BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 11 - 10:56 PM

I spent an hour slowly assembling a new burner unit for the barbecue the neighbors gave me. It's the kind of project that, though you can see it clearly the instructions, you have to back up and visualize how this is going to work in the place you want to put it. I've done all but attach the small safety springs on the gas venturi tubes. The grates are heavy-duty and in good condition; I'll wash them off, clean off the ceramic "coals" and give this thing a test in the next day or two. If the cost of the new burner ($30) gets me a new lovely barbecue, it's worth it! I quit because I would have had to get down on the floor to attach the springs and I've had enough dog kisses for the time being. All three have been past to see if there is any food involved and to stick their noses in my neck, ears, or face (they're so sweet!)

Dishes are all finished, laundry is done. I vacuumed the "carpet cleaner" I sprayed on the truck driver-side upholstery. Don't know if it will work - what a predicament - an organic gardener with the chemical garden smell in the vehicle. No interest whatsoever on my eBay listing, so I gave it a boost by pushing it out to my twitter account, and mentioning design guru Nate Berkus (as in - these are good for ideas like he might do).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 11 - 11:24 AM

I think you need to tell the butcher about this problem. Do you suppose it wasn't what was advertised? What conditions would make the meat tough and tasteless?

Cleaning today. The dust bunnies are getting out of control around here.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 23 Oct 11 - 05:22 AM

I had a deeply disappointing meal yesterday.

My car has a coolant problem which can't e sorted until tomorrow, and I had to use public transport and shank's pony to get to the swimming lesson I take for the school I used to teach at. This involved walking past the really good butcher's shop, where I saw a sign announcing that they had wild rabbit. So, after the lesson, I popped in and bought one.

I have a very simple recipe for stew which my mother had from her mother, and which really reminds me of home, so yesterday I cooked it. And, for the first time in my life, I had a tough bunny. Instead of the meat falling off the bones, it stuck and needed a steak knife to cut it. And it had very little flavour. I now have one hind leg, two front legs, the fillets and the rest of very tough meat, and no idea how to make it more easy to deal with. It is just possible that it was my fault by putting the meat into the hot water I had defrosted the bacon hock in instead of starting from cold before it had the usual eight hours in the slow cooker, but I doubt it. The hock was nice and tender. The offal is OK. While I was washing the rabbit and cutting it up, the meat seemed to feel normal. But it was so disappointing.

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Oct 11 - 10:03 PM

Shopping seemed a bit haphazard today, but I did get a bit done in the end. I need to dismantle the grill burner and find a replacement at the hardware store. I took the thing apart this evening and the heart of it is corroded, but the rest looks good. The grilled dinner will have to wait at least a day.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Oct 11 - 04:22 PM

I love those kinds of meals, Michelle! I'm making chicken soup this evening to use up some stock. I can have that for lunch during the week, or bulk it up with pasta or stuff on the side and have it with dinner.

Shipped one small eBay package (some costume jewelry) and now have a heavy one listed (a lot of 10 old Metropolitan Home magazines. Very classy in their day. Some seem to sell for high dollar, I figure I'll lump a few together, offer a photo of ALL of them (so many don't when they sell several) and see what happens. I have probably 2 dozen more to list, but I'll do that later this evening or tomorrow.

Lugging stuff to the garage today, heading out shopping (when I was working at my friend's house I literally threw that pair of shoes into the dumpster, I'd been in some really stinky stuff in his back yard. So now I must replace them.) I'll also look for some likely cut of meat to test on my grill (I'm going to clean that this evening).

It's gorgeous out - a beautiful fall day.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 22 Oct 11 - 11:52 AM

It's a wonderful family Saturday at HOME!!! YAY!!!

I did the dishes, am working on the laundry, the baby has had a bath and his crib has been stripped, I found the table, went through a pile of mail, cleaned out the fridge and a smorgasboard of leftovers are in the oven for lunch. Chili. Soup. Swedish meatballs & egg noodles. Pot roast. Broccoli. Lots of little bits.

I've got an exercise DVD to try later today.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Oct 11 - 10:24 AM

If you can get beneficial nematodes and spray them around the outside of the house, dog areas, etc, they'll control the outdoor flea population. They'll also help with some other pests as well, and you don't need to fear (or get over the fear) of their impact.

I have some barrels for making rain barrels, and if I get the kits to make them (the faucet that goes near the bottom) then I can list them for a higher price at the garage sale coming up. I'll have different categories of items - the usual cheap garage sale stuff, and a few things I list on Craig's List with information about the sale.

It's lovely out today, so I'll tend the garden a bit before I tackle the garage sale stuff. We need more rain or I'll have to water later. For now, I'll mix up buckets of my compost tea and pour it around the crops producing right now, to keep them happy.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Oct 11 - 05:09 AM

Somehow we managed to add a hockey game an hour away to ydy's prep for final assault (this year) on fleas. And TBTG the "strangest" thing has happened to me-- I've lost my fear of the possible health results of the flea chemicals. Oh, I have not forgotten them nor stopped exercising reasonable care for self (and those in my charge), but the FEAR is gone.

I woke up one day recently, realizing that I "should" have "died" years ago from "X" and years ago from "Y" and years ago from "Z." And I am not only alive but feel great most of the time, except for the occasional knee twinge or momentary inconvenience. I truly do have all that I need, and it's enough. Nothing I did "got" me that feeling. It's just there by Grace. And if these chemicals have a health consequence for me-- I can think of several that might result-- then TOUGH BEANS! Bring it ON!

