Declutter and Fitness in early 2014

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jan 14 - 03:20 PM

There are only two large furniture items left to bring down and out. This means that Friday, we can sort and fit items in the preload area and make final decisions on cargo allocation-- van or trailer or lv for next trip-- and begin the loading process with the trailer by laying out the bottom layer over the floor tarp, and (weather permitting) load everything else but the not-yet-rainproof mattress.

That would lv sensitive electronics and the mattress to load on departure day.... and some much-needed downtime til then!!!

♡♥♡

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jan 14 - 01:39 PM

Oops! Dorothy, I guess I read "Robert" into the "R" of your posts - if not, don't tell Robin about Robert! ;-D

Effing cold out today. Down to 17^o this morning. I left the pit bull in her fleece jacket when I let them out - they'll be spending the chilly morning in the garage next to their radiator in their dog stall, and not suffering, but still, the house is in the 60s and the garage, until the sun hits the door at about 9am, is in the high 30s, warmer in their stall. By now it will be comfortable but they're probably out sleeping in the sun in the yard.

I hurried over to work this morning to meet my daughter, and we went to a meeting of folks from libraries in the region that is of interest to both of us. We'll get lunch in a few minutes, she's touring our Special Collections and I left so she can talk to whoever without her Mom there. This was a great meeting for her because these are all peers in the field and potential employers. And my supervisor told her to call if she needs to set up a practicum, and I'm sure others will tell her the same thing. This is as much as I will do - as I told someone recently who was talking about the trend of current college student parents to meddle in their children's choice of classes, etc., I was of a different era. My goal is to show them where the steps are before I throw them into the deep end of the pool. Or they take the plunge themselves.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Charmion
Date: 29 Jan 14 - 07:59 AM

Much clearance achieved in the cellar after recycling day and a complex trip to the St Vincent de Paul; I can now sweep the entire floor.

What's complex about visiting the Vince? Loading and unloading a car full of awkwardly shaped and sometimes fragile stuff in seriously frigid weather, that's what. We've had our January thaw, and now the thermometer is hovering between -16 and -25 Celsius with a fierce wind that will yank your hat off if you turn in the wrong direction. There's much blather on the radio about the wind chill factor, but I generally ignore it -- otherwise, I would never go anywhere. It's just too depressing.

Longjohns, serious socks, scarf over the face, leather mittens. Soldier on; there's only seven more weeks of winter.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 05:12 PM

SRS: Robin may have a flu or may have a cold. I never have figured out the difference. I would call it a cold. He calls it a flu. In any case, he is taking light nourishment this afternoon. I am going to suggest he get up and watch the news so that will be done - now rather than at 10 pm.

I am clear that I have a cold which is unique as I have not had one since being environmentally poisoned. My health consultant states that those of us with MCS never "get sick"; we are sick all the time. But this is clearly sneezles and wheezles - a pro pos of Christopher Robin. I do not have a fever but R has although it is diminishing. Vit C does that. Otherwise, the symptoms of my environmental are almost entirely gone and my shoulder is very much better though not 100%.

My bum is tired of sitting and so is my back but there really is nothing to do and is has been seriously cold all day. My big event will be putting my boots on to bring in the recycling bin!

Planning a lesson on the subjunctive mood for the writer's group on Thursday. "The what??" I never knew what it was until I studied German my freshman year. Dear prof was horrified that we did not know what it was - not even me. With me, all grammar was "intuitive"; I just knew where things went but never why. So I shall be learning also.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 04:06 PM

Feeling good, more energetic today. I think the amount of light is helping (in that I've been able to get out in the sunshine recently and the days are longer) despite the frigid temperatures. Not that I felt bad, I just feel better now. :)

I think also having these boxes to finish working with, and the prospect of getting rid of the futon one of these days soon, I can see more space finally in the living room. And it will get much better when I can rearrange furniture. I walked into my daughter's room to look for something today and glanced into her closet, a long narrow space - we had it set up with art on the walls so it looks really cute. I need to find a way to clear out extra stuff in that room (my sewing room) so the view in is pleasing. One way is to recycle more cardboard. I suspect this is the first niggling sensation of spring cleaning seeping into my winter-fatigued self.

I brought in a few more small tech items to recycle in our e-waste bin at work. Every little bit helps.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 01:49 PM

Sabine never had a problem with the litter box until Rufus joined the household. She wants her privacy.

(Hmm...I wonder if I put it out of sight behind the little fridge or the trunk? -- Sigh. That's what I did with HER downstairs litter box hidden in between the washer and dryer and with just a small entrance way...and RUFUS commandeered it as his, too...)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 11:57 AM

Awful weather is hitting the South to the east if us here in North Texas - we have the frigid air, but the snow is further on. I'm so tired of the icebox that is my bathroom that I set a small space heater on low last night and pointed it in the general direction of the loo to warm the seat a little. Tonight is supposed to be even colder, so I'll do the same thing again. My electric bill takes a hit in this weather, even though I turn the thermostat way down when I'm away from the house.

This is my late night at work, I'm puttering this morning and doing more chandelier packing interspersed with searches on parts of the fixture. I have all of the measurements and took photos a few weeks ago. The crystals that are on it now are very expensive to replace, they come in at about $18-20 each. I could take them off and sell them individually and put brand new crystal on it and sell it for a lower price. I may consider that if my first high price doesn't get any nibbles. I'm not going to sell it low so someone else can take the prisms and sell them individually.

Linn, good luck corralling that cat poop. I wonder if she had to spend time in a large kennel with a cat box in it if she'd bond better with her litter box.

Dorothy, is the flu going around there? Is that what Robert has caught? Keep an eye on him, it's a bad strain this year.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 10:01 AM

Aa I have gotten up and had my simple brekkie, I consider that R is sicker, I am "weller" and it may be another take care of R day - pushing the healing herbs. I am excited (!) that I have one almost totally clear nasal passage. Such a rarity. I am hopeful that I am taking something that is causing this. Time will tell.

