Declutter and Fitness in early 2014

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 14 - 01:23 PM

When I walked into the living room this morning with fresh eyes the room looked better, more airy. Progress!

I still have a cluster of furniture in one corner -- the couch sits in front of a long coffee table and those are adjacent to the rocky fireplace hearth where the television sits. There is also a cabinet with the various devices (receiver, DVD/bluray, CD player, turntable, etc.) to the side. Since I have my DVD and television set to go through the receiver for my own version of surround sound, it all needs to be in this same general area, and I like the lower position for the television on the hearth - I sit on the sofa and look straight at it instead of looking up if it were on a cabinet top.

Out in the garden the broccoli is finally growing and this weekend I'll make more progress in the new beds. I saw a plan for a movable PVC pipe and plastic cover that might be good in a couple of parts of the garden as a test. (Thanks, Michelle, I think it was a Pinterest link you posted on facebook.) The wheels are always turning on ways to make the garden work better, it is just a matter of finding a) the time and b) the money to put some of them into place. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 14 - 01:18 AM

Linn, it's a process, and it's different for everyone. Marking those moments by looking back help you deal with it but also hurts like hell. Good job with the squirrel access point.

I cleared the dining room table by putting stuff away after finding places to put some of it - in other words, I didn't want to just rearrange piles of stuff. It is looking better.

Of course, after several times declining my offer to take the futon up to her, my daughter texted today to ask if I still had it. Nope, and I don't have a way to transport it any more. The old Norwegian habit of making an offer three times has about run it's course (though I probably already did ask her three times, over the last year or more.) It wasn't the most streamlined futon, it had a huge footprint, so to speak, so it needs to go to a home where it will go into a bedroom, not join a bunch of other furniture like the room where she would put it. They'd kill themselves tripping over the back of that thing.

Freelance work tomorrow and Saturday. I've gotten things set up this evening, an extra memory card and battery, and now I'm off to bed. I've been reading The Hobbit a few minutes each night, sometimes more. I've read it how many times now, yet it still is interesting and fresh. They're in the barrels now, in the river. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 07:57 PM

I was feeling very VERY down today, more than any time since Tom died -- not enough sleep, beleaguered by the weather and the mounds of snow, many many (oppressively many) other contributing factors. Basically Just. Too. Much.

So I did the major thing that need to be done -- dragged the ladder into the bathroom and secured the trim piece above the shelves to keep the flying squirrel out of the house (and Rufus from scattering everything on the shelves around the bathroom in a search and destroy mission).

Then I turned off the phone and took a nap. That helped. That really helped. Woke up feeling much more able to cope.

Turned the phone back on and immediately got a call from THE BEST PERSON for me to talk to right now...as I was probably the best person for another friend to talk to late last night.

Equilibrium has been more or less restored. Glass of wine and a dinner of something other than cabbage soup almost consumed.

Also made the decision NOT to make a decision on Medicare...just take what the government offers and defer a decision on Advantage, Supplemental, etc. until later. Still have to call ServiceLink (NH's elder services organization) for advice on ACA (which I'll only need til June) and Medicare Part D...but not today.

One of the other contributing factors to my mood today was a year ago yesterday Tom was in the ICU sedated and on a vent. Because of predicted bad weather, I spent the night in an uncomfortable chair listening to him breathe and trying to sleep. I went home the next morning with what I thought was a cough from the dry air in the ICU, but after a nap, realized it was a full blown cold and was sick as a dog for a couple days (while Tom was sedated and on a vent and wasn't even aware I wasn't there). Pretty much the beginning of the downhill slide in Tom's health...

Sometimes grieving sucks, too.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 07:15 PM

OY VEY! At the mill, we have lots of space and the snow blower. In the city, just the front steps! So, while I certainly relate to Linn and Jeri's snow congestion, at least it is one thing I do not have to fight. For which I am very grateful. No buds either, though.

After a rest yesterday, I did almost finish the LR and it's as good as it gets. The desk still needs attention but whatever hit me yesterday, robbed me of all energy. While I was "resting" I decided to sort the box of "archives" I had been using as an "end table" and got through 12 inches or more before I could not do anymore. There are now piles of papers on the newly opened space on the LR floor. I found interesting papers that I want to read, look at, google... A big pile of gardening info that simply got stacked and returned to container. There is lots more at the mill; I will take this lot to the mill and put it all together so - someday, I can look at it or someone can heave it! Saving out the bit on pruning lilac which needs to be done in June in the city "front yard", a space about 3x10! hue lilac, nice mock orange, a couple small evergreen shrubs and a few perennials and bulbs. Might see some action about April!

Also a pile, as I continued today, which I refer to as "my life". I hope to sort out my life at some point - just for me. It has been so scattered. Shock of the task was finding two editorials I wrote in 1999, castigating the Ontario govt for canceling the spring bear hunt. Very shocking as now I am encouraging Ontario friends to try keep the Ontario govt from having a spring bear hunt! Realizing that those editorials were written from the viewpoint of the community I served as the newspaper reporter.

I found the first page of an article on "Keeping and Discarding". I think the second page is at the mill. I have been hoping to find this part for a long time. Now I hope to find the other part! There is about 6-8 inches left here, yet to go through but the energy has fled.

All in all, I believe the dust of moving stuff around and what was in the papers has caused my state of unwellness. So, I shall hope for a better day tomorrow. No hot water as Bruno is now sick with whatever R and I had, and are still getting over. Maybe next week???? Meanwhile, in addition to the fact that the K floor is now making ominous sounds, there are two water heaters to deal with and stuff from the laundry room is cluttering the K also trying to stay ready for the time when one or two water heaters will go through the trap door into the cellar, she says hopefully. At least if I fall through the floor, we will HAVE to do something about the K!

I struggled to stay awake all afternoon. Could have taken a nap!? Now, I shall eat something and watch TV until R gets home - whenever! Maybe peck away at the sorting or googling. Might even write something as memories surface.

It was warm enough to pot but NO energy. Rain.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 04:09 PM

Puttering around the house on this late afternoon and spent all morning at a quilt class...a fabulous quilt class...wish it would have gone all day and into the night. *Big contented happy sigh*

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 01:56 PM

Linn, sounds exciting, but I agree, sounds like a nap needs to come soon.

Dry wind today, so I moved my trash cans to where I hope they'll stay and not roll around the yard or out into the street and beyond the property.

