DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 09 Jun 24 - 11:49 AM

Oh SRS, it is not awful, I have A/C, it just has to work hard in the heat! This coach has a slightly underpowered A/C, they designed it so it could run off 20 amp or generator if necessary. In reality, that is never something I do.    Thanks for your kind offer of an alternative. I was just griping a bit.

And actually, there is a mineral field trip up in Creede Colorado next weekend, so I am making plans to mosey up there and back while waiting out the time before I can get in the house. That will be a welcome change in weather. Which means delving into storage to fish out more cold-nights and cool-days gear. (I always keep a few pieces handy, but was anxious to stow most of it away this spring).

Unfortunately, the agent I was recommended to be my buyer's agent turned out to be the listing agent for the only suitable house in the area. And she's super busy running between two towns and a side business. She seems to be ethical enough to keep an eye out for me though her first loyalty is to seller, but is not a good hand-holder, nor organized enough to have given me an order-of-what-happens sequence.   I'm just used to being in control of most of what happens in my life and it's disconcerting to be, well, jerked around.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 09 Jun 24 - 08:38 AM

No, Stilly, my new-to-me bed is not adjustable except in the sense that it came with dismountable side rails that are stowed in the basement. It’s just a rectangle of oak with four cross-pieces of hardwood two-by-four (probably maple) for the mattress base to rest on. Its design and technology would be perfectly familiar to a Victorian house-holder.

As for the side rails, they brought me to the conclusion that modern furniture manufacturers believe that beds accommodating only one person are strictly for children. The people who sold me the bedstead told me that their daughter had “grown out of it” when she went off to university. Fact is, lots of people prefer a bed to themselves and don’t need a bed large enough for two adult humans. Watson (cat) prefers to sleep on top of me, anyway!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jun 24 - 11:01 PM

Patty, if you decide you want to take a break from that heat you can always drive 900 miles out of your way and come visit in Fort Worth. Hang out in the house air conditioning. And two dogs. Do you have an air conditioner in the RV? Would one of the portable units work (I got one of the Black and Decker floor units that vents out a window when the office area heat pump was out). You'd probably want a 12 gauge extension cord to plug directly into the site electric box, not run it through the RV wiring. If they aren't charging you extra for the power you use, it might be worthwhile.

Do you have a buyer's agent? They might as well make things easier to earn the commission (whatever they are today, after the court ruling about Realtor's commissions.)

Tomorrow alternates between cat feeding and dragging bulky waste. I need to finish the brush pile tomorrow because - surprise surprise - there is more rain in the forecast starting Monday. Air quality seems to have improved.

I went to the annual retiree dinner this evening, visiting with a few friends and always surprised to see more of my former coworkers turn up on this side of the equation - free of the job and now out in the world. Only talked shop a little bit (with the other book and publication designer in attendance). Made a point to ask people questions and not just talk about myself (not much has changed for me since last year anyway).

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 08 Jun 24 - 10:11 PM

Oh dear Stilly, I hope the weather cooperates soon. It's tough when you have to work early in the day to beat the heat, then again at the end of the day when you're so tired it's hard to do.

We are over 100 here, which is only hard because these tin cans we live in overheat in the sun. The humidity tries to help, but dusty winds seem hellbent on making it a nasty summer.

Tough week here with urgent odd demands from the agents/mortgage people, they let you twist in the wind for a week then suddenly want tons of expensive stuff done Right Away. With several new online entities wanting Serious But Unscrutable Stuff Signed Off On and Paid For, Right Away. I hate this process so much.

Got Inspection over with, next is Appraisal. Who the hell knows what comes after that.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jun 24 - 12:49 PM

Charmion, is this a bed that adjusts? Is there hardware to install on the Mission-style bedframe?

This morning I mowed one side of the front yard to clear out the grass in the area where I'll pile the bulky trash items. It's hot, muggy, and we are under an air quality alert so I didn't keep mowing; that can wait (mowing early in the day contributes to the problem). The log chunks are now in position and during the day I'll start dragging the branches from the back yard. Once they're in place I'll get the tree-pruning saw and address some dead wood in front trees. I have a dinner to go to tonight so I don't want to have to shower again. I'll pace myself.

The offer of pots and pans was accepted so now to move on to other things in the stack. After standing in the friend's hoarder house, even after so much of their work, it renewed my desire to finish work here, but was also a relief that my house is more along the lines of "normal" even as disorganized as it is.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 08 Jun 24 - 11:15 AM

The new mattress is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday morning, but first I must visit the shop and pay the rest of the very large bill..

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jun 24 - 09:09 PM

You're still very busy, Dorothy, even for someone who sounds like they intend to take it easy! I hope those meals turn out well. I found some frozen lunches I really liked and bought a bunch at the store I go to for the great bargains. Once a certain item is gone, that's it, and those were discontinued.

I turned quite red in the face in the heat this morning but I finished clearing the saplings along the back fence and tomorrow I'll drag them down to the curb for bulky waste. I'm getting a black spot on my big toenail where I thudded one of those three log pieces onto my foot two weeks ago. They have one more move - further down the curb for bulky trash.