Back in the early 70s I went to the hospital clinic for the problem of chronically closed passages. The Dr. told me I needed an operation for a deviated septum but come back when I was not in school (working on M.Ed at the time). Fortunately, I remembered, in that hiatus, that I could breathe totally for one month in 1967, therefore it could not be a deviated septum causing the problem. But what?

About 30 years later, asking every health care person I encountered, I picked up a book at the library about sinuses; it fell open to the page telling that "for thousands of years the Chinese" have used ephedra to clear the sinuses. That month, I was taking epinephrine but it made me dizzy and I quit. Never put the cause and effect together. I tried drinking ephedra tea but --- it made me dizzy! So, yes! I am hoping I may inadvertently be on track of something that may clear my breathing.

"They" took out my tonsils when I was four because I was a "mouth breather"; did nothing. Even moments of being able to breathe well cause me to get excited. I treasure every one of those moments. I believe it is also a factor in my environmental problems. The nasal passages have scillia (sp) which catch foreign materials. Breathing through the mouth does not offer this protection.

Those are my thoughts on this 0 F but sunny day. I won't be able to pot as it is too cool upstairs. Or take a hot bath - same reason plus the water heater seems to be dying. And I am not going out for a walk! I need to write a message to a friend and then.... it is me and the computer and current novel and a sick R.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 09:53 AM

The verdict is in...Sabine walks STRAIGHT THROUGH the litter box and poops as close to where the ceiling meets the floor as possible.

Deep sigh.

And I've had to chase Rufus out of that litter box several times.

There is no way possible to block that area off from the cats. It's way too complicated (and expensive) to build side walls to the room or (as I've wanted to do for 30 years) put in built-in drawers.

The good news, though, is it is now a LOT easier to clean up her mess and I can do it DAILY and continue to spray with Nature's Miracle. (And I'm going to make and try a repellent spray of cinnamon, rosemary, lavender, vinegar, and orange essential oil. In the meantime, I'll try the eucalyptus and lemon spray that I made and used the last time I cleaned out back there.)

Argh.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 12:54 AM

The anchor is neatly boxed and ready to go, awaiting my brother's okay to ship. He's doing some traveling soon and wants me to wait till he's home and can get it when it arrives. I hope he won't be too disappointed, it's a funky old cast iron anchor.

I have the box for the chandelier also in place and am slowly putting in the packing and supports and will be clearly marking six egg cartons as the ones that contain the prisms. I'm using a whole bunch of egg cartons as part of the packing (I've collected them for ages for this.) It is a really beautiful chandelier, if I had someplace to put it up I'd keep it myself.

This evening I opened a bag of chamomile flowers that I bought in a Middle Eastern grocery last fall and crushed them up some and bagged the lot for loose tea. I love chamomile tea in the evening and get tired of paying several dollars for 20 tea bags. I spent $2 for dozens of cups of tea from this, and it tastes wonderful.

Linn, The way to find the price on anything is to do a search on it. For example, I just did a search on "brass chandelier 8 arms vintage" to start with - and I get results of 16 active auctions or sales. When I look at the results page there is a whole column of information on the left - starting with the categories, the condition, price (boxes to check or amounts to fill in to refine the search.) Below that are categories for format (auction, buy it now, etc.), shipping, etc. And you'll see "Show only" - I look at both "completed listings" that shows me everything that was for sale whether it sold or not, and then select "sold listings" so I can see what the prices were on the things that actually sold. You need to see what is in the marketplace and what the condition and prices asked are to know how to price your items, and you need to know if there are any or a lot of sales for the actual items, to see what the market will bear or if it seems worthwhile. Be sure to try alternate spellings and look in related categories. Often times people sell things they don't know much about, or they don't know anything about. That's how you can get lucky if you're shopping, but it is a mistake you want to avoid.

When I stage anything I'm going to sell I try for as neutral a background as possible. I make sure I'm not in a reflection, and no part of me (a hand, fingers, etc.) is in the shot. I don't let furnishings in the room show or anything about my house or yard. There is an example of horrible staging in one chandelier up right now - This is what you shouldn't do when trying to sell a really nice piece. I have various pieces of fabric to provide a contrast background in my photo area, or I put things in front of some of the paneling in my living room that just looks like interesting paneling but doesn't let you see the furnishings, the floor or ceiling - no information except a wood wall. Who wants to be distracted by a ratty wall-to-wall carpet or seeing the laundry and ironing board set up in the background of a photo? Or the car parked in the driveway? Etc. It may well sell, but it may not go for as high a price as they want.

On the other hand, ratty setups may make buyers think they are going to get a great deal because the seller isn't very careful and several of those folks can push the price way up. It can go either way.

It gets easier as you get the hang of it. Make sure you describe and photograph it well, are fair with the shipping and have it packed and ready to go so you can ship as soon as possible after payment arrives. I only take PayPal, no checks, no credit cards, though they may be able to use various payments that go into PayPal, I don't have to fool with it, PayPal does.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 11:30 PM

R slept in mostly until about 3 pm when he claimed to fill much better so he could go back to IKEA to finish the task there - ordering two kitchens for a building he is working on. This was after several doses of Pau d'Arco and C. The chaos of IKEA! He phoned about 8 pm to let me know he was still there and almost done. Arrived home after 9:30, sounding pretty bad and requesting soup.

Hence, my day was spent on computer and reading, alternatively. As I tended to him and waited, expecting him back a whole lot sooner! I am also under the weather but not as far! Also doing C and Pau d'Arco but also eating real food. Nice chat with friend to whom I offered emergency bed if she needs to stay in city as she works long shifts during the snow season. (She landscapes and runs the plows, both. Working almost entirely with men.)

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 06:02 PM

Heavy furniture moved, depooping accomplished, smelly and ineffectual piece of flooring removed, new litter box installed, rocking chair put back...

But I'm going to need to rearrange some furniture in the foreseeable future. Gothic chair will probably come downstairs so I can sell it, heavy antique trunk will be moved into THAT spot (which also means ALL the clothes have to be hung up and not draped over that chair and the sheets & pillowcases will need to find another place to live)...