The kitchen was looking passable today and the living room finally looks a bit more airy. Looking forward to getting more done over the weekend.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 12:55 PM

I've just come to the conclusion that today is NOT a day to think about anything important, try to make sense out of my Social Security options (let alone my ACA options) or call ServiceLink to see if they can help unconfuse me, or do ANYTHING involving thought.

I'm feeling massively over-extended, beleaguered, depressed, on the verge of tears AND I need a nap. (Helping a friend on the phone until late and then woke up too early.)

Which is what I think I'll do. (Take a nap.)

My plow guy will come tomorrow with his tractor (he just cleaned up where my car had been a little bit) and try to move all the snow next to the deck and the house and dump it down the hill so there will be room for my car to turn around and to put more snow when it snows again -- which will probably be tonight and tomorrow morning, if it's not rain or "wintry mix"...

But before I take that nap I have to get the ladder out in the bathroom and pound the trim piece at the top of the shelves on the side of the sink back in to place so the damned flying squirrel that was loose in the bathroom last night can't get back in there. (It's not so much the flying squirrel as Rufus trying to get to the flying squirrel dumping things out, scattering and breaking the contents of the shelves, etcet etcet).

Wish me luck...at getting the necessary stuff done so I can turn off my brain and take a nap.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 12:00 AM

We're not completely out of winter, another cold front is moving into the area tomorrow, but because it is the south, we will have high drying winds and high fire danger for a while. Those trees that blossom too early sometimes get zapped by a freeze and don't end up with much of a crop. But we had a few very warm days in a row and that's what tempted these trees to bloom.

I'm formatting disks now, getting ready to list a box of 20 100mb zip disks on eBay. Any files on them are very old, were put there 10-15 years ago by zip disk backup software, and I'm alternately doing quick and standard formats on them.

I moved a few things around this evening, a low set of shelves with LPs and DVDs is now backed up behind the sofa, giving a more open look. I started putting some of the stuff sitting out on shelves and tables away. Cleaned up the kitchen, scrubbed the sink and the stovetop, ran the dishwasher, and I'm going to run one load of laundry here in a few minutes. Trash day tomorrow.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Jeri
Date: 19 Feb 14 - 07:26 PM

I shoveled the porch, steps, and a path to the car this morning. Cleaned most of the car off and went to get an oil change. Came home and thought I ought to make sure they heating oil delivery guy could get to the back of my house where the hookup is. I then realized a few things: the guy who'd been plowing hadn't realized how much snow we'd get over the winter and the back of my driveway was full of snow, now up to 5' or more. The path to the back WAS blocked, and the snow at its lowest point (next to the house) was up to my thighs, and it wasn't all snow. Had a couple layers of ice crust in there, too. I got some of it, but will have to do this in successive trips. It's OK, though- I have oil and the guy comes on Fridays.

Tomorrow, I make Hungarian mushroom soup, originally the recipe was from the Moosewood Cookbook. I changed it some: no flour or milk or parsley, but more paprika and dill. You could probably make it without the sour cream, but the color is just too gorgeous not to add it (IMO). I once screwed up and used curry powder instead of paprika, and it was also great, but not as pretty.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Feb 14 - 05:40 PM

Stilly, I'm not sure I want to hear about buds and blooms...it's (expletive deleted) SNOWING again! The good news is it was supposed to be rain. I'll take snow any day over rain on top of snow.

So...this morning I cleared off about 8+ inches off the deck and stairs. Not heavy snow, at least. Wanted to get it cleaned off before this afternoon's predicted rain came in. Believe me, it was REAL tempting to stay in bed with a book, a cup of tea, and a couple cats... It was more difficult to clear off the car, because my plow guy is running out of places to put the snow, so it was a little complicated to get to the car. But I succeeded and drove it into the plowed part of the driveway to clean it off.

Then drove to the road to collect yesterday's mail... Not only had the town plow pushed up so much snow against the mailbox that I had to wade up to my hips to extricate the mail, but he'd also knocked the mailbox off the post.

So....took the car back down the driveway and parked it in the turnaround area out of the way (I hoped) when my plow guy came to clean up and do the spot my car had been parked in. THEN I had to go in and call the post office to tell them to hold my mail until both situations are fixed. The carrier will know right away that she can't use the mailbox. Tomorrow I have to go to the PO and fill out the hold mail paperwork and collect today's and tomorrow's post. Arghhhhh. One. More. Thing.

But...to use up the rest of a head of cabbage I had in the fridge (and the last of the carrots and celery), I made a killer cabbage soup. Never used the recipe before, but I made a couple modifications. Used my veggie stock and chicken stock from the freezer (instead of plain water) and added garlic. It also has potatoes and bacon in it, and, after it's "done" the recipe calls for flour blended into butter to be added. Good recipe (especially with my modifications) but I haven't a clue where I got it. I think I found it while looking for a recipe to reproduce a Czechoslovakian cabbage soup served with a dollop of sour cream that I used to order at Allison's in Dock Square, Kennebunkport, in the '70s. This recipe is different from that one, but it sure is a keeper. I love cabbage...

So I decided I'd done enough work (especially the shoveling) today, so retired upstairs with a glass of sherry, a copy of the November Vanity Fair I'm trying to get caught up on, and a couple cats.

Then, around 4:00 this afternoon I looked out and discovered it wasn't rain... Put gear back on and went out and shoveled another 3-4 inches of (thank goodness!) NOT rain-sodden snow off the deck and steps.

Tonight's session in Dover was cancelled this morning in anticipation of freezing rain... so I don't have to feel guilty about not going. More book...more cats...maybe a snifter of brandy later. (Or else a margarita so I can pretend I'm at a beach somewhere warm with palm trees...)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 14 - 03:14 PM

I saw my first blossoms of the year this morning on the drive to work. Buds on a couple of small trees/large shrubs, but outright blossoms on one old gnarled tree. White flowers, and maybe an old fruiting pear tree? I've watched my daffodils carefully, nothing as of yesterday, but they do a zero-to-sixty thing with those stalks and flowers that never ceases to amaze me each spring.

I left my office glasses at home today. Means I'll have a bit of a stiff neck by the end of the day, but one day won't kill me.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Feb 14 - 02:57 PM

By the time R got home last night, I was a fury of frustration - not enough electric! HAve to tun off a heater to use the microwave; cannot use the toaster oven ad the microwave at the same time.... I have said it all before but it was like he never heard me! No hot water! A kitchen that is falling into the cellar! WHEN will it get better?

