Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: pattyClink
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 04:55 PM

SRS, we'll have to share whatever we find out about quilt conservation. Since the weather rapidly careened from sleet to steamy, I may not feel like dealing with the quilts til fall returns!

On the USB hubs, I had to give up using mine. So many devices now insist on having their own direct plug in or they won't work. It stinks.   

Got another load over to storage. Laid out my planks and made a map, so far so good.

Today I got down to the walls clearing out my big closet, except for the large highboy. That will involve wrangling large drawers out, then putting the chest on sliders and coaxing it out inch by inch without pinning myself in permanently. I think I recall it was a 4 or 6 hand job when it went in so it will be interesting to see how it goes.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 03:40 PM

Good idea. I'll check around. None of this is fancy, but it is all functional, pens, mechanical pencils, markers, etc.

A stop by the Goodwill to shop on the way home and I found a great little scale to use in my sunroom for eBay stuff. Or give to someone if a need is identified. A bit more glassware, and amazingly, I finally have a butter dish. I have for ages used a little plastic topped ceramic ramekin and cut a half stick of butter to put in it. That's fine in the kitchen, but not very elegant for the table. I have a number of pewter pieces I sometimes use on the table, so today I picked up a pretty pewter figured butter dish. Since I try to clear out something when I bring in new stuff I should probably start weeding out the mis-matched plates and oddball bowls.

Today a steady rain has fallen, making the yard and area lake reservoirs happy. It looks like rain all weekend, possibly clear early next week. It also makes the lawn and weeds tall and lush. I'll work indoors the next few days and perhaps on Tuesday morning I'll give the front lawn another quick mow. The greenhouse is cleared out now so I can remove the mower blade and sharpen it.

Based upon the amount of stuff stacked on the sunroom table, it's time to list more eBay items. That's the best form of declutter, to move things out to people who want them and add to my PayPal balance.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: ranger1
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 12:19 PM

Maggie, there may be places that need those school supplies directly. Boys and Girls Clubs, the Y, schools in poorer districts. Might be a better way to go than giving to Goodwill. I think their excess stuff gets dumped into a Goodwill-by-the-pound and what doesn't sell there generally gets trashed.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 11:53 AM

I have some for Ranger1, and actually, while I was waiting for boxes I found more jewel and other cases. The boxes arrived (in a large box) yesterday.

The kid is home, spent the night. I had blueberry muffins on hand when he walked in last night and there will be more favorite food cooking today.

I had a declutter goal with this visit, so we went through his closet and sorted out lots of donation stuff (too small or out of style) and stuff to toss. It is a good haul - everything in the dresser is out so now the few things remaining in the closet can go in the dresser and the closet will be available for other storage. Shoes, boots, out. I did end up with a small stack of favorites needing mending, and those were dispatched with my morning cup of tea. Back in circulation.

There were costumes in the closet, created for him by his sister, and we will return those to her so she can re-use them for other people or disassemble them to reuse the materials. I'll also let her have first dibs on the "regular" clothes for materials before they're donated to Goodwill. In costume design one time-honored method of finding materials is to buy inexpensive clothes at the thrift store with the goal of using the fabric to make something new. For example, she may want to use the denim jeans to make something totally un-jeans-like.

In addition to the clothes there are tons of office supplies that will be bagged and go to Goodwill - I suspect they may have a glut of school supplies and they may in turn donate them to school kids. That's fine - the goal is for them not to go to waste. There is also e-waste - old computer stuff, disks, adapters, etc., that will go to work with me for disposal in the e-waste bin.

We looked through our respective NetFlix feeds (I pay for an account that allows two of us to stream simultaneously and he used it heavily through college - apparently viewing while studying) to see what programs each of us enjoys. I've added a couple of new ones to my list - he watches more than I do. Interesting look into the smart viewing by the young demographic. We agreed that NetFlix should create a new category - that of "Obscure Films in which a Good Actor did a Creditable Job but the rest of the Cast and the Plot and Writing Sucked. If you follow particular actors in your NetFlix viewing lists, those entries are bound to end up there. The Stinkers. :)

Now to go make brunch. I'll fry some bacon - no need to call the kid who is sleeping late, just open his door a crack and let the bacon smell waft into the room.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: fat B****rd
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 11:25 AM

Hello, De-clutterers.
Compared to most people here I do nowt but,anyway. Before the great Mudcrash Was not someone asking for empty CD cases?. If so, let me know by PM or here and I may be able to help. Carry on and take good care all,of you.
Charlie.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 15 - 08:29 PM

I've worked on a blog entry this afternoon, one that I started a couple of weeks ago and have come back to several times. It's too long, and as I work, looking at the superfluous details included, I've realized that I'm teaching myself how to write again. I haven't written articles or blog entries for a while, just posts in places like facebook and lots of news tips and announcements. Nothing creative. The skills are rusty.

I also have to move away from the computer and start reading books. Lots of books. The skill of reading fiction and nonfiction on paper are also rusty.