So I also cleaned the two litter boxes downstairs after I was interrupted by some financial matters on the phone and there was still enough daylight left to do it safely.

I also remembered that making brownies (don't get excited; they're from a mix) was on my morning's list, so they're now just about ready to come out of the oven. (And I added nuts and dried cranberries to the mix so they'll be a little bit healthier -- and I'll probably put half of them in the freezer.)

I still have to move some stuff off the bed before I can sleep in it. As I've said before, my house is like those little games we had as kids, the ones with the numbered squares and one empty square. Alas, I've never had the empty square!

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 12:34 PM

Could have sworn I posted yesterday (and I usually copy before I hit Submit...just in case it doesn't "take") but as I was still in the throes of "The Bug" I haven't a clue as to what I'd posted that I'd accomplished, cuz 'tweren't much!

Oh, I DID inspire a friend (via a long phone conversation) to de-accession her VCR and a bunch of VHS tapes -- that will give her the shelf she needs for something more important.

Oh, I know what I did/posted... I was reading a book on eBay and exploring a few categories I'm likely to use on eBay. Stilly, there used to be an easy way to see prices realized recently (to aid in pricing). I'm sure that can still be done, but it looks as if it's been changed (and not quite so easy to get to; sigh).

So far this morning I've made major inroads in the organization and cleaning of the bedroom AND I've started another pile for Goodwill. And I've cleared snow off the deck and car yet again. It's comparatively warm today (30s F) so clearing the car was a lot easier than it would have been with yesterday's ice, but it will be back down to 6F tonight with a real feel of -12. Twenties for the next three days, then creeping upward again.

Today's when I get to use my cat shrink skills. After de-pooping the inappropriate place Sabine has insisted on using, I'll move the huge, heavy antique trunk to make space for another litter box for her close by and sheltered. (The inappropriate place is sheltered, but inaccessible to me without great difficulty.) Both Rufus and Sabine have their own separate litter boxes downstairs. Sabine's is sheltered and "private" in between the washer and dryer which are at right angles to each other. Unfortunately Rufus is a firm believer in "everything here is MINE" so has appropriated Sabine's litter box as well. Where her new litter box will be is where I can use a squirt gun on Rufus if he tries to use it. Wish me luck!

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 11:56 AM

My thought also, Charmion. Scrap metal can be recycled, but if the Goodwill or Salvation Army has the items they can decide if it gets more use before recycling.

It's goddam cold out there this morning - I had to trot up the street to pick up my large plastic trash bin that blew off once the trash guys emptied it of all of the cactus pads (I put a lot in the back but I left some at the curb in case others wanted it, and what was left went into the trash to decompose or become a cactus garden at the landfill). I realized as I dressed this morning that I have never had an opportunity to wear so many sweaters in one winter in Texas. It's like being back in Seattle. I put on a turtleneck this morning that I hadn't worn yet - most of them have been seem multiple times and then there are the vests and over-sweaters that are constantly in use. I love sweaters, I just never get this much use of them down here.

The car has a nifty feature - remote start. I pulled it out of the garage this morning and quickly closed the door to let the space heater near the dog stall warm that space again. When it was near to time for me to leave I pushed the two buttons on the remote key thingie and the HHR turned itself on for 10 minutes. It will only let you turn it on remotely twice between actual key-in-ignition starts, no doubt a safety feature. Anyway, when I got in this morning the heater was already putting out heat when I turned it on and drove away.

I'm going to wait till the next warm spell and list the front room futon again, lowering the price one last time. I'll add a note that this is the lowest the price will go, if it doesn't sell it will next be seen at the Salvation Army. I can do a lot with the space that clears up. I know the dogs love sleeping on it, but they'll adapt to cushions on the floor.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 08:40 AM

Char, Goodwill 'em. Times have been when that was all I could cook with, and glad to have it. Better GW gets the scrap metal payout for what they will deem discardable than your trash peeps.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Charmion
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 08:28 AM

Saturday saw the departure of four large bags and five boxes of stuff we don't use and won't miss, picked up by the Canadian Diabetes Association "clothes line" donation program. In 10 days, when we have another garbage pickup, a similar quantity of junk will go to the kerb.

It's hard to know what to do with warped cookie sheets, rusty pans and other items of wounded cookware. The child of a Depression survivor living deep in my heart can't bear to part with things that just might, possibly, have one more task in them, but my practical grownup side yells "No! No! No!" and sends me running for the bin-liners. Eventually, I slam it all on the sidewalk and avert my eyes until the garbage men have done the business, and thus I preserve a little breathing space in the basement.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 12:00 AM

I dug more of the new bed for asparagus this afternoon and after that put the resulting iris rhizomes in the greenhouse (still in the wheelbarrow). The back yard was policed, the compost emptied, and everything was piled over with weeds from the front. I have photos of the stages for construction a compost parfait - the trick to keeping the pets out of the food in the compost. I'll put this up as a blog (I haven't done that for a while!)

I took the dogs for a lovely mellow walk after that. Just as well we made the most of today because it drops precipitously overnight and the high tomorrow is 37^o. The low on Monday night is 19^o. I'm doing an on-again off-again thing with the front faucet cover - I watered the broccoli bed yesterday and today, then covered the faucet tonight in the face of the next few freezes.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jan 14 - 07:31 PM

....And it's working!!! Hardi just brought the next item down from the attic-- a tall side table crammed with items, all packed for the last trip but it never got loaded. Down it came, but it went right out the front door.... and onto the ramp. In the morning I'll take it down-ramp and put it into the van-- it's a little too delicate for the trailer. And it ain't in our living room!!!

+♥+

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Jan 14 - 07:02 PM

This turned into an internet all afternoon. Lots to see as I had not been on yesterday, and a couple chats with nearby friends. R came home a short time ago - sick. So he has had orange juice, chicken broth, an avocado and a piece of zuke bread. Now taking a hot bath where he will probably fall asleep. The last one was good for two hours! A good place for him as there is nothing on TV.

He was at IKEA! On a Sunday! I would be a basket case!