I've been wondering if some inner stress is waking me up every night at 3 or 4 AM. LOL-- it's not a worry, it's the peace, staring me in the face!
It's not the impending doom-- it's blessings demanding to be counted!
It's not the nightmares (very weird of late)-- I sleep right thru THOSE. It's the safe feeling when I wake up!
It's not being hungry, tho TBTG I am-- it's Life coursing thru me so strongly that I have to notice how abundantly is the provision for it!


Off to air out the room that got last night's flea bomb--


Blessings,

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Oct 11 - 11:22 PM

When I've encountered tendinitis the answer was usually to stay on an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen round-the clock for at least two weeks, and probably more. And be careful.

I have decided that part of this weekend will be for moving garage sale things out of the house, though it means parking outside for the next week or two. I suppose I ought to try to leave enough space to pull in on Halloween, just on general principals.

If I make enough on the garage sale, part of the proceeds will go toward a roof antenna so I can get rid of all of these stupid-looking rabbit ear antennas around the house (and for better reception, they all have sheets of aluminum foil on the ends). That would be a great declutter project! I suppose I should sell some of the antennas to earn the cash for a new one, because after a big one is up these will be useless. It's the old chicken/egg argument - which needs to come first? :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 21 Oct 11 - 06:53 PM

I had my port flushed today and it worked like a charm! YAY!! Afterwards, I met up with a new friend from the camp I attended last week and we had lunch. We also explored a new yarn shop that was WONDERFUL!!! Next it was off to the foot doctor. I've had this pain in my foot for a few months now (I've had it looked at 3 times locally) and as it turns out, I have tendinitis in one of the few muscles in the foot that is not connected to the calf. It has a LONG technical name but basically, it's tendinitis. He gave me some meds to counter the inflammation..that's our first step. If that doesn't work within the month, I'll be having PT and a walking cast.

I'm glad it's Friday. It's been a ridiculously busy week and I'm looking forward to some quiet time at home. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Oct 11 - 06:23 PM

You know how sometimes you see something that is so bogus, but if you comment on it you know those who think it SHOULD be true will protest and call you names for shattering their image? A guy posted early 20th century photo of a man in full plains Indian regalia standing on a cliff juxtaposed so Mt. Rainier (yes, in Washington State) is full in the background. I told them that Curtis and others sometimes took garments along and had people pose in them, that this is not an authentic garment worn in that area.

The guy who posted it came along and suggested that the cultures had "bumped into" each other with the crowding by railroad and such - no, it didn't. Not like this. So I gave him a little bit of information and now he's being all defensive and of course a little "me too" crowd is coming along. I just finally nailed them - if you say it's so often enough, does that make it true? No. Enjoy your photo, but it's bogus, and trying to dismiss my argument by calling me an arguer is a weak defense of the photo. Idiots, but sometimes you just get tired of going along and letting the wrong information lead the way. There's a little vinegar in the air with this fall weather! :)

Okay. It's my weekend, and after an assignment this evening I'm coming home and going to enjoy a couple of days of working around my house on my projects. It will be delightful!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Oct 11 - 09:59 PM

Speaking of hair....I had my first hair cut yesterday!!!!! I was so excited and just about giddy!!!!!!

SQUEAK!!!!!


Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Oct 11 - 09:47 PM

I meant to mention your haircut Kat - mine has gradually crept shorter over the years and I really like being able to wash it in the shower and have it air dry in a few minutes. I had very long hair for a long time, and ironically, both of my kids are at a longhair stage right now! :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Oct 11 - 05:19 PM

Yes, SRS, I did use Dragon for that earlier posting. I had to edit it a tiny bit, but it's getting more used to my voice and pronunciations and I am pleased with its accuracy so far.

I went to exercise class yesterday and lasted the whole hour again. That felt good. I also had a 40 min. session with the hand therapist and I drove myself there and home. That's a first in about two months. I did have to have Roger meet me at home to unload the oxygen and stuff. It was heavy and I was pretty wiped out.

Morgan came over for supper last night. He was all excited to tell me about science class and how he learned to make bridges using rubber bands and straws. He also took the role of teacher and demonstrated to me how he'd learned to draw 3-D images including a box which I showed him how to do a long time ago. I think he was too young at the time and didn't remember. He'll be eight years old in about three weeks and is growing to be so mature. It's hard to believe it's been that long already.

The pulmonologist who saved my life earlier this year sent me a letter that he is closing his practice here and moving to the front Range of Colorado as of November 30. I have a follow-up visit with him on Friday and shall tell him as far as I'm concerned he cannot go! I knew his wife was unhappy here but I'm really sorry to see them go. He's my kind of doctor: brilliant, caring, completely accessible, directly, and one of the best of the medical professionals I've ever known.

Not much else to report around here, except I love my new haircut. Still reading along and applaud you all.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: MAG
Date: 20 Oct 11 - 02:23 PM

I love Portland -- the tomato I have had growing in a pot is still thriving -- having someone come over to give me an estimate on building large planting boxes in my yard -- i am sad to think the buyer of my old house is probably plowing up my roses, but I dug one up and it just about did in my back -- haven't lost any more weight, but my clothes are looser

happy beginning of the shadow half of the year, all.

love, me

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Oct 11 - 11:43 AM

It's looking like fall cleaning time. Sweeping and mopping, vacuuming, and getting out the throws for the chairs and couches now that the weather is cooling. I put a thermal blanket on the bed last night - as the weather cools more covers go on, until it gets really cold and I get out the down comforter and use that with the thermal blanket. I love this time of year! Sleeping in a cool house, hot baths, cooking again - heavenly!