I'm hoping my son will be by this evening and we can tackle his closet. I'd like to see the back of it and make it impossible for ants to invade again. Until he gets here I have some work on his gift comforter to finish. PattyClink, I also have a lot of old quilts that probably need some kind of conservation attention. For now they are rolled up in a cedar chest. My great grandmother made them in the mid-1800s. Wisely, she dated and put her initials on a back corner.

Aha! I think I've finally figured out the reason I have a USB "malfunctioning" message pop up sometimes. For some reason when my phone cable is plugged into the USB hub, with no phone on it, the computer doesn't like it. Now to test the theory with another USB hub, to be sure it is the cable and not the hub.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Mar 15 - 02:06 PM

City:
Read about mowing in - is is STILL March????!!!! And realize I am moving to 3b zone. Zone 4 in Montreal/southern Quebec and heading toward 5. But I have room for a garden, and soil without a couple feet of river rock in it, and I have been there before - had green beans go black - heavy frost in August! I expect the soil to stay wet a while as water runs down the hill onto my bit of land. May be able to plant some things in April. May 24th weekend is traditional for most of southern Ontario.

De-tox baths seem to have helped. I got in a couple hours in the studio this morning and will go back after this lunch break. Laundry and dishes are up to date. I went out for some groceries yesterday and made another pot of veg/miso soup last night. Going to bed before 11 helped. Sunshine helps also. I have also been energized by some of the conversations on FB - and deeply distressed by one that brought back 40 year old memory. We never really forget or "get over" anything.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Mar 15 - 10:31 PM

I tried a little more mowing (but stopped because it is still too wet), I raked up some of the dried mulched grass from mowing a few days ago and added it to the compost, and I started clearing weeds out of the vegetable garden area. Time for a quick shower, and off to dance class. That is a great workout, and on top of the gardening, it was a good day for fitness.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Mar 15 - 02:25 PM

Time to start decluttering the vegetable garden plots of weeds.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 Mar 15 - 09:52 AM

City:
"Dorothy, we await the stories that come from those personalities! "Not being seriously MPD, my changes take time and seem to be diminished with age. I do know that getting rid of clothes that I have not worn for "a while" is not a good idea because a time will come when I shall miss that terribly because it was just right for who I want to be "today". That is why I warn against getting rid of things in haste. The worst I ever did was trashing personal letters; later I realized what a sale-able article, or even book, I might have written with the letters my mother sent me. A box of letters my Dad wrote to all manner of people years ago has been lost - not by me - and I really did have a book in mind around those. De-cluttering can have some negative effects if we are not careful or get carried away.

Now, I shall go make another effort to de-clutter my body of toxins. (Hot bath.)

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Rumncoke
Date: 18 Mar 15 - 06:53 AM

I decluttered the front fridge, (I have two fridges) as we have been away from home quite a bit recently and feeling a bit off colour so things have accumulated. About half was too far gone to eat, but anything still good was chopped up and dropped into the pressure cooker on top of some cubed beef skirt and a sliced onion already fried then high pressured for ten minutes and left to cool.

Five minutes at high pressure, some gravy powder to thicken and there is a large pot of nourishing stew. It might seem a rather odd breakfast, but I feel a bit better already, and the sun is shining.

My mother used to put all the leftovers into her stews, heated up the pot to cook something or make gravy and once a week it was emptied out completely to go with Yorkshire pudding, given a good scrub and put away for a couple of days at the weekends. Food never went in the bin back then.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Mar 15 - 03:00 AM

I still have clothes for multiple personalities and intend to keep them for a while yet.

Dorothy, we await the stories that come from those personalities!

Patty, yes! - whatever will keep stuff a bit off the floor, I'm sure you'll find alternatives to lumber. I used bricks in my garage here because there were a whole bunch in the back yard. I finally got the garage stuff emptied and the bricks are now part of the patio next to the back door.

Less is more - if you see things while you work that you can donate, do it before it goes into storage. Make that space work for you by being navigable.

Long day at work today, to compensate for taking three more days off this week. I didn't take time off last week (when the university had spring break, and staff often take four days off because they give us Friday as a holiday). I'm doing it this week instead because my son is in town for a few days. I'll still probably work on some work stuff, but mostly I'll be the Mom waiting for the Kid to turn up for a visit. I have the materials for some of his favorite foods, so I think once he gets here I can keep him for a while.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: pattyClink
Date: 17 Mar 15 - 08:51 PM

That is such a good idea about the 2x4s! Of course I'm fresh out, and the car balks at hauling around lumber.

But, I've got several leftover hunks of Harditrim, which is more moisture resistant, so I could set those crossways, and I've got some 1x8s I was using to traverse the attic, could set those on top, and be high and dry. And yes, a map, a notebook. Determined not to have a jammed or helter-skelter setup.

Meanwhile digging out fragile old quilts, OMG the fabric conservation projects that are popping out of the woodwork.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 17 Mar 15 - 07:27 PM

City:
SRS! you just abound with good ideas! Also the concrete floors of storage units can be hard on cardboard boxes.

