Yet More Clutter's Last Stand - 2016

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 16 - 12:26 PM

I could use more stretching and dexterity exercises, I feel it when I do some of the heavy lifting chores around the yard and garden. I'll get a cardio workout this afternoon when I mow the back yard.

A friend is moving out of her house and has help with the final logistics today, but doesn't want to sleep on the loveseat at her son's house tonight so will stay here. She's between houses (her son is soon moving into a new house, and she'll move in there with his family) as she simplifies life (after a head injury the upkeep and many chores were too much). It should be interesting, she has a small puppy. Of my three, two love other dogs, one, not so much. Since one of my dogs used to be one of her dogs, I'll be curious to see if he tries to go sleep on her bed (he and the others sleep in the living room or in the garage).

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Mar 16 - 03:09 PM

Beaver/Ar Gallery

After about a week of no signal at home, and lengthy times spent at Tim Horton's for their signal, I took the modem to Patricia who pronounced it dead. SO I will go get a nw one, hopefully today. When my new bill came from Bell a few days ago, I looked at it long enough to realize it was not being paid automatically as was s'pozed to happen. In the process I saw that the Feb bill was much higher. A call to a nice man at Tech and we realized it was all that upgrading! Ouch. Talk about "no spend"! But it is done now and I still need to sort myself into foxfire more completely. Still using it plus Safari. I shall be happy not to need to be at Timmy's - not as comfortable as home.

Meanwhile, the cold weather has not motivated me to do much else at home but starting tomorrow we are to have a milder week! The foot of snow that came down on top of freezing rain of a couple days earlier.... I have been house bound 3 days in the last week - with no internet. Instead of DOING things, I read several novels. Cold grey days are highly un-motivating.

It has helped in the no spend area! And I did get some small organizing things accomplished, and wrote two segments of my proposed newspaper column this am. A lot going on in my brain while I "did nothing". I had to call for a snow plow to get out on Weds night. I was well dug out and the municipal plow came along and thoroughly snowed me in. After some shoveling, I went in and phoned the Employment Centre for help. Enough is enough. getting wood in has been daunting enough. WOOD SHED for next year!!!!! Shoveled a path to the studio- one shovel wide. Never mind the storage shed. Bought a strong metal ice breaker just to break up the icy snow so I could move it.

I am SO looking forward to the predicted 40's and 50s of next week!

Not losing weight but getting exercise, getting stronger so I can garden when the ground comes back out from under.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 16 - 07:51 AM

You might want to look in Mudcat's Tech: threads and see if there is anything about the microphone maintenance. People talk about selling instruments every so often, so find an existing one or start a new one (above the line) and see what advice you get.

If you have things that fit their list of acceptable donations, the Salvation Army will send their truck out to pick up everything. Take photos and get a donation slip from them and take it off of your taxes. (Schedule A) - and if you need, you don't need to take all of the donation credit in one year. Or you can add a couple of years' worth together (check the form instructions, they tell you about this).

If you are on facebook, there are local selling groups that are apparently more reliable than Craig's List.

My score isn't 500 at eBay, that's the next target. I'm somewhere around 300. There is the "local pickup" option on eBay, so you might want to try listing some items that way, and have a friend come over to the house to be there when the party arrives to pick it up. Get the PayPal payment before they come over, to be sure they're for real.

I hope this helps!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: pattyClink
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 10:28 PM

Well, I am in the southern US, so no Freecycle or some of the more interesting outlets. I've got access to a consignment shop that accepts a narrow range of clothing and decor, but yes Ebay seems to be more practical for generating cash from a wide variety of things. I admire your feedback score if you're up to 500, I think I'm at 6!

And yes, it is amazing how some things you think are worth selling are in fact not worth it, yet other seemingly insignificant items around the house actually have an active market. For example, I did not realize there is an enormous market for used shoes online; seems screwy, but I guess with new prices the way they are it's an important resource for people.   

Today's adventure was opening up my late husband's guitar case, discovering there is a battery inside the Takamine, it's a combo acoustic electric. I went to remove the ancient strings to get to the battery lest it start leaking, but the darn thing has tight bridge pins, and I don't want to damage it by trying to plier them out.   

So, I guess it's time to go see the guitar shop, get them to get the thing tested and strung, and/or make me an offer. Not looking forward to it, but can't put these things off any more. And maybe the guitar guy can advise me on who can take a fiddle off my hands.