Part of the upcoming garage sale will involve at least one large television with a converter box. So often people want to buy just the converter box, but it was a particularly nice flat CRT-TV so I'll try to sell the package. Keeping the price modest, certainly. There's a huge TV in my son's room that we were given that he uses with video games. Since that one may have more use, I'll leave it alone. I also need to move a double-size bed set (mattress and box spring). I think it's time to hook up with Freecycle again also.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Penny S.
Date: 20 Oct 11 - 04:34 AM

I went to see the GP practice nurse for a check up last week. Blood pressure and pulse OK, weight not. I've had a blood test for cholesterol this week, and am going off for a pneumonia jab this morning. I've taken up doing a daily walk, and have hauled my scales out for a daily use, in the morning, when I'm "empty". Monday and Tuesday, I lost a pound each day! Yesterday with a much longer walk, I didn't, and very odd things appear to have happened to my water, fat and muscle percentages (it's one of those sets of scales that calculate such things). I cannot possibly have lost 2% of my muscle mass!

I vert carefully avoided fatty foods and took a cholesterol reducing drink in the intervening time before the test. The nurse wants me to go to WeightWatchers, but I don't want to. I want to do the reductions myself, using the food I have in store.

Must get up now to go to the surgery.

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Oct 11 - 02:07 PM

Anyone near Zanesville, Ohio needs to worry about more than pumas at the door. Not sure what happened (an assault?) but the owner of a wildlife park was found dead and many of the animal cages were open. Lions, tigers, and bears, oh yes!

Cool fall day here and we got back to a dog walk routine, though with a twist. Susie was ready for work and drove here then we walked around several blocks. Zeke is here and she's gone to work - I suspect she is using hard work to get through this time, so I expect to see her around 7, and I suspect I'll have something tempting to eat on hand. I have a couple of extra zucchinis also (from work) so I'll copy the recipe I have and send her home with it.

I used a dredge (for flour) yesterday and sprinkled a bunch of baking powder on the upholstery in my truck. When I worked on filling the dumpster I got too close to some Ortho products and irony of ironies, the truck of this organic gardener smells like orthene. I need to get that out, so the first step is to vacuum. I'll take out all of the contents and sweep and clean the mats also, but I'm pretty sure the powder got on my clothes and onto the seat. Now, out with the vacuum.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Oct 11 - 10:36 AM

Yesterday, OMG, what a wack-job day.

Out of it came a boatload of VERY interesting stuff, one item of which I'm just awash in tears of gratitude over. (All things really DO work together for good.)

A HS friend (best friend) came out of the woodwork at JUST the right moment in my sister's illness. She is located not too far away, they have always been on a great same-page basis (I used to refer to this woman as my stunt double), she has seen other family members thru their illnesses, she knows Recovery stuff, and she has a spare room to put me up when I go there in November.

I also re-discovered a great Gospel song that arrowed into my awareness a few months ago, which is now installed in the car for prayerful driving.

I had enough $$ for flea chems yesterday and have begun adding them to our anti-flea program. (Faulkner liked and just ate the chewable, YAY! [He will not always chew.])

===

TBTG for all those. Now, fun-- did anyone see the puma/housecat video yet? They meet thru a glass door? Kitteh smartly does not look Puma in the eye (submission).

Off to PT! Oh the lovely PAIN! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 Oct 11 - 12:21 AM

Lots of housework done today. Mostly just catching up on daily stuff that seems to have fallen a little bit behind.

A preview of our family photo shoot is up on Facebook if anyone is interested. :)

The rest of the week has me running.

Later Gators!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 11:10 PM

Another long hiatus. Time just flies so fast!
Since my attack of near hypothermia, I have dug out the winter clothes, especially the wool socks! And put away a container of summer clothes. I have corrected my glaze problem and made lots of pots but they are not fired yet. I usually manage two extra days in the country during the week to work. On the weekend, we usually do other things: two weeks ago on a fantastically marvellous Saturday, we walked through the woods, on private property, to The Gorge!! What a treat! We had seen it online and thought we could only get to it from New York State but a friend informed us and set it up so we go go in from near the cabin. The folks do accompanied us the whole way in and made sure we got out OK too. What a great dog!

I have manaed to get to three International Folk Dance sessions in two weeks. So good to be dancing after a months long hiatus! Totally in French which I totally do not understand. I just watch and copy. I could never understand the instructions in English either because of my auditory processing disorder. I know many of the dances and can usually predict others. 8 years of mostly 2/week really has paid off.

Our buckwheat cakes are becoming more creative. Sometimes half wheat and half buckwheat or rye and three apples to one cup of flour or some pineapple and apple or, today, cranberry sauce (home made)/apple and the last of the pineapple. We were going to try peaches when we got some good ones! But they were too yummy plain!   

Lots of good music at the cafe and this Saturday a concert of David Ross MacDonald from Australia. Halloween weekend a bluegrass band Saturday afternoon and a Halloween Party at the cafe. The first weekend in November we are off to Lake George, New York to a wildlife conference and the following weekend, I go to a Quaker Committee meeting in Ottawa. Lest you not hear from me for a while.

I wrote a letter to the editor re---wildlife and rabies, of course, after they published a really dumb column.