So today, I determined to re-arrange the LR. First, move the two useless "heaters" into the stairwell. then move desk. I CAN do this. HAH! Desk is in several parts and very old. It now sits in an awkward state as one piece fell off its base and I ran out of energy. Sofa, TV, and two large chairs moved and ---I don't like it!!!! But lots of dusting and floor sweeping done.

A neighbour stopped in and I dumped on her a full load. She was very good! Darn! She is moving to the country. Would like to borrow the pick up. I shall miss knowing she and the kids are here, even though I rarely saw them. They are the only neighbours we do see! So she friended me on FB - on my computer - and I found out her name is not "Dupreen" as I have thought for four years, but "Teprine"! ????

I figured out how to share a wordpress blog to my FB page - a new one on environmental sensitivity. The computer work and glaze work of yesterday is feeling like I actually did something.

Meanwhile, the guys delivered two water heaters which are now added to the wreck of the K. Then, exhaustion hit and I felt REALLY sick - the water heaters SMELL! Really feeling sick I went across to the pizza place and bought a medium french fries and came upstairs - where it is finally warm enough to pot, but I came to escape the odour after turning the air cleaner to high downstairs. Ate most of the fries while reading; FF are something which make me feel better in certain situations; this was one of them. Went back down and the odour is better but still there. I came back up with computer just to be safe, I hope.

Too tired to pot OR finish the LR. But I no longer feel sick. So I shall sit up here and rest up for the next round. Maybe in time for the 5:00 news. It is warmer today and not raining - yet.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 14 - 09:34 AM

It's an overcast but warm morning, supposed to be nice later on. I'm taking my personal laptop to work and I'm going to spend some time working on a table outside the library because I need some vitamin D production time.

I'm clearing out a nook in shelves in my office as a place to put boxes of note cards and xmas cards that I actually use. The items on their way out are Zip discs. I have a drive for up to 250meg disks and the only thing I do with it is backup my Quicken files. They are a durable type of media, but most of the discs I was given by a friend are 100meg. I'm going to sell the lot on eBay unless someone needs some blank disks. I started formatting them this morning. Last time I used them was back in the 1990s to back up my old laptop. Yeah, they're that old. But they still sell on eBay, surprisingly. I think it is because of their durability, compared to the old floppy disks, and the drives are easy to set up externally.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 14 - 01:04 AM

Okay - out of solidarity with Dorothy I'll leave the dishes sitting in the kitchen sink, pretend I don't have hot water. ;-) I don't have the energy to wash. It was my late night at work, and tomorrow is in theory regular time. I in fact stagger Wednesdays after my late Tuesdays. Today was a bear of a day - all hunched over the computer working on editing (the mechanical stuff) a scholarly article. They were so sloppy with their citations. Ugg.

Trying to get the dogs to settle down in the places I set for them after the futon went away and I moved a favorite chair. I may have to move the chair back for a while, or at least part way back.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 Feb 14 - 07:30 PM

It sure does seem that all manner of "little" and bigger things clamour for our attention! I simply cannot manage more than one or two each day so that is what I do, just keeping ahead of the deadlines, as it were.

But today, the upstairs was still too cold to pot - for me. So I cleaned some stuff off the computer, did a bit more glaze organizing - into folders for separate colours, and sent a link to potting friend for her perusal. Then I moved a few writings to wordpress though I have no idea if they ever get seen. I really do not understand it and ignore all the emails they send me. but the brain is feeling more able today so maybe...

The sidewalk plow just dashed by so I swept the steps of the half inch that fell since the last time. I really am that desperate for physical things to do! Another good sign!

Now to see what mischief I can get up to on FB.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Feb 14 - 12:28 PM

It's snowing again...sigh.

I have to go upstairs and call The Press Room to reschedule the meeting Hutch and I had with the kitchen manager to work out the food for the memorial gathering on March 1st. And then I can continue to make phone calls (and send emails) to let people who don't monitor Mudcat or Facebook know about the memorial.

Got the trash (including all those cut up boxes) up to the road and hit the grocery store for a couple odds and ends before it started snowing. Supposed to get somewhere between four and eight inches. This is the third snowstorm in less than a week. (And another 40 buck plow bill...)

Last summer I acquired a pile of graph paper "Free" on the side of the road. A week ago last Friday I took it in to the printing company I used to work for to be cut and drilled for six small notebooks that need paper. Picked the finished product up last Friday on the way to the session.

Saturday I had to hit the floor running because I had to get a heavy old-style computer monitor out of the car before going to Portland to pick up the new computer. Figured out my strategy and went down cellar to extricate the box my old G4 came in. Had to move windows to get it out from under the stairs, then had to clean off the half inch of dust... Anyway, it worked...up to a point. I maneuvered the monitor into the box, slid the box over to the steps and thought I could life the box the few inches at a time to get it up the stairs, across the deck and into the house. Nah-uh. So...called my neighbor and she and her gentleman friend came down about 5 minutes before I had to head to Portland, but we got it accomplished.

Had no trouble finding the coffee shop where I met the fellow selling the computer -- but noted that Portland streets are just as sloppy with snow as Portsmouth's are. I only had to wait a couple minutes for Tim, but I spotted some incredible looking cream cheese filled coffee cake in the case, so got a piece to go. (And it was amazing -- wish I'd been able to eat it in comfort with a cup of coffee and a book or conversation instead of while driving I-95...) Couldn't stick around even though I didn't have to be at The Press Room until around 3PM for the sea music singaround...and it started spitting snow as I left Portland at 12:30.

Stopped in York, Maine to visit an antique dealer friend whom Tom used to work with...and the snow got heavier. Cesar was closing as I left.

You can read about the sea music sing on that thread -- a few people DID brave the weather and we had a lovely time.

I don't know if I'm just feeling beleaguered by the relentless snow (and the eternal round of clearing off the deck and the car just to have to do it yet again) or on the verge of being over-extended by all the stuff that needs to be done -- for Tom's memorial, to re-arrange the computer situation, to get the light bulbs changed in the bedroom, to get unconfused about the combination of needing to sign up for ACA insurance and then figure out what I need to do for Medicare that starts in June... And I'm still sorting and filing papers left over from Tom's medical stuff. And trying to track down some old friends of Tom's. And learning a few more of Tom's songs (or reviving a couple of mine that I finally have a venue quieter than The Press Room to sing them at). I don't seem to be accomplishing any of the things that I want to do including some of the stuff I'm feeling outside pressure about (especially on the music front). I just CAN'T do everything at once! And sometimes it seems as if just maintaining -- laundry, dishes, cleaning the kitchen counters, grocery shopping, getting the car's oil changed (yesterday), clearing up after yet another snowfall -- is taking up all my time.