Who knows the best way to clean some old microphones? Coupla AKGs that are made of kind of a pale golden metal, I am hoping alcohol will clean up the garage-band crud without harming the metal. Guess I'll test a little spot and see what happens.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 10:23 PM

My attention is thoroughly focused on the garden these days; it's simply much more interesting than housework. Rainy days will be designated for declutter. But since some of the yard stuff constitutes clutter, I made progress as far as the list on my fridge. Dead branches from the wild patch behind the fence (overlooking the creek) were removed, broken up, and are either ready for the trash pickup (too large for my chipper) or are stacked for the next afternoon of making hardwood chips for garden mulch. And I put in the seeds for bush beans.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 10:27 AM

Where in the world (!) are you, Patty? US, UK, Australia, etc. Some may be able to recommend methods of clearing out or selling.

eBay is an obstacle course, and it is time consuming, but when you get momentum going it is a nice way to add to the PayPal account. I just discovered something yesterday that will sell that I was considering taking to the recycle bin at city hall. It would be fastest to do that, but I can also fairly easily put a handful of vintage travel brochures at a time out, take a group photo, and post them at a fairly low price. I am still trying to grow my score at eBay (not up to 500). And small things like this help with the feedback so if you have something big to sell people can look at your detailed feedback score. It is a lot of work, but people make a living at it, or supplement income.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: pattyClink
Date: 27 Feb 16 - 05:38 PM

Hello Acme, I'll delurk if you like.

I'm hoping to list the house for sale in about 3 months. This in itself has given me a shot of urgency that I guess I needed long before now. So I've declared a 100 day plan in effect, and every morning I post on the bulletin board a tag with a big fat number (the days left). Below that is/are one or more half-sheet(s) of colorful paper with the main thing to be done that day, also big and bold. Sort of an army style 'Orders of the Day'. Anywhere from 1-4 major objectives; DECLUTTER or SCAN or ERRANDS or BILLS, etc. Just helps me focus on the main thing. It sounds stupid but it has been helpful for keeping on track.

This week I finally got some bulky things moving; got the car out of the driveway, for someone else to hopefully sell, since horsetrading is not my forte. Also a couple pieces of furniture and a couple of instruments went to good homes. And eBaying, which has taken a ridiculous amount of time and grief to figure out, has finally started generating some sales, although not much help with the bulky stuff. Still appallingly large amounts of things to get out of here.

Having fun figuring out how to use things up, in hopes of emptying the medicine cabinet, chest freezer, etc. Who knew commercial meatballs and homemade onion soup from the freezer were a match made in heaven? Who knew that half-bar of bitter chocolate would be perfect for a half-batch of an old family recipe I haven't tasted in 40 years? Lots of interesting things happen when you set out to clear out.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Feb 16 - 01:20 PM

Posts have been skimpy - any lurkers who want to add remarks about successful thinning out of personal items, feel free to share!

Soon we will enter the season of Garage Sales. It's a great temptation to pick up items, but I usually only shop for parts to replace broken things or to complete sets. And sometimes pick up items I'm familiar with and can immediately sell on eBay.

This morning it took time to bring the kitchen back to a relatively clear state, since dishes had piled up in the sink and stuff was left sitting on the peninsula counter. It's warming up and the garden is calling, but before heading out I'll put in a load of laundry and lug my recycling out to the car.

The "no spend challenge" that Michelle remarked on has been running in a modified form here - I didn't read up about it so I don't know exactly what the standard rules are one should follow. Making it up as I go along, it has been helpful in drawing down the stuff in my freezer, even though there is still a lot left. I have shopped a couple of times, to replace things that ran out completely that I consider staples. Olive oil, fresh fruit and veggies, etc. But it has been remarkable successful in calling my attention to my previous spending habits, as I now pause to consider "is that purchase necessary?" It reveals to me the backlog of items I have here at the house that can accomplish the same thing as a newly-purchased item.

I'm going to try an experiment - if I have any tomatoes in the freezer that were frozen without cooking, I'm going to pull out some of the seeds and see if any will germinate. I have lots of spare pots in the greenhouse so I'll set aside a garden science corner.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 16 - 11:36 PM

A soaking cold rain drove me indoors for a couple of days, but I didn't do much around the house.

I'm harvesting the first few asparagus already, and they've been delicious. Potatoes haven't sprouted yet, but after today's rain I expect to see leaves soon. And I'll plant beans this weekend.