I have not lost a single pound, or gained any either! My strategies are clearly not working. Maybe the dancing will help???? In any case, thanks to the Magnesium, I feel better than I have in months. Still get signs that I need it but the pain is gone and only slight twinges to remind me to take more. No mood swings, a more clear brain, most of the time and an incredible feeling of wellness!!! I feel like a new person - or really like my own true self.

Which is really good because I am more able to fill my chosen role of giving R mucho support as he goes trough these constant pop-ups of rough patches in the multi-faceted business endeavours.

Good to see others happenings - well some of them good and others - well. life. Y'all take care!

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 09:37 PM

That was a great entry, Kat - did you write it or speak it? Are you finding the Dragon software helpful after a trial period?

Quiet day at work, but while I was there I climbed the stairs (I work on the sixth floor) a couple of times. I used to climb them all of the time, I need to get into the habit again. That's my exercise report for today.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 06:19 PM

SRS, it's still good of you to be there for Susie.

Michelle, you are the living proof that sometimes, you don't get both, you get life! :-)

I did something radical today, I made an appointment for a haircut and had 8 inches taken off. I had been growing my hair long in order to wear it in long braids and/or up in a ponytail, but the ends were getting scraggly and it just didn't look good around my face. So I found a really fun website that lets you upload a photo and try on different hairstyles. I printed out a few and showed them to my hairdresser and I think she did a great job. It feels light and airy and fluffy. If I keep it this short, which is shoulder length, I may go ahead and get it dyed red which is what I grew up with and just keep it trimmed. I put a photo up on MYOPERA, if you want take a gander.

We spent about four hours on Saturday cleaning the house, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, dusting, cleaning out the car and doing several loads of laundry. Morgan came over for breakfast Saturday and Sunday and had a good time. Sunday, we did more laundry, the litterbox, and a few other things.

Later that day, while we were watching Netflix, we both noticed an awful burning rubber type smell. After investigating, we found the relay box on our furnace had shorted out. It scared me because we'd had a house fire in a furnace in a rented place in Connecticut years ago. If we hadn't been awake the fire chief said we would've all died of smoke inhalation. Just the thought of us not being here when the relay box shorted out scared the dickens out of me. But, master that he is, my Rog was able to disable it and the next day went to work half day then came home and fixed it. Fortunately it didn't get too cold that night.

On Monday we also had to take our car in in the morning to have a new water pump put in. Driving it to the shop and then home again is the first driving I've really done since injuring my arm in, what was it, September or August? I did okay except I had a tough time turning over the key and undoing the seatbelt. Until they get injured, one never thinks about how much they might use their index finger and thumb. I think we've figured out a way for me to be more independent again and start driving myself around. I think I'm going use vise grips on the key which will give me a grip that I can use and use something like a screwdriver to poke at the seatbelt to undo it. It's an old car so things are funky and one must adapt. Laugh out loud!

Book Brewer has a little bit of a glitch which they're trying to work out. As soon as they get it straightened out I am ready to publish WindWords of Wyoming as an e-book. I've also finished uploading Prairie Child, but still have to read it over to make sure the paragraph formatting etc. is correct and design a cover. It's pretty exciting what an author can do these days in reaching out to readers directly. I put two links to a couple of really good articles in the writers resources thread which show just how traditional publishing is getting trounced, in some ways, by electronic media i.e. e-books.

I've been going to an hour long session of exercise at the Life Center at least twice sometimes three times per week. One of my doctors messed up with a diuretic which caused some edema but, we're back on track with that. So as of today, I've dropped 8 ounces! Woo hoo! I anticipate it being better as I go along.

Not sure if I'm going to do NaNoWriMo this year but I do know I'm going to be busy with my e-books which is good; if I'm not busy the old depression tries to creep back in. My docs and I are taking measures to make sure that doesn't happen. For one, I'm actually getting some decent sleep now. That helps a bunch.

I may not post much but I am reading along and I wish you all well. Thanks for listening and sharing,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 03:21 PM

"It's a tough situation - you don't want your loved one to die, but you don't want them to suffer either. With cancer, you get both."


:( :( :(

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 02:46 PM

Thanks, Kat. It's a tough situation - you don't want your loved one to die, but you don't want them to suffer either. With cancer, you get both. I'll play it by ear, we'll maintain a routine and hope that helps.

This is that crisp fall day I have been waiting for. It's cool and I wore layers to work today. Since we had the rain last night I'll spend a little time in the garden this evening doing some strategic weed pulling and I'll trim one bush that has completely died and have it ready for the trash. Fall and spring are the times of year my yard looks better - in spring the weeds haven't had a head start yet, and in the fall once they're pulled they tend to stay away for a while. If I can weed before winter the front will look okay for a couple of months.

I'm back to putting things on eBay, there's a stack to describe and weigh in my office now for the evenings this week. Listing items in time for holidays.

One thing about having Zeke around, that guy is smart to most things I my dogs do, but he didn't catch on that my dogs know better than to be in the main part of the garage when the door is open. If they were, when they see the door start up they scoot out (not wanting to get caught in there because there is a gate that was closed that they snuck past). Zeke just noses his way past and races out to greet you - if you're driving it's not easy to snag him by the collar to keep him right there. I parked in front of the garage when he stayed with me to avoid that, and now I can once again park inside. I still need to redo that gate.