This afternoon I visited the friend mentioned above (with the too-full trash bin) who had some boxes of fabric and notions for me and my daughter. Her three children were all there working to clear the hoarder stacks (I had worried about this but I never went so far as to contact her oldest daughter). I offered to bring home anything small & usable to put on the free stuff pages I am a member of, and in an hour of visiting they found quite a few things, maybe a cubic yard of stuff. This saves them a tiny amount of work. I also told them how to log onto the groups near them to start offering the furniture and such (now in the front yard). I've already offered some of the pots and pans (including one of mine I don't use) to a woman starting over who asked for kitchen stuff. This weekend I'll list items or take them to Goodwill.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: keberoxu
Date: 07 Jun 24 - 07:14 PM

Good to hear from you again, Dorothy.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Jun 24 - 02:23 PM

Dupont:
Just to let you know: having dumped all that, I felt better and stared getting a few small things done. Will soon be trying a cup of turmeric tea and rice is cooking for a nice lunch. TY!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 07 Jun 24 - 02:00 PM

Dupont:

Long time, no write! No energy.

Today, I am being visited by a small bird who keeps coming to the outer front door - all small glass panes. It lands on one and looks in and out a few times and takes off again. A mystery! I cannot see it well enough to have a clue - sparrow size and coloration; the good bird book is at Beaver!

The yard is in desperate need of cutting, lest the city get nasty. The folks I hoped were going to do it, said, on 21st they would fit me in. They haven't and I now see they posted on 22 they were accepting no more yard work! Have not had the courtesy to inform me. My brain is still tired from everything and dealing with looking for someone do do this is hurting my whole being! I stopped weed whacking about 2 weeks ago in hopes of having energy for other things. Tiredness is a side effect of the meds - sure is! There is a volunteer agency a couple blocks away; I stopped in a couple years ago to see if they had a list of helpful people. They did not and I suggested fervently that this would be really helpful. I have no idea what they actually do - maybe provide phone calls or wellness checks? Phone calls from people I don't know are a hazard. The new phone is still a super hazard -

I have lost all my guts for doing anything, esp the phone. It does what it pleases. It seemed to have decided to be permanently on speaker phone - that was great. Then it quit. I could not figure out how to get it on speaker phone when someone called. Now, if I have the heraing aid on, it muddles the sounds to mush. For it's next trick, it decided that the call could come through the computer and phone at the same time!!! HORROR! Fortunately R was here and grabbed the phone. I think I fixed that issue but I have no doubt the phone/computer/Apple will find a new way to cause me grief.

At the grocery store, I told the cashier, "I cannot hear, can't see very well and don't think my brain is working very well either!" He thought I was kidding! Now, I have a reason to go to that store - when I remember why - and I dread it. They have initiated a stupid thing where they give you a card to scratch - to win something! points or groceries... I just want to pay for my groceries and go home! I wasn't going to ever shop there again---but it is the better store.

These hearing aids are not very helpful! They put noises in my ears that interfere. The hearing aid place is just over an hour away so I cannot just zip in and get help. They quit totally for a while and I got phone instruction - NO instruction book in the fancy box! I got them working and it is good to be able to hear R - when the other noises aren't in the way.

A decent day yesterday: drove an hour to the Little green Library to return books -Late!! I Never do that - need to put due dates into phone for notifications - That I can usually manage! Went to Rita's so she could drive my Prius to see how she likes it (She does.) Visited a bit and came home, stopping in two dif groceries (forgot tomatoes!). The second one was unique - African/Asian or something. I got half a dozen East Indian sorts of packaged meals - just add cooked rice. Not the usual brand so hoping; the other store no longer has them. Also turmeric tea bags and dried mint leaves.

OK! What else can "I complain about?? It is a beautiful, cool, sunny day, after a short thunder storm. Bird has not been back. Front yard squirrels were berserk this morning; I keep hoping one has little guys in her nest but it is getting late.

And we are going to Beaver next week, by way of stops for heating aid help, peanut butter cookies, cheese at the factory, maybe a visit with a friend, and more on the saturday. If we can stay to Monday, I can pick up stuff at bulk food store there and change address at the post office. ---OH DARN! that means changing address on all sorts of things.....Let's consider that again!!!!

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

This week we see the switch from rainy to hot, so I'll pace myself. One pot, one plant, etc. at a time. Mornings are for harder jobs and this morning I'll start cutting brush to drag to the curb for next week's bulky waste pickup.

My friend is headed out of town and the instructions for cat feeding have gotten more complicated as the littlest one is being evaluated for treatment of one of the more treatable cat cancers. More coming and going, more opportunities to put a run to the gym into each day's schedule.

A note on the sleep issues: advice from the physician's assistant I talk to about this every couple of months - blue light blocking glasses aren't all alike. The OTC ones aren't as robust as the ones you get from optometrists, so I ordered a pair of Zenni's custom readers to use for computer work. I had a discount after referring a friend to them last month so they are a very good price.

As we creep closer to official summer, what are all of our lurkers up to? How have you spent your spring?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jun 24 - 11:42 AM

Report from repair shop - parts on hand, work soon underway, it could be as long as another month before I get it back.

Yesterday I took some scraps and made a three-layer piece that is about 10" x 3" intended as a sleep mask. No tie, it's meant to lay over my eyes at bedtime or for a nap. The little ready lights around the room offer up a fair amount of light; I'm not going to go try to turn off everything, but I can block it out. I was using folded washcloths to test the theory. I tested the prototype last night and it worked fine. Two layers of black t-shirt jersey and a dark green woven flannel block light well and I have a couple of soft textures to choose from. I'll make a couple more.