There is some kind of community garage sale coming up, so I may pull a few odds and ends out of the garage to contribute to that. I don't envision doing my own garage sale any time soon but there are things stored in the garage because they need to be sold or donated.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 23 Feb 16 - 08:21 AM

There is a nursery I drive past some days on my way to work that seems to have steel 55 gallon drums for sale. It's tempting* to use one of those as a burning barrel - with compost, recycling, and burning there would rarely be any trash to go to the curb. Too bad I can't opt out of the rubbish part of the city fee (water, sewer, trash). I put a small amount of trash at the curb every two weeks (they pick up twice a week). The one exception is that I use the quarterly bulky waste pickup once a year to get rid of large tree limbs and brush I don't have time or equipment to chip. This spring I'll put out bulky stuff after I cut up some of those limbs with a reciprocating saw so they're the right size for the trash guys.

*Tempting but probably not good for air quality, at least not if all of us were burning our trash.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Feb 16 - 09:29 PM

Beaver!
Having a washing machine at all is a luxury! Pulling it out of storage got the job done! I shall do the rest here; maybe tomorrow. eraniums are fine but the more tender plants may not have made it. The bathroom was not as warm as it needed to be. There were some VERY cold nights.

The house was about 38F when I got here about 3:30. By 5 pm, the air in the house was 70 but the furniture is still cold! Arrived, shoveled snow to make a parking space, unloaded car, set up computer, found I had a meeting in 3 minutes and went off with a piece of cheese to sustain me. Decent meeting; I might know what happened when I read the minutes!6 people talking at once prevents me from understanding anyone.

Time to de-clutter exhaustion! Bedtime!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 16 - 03:18 PM

Wow, having to unpack the washer - that's rough living!

There were two pots of agave on my patio forever, rootbound for sure, that are now in place beyond the back fence overlooking the creek. If they are able to get some roots going soon they'll withstand the occasional high water back there, and will hopefully stabilize the bank some more. This crosses an item off of the list on my fridge.

I pruned an invasive Nandina (no more planting those as decorative landscaping, they apparently are now a huge pest plant in some areas) and put compost on the asparagus. I'm working on setting up a watering system much earlier than usual because things seem to be determined to grow now instead of a few weeks from now when they would usually be getting started.

Dog hair vacuuming in time for trash day tomorrow. Laundry finished, kitchen clean. More bananas thawing to make banana bread for the upcoming week. I made a big batch of spaghetti sauce last night but I wish I'd scooped out the tomato skins first. I'll be picking those out each time I want to use some of this. I should have just pureed it and no problem, but now all of the chunky bits are in and I don't want to puree all of that.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Feb 16 - 11:05 PM

Mill:
NO laundromat in Huntingdon! or Ormstown. R managed to pull the washing machine out of storage so I could do two loads - his! dried it on a rack in front of LR heater. The rest will go to Beaver to be done there. Washer here has to go back into heated space until warmer weather. Fortunately today is above freezing; rained ALL day. De-cluttered most of the snow.

Did bisque firing yesterday, glazed and firing again tonight. Tried some new glaze combos on small pieces. De-cluttered the shelves quite a bit. Can do another glaze firing tomorrow. A shop took a bunch of pots on Friday! Helped de-clutter back of car.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 16 - 11:18 AM

As the weather warms the drifts of dog hair are growing larger faster, requiring a combination of brushing the dogs and then vacuuming the house.

Bird seed is starting to sprout in my garden, so I've pulled out the stirrup hoe to work the top inch of soil and knock down the various seedlings while they're small. I think I've gotten most of the bird foraging of bugs in the garden that I'm going to get for now, so I'll gradually move the hanging bird feeders to different locations a bit away from the actual garden itself. I have a lot of feed left to distribute, so until it's gone, I'll keep the feeders operational. An acquaintance on campus used to talk about a "feeding table" she had up that attracted a huge number of birds - I'd have to figure out how to construct such a thing (maybe put edging on a plank of plywood then set it atop an empty bird bath?)

My seeds are starting to sprout in the greenhouse. I have a lot of decluttering to do out there to get ready for the full-fledged gardening season, so some of that will happen today. The garage needs clearing out, the sun room needs clearing out . . .

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Feb 16 - 10:02 PM

I've located files I'd forgotten about that are useful in compiling a list of the various publications I've worked on over the years. Go looking for one thing and find another, isn't that always the case?

Congratulations on the last step to citizenship, Dorothy!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Feb 16 - 07:30 PM

Jeremiah and I spent a few hours organizing his books and going through my collection of magazines...tossing many. I also cleaned out Pete's largest magazine rack.....dusted off, sorted out, chucked way outdated catalogs.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 Feb 16 - 04:23 PM

City:
Had a laugh at the comment about waiting to see... All my efforts to upgrade have been good and not so great. Keep hoping I will figure it out.

