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

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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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,MikeL2
Date: 09 Jun 15 - 11:39 AM

doh.....!!! meant to say 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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