Anyway, the K is still clean and the laundry caught up - except for the clothes he wore today. I was about to phone him to see if he were coming home soon. If not I would have taken a hot bath! Tomorrow. 3 degrees tonight, going up to 19 tomorrow! Why I did not feel like going anywhere today.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jan 14 - 06:45 PM

I was able to close 2 large boxes this AM. Later the the dog crate went back into the van, and boxes crowding the LR now sit behind it. Now, each day I can just put a few of the smaller and more weather-sensitive items right out there, to allow the LR to resume a more normal mode-- items that have been piling up in here making us nuts can go straight to the staging area or into the van!!! It doesn't make sense to have a vacay house that leaves us feeling like BOTH places need a lot of work!

A nice feature of Trip One is that I left the house turnkey ready with all necessaries including several meals in the freezer-- we do not have to unload ALL of this the day we arrive.

♡♥♡

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jan 14 - 02:48 PM

Emmys on tonight so there is a repeat Masterpiece (Sherlock) opposite. No rush to watch the first two programs. Good! It's too lovely outside to spend hours indoors watching TV.

I've been in and out today, soon to head out for a while with the mattock and wheelbarrow. I distributed all of the irises I dug up so far, but more await. I need to sieve the soil from that area to get the straggler iris rhizomes - I dug out this bed last summer and as many returned as before, even though I was trying to remove them all!

A neighbor called to check on me today - enough time had passed with a vehicle she didn't recognize in my driveway that she wanted to see if I was okay. When Susie stopped for a cuppa tea on her way home the two unknown vehicles put Pearlie over the top, so she called. I had a quiet bet going with myself that someone would call pretty soon. I don't think people saw the front end of the pickup to know that it needed work or replacing, I parked it on Thursday night and drove out on Friday morning to trade it in. Next door might have seen it, but I parked pretty close to the garage door, so the fence was blocking their view. It's a lovely neighborhood, very polite, and I need to let the rest of them know I am okay and that this new vehicle is now the one I'm driving. I made banana bread this afternoon, maybe I'll deliver some around and explain the change.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Jan 14 - 11:13 AM

Seeing some of the desktop is always a good thing!

The choc bread pudding was duly rescued and, thought perhaps drier than meant to be is actually quite edible, esp with whipped cream! The only reason for this was a very large loaf of good whole grain bread that was falling apart and useless for sandwiches or toast. I won't buy that again. And may never make bread pudding again. This 13x9 pan will last quite a while; shall have to freeze part of it.

Last night I made "Better Butter Chicken" from a recipe in a magazine than somehow visited us. It is edible but NOT butter chicken and certainly not "better". And lots of it! So I have added the same amount of seasoning again to the left-overs and hope it is more flavourful today.

The group Fri night was quite delightful - fun. entertaining. But they seemed to get louder and louder. I believe this is due to me becoming more and more affected by the indoor air. It happens most weeks. I put on my mask when I realized I was starting to feel grumpy - an effect bad air can have on me. My eyes were burning. The kitchen does not have an adequate exhaust system.

R had to come back to the city Sat morn. I hung on in the country hoping to get the studio warm enough to work. By 3 pm it was clearly not getting to 60 so I packed up and came back to the city. I did get the dishes caught up and some organizing things done. As Linn notes, sometimes we do things all day but little things do not get remembered. I was not sitting on my hands. I did have a 97 min call with a friend that was helpful for her and helped toward healing our dicey relationship. I was not on computer at all as I forgot the cord.

Now, brekkie is long over, the K cleaned up, a small load of laundry needs to go in dryer. R has gone off to work. MY head is in clearing mode, better than a long time. Sage and ginger tea MAY be helping. My right shoulder is mildly uncomfortable but better than in the last year so I am terrifically hopeful that I can get it back to normal.

I now have no doubt that choc does cause foot/leg cramps and magnesium citrate prevents/heals them. Even the bread pudding had me jumping up 3 times Fri night with a foot in excruciating spasm. 3 trips to K for more mag. After two pieces of "pudding" - more the texture of brownies!

Going to catch up emails and hope for potting energy this aft. Now - the dryer.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jan 14 - 10:14 AM

Up early today to run up to Susie's to let "The Girls" out. They were happy to see me but felt I missed a major reason for the visit - morning is meal time also. Susie said she'd feed them later this morning when she gets home (they have quite a routine - different amounts and two different types of food, and each dog expects their bowl to be in a certain place.) Last night I had the bowls in my hand and I moved to each point in the kitchen and when a dog went to that spot expecting to eat I put down their bowl. :) My three eat in a line, fairly close together, and they wait until I tell them to eat. I'll have to teach Susie's dogs to do that also. It's very handy.

I made headway yesterday, crossed a few items off of my list. I paid some bills, paid the property taxes on the minerals, closed out the Sprint account and the former electric company account. I can see the desktop (not completely clear, but better) at the computer and on the other work desk. Dishwasher running, laundry will go in a little while. Watered the broccoli, and I'll be out working on the potato mounds later. I forgot to buy mackerel but I need some to make a fish slurry to put in each mound. It really made a difference last year.

On Friday I caught up with a couple of episodes of Sherlock that I somehow missed - they streamed on NetFlix. I'll watch the first season 3 episode on the PBS site, I recorded the second, and maybe I'll be ready to watch tonight's program when it comes on. I decluttered my computer of some back episodes of a couple of programs that stream from NetFlix. One reason for clearing the hard drive and for setting up a new system for the USB hub is that I'm switching to using Camera Raw for my photos and that takes up a lot of space in a hurry. Memory is cheap, and I'll probably get a 3 terabyte drive for photos, but I need to see how I'm using what I already have, and some aren't connected right now. And I need to do a backup of my C: drive. Virtual declutter.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jan 14 - 11:20 PM

I have filed, recycled, and shredded my way through a whole bunch of paper this evening. There is still plenty of other stuff to do around here, like dishes and folding laundry, but the paper was most pressing. I'm off to let out Susie's dogs one more time then I may take a hot bath and read for a while. Relaxation needs to be pencilled in along with chores on my list of things to do.

