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

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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,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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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!