The slowness continued after I got to the city on Monday eve. The saga of airbnb continued with me writing scathing comments - finally on the FB page and finally getting my "badge" late Tuesday aft. Too late, imo, to book for that night so I passed on it. R got home about 6 and we got ready to leave, stopped for a good meal - the smartest thing we did!

Phoned Geri just before leaving and she had a virtual fit - "You can't go to Ottawa Tonight!"Apparently a snow storm... But Montreal was fine and there was no choice - I had to make my appointment. The 2 hour trip to Ottawa took FOUR! Blowing snow, transports passing so close I could have touched them, two hands on the wheel all the time, did not dare change seat adjustment, kept wiggling and changing position and trying to relax various muscles...

May have been the worst trip on my life. It de-cluttered me of two days energy and totally cluttered my body with mini-pains, aches, etc. The highway only had enough snow for danger; the city streets were a morass of un-plowed snow. Finding a place to sleep was another hour. My phone rang at 6:41 - wrong number but not so bad because it helped me wake up and face the day. And the $95 parking ticket! "Oh yes, there is parking!" Right!

Took half an hour to find the building - just a few blocks away - rush hour and unfamiliarity with the city and its profusion of one way streets = all the wrong direction! AND the morass of snow!

Thankfully, we were not the last to arrive and the staff were super nice and the ceremony was gracious and friendly and - very Canadian. And I, de-cluttered of all the hoops I went through to get there, am now a Canadian citizen. (And still a US citizen.)

R drove us home - 3 hours because he took a back road! Then I went to bed - just to be horizontal instead of sitting in the car! Apart from a two hour stint deleting emails, I was in bed until this am when I awoke feeling good. I was amazed!

Glad, as I drove through the storm, that there was not an airbnb host waiting for us. Sometimes things work out for the better. I drove because I have the better night vision. R slept; he was still tired and came home about 7 pm to nap, then watch the news. I still feel close to tears just thinking of that trip.

However, this am R de-cluttered the LR of a whole bunch of stuff so I no longer feel entrapped in a nightmare! This episode included me, "I divorce you...x3" and him laughing, "Finally!" Off he went with stuff for the friperie(thrift shop) because he has a bunch more to take from another venue!!! He also put a heater in the "basement, preparatory to repairing the water lines to the laundry. I'll try doing the laundromat thing down near the mill tomorrow - LOTS of laundry!

Long phone call with Hannah: I suggested a supplement for her Mom's increasing dementia and she convinced me my coughing is just what she has - severe postnasal drip to be dealt with by salt water cleanings. If I can de-clutter that it will improve life - less coughing - more sleep/rest. And she suggested glazing ideas for the next batch of pottery - to be glazed this weekend. That helped me not have to think about it! De-cluttered the brain!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 09:16 PM

I'm assuming that is a very good thing, that you're not using all of those medications?

I stepped next door to look into the connectivity problems on my neighbor's laptop. She got it last year after I pronounced the last computer dead (well, too expensive to fix, a new one would be cheaper, faster, you know the drill. . . ) and it came with Win 8.1. Last week we decided to download Win 10 (she asked, I didn't suggest it.) I went through the steps, set it up so she doesn't have to log on with all of the Microsoft nonsense and saved her preferences. I was back on the weekend because she couldn't get it to display her desktop properly, and we discovered it had switched to "tablet mode" when she was playing Solitaire. (This computer makes suggestions - don't automatically say "yes"!) This evening it was the WiFi that had disconnected because somehow Airplane mode was on. I finally got it to connect after fiddling with setting and then turning everything on and off a couple of times.

She said it has just been one of those days - her stove has been rocking so she had to practically stand on her head to turn the little adjustable foot on the front corner, and had the plumber over because the washer was overflowing.

She paused after this recitation and asked "Have you installed Windows 10 into your computer yet?" I waited a beat, and answered, "no, I'm waiting till I work out all of the bugs in yours first." I think she'd been needing a good laugh all day - that sure brought it out!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 09:13 AM

I cleaned up my medical supply yesterday. I had a lot of medications that I no longer take so they have all been disposed of. I also tidied up my diabetic supply area..looking great!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 08:10 AM

Sounds like a trip to the library to use their modem, and try turning off and restarting the modem and router at the mill or wherever that bad signal was evident.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Feb 16 - 11:23 PM

City:
Horrible day: trying to get pots trimmed,trying to find a place to stay tomorrow night in or near Ottawa as we have to be there for 8:30 am. Finally tried airbnb. Signal was so bad, the computer was slower than molasses... I would go trim a pot or two and come back hoping it had accessed the next page. 4 hours! Then I tried to register - paid and then "verify identity". I do not speak the same language! Cannot provide adequate pic of ID. Cannot get intelligible instructions. Do not know whether or not I have satisfied the criteria, whether or not we have a place to sleep.