Since June 1 I have made note of my calories each day, being careful to stay under the limits I want to follow, and today I weighed myself. Down 3 pounds. This is with higher protein, lower carbs, and trying to get enough fiber to keep the gut happy.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jun 24 - 10:54 PM

Spring cleaning again today with several loads of laundry washed and dried, and the dishwasher set to run at bedtime. Everything is freshly changed out as far as bedding. But that's mostly the "usual" stuff, not the declutter. Maybe I can get an eBay listing ready to go this evening and I'll post it tomorrow (since I'm about to the screens-out portion of my evening.)

The new canna bed was weeded (a few bits of Bermuda grass were left behind last week and sprouted); vines pulled off of some of the crinum lilies that I hope will bloom this year. Fingers crossed it doesn't rain overnight so tomorrow I can go get some of the free mulch from the city forestry site (it's always too heavy and tends to steam right after a rain.)

A friend needs help with some of the trash at her house (her daughter was over working to declutter their house) and my friend isn't supposed to do much lifting. The bin the daughter filled is too heavy for the local trash collectors to take, so we propose to transfer some of those contents (apparently things like discarded ancient canned goods) into contractor bags that I can carry and I'll bring a couple of them back here to put at my curb for our bulky waste pickup next week. My village is a lot less fussy at bulky waste time (her city charges extra. A lot extra.) What's left at her house will be light enough to be picked up.

I also have to start dragging my branches (and roll those three chunks of log) to the proper spot on the curb (bulky waste is any day next week, when they get around to it). There is a section of the back fence that needs to have brush removed still and I'll use the reciprocating saw for that. All of this brush and trash goes about 20 feet north of the driveway, not under the pine tree beside the drive, in case the solid waste folks come through with the big truck and mechanical arm that grabs piles of brush. They won't operate that under trees. If I get busy in the next few days I can clear out some dead wood in a couple of trees in the front yard also. (I have a friend who might bring over his chainsaw on the long pole and take them out, then we'll pile them at the curb.) It's possible this can finally be a productive week in the yard.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jun 24 - 03:15 PM

Patty, when my daughter moved to their 18 acres to start building tiny houses she said there was a lot of stuff the previous owner didn't want to move, so sold it really cheap or gave to them. (She and a core group are on the mortgage and several other friends are participating in the purchase; they're all building houses around the property, each less than 700sf) I asked her if she needed any of my extra gardening tools and she rolled her eyes - said there was so much stuff on the property in the workshop that they sorted the working from the ancient and tossed what they couldn't use.

Though my house was empty for two years before I bought it there was enough stuff left behind in the garage, patio, and attic that I had a fair amount to work with. I like some continuity between residents on the property so I took apart the heavy-duty redwood picnic table (that had been mightily chewed by the final renter's two Dalmatians) and used planks to build a workbench in my newly constructed garage (I converted the old attached garage into an office/extra bedroom and storage rooms). The old plank legs and side of the workbench in the new garage give it a feel of having been here as long as the house.

Charmion, I also hope you can reclaim that third rug. I put a PDF of that article in the FB page where we've shared some of this stuff. In the last couple of weeks I've read two articles about pests that have literally recently evolved with human activity. Cockroaches and clothes moths. The cockroach article was online at Smithsonian Magazine.

Humidity is wretched still. Horrible night's sleep last night trying to get comfortable. Today I've decided to finish the spring cleaning with washing mattress cover and the light blanket, and the mattress topper was reversed end-to-end and side-to-side. It's too humid to hang bedding on the clothesline, it would take forever to completely dry. Tonight I'll put another cover on the bed and crank down the AC.

The local PD approved the hit-and-run accident report I filed, which has been forwarded to the insurance rep. As I wait for news on the amount of damage to my vehicle (soon), I've answered the phone when the number isn't identified as spam. I've resorted to telling the spam callers who want to buy my house "what a timely call! I was just thinking this morning that I should let some scammer steal all of my hard work for pennies on the dollar!" and hung up. But after a couple of times that gets old. I think the adjuster is just going to have to leave a voicemail.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 03 Jun 24 - 11:11 PM

Sympathies on your rugs, Charmion, what a shame! Hope the Kabul one can be saved.


I have not begun to collect furnishings. Seems chancy to get serious about that sort of stuff until I know if the mortgage is really going to happen. Perhaps I can go out and visit the house during the inspection and make lots of notes on what's needed and what big items the sellers may want to ditch.    There is a monthly auction in town where I might pick up some likely items. Honestly, it's like furniture buying is a long forgotten thing that never crosses my mind.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 03 Jun 24 - 01:36 PM

The Atlantic pay-wall won’t let me read more than the two paragraphs you pasted here, but I get the point.

I have a cedar-lined blanket box and several large plastic trunks. So far, I have found one hole in the oldest Hudson’s Bay Co. blanket, which could well date back to the Great War — who knows when and how the moth got at that?. All the woollen sweaters get cleaned and wrapped in plastic bags before I put them away for the summer. Everything hung up in the upstairs storage room is in a zip-up garment bag. Now I guess I had better start looking for pheromone traps!

As for the damaged rugs, if any part of them is re-usable, it won’t be by me. That level of craftiness is way out of my range.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 24 - 12:54 PM

Dashing out in a minute, this just popped up in Facebook and I've only grabbed the URL, haven't read much yet. Alas, it is timely.
Sweater-Eating Moths Are an Unbeatable Enemy
They will eat much more than just your clothes.

