DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jul 24 - 11:07 AM

Good job, Charmion! My month was not so fruitful; after the first few pounds off I stayed at that level, though in the last four weeks managed a transformation in what I'm eating. Thanks for naming the author (Taubes) that reminded me of my previous food research (during 2016-2018 when I was being treated for PMR). I'm still wearing the exact same clothes as before, but that's ok. I've intended to stay in the size 10 and 12 zone, and the 12 are comfortable, not snug now. Medium t-shirts, etc.

This heat advisory is continuing - I don't remember them making such a fuss about hot weather before, I'm not sure if the humidity is making it seem more intense so they're issuing warnings, but this week will be hotter, with a chance of rain by Friday and the weekend. Too bad no rain on the 4th, it might reduce the number of fireworks.

My daughter brought me a bowl of peaches from the tree on their property and tells me "some of them should be eaten today." Mmmmm! I'll blanch and cut up and eat some and freeze the rest. I'll pick them up this afternoon after my dentist appointment.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 30 Jun 24 - 06:47 PM

Steak and pinot noir for supper. Urp.

This week, I really have to clean the house. It’s getting embarrassing.

In other news, I’m wearing my thin pants. They are not even snug. Soon I’ll have to — gulp — shop for new trousers.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 30 Jun 24 - 02:42 PM

Impressed with all the projects people are handling! Dealing with some very hot days. Way too hot to putter around in the storage unit after 9 a.m.

The house is supposed to close on July 15th, the realtor and banker seem confident that it will. The only utility I have to arrange to have continued is power. There is a well and new septic system. Phone and internet signal are good. The immediate neighbors are very nice, the others are very few in number, apparently they can be met if I catch them on daily walks.

Need to sit down and plan some moving-in tasks, but honestly I'm leery of doing much of anything til I have keys in my hand and sellers riding off into the sunset.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jun 24 - 11:27 AM

There's a high-end "farmer's market" store near me that carries lots of specialty ingredients, naturopath items, items for various diet types, and high end products in the "normal" range (the flour made by Bob's Red Mill, for example). I found some of the gluten free bread I was looking for and checkout is eye-watering. $10 and more a loaf. I picked up one loaf and it's in the freezer. I'll be near an HEB grocery store in the next county (across the street from my dentist, where I have a cleaning tomorrow) and will shop there; online they show up as carrying some of the same breads, but will probably be less expensive.

That said, I spent about $40 on a dozen of the non-wheat flours, and plan to look up some of the formulas for different mixes. While standard wheat flour is in yeast breads, quick breads, muffins, pancakes, etc., there are different mixes of the non-wheat flour to accomplish the different outcomes. And where gluten is absent, sometimes adding other items to approximate it. Xanthan gum, psyllium fiber, etc. I ran several of the airtight canisters (ex-pasta) through the dishwasher last night and as I take the flour out of the freezer will decant into these with the labels in each canister.

Patty, how close are you to closing on the new house? What have you learned about your new neighborhood? Does the house have the usual amenities - water, electric, phone? Is it on a well or a municipal water system? Septic tank? Solar panels, wind turbine, etc? Internet?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jun 24 - 01:10 PM

I gave myself an hour in the heat this morning to trim gardens and lawn edges around the driveway (there was a lot to do). I'll sweep the dry grass and weeds this evening when it's cooler (and maybe during the day a nice breeze will blow it away first). I wore a facemask to spare my sinuses the dust (allergies are already keeping them unhappy.)

Pasta and bread are on the porch for pickup; the taker is someone who has already been here for an offer in the past, makes it easy.

Summer stuff. I'm working on using some parts of my house more efficiently. I pass through the den dozens of times a day, but haven't spent much time in there until I recently set the laptop on the library table, that got me thinking about what else I can improve. The setup of the den TV includes several connected devices, all through a Kenwood receiver that I found for a great price at Goodwill. My Dad's two big speakers are the only ones connected, I hadn't set up any extra surround sound speakers it can use, but I got some (from Goodwill). They've collected dust in the front room, so this weekend my goal is to set up some of those. (The overarching goal this summer is to clear the stuff in the front room such as the eBay electronic items and some family heirlooms no one wants or needs in order to make better use of that room.) This is another illustration of that Chinese puzzle with one space that Linn referred to recently. Finding that space to work with is a challenge!

Also along the lines of what Linn discussed about how things are plugged in, I set up a new Anker power strip next to the receiver and player electronics in my office, retiring the long heavy metal 1991 power strip that came from my Dad's house. It still works, but it has fewer plugs and they're not well spaced (in a world of wall warts and odd-shaped transformer plugs). Goodwill can have it.

I can't say that how I felt this week is the effect of getting better sleep, or of stopping the statins, or both, but I'm feeling more efficient, despite the debilitating hot weather. Getting things done. Starting small parts of bigger tasks and then finding it easier to go back and do more later. It has been a good week! (And looking forward to next - my daughter promises to bring me a bunch of the peaches that are now ripening in her yard - they're white peaches, my favorite!)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 24 - 08:56 PM

Linn, I'm glad to read how you're doing - I suspect most of us see our daily existence as a series of problems to resolve that get in the way of the things we intend to do.

That wiring issue sounds like one that needs to be at the top of the list. I have a wiring issue that I've finally figured out and next time I have the electrician over will get fixed. My current office is in the space that used to be the old garage, and the outlet where my computer (and affiliated) equipment is plugged is on a ground fault (GFCI) breaker in the circuit breaker box. Any time it rains hard the thing trips. Now that the room isn't in the garage or exposed to outdoor stresses I need a regular circuit breaker in its place.

Taking an extra month to enjoy your birthday - why not? I guess my next one should be plenty long since it is a particularly big one (one I couldn't have imagined, yet alone visualized accurately, when I was a youth). Mine is coming up in September (two days off from Charmion on the date and I think we're the same year.)

This afternoon I had lunch with my daughter then headed east to my work/university town for some shopping. The Halal market had 8 or 10 interesting non-wheat flours that are now in the freezer (until I have the canisters cleaned from pasta and ready to reuse). I made a list of products to try after doing some research, and these were a good start. What I didn't find there I will probably find via companies like Bob'$ Red Mill.

Today there were takers on both free offers and they'll be picked up soon. I was worried they might be too odd for people to be interested in. It is surprising what people are willing to put in a passenger vehicle; to the one who wants the saw stand I responded that no, I don't think it will fit in a back seat (of anything.) So they'll come by on Tuesday with a pickup when they're in town. I'm not making it a race for who gets it first; whoever asked for it first gets a reasonable amount of time to retrieve it.