Meanwhile, I've got to go make phone calls...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 Feb 14 - 11:41 AM

Yesterday's post did not post! I carefully did up the pages of glaze recipes so they would be easy to read when printed. In the end, I had 25 pages and managed to find enough white paper for the pics and off-white for the rest. Put in folder to take back to the mill for measuring and testing. It was a useful exercise although I surely will not use them all but it helped me clarify in my own mind what I do want to do - what colours and to what base glazes I can add what colourants for the desired colours. Very excited about some of them and anxious to get at it.

A clear indication that I am regaining energy - when something falls on the floor, I pick it up! Put the recycling out this am without hesitation. Brought in items that had been left in the car - some for a week or so. Feel prepared to get up to the studio and make large mugs, maybe small teapots and more.

It is up to 12 F and meant to rise to 27 today! So the studio should also warm up enough!!
I just went to bring in the recycling bin and ---it's snowing! lightly. May have rain tomorrow and Thursday. Messy but warmer is better!

Another good sign that I am feeling better is that the 99 steps to the toilet at the mill is no longer daunting. at least it has heat in it! I put on hat and scarf and - am glad it is warm when I get there and also glad to get back to the living space!

Yesterday, after our quick breakfast at the mill, I drove back in case R needed to talk on phone. I was greeted by a letter from the gov regarding my app for a "permanent resident card" (prc). Request for a copy of my divorce decree set me down with horror at - no idea where it is - that was in the 70's! A vision of having to go through the boxes of archives - no I have not done that yet!

Then practicality set in - focus, Dorothy! Where has it been in the past? My mind went all the way back to the 70's when "important papers" were in a brown envelope pressed against the front of a drawer in my chest of drawers. AH! Consistency is good! I "saw" it pressed against the front of the metal filing thingy where the file folders hold bills and - there it was!! YAY!

The decree, in French, and all the blank pages of my passport were soon copied and folded carefully into the too small envelope provided. and off I went to the post office, in the IGA, where, once again, that same man was mailing a billion brown envelopes. I did the needful shopping and only had to stand in line a few minutes in the end. I had stamps in hand and the nice staff offered to put them on for me. I thanked her and she said, "No! Thank YOU! have a good day!" She gave me such a nice feeling - a Pay it Forward feeling. I guess that mass mailing had been stressful for her also! She knew I had been waiting a long time and may have been delighted that I did not mention it. So we were both happy.

Then to the library where my fav staff person was friendly and we exchanged book suggestions, and back to the house and the second closest parking space. I felt accomplished and had a nice lunch and read a very short "Quick Read" book, tended to emails, responded briefly to a couple.

This morning, I had heated water ready and washed the accumulated dishes before my one piece of toast/tahini/apple brekkie (R had to dash away), took my supplements, dealt with emails, googled a friend to find out phone number - not a simple task as "Peter Sipkes" (the way I have always heard it - the last 40 years!) is actually "Pieter Sijpkes"! Once I found the correct spelling in the McGill U site, then it was easy! (A couple years ago we attended a party celebrating the 40th anniversary of his landing in Canada!)

Well, I best get on with it!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Feb 14 - 09:51 AM

Salvation Army is supposed to be here between 9 and 11am. Good! And there's time to work in the garden this morning. I can plant the first batch of potatoes.

Fiddling with the phone voicemail setup. I went with default settings when I first got the phone but it doesn't read out the number calling before the message. And last night it didn't ring or let me know I had several messages. I hope that is a one-time glitch. I've fiddled with the settings to see if I can get those numbers read out by the voicemail voice before the message. I had to click through several times this morning before it would do that.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Feb 14 - 11:29 PM

I'm absolutely giddy about the prospect of finally moving the futon out of my front room. That room, about 14' x 12', has this huge piece of furniture that needs a wide clearance so it can be shifted into the lower position of a double (full-size) bed. This weekend I gave up on Craig's List - I frankly got tired of people asking, no matter how low the price was listed, if I'd take less for it. No. No. No. I'll give it away (and take a sizable tax credit for the donation) before I'll play that stupid game. It's in excellent shape, no cat or dog hair, no cigarette smoke or dust - and I'm sure some of those bargain futons they went for (after they called and said they'd be right over but then someone undercut my modest $80 price) positively stink. And no, I don't need a sob story about you sleeping on the floor. That's what air mattresses are for. S.A. is scheduled to come pick it up on Tuesday - and in my note (you set up the pickup online) I said they'd have to get it in the morning or I'll reschedule. No one has called or suggested we need to change the setup. Moving this out of that room is like clearing up a couple of spaces in one of those party favor puzzles with 36 spaces and 35 tiles. And the Salvation Army will sell it for what I was asking or a little more, and no one will haggle with them.

The color is kind of odd - white shows up as blue - but this room (upright piano on the right, Victrola in the back on the left) is of the futon. And if you aren't a friend on Flickr you won't be able to see it. (Here's a Guest Pass that might let a few more in. Sorry about that. It has to do with stalkers over the years). There is paint peeled off of the top of the pony wall and spindles - I need to prime and paint after the kids peeled that (ages ago). This is a wide angle on the phone so it looks narrower than it is.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Feb 14 - 09:50 PM

8F and dropping to -2 tonight. Lots of snow out there. We had blue skies today! Still at the mill. R cleared the driveway to get the truck in but we never went to the city for the truck. Quiet day at home!

This malaise is still in evidence. We cough in tandem and are still really tired; 10 -11 hours in bed and still tired. Not big appetites either. Both spent most of day reading. I finished what I believe may be the funniest book I have ever read: Skios by Michael Frayn, whoever he is! R has never heard me laugh so much reading. He continues to plow through Arctic Dream, which he loves, having read all of I Am Malala yesterday.

My weight is holding at or a little below the 155 I made it to -last spring I guess. I simply can not care until I feel better.

I did manage to go through the tons of glazes I gathered onto computer and pick out some to copy to a file to print out so I can sort and try making some of them on a warm day in the studio. Wanting a grey, turquoise, brown, sky blue and cobalt blue and .... Posted the heart bowls on FB. Trying to get my head around offering "clay play" during March break. Pricing is difficult for me. Need to put ad in paper SOON!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Feb 14 - 12:28 PM

I have a bin of useable dust collectors. When it's full I'll transfer the stuff to a box for the Goodwill. I suppose I could wait for a garage sale, but those are hard work and don't earn much money (relative to the time you spend fussing about, storing, or tripping over the items in question.)