Every year, beginning around the end of March, my household starts planning a massacre. Our targets are our home’s clothes moths: My spouse and I lay pheromone-laced traps in the closets, living room, and bedrooms; we—and our two cats—go on alert for any stray speckle of brown on a cream-colored wall. The moment we spy an insect, we’ll do whatever we can to crush it. After killing dozens upon dozens, my husband and I can now snatch moths straight out of the air.

None of this has been enough to eliminate the moths. These particular moths—webbing clothes moths—are simply too well adapted to modern human life; as a species, “they don’t really live outside anymore,” Isabel Novick, a biologist at Boston University, told me. Clothes moths have evolved into a perfect nuisance, so capable of subsisting on the contents of our homes that permanently purging them may be impossible.

Like cockroaches, they have evolved with people. There is no getting rid of them.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 24 - 11:34 AM

That is so sad! Can pieces of them be cut down into smaller mats or area rugs? Drink coasters?

Enjoy that last meeting. Will you continue to participate in the singing after this?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 03 Jun 24 - 11:27 AM

Bad news from the carpet cleaners: Three rugs so badly damaged as to be unsalvageable. My favourite, the big green Bokhara, is one of them. The Chinese runner that came from my grandparents' house and one of the red-and-yellow Afghan runners Edmund brought home are the other two goners. I'm holding out hope for a bedroom-sized bluish Kirman that Edmund bought in the Kabul bazaar; that was what I was looking for when I started pulling the lot of them off the top shelf.

The choir's Annual General Meeting is tonight. It will be my swan song as the Secretary of the Board and, therefore, my last set of minutes. What a relief.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 24 - 11:18 AM

Patty, the mineral that comes to mind with long thin crystals (and somewhat flexible) is chrysolite. That would get you banned from the campground! Maybe instead work on an artform that involves sheets of muscovite. :) Is the stuff you're putting into the storage unit what you brought in the trailer from MS, or are you now accumulating furnishings locally for the new house?

A couple of nights ago I conducted a self-as-guinea-pig unintended test of my plan to stop screen time well before bedtime. I got busy and forgot and it was time to go to bed when I turned off the computer. I'd also had a rare glass of wine fairly late, and those two things, while they didn't seem to make a difference about going to bed, meant I didn't sleep well (efficiently?) and was really tired the next day. Stepping away from screens accomplishes a couple of things; I sleep better, am not so tired during the day, and I'm reading more books (versus reading stuff on screens which isn't usually books). I've moved my tablet to the kitchen and I read my online journals and papers at the table in the morning, not in bed in the evening.

During the appropriate screen time I an viewing sewing tutorials on projects and have ruled out some stuff just because of the computers, cutters, and devices they're using. I upgraded to the fancy sewing machine but want to keep the projects fairly analog. I started one project last year that is a sort of Trapunto that I learned by watching my junior high school best friend's grandmother. She did the old fashioned method of backing a print with a solid then stitch around the print items you want to have contoured. She would slice into the back fabric, stuff with batting, then stitch the backing closed. I was just stitching through two layers around what element I wanted filled but pushing batting into it then hand stitching it closed. Come to find there are some remarkable things going on with multiple levels of batting. I'm rethinking how to complete that project.

Shopping today after my haircut, going the usual route I drive to see a few friends and pick up things at the halal grocery near where I used to work. I'll have to remember to not take the express lanes because I don't have my toll tag and I'm pretty sure the rental agency will overcharge for that privilege.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: keberoxu
Date: 03 Jun 24 - 10:45 AM

I'm about to get decluttered of an infected lump on my head.
It's oozing, and it has to be drained. Oh, joy. (It hurts as well.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 03 Jun 24 - 10:12 AM

I had no idea there was a traveling lady making fiber flowers, but it makes sense! If she were a mineral collector, perhaps she would specialize in the the ones with acicular habit (long thin needley crystals).   

Two friends do sewing on the road, even when boondocking without 120V electricity. One makes beautiful small items and quilts, and another is constantly making curtains etc. for herself and anyone else who needs them. She participates in 'van-build' events where people help one another upgrade vans to be more livable.

I can't imagine fitting all the odds and ends of a sewing room into a camper, but, we haul around what is important to us. Being in 120 square feet will force the issue of what is really wanted and needed.

The storage saga got worse yesterday, locked out of 'my' unit again, this time by fussiness in the mechanical part of the latch, which would not move during the 2 seconds the light was green to open it. And that baloney about onsite managers 'you can always call for help' Nope. Locked up house with doorbell removed, heavy shades, unanswered knocks, unanswered phone despite barking dogs and 2 cars parked there.   

But in desperation tried jamming the thing into the wall and it finally opened. So I did get Load 1 transferred into the storage unit. Had to revert to deep-south day planning and get it all done before 10 a.m. because we are now flirting with 100 degrees in the afternoons.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jun 24 - 04:45 PM

Sandra, that is amazing work she does! A programming background is perfect when it comes to the techie stuff that goes on with those embroidery sewing machines. It helps one see that while the machine is producing the work, the vision, design, and programming are what make that art possible.