This afternoon I picked up more fabric from the friend whose house was severely decluttered recently. We sat in the living room on regular furniture and talked for a while before I left, and that wouldn't have been possible before. Most of the fabric is in the washer and will go to my daughter or the donation project for art teachers.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Jun 24 - 03:33 PM

Only 3 p.m. and I've already gotten a lot of decluttering around the house accomplished today. I haven't had the time or energy to do ANYTHING in that regard (well, a little bit of organizing in my head) for the past two months — I've been in a bureaucratic marathon of crossing imperative time-sensitive things off lists...the usual annual bumf as well as the 5-year renewals, which all seem to come at the same time. And this year, it seems, that everything takes two or three times longer than they should. My eyeglass saga has been going on since April, what with postponements, reschedulings, and do-overs. There's no incentive like an electrician who will be needing space to fix a problem...

I guess I need to fill you in on the backstory if you haven't been reading about it at Facebook.

Haven't had the time to be here much in the past two months as I was kept at a gallop while juggling many things — some annual, some bureaucratic, some related to a friend giving me a 2010 Subaru Forester in May (so I now have transportation insurance of two older used cars with high mileage), some just the usual birthday month car registrations and inspections.

My eyeglass saga (I haven't worn contacts for over a year) has been going on since April. Got a call yesterday that the replacement left lens is in where I ordered the second pair of glasses, so when that's installed sometime in the next week (they're so short staffed at JCPenney Optical — where I worked over a decade ago — that I'll have to call first to verify that the shop's not closed for the day) the saga will at last be over for the time being.

I thought the light at the end of the tunnel was near at hand, but, fix me for being optimistic. I discovered early Wednesday evening that I have a problem with an important electrical circuit in my house — the one with my modem, which is not easily moved. The breaker snapped off twice. The modem isn't just my computer and wi-fi, it's my landline phone (my primary phone — my cell phones are for emergencies, travel, or power outages) through Comcast. As of late yesterday morning I've accomplished a workaround by plugging the UPS into a heavy duty extension cord running from another outlet, so I'm more or less okay for the time being. But there are lights out at the door and on the stairs and I can't use my laser printer (which had been running off that extension cord because having it on the same circuit as the computer and modem kept tripping the breaker).

Since I really didn't have time to enjoy my birthday month much (traditionally I celebrate for at least a month), I decided while talking to a friend this morning that the festivities (one of which will be a B.D. lunch at Krista's in Cornish, Maine) will be extended for another month. Not much on my July calendar yet. Just the early morning Fourth of July celebrations that we provide music for up at Nottingham Square (for the hour preceding the reading of the Declaration of Independence) and taking a friend to see "Crazy For You" at the Ogunquit Playhouse. (I trade putting up a bunch of posters in a town 30 minutes away for the tickets — otherwise I couldn't afford even one, let alone two tickets.) Of course, I don't know what will be required for my electrician to attend to my circuit problem.

It's never-ending, isn't it?

Linn

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 24 - 10:19 AM

Tankini is the choice I last made and is one I'll stick with.

I've moved things around in the garage and done some modest sweeping (in order to not stir up dust from mouse droppings). There are two offers up right now, and I may taken them both down again. I put up bags of pasta and frozen tortillas on the private FB group, thinking at the end of the month there might be a mom needing to stretch the budget. If someone does claim it I may add a jar of pasta sauce to make a meal. The bandsaw is problematic - whoever sold it to me may have known it was recalled, or maybe didn't. They could have gotten more for it by sending a part back to Ryobi for the recall offer (at the time.) I could take the saw mechanism off and put the table at the curb and see if it goes away that way. I suspect it can be repurposed in a workshop. The recall is the problem (they didn't just fix it, Ryobi wanted all of them back and destroyed.) I'll give the online offers until this evening to get a response before going to plan B. All of this started because someone announced she was looking for scrap ceramic tile and I now have a more organized area where the yard and garden gear in the garage resides.

I've made progress on the eBay listings, and as I learn about some of these items I realize they are things I could focus on in the future (if I decide to go back to buying thrift store stuff to sell.) The glass has a history and old online catalogs are available to pinpoint production years. But wait - I'm trying to empty the front room so I can do other things with it, so I'm not heading out to shop any time soon.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 27 Jun 24 - 08:29 PM

Today I bought a new bathing suit. It’s size 12, and loose on the bottom end while barely adequate at the top end. I think this will be my last one-piece. The “tankini” type looks less likely to present this problem.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jun 24 - 04:43 PM

People should eat more rabbit and venison.

Going through cupboards and reducing the number of wheat products is revealing to me that I still have quite a few rice things here, though white and refined rice products are not so great for you either. Sugar is the other ingredient to reduce, and it is present in many forms as well. The emptied storage jars will now be used for interesting non-wheat types of flour as I work out a few basic recipes for bread and flatbread, to start with.

We're under a heat advisory (heat index of 112 today) so my time outside is brief, but it is possible to make progress in a few minutes if one pays attention and does just the thing you headed out to do. I have some galvanized fence posts propped up in the garage and took a few minutes to remove the attached braces that supported fence crossmembers. (Side chore: I swept up some mouse droppings from around the posts and they went out with the trash.) There's a vintage band saw in there that I've never used and I'll offer on one of the buy nothing sites (I don't know if it works - so giving it away confers no obligation to test it first - it cost me $25 at a garage sale about 20 years ago). The tiles gone, the fence posts streamlined, and that saw out of there makes a lot more room in that corner of the garage. I'll have to "walk" (wiggle and pick up one side, then the other) that saw and it's stand to get it out.

But surprise! I got ready to list the saw and looked for an operator manual online to print to include - it turns out this one was recalled in ~ 2008. So my offer now is for the non-working saw and the table and the parts with it, if someone can replace the part that isn't safe. Let's see if that walks out easily on its own.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: keberoxu
Date: 27 Jun 24 - 11:35 AM

Charmion, my guess is that rabbits know not to touch yew trees.

Around here the garden predators are deer as much as rabbits;
between the two of them they eat vegetable gardens right up.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jun 24 - 10:49 AM

Dorothy! What a gush of news! It sounds like all cylinders are firing in your world! I don't envy you cleaning those freezers, but those cheese and cookie shops - oh, my! And the visit on that new deck sounds devine.

I subscribe to Consumer Reports, and while they don't release their comparison guides as neatly as they used to in the print form, I pulled up my account and it says they have hearing aid brands and retailers. I just found an article about over the counter (but they also talk about prescription) hearing aids and I think there will be a couple of buying guides. At any rate, I can save these as PDF files and get them to you.

The recently adopted process of getting off of the computer earlier has several benefits. I'm reading more long form material (books, articles, journals) instead of skimming things on a screen and it feels like it is resetting my brain. What I'm reading is a mix of things, but the nutrition information is top importance and very helpful. I've also shared some of it to my son who has a problem with migraines and an answer is suggested in my reading (get off of wheat - he was my kid who ate exclusively flour products for the first five years of his life.)