Then, pots finished, I packed up and drove to city. House was 49F. R came home and, after some time, announced we had no water in the K and the lines to the laundry are broken.Then he went off to end to a different building. I am very cluttered -annoyed, discouraged, tired, fed up and more. Ate popcorn for "supper" with some humus. Going to bed with clothes on.

Clutter can be seriously caused by not doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 06:27 PM

Mill:
There is a great deal to be said for saving time and energy by simply donating stuff. There is also a great deal to be said for just moving to another house! It has given me such a strong motivation to not clutter a very small house. But I also have the option of leaving stuff in storage here at the mill as I decide what to take along to Beaver. Two as early in the spring as possible projects will be improving the two storage sheds at the back of Beaver so the large plastic bins which contain summer/winter clothes/bedding have a home there. Also bins of sewing materials that I cannot yet give up. Only a couple more pieces of furniture have places in Beaver. Excess will need to be dispensed with somehow. I will be taking some more with me this return trip as there is still some space available for books and papers.

The jury is in: a pasta meal definitely is not a good thing for me. Friday night at the café and again last night at the house concert – each resulted in an afternoon nap of some length and totally sleepiness. I had de-cluttered it from my life re my own cooking and now will do without in public. Two totally wrecked afternoons.

I did manage to trim some pots before lunch yesterday. Still a bunch to go but will have to do tomorrow. The heater in the studio is failing to de-clutter the excessive cold sufficiently to work in there. Ann's car would not start so I suggested she just stay home. About -28C last night.

The larger heater in LR is running almost non-stop. Very noisy but it beats being cold. Still, I am wrapped in mohair throw. We went to the store – my car started! – and collected salad and soup makings. Salad is eaten; celery soup, with added chunks of chicken breast, is simmering. R is sleeping!

Beautiful sunny day and stayed light until close to 6 with a lovely rosy glow on the horizon. Compensation for the bitter cold? Tonight is predicted to be the end of the cold spell. Tonight will be mostly reading - after the soup.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 10:21 AM

I have done some of that, Mary. I had a futon that I liked and used as a sofa, but it was so big that I didn't have much use of the rest of the room, so I donated it to Salvation Army. I tried selling it on Craig's List, but that place is a crap shoot - no matter how low the price, they always wanted to push it lower (or if they said they wanted it they never turned up), so I simply donated it.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: mg
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 05:25 PM

I think there are points in between the extremes. I suggest more or less the !o n mari method..or categories rather than rooms. Think volume..get sofas gone before clothespins...there is danger of losing steam if you empty a room or even a closet..that approach would not work for me. Just keep lightening the load and keep nothing the kids might want unless they ask you too.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 04:51 PM

Several loaves of banana bread are in the oven, still using supplies retrieved from the freezer, nothing purchased new to make it. Though I did just finish off my walnuts with this recipe.

I switched out a bird feeder in the yard since one of them they empty very fast, mostly by dropping the contents on the ground. I have a feeder I found at a friends house as we packed up during his move out (after foreclosure). I've never tried this one, its for the nyger seed that the finches favor. They're active on the other feeders but I haven't seen anyone try this one yet today.

I'm strongly considering the "empty a room" exercise later this evening, using the sun room as the starting point. Tons of stuff would go to recycling, in that case.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 11:28 AM

Survived the week - an accomplishment in itself!

It looks like the garden is taking the lead in weekend work as the weather continues fair. I have to shovel compost from a couple of piles in the back yard and distribute it in the tilled garden spot, in preparation for planting next month. We could still find ourselves at the mercy of cold weather or snow, so the work now is such that survives such a snap. The potatoes are in as are onions, which do fine in snow.

I recently had the thought that it might be nice to finish the lion's share of this "decluttering" at some point in time. Could I manage to go through everything and use or redistribute it over the course of the rest of the year? And then enjoy living in an organized house? I don't know. What do the rest of you think? Do you see an end to this, if you shift gear from clearing space at a puttering pace, vs emptying the contents of a room and only putting back the things you really think you can use?

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Feb 16 - 09:19 PM

Mill
Got pots trimmed, lots of wood in, house battened down for my sojourn in Quebec. Left early this morning, arrived, offloaded car, went to library, supper with Geri at resto, emails deleted,petitions signed, Foxfire and I getting used to each other. Now time for bed on this COLD clear night.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 16 - 08:39 PM

Good to hear from you, MAG! I'm glad you're up and moving comfortably. Our other Maryanne has had hip problems recently but is also on the mend.