Another overcast day. I'll take the string trimmer to again clear the grass out of the area where one of these days I'll plant some stuff. Our growing season ends in late October, sometimes mid-November, so starting late isn't such a problem (unless it is as hot as last year.) This evening I'll finish another eBay item that I started ages ago (photos) - it needs a box and packing materials before I list it. The sale goes up when the box is ready to go out the door.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Jun 24 - 06:07 AM

Lynne Stone, musician lived in a bus with her sewing machine & supplies for making 3D flowers which have ended up in museums.
video of Lynne talking to Gardening Australia program

I haven't seen her for over 15 years & had to search for info, all I knew was her first name & the dance group she played for!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jun 24 - 01:07 AM

Forward movement today on the eBay listings, and I'm realizing that my bigger Canon camera isn't as good at this as it used to be. Some photos for listings are with the Canon, but the closeups are now using the phone camera. They've come a long way in the last few years. These listings were small and didn't take long. I'll work on some high dollar items tomorrow.

I made progress on a sewing project yesterday and am about to set up a feature on the new sewing machine that I haven't used before, to do with free motion quilting to achieve a Trapunto style.

I think if I were in Patty's shoes of traveling in an RV I'd have all of my books on my tablet or laptop to free up space but I'd have to carry along a couple of bins of fabric and notions and the sewing machine. And figure out the most interesting projects I could do with the limited resources involved with that travel. This would be one of those projects.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 01 Jun 24 - 12:54 PM

Mike the carpet cleaner has hauled away all the stored rugs. He says the insects visible through the plastic are not of a species he recognizes, such as the common clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella). Nevertheless, he promised to steam-clean and mothproof all of them. This will cost me a hell of a lot of money.

Sigh.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jun 24 - 11:19 AM

I'm not sure if it rained again overnight but the yard is still sodden. Way too wet to cultivate beds without the squish of mud from any of my digging tools. One wants to flocculate the soil, not end up with glazed planting surfaces that don't allow water to move to and from plants for the season. Another day of work indoors it is.

I can pick up just about any small thing sitting in the front room and it is an item to be listed on eBay. There is a randomness about doing that, but I'll give that a try this morning. I moved a cassette player into my office equipment area (a new surge protector is arriving this morning so that all of these audio devices can be plugged in with space for some of the wall wart sized plugs). That player was wrapped with an unrelated power supply cable, probably added when someone was unpacking from an estate sale and lumped them together. So let's see if I can send a stray power supply to a new home (I see this model sells on eBay.) And work out from there. (I'm still looking for a couple of devices offered to friends, once I lay my hands on them. This is part of that effort also.)

It's a nice temperature today but the house is incredibly muggy so I'll turn on the AC to dry things a bit, get a long sleeved cotton shirt, and go to work.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 May 24 - 10:02 PM

The top two thick cotton bath mats from the stack (of four) outside my bedroom door, along with a couple of other small rugs, have gone through the wash again. This is after narrowing down the possible sources of the skunk that still wafts through the house when the air conditioner turns on or a door is opened into a closed hallway. The mats are there for the dogs who often sleep outside my door.

The garden goal is to head out the door early tomorrow and prepare a couple of spots for crops. And to transplant a native hibiscus from a pot into the ground. All of this will involve the string trimmer, the tiller, a mattock, a spade fork, and a shovel. Oh, and the wheelbarrow. Everything is handy and ready to go.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 May 24 - 10:38 AM

Patty, I know that area, and have camped at City of Rocks State Park—it's an amazing formation. Lots of wildlife, beautiful sunsets, and so many stars at night. (And up the road from it is the unincorporated community of Dwyer, New Mexico. I noticed it on the map and had to drive past; as I recall all we saw there were a few mailboxes and an abandoned gas station on the county road.) I drove through Silver City and was interested to see the (at that time) old fashioned dirt roads and the little houses in the old neighborhoods, but then the big box stores that had all built up along the main drag. It's like a lot of small towns in the middle of seemingly empty landscapes - a magnet for shoppers in the surrounding region. I've stayed in Deming a time or two on road trips and it is a regular stop for food and gas off I-10. Deming has a tiny little old downtown area with the 2-3 story brick buildings and the rest of it kind of sprawls. I also went through one time to find Rockhound State Park for camping (we were there in cold rainy weather so didn't do any rockhounding ourselves).

I had to look up "mini splits," they sound interesting. I have all of the duct work of a heat pump here, but that sounds like it was easier to install around the house (retrofit) without ducts being added.

It sounds like you'll have a good time settling in once you take possession! Given time to get to know the area, if you decide it's time to move into town later you'll have an idea of where to go. (My friend who stayed recently moved to Arizona for about 15 years and lived in a retirement community, from age 70 to 85, made a lot of friends and was socially active. Four years ago she decided it was time for the next phase and has moved back to Texas where she lives with her oldest son. She visits the Arizona town where her sister still lives.)

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 30 May 24 - 11:08 PM

Stilly, that moving-and-storage saga sounds like quite a nightmare. I'll try to be more grateful I'm not juggling deadlines like that!

Well the house is a 2/1, stucco with newish tin roof, on a fenced acre out amidst cattle ranches. Tucked away on a long driveway off the little-traveled county road, so I won't be high-visibility, just a couple of near neighbors so not totally isolated. Has a well, new septic. View of the Cooke Range on one side and the Mimbres Valley on the other. Got renovated/updated in 2013, then got new appliances last year. High ceilings, airy, with 4 new mini-splits. Storage/mud room and small outdoor storage shed too. Slab from an old garage can either host a new tall garage or perhaps will let me enclose a teeny pool.

Sort of between Deming and Silver City, with an easy drive to both.   Not far from City of Rocks State Park. Access to remnants of the Butterfield Trail, a lot of mineral districts and 'the Gila' wilderness.