Last night I had the TV on across the room, I wasn't sitting and watching it, I was 20 feet away treating it like a radio with occasional photos - and I photographed three sets of stuff for eBay listings. I'll process the photos during the day and get them listed before I am off of the screens again.

Yesterday I mixed up a batch of brine and assembled three jars of cucumber spears for fresh pickles. I'll do one more jar at least today. They're not the best cucumbers, but they're fresh and will taste good in a few weeks.

Since we're into heat index weather I worked on reinforcing a wonky Goodwill little Igloo cooler (the lid latch broke off) so it will sit on my porch with ice and bottles of water for the mail carrier and Amazon and UPS folks. The last cooler was a small barrel shaped one with a wide screw on lid and harder to open and stuff with a couple of bottles and ice. I taped on my same cobbled-together graphic of a water bottle with the message that it's for the delivery folks and thanks for working in the heat. I think this is my fourth summer of a cooler on the porch.

And right now since there is a cleared-off shelf is available in the garage I'll do a little organizing before it gets too hot.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 Jun 24 - 09:45 PM

Dupont:

Trip to Bancroft was good: The hydro was still off when we arrived so we - very tired! - used candles and soon to bed! The trip had entailed another visit re hearing aides during which the Audiologist talked and talked and the office woman found an online instruction manual, printed it out for us and gave us clues about how she could help - Face time even! Ms Blither was not very useful but gave us a small something or other that will help turn sound up or down as required. We'll see!

Late back on the road, I drove madly to the little cheese factory to pick up the pre-ordered peanut butter cookies; It closes at 5 and at a couple minutes before five, he phoned and begged, "We're just getting off the 401..." We were there at 5:03 and the gracious woman gave him the precious cookies! The next cheese factory closes at 6 and although I drove - scared the daylights out of R - we were there at 6 and they were closed up tight! ---We went there on Monday and got our cheese and the nice women told us we could call next time!

So much for wild rides! We slowed down and got a bite to eat Quickly! and I messaged a friend, "We can be there at 7:15" that was deemed ok for a short visit --- not so short! When R saw the gorgeous canoe! and we had our tea on the new back deck that juts out into the forest in a lovely curve. We all sat and watched the birds and enjoyed the bug free!!! evening with scintillating conversation! About an hour of delight and then went on so our friend could get to the open mike at a nearby Legion.

Arrived at Beaver just before dark, found the candles and looked at the freezer ---TOMORROW! But tomorrow we did town stuff - farmer's market, visit with our friends to see their welding - very fine! Then to the Carriage House to see Pat and talk and receive some cash for sold pots - not much but that's ok. Then to Lake St. Peter for the community event - an evening of conversation and music AND I had brought a few things for the "Take what you want" tables - gone! And we went home to Electricity!! and BED!

We had left the freezer plugged in so clearing it was not as bad as Mush! Took everything out on the porch and emptied spoiled stuff into a bucket which R took out to the swamp and dumped it. The bread is deemed OK. I got it into the frig, which had been mostly empty and R cleaned out the freezer and left it open until I go back again and need to use it.

On Monday, we hit the cheese factory and then stopped for tea with a woman who lived ten years on the same property where I spent ten years- my fantasy home! "Someday I'm going to live at the end of a road with no Hydro"! I did and then Lisa did - when she sold it she had enough money to get her Master's degree in Art! A welder and photographer.

I plan to go back next week; will have a months supply of meds. The trip showed that I CAN drive it myself! And no more med visits until end of August!!!

NOW my ears hurt from the aides so I am taking a break! I would like to get my money back and be rid of the blither. And, hopefully get some in Montreal. I had no idea it was going to be important to be closer, and think it would not be so difficult if that woman listened, and let us have answers we understand!

Today I spent a length of time trying to find more info on the company - reviews of how other people felt. I wanted something like Consumer Reports does but found nothing at all.

Surviving the hot spells with lots of opening and closing of windows and use of a fan. And the attic trapdoor open enough to let hot air rise out the "chimney" in the roof.

And the antihistamine has alleviating my coughing incredibly!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 25 Jun 24 - 08:25 PM

I'm definitely feeling better after an acupuncture treatment at the physio clinic. Still stiff and sore, and I definitely don't enjoy bending over to clear the cats' litter box, but better. And the new insurance carrier doesn't want a prescription form. Alas, the annual cap on physiotherapy is still $500, and each treatment is $70.

The garden crew came today and did their usual bang-up job, leaving the property looking loved and cared for. I now have the beginning of a yew hedge across the back of the patio; now all I have to do (famous last words) is water it every day for the rest of the summer. Most parts of the yew tree are poisonous, which is probably why they grow so well in Stratford despite rabbit depredations. At least I hope the rabbits know that yew is poisonous, because the fluffy little fuckers have nibbled to death everything else I've ever planted in that stretch of dirt, and I'm don't want to become a serial murderer of bunny-kind. The neighbours don't like them any more than I do, but I don't think they want to start finding little corpses in their gardens.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jun 24 - 10:51 AM

Small stack (~40 pounds) of tile is gone, and I'm considering what to move off of the floor onto that garage shelf.

This morning I was out at 8am to mow the front and be finished by 9. The trick is to mow when it's still cool but not disturb your neighbors too early. Next time I might start at 7, though, since I know at least one of the neighbors is up at dawn. It was already 87 when I quit. (I put my fitness tracker in a band around my ankle and registered about half of my daily step goal while mowing.)

Before mowing I took my sturdy step ladder to the garage, disconnected the electric garage door motor, lifted it about 24" and propped the wheelbarrow under the bottom edge (so it wouldn't roll back down and pinch fingers!) From there I could pop out the all-but-demolished door roller, slide in the new one, place it onto the edge of the track, then remove the wheelbarrow and slowly lower until the new one popped completely into the track. Reattach motor and it's good to go. Whew!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jun 24 - 01:00 PM

It may be an old injury but it is bothering you today. The logic of the insurance folks is non-existent, isn't it? They always say "no" first.

This morning I gathered up tile fragments that had been dropped over the back fence. I don't remember why, but it didn't disappear into the landscape so since someone is coming to get tile scraps I dug out of shelves in the garage they might as well have what amounts to about two more shoeboxes (volume) of this; it's all from the same tile work in the house.

The last of the French cobalt tumblers left the front porch this morning, now is the time to turn to vintage Libbey Duratuff Gibraltar in various lovely colors. I am glad to see robust sales of it on eBay. Years ago I was planning to sell things on eBay as a regular side business, but got sidetracked. I'll have to decide, as I sell all of this stuff now, if it is worthwhile to resume shopping for items at thrift stores and estate sales. For now though, no.

I'm considering keeping a Scandinavian tine bent wood box that came from my Mom's house. I didn't know what it was until I started researching it; the box may have been a housewarming gift when she moved to Ballard (a Norwegian neighborhood of Seattle) after she retired. With all of the stuff around here, there aren't that many Norwegian artifacts from my childhood. This could be a memento with a story (I'll have to ask my sister.)