Among the things I've shredded are the old documents for the pickup - no point in keeping them, though I have enough information to show that I did once own it. The vehicle folder is now holding the new purchase information, the phone company folder now has AT&T info (Sprint stuff mostly discarded), and I'd love to have a new job file one of these days. I saw my old boss (for 15 years) and his wife today for a few minutes, I took over a bag of iris rhizomes for her garden. I was so lucky to have worked with him for as long as I did, and I had more than one person tell me I had the best boss. We remain good friends, and he is a reference for jobs I'm applying for. (The iris were not a bribe for a good word!)

I hope everyone is warm, has power, and sees a lifting of the heavy weather soon. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jan 14 - 07:16 PM

Errands run and I'll be up at Susie's a couple more times today, she called from Dallas and asked if I'd watch the animals because she is going to spend the night with her daughter's family. Glad to!

Got gas in the new HHR then pulled out the calculator to see how the mileage is. On this first tank it was 23.75mpg. Much better than the pickup.

I'm going to make a radical change to my computer desk after today's expedition. I have three or four USB ports and tons of wires and every so often one of them pitches off of the back and things come unplugged. I looked at Fry's and found one that has 24 USB plugs on one. It's a large round device and this evening I'll unplug and replug everything and see if it doesn't resolve a tedious problem.

Off to feed the dogs. First Susie's, then mine.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Jan 14 - 05:40 PM

Much accomplished yesterday. Friends who had donated a fridge BROUGHT it TO us. I counted out my available days and Hardi's to get ready to go, and enjoyed the strange sense of having plenty of time this time. Then we set goals for the February trip, which refined the pack-list. Next we finished clearing out the pre-loading staging area, and took a buncha packed stuff out to it, which nicely un-crowded our LR.

Then we decided to knock off, it being Hardi's day off, and went up to Elmira on an errand and had a nice dinner. On the way home we predicted/envisioned my next trip after this one-- to paint and try to secure a caretaker/roomie. No cargo! Or very little!

We returned home to find that a copy of a key I'd lost in Ohio is being mailed to us. All great! TBTG for His perfect timing.

===

Today was a box-challenge day: Comparing boxes on hand with lamp shades on hand (need 1 or 2), I have one box in which one shade will fit on its side. Not ideal, but my plan is to line the bottom with heavy items awaiting packaging, and top that with the shade.... which means Hardi starts to allocate TODAY whatever clothes he wants for CR, to lightly stuff and cushion that shade. Cuz I not fixin' to haul crumpled newsprint! I bet the shade will arrive no more creased and crumpled than it already is!

Today was also accounting day for the last trip... I had been careful to keep receipts on everything for taxes, so I was able to see where all Mom's money went (and the generosity of family who'd come to help)! TBTG for His abundant provision, and His leadings in sound stewardship.

===

Our friend and landlord happened to be checking something in the basement when Hardi went out just now to warm up his car to go to work, and mentioned a favor we can do him on one of our trips-- haul back about 800 pounds of discs for his harrow from an ag place an easy drive from CR. We're thrilled to be able to do that for him-- he and his kids have traded helps back and forth with us for years and this is a biggie for him that's a snap for us-- deadheading back with an empty cargo trailer seemed so weird!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Jan 14 - 04:13 PM

When it's not quite so cold, I'll stuff the vent full of insulation. It's not used to vent anything anymore...

My stomach bug seems to have skipped a day. I felt more or less fine yesterday, but woke up headachy with an upset tum this morning...and my body feeling very tired (not sleepy). There are two events I'd like to go to tonight, but I think just feeling basically yucky will make staying home in bed with two cats and a book win out.

I did run out to the store to pick up a couple things, especially half and half (for the Brits, that's a dairy product with less fat than light cream but more than whole milk) so I could make some bread pudding with blueberries for breakfast.

I feel as if I've been more or less busy today but haven't accomplished much.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 24 Jan 14 - 02:52 PM

Linn: That rattling would drive me berserk in seconds! A piece of duct tape??

SRS: more soup! As for the weather: Supposed to go up to 5 today, then 19, 5, 16, 1, 12, 14 are the daily highs for the week! I used enjoy roller coasters ... But terrifically grateful for those in the teens. Today, I put on monster coat and went out - IGA/post office to mail my application!!, Library to pay a fine because I forgot I had a DVD/never watched it, up two flights to get some exercise, then to a "super C" grocery for the bread I like. I was clean out and it is the best - heavy german rye with sunflower seeds. I have been eating it almost exclusively for over 20 years. There was none? Asked a staff in my best french and she responded in English. They moved it over to the aisle with the junk bread. She had to show me.

Then there was only one loaf so I expressed my wish for more - 3 if you have them. She went in the back and came out with the three and I suggested she put more on the shelf. That was all for this week so I left feeling slightly guilty that no one else could get any until next week. Not guilty enough! Two for city and two for mill - one in freezer each place. I only use one piece a day but other breads often have a negative effect.   

The IGA was deserted, Super C moderately busy for a Friday morn. People just not out unless they really need to be - or maybe the ones from colder climes.

Accomplished the needful and wanted tasks yesterday. Actually had the wit to stop on the way to the mill to get pics made for my application! Did the Farmers' Market business- app and check ( first check since mid Dec!) Had a good visit with the Mom and Son who keep things going - he was working on the flier for February. In Dec, he actually made me a new business card for the flier - now if I could just figure out how to get it in a place from which I can print it! on my list. Picked up a loaf of zucchini bread there also.

I stopped and filled the gas tank, knowing I would be tired at the end of day, The gas is cheaper down there as it is close to the border. People go shopping in the US and get gas. My friend was not at home so no newspaper. Good thing because when I got to the mill the Hydro (electric) metre reader was just waiting. She was happy to be able to do her chore. I had some of my lentil soup and a small piece of zuke bread. And a small piece of Esther's choc zuke cake. I could make this stuff but Esther does it so well!