By now Alice is probably up to her kneecaps in snow and our Detroit New Hampshire and Maine folks are hunkered down close to their wood-burning stoves. Andrea, will your cooker be put in place in time to start cooking some good hot meals pretty soon? In whatever you call that space? :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 12:38 PM

SRS, you have done a wondrous job as a friend and support to both Susie and your moving friend. Thanks for your Shining example. My condolences to Susie and "Zeke."

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 09:50 AM

chosen a (pearwood effect) kitchen

The kitchen, in my house, is the room that holds the refrigerator, stove, sink, dishwasher, countertops, cupboards and drawers. It's the room. What is a "kitchen" in the UK? Are you referring to the floor, or something that goes furniture- or appliance-wise into the room?

Two big projects concluded today. I got a call from Susie this morning - her husband passed away last night. So Zeke gets home TLC now and we'll go back to a walking schedule when Susie gets to that point. And, on the other front, the realtors have misplaced the check they're supposed to give my friend. So careless - and at a time when he has borrowed money to earn that check, it's all the more irritating for him. The dumpster was picked up yesterday, he has met all of their qualifications, and their office opens at 8:30am today so I hope I hear from him soon that they have exchanged keys for the check.

Wow. All of the energy helping people can now be turned back into this household. I have a few things that have been on hold.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: mouldy
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 09:14 AM

Well, you are all putting me to shame!. Pics of the now-finished roof, and progress will be posted when i can remember where my camera is, and take the pictures!
Thye cooker is under wraps up against the wall in the dining room, and the inside of the build is full of joiners and plumbers putting up room divisions and "first fixing" pipework. The electricians are coming later this week, when they can get room to move! I think I have found a floor covering I like for the ground floor, and have chosen a (pearwood effect) kitchen. Once the cooker is in situ, I can plan it out better and order it. The bathroom suite got ordered by me today, and the plumber's going to get the shower room bits and bobs.

Unfortunately the windows still aren't in, as the scaffold is still up. Couple that with an open door all day, and a sudden drop in temperature from mid teens celsius last week to about 8 or 9 at midday today... I am spending a lot of time huddled by the fire in the living room!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 05:34 AM

Rain once a week - what a lovely arrangement! Let's keep it up!


Oh, we've had the reverse-- sun once a week. Locals now joke, "Say, can ya tell me: what's that blue stuff up there, sonny?" ("Sonny" cracks up) I could send ya's some rain if you'd like a little more....

Very frustrated here: The ill fam members have been hidden behind a toxic barrier. We've had to get a tad creative. Ydy a lovely job of help was done at the local post office-- big, strong, manly man delaying his lunch break to help me cram (lovingly, very reverently) a large item into a Priority Mail box. With friend's encouragement (a peer with one foot planted solidly in the helping world), today another box goes. The next box is in prep at home already.

Flea season has apparently attacked the county with a vengeance; the vet's office has settled into a patient "script" of What to Do (that peeps may not already be doing). "Yes, even people doing all we have taught them to do, before, are overrun. Some people are calling exterminators! What to add is....." So TBTG we had changed the dust cover plan for the LR from comforters to sheets, and over top of those I'm adding towels long allocated to MudDorm and now back in the dnstrs rotation-- with daily change and hot-wash. I'm reluctantly adding more chemical helps (and I already know and use all the Green ones), but still doing all we can, chem-free, with what we have at our disposal. One of the cats (quite elderly) may not get thru this one. But there is a new-to-us dog med (it supplements Frontline) which I know Faulkner is eager to try out!

The new cooktop is late. The stellar clng job in the kitchen has worn off, and it cluttered up while I dealt with the toxic/fam issues; so I'm up early to whip it because, as I went to bed last night and took a last look, I was SURE the landlord would call today to say the installer is due in 5 minutes, and if so-- he's gonna need room to work!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Oct 11 - 11:03 PM

It was just starting to blow outside when I was working on that last post. I ran out in the drive, collected a few things I'd left outside that didn't need to be rained on, put the box of truck extras (bottle of oil, washer fluid, etc) back in the truck (removed for moving large stuff) and pulled into the garage just as the heavens opened. Rain isn't a problem but I wanted to be inside in case of hail. I don't think there was any, but my yard has been nicely watered and I don't need to worry about going out to the curb at first light to sweep away any grass clippings that blew into the street when I mowed.

The girls dashed through the rain into the house when I opened the back door. We're getting a little soft in our old age. They used to wait out thunderstorms in their stall in the garage. They're snoring gently on the rug behind me right now. :)

Rain once a week - what a lovely arrangement! Let's keep it up!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Oct 11 - 09:45 PM

Today may have also been our last warm day for a little while, though I expect it to warm up periodically between now and April when it begins to warm considerably. I mowed the front yard for the first time in months and I need to mow the back sometime in the next week or two. I like to mow late enough in the season that when the grass goes dormant it had a trimmed look - it'll stay that way through most of our short winter.

So, the mowing for the exercise (took about 45 minutes) and around the house I got the kitchen cleaned up.

Zeke is still spending the days here and Susie is picking him up in the evening. We'll stick with this routine until she doesn't need to be away from home so long every day.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Oct 11 - 03:23 PM

PT good today. Nice surprise was that when I reached for the good ole shorts to dress to go, out came instead the same-color jeans. "Nah," I thought, "never fit..." but no other shorts came to hand so..... the jeans fit, YAY! Almost as well as they used to!

Got the van cleaned out, mostly, as I start working twds Chicago (mid-Nov. departure). A bulging trash can in the van had gotten knocked over, yyyych. Mailed a prezzie to Chicago, post office dude SO Helpful, TBTG.