More heat wave today, so the work continues indoors. I did the tile retrieval this morning when it was still cool.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Jun 24 - 10:26 AM

I stooped the wrong way yesterday and strained my back. I now require the attention of Physio Guy.

But — my health insurance was recently switched to a new carrier, and I’m fairly sure that it won’t cover treatment for this very old injury without a prescription from the doctor, which will require an appointment, which could take weeks.

Not a happy bunny today.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jun 24 - 10:06 PM

I have a taker tomorrow afternoon for a bunch of scrap porcelain floor tile, and while unloading the stack from the back corner of the garage I found 3 more boxes nearby (unopened) that I need to decide what to do with. I could put them down in my closet, or the laundry room, if I have enough. If I decide not to, I can contact this person later and offer them the rest. (This taker is someone who does artisan tile work with broken bits.) Meanwhile, one shelf in the corner of the garage is now clear.

My list of things to do indoors during the heat is growing. There are two faucets in bathrooms that need replacing (between three sinks). I need to re-do the kitchen sink faucet. There is a roller on my garage door that is wobbling and needs replacing; I have spare rollers, but figuring out the exact right spot to stop the door so I can make the exchange is a challenge (one to take to YouTube first). I replaced one a couple of years ago and don't remember how I did it. I think it has to break off before I can replace it.

While working on eBay stuff this evening (after another listing sold today) I realized I could set my laptop on the library table in the den (it has been on a bakers rack in the kitchen forever). A couple of months ago I bought an antique chair ($5) at a garage sale that now sits at that table in the den, and it is just about perfect. I can work there on various projects and watch the large TV (where the Hulu account that my son shares with me is installed). I've researched the next set of vintage glassware to sell while catching up on early episodes of Elementary, I've never seen the entire program and now I'm following along early episodes (reviewing those I have seen) before getting to those episodes new to me. It's one of the best written and most clever programs produced in the last 15 or so years. I don't remember why I didn't see the last two years of it, except it was probably because I missed episodes and like to see them in order.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jun 24 - 12:20 PM

At 11am it is already 92^o so I'm finished for now, but I took a couple of large boxes, flattened them out on the ground under a large tree in the front yard and poured two of my burlap bags of mulch over the top. I've moved some of my potted plants onto that spot and watered, and I'll move more this evening. Pretty much anything that survives this summer will have to have some kind of shade. And with those pots under the tree, the tree will get water when the pots do.

A while back my daughter brought down an odd collapsible laundry hamper that didn't work the way she hoped and suggested I put it on my free sites. I listed it yesterday and someone grabbed it a couple of hours later. I did suggest it might be good for a dorm room or RV, so it can be flattened to about the size of a textbook when not in use. In my experience the laundry hamper always has something in it and when it gets full or I run out of underwear I do laundry. Maybe the taker has something else in mind to store in it.

Charmion, were you able to get that third rug back? Will it go in the bedroom with the smaller bed and new mattress?

Shopping yesterday at Costco brought a case of sticker shock; it was a trip with my ex and for things like packages of frozen fish and a large leg of lamb, all pricey, and cases of sparkling water. My ex doesn't buy canned water himself himself, I don't know if my daughter does, but both were here last week and each went looking for a cold can and I was out. The lamb will be cut apart, remove the biggest chunks of fat and package the lean meat in ~8oz portions to freeze. When cooked it's down to about 6oz, a good portion size.   

One of the free sites had someone looking for scraps of floor tile, and he thought he'd be in town this week and could pick it up. I'll go pull that out of the garage and have it ready. I've tried offering it on the free sites before and there were no takers, so I'll jump on this one and try to unload all of it. Everything else I work on today will be indoors, it's just too hot for now.

I just read about a haboob (dust storm) traversing New Mexico. If it isn't one thing, it's another. Stay safe and dust-free, Patty!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jun 24 - 08:52 PM

Charmion, most of the scam email hits the spam filter and never makes it to my inbox, but lots of calls come in daily, and I've taken up a new trick for the phone scammers. I don't answer most calls, but if I do and it's some asshole who wants to buy my house, I announce that I hope they will vote blue to elect Biden this year (and listen to THEM hang up!) Quite satisfying!

I got into the yard today and harvested most of the acorn squash and this afternoon I pruned the lower branches off of the redbud tree that I planted in the front yard a few years ago. (Three?) Now it has a more "leggy" look - you can see the lower trunk, it isn't just a mass of branches from the ground up. It looks like a small tree.

Last week a new pair of readers arrived from Zenni and after a few days of testing I like them, so I ordered another pair (a bit different so I can tell them apart) to use when I go work at the museum or other screen things around the house. The first pair lives next to the computer.

I turned on the news this afternoon to see if the Supreme Court had sent any more decisions, but no. Wednesday is the next opportunity for news of their decision regarding Trump's immunity (poppycock!). It's time to turn off the news and stop giving that felon free rent in my brain. I'll sew for a while and start the next audiobook in the Louise Penny series. Three Pines, here I come.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 21 Jun 24 - 06:15 PM

Another unnerving email scam arrived today, this time asserting that my subscription to FedEx, Kinko's and Geek Squad services had been renewed to the tune of $349.95. Need I mention that I never had any such subscription, and indeed have never done business with any of those companies? I don't think Kinko's even operates in Canada.

The heat wave continues. I have acquired a dress of the type we used to call a "shift", made of some Space Age material that does not wrinkle, stick to me, or otherwise show evidence that I'm sweating inside it. It's the closest I'll get to comfort until the weather breaks. Oddly, we've had several spectacular thunderstorms this week that had absolutely no effect on the heat. Back in Ottawa, a frog-strangling thunderstorm usually breaks a heat wave.

Down to London and back yesterday for Great-Nephew No 3's graduation from Fanshawe College with a diploma in police foundations and investigative technique. The city's largest arena was jammed to the rafters and I found the last possible street parking spot within the city limits only half a block from the door. Between Western University and Fanshawe, convocations alone must account for a goodly proportion of London parking lot operators' annual profit. It was a cheerfully uninhibited occasion, with graduates' families and friends cheering loudly as they crossed the stage. After shaking the President's hand, each graduate was met by a capped-and-gowned official who delivered a hearty hug.

Not at all like my graduation more than 40 years ago, where I knelt before the Governor of Queen's University, who swatted me on the head with her mortarboard and pronounced me a Bachelor of Arts while a minion slung an academic hood around my neck. I don't remember any of my classmates jiving across the stage or blowing kisses while the crowd went wild. Things are better now.