I found a daffodil ready to open this evening.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST,MAG on library 'puter
Date: 11 Feb 16 - 03:49 PM

finally, a year after my knee replacement, it is reqsonably functional.
i can finally last at the gym for more than 15 minutes.
one would think that w/ all this time at home, the place would neat as a pin, but noooo

all the bulbs are coming up, and the scented viburnum is in full bloom. result of the warm spell here in Portland. (OR)
i keep TELLING them ...

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 16 - 12:13 AM

Cross-posted. I hope he's better quickly!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 16 - 12:12 AM

When you don't shop very often those trips stand out. I've also adopted a form of that no spend challenge, in order to make myself draw down the contents of my freezer. Tonight I thawed some spaghetti sauce and pulled out a few pre-breaded and fried slices of eggplant and assembled eggplant Parmesan for dinner (I have a brick of mozarella in the fridge).

Congratulations on the weight loss - and I hope this is just "shrinking pains," so to speak. There can be consequences of rapid weight loss, but you've been working on this slow and steady, so hopefully it is nothing. I remember reading that people who go in for gastric bypass often end up having their gallbladders removed first because they get messed up by the body chemistry with so little food going through.

And as a complete aside, did you know that we each have highly individualized flora in our belly buttons? And that scientists know more about the surface of the moon than they do about that belly button flora (I made that up, but it sounds about right according to the rest of what I heard in that news segment a while back). ;-)

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Feb 16 - 12:08 AM

Change of plans. Spent this evening at the ER with Jeremiah who was throwing up blood. We are all home now and think it was a one time thing.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Feb 16 - 05:03 PM

Hello Friends,

   Long time, no post. Just a few things today:

1. I have now lost 10% of my body weight plus an additional 5 pounds.

2. I am going for a tumor marker test tomorrow. I've been having some issues with my belly so I'm a little more anxious about this check up than normal. Bleeding belly button and a pulling sensation behind my belly button have me concerned. I went to my local PCP and she feels I have an infection and gave me some meds. The bleeding has stopped, the pulling has not.

3. After my test, my mom and I will be headed downstate to bury my Nana. She was cremated in November and we have been waiting for a significant date to bury her.

My house is looking better daily. :)
I have done a really great job of sticking to the No Spend Challenge with the exception of a trip to the Salvation Army on Monday where I purchase a handmade flannel lap quilt (for Jeremiah's bed) and a hand knit afghan that matches our couch perfectly...the stitching is beautiful and it has long fringes on the ends which I love......both for $8.00. Hooray for Sally's!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 10 Feb 16 - 09:33 AM

Some tasks can only be performed during regular business hours, so I'm home tackling that list today. And while I'm at it, scanning and decluttering the computer, before doing another backup.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Feb 16 - 09:30 PM

Found a wonderful Jesse Winchester youtube - just posted a few days ago but from 2008. Over an hour long; I listened to the whole thing. And sent it to friends. Excellent quality; almost as good as being there.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Feb 16 - 09:25 PM

Beaver:
Yep,GOOD luck is what I need.Sassy is somewhere; I have no idea where. I hear noises from over there and - over there and....

Well, add to that, the leak I produced when I "fixed" the hot water. So I turned it off, returning to cold only. Then I turned it on this am to add a bit warm to the laundry water and did two loads, then turned it off again. Unfortunately, I neglected to take the thing out of the sink - that then blocked the drain and flooded the K! Dried the floor and the counter, then realized the water had run into the drawers and one cabinet. Cabinet not a big deal but added all the towels in the drawer to the clothes line and everything else on the counter to dry out. In between, I watched the snow fall and fall and fall.... ALL day.

Never got up to even 30F in the studio so I kept yesterday's pots covered to be trimmed tomorrow - hopefully. Have to because I am leaving for Quebec on Thursday.

Coming to terms with/getting used to Firefox since I keep getting told Safari is not up to snuff. At least now I can sign change.org petitions = the only reason I upgraded computer - or tried to. LONG session with Apple tech yesterday; informed computer is too old to upgrade anymore... "So why did I go to the trouble of..." Supervisor called in: suggested Foxfire instead of Safari? I did not bother asking why it would work but S would not. And ticked with sites that tell me Safari is "unsupported". Why do they do that to people. My son told me this computer would last the rest of my life - either he was optimistic about the computer or pessimistic about how long I might last!

Other than that: Good that I brought in lots of wood yesterday as there is a few inches of snow out there - to be cleared tomorrow in time for my 10 am interview with former mayor. FB, deleting emails and reading fill the day - which will soon end for me.