Decluttering the fridge via a non-traditional breakfast of pasta and tomato sauce with big chunks of Italian sausage. I'm probably going to make a batch of beans (the kind served over rice) this evening, so yesterday I sorted and stored all of my jars I use for freezing beans. They're mostly straight-sided salad dressing sized jars, I recycled the mayonnaise style jars with a narrow neck (harder to get frozen stuff out without completely thawing first). Most of these will go directly into the freezer in those jars.

Laundry out of the way, it has warmed nicely (still a little overcast), now out to the yard.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Feb 14 - 08:13 PM

The antenna is up, gets all channels well now, except one main channel that seems to come in better in the evening. I was also able to program in a lot of local little channels that didn't even show up before in a scan of digital channels. Most of them are religious junk, but there are a few that play movies or a decent array of old network programs.

The futon is still here, I've had contact with three different parties but it has gotten late for moving a big piece of furniture. Will have to see what tomorrow brings. No dogs in it on the house tonight, I don't want to have to keep putting on layers of covers, and don't want to wash the mattress pad again.

Meanwhile, for health and fitness, today was a fasting day - with the nice weather I'm getting back on track. I had a small lunch, I'll have a tiny something here soon, and then tomorrow is a normal eating day. I was up and down the ladder to work on the aerial, washed the road grime from all of the ice off of the car, and spent time playing with the dogs. Tomorrow I'll do more heavy work in the garden and keep the phone handy for if anyone calls about the futon. Today was well-spent, getting ready for someone to pick up the futon, but tomorrow I'll spend even more time outside.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Feb 14 - 05:28 PM

I had a funny dream this morning - that my mother was here at my house and made herself a piece of toast that was liberally sprinkled with cinnamon sugar - and that my pit bull Cinnamon stretched up across the table and stole and ate mom's toast. :) My mother died seven years before the dog turned up, but it was an interesting dream.

Amazing how much dog hair has built up in the house during this cold weather. I need to give the whole house a huge sweep and vacuum now that hopefully they'll spend more time outside.

The futon had been relisted for about an hour and I had a call from a real person this morning. I pulled off the cover, washed the mattress pad, and got it ready to go. He was supposed to be here at 2pm but never turned up. All he needed to do was say he found a better price and not waste my time. I've had three calls so I contacted the next person. I'm asking very little for it yet people always want to pay even less. I suppose I could take less to get it out, but I've already dropped the price by more than half. (I just now went in and edited the ad to reflect that I've already lowered the price considerably.) The latest negotiation is in play, he's at work for a couple of hours. We played phone tag for a little because I kept setting my phone down and walking away and missing messages, as apparently did he.

Anyway, once this is out I'll move chairs into that room and make it into a reading room. Looking forward to it!

For the afternoon I'm working around the house. Did some laundry, and now I'm moving a TV small antenna receiver. It has been over the porch for a while and not working very well - I can put the coaxial cable by itself (without the antenna thing) up near the roofline and get a better signal. It's nice today so I've pulled out the articulated ladder and will climb up and move the receiver to the soffit at the side of the house.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Feb 14 - 02:22 PM

Susan Just arrived. House in good order, dog is out reclaiming Dog World, and Hardi went to get gas for the snowblower which we're REALLY glad we brought!!! Dinner items saved in freezer are thawing, and the first pot of coffee is on!

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Feb 14 - 10:07 AM

Susan: safe trip through the storm!

Terrific music by Harmonica Zeke last night but a sparse audience due to snowy roads. He played longer than required which was nice as no one showed up for open mike. Lovely Valentine's dinner. As usual, we shared a meal. Then home, to the mill, to read and re-collapse.

Nice omelet and small slice of organic ham with apples (cooked in frying pan with ham but no oil). Now R is reading Malala, the sun is trying to come through, the world is still white but no longer snowing, I have gotten rid of many emails and responded to one. Too cold to work in studio unless we get major solar gain - unlikely. R has major snow blowing job ahead; he is procrastinating. I will not do dishes again until we are almost out. I find that more efficient. Guess I will check FB and wonder what is going to happen next.

A 2-3 month old raccoon walked through my dream this morning! Just let me know it was there - wherever there is. That is all I remember of the dream cycle.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Feb 14 - 08:06 AM

Departing motel through a snowstorm around Akron and then it's clear to CR.

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 14 - 11:48 PM

It was a lethargic day for some reason - despite the sunshine. Despite that, I finished one project to the stage that allows the person I took photos for to see what is there. They haven't been processed at all, just sorted and the best ones kept, the rest culled.

I finally sorted out my personal home page for my browsers. Chrome is logged on via Google and when I'm not on my home computer the home page doesn't link properly, I have to keep the file on each computer and click "open with" to use it. I have internet through a cable company and they give everyone a puny 20meg of space for web pages, but that is tons more than I need for the small htm file. I parked my page there and linked back to it from all of my browsers.

The freelance job just got bigger - it looks like about 10 hours spent there taking photos (in three different venues, including a drive across town to a stadium). And then the time to process the photos. It'll completely tie up the entire weekend, Friday night, Saturday noon - 8pm, and then Sunday to work on the photos. My quote won't be so modest as the first one.

The kitchen sink is clear tonight, a load of laundry in the dryer awaits folding as do two baskets-full in my bedroom. I'm headed to bed to read and will start by folding tomorrow, then working in the garden. And relist the futon on Craig's List. And do a ton of other things.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Feb 14 - 06:58 PM

We did most of the trailer loading Monday and tarped it till we finished it ydy AM, which had been the planned departure day till we saw the snow forecast for the route. The extra day was great cuz Weds. we were too wiped to finish loading!

So we finished loading and tying it all down ydy and left tdy abt noon, after I'd napped off an incipient cold. So far we've made our halfway point for the night.

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Feb 14 - 06:08 PM

Drove about 5 miles at 40 mph on a road that must have been plowed early this morning. I turned around, saying it would be two hours to Montreal if we made it at all and refused to go and refused to let R take my car which would have been counterproductive as he needed to bring a truck load back.

I suggested the bus but the soonest one was after 3 pm. We seem to have spent about 2 hours wandering around Huntingdon; R talked to Vanessa for quite a while then we looked for a bus schedule and were finally directed to the "bus terminal", a run down convenience store on a back street. There, R was informed that although they were the bus stop, they did not have any schedules as the bus company had decided the schedules would be at the new gas station and would not let them have any! So, everyone, who knows, is directing people to the "bus terminal" which has no schedules.... I suggested to the trade school that they could keep some on hand but "everyone who takes the bus knows"... And if you don't know then your chances of finding out are close to nil! I would like to obtain a handful and go round to a variety of public places and post them.