Perhaps not as convenient as in-town, but, serenity, privacy, dark sky, space, and quiet will be great. To find this, move-in ready (in July) without breaking the bank is miraculous. I suppose I will discover plenty of drawbacks, but for now it's all good.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 May 24 - 05:56 PM

That is so disappointing! You don't happen to have a large chest freezer, do you, that you can quickly put them all into? At least stop the damage at this point in time. (That's my library response - wet books? Freeze them. Infested books? Freeze them. Mildew, etc. )

I have been puttering with the electronic equipment in my office to set up the double cassette player to start some of the conversion of my Dad's music tapes to digital form. Part of my clearing out the front room is putting equipment intended for this work in place. In the background MSNBC is playing, and I joined millions in listening to them read off "guilty" on all 34 charges. Sentencing happens on July 11.

Back to work. I baked some chicken and cut up and mixed it into my zucchini casserole made the other day. So good, and low-carb. I didn't miss the pasta that I used to put in it. Alternate fasting comes starting Saturday, and stepping back from carbs and sugar now gives me a head start on the adjustment period as you get used to fewer calories and less sugar. Except for terribly stormy weather today I would have headed to the gym. Maybe tomorrow.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 30 May 24 - 04:32 PM

IKEA. I meant IKEA.

But you knew that. I hope.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 30 May 24 - 04:31 PM

I just made a distressing discovery.

For a couple of years, I've had several hand-knotted Asian rugs stowed on top of the three-section IDEA storage shelving in the basement. They are rolled and tied, and wrapped in the plastic in which they came home from the cleaners. Now that the shelving unit is more than half empty, I hauled them down this afternoon to move them to a more accessible place. Two of them -- my favourites! -- are crawling with moths. I did not even open the plastic, let alone unroll them to assess the damage.

So tomorrow I have to call the rug cleaners.

Effing hell.

In other news, the ReStore guys from Habitat for Humanity have hauled away the excess bed frame.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 May 24 - 02:14 PM

Patty, congratulations! What can you tell us about the house (without jinxing the deal)? Property or house size, interesting location? How far will you be from amenities? Good luck negotiating the storage access. I used a storage facility in New Mexico for a couple of years in the late 1990s when I was planning to move there. Nothing high-tech about it. When I went to finally move that stuff out my ID was all I needed to get the guy to use bolt cutters on my lock because I had brought the wrong padlock key.

Family stuff moved down from the northwest was stored in Sedillo in anticipation of the settling there. I had a house lined up, a job offer and plans to pursue a PhD at the university, but my ex's divorce attorney dragged her feet so long that the whole arrangement collapsed (I couldn't buy the house by myself until the divorce was final). There is a coda: two months later I was diagnosed with cancer and I been in the new job, my insurance wouldn't have covered it. I stayed in the Texas job to keep my insurance after cancer. I left everything in NM storage for the time being (versus just moving to another storage locker in Texas.) In addition to that, I had a lot of stuff from the marital home that I put in pods when I moved out, so when I moved into this house I had the locker contents and two pods to move in. Two rooms here were packed full and unusable until I sorted it. Now only the front room is storage (though for quite a while it was in use as the library and watching TV). It is filled with the evidence of the Goodwill habit and family trunks and antiques I'm not planning to keep. That sums up the bulk of my current declutter challenge.

More thunderstorms today. I should dive into the contents of that front room and see what is easy to list next.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: pattyClink
Date: 30 May 24 - 11:10 AM

Well as long as we're discussing wireless electronics. I had to rent a storage space here in New Mexico for the next few months, while I wait for my house deal to close (yay!).

I dropped by the best local facility to check if they might have a unit. I was supposed to stand in the sun and crouch down to a small barred window to speak to the attendant. Who remained on the phone for quite a while rather than acknowledging my presence. So much for that dehumanization. Even if she did end her call, I'm not spending 20 minutes entering into a contract while crouching at a prison gate window.

My other choice? High tech dehumanization. The other place, now part of a national chain, had a decent office and polite young lady who signed me up with a minimum of grief. Then sent a text to my phone instructing me to sign up with google to download an app to be able to use the facility. So angry. Google Surveillance has to be involved with unlocking a storage shed, really?   Instead of actual locks we have (thoroughly hackable) electronic gates and doors, which rely on Bluetooth, which is flaky.   Nuts. I refuse to get a google account, so I had to stick the app on an iPad. No idea if the blasted thing will work when needed. And so excited about driving solo with a trailer while manipulating a touch screen.

But seriously. If there is one thing that did not need an app, it's a storage facility. I'll put up with it for a few months, then never again.

Hopefully it will be handy not only for stashing stuff from Trip 1, but will allow me to pick up a piece of furniture or two before closing.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 May 24 - 11:44 PM

A trip to the store and gas station this evening when traffic was moderate was a good first run in the rental. And I'm sold on the minivan vs SUV for the next vehicle. There are several hybrids to look into next year when I expect to be ready to make the jump. They're less expensive than SUVs (though there are fewer choices - and they're all V6, which is ok) and way less expensive than pickup trucks.

I was trying to program my garage door controller into the vehicle when there was a flash of black to my right and it seems Cookie has finally decided she can leap out of the dog stall from the top of the dog house. Next thing I know she's jumping at my door—a few hours in the garage and I almost have an animal in the vehicle. [sigh]. Return her to the yard, move the dog house so she can't make the leap again, and retry the controller. It isn't connecting so far, but in my experience it takes a couple of tries before it finally connects.