This may be the last warm, sunny day till June (hope not), so tdy is the day to put the last of the camping stuff back in the camper-- and THAT means one more trip upstrs on a PT day that I would not other wise do (ouchies), so get that one last item, and then it's on to Yard Sale sorting (tomorrow, the day already designated).

Mom out of ICU so I'm off to get cards,

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Oct 11 - 10:19 PM

We finished. My friend can have his life back once the keys are handed over to the bank rep tomorrow. They'll give him the money for cleaning up, he'll take whatever paperwork they have and get code enforcement off his back. And he'll move on, getting unpacked, settling in, cooking, doing computer stuff, selling on eBay, but not in thrall to the house that was spiraling downward faster and faster.

I have a lot more stuff here for a garage sale; Susie mentioned it again today when she picked up Zeke. I have as much as will come from my friend's house, now I need to round up my stuff, arrange it in the garage and get ready to move it out into the driveway. That's my next big thing here, and it will be nice to clear out some of this stuff.

This week, I'll catch up at work and here at the house. I need the break.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Oct 11 - 02:50 PM

It may be cold in PA but we're going to hit the high 80s again today.

I'm home on a run to drop off stuff that I'll stash in the garage for an upcoming garage sale. Then back to move one last large item to my friend's storage locker. We've swept, checked, photographed, and oh, yes, called the police because someone came into the back yard and stole some expensive yard maintenance items (that were to be picked up today) after plowing through the trash out front. No one is at the house overnight now, and the cretins who come by at 2am have no sense of at least taking a neat look and moving on. They tear open and dump contents of trash bags. Makes one want to hide behind the dumpster with a can of pepper spray or mace . . .

The bottom line is, this is the end of all of this. Tomorrow the bank gets the keys, he gets the form that signs off his responsibility for anything else, and he faxes a copy to code enforcement so they stop pestering him if the place gets messed up after he leaves. An empty house is an invitation to vandals. He doesn't need to keep getting tickets if the house still shows in his name in the tax records until it is formally sold by the bank.

I've certainly had many days of exercise with all of this cleaning!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Oct 11 - 12:23 PM

For patients, caregivers and family:

www.cancer.org

www.livestrong.org/Get-Help

Both are excellent organizations that can provide information for all involved as well as resources, even local resources. They can help with financial things too but require contact with the doctor...for things like travel (if necessary), wigs (if desired), etc. Her oncology department would have information about resources specific to her cancer. There are also a lot of great books out there with information bits about how to get through chemo a bit more comfortable. If anyone would like specifics, I am more than happy to share that info in a PM.

Today is family portrait day...4 generations of us!!! :) I'm looking forward to it!!! We decided to go casual and be ourselves...no fussy, mussy dress up stuff happening here! I want photos of US not of people who are trying to impress anyone...just not our style!

Bundling up...baby it's COLD outside!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Oct 11 - 11:33 AM

Fam health stuff-- I'm not going to get too specific here about the exact health situations in the following, for various reasons.... Friends are welcome to ask me more via PM.


My brother reports steady physical progress for our Mom (Californy). He went to a "transitional" facility yesterday and liked it. Mom will probably go there next, don't know when, and then after that probably some home health care will spupplement what my brother, who is now her roommate, can do for her in addition to his more-than-fulltime self-employment "scxhedule."


My sister's third round of treatment was yesterday, at the world-class facility just 2 blocks from her apartment (Chicago). She says she is feeling OK so far, and so it looks like my now-mid-Novemeber visit it going to be just about right-- a good opportunity to spend some "goodtime" with her. (Some fam member has to scope out the local support system and caregiving logistics she will need family to work with, in time; as the only one of us who does not punch a timeclock, so to speak, I'm "it." I have done this for other fam members in the past. Not quite under such tricky constraints.)

In the meantime I am sending prezzies.

She isn't talking yet about how far the most-hoped remission is supposed to help the other areas that had already been affected before she discovered all this. And some of those are pretty scary areas; as far as I know she is not yet tapping into local or online peer support. We have not been close for some time, tho for a long time we had been; so I'm not in a position to encourage her to join a support group but have passed word about that along, to other fam members, who can and, hopefully, will. (None of them AFAIK have had a close touch with any terminal illness, so as we all redefine relationships in light of her current need for support I hope to be able to add a gentle hint of reality when I go see her and her closest friends.)

I WANT to go NOW. But I trust that now is not the time.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Oct 11 - 10:14 AM

Claire, congratulations on the room and the weight! You'll note that these handy declutter threads are also for keeping track of "accountability" items (use sometimes fit that in the subject line) for reporting weight loss and exercise. Success breeds success, so keep us posted and pamper yourself with those new flowers.

Andrea, we are on the edge of our seats awaiting photos of the roof and the new stove!

Michelle, kids grow so fast - I would sometimes find clothes I'd bought for a season were missed and had been completely out-grown before I discovered them again.

Susie was late bringing Zeke today - I was ready to go check on her to see if she'd had a stroke or something when she rolled up. Overslept - but that is a good thing, because she hasn't gotten much sleep at all lately. And now I'm off to my last couple of hours of helping my friend empty his house. I've been wearing the same set of clothes every day, putting them in a heavy duty wash cycle overnight, and yesterday was so foul with the garden stuff that I threw both my gloves and my shoes into the dumpster. I'll pull out a different pair of sneakers and get myself a new pair of the Reebok "Princess" black walking shoes this afternoon. They're an inexpensive pair that work well for gardening, dog walking, and for dumpster filling (no diving this time!)