Then completed all the pieces for my application in time to get to the writers' group where after the usual chattering, we had an interesting discussion using a talking stick ( as I had suggested before Christmas) and the worst chatterbox managed to be almost quiet. She doesn't realize that every time she chatters, I miss out on what anyone else says. A news item about a woman who was "kicked out" of a Montreal hospital for requesting treatment in English was the theme and brought out many thoughts on the multiculturalism of Quebec - or the lack of it. And we got to know each other better!

Then I drove back to the city and watched TV and did the email thing, simultaneously until R came home for a light supper. R lobbied for brownies. I did not have THAT much energy! When he fell asleep on the sofa I turned off the TV; BEDTIME!

It was wonderful to feel like a competent being all day and again today. Head is still clearing, but that is my life. As long as I am not longing to go back to bed, it is a good day. So next of my list was bread p--- interrupted by mad dash to K to rescue, I hope, much over cooked choc bread pudding!! I even whipped cream to go with it - that will rescue almost anything ----won't it... It HAS to be good. It has 12 oz of dark choc in it!

Now, to sit here and cut up apples for stewing.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 Jan 14 - 12:57 PM

Stilly, talk about weird weather -- we've been cycling between close to 50°F and 0°F. Neither of those extremes is "seasonal" for New Hampshire! Today when I was out it had warmed up to 8°F. Tomorrow should get up to low 30s...but snow. And looks like next week is flip flopping between teens and low 30s.

And the wind...have I mentioned the wind? There's a flap in one of the exhausts (in the house -- I think it's for the Jenn-Air grill) that makes a constant rattling noise if there's any wind at all. If anything will drive me crazy, it's that. I really need to check into it as it might need to be closed off completely. The Jenn-Air needs some parts and hasn't been used in years. (One more thing...)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jan 14 - 11:58 AM

Damn it's cold out there this morning. But it is a Friday morning. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 09:59 PM

The kitchen is still looking great and smells fabulous tonight since I made a pot of split pea soup. We have super cold (for Texas) temperatures again tonight. The house is full of dogs. The air outside is frigid, the wind is taking the chill down to the low teens.

I'm working my way through a stack of paperwork. I wrote a thank-you note to the manager of the service department at the Chevy dealer - after asking for a refund for work that I think was excessive on my pickup (the oil leak turned out to be a leaking oil filter, not all of the gaskets they replaced) they gave me a store credit. I was able to apply that credit toward purchasing a used car from the same establishment. I expected an argument, but they were very nice about it. I think I need to say thank you.

Taxes, job applications, and I'm going to be copy editing final drafts of articles for a new journal put out by professors on campus. The most tedious part, the last stage. I need to get another job, where I can be the writer again.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 04:24 PM

19 days till load-up and 20 days to departure. .. those are Susan-days, not Hardi-days-- to calculate his I would have to subtract days that belong to parish and Diocese. ... which would be most of them!

I got the van mostly emptied of the luggage, trash, and pop-up dog crate from the last trip, lvg a heavy Cabela trunk and a big bike box for Hardi-- the bike box = half a mattress box and I bought a cheap vinyl mattress protector for tge bed's undies. If the bike shop sells another bike before loading day tge mattress will have shirt AND pants! I bought rope to tie it all tight against trailer-wind.

Tonite we will carry the leftover packing boxes up attic for a future use. I'm out of packing tape anyhow; I have the two Cabela trunks and two large, rectangular plastic bins I can use as catchall boxes, that I want at CR anyhow. One is a huge plastic toybox, yay!

~♥~
On fone

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 12:31 PM

Small but important errands run this morning - my dentist required $8 to set my bill to rights, so I took it over (who writes checks any more?) and I stopped by the optometrist to have them tighten the right hinge on my glasses. It was flopping and I was afraid it might lose the screw. Loose screws are a problem!

I've managed to scan a couple of more documents for my writing samples - we have a KIC scanner - not sure the acronym but it is an overhead fixed lens and you set the document or book on the flat bed and it works very quickly. Email, save to thumb drive, etc. right there.

Still feeling a bit gun shy after last week's crumpled fender. I think it's because I'm getting used to a new vehicle without nearly the clearance or visibility that the pickup had. My brain is adjusting to the settings of mirrors, etc, so it isn't quite a conscious a process as the first day or two.

Tomorrow is supposed to be another very cold day, down to 14 overnight. I'm SO TIRED of this odd weather - especially because we had some 70 degree days last week. There's no getting used to it when the temperatures aren't consistent.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 10:47 AM

I've now cleared space on the front porch for staging, and unrolled (unfolded actually) the commercial-grade carpet that has been sitting out of the weather out there, which needs to go in the CR kitchen, to be sure mice hain't et it up, nesting, or to give them their eviction papers LOL. It's fine, as big as I recalled, and ready to shampoo in Ohio. I hope it thaws in time to roll it up tight, but there is a plan B if it's too stiff to roll and has to go re-folded as it had lain.

Tomorrow, we pick up a donated fridge to take on this trip or next, depending how big it is. I have a box from ydy to tie up when we go up to bed tonite, and I found the mirror that missed the last trip, as well as a second 10x20 or 10x30 tarp we'd have loved to use on the last trip. This frees up a smaller one to wrap that fridge.

How lovely to have the luxury of time (it is white privilege) to plan as a couple-- Hardi said Trip One was kinda like a hurricane hit the house-- and to be able to squeeze in hockey and grocery-shopping time on this run!

~S~
on laptop

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 09:38 AM

Hardi brought dn the heavy upstrs bin last night and I secured the taping on the other two upstrs boxes. Tmrw all but electronics go out to the staging area and we pick up a used fridge. Once we see how big and heavy it is we can plan the furniture cargo and start staging that over the coming days. I will mark out a space on the fr porch equal to trailer size to pre-fit the cargo. Then on loading day it will only be moving a Jenga tower.

~♥~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 09:37 AM

A cough-free sleep! I managed to muddle through the eve, watching TV/doing FB. Bed about 10:15 and so to sleep! Until 7 am. OK, need lots of sleep and started to couh upon waking but slept and arm feels better too.