Summer clothes down to two boxes! Hmmm.... I still have clothes for multiple personalities and intend to keep them for a while yet. Driving home yesterday, I thought of asking Ontario friends if anyone has a BIG flowered red hat I could borrow - to do with trying out a special song at the open mike some time. I am sure it will appear. My friends there are a thoroughly motley crew - from the very sedate to the way far out. What fun!

Hot bath last night was not adequate so I did another this am - after late getting up, late BF, late R leaving... It was after noon when I was done and, hence, in slow motion most of day. I have been on internet or emails, watched the news, upset a couple people with posts, delighted more - same posts! Some good thinking. Interesting people. Living in 3 places won't be too bad. Four if one counts "living on line". I mentioned that to a singer/ songwriter a few years ago and he thought it a good name for a song. I have not seen it yet.

Working on list of first load to new house. Two weeks to closing then 10 days to get permit to work on house - WINDOWS! Shed needs R and Bruno by very beg of April as the people need it gone. Trailer will come off lake in early April. Things might even fall into place?

Went to get dressed and put bedding and more into washing machine. All is well. Really needed that de-toxing. Maybe more tomorrow. Now for Big Bang!

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 15 - 11:48 AM

Patty, we're never completely done with experiencing "firsts" in our lives, are we? They rush at us when we are small (or when we see our children grow) but they continue throughout life (if you're paying attention and looking for those opportunities).

If you can give yourself the option of mapping the storage locker and taking in some long 2x4 pieces of lumber (house studs), I think you'll find that putting everything up with aisles between the rows, and all of it a couple of inches off of the ground on those planks makes the space easier to work in. When boxes are placed directly on the concrete, they're harder to pick up (if you need to get fingers underneath before lifting). You'll also avoid the classic "flood in the storage locker" disaster in case of heavy rain or something leaking from an adjacent locker. I had a storage locker after my father died because there was a lot of stuff that I couldn't move down here all at once.

Dad had lots of steel storage shelves in his shed so I set those up in the locker and realized I could actually find things when a storage plan was in place, and since I made room to reach the shelves (that were at the back) I ended up making room to reach everything. Organization by accident. :)

My back yard is almost 1/2 mowed now, but the grass is so wet that the mower is laboring and I don't want to burn it out. I'll let the grass grow a little more - tall is less of a problem than wet, it seems. I'd like to keep this mower operating as long as possible, so I'll pace myself. It is a good workout, particularly arms and shoulders with the pushing and tipping of the mower on each pass through the weeds. I'll also sharpen the blade before I continue - something I should have done at the time I was doing the tuneup.

The house plants are beginning to sprout and send out floral spikes and cuttings in water are rooting. Even indoors they detect the longer days and are stirring in their pots. I'm going to need to organize that area again so I can reach everything.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: pattyClink
Date: 17 Mar 15 - 10:54 AM

SRS, how kind of you to untangle somebody's techno-mess, I know that can chew up some time and energy!

After a lot of false starts and shopping around at flaky storage unit operations, I finally signed up with one yesterday, it's a large fairly professionally run place, but with a manager character with tales to tell.   Some of the others seemed fly-by-night or like I would drive up one day to find the gates locked because the owner died without Plan B, which is the very last thing you want.   

Anyway I've been dreading it and finally realized why. It's the first serious step towards leaving this home of 28 years. Also the first time I've put my name alone on a lease for well, decades.   So I teared up a few times and then went and did it. Now it feels good to have this place to shuffle stuff for now, and probably to leave the key stuff when I do leave and start traveling. So, a little bitty milestone passed.

Another good thing, I culled summer clothes down to 2 boxes last fall, so getting out the summer stuff from the attic went Very Quickly this year!

I figure I'll get a grip on the interior right about the time the outdoors starts clamoring for constant attention....

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 10:01 PM

City:
All this stuff about "firestick" and "streaming" is greek to me! Have not a clue! Guess I don't need to! TV is a sometime thing; not very important in our lives.

This move will be only what is necessary and desirable. Everything else can stay at the mill until/unless we need/want it. This house is so tiny there is no room for non-essentials.

Went to Art gallery meeting this am but the gift shop is being redone and the paint fumes were a hazard for me so I attended with my scarf over my face and had to ask Tere to find someone else for my volunteer shift tomorrow. I came back to Montreal and took a hot bath to de-tox.

Stopped on the way and bought a pair of work boots for R but he has not yet tried them. Terribly expensive for us as we usually get such things at thrift shops. Boots at $70 (50% off!) ---are beyond belief and yet that is what they were. If we decide he can live without them, I can return them next trip. They are only about $35 on line but that is in the USA and by the time we add shipping and "immigration", they come to about $70! We need to be more pro-active about checking for boots in thrift shops.

R came home early and is in the hot bath - prob asleep! He looked as tho he had come out of a coal mine! I suppose I shall have to waken him so we can get to bed!