Tomorrow a push on eBay listings. I have to declutter that front room.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 May 24 - 02:53 PM

Getting into the rental vehicle was interesting - my SUV is seven years old and this one is light years ahead with all of the screens and buttons. I sat in the driveway for at least 30 minutes reading the manual and adjusting a few settings, but still haven't found out how to activate the backup camera (it comes on automatically when the SUV is in reverse - nothing happens in this one.) I fear that someone played with the standard settings to turn things off, so I've brought the service manual into the house to read. I may have to pull up YouTube to learn about some of the adjustments available.

The basics are taken care of - the trip mileage setting is back to zero and I've set my two favorite radio stations. It looks like I can't use Sirius (just logging into my account would be easy - but Enterprise wants you to pay for the privilege.) They said no smoking (great!) and no animals. The girls will be fine with that.

This is a Wednesday that feels like Monday, so I expect the whole week to be a bit odd. For now, I'll take a nap.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 May 24 - 10:40 AM

Headed out in a minute to deliver the wounded Pathfinder to the adjuster and pick up a rental. The Pathfinder was emptied (last time something like this happened I didn't clear it out and had to lug all of the stuff from the lot where it was pronounced totalled, and I forgot my little stash of coins and a couple of the plastic lizards the kids gave me for dash ornaments.) I have the portable garage door opener with me (the mirror in the Pathfinder is programmable and is what I usually use). Have I thought of everything? Probably not, but I'll find that out when I get there. Now to get the door to shut and let me drive to that shop without a warning light on the dash.

More rain overnight, and I can see by the muddy footprints in the den that I need to sweep and mop soon. The consistency of the dog hair drifting now is much lighter than before, when it is just blue heeler unadulterated by the copious amounts of Labrador retriever hair. (Cue "Housewife's Lament.")

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: JennieG
Date: 28 May 24 - 09:56 PM

I am now wearing a light brace, so am still limited with my arm - and as you can imagine, it is quite weak from six weeks of inactivity. Typing is still, therefore, slow and laborious with my left hand (I'm right handed) but at least the weight of the plaster is gone.

Physio with The Amazing Emma starts next Tuesday.

Meanwhile, my stash won't be going anywhere. It will still be waiting for me. Ukulele playing, however, hmmmm....might be able to strum.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 May 24 - 06:16 PM

I made a batch of my zucchini casserole (with onions, bell pepper, garlic, tomatoes and tomato sauce, a little sharp cheddar cheese and seasoned with Italian sausage). I didn't add pasta this time, to keep the carb count lower. This casserole is like a fancy marinara sauce and I'll probably eat it with roasted chicken or a pork chop, for more protein.

This afternoon I found the local police department form for reporting accidents, so I filed one, then sent a copy to the insurance company. Since it is illegal to file a false report I think this gives more credence to the accident account. With no one else stopping and no info on that other car I feel like I need to be as clear as possible that this was hit and run so I don't get penalized for the collision. (Wouldn't it be interesting if someone reading these reports sees a Cadillac report an accident with damage to their right side from the same time period? But then the PD would have to decide which version they believed, because the Caddy driver wouldn't be admitting guilt.)

We're under a hazardous weather outlook today and the forecast suggests thunderstorms are going to persist through the weekend. Good thing I have lots of indoor stuff to do. For right now it has cleared and I can go put up a piece of wire garden fencing to help prop up a couple of the new cannas put in last weekend. Two of them have toppled over and will get hit by the mower if I don't support them.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 May 24 - 12:28 PM

Ouch, Jennie! Many things will resume with the cast off, won't they? Showers, for one! Were you able to type with it on, or do anything else that stepped in as a short-term hobby?

Yesterday there were many startling blasts from the new weather radio telling me of storms in surrounding counties; today the alarm blasts started way before dawn to alert me to the rain and wind passing through here. I stepped onto the porch this morning to retrieve two large boxes of delivered dog food and noticed small blue flowers everywhere on the ground. My vitex tree has been slow to reach prime blue color, but the blooms are glorious today (very tall and at 22 years, quite old for one of these) and I hope the wind doesn't whip the tree bare of blossoms. Normally it looks this good for a couple of weeks.

Indoor stuff today, and there is no shortage of choices in the declutter department.

I'm going to dedicate June to alternate day fasting, so I'll be getting a few foods ready for that (start eating that way now as much as possible as I go through current leftovers). The goal is to maintain a higher level of protein but get enough fiber to keep everything moving. And to go to the gym often.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 28 May 24 - 09:46 AM

Congratulations, Jennie! Do you have a stretch of physiotherapy to get your strength back?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 May 24 - 05:30 AM

YAH!!!!!

I assume you are eyeing your stash & the project/s that you were working on before The Plaster.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: JennieG
Date: 28 May 24 - 01:46 AM

My right arm is now decluttered of the heavy plaster it has been wearing since being broken six weeks ago.

I am a happy woman again!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 May 24 - 10:48 PM

Sandra, I've had the same idea, several times. What holds me back is the thought of pointing someone at my house and then following them around to tell them where everything is supposed to go. I might as well do it myself. I need to establish a baseline of tidiness that a house cleaner could maintain. I understand about your hutch dust, I have a lot of tough dusty areas here also. I make a point now of going around a few rooms with the microfiber duster (looks like a big feather boa on a stick) at least once a month and that has helped.