Stayed snug in bed until 8 then brekkie, and getting ready to go back to mill to finish that application and get it in the mail. Also stop and do Farmers' Market business for the 3 winter markets and pick up another loaf of Esther's zuchini bread. Maybe catch friend at restaurant and pick up this week's local paper. Then the writers' group 5-7 and back to the city.

Emails are done and now I am off and -not running, just walking!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 10:41 PM

I love live cams! There used to be one at a Fish and Wildlife office in Alaska next to the Tamiyami River and it was a marvelous thing to watch the seasons. When Homeland Security came along it went away.

I'm shuffling papers myself this week. Choosing a new electric company (every year at this time, to take advantage of the low offer they give for a year, then change when they want to up the price after the contract expires.) And stuff to do with the new vehicle, paying bills, etc. And accumulating income tax forms. Piles of paper are forming.

You all got hit with another storm, now it's our turn again. Way low tonight and tomorrow the temperature not rising much above freezing. A possibility of snow flurries. This has been some winter for us in an area that is usually dealt a milder hand.

Finally things are getting busy at work - they found things for me to do a while back, but none of it was happening until this week. Now all at once it is. Feast or famine.

Stay warm and dry and safe, everyone.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 07:23 PM

I got back out of bed about noon and had a small lunch - small because I did not feel like eating much. I ate the remainder for supper.

After lunch I knuckled down to figuring out how to apply for a Permanent Resident Card. I feel my body aging and Quebec will not give me a health card without the PRC even though the website for immigration says that a landed immigrant is a permanent resident; since I have my landed papers, I did not think I needed a PRC. I applied for citizenship but it looks as though it is going to take many more months; the PRC is said to be 82 days (when I applied for citizenship 18 months ago, they were about the same). I decided it might be the better part of valour to deal with it. It took most of the afternoon and tears of frustration. There is no one to ask; I do not fit the application as I immigrated in 1967. Finally, the guide said to mark not applicable and explain. So I wrote a letter of explantation and filled out what I felt I could. I have to wait until I go back to the mill to finish as the papers I need are down there. Yes, it makes sense because the papers for border crossing are only needed when we leave from there. SO all that is ready for printing; I'll take the printer back down so I can copy the other papers that are needed and mail it on Friday. I feel lighter.

Other than that: emails mostly deleted, one written to dear friend and mutual support person, watched some of the news - mostly bad - and now I am tired again. A few hours of good energy/day is all I am getting. Could be worse!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 07:05 PM

Well, the snow missed us...just a very light dusting on the deck and car.

Took three large bags and a box full of videotapes to Goodwill this afternoon...and a box to the post office to ship to my sister. Both were exercises in decluttering...

And I purchased (much!) less cubic footage at Goodwill than I donated!

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 11:49 AM

DP, what a great idea! I suppose one takes care in de-casting....

I spent part of the morning topping off the boxes in the LR. Several of them will nest in two chairs stacked yin-yang style. Then I visited the old MudDorm to see Hardi's new heavy bag up there and fetch pillows for the beds. These are now stuffed into the bag-lined 33-gal trash bins, ready to roll out to the fr-porch staging area along with the stacked chairs and their nested boxes, as soon as the pillowcases come thru the laundry for inclusion in the bins. A taller bin upstrs, from ydy, is also ready to roll out.

I will set up another round of small catch-boxes for each room, but most of the rest of this load is furniture and tools. My part of that job will be gathering/grouping them so that Hardi knows what to muscle, and being sure there is a clear path to get them to the staging porches as we used them on the first load. And being clear on priorities when it does not all fit.

We may take two vehicles this time, which affords a lot more covered space-- there's an annual vacay-town weekend workshop, a day after Hardi needs to zoom north for work.

>♥<

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 10:54 AM

Charmion and Jeri and I agree on the risks of driving. I am always wary of the others on the road. I have, however, in 60 years of driving winter roads, had my own mishaps and happily did not involve anyone else! I hope saying that does not "jinx" me! I have also found that a little snow is more dangerous that a lot. One or two inches terrify me. I once drove ever so carefully on an inch of slush, only to do a 360, then a 180 and go down a small embankment and across a field where I encountered something which wrecked a tire....

Montreal is, of course, also in a deep freeze, to be alleviated on Saturday, with more snow flurries.

After 12 hours in bed, I was almost awake when R rushed off to a mtng. Took a really hot bath, had brekkie and now, having been through the emails, am prepared to accept going back to bed. Coughed less last night. The good news is that the additional supplements have increased my mobility and decreased arm problem.

SRS! As you mention packing fragile stuff, a potter has posted on line that he packages his fragile, and very expensive, ware by putting the object in a plastic bag, then puts a quantity of spray foam into a box, adds the ware, fills the box completely with the spray foam. Actually, a couple of them report doing this. They recommend buying small cans so it is all used as they do not keep.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 07:06 AM

The problem of winter driving is that nobody has good control of their vehicle all the time, and some people never learn how to regain control when it's slipping from their grasp. Worse, too many of those people have clunky cars with rear-wheel drive and automatic transmission.

Miserably cold in Ottawa today, which means iced-up windows instead of snow. Time to break out the big sheepskin coat and the mink mittens.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 09:53 PM

The problem with this car is I have absolutely no idea what sort of control other people have. I think it's relatively good driving and other folks are fishtailing, so the bulk of my being careful is watching out for them losing it. Not me, them. 5-7" isn't a big deal, as far as I'm concerned, and I think a lot of it will happen before morning, so the plows will get it. I have no where I have to be, so I can stay home and shovel, and do laundry, and work on beading projects, and maybe watch some Torchwood.

Here are a couple of webcams in Portsmouth, NH that show the pretty snow: Market Square and Market Square 2 (looking in the opposite direction

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 08:42 PM

Uh,oh. Jeri and Linn are in for it again. We had a few inches of snow on Sunday night but not a problem -- until R slid into the intersection (on 138 in Ormstown) and did not miss hitting a car. $600 damage re a cracked fender. Quebec's no fault insurance means he is not responsible for her expense. I say he is. apparently it saves on court time because there can be no court cases at all. Your vehicle is your problem regardless. Does not seem right to me.