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 07:52 PM

The thing about Amazon Prime videos is that the free stuff isn't always easy to find, but it is there. If you start watching a program and 20 minutes in it asks if you want to buy the program, back out and find it on NetFlix instead. I have found documentaries and things that you pay for on iTunes that are free here. It tends to complement NetFlix nicely.

There are ways to search Prime for content, and there is a lot, but there is some pretty obscure stuff in there that will never see light of day in my house! I actually use it more to listen to the music via my computer at work, especially if I'm working on an editing project and need to drown out the office chatter. And I do use the shipping, though since I used to use the standard free shipping most of the time it doesn't seem that much different. Occasionally it does get things here faster.

I had to stop mowing for a while because the motor flooded and it was low on oil. I topped it up and will go back in a few minutes. It may take me longer than I have left of today to finish this yard, since the weeds are so tall and wet.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 06:30 PM

For Christmas, the family gift from Santa was a FireStick from Amazon. I thought the price was right and am tired of paying ridiculous amounts of money for television that is nothing but violence or repeats. We have the very most basic package from DISH or at least we did until last summer when we decided to up the package to something that had more kid programming. Jeremiah was home more in the summer and it made sense to us to shift up. He was rapidly outgrowing Daniel Tiger and the like that we were getting. So we tried the bigger package for the summer and on the first day of Pre-K, we scaled back to the most basic of packages. I like the FireStick for some of the television shows I'd never seen like Gilmore Girls, Parenthood, Orange is the New Black (Netflix exclusive....oh yes....we have Netflix), the Midwife, etc. Pete likes the older sitcoms and when it comes to kid's shows, the sky is the limit. The FireStick let me move my Netflix subscription to the television (instead of just the Kindle, phone or computer) to where we can all see it. You can also sync up YouTube to the FireStick and play endless full albums of music. We are currently considering dropping DISH altogether and picking up Amazon Prime which has even MORE movies, free 2 day shipping, etc. for $100.00 a year which with the Netflix brings us in at much lower than DISH that we now don't watch much anyway. The remote is half the size of our television remote...never have a problem with losing the remote.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: ranger1
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 05:38 PM

Depends on the model. Mine is fairly small, but I have one of the older, smaller models (the Roku 1, which also works with older TVs that just have composite jacks), and the remote measures 5 1/2" by 1 1/2". My mom has one of the newer, larger, fancier models and I think her remote is bigger.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 03:26 PM

The streaming device she wants to get is the Amazon Fire TV stick, because it has a memory chip in it that buffers streaming NetFlix, AmazonPrime (that Roku doesn't have) and more, and costs $40. She has a lot of DVDs that she enjoys, so the player makes sense for now.

She has televisions in other rooms and is planning to use them on antenna and to move around a streaming device to those rooms (after the dish devices are all removed), so depending on what all she decides she wants to stream, the stick or Roku would equally be good possibilities. My sister has a Roku and likes it a lot. On the down side, the fire stick has a small remote - easily lost (though it also has a phone app that can substitute for the remote). What about the Roku? How large is that remote?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: ranger1
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 02:31 PM

Maggie, you and Susie might want to check out a Roku device for streaming. They're easy to setup and use, and relatively inexpensive, depending on the model. I have one of simpler, cheaper models that I really like, and it gives my gaming consoles a rest (streaming makes them run hot). They're all wi-fi ready, and connect to the TV with an HDMI cable.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 15 - 01:51 PM

The process of moving allows you to move only what you need and discard the rest. In theory, at least. I usually have found myself boxing everything and knowing I'll have to sort it out at the other end.

This morning I can hear lawnmowers around the neighborhood and I need to attack the rest of my back yard. I tentatively mowed about 1/4 of the area after repairing and testing my mower, but it's a lovely day today so I'll finish the rest of it.

We got Susie part-way set up tech-wise at her house yesterday. She has been paying for but thought she was no longer able to view Netflix, but I was able to logon to her account online via the laptop. We discovered that someone else has been using her account - her old computer that was stolen was set up for auto logon, and while she wasn't watching it, someone else had their movies in the streaming list. We deleted those, changed the password, and have removed the mailed DVD option. Next week we will address the NetFlix streaming to the television (get a DVD/Blu-ray wifi streaming player) and kick out the confusing X-Box (setting it aside for the kids to hook up when they visit, and providing a cable to the modem so they can stream games or whatever through it. Right now it can't recognize the new home network we set up last month). Her house is such a tangle of technology that other people have set up to use while they're visiting that she can't figure out. I've asked her what it is she wants to do, and we're figuring out the easiest way to do it. In her own house she should be able to watch a movie without jumping through technology hoops.

Next week we will set up a rabbitears antenna for the livingroom television and I will help her program out the over-the-air channels she doesn't want. She's going to watch it for a week or two to be sure she can live without the expensive DishTV plan. She likes to record network programs, but many of them can be viewed at the networks web sites, so we'll also bookmark those sites and see if she can find the programs she wants to watch. If both of those things work, then the $100+ monthly dish bill is gone.