And other people are starting gardens! Enjoy!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST,#
Date: 08 Feb 16 - 11:32 PM

Red squirrels can get through a hole the size of a quarter. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Feb 16 - 12:56 PM

Beaver:
Have not lost any weight but I am stronger. A couple days ago, "I don't FEEL like bringing in wood - but it has to be done." Once I started, I felt my strength and it was like the Sorcerer's Apprentice - I just brought in more and more 'til there was no reasonable place to put more! I felt SO good. so today, having used most of that, I did it again. So wonderful to feel stronger!

Gearing up throw more pots when the studio gets warm. The 11 from a few days ago are rimmed and drying in the LR!

Need to block Sassy Rad's access! Should have been done in the summer. He was running rampant this am - in the K. A couple days ago he knocked things off high places. OK, I can close the Bathroom door and block the crack under the door at night. Duh! New thought!: A good screen door on the utility room can block critter and permit air flow. Of course, fixing the ceiling...! Major job; will happen in the summer. OR the hole he comes in from the outdoors.. . Maybe...

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: GUEST, ^*^
Date: 08 Feb 16 - 08:35 AM

A productive weekend in the garden followed by back spasms on Monday morning seems par for the course in the early spring (faux spring?). The insulated cover came off of one faucet so I could do some watering with a hose that is out of storage and back in use.

The industrial-sized dustmop made a circuit of the house and the easiest way to be sure I got all of the dust out of it was to run the vacuum over it. So I emptied a full vacuum tank of dog hair into today's trash and the house looks much better, no more dusty hair tufts (surely not "dust kittens" when formed by dog hair?)

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Feb 16 - 02:31 PM

Beaver:

hot water fix was not that complicated but very foreign to me so, insisting R tell me one step at a time - he has trouble with that! - I managed. The hot is working; the heater is still heating it. I have a very slight leak at the joint I unscrewed but I will call R later- after I trim the pots in the now warm enough studio.

De-cluttered my life of four bags of trash/recycling - about 4 months worth - with a trip to the dump. I do not want to do that again. I had to drive past the dog pound where the sweetest dog ever spent a month and then was shot and left in the dump - because the SOB who offered to care for her, did not. 1991 and the pain is still ...

Thinking that the brain is what needs to be de-cluttered the most. Yesterday's move forward re the library moved my thoughts from "How can I..." to a wonderful sense of "WE can work on this!" Then I feel better about my "socially useless" volunteering at the Gallery because it will also give me opportunities to network re the library. I feel lighter today - at least my mind does!

Gearing up for trip to Quebec on Thursday - organizing 3 weeks of supplements, putting stuff into a bag, planning... - no snow for that day predicted but a very cold week ahead so careful to collect everything into bathroom and will plug in two heaters this time, just in case. Last time I missed a cantaloupe and a pineapple; they froze but were fine when I got back - still frozen! Maybe I'll take the new Af. Violet with me; it is still lovely.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 05:32 PM

Beaver/Ar Gallery:

The hot water was still hot this am BUT in mid-stream, it QUIT! Call to R and he knows what is wrong but it is complicated. After I get home again, maybe he can walk me through it OR maybe I will just do without until March. Not a big deal.

Pluses: Great opening for the new show last night; lots of good networking, including a possible venue for selling some pots. The pres who reamed me out for my emails of suggestions a few weeks ago... Was all lovey dovey with thanks for the "beautiful blog" I wrote for this show and referred to me as "our new blogger". HAH! "No, I am not your new blogger but I will try to write a few..." Not to clutter my life with someone else's expectations.

Phone call this am from a woman who is interested in working with a group towards a new library was uplifting; we know each other from the 28 years she worked at this library and are totally on the same page. We will continue this project in March after the new librarian is on board. We each know others to add to our group. A good step forward!

And signed up another Gallery visitor for possible Library advocate.

Snowing and lovely. Still light at 5:30!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 10:41 AM

The paper declutter has been productive, but not complete. Bills paid, taxes submitted (electronically) and accepted, paper shredded. Horizontal surfaces need a going over to clear up paper that may no longer have a purpose.

Bird feeders arranged along the garden that was tilled earlier in the week have had the desired effect. This morning I watched doves and smaller birds active at both the feeders and foraging across the newly tilled garden soil. I need to reduce the number of insect pests and birds are a great natural way to start that process. Mornings doves, sparrows, and finches, included gold finches. I'll sneak around the house with my camera later to see if I can get a few shots with a long lens.

As to my activities this weekend, ♫ I've got a little list. ♫

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 03:48 PM

Beaver/Art Gallery:

Long day. Thankful for FB ad the 10 people who visited.Was able to pass info re distiller on to a man who was very grateful. He was considering spending $16,000 for a drilled well!