The guest room closet is now full of clothes culled from the box-room, where I keep out-of-season garments and stuff I haven't yet brought myself to part with. I will pack them up and take them to Goodwill later in the summer .... Hmmm. Why wait? "Don't wait for fall, do it now!" I can also part with the hangers they're on. What fun!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jun 24 - 11:49 AM

Revising the plan for craft items intended for donation: I found another box of my friend's items to go in that stash, but I am of a mind to go retrieve several gunnysacks full of mulch, so all of the boxes will be stacked neatly to the side for now.

Made it through the week until Friday with only mis-identifying the day of the week (out loud) once; for some reason yesterday felt like Monday. Maybe it was the holiday on Wednesday that threw me off.

I spent a few minutes near dusk yesterday to finish harvesting the potatoes, and now need to use the tiller to rework that bed for more crops for the summer.

More research into statins shows that while the onset of symptoms can start right away or be gradual (I'd estimate after a year they really became troublesome), the resolution once it clears your system averages about three weeks. I'm saving links and PDF copies of the articles I find helpful for future discussions with my doctor. I'm only using articles that cite their sources. Diet-wise I'm still reading, figuring out the foods most beneficial to the intersection of things going on personally. Taubes' book on Keto is on order. Since his books tend to be discourse on his reviews of the literature I hope to find more recent source material.

And on a completely different note, after last month's skunk event both dogs got a bath after which they had softer and better smelling coats, and I'm thinking the one or two a year they usually get are less frequent than I like. We're six weeks out from that last bath and at least Cookie could stand one again. I do it myself, they don't go to any groomers (I'd have to pay a premium for them to struggle with Cookie!)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jun 24 - 06:25 PM

Patty, that was a disciplined collection day if you got out with only 10 pounds of rocks!

I don't want to scare anyone with my remarks above - I don't have heart disease so the treatment of cholesterol is simply because of the amount measured during blood tests, not because there is anything else going on. And I'm continuing to read (newer studies in particular); if my doctor protests my stopping there are other products we can look at, but she's going to have to have a good reason for trying another.

At lunch I handed over a bag of fabric and storage containers to my daughter and bagged the rest that we don't want that can stay in the SUV until my appointment to donate. And between now and then if I find anything else suitable it will join the fabric. After lunch I scanned at the museum, but I didn't make it to the gym after that because I forgot my bag of fitness clothes and shoes. It's around here somewhere.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jun 24 - 12:12 PM

I'll note that in view of the reading I've been doing, I seem to be tilting toward the Keto diet myself, I just wasn't aware of it until I started revisiting the whole cholesterol/statins area of thought. Dr. Amen states that one side effect of statins is lowering of certain enzymes that affect mood via digesting fats. When I look up one of those in particular I see that supplementing with it when you're on statins can cause side effects of its own. Better, I think, to remove the statin than to add more stuff (all of those ads you see about taking CoQ10 if you're on statins - that's another one of them.)

The thing about the use of statins is that it's the answer to a popular idea that blood cholesterol has an effect on heart disease. It isn't backed by science; every time a study comes up that shows no connection between the two the powers that be suppress it. On page 53 in the Taubes book I'm reading now he shifts from examining the fraught science studies to show a link of fats to heart disease. For years one powerful and well-positioned researcher (Ancel Keys) had held fast to his hypothesis that saturated fat caused heart disease, but the studies weren't conclusive. He only accepted results from studies that seemed to confirm his bias. "Believing that your hypothesis must be correct before all the evidence is gathered encourages you to interpret the evidence selectively.^[24]"

After science failed to support the link, popular culture stepped in. In the 1960s counterculture ideas about humans eating less meat in order to feed the planet, and books like Erlich's The Population Bomb are where the "anti-fat, anti-meat movement evolved independent of the science.^[42]" And that is when George McGovern got involved. "It's possible to point to a single day when the controversy was shifted irrevocably in favor of Keys's hypothesis—Friday, January 14, 1977, when Senator George McGovern announced the publication of the first Dietary Goals for the United States. The document was "the first comprehensive statement by any branch of the Federal Government on risk factors in the American diet," said McGovern.^[44]" From there you look at who wrote and edited it, it wasn't the product from one of the medical research institutes, it was people still pushing Keys' hypothesis. "Once politics, the public, and the press had decided on the benefits of low-fat diets, science was left to catch up.^[53]"

I'll conclude this little book report with this: ("Most drugs have multiple actions," notes the University of Washington biostatistician Richard Kronmal. Saying that statins reduce heart-disease risk by lowering cholesterol, he adds, is like "saying that aspirin reduces heart-disease risk by reducing headaches.^[77]")

This comes from three different books I'm reading now. And I'm reminded of the few acquaintances who seemed displeased that I started statins (after resisting for years). I had the thought "it can't hurt," but over a couple of years on them, I'm realizing that they can hurt. I won't describe my symptoms here, but I've noticed changes, particularly in the last year, that have bothered me. The sleep study results may also tie into this. I've finally made the connection. While I'm forever on Levothyroxine and watching my sodium, I'm off the statins.

Resuming regular commentary: now it's out to lunch with my daughter, where I have several bins of stuff to hand over that she can use in her costume design work.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 20 Jun 24 - 12:03 PM

Well that casserole sounds great. I've been eating either 'road food' or 'feast food' lately, neither too good for me. We hit two of the better restaurants near Creede, well worth it as a special event but no good as a regular thing.

The mine has several things going on; most people come for mine tours, but there's rock and mineral sales tables, a jewelry and gift shop, and access to tailings. As a club we were given access to the 'better' half of the tailings, 1/2 mile down a switchback road, which contained a lot of 'sowbelly agate' and pale amethyst. I might have done better in the other half looking for micros; just got some cuprite and silver-bearing galena, and who knows what I'll find in vugs when I do some splitting. Paid no entry fee, just $2 a pound for my bucket of keepers which came in at $20.   

Honestly, I prefer hounding alone and perusing old abandoned tailings piles on my own, but a lot of times club field trips and these fee operations are the best or only way to get access.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jun 24 - 08:28 PM

Patty, I did a quick look at that mine. Silver - means there can be any number of other interesting related minerals around. Is there an old tailings area that people are allowed to dig through? I've hiked up to mines in the Cascade Mountains and found small samples that were discarded in the mine operation. I've made any number of hikes up Vesper Peak in Washington, twice to climb the peak (it's a lovely climb and at the front of the range to have a great view of not only other mountains but of the Puget Sound area and across to the Olympics). On the route up I always was picking up crystals and minerals (you can't leave them along the way to find on the way down - that never works). I've also made the trip in order to hike around the modern copper mine tailings and higher up to an old garnet mine. (The copper mine is a shaft; the garnet mine was a surface operation, as far as I could tell.)

Charmion, does summer aggravate your allergies or asthma? The smoke from fires last year, for example? Pollen, dust, and heat itself (with associated lower humidity)?