Gotta get moving around here. It's a gorgeous day, and after a few dark weeks I need to get sunshine to make vitamin D.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 06:32 PM

Ontario"
Visiting day: many visits with dear people, talking about new house, about my role in the community - how I can best be of service. Could I write a series of articles about individuals visions of community life...? Soup at Sun Run Cafe and visit with W, visit to wonderful art gallery and with the friends who run it, lunch at "For the halibut" and visit with friend working there, went to the house and a friend was there walking her dog: how delightful that H lives nearby and we talked about the house, gardening, life, music, environment....

House looking much better today, esp with H there. I did some better looking and thought - bet we have a better door for back - one with a window! Great need for bigger windows; Nice wood ceiling in LR, I had not noticed before. Where to put garden? Maybe after snow goes! Where to put shed for studio? Not to block view from windows, flow of foot traffic around yard? Phone call with another local friend and catch up with her family/parents/opening of the restaurant?

It is so wonderful to be in a place where I am part of a vibrant, thinking, caring community.

Phoned R to tell him about day and everyone's, "Hi to R!" and better feeling for house.

Need to start writing down mental list of "what to bring first".

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 03:44 PM

Making a push to not clutter but adequately fill-in my LinkedIn profile. It's time I got around to it, though the site is pushy and will send out unsolicited emails on your behalf if you're not careful.

One more lighting run this weekend, a little grocery shopping, then up to Susie's to help her get some of her life in order. It always seems easier to help others than it is to help ourselves. ;-)

Taking a couple of days off this week and aiming at cooking a small family dinner. In preparation it's time to start mopping floors after all of the mud that was tracked in last week. No point in doing it until the mud situation in the yard was resolved. The house will be looking good when the kids and their dad come over for a meal.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Rumncoke
Date: 15 Mar 15 - 06:45 AM

Spring is here - the purple myrobalan is in blossom, and the flowering currants are on the brink, new leaves and buds all over the bush. Birds have been gathering up nesting materials for some weeks, but are getting quite frantic about it now.

The forsythia seems to have gone out of favour around here, the bright yellow flowers were the sign that Spring was really here, but almost every bush has been uprooted.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 05:49 PM

Ontario:
SRS: Thank you. DSW says they are in Canada but I could not find where; will phone on Monday. A friend made a suggestion today which I will follow through on Tuesday.

Market today was great fun. Connected with many people and much support re move. including - "We can help you fix the house!" And they mean it and are competent. Sold 3 pots - a bit more than enough for a tank of gas and the booth fee. That's fine. Totally tired but happy.

Here is how clutter becomes: A dear friend gave me a very special gift today - special to him and he expects it to be just as special to me; he was so delighted! I will give it a good place in my new home. It goes on the wall so it is tolerable - but I do not like it at all! On the other hand, I really like the giver so it will be a memory of a wonderful person.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 02:16 PM

I tore apart my lawnmower this morning and now have to get a new fuel line and filter. Spring seems to be here. The daffodils are up and buds are swelling on the trees. Several early blooming trees around the neighborhood are showing their colors this week.

The mowing is timely - I did gain back a few pounds over the sedentary winter. Now to get back into fighting shape. There's nothing better for that than mower wrestling and digging the vegetable garden. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 11:08 PM

What a workout. The front lawn was dense but I knocked down the tall stuff and though I didn't take the trimmer out, it looks tons better. I can feel it in my back and shoulders, all of the work to push through the tall stuff.

Dorothy, do you have DSW shoe stores in your area? I found a good pair of steel-toed boots I wear in the garden when I'm using sharp tools (like the mattock or an ax or other chopping implements). I think they were about $60, a good name brand. You may need to go into the store, though, back to the clearance area to start with.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 07:12 PM

Ontario:

Thought I posted something yesterday?

Anyhow, this morning I dropped off bagels for one friend, then went to the "new house" to meet agent and measure K and bathroom for flooring. I turned onto the road and saw this really ugly house - ARGHHHH! Needs to be painter -- RED, Green Orange .... Anything but severely drab sort of pale green. I opt for pale yellow ASAP.

Then to the township re permits for changes and by the time I left there - ARGHHHH! what a mess! Then to Service Ontario re changing residency --- ARGHHHHHHHHH! Not sure about this at all!!!!!! Everything seems so complicated --- and costly!

Spent the rest of the day having short or long visits with a variety of friends. What a great feeling when the receptionist asked the boss, "Do you have time to see D.. P...?" And I heard a scream of delighted YESSSS! OK, maybe this IS possible, plausible, .... Being wanted counts for a great deal. Then I remember that this is home.