Eventually, we ended up back at the mill to get gas cans and went back to town for gas for the snow blower and came back for lunch. Then R read through most of the afternoon that was left and, as it is getting colder as the sun sets, finally started snow blowing. About 30 minutes then he was back inside looking like a snow man and COLD! Usually gets cold after a snow storm... Though it is still snowing, and blowing! About 21F, plus the wind and snow in your face.

Meanwhile, I washed the large pile of dishes and changed the bed and deleted most of 40 emails. Now it is dark and still snowing and soon time to go to cafe.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Feb 14 - 11:26 AM

SRS: congrats on free lance! Not to mention things growing in the garden. Hard to imagine from our viewing point!
Linn: on the imac!

Yesterday I figured out how to get pics from my new phone to my computer. That was nice but I might need to write it down. Or take more pics and do it a few more times.

We were late getting to the country for my meeting but R was almost on time - actually ten minutes late might mean on time these days. So I dropped him off and went to my writers' group and started writing something rather interesting - stream of consciousness. I hope I can get back to it and bring it to a conclusion.

Then I went to the other meeting, re a budding coop nursery on the land at the mill. My concept of meetings is qualitatively different from ---anyone's!? It dragged on and Ken repeated himself and I totally lost patience. I believe it was partly due to the environment in that building. Perhaps the frustration, often sublimated, of not understanding what anyone is saying- even the woman sitting next to me. I insisted that more needs to be done by email so we can each see what others want/think/ etc.

Getting to the cold mill, we turned the heat up. Fortunately, someone had had cheese and muffins and tea for us at the meeting; that was our supper as I was shot. I was also distraught but R assured me that I had not behaved badly; he tells me when I do! So I read a bit, then gave out, having crawled into bed, after making it and putting a foot warmer in.

We woke up to a white world and more than a foot of snow. R thought he could drive my car out. I knew it would not work. Had nice French toast for brekkie, with local maple syrup, stewed apples, and raspberry yogurt. Then he got the snow blower and cleared enough to get the car to the road. Now he is warming up so he can finish the blowing. We still need to go back to the city and I want to get back down for 7:30 music at the cafe. That is almost a turn around trip????

Still tired, still coughing but less each day.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 14 - 11:00 AM

Friday! And the sun is shining!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 14 - 12:47 AM

I've watched a couple of programs and worked online to finish a project for work this evening. This stupid rule about no telecommuting has been ignored more and more as the semester progresses. I have one thing to turn in tomorrow and another one to start working on as soon as possible. I even picked up a pair of earphones for blocking out the noise in my office (and listening to music in order to do so). I saw a pair of over-the-ear earphones at Fry's last week. This evening I found them and will do some serious editing starting tomorrow.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Feb 14 - 03:36 PM

Snowing here and I've declared it a snow day. My nose has been itchy-twitchy since I woke up and have had several sneezing fits -- if this is a cold trying to get me, I'm fighting back! More garlic! Had a dry chest cough the other day...

Scored an iMac with newest OS and lots of additional RAM (plus wireless keyboard and mouse) on Craig's List for a very reasonable price -- needed a newer computer with Intel processor because things are going away on my G4 mirror door (such as I can't upgrade Flash and I'm having problems backing up to an external). It'll be a hike to pick it up on Saturday (in Portland, Maine), but I have to be in Portsmouth for the sea music sing later, so it's not quite as far out of my way.

Got a couple packages from my sister today, so downstairs is a mess with packing material stacked, boxes that need to be cut up for the trash, and a pile o' stuff to be put away. It'll get done, just not right now. Right now I'm going to make hot chocolate and take something for supper out of the freezer.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 14 - 12:54 PM

A freelance job came up for the weekend after next - two sessions, one Friday evening, one at noon on Saturday. I don't charge much, it's a campus group, but it is an nice opportunity to get out and try out the new camera and the processing things I'm learning vis a vis Camera Raw.

Warmer here today, and through the weekend. I watered my cold but parched garden yesterday and overnight I didn't put the faucet cover back on. I think it only got down to 31, so not a crisis. My broccoli is finally growing and it looks like the onions are getting established. I picked up some thyme for the front bed where I want to establish ground cover and some strawberries for the kitchen garden to add to the existing patch. Coriander is doing well but my bay tree is looking wretched since the tender growth ends all got zapped in the cold. It usually recovers, but this has been a test I didn't expect it to receive. Good thing it is a little be sheltered by the house.

Zeke threw up this morning - the second half of the dishtowel that he ate about three weeks ago. Last week I found half of it in a long twisty poop in the back yard. This guy has probably had a stomach ache for the whole time. I have made a mental note to keep a laundry basket up on the washer for anything I toss into that room from the kitchen. I think he smelled food and ran off with it. How he managed to swallow it without choking himself is a mystery. I visualize catching him in the act and pulling it out. Yech.

Deadlines loom, so I'm back to work.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Feb 14 - 11:33 AM

Today was supposed to be warmer but - not! I shan't even bother going up to see if the studio is warm enough. And no hot water forthcoming today. I shall just bury myself in the computer and finishing Malala. I have a pot of warm water on the stove and washed my hair before breakfast. May wash the dishes before we leave for the country - if I darned well feel like it. I may just drown my sorrows in chocolate.

Need to respond to an email from a special/fragile friend. Already responded, she says hopefully, to a barely comprehensible one regarding my application for a permanent resident card. Why do they have to make these things so ridiculously difficult?! Thinking of Linn's on-going problems of a similar ilk - anything to go with government. Yesterday I had to figure out the exact dates for any trips out of the country in the last five years. This meant racking my brain to figure out who I might have emailed about said trip and how to access those emails....

We are both still coughing but less, still feeling less than 100%. R has gone off to try to get things done but says his brain is not working very well. My brain is in get out and push mode, too. But my shoulder is still improving!

Thinking of everyone in the areas to be hit with more snow! We may get a bunch tonight. But our area can deal with it, the southeast ....!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 14 - 12:09 AM

The idea of no hot water is so depressing! Makes me cold just thinking about it. But this winter just makes me cold thinking about it. As a friend said in an email yesterday "we're going to be talking about this winter for a long time to come."