Maryanne, I see that the Dallas crowd is sending the Tigers back home today, and I was near the stadium at one point yesterday afternoon, but for a restaurant, not the game. I was asleep before the game was over. This heavy lifting is a good whole-body workout but I'm glad to be finished with it.

Kat, are you going to set up more on Etsy, or are you going to list on eBay? Once all of this other activity is through I have a backlog of eBay listings and a garage sale to arrange for in a couple of weeks.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 15 Oct 11 - 08:13 PM

I spent time in the baby's nursery today going through his dresser and removing clothes that are now too small or not good for this season. I unpacked all the washed clothing I've picked up at various yard sales over the summer and am finding that Jeremiah is will be well dressed and warm this winter! YAY!!

I made a big crock pot of black bean chili yesterday and we are having it again tonight. There is a pan of cornbread in the oven as I type. Perfect for a rainy, wet evening.

We had some time to relax and hang out this afternoon so Pete made some popcorn and we all read with a bowl of popcorn and a book (Jeremiah included!). The baby has had his bath, I have laundry going and am calling it a day. Tomorrow we are having family portraits taken and I'm still trying to decide what to wear.

Down .4 pounds this week...not much but it is in the right direction!

Goodnight Everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: ClaireBear
Date: 15 Oct 11 - 01:03 PM

Time to make some more progress. Today, I will start bringing all the crap I've been leaving elsewhere in the house, because I didn't have my own room to leave it in, into "my" room. (Not a bedroom, just "my" room.) I will not be responsible for helping to mess up the community space any more! Whether it not the community space gets any neater, at least it will not be messy due to me.

Coming out of a decade-long depression is a wonderful, powerful thing.

Oh, and I bought a scale yesterday. Yup, 20 pounds at least.

Last week's roses are withered. I think I deserve fresh flowers on my desk today.

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Oct 11 - 10:54 AM

Keeping up that cleared-up downstairs is a funny thing. I see a mess begin and my mind goes right to "impossible, overwhelmed." But then I find that in about 5 minutes it's all done. The other day a friend we seldom see in person called to say she needed to drop something by, and by the time she (and her cute dog) arrived an hour later, I was all set-- could have taken the dust sheets off the pretty furniture too and would have if she had not been planning to bring in doggeh (who blessed my hitherto un-blessed rug).

It's the dust sheets that give the room the "I'm a mess" effect, it turns out. I happened to have a set of old white sheets no good for anything else, so that's what we used. The next round of yard sale prep may net me some prettier ones to use instead, or at least scarves to lay over them decoratively!!! The idea is a layer that can be whipped off for company/washing in between catching the dust and cathair-- one load of wash and no more. None to fold and find storage space for!

I cobbled up a little shelf to use a few extra square inches of bathroom storage-- a narrow spot between vanity and wall. A whole shelf in the large closet in there (which I use for undies, nighties, etc.) was emptied once I got THAT in. It's cardboard construction till Ade can build it in wood for me. I got tired of having to put on clothes to go look in another closet every time I was naked after a shower and wanted a nightgown!

After the big washing of linens I did in September, and the camper-unpack we finally almost finished last week, I had a few large items left. A sleeping bag whose mate is in use, which we do not need but might want to match back up with its mate later... and a kingsize comforter whose padding is good but the stitching is shot, from the camper. A lightbulb finally went on-- that new mattress pad I know we need but can't get right now.... The bag and comforter fit under old pad perfectly, old pad holds it on, bed now not only protected by a cushy comforter that can be thrown to the dogs if and when it is further worn (or we get that new pad). It means we are now sleeping on top of the last 5-6 years' vacations! :~)

Also unpacked from camper, "smellegrams" for a wolf friend from vacation. To mail next week... along with a GORGEOUS quilt we won from the church's Quilters, headed to sister to wrap her in prayer and stunning fall colors.

The friend I had hoped would come and help, just a leetle, with that yard sale is indeed coming, with partner, end of the month. Their young legs will bring down boxes-- stuff I will already have sorted that is now sitting "out of the way" in "their" room, and then we'll sit out on the front porch and price it all for a sale to be scheduled the weekend after their visit.

The trip to Chicago to explore sister's current and future caregiver needs is tentatively planned for late November-- a week with Hardi's mom first and then a week with sister-- and then back home before the worst of snow season, unless sister needs me to stay, as in STAY. Son and DIL are on the route back and forth for overnight sleepage.

Hm. I had felt that I wasn't doing much around here-- PT is so hard that altho I can now change a kingbed by myself including mattress flip, I'm in the chair as much as ever after some of these sessions. I guess I have gotten more done that I thought, TBTG.

Hopefully by the time I hit Chicago I can do stairs-- sister has a lot of them.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 09:49 PM

I thought I posted earlier; probably eaten by the lazy browser window. I didn't spend as much time working on the dumpster stuff today; Poppy and Cinnamon had a tiff at ~ 4am and I had one slightly punctured pooch on my hands (Poppy this time). I'd used peroxide and ointment, and she went with me over there, staying in the truck, but after a while I saw her leg was swollen so I took her home and cleaned and soaked it in a veterinary solution. Several dollars for a little 4 ounce bottle from the vet; it's diluted and used to wash or soak in. Turns out that same thing is in high-dollar human cleansers and in other vet things like teat soak for dairy cows. Anyway, I bought a bottle of the concentrated version like I have in the little bottle for $22 and that includes shipping. Chlorhexidine Solution is in a lot of human and vet products. Hibiclens is one brand/product that uses it. I wonder if it is also in the non-alcohol mouth washes?