On the way back to my temp home to rest up for the Farmers' Market tomorrow, I had reached the point of - all I really need to start out is a bed and the propane heater. The rest will come in due time. Closing is 1 April and R will probably still be dealing with crisis # 14567890 at that point. It will still be cold enough not to need a fridge and I got a great lunch for $6 at the bulk food store today - two meals worth,

Oops, Also must admit to buying a lovely big quilt and a small hand made one for pretty, two turtle necks and a beautiful fleecy purple shirt - all at half price at thrift shops. Shopping did not yield boots for R - not under $100! I shall try again on line. And check the thrift shops again on Monday.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 11:43 AM

I have realized that before I go further with the spring work and mowing the lawn I have to excavate and organize the greenhouse. It has been storage all winter, the kind where you push the next thing in through the door and have reached the point where I can't get past the door. Everything has to come out, the hoses must be stored properly wrapped and stacked, the wheelbarrow moved out, etc. (Not posted to depress those of you who still have sheet ice and snow all around your dwellings.)

I started the final push on whole-house light bulb replacement last week, and I may do one more bit of that this weekend. I have a circle light in the kitchen to replace a bulb in at the same time I pickup small bulbs for the front room fan light fixture.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 01:07 AM

Paper shredding tonight, clearing more files. And I've begun moving books in the collection that got me through graduate school. They'll be rearranged and some set aside, others back in play. And making room for a new batch.

A bunch of recycling stuff goes to the village bins tomorrow, and maybe some donation materials over to the Goodwill. I've scanned a few things I can now shred, and am slowly working through a stack on my computer desk. They can't go onto another surface, they have to recycle, trash, or file.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 07:31 PM

I've considered moving my LPs, but there are only a couple of places that are sturdy enough to store them. You own some, so you know what I mean. They make lesser shelves sag.

This evening I stopped at my favorite gyro place a few blocks from the house. I hadn't been back in ages because they changed the schedule of my favorite cook. Turns out the owners shuffled management and my favorite cook has been back on days for several months. I'll be a regular again now. I picked up a gyro and a beer to celebrate the beginning of my 1 day off this week as part of "spring break" on campus. Students and faculty get the whole week, some years staff doesn't get any days off. Beggars can't be choosers.

Now to putter around here and get ready for my son's arrival tomorrow. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Rumncoke
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 06:32 PM

I am forbidden to read the Discworld books in bed, as they make me laugh.

Today I discovered that the small book of recipes for sweets is not where it should be, so I will switch the sorting to the kitchen tomorrow in an effort to find out where it has gone.

I have been playing records today - the vinyl ones, as I can get to the music centre. I have never taken to buying cds like I used to acquire LPs. I have opera, folk, pop, classical, comic - and now I can get to it and play it again. I was quite surprised that the turntable works.
I have space on the shelves and more carpet is visible in the dining room.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 04:45 PM

I see that Terry Pratchett has shuffled off this mortal coil. My daughter likes his books, and I always kept my eyes open for some of the earlier ones to read myself (in order). Maybe now they will be reissued and we can clutter our houses with good books. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 10:24 AM

Aarrgh! A reminder email this morning of a report that has to be turned in by end of day. I was thinking of taking today off, but now I won't. The lawn is finally dry enough to mow, so I'll do that as soon as I get in this evening. That's the one good thing about the time change - I get home from work earlier during the gardening season.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 09:23 PM

My dance class tonight was busy, reviewing the last set of steps and moves we learned. Next week to the new phase, shimmying so "wear a good bra!" :) This is a very good workout each week.

My son arrives on Friday and I have that day off so I'll be finishing up preparations for his visit. I try to bake bread the day one of the kids comes home - such a visceral smell is the ultimate "welcome home!" And I'll have something more substantial ready to eat for when we get back from the airport. His room is ready, though he'll probably only be here one or two nights. I need to pin him down during this visit to thin out some of his stuff in storage in there.

I gave my co-worker two jars of canned tomatoes - she was amazed that I didn't want any money - I told her that I thought if I calculated the cost they'd be very expensive, so I was just going to give her the jars and if her husband likes home grown/canned tomatoes, I'll teach him how to grow and can his own. Our supervisor came through and laughed - said it was like I was introducing the husband to a "gateway drug of homegrown tomatoes" with that free sample. I suppose I am!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 05:57 PM

City:
Thought I was going to return a carrier to the SPCA but lacked adequate knowledge of which way I was meant to go, so I ended up at my friends a bit early. Their dghtr (55) carried four boxes of pots up the two story metal spiral stairs. I no longer have that energy, nor the guts to carry a box down said stairs. She unwrapped most everything and the family had a wonderful time exclaiming over some of my newer work. As usual Hannah was telling what to do - more of this "shape and colour" and what about... And I had to catch them up on the craziness of our lives. R and I have known them since 1968. I repacked the pots because, I told H, I hate to hear them rattling!

Then to the bagel shop for 9 d bagels to take to Ontario, to Market for some sale cheeses and organic potatoes. Home for supper: veggies and chili. And, while my supper was heating, made a pot of cauliflower cheddar soup to leave for R. Now I will go make a pot of celery soup and then rest up for tomorrow's drive.

Snow is melting vigorously and weather has been sunny and sweat shirt quality. A bit of snow expected tonight and the weekend in Ontario may be snow/rain. Not so great for a farm market.