Tomorrow one of the directors of the library will be in our department to spend the day. She'll work with various folks to see what they do, but me. I am doing very sedentary intense things - photoshop for 200 photos I took a couple of weeks ago, and editing three journal articles. No one wants to distract me from finishing this stuff, so I'll work unmolested. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 08:26 PM

I shall have to go find the old Cat books. Curiosity...

Nothing happening around here today. R has not left the house today. Eventually I heard him mention headache and sent him to take supplements and he is now back in bed after having read the complete history of chocolate - today!

I managed to heat water, wash dishes, put veggies and sausages in casserole and bake in oven but before they were ready, R wanted a pizza so that was lunch (from the freezer; I do not make pizza anymore). I did a large pot of stewed apples and washed the last batch of apples and put them in a safe place - from the furry critters. And washed that darn K sink and the oven door - since it is always open to let heat out, except when I am actually baking something, and the door was pretty grungy. Also put baking soda and vinegar down the drain; it may have made a difference. We watched the 5-6:30 news (repeats 3 times! mostly). I suspect the casserole will be tomorrow; may need to take it to mill.

We both still have cough but mine seems to have lessened and I have slept several undisturbed nights!! Today was mostly sunny; 10F now and snow to start tomorrow early evening - maybe 20 cm. We need to go down to the mill for a meeting so hoping we can get there before roads get bad and leave Fri morning when they are clear???? R will need to use snowblower on the drive before we leave? All that is hopeful thinking. Makes sense to me!

No hot water yet so no laundry. Bruno has to do it but B is busy fixing his Winnebago so he can sell it to people who want to drive it to Mexico - immediately. NO HOT WATER! This is the man who told me last Thursday that I would have hot water "tomorrow". No point in getting upset; it won't get me hot water any sooner. Oh, how I want to soak in a hot tub!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 05:25 PM

Is that you, Mrrzy?

A few of my former lost pounds have come back to roost. This time of year normally isn't so hard on me, but as a friend of mine remarked in an email yesterday, "we'll be talking about this winter for years to come." I don't have snow to shovel or I'd probably be doing better - I have just tried to stay warm over the last two and a half months. We rarely have such a prolonged cold spell as this, and there is an opportunity to comfortably walk or get out and work in the garden, etc. I did mow the lawn on Jan. 20, a holiday that was warm and the weeds were getting tall. But since then there has only been sporadic opportunity to get out. Today is sunny and cool, and I stood on the porch out of the breeze letting the sun shine on my face - it really is therapeutic.

It has warmed up into the 40s today. I'll run a couple of errands and then settle in to do more work this evening. I have many tasks calling out for my attention.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 01:01 PM

If anybody is missing about 9 kg, they seem to have followed me home over the winter and I'd like to get rid of them, rather than keeping them around...

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 12:25 PM

It was minus 12 on our front porch this morning...it is cold to be sure but it is a beautifully glorious day out there!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 11:43 AM

Yes, and he had just the one cat still. I read probably the first 12-18 of them, then got busy and didn't keep up. It was a rather funny novel, aside from the grisly murder, as I recall.

I've identified one more food that causes a problem. At least when eaten by itself a pint at a time. ;-) Ice cream disturbed the gut during the night, still a bit bonked out this morning. I had a bowl when I got in last night without eating anything else to lessen the impact. I'll go back to avoiding milk products that aren't cultured (I did for many years because I used to get bad sinus headaches, and I still don't get much dairy overall.)

Overnight Monday one of the dogs left a puddle on the carpet and a pile in the hall. I cleaned up, poured vinegar on the spot to discourage hitting it again (I'll get some of the odor remover enzyme later today) and am a bit jumpy about having them in the house even overnight if they're not going to tell me they need out. I woke at 4:30 this morning and ushered them out to go (even put on my jacket so they knew I meant it.) Consequently they didn't wake me early and I overslept. :-/ I'm working at home today anyway so it doesn't matter much.

So, this awful cold weather has moved east, Atlanta is a sheet of ice again and it is now swinging north up the east coast. All of you stay warm and safe. In a few days we're supposed to warm up a bit - I hope that weather also comes your way.

In the UK, batten down the hatches - I hear the winds are up to 100 miles per hour (is that really 160 kph? What a horrendous number to look at in the weather report!) And I hope you're all able to stay about the high water.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 08:33 PM

I just reread all of The Cat Who books in order plus the additional books and the Cat Who Companion... And now I'd like to sell them all as a collection. It was one of the early books; Quill was still living Down Below in the city and working the art beat at the newspaper.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 04:55 PM

YAY, Michelle.

I must have missed that "cat" book; I thought I had read them all. I am certainly wondering about the blood on the glaze and shall see what effect a little iron oxide might have.

Too cold to pot upstairs but fortunately I phoned the daughter of my friend with Parkinsons and we talked for 2 hours, the first time I have managed to reach her since before Christmas. Her mom has had TIAs and dad is not doing well and is in denial; her cat is sick; her dog is sick; her live in the building bro is in denial; her son has no job and has a toxic girl friend; the other bro is sympatico but not nearby; and she has to walk both her dog and the parents dog, separately. And all I have the energy to do is listen! I think that was helpful. Sure is hard to have people who were the strong supportive ones getting to the end point.

Then R came in, "feed me, I'm getting stupid." So I fed him and his brain is stressed. I hope the food kicks in and fixes the brain. He may be going to the mill but with a worker.

And there is nothing on TV but bloomin' Sochi. Maybe I can find something on line to ease my brain. Even the 5pm news - and chocolate. Hot water would not help. (Maybe tomorrow.)

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 03:31 PM

Meds for our dog picked up, extra pellets purchased and loaded, groceries gotten, dishes done, fire going, some time spent on making Valentine's Day gifts & Jeremiah' s kitty with a hole in her belly has been hand stitched to be almost as good as new! Also, today being part two, I won an argument with a medicalprovider/vendor who thought I should be returning some equipment or coughing up $1200.00. I hate when you have to fight about medical stuff. In the end, I get to keep equipment...yay me!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 11:19 AM

There was a plot centering on pottery in one of the early Lillian Jackson Braun "Cat" novels - blood in the glaze or flesh in the kiln giving them a special look.

Here is an article about what to get rid of in the new year, but I'll note that they are totally wrong about the tea. If it is stored properly it is fine, and in fact, very old tea fetches gigantic prices at auction in China.