Threw 11 bowls yesterday; not quite the full loaf of clay and blew a couple. The last one was a sign to stop - I was tired. Had to carry everything back into the house due to COLD last night. MAYBE I will be able to trim them this evening. Energy???

I did start to work through clayart files in Word. All today's emails deleted - petitions signed...

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 09:48 PM

It looks like everyone is hunkered down for the winter, Dorothy! Once the days are warmer and longer, the urge to spring clean may bring out some of the stash people have been tripping over all winter.

We have a few chilly days here and the forecast for a week shows only up to the low 60s. The solar gain will keep the greenhouse a good temperature for starting plants in small pots, ready to plant in mid-March or later. It isn't quite garage sale weather, that's when real temptation to stop and shop comes along for me. I did see an estate sale sign on my way to work this morning, the car was tempted to drive itself over there but I held the wheel firmly and passed it by.

I finished my income taxes and have filed away most of the paperwork I pulled out for that. No joy in mudville, I got a puny few dollars back, but it's better than having to pay more out of pocket. There is a lot more paper to file, something to do while the weather is still cool. Once it's nice, it's difficult to make myself stay indoors.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Feb 16 - 11:07 PM

Beaver:
Safely back home though, I admit, conversations kept me busy and it was snowing a bit as I left the party, but slowly down the mile long hill and home.

Never got to pot due to concern re buzzing noise which turned out to be the alarm for the septic pump but it has not repeated.

R reports that he is starting to get rid of things!!!!!! Feeling overwhelmed with stuff, he is giving it away--- "T don't need this, you can have it. You like it?You can have it. He has a long way to go but this is an amazing revelation! What de-clutters his life, also de-clutters mine!

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Feb 16 - 03:36 PM

Beaver:
I see warnings of nasty weather tonight. Promise I shall plan to be home before the freezing rain begins.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Feb 16 - 09:43 AM

Beaver:

So nice to wake up early feeling good and the sun coming onto the west hill! And have a signal!

Started more chick peas and the distiller and had BF and wrote emails and studied a couple health articles and a few environmental ones, gone through emails and ready to fetch groceries for potluck recipe and check pet store for ice melter.

I cleared almost 2000 emails, last week, from that department into files and need to remind self to go through them to sort into tighter files by subject and delete the debris.

A sunny day, even just at the freezing point feels wonderful.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 08:32 PM

Beaver:
Good info , Guest. Never figured out how to download book - maybe tomorrow. Spent 1.5 hour on phone with health consultant/friend. She is amazing in her ever-increasing knowledge. Gave me a couple suggestions for helping friend with probable budding dementia. So, no pots made. But all the ice is off the back door mat and more wood brought in. Chickpeas in slow cooker in prep for potluck tomorrow. Lentil stew for supper - the red lentils are so quick to cook, the veggies were just a bit crisp.

All that fresh air and exercise, ready for bed but trying to hang on a bit longer. Still have hot water! I might get used to it - then it will quit again? R will be back in March to remedy the situation.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 03:34 PM

Also - my favorite web site for owners manuals is http://www.manualsonline.com/. And as guest mentioned, I've also scanned and uploaded manuals to the site. These sites are a great public service - they help keep older equipment in use longer, and used safely. And they put out of business those folks on eBay who sell owners manuals for a small ransom.

Subject: RE: Yet More Clutter's Last Stand Jan - Mar 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 03:22 PM

Bruce, Bermuda grass is a horrible plant. The worst weed in the garden. It's dormant right now, and it has deep roots. The rhizomes that run along the surface are apparently the worst part, but I think the whole thing can probably sprout. That said, it seems insane to till it all in, but that is indeed what we did. Why? Because till it or not, it will still end up in the garden, and the soil got such a soaking last year that it compacted to the point where it was difficult to work in. As the tiller made repeated passes my neighbor and I raked out chunks of root, and I took four heaping wheelbarrows full back to the compost. I'll be raking out there when I work in the garden for weeks to come.

I paid the friend with the tiller, and because the neighbor would never accept pay for helping on something like this, I sent him home with some frozen breaded fried eggplant from the garden. I know his wife used to cook eggplant that way when I gave them in the past, but she doesn't cook as much now so I give them the cooked vegetable. [And both of these people are friends, but I refer to friend and neighbor to help tell them apart here. :) ]

This afternoon I'll start working on some of the raised beds, blocking out where they'll go so I can establish paths, etc. With all of this manual labor I'll sleep well tonight.