I'm really tired but feel I can manage what needs to be done - also a load of laundry so I have comfy sweat pants for the journey.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 11:43 AM

I too have not been doing well with the clock change, in my head at least, but my hands have been busy and WhooHOOO! While I was putting away clean laundry-- and I don't really have more stuff than most folks, it just takes more space cuz it's all BIG-- I decided to honor what my body has been suggesting for a few weeks: I packed up one set of sweats, fluffy/awkward winter-only slippers, and the heavy fleece robe (since I now have a light one for summer). AND I had one more of those clear zip bags new comforters come in! So Winter's Worst Gear is now in plain sight in my bigger closet, glowing all bright pink from the robe on top (which I can easily pull out if Mother Earth throws another cold crash at us). I even added the gorgeous pinks/red muffler to cement my resolve, and will add the matching hat when that turns up.

Still in my daily-access closet is the comfier, lighter-weight set of all of the above items. I was SO GLAD to have a set to wash and a set to wear all winter.... but as a uniform, not so much!!!

The beloved fresh-air and access ramp in front-- which got permafrosted during an early big bad snow while we were away, and was not possible to dig out since then-- was clear as of yesterday. So daily ramp walks with doggehs have resumed. By next week I hope I can wade in the front yard, in all the runoff coming into it from our big yard AND the adjoining hill, on its way to flood our basement. My heavy but waterproof boots are by the door!!!

Mud Season, you may now begin. I'm ready for you!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 11:26 AM

A lost dog turned up in the neighborhood and is at Susie's house with her grandson. I put up a notice on facebook and twitter - the facebook note has her grandson's phone (Susie often doesn't hear her phone ring, though she was willing to list it). Fingers crossed she can find his owners and not have to take him to the humane society. He's a beautiful red-nosed pitbull, neutered, but too much dog and she already has too many.

Tami, the box is packed but I probably won't get it in the mail till Friday when I have my one day of "spring break" granted to university staff (during this week when faculty and students are away all week).

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 10:19 AM

City:
SRS: What a great educational opportunity! And how humorous to me that it is too late where you are for the corn gluten. The forsythia blooms at end of March in southern PA; I have no idea when they will pop up here! Never mind, further north; I will check in Ontario when I am there in April! That is the measure we used in PA.

So, I stayed up until midnight in case R came home. Then phoned him: "I'm busy right now" So I went to bed. He did come home and did sleep. He left about 8 am, having had the wit to take his am phone call to the LR; I literally get a morning headache if I have too much noise or light (open eyes) before my brain is ready to cope.

I stayed in bed until 10:15 (the old 9:15!) So sitting in LR with a cup of warm water/apple cider vinegar, I have phoned Ontario to set up a Hydro (electric) account on new house. This was amazingly painless! Then I phoned for an appointment to visit friends this afternoon. Now, I shall make up a bagel order - to take to Ontario tomorrow; these friends live near the Bagel Factory so picking them up today saves an hour tomorrow.

Still waking up but gently, slowly! Already went through 30 or so emails, no responses needed! Brain is slightly in gear.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Mar 15 - 10:48 PM

A co-worker today said she had told her husband about my organic gardening, the tomatoes in particular, and he wanted to know if I would sell him some of my canned tomatoes. Someone else asked me that last year, and both times I found myself without an adequate answer.

I grow tomatoes for myself, for my food supply. I could buy store tomatoes, but the quality of homegrown, and the care I take in canning isn't calculable when someone asks about buying them from me. I eat this stuff! Who knows what price should be attached? I think I'll simply give her a couple of pints to take to him, and suggest that I can't price them because they are my food supply, but I'll happily talk him through growing and canning his own tomatoes. If he'd like.

This last week I've used a several pints, making sauces for lasagna and enchiladas. One of the lasagnas is in the freezer and one is being eaten this week. The enchiladas have been good for lunches and dinners. I think this guy is educable - he bought some corn gluten meal to use to control weeds, but since his wife asked about it first, I was able to tell her that it's too late now for that use. If he's willing to fool with corn gluten meal, maybe I can talk him through a few pots of tomatoes, and another organic gardener is born.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Mar 15 - 08:49 PM

City:
YAY, Jeremiah!! Five is a wonderful, exciting age!

My body has not dealt well with the time change. Dragged myself out of bed at 9 am and made BF. R dashed away and I slowly pulled myself into get up and move gear. Drove to the country, unloaded the glaze firing, sorted pots, unloaded car completely and separated newer ones from older ones for my city friends who want to see new work. Collected myself to go to NYS to mail packages - books for gd in NYC and pottery for son in PA. Found right size box, did not find address which I had left in city - PANIC! Ahhhh! I can go to the library - thankfully it is open today! - and find it on computer. Did so. Picked up can of expanding foam at store for packing.