This is my late day at work, I have rolls rising to take in for a potluck lunch, but am watching the weather to see if a freezing rain descends on the region.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 10:39 AM

As we were running out of dishes, I heated a pan of water and washed most of dishes - after first washing the apples the furry friends had been cavorting in. Most of dishes washed. Most of apples in frig drawer. Large bowl of apples awaiting their turn to be stewed. Supper was chicken/feta/ salsa salad for me and added tomato and sweet peppers for R.

Response to blue blood: one possibility is the iron in blood reacted with white glaze ingredients to form blue! That has interesting possibilities. A couple suggestions on how to do testing for this. When the weather is warmer and the energy level better. And a british response: "You have just proved beyond doubt that you are definitely a cut above the rest of us!
Yours in awe and wonder." Great for a hearty laugh at 10 pm! I am delighted to learn that there is definitely iron in my blood; I am not anemic!

Need the large pot for apples. Thought of heating water in crock pot but cannot plug in anything else. So put the cast iron pot on stove for water warming. Will do apples when I get to it. May try to make some more pots first- large mugs, small teapots and medium sized pitchers, she says hopefully.

We did not cough during the night and I hoped it was gone but --- not yet. Only take heart from, so far, diminished. Lack of pain in shoulder and improved mobility is an incredible relief. Even driving back from the country - shifting gears - did not aggravate it, nor did washing the dishes and apples!

6F and sunny today. Nowhere I need to go! 38 days to.... I put new batteries into the indoor/outdoor thermometer today but darned if I am going to open the back door to put it outside. On the floor next to the back door, it is 60. On the desk next to me, 67. Little heater blowing on my feet keeps them from turning to ice.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 06:06 PM

Well... I set up the ladder, put the light bulbs on the ladder shelf got on the top usable step (I really don't do well with ladders...) and tried to undo the first globe... Uh uh, this ain't gonna work. It's definitely a two person project and with one person a lot more comfortable on a ladder than my almost 65-year-old knees. With another person, I can take the globes and clean them and hand up the light bulb and then the clean globe. The fixture is four glass globes on a chain...and it likes to rotate while you're trying to do this.

I guess I'm just lucky that these bulbs last a long time. I think the last time they were replaced, Tom was the person on the ladder while I cleaned the globes (but I think I replaced one of the globes once by myself...) and handed things to him. He could see then, so it was at least four years ago, probably a bit longer.

My neighbor keeps offering to help me with this sort of thing (like being on the ladder while I wash the decorative plates and hand them back to her to rehang on the beams downstairs) so I'll give her a call and take her up on the offer.

Oh, dryer just shut off -- gotta go fold stuff.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 04:36 PM

39 days to the vernal equinox! Who's tired of winter!! We stayed at the mill last night as we were both TIRED! Good thing is that we got back to the city and snow clearing in our area was still underway. We thought R's truck had been towed and were starting to drive around looking for it but finally remembered I had picked him up in VSP so we drove over there - another 15 minutes; it would have been closer if we had stopped on the way - if we had remembered! Instead of being towed, he only had a parking ticket; predictable if one parks next to a no parking sign! But the tow would have been worse.

The pot saga: So tired Sat aft, I took a nap and then decided the whole kiln load would be white with burgundy/red rims. Finally got it loaded about 6:45 pm. Got up at 7 am and opened the kiln about 4 inches to try to get it cool enough to unload. Managed the top shelf about 7:45 but the next shelf - the potholders started smoldering! Finally unloaded by 8:15 and we went to the venue and unloaded and set up. The "valentine's" in the middle of the table. Only sold five pots - ALL in the burgundy\white, so glad I made that great effort. It was well liked so I will do more. Only one heart bowl - to a man, no doubt a gift! The other four I passed on to a friend with a gift shop; she may be able to sell some before Valentine's. I got the idea for the heart shaped bowls on a clay group on line. Someone posted a pic of how she did it. I do get a lot of info, not just tripe.

The great mystery of the day was the few bright blur spots on the white. It appears that the blood from my cut thumb did not burn out at 2000F??? I have asked on clayart/world if this is possible! I have no idea how else I could have had blue specks. (I will ask R to email the pic he took so I can post it on FB. I think the spots show also. MY FB page is open to the public so anyone can go there.)

A fun day but tiring. R went back to the mill and took a nap and came back for me. Then we went to see the cafe my potting friend is coordinating - a youth project - and trying to get open. R has friends who might help with equipment. Then to restaurant for supper; friend Geri happened to be there with a friend so we had good conversation with them and two Farm market friends came in later and sat in adjacent booth. A very social time! Back at the mill before 8 pm, we re-collapsed and were asleep by 10:30.

This malaise - coughing incessantly is exhausting. Two weeks and I had hoped it would be over but even though we do not feel really badly, the tiredness has gotten very -- tiresome!

After I dropped R off at his truck and got a tour of the building - two apts being reconstructed and are going to be very nice - makes me want to move there! Bath tub, hot water, big windows - why cannot some of this effort go into our house???? No action on the hot water today.

I stopped at two groceries on the way back and collected two loaves of the good bread at one and several loaves of interesting, marked down bread and good chicken breasts at the second. Forgot milk and stopped at IGA for that and sage, avoiding snow removal and getting back to the house at just the right time to have my fav parking space, unload and have lunch. First time on computer since Sat morning. Nothing on TV but Sochi and junk, (imo). So I will peruse FB and read I am Malala, cook chicken and have a salad for supper.

A man of raccoon rehab group took issue with the concept of civil disobedience as someone was opposing the pipeline. I had to remind him about Gandhi and MLK, Nelson Mandela and the importance of standing up for what is right. Got a kudo from one of the women.

Call from R just now wanting his passport number. I had been leaving all those imp papers at the mill - near the border - but decided a few weeks ago to put them back in the computer bag so they would be handy! Good move!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 02:36 PM

Sounds like a beautiful quilt top.

Sounds like an effing cold porch!

Sounds like Susan got lucky with all of this moving.

Sounds like everyone needs to pamper themselves for a while to get through this exceptionally difficult winter!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 01:42 PM

Strawberries and asparagus......I can't wait to play in the garden! We are still drooling over seed and chicken catalogs while we wait for spring weather to arrive. It has been below zero on our front porch every morning for 30 days now. I know it's winter and cold temps are to be expected but this is one of the coldest winters we've seen in a long time.

My house is a mess but I am getting lots of sewing time in. I am hoping to finish up a quilt top later today. I will need to get fabric for the borders yet. This one is for us, queen siZed...los of coral, gray, sage and pink with a tint tinge of light blue....eventually I will have photos up...my laptop is in the shop so for now, I'm on the Kindle.

Michelle