Tomorrow is the last big push with the dumpster. My friend is in the apartment as of today, has moved most of the big stuff and now we finish cleaning the house and moving a few things he doesn't have room for. We'll probably take them to a consignment shop in the morning.

Susie is in a holding pattern, going back and forth to hospice and has friends and family coming to town for their goodbyes.

I was going to go to a concert, but ended up spending the evening in. I'd have enjoyed the concert, but it was another thing I was doing for someone else - taking photos to send to the newspaper - and I haven't managed to get my work photos sent in yet. It's a quiet evening in instead with the gentle snore of sleeping dogs behind me.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 11 - 11:41 PM

I worked hard in that garage today, got a lot done, and when my friend and his roommate got home from work they carried a lot of the big stuff I couldn't get by myself. We filled about 2/3 of a 30-yard dumpster today.

I picked up a few things, and I did sort enough that I pulled a few valuable items out of the mix they'd gotten into accidentally. A few hours more and we are finished, and it will be moving day!

I'm off to bed and I'll sleep well tonight - with help from 2 Motrin. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 11 - 10:22 AM

What a hoot - carving words into squash. Marrow, eh? I'll look it up. I have some happy acorn squash out in the garden right now. They struggled with the heat but are perking up with cooler temperatures and finally some good rain. I think they'd have been happier if I'd planted them later, considering the heat they had to endure.

Sometimes you have an intersection of activity that makes for a tough time for others - I'm glad I'm able to help - and all if this is culminating in the next few days and days will be luxuriously calm. One hopes.

I have a couple of pairs of gloves, a change of socks, my wheelbarrow, shovel, spade fork, and a big water bottle and will head into the abyss of my friend's garage. This is the ultimate declutter project, into a 30-yard dumpster, the largest size he could rent. It is moved on the back of a truck and raised from and lowered to the bed with a winch that pulls it along the slanted truck bed; it moves on embedded rollers so once on the ground is almost level with the ground, has a beveled edge for rolling stuff and easy to load everything into, through gates that swing open at the back end.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Oct 11 - 10:06 AM

Here's a neat little PBS Arts video on ETSY where Alice has her shop. I have one, too, but have done nothing with it...maybe next year.:-) It's a good way of showing how folks are making money by recycling/re-purposing old stuff and doing what they love.

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Oct 11 - 08:21 AM

SRS,

   You are a wonderful friend.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 13 Oct 11 - 06:19 AM

We call those huge things marrows. You can write words on them by cutting lightly with a knife, and the words get bigger and bigger as it swells. People have been known to sabotage marrow-growing competitors by creeping into their gardens at night and cutting rude words lightly on the skin of their prize specimens. Later it becomes only too apparent what's happened!
I love the "Oh! What a Beauty!" song by Kenneth Williams, it always makes me shriek with laughter. You can find it on Youtube, the Marrow Song.
Last Sunday, some exquisite chrysanthemums appeared in Church, a display on a stand. They were absolutely stunning, dozens of them, grown by a villager, and old boy of over eighty. Autumn flowers are nearly always vivid and brilliant in colour aren't they? These looked like sunbursts, and a ray of light shone on them from the stained glass windows. Glorious!

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 11 - 01:46 AM

I think after this weekend I'll have a lot more time to myself, and for my friend who's moving, more opportunity to visit - he won't be scrambling to do with the house any more. This evening I used one of those huge zucchinis, a co-worker brought it to the library. It's the kind that you miss in the garden and grows to the size of a football before you find it - I had enough (four cups!) to make two batches of zucchini bread. I'll put a couple of them in the freezer, keep one for the house, and take 2 or 3 up to Susie's house. She'll have a lot of company in for a while. Her husband will be moved to hospice tomorrow.

Taking a couple of days off to work on things - it'll be the kind of long weekend I need to rest up from at work next week.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 03:38 PM

Five pounds in 5 weeks is perfect Sins!!! YAY!!!!

I hope we get to see pictures of that ninja of yours Kat, doggy too!

XOXOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 02:58 PM

HeyaSins, a pound a week is reasonable and good. Congratulations!

I did an hour of Sit and Fit at the hospital life center this morning and it went well.

I am told Morgan is going to go as a ninja for Halloween and one of the dogs, either Dizzy or Numa will be going along in a karate doggie costume. I can't wait to see that. He'll be over this evening at six when he gets done with an enrichment class at school. So we only see him generally now on Saturdays when he has a standing breakfast invitation with us and sometimes on Wednesday evenings for an hour or two. We do talk on the phone every day. He's happy and doing well.

There's more but I won't go into it just now. All is well.

SRS, glad to hear things are going along well for your friend who has to move but sorry to hear of what Susie is having to go through along with the rest of her family. Isn't it wonderful for her how you came into their lives and have been of such great help. As Sins says, take good care of you first.

Best to you all,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Fitness & Declutter - ready for fall! Oct 2011
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 02:21 PM

Just checked in to see how everyone is doing. WOW Claire, that is amazing progress. Good for you.
Miss Kitty - sometimes meds are good for you. (Despite what Gargoyle says). How's my boy and what will he be on Halloween?
SRS - take time out for yourself. Same to you, Susan. It is no good to anyopne when the caretakers need care.
SINS, down five pounds...in five weeks (SIGH)