Headed for NYS, figuring I would pack the pottery after I got through border. They did not care! Went into Malone to the PO. Opened tailgate and put thick layer of foam in box. It was supposed to take 15 minutes to harden - long time! I waited - went in and mailed books. Came out ----- this is not going to work. Went in and conferred with clerk. She was very helpful. Plan B: bought a box as mine was a mess of wet foam. Crumpled all the newspaper I had in the car for a bottom layer. placed the pottery - well wrapped, she hopes, in bubble wrap - but do not want it to be able to wiggle at all. Bought two rolls of bubble wrap for stuffing on top; just left them packed and used them as rolls. Later wished I had put two more on bottom. Taped it well and gave it to clerk to deal with. She stamped it all over "fragile" and sent it on its way. Should be there Thursday!!!!

I was so relieved to have done these two chores that I completely forgot to get cheap US gas. Concerned by lots of traffic, I just came back to Canada - where there was no traffic at all. I felt pounds lighter!

Reloaded car - I had just left stuff in yard at the mill while I was away. Stopped at the restaurant for a visit with Geri, then Esther joined us, Geri left and I stayed. Left about 7 and drove to city - darn, missed Big Bang! Stopped and picked up some groceries, got home, put them away, checked craigslist - free TV, phoned and waiting for call back.

Over 60 emails to go through; will FB and work through emails kind of simultaneously.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Mar 15 - 02:08 PM

What an amazing journey this has been, Michelle! Enjoy the day!

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Mar 15 - 10:08 AM

Today I am busy with wrapping gifts, making an ice cream cake and general merriment!

Jeremiah is 5 years old today!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to our little boy who we love so very much!

XOXOXOOXOX

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Mar 15 - 07:47 PM

City:
It has occurred to me recently that, as I drive from city to mill and/or back, I no longer have any inclination to visit either of the thrift shops or dollar stores. I love the feeling of not needing or wanting anything from these stores while rather missing making those stops. Not adding stuff on, however, feels as good as getting rid of stuff at the moment. I suspect as I sort through things to decide what goes to the new abode, things will be found too much even for 3 separate domiciles. We'll see.

Today, I had arranged with my "student" to meet her at the studio and it enabled me to get glazing done, as I showed her the ropes. She is exceptional at paying attention and learning and having good ideas. It energizes me to have her around. I gave her a key so she can come in and work on her own as she is already competent to do so! Tomorrow she will have her first completed pots!!

All the emails of yesterday by self and others of the DF community bore fruit in that the fellow with the alcohol problem starting a new life today - announced first thing this morning. We all have hope and a social worker friend is seeking nearby professional assistance for him. It is conceivable that a group email intervention, well considered, could work with someone more apt to read and comprehend than to hear - yet more words? Hope!

Choc has almost totally cleared my sinuses, I can actually breathe pretty well - better than most of my life. Somehow, I need to balance the choc calories by leaving out - something else? I once asked at a whole food pharmacy for the active ingredients in choc in pill form but they are not available! Choc also tends to move through the system fairly rapidly; something to watch out for but, basically, faster is better as a cancer preventive. I am mindful of the addictive aspect but prefer being able to breath and, so far, it has been my best hope.

All possible household chores are up to date. Tomorrow will be busy; tonight I will stick on computer.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Mar 15 - 11:24 AM

Some days the best accomplishment is washing all of the dishes so I have a clean sink to work with when I get up or when I arrive home from work. Under that sink is looking pretty good, ever since I put down adhesive-backed floor tiles so I can wipe up the surface easily. I've gradually cleared out extra stuff in the bathrooms, but since my kids come home to stay on occasion there are some products that are there just to be a good host to friends or family.

I'm looking at rearranging the kitchen - again - there are things that I use rarely that are on open shelves, but if I put them in a cupboard, would I ever use them at all?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: pattyClink
Date: 09 Mar 15 - 09:45 AM

Lily, hoo-rah to you on clearing those spaces, that's a good feeling!

Yesterday was a lot of scan and purge work. Finally cleared a few boxes and made room in the file cabinet for active files. It's amazing how stupid old files clog up the works.   

Anyway, reclaimed several square feet of floor from the office area, today it'll be fun to vacuum up the stray shreds and be able to see some actual progress visible.

Then I'd better make a gym run. When I get wrapped up in household stuff it's easy to skip a day or two.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Mar 15 - 10:20 PM

Well, door 3 never opened. I have spent the last 10 or so hours on FB and on emails working on a situation in the Ontario community - how to intervene with a 20 plus year alcoholic who is finally recognized as a negative impact - and other emails to friends in a catching up mode. This seemed the best use of today.

Subject: RE: Declutter & fitness-Jan-Mar-Google Cache
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 08 Mar 15 - 09:44 PM

Bathroom change so far this year (or maybe end of last year) was to put a Deb commercial soap dispenser in there above the wash basin. It started with an error in an order with from screwifx where I was missing one item but wound up with some soap. They sorted the order and said if I could use it, I could keep the soap.

We poured that into a hand dispenser but later thought "is there any reason you shouldn't have one of thier dispensers in a domestic property?" Personally, on reflection, I wish I'd have gone for this one