Drove to library. Even wore a monster coat someone gave me. Warmer! Then to IGA/post office to pick up package - new filters for mask, much needed. Someone had a zillion packets to mail so I did some shopping and still had to wait in line.

Back home: Put roast back in oven to see if longer will make it more tender; did not, just made it fall apart. Last months was much better. Finished drying bedding. Felt so sick I just wanted to wrap up in big quilt with heating pad and lie down. But it passed and I remade the bed and managed a real hot bath, then had a cheese/apple/crackers snack while watching Big Bang.

A 1/4 t. vit C powder, twice, eliminated the sore throat that has been bothering me a couple days. I am realizing that the coughing saps my energy as does the pain in my arm. I shall need to be patient and use the energy spurts I get, and know that is all I can do. My body is now ready for bed. I think I shall prepare a small salad and dinner plate for R and go to bed. Get a head start on the cough.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 07:42 PM

"Winter Storm Warning" ! 5 - 7" between tonight and tomorrow noon !
SHOCK ! HORROR !

...oy vey.
(Just let the power stay the hell on.)

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 07:16 PM

Some of the stuff done today I can cross off today's list...and some of it I have to put ON it first, then cross it off.

No, I again didn't get the corner of the bedroom cleaned out -- where I'll have to play cat shrink. But I DID declutter ALL of the leftover vegetables for stock out of the freezer, and a grand lot it was. So I made veggie stock with it...which will again fill up the freezer. Sigh.

But I've got a colonoscopy scheduled in a couple weeks, so some of the veggie stock and the chicken stock in the freezer will get DEcluttered...

Got a few other onerous tasks accomplished, plus a bit of grocery shopping (in a store crowded with pre-snow crowds; argh), got the little check from an insurance policy I didn't think still existed (long expired term insurance, but evidently good for $98 which is better than nothing...AND they sent back the certified death certificate), and I got the kitchen more or less cleaned up.

I also did some serious cat petting and Jeri and I went to see "Saving Mr. Banks"...just got home.

Alas, it's looking as if it will be snowing all day tomorrow so I'll miss going to another singing session I'd like to check out. Ah well, I'll get there sometime.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 05:05 PM

I have been in the process of packing some very odd shaped items (it took several tries to get the right shape of boxes.) U-Haul has the odd shapes I needed and I didn't finish over the weekend but I'm set. I have a very large (contractor's) trash bag filled with packing materials I've saved up for packing the chandelier. The anchor will be encapsulated in cardboard and newspaper so it doesn't shift around in the shipping box.

I tried to reset the HHR doors and radio and such last night but couldn't find the "reset" button, and there wasn't an index that detailed to find the first reference and illustration in the manual. This morning I had an "ah ha!" moment and looked online for the owner's manual where I found it as a searchable PDF. I was finally able to find the buttons that are for info and reset - they aren't what I thought they were - and I can reset to the factory settings the bluetooth and radio and redo the doorlock setting. It has OnStar that I won't use, I'm more interested in getting the bluetooth to connect to my Sony mp3 player where I load all of my recorded books.

My yard looks great this morning, just in time for it to get cold again. I put the faucet covers back on at bedtime after taking them off earlier in the day, wondering if I could leave them off. Nope. One warm day and a mown lawn does not a spring make!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 03:56 PM

Yes DP it is....

I got two large and very heavy containers underway upstrs and smaller boxes set up to catch items dnstrs.... the boxes outside need to thaw a bit n then I will have 6 going at all times-- one for each rm in the little hse.

The upstrs ones are some of the trickiest this load will include--
1. lamps n shades are in one, cushioned with pillows n clean linens, and
2. an oddly-shaped printer too large for boxes on hand BUT the boxes' donor had a similar problem, so there is a top I can affix to the open box holding it, and to fill up the space, misc ofc supplies are scattered in; a sheepskin makes the top layer to squish it all tight.
3. A third box has been started upstrs that holds an overdoor towel rack with misc niece/neph toys to fill voids. That one, and the lg trash bin with the lamps, will need encasement in plastic bags on hand (which get re-used at CR), because neither have tops.

Apparently I'm gonna have to knock off at 3 each aftn to start supper.

<♥>

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 01:58 PM

Ah, Susan, your new vac/home space is good for you!

I enjoyed my lentil soup and decided to head for the city for a much needed hot bath. Clearly, I was not going to make pots. I arrived and unloaded food stuff. Started a roast in the casserole with potatoes and carrots. Ran the hot water into bath, phoned R and we agreed he needed it more than I so he came home and spent next two hours in tub!! Asleep? some of it. I went through emails and checked the roast and we had supper and watched Big Bang. I thought he was going back to work but ... He never did. I never took my bath but went to bed, and so to cough - most of the night. Deep sigh. My nocturnal trip woke him - on the couch at 3 am. He came to bed. Then I slept awhile until his phone rang about 8 and he dshed off without brekkie.

I tried the bath again but this time, having run the hot water, I turned on the cold and went downstairs and when I went back up, it was not as hot as I need it. Went downstairs and boiled the largest pot of water and took it up VERY carefully. And took a not hot enough bath.

Gave up and put laundry in. Took off bedding and started second load. R came home - forgot his cell- and we talked about the electric bill for here and the possible bill for the mill. Scary! So how to cut back on the space we heat and how to arrange that in the studio. Then I gave my sandwich lunch and he was off again after we checked that his blue tooth is, in fact, charged and working. USE IT!

Now, about 2 pm - I guess it is as warm as it will get today (about minus 6 F!) so off to library only because it is necessary! I really do not want to go out there - but I shall.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jan 14 - 10:44 AM

.... and my plan of attack is simply to pack between meals in a more organized fashion than the first load I took permitted (a rush job due to helpers' skeds)-- just as tho my new day job is packing here for order at CR, with as much cleaning and ordering here, as I go, as my back can handle.   

♡♥♡