I got part of the back yard near the house and under the trees mowed before a storm threatened to move in, so put the mower away. No rain, at least not so far. I fear we're about reached the second part of this process that we went through last year - wet spring, wretchedly hot summer. The back part of the yard has a groundcover I'm encouraging so I don't mow it very often (but when I do it spreads the seeds more.) This year I must use a sprinkler or soaker hose around the house to keep the foundation from cracking wide open.

I've made a transition around the house to summer conditions and after a shower this evening will put away the bedding described earlier. Tomorrow morning I'll get into the garden again and see about planting some hot weather crops (from seed). It's a bit too soon to harvest the garlic. I have some basil I can pick and dry, and more oregano (lots of that right now). The volunteer acorn squash are a lovely surprise and I'll start picking some of them soon. I thank my compost pile for that contribution, it's a seed that didn't break down like the rest and has risen, like a Phoenix, in my side yard with probably a dozen lovely dark green squash. Now it's time for okra and cucumbers. I really love the fresh pickles I can make from home-grown cukes.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 May 24 - 08:51 PM

dusting?

last week I noticed my cane cabinet similar to this without roof, & doors are made of cross hatched cane was very dusty. I attacked it with a stiff brush & ended up with a number of giant dust bunnies, but most of the dust stayed where it was. Vacuuming hasn't helped much - sigh

I also have lotsa' dust under my wooden bed that the vacuum can't reach, & more in odd corners (dust jut loves corners, doesn't it?), I really need a cleaner for such jobs as my sore bits limit me pulling furniture around & reaching such places.

My older neighbour has a cleaner every 2 weeks to do her vacuuming, Mr Huff'n'Puff (cos he does! & also moans about the condition of the world & other stuff) but I don't qualify for such an Aged Care Package. A few years back a friend found someone who wanted casual cleaning work on facebook, so I might ask her.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 27 May 24 - 01:44 PM

The Great Bed Swap of Glendon Road is complete, and I just have to put the sheets back on the double so I have somewhere to sleep tonight. Of course, I also have rather a lot of drifting cat hair to vacuum up, and the innermost corners of the oak bed frame to dust while they’re still accessible. But that can wait.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 May 24 - 11:39 AM

With a nod to summer a wool bed blanket and a shawl that usually hangs on my office chair are airing in the dryer then will be folded and zipped into the under-bed holders for at least six months. The quilt will get a delicate wash and dry then go on a shelf in the closet. Summer-weight bedding is in full force from now on, as I begin the delicate dance of "do I want the ceiling fan blowing on me or not?"

While my tea brewed I started stripping the dried oregano leaves off of stems harvested a couple of weeks ago. Two new batches are drying on the front of the Kitchen Queen and later today I'll cut more and those will start out hanging over the kitchen sink. Harvesting now before they go into full flower is best. Once all leaves are separated from the stems they'll get a bit of a crush to reduce their size and be stuffed into canning jars with lids and a loosely placed ring on top. The trick using the FoodSaver canisters is that instead of using a $20 canister for one thing (to store all of my dried herbs airtight) I put the jar into the canister and use the canister to suck out all of the air from the jar. Remove the jar to sit sealed in the pantry for a long time. Repeat. You can also use commercial jars that have screw on lids with a rubber seal inside (like spaghetti sauce jars). Again, just lightly set the lid on, don't screw it tight so that the food saver can suck all of the air out to seal it.

I just heard the Navy jets flying in formation over the house. For most of the world it is Monday, here it is Memorial Day with the noisy jet demonstrations (usually offering the Missing Man Formation of one jet missing or leaving the formation to fly straight up and away. Quite moving.)

It's already hot but I'm going to mow the back this morning, then turn my attention to the gardens, where I can come and go to cool off as needed. This is one of two "do stuff around the house without needing to drive anywhere" days. The automotive place with the adjuster is open today but the Enterprise car rental office isn't, and the first adjuster appointment is Wednesday morning. One trip across town with a wonky door is enough for this week.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 27 May 24 - 10:28 AM

Just another rainy Monday in Stratford, but off to a slow start because of a 90-minute power failure. By the time the gadgets came back to life, pool class at the Y was cancelled and the last vestiges of energy and ambition had seeped out of me.

I have four file boxes of music kits to check into the choir library database. That will keep me semi-busy until the movers show up.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER *hoards *bad habits *toxic stuff - 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 May 24 - 11:55 AM

The insurance company claim person called this morning and had only a few questions - she liked my report that I attached to the online claim form yesterday. Only a couple of questions remained, regarding the road conditions (clear and dry) and nature of the trip (personal use). Each state has different rules and in Texas the uninsured motorist part of the policy will probably kick in so my collision coverage doesn't pay for it. This sounds like robbing Peter to pay Paul at one company, but on paper it means that my rates won't go up if the uninsured motorist claim is approved. (One can assume that the Cadillac either had no insurance or had it but was impaired or had so many accidents that one more was going to get them in really hot water).

The door doesn't latch very well so there isn't much driving until I take back roads over to the adjuster on Tuesday. The nursery is six blocks from here (I need to pick up some bedding plants). The mulch bunker is about two miles (I might as well work on the garden since I'm not driving to the gym or other places) and might be manageable. Both of these are accessible via surface roads, no freeway driving with a wonky door.

Otherwise, laundry is in, the kitchen is looking good, and I have a lot of eBay stuff pulled out of the front room to list. I topped $300 for my 90-day sales, hitting my $100 a month goal, but I can do better. I'll do my mowing and garden work in the mornings. And it's time to get out another jigsaw for evenings after screen time.