Today I used up fridge stuff for another batch of my yellow squash casserole (without pasta). Onion, bell pepper, garlic, oregano, and olive oil are the base. I used two types of sausage (Italian and a local pork sausage with lots of black pepper), along with a batch of diced portobello mushrooms. Tomato paste thinned to sauce consistency, and some red wine (a few spoons of it scooped out of a jar in the freezer). Came out great and will be meals for the next few days. I also thawed a chunk of baguette to make a half-size bread pudding. The amount of bread and sugar is small compared to milk, eggs, butter, and dates, so not as bad as many other desserts. In my evening reading I'm learning more about the science of fat and oil (and polyunsaturated vs saturated) in diet, and my next book will be Grain Brain by Perlmutter and Loberg. And looking into the science of cholesterol-lowering statins.

More eBay stuff listed as I push to clear the front room and plan to move in furniture from my sewing studio. This will be a full summer of work, but worth the trouble. Selling these things on eBay supports paying off the heat pump loan faster since I expect the larger heat pump to die one of these days. Our weather now is warm, but it's weather we're used to (if the big heat pump goes out I may sleep on a cot in my office until replacement). The New England states that are getting our typical June temperatures seem to be suffering; later in the summer our temperatures will be 15 to 20 degrees higher and really miserable.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 19 Jun 24 - 11:21 AM

Good morning from Isleta Pueblo near Albuquerque. There was a small fire burning west of town last night but no danger here. People very concerned about Ruidoso, so many people love the area or know people there.   

But our travels were far away, only affected by a bit of smoke haze traveling on the winds as we got near ABQ.   Hope a rain front comes through the state very soon.

Splendid time to be in Colorado, 70 degree days, 50 degree nights. We made 3 trips up from South Fork through Creede and to the Last Chance Mine. You start out following the Rio Grande where it is a clear tumbling trout stream, then climb into the mountains, fresh evergreen scented air, lupines blooming, very blessed to get to do that.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jun 24 - 11:25 PM

You're doing better than I am, though I have made progress at increasing the protein in my diet, with fewer carbs, and staying at my daily limits. I need to get more exercise.

Patty, are you far away from the fire danger? Your field trip to Colorado may let you cool off, but take the long way around if you have to on your way back home. How is your prospective property as far as fire services? A local fire department, or volunteer one? Stay safe out there!

Listing small items on eBay this evening. About to call it quits to go read.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 18 Jun 24 - 05:21 PM

I had my monthly date with the asthma doc in Kitchener this morning, and came home with a whole new drug regimen and a stack of laboratory requisitions for bloodwork and an electrocardiogram. This is fallout from the pulmonary function test I had two weeks ago, which showed that I’m very good at breathing out and breathing in, but my air-processing capabilities are a bit odd in other respects.

Fun times.

Meanwhile, the keto diet is going well — down another kilo — and the house is neat but grubby. I can’t be arsed to haul the vacuum cleaner downstairs unless company’s coming. Watson the cat is sprawled across my knee and all is calm — thanks to air-conditioning, because Perth County is sweltering under the same heat wave that’s preoccupying half the continent. The forecast high on Thursday is 34°C. Yuck.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jun 24 - 04:15 PM

Got the SUV back, and except that the back gate won't latch by itself (probably jostled in the accident and they didn't catch it) for now I'm just shoving it closed. I have an idea that it can be fixed without losing another week in the repair shop.

This was a luxury Infiniti car dealer that did the repair, and I sat outside on a bench waiting for it to pull forward, talking to a woman awaiting her pristine Lexus (the car wash at Infiniti dealership is faster than at the Lexus lot across the street, apparently). She commented "whoa, listen to this one. . . " as mine sat there rattling, and then she looked at me and realized it was mine. "It's the fan blower that's rattling, and I was going to get that fixed before I got hit. It's a small thing. . ." and pointed out that my insurance company works with this shop for repairs. And that the Nissan is a good affordable vehicle for a retired state employee. (I'll get the latch adjusted when I get the blower worked on.)

I finished some work in the garden yesterday but have several other projects to attend to. The stack of eBay stuff is still staring at me, but that is this afternoon's chore. I'll wait till after dinner when it's cooler for a little more yard work. I loaded my regular stuff back into the SUV and now have cleared space in the garage and kitchen table where it just sat.

In the vehicle comparison, my SUV drives better than the minivan I was renting, though I could live with either if I had to. Rentals don't get much respect and that one needs to be serviced. My good tires and recent alignment are part of the reason the SUV feels better. The space in the minivan, though, that is enviable.

Now, what was I doing before things were so rudely disturbed by a reckless Cadillac driver?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jun 24 - 10:47 PM

A box of Tupperware is on the floor next to the computer, my magnifying glass at hand, and I'll be noting the piece number of a couple of dozen items that will go in a lot of containers on eBay. I was going to list them this afternoon but instead decided to plow through scheduling a week's worth of social media posts for the gardening site I work on. That job can eat up way more time than it needs (or I get paid for) so I have in recent weeks tried various ways to time myself or plan out as much as possible. Will I put my free time to good use? We'll see.

Another item sold on eBay and shipped today. The garlic is harvested along with another acorn squash. Still no SUV. I dusted and vacuumed some of the house, next I need to sweep of bits of a branch the dogs dragged in and chewed in the den. There are boxes and plastic storage cases sitting all over the kitchen and den; as soon as I have my SUV back I have a number of things to stash in it (things that are always there for emergencies, plus shopping bags, umbrella, etc.) and the craft stuff that can hang out there until it's time to drop it off.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 17 Jun 24 - 02:32 PM

HAHAHAHAHA!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 17 Jun 24 - 09:01 AM

Yes? ;)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Jun 24 - 03:56 PM

Andrew, are you suggesting that I should be myself, as everyone else is taken? Or merely commenting on techniques for managing temptation?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 16 Jun 24 - 09:35 AM

"I’m beginning to wonder who I am and what have I done with Charmion ..." Evidently you no longer struggle with your inner Oscar Wilde.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jun 24 - 11:51 PM

Sounds like you did a great job resisting some major temptation. I'm not a fan of pecan pie or cupcakes, but the chips - well, if there's a good dip around, I'm lost. Kielbasa sounds good - sounds like you've developed a taste for savory items.

I mowed some of the back yard this morning and finished this evening, getting almost the whole days worth of steps in the process. In between I pulled together more stuff for Goodwill that was dropped off, then helped a friend with some vinyl patches for her mobility electric chair that that snagged on an ADA doorknob. I also took measurements and can make a dark corduroy cover to go over the top of the chair back to protect it (and can go in the wash periodically). The main reason for my trip up there was to deliver a small Blueray DVD player I'd promised. It was buried in my eBay stuff the front room but by organizing stuff during the search I have to say the whole area is more approachable now.

A high-end pair of blue-blocking readers arrived from Zenni today. They work fine as readers; I'm curious to see if the blue-blocking helps as far as evening computer work. I still need to stop with screens an hour or two before bed. (I've also set each of my screens to go into an evening mode with much less blue.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 15 Jun 24 - 10:42 PM

I have just returned from Chatham, where for two hours I sat in the presence of a pecan pie, three kinds of potato chips, two dozen iced cupcakes, and a celebratory chocolate cake without touching any of them. I had some cheese, a few slices of kielbasa, rather a lot of diet ginger ale, and a single spoonful of somebody’s extra-special baked beans that I just *had* to try and did to avoid giving offence.

At no time did I feel hard done by as everyone else chowed down on cake.

I’m beginning to wonder who I am and what have I done with Charmion …

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jun 24 - 03:54 PM

I've worked out storage for fabric that will be donated to the teachers art materials site next month (and organized it by bagging each type in clear plastic so they don't have a lot of work when they receive it). A box for Goodwill is ready to head out the door this afternoon, but I have yet to sort out a major tripping hazard in the back doorway of my garage. That solution involves getting out the tiller, more about the French drain later.

I set a lamp on some shelves in the bedroom next to my exercise area, where a Mission oak rocker sits and that is now going to serve as a reading spot. It's easier to mark on the text or a postit note to stick to a page when I'm seated versus reading lying in bed. I'm enjoying getting back to bedtime reading but it doesn't mean I'm not reading to retain content. Right now, as I get further into the Taubes' book Good Calories, Bad Calories, it is distressingly obvious that a lot of early researchers were more driven by confirmation bias than they were in actual proof that their theories were correct (or not, and moving on). This has created patterns of thinking that are difficult to dislodge in medicine and popular culture.

For decades we have been taught that fat is bad for us, carbohydrates better, and that the key to a healthy weight is eating less and exercising more. Yet despite this advice, we have seen unprecedented epidemics of obesity and diabetes. Taubes argues that the problem lies in refined carbohydrates, like white flour, easily digested starches, and sugars, and that the key to good health is the kind of calories we take in, not the number. In this groundbreaking book, award-winning science writer Gary Taubes shows us that almost everything we believe about the nature of a healthy diet is wrong.

Heading out to deliver a couple of items and take measurements for a chair back cover for the friend whose mobility chair keeps banging into things and the vinyl gets ripped. I may also make it over to the gym.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jun 24 - 03:20 PM

My cats used to sleep on my bed (hard to stop them unless I closed them out of the bedroom every night) but I don't let the dogs up, with very rare exceptions. They're bed hogs and not subtle about their comings and goings, and if another skunk event were to happen like last month it would be a laundry and furniture disaster.   

I had hopes of the SUV's return this week, but no news so far. I put gas in the rental last week and since I have to return it with only a half-tank (the way it was when I got it) I should do some more driving on my gas dime.

Must take some of the fabric for my daughter to choose from. The teacher art donations are by appointment only and the next one's a month out, so what she doesn't want will wait somewhere in a corner. I also need to drop off a couple of things, but that waits till tomorrow when there's less traffic by my friend's home.

Sorting through front room (eBay stuff) and deciding what to list and what to send to Goodwill or drop in the trash. The vintage Tupperware has a market but I think my time is best served to selling as one lot. Someone else can take their missing parts to marry and sell any of these as whole. Other stuff has been determined to be beyond interest and to the trash. Selling repair parts is one thing, but when new intact replacements don't cost much it isn't worthwhile peddling the old. Lumping versus sorting also helps me pick up the pace.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 14 Jun 24 - 02:15 PM

I just got off the phone with Niece No 2, who will gladly accept a large basketful of queen-sized bedlinen: two sets of sheets, two quilts, and a handsome green 100%-wool blanket that looks like Hudson's Bay but isn't. (The quilts and the blanket came from Edmund's mother, so I'm just ploughing them back into the family.) The Niece declined the goose-down duvet that is also looking for a new home, but it really should go back to Ottawa. Winter in these parts just doesn't get that cold.

Great-nephew No 3 (third son of Niece No 2) graduates from Fanshawe College this week, so I have two road trips on my agenda: to Chatham for the family whoop-up tomorrow, and to London (the one down the road) for the convocation on Thursday. Suddenly I'm a social butterfly.

Watson the cat is less than delighted with my new bed, which is too narrow for him to sprawl beside me with his head stuffed into my armpit. That doesn't keep him from logging a solid day's snoozing on it, however; the new quilt will soon be just as clogged with cat hair as every other bed-cover I possess.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jun 24 - 08:59 PM

Progress today on the contents of the front room where the eBay stuff is stored. I found an item promised to a friend and while I was at it organized boxes and packing materials (I reuse padded envelopes I've received inside boxes being shipped to avoid having to pay for padding materials. They pile up.)

Mosquitoes are biting, so I have to get out and treat the standing water around the house - keeping up with the mosquito dunks in planter trays and such is critical. It isn't enough to empty the planters, if it rains again they'll be back. I need to sprinkle or spray the Bti products to kill the larvae if water accumulates (it lasts for about a month after treatment).

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jun 24 - 09:01 PM

There were four little teapots in the stuff that came from my friend's house, they have been photographed, along with some art stuff, and are next in play on the offer sites. The fabric has been sorted into bins to keep or to give away, and small scraps bundled into a bag for quilters who want small pieces (crumbs). Meanwhile, out in the garage, a couple of unopened but elderly kits for children's art will go to the art project along with some children's books.

The lawn was mowed in the front, and tomorrow I'll do the back. I've cleared up a lot of dog hair in the house, and it looks like the rain has passed for now, so time again to mop the floor in the den and scrub dirt out of the tile pattern.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jun 24 - 11:14 AM

Charmion, I saw your photo of the bed on FB, it's lovely! And congratulations on setting aside the bit-too-large jeans. I'll weigh myself later this week and find out if I've lost any more, but the empirical data here is that the pants fit fine, aren't too snug, but they were a bit snug last month.

The SUV is close to completion according to the weekly report from the shop. Any day now. Once I pick it up I'll have to keep an eye on things that might need further adjustment to get it taken care of promptly. Insurance repairs aren't like regular repairs, especially if the shop isn't branded the same as the make of the vehicle.

The last load of gifted fabric is in the laundry now, though my friend tells me she found some more to send my way. There are a bunch of her craft tools next to examine, catalog, then send the list to my daughter for anything she might want, and from there, to the donor art project. The offerings on Freecycle and FB were picked up yesterday (and I got rid of one of my own extra items at the same time).

Mowing out front today, though we are under an air quality alert so I'll wear a mask. The neighbors are going out of town for a couple of weeks so I'll probably be mowing their front yard at least once during that time (since they rarely let the grass get tall.)

Last night I harvested more garlic with about half of the bed left to finish, then I'll plant cucumbers in that spot.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2
From: Charmion
Date: 11 Jun 24 - 05:15 PM

The minutes from the choir’s Annual General Meeting have gone off by email to the rest of the board, the new mattress was delivered and the bed is made up, a load of light colours is in the dryer, and two weeks’ worth of underwear is hanging up to dry.

Two pairs of LL Bean “boyfriend” (i.e., loose-fitting) jeans, size 12, have been relegated to storage as nearly, but not quite, way too big. I’ll keep them for now; they’re roomy enough to accommodate long-handled underwear but not so large (yet) that they fall off.

I think I have done enough for today.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jun 24 - 11:00 PM

Dorothy, you have battles going on many fronts! Give 'em hell about the hearing aid charge, and good luck emptying the freezer. That is the huge disappointment - not just the food loss, but the cleanup.

I've listed a few of my friend's decluttered items on my FB buy nothing group. The photos were taken in the garage this evening and the phone was not cooperating, they're a bit fuzzy. Next time I'll take shots in daytime (the flash on this phone kind of underwhelms).

Two loads of wash later and the laundry basket is heaped with yardage and smaller samples. I'll turn off the computer and go fold all of that for a while.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Jun 24 - 09:28 PM

Dupont:
Read on line the other day that chronic cough could be allergies, so for the next 3 days I took our little yellow pills - and had 3 cough free nights. This am I forgot the pill and been coughing all afternoon. Took it about 4 pm but to no avail. Better put an alert on the phone! It was really nice not to cough all night!

Yard finally got mowed today! But, as I was getting awake this am, a friend informed me the electric was off at Beaver!!!! Sent a pic of dismantled meter! R got on the phone to HydroOne and after a long chat with a helpful woman: it has been off since 22 May after a storm broke the mast holding the overhead wire. R went to work. I phoned my fave electrician for advice; we talked about a bunch of things and I hope to get to their home on Sat to see the welding - sculptures etc, He and wife concocted at the School of fine arts in the last two weeks!

Then I phoned a friend for advice re electrician: He phoned back with a name and number. Connecting with the electrician, he can come and do repair in a day or two, will get the necessary permission and inform Hydro to replace meter! Possible this could happen by Friday??? We, of course will spend a part of our time there emptying the rotting food out of the freezer! They were too busy restoring Hydro to others to notify me!

And my neighbour, who took pics around the house - to send me - apparently did not notice the Meter sitting on the roof of our trash garage. She walks past almost daily! Even so, it was too late! Four different friends/neighbours contributed to solving this!

Do some people live boring lives?

Soon I will de-clutter this house by gathering things to go to Beaver - for the recycling there and thrift shops. And some distilled water in case there is not enough there, and no electric.

The hearibg aids have been a major headache - no instruction booklet. The audiologist blithered a whole bunch of stuff, totally incomprehensible to my addled brain and even R did not catch enough. We have muddled through with tremendous frustration, horrible frustration from the background noise in my ears and a period when they did not function at all and I messaged the office and had instructions that got it working again. Today, I checked my credit card and they have put the charge through----NO WAY! we are supposed to have two months to try them out. We go on Friday and R will have to talk as I am furious.   

The iphone and computer continue to find new ways to plague me.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jun 24 - 12:17 PM

A note about vehicles: the rental I'm in this month has various sonar sensors that sometimes are quite startling, but are effective now that I know what they're doing. I've realized that the lights in my Pathfinder that tell me about sonar stuff don't do much, and I'm thinking that the previous owner must have programmed the vehicle to not use the features. So I'll be reading my owner's manual to see what I need to do to activate them.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jun 24 - 10:48 AM

When I pulled into my driveway this morning after cat feeding I noticed an immature crane standing stock still in the middle of my yard, peering intently into the tall grass and groundcover for breakfast. Toad? Lizard? Snake? Insects? They're all there, in my organic park-like front yard. What a good sign to start the week! (I got a few photos.)

In the laundry this morning are the various lengths of cotton fabric that were in my friend's bins. The washer is set for lots of soaking and stain stuff, on general principles, but most of it was simply folded new fabric, all dark prints. A couple of pieces seemed to have sun-bleached spots. Nice colors. In other bins there are also quite a few pieces of non-cotton light fabrics, some silk, some satin (cotton or polyester I don't know), etc. I'll put them into one container and let my daughter pick through. I'll probably add back some of the cotton, I'm just running it through the wash now because that's what I do with yardage when it comes into the house.

Into the garage next to photograph the items to offer on the free pages, and a box for the rest going straight to Goodwill.

I've decided to shift some of the stored items sitting in the way in the general garage area into the dog stall area, since it no longer is the exclusive domain of dogs. I'll start with some tall boxes. There are still a couple of heavy-duty chewed up dog houses in there, and I should probably give away both. Cookie likes to hop on top of them to greet me when I come and go, so I'll decide if the possibility of her leaping out of the stall again via the dog house is scarce enough to keep one.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Jun 24 - 09:45 PM

I'm glad the meals are good, Dorothy! Having a reliable supply of something you like that you don't have to do all the work is nice. (A friend of mine describes some of the packaged meals from Trader Joe as being excellent, and he just has to apply heat.)

The backyard brush has all been dragged to the curb and I've set equipment where it's easy to reach for work around the front trees tomorrow morning. I'll stack more branches then mow the 2/3 of the yard I neglected on Saturday.

The woman who asked for the pans has yet to offer to pick them up, so I'm moving on to plan B tomorrow and will list several things, including the pans. I want my friend's stuff out of my garage soon. The boxes of fabric and notions have all made it into the house, and I'm not noticing an odor (she was a smoker for years). They may have been packed away well enough to avoid it. I'll have to sort and take a few photos for my daughter to tell me what she wants. Things neither of us need can be donated to the program that collects donated art supplies for area teachers (I took stuff there last year. This year's donation will have bins included, since I'm sure they can always use storage.)

I dug a few potatoes (red lasoda) today to see how they're looking (good). The plants are still producing so I'll leave the rest where they are for now. Tomorrow the garlic bed is harvested; I dug out about a dozen plants this evening to see how large they are and when they come out of the ground I usually drop (intentionally - who knows how many stayed behind out of sight) a corm in the hole to have another plant there next year. It looks like a good crop in the area I dug in 2022 and have planned to confine it to. Last year there wasn't much of a harvest and I resorted to buying garlic in the last couple of months. This year they were able to produce because the plants were already established but not picked last year (if the tops die off you don't see that they're there to dig them. They come back bigger the next year.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Jun 24 - 08:02 PM

Dupont:
Tomorrow, with any luck, someone is coming to work on the yard. I had chosen someone else on FB but this guy messaged me that the other was not reliable. I hated to reject him but realized I would have to transport him and his equipment in my vehicle and that means gasoline fumes which I CANNOT tolerate. I hope this guy will come and be adequate. It may yet rain more in the night so...!!

Otherwise, nothing got done here today. I have enjoyed 3 of those meals. This particular store is geared to that ethnic food type. I shall get more tomorrow or when next I go out.