept the ones we use daily and a few extra for company but the rest has already been deposited at the Salvation Army along with a few bags of books and clothes that Jeremiah has outgrown. I have one more cupboard to clean out today. It was my herb cupboard but a mouse has been in there so I am dumping everything, bleaching it out and using that cupboard for something new. :) I feel like I am moving into a new house....I love to organize (why don't I remember that about myself more often?)!!!! In addition, Jeremiah's clothes have been stored in the bathroom above the washer and dryer for almost his whole life....he is old enough now that he likes to pick out his own clothes. In anticipation of the upcoming school year, we are moving all his clothing upstairs where he can get himself dressed in the morning. What I have for his school clothing is already folded into sets which will make for an easy grab and go once school starts. His summer gear is just shorts and t-shirts which he can mix and match as he pleases. And today? Today he carried his own freshly washed and folded clothing up to his bedroom by himself! HOORAY!!!! He is quite the helper these days! The other day he actually got angry because I put the silverware away which is *HIS* job!!! LOL

Question: What products have you successfully used to take care of fleas on furniture? Our cats have fleas. ARG. We treated the with Frontline but I have a few flea bites on me that must have come from my chair since we don't have carpeting. It's not a huge problem just yet but I'd like to take care of it RIGHT NOW. We don't want to use a fogger but just something for the furniture.

Thanks!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: ranger1
Date: 29 Jun 15 - 02:21 PM

Michelle - check and see what your vet has for area spray. I think the one most vets carry is called Siphotrol Plus. I've had pretty good luck with it. I think you can get it online for cheaper than what your vet may charge.

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 29 Jun 15 - 02:45 PM

An organic approach to fleas is to spray beneficial nematodes around the yard outside the house (to stop the egg stage in the soil) - this is best accomplished after a heavy rain (or heavy watering) and done at dawn or dusk if it is hot weather during the day. The nematodes get into the soil and go to work, but spreading them in sunshine and heat kills them before they get into the soil. Find them refrigerated at a local gardening or feed store.

In the house, a dusting of food grade Diatomaceous earth (there is a pool variety but it isn't meant to be used anywhere else because of impurities). You may have DE for your wildlife - that can be used. The feed store may have a can with a long narrow tube (like the tube that comes on the can of WD-40, but much longer) that is for puffing DE around the area.

If you have carpets, there are a couple of options. You can work DE into the carpets if they are wall-to-wall, but the thing to do first is a steam cleaning with the water as hot as you can manage to kill eggs.

There is a product you can get from the vet called Revolution that is a liquid put on the skin between the shoulder blades once a month. It prevents heartworms, fleas, and repels ticks. The vet version is expensive, but you can buy it without an RX from the UK for about 1/3 to 1/4 of the US cost. The UK version is called Stronghold and is for dogs and cats. http://www.vetmeds4pets.co.uk/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=20 Cats are all one size box.

Since you have a dog, it would be good to put it on her also. The UK brand comes in the same weight classes (but in kilos, not pounds). The teal box of Revolution that my dogs get is from dogs 40 - 85 pounds, and the teal box of Stronghold is the same weight class. I get it from Vet Meds 4 Pets (http://www.vetmeds4pets.co.uk/catalog/) and their shipping to the US is reasonable - under $5. All pets should have a heartworm test before getting this product, it won't kill worms in place, it is meant to be used in healthy animals and keep them healthy.

Good luck! And congratulations on Jeremiah running his own closet!

Subject: RE: Declutter (x-hoarders), Fitness Apr-June 2015
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Jun 15 - 09:05 AM

Diatomaceous Earth is SO GREAT. It will work on less - cleaned carpets and upholstery if you use a flour sifter to apply. It will look a fright the day or two you want to leave it in place. It goes deeply into the nap of the rug or fabric and keeps working even after vacuuming. It will add some dust but if it's fud grade won't hurt you or the pets. Great also in washed pet bedding. Our one heavy application has not needed a repeat. Just warn folks a dry cleaning product has been applied or visitors will assume you were flinging a flour sack around a bit too freely!

Here the battle will be the yard. No hatchlings yet so the nematode trick is